RTHK: Twenty civilians evacuated from besieged Mariupol At least 20 civilians, including several children, were able to leave a badly battered steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday in what could be the start of a long-awaited, larger evacuation of the last holdout in the Russian-held city. Ukrainian fighters of the Azov regiment, which has been defending the site, said the 20 civilians had left, possibly for the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, about 225 kilometres to the northwest. Russia's Tass news agency carried a similar report, though putting the number of evacuees at 25. A United Nations-planned evacuation had been in the works, though it was unclear whether Saturday's evacuation was UN-led and whether further evacuations were imminent. There were no immediate details on the condition of the evacuees. But the fact that the evacuation took place at all was significant. Conditions in a vast network of tunnels under the Azovstal steel plant where hundreds of civilians are believed to still be sheltering, along with Ukrainian fighters are said to be brutal, and earlier efforts at evacuations had been futile. The apparent ceasefire in Mariupol took place as Russian attacks continued unabated across Ukraine, most heavily in the fiercely disputed eastern regions, but with attacks as far west as Odessa, on the Black Sea coast. Odessa's regional governor Maxim Marchenko said a Russian missile strike had destroyed the airport runway, as Russia continues targeting infrastructure and supply lines deep in the west of the country. There were no victims from the airport strike near the historic city of one million people. Near Bucha, the town near Kyiv that has become synonymous with allegations of Russian war crimes, Ukrainian police on Saturday reported finding three bodies shot in the head with their hands tied. The three bodies found in a pit were "brutally killed" by Russian soldiers each shot in the head, the police said in a statement. "The victims' hands were tied, cloths were covering their eyes and some were gagged. There are traces of torture on the corpses," it said. Russian forces also on Saturday kept up their relentless shelling on the east of the country, killing at least one person and injuring 12 more. In Mariupol, the Azov regiment said on Saturday that it had been clearing the debris of overnight shelling by Russia to rescue trapped civilians. From Mariupol's badly damaged port zone, reporters on Friday heard heavy shelling coming from Azovstal during a media trip organised by the Russian army, with explosions only seconds apart. "Twenty civilians, women and children ... have been transferred to a suitable place and we hope that they will be evacuated to Zaporizhzhia, on territory controlled by Ukraine," said Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov regiment. But Denis Pushilin, leader of the breakaway eastern region of Donetsk, accused Ukrainian forces of "acting like outright terrorists" and holding civilians hostage in the steel plant. On the front line in the east, Russian troops have advanced slowly but steadily in some areas helped by massive use of artillery but Ukrainian forces have also recaptured some territory in recent days, particularly around the city of Kharkiv. One of the areas taken back from Russian control was the village of Ruska Lozova, which evacuees said had been occupied for two months. "It was two months of terrible fear. Nothing else, a terrible and relentless fear," sai Natalia, a 28-year-old evacuee from Ruska Lozova, after reaching Kharkiv. "We were in the basements without food for two months, we were eating what we had," said Svyatoslav, 40, who did not want to give his full name, his eyes red with fatigue. Thousands of people have been killed and more than 13 million have been forced to flee their homes since the Russian attack on its pro-Western neighbour began on February 24, according to the United Nations. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on Friday briefly choked with emotion as he described the destruction in Ukraine and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "depravity". Ukrainian prosecutors say they have pinpointed more than 8,000 war crimes carried out by Russian troops and are investigating 10 Russian soldiers for suspected atrocities in Bucha. Russia has denied any involvement in civilian deaths in Bucha. But Russian officials confirmed on Friday that their forces carried out an air strike on Kyiv a day earlier during a visit by UN chief Antonio Guterres, the first such attack on the capital city in nearly two weeks. A journalist died in the attack. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk meanwhile reported that 14 Ukrainians including a pregnant soldier had been freed in the latest prisoner exchange with Russian forces. She did not say how many Russians had been returned. Kyiv has admitted that Russian forces have captured a string of villages in the Donbas region. "Even if there has been some advance by Russian troops on the ground, it is not very fast," said Russian military expert Alexander Khramchikhin. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the "special military operation... is proceeding strictly according to plan", China's official Xinhua news agency reported. More Western armaments are due to arrive in Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden on Thursday seeking billions of dollars from Congress to boost supplies. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that his country would also "intensify" military and humanitarian support. Russia's defence ministry in recent days has said its forces have struck Ukrainian military sites hosting Western-supplied weapons and ammunition, a claim denied by a senior Nato official. Russia has warned Western countries against sending more military aid. "If the US and Nato are really interested in resolving the Ukraine crisis, then first of all, they should wake up and stop supplying the Kyiv regime with arms and ammunition," Lavrov said. And with Sweden pondering a bid for Nato membership, defence officials there said on Saturday that a Russian reconnaissance plane had briefly violated the northern country's airspace a day earlier. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-05-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China-Laos low-carbon demonstration zone unveiled in Vientiane Xinhua) 09:19, May 01, 2022 Delegates of China and Laos attend the inauguration ceremony of the Vientiane Saysettha Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone in Vientiane, capital of Laos, April 29, 2022. The inauguration ceremony of the Vientiane Saysettha Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone jointly built by China and Laos was held via video conferencing on Friday. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The inauguration ceremony of the Vientiane Saysettha Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone jointly built by China and Laos was held via video conferencing on Friday. The event indicates construction of the demonstration zone has entered a new phase, opening a new chapter for China-Laos cooperation to address climate change in the framework of South-South cooperation. Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said in his speech that the low-carbon demonstration project in the Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone (SDZ) serves as an important step to implement the action plan on building the China-Laos community with a shared future, and highlights the joint efforts addressing climate change made by the two countries. Located in Vientiane, capital of Laos, the SDZ covers an area of 11.5 square kilometers. It is a key cooperation project between the governments of China and Laos, with the zone expected to function as both an industrial park and a new town of the Lao capital, with a total planned investment of about 5 billion U.S. dollars. China is willing to continue to work with the Lao side to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of environmental protection and climate change response, promote green and low-carbon sustainable development, so as to benefit the two peoples and make greater contribution to the building of a community with a shared future between the two countrie, the Chinese official said at the ceremony. In his speech, Saynakhone Inthavong, vice minister of the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said the Saysettha Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone project is a model for bilateral cooperation in addressing climate change. "I wish the cooperation between Laos and China on the environment will achieve greater results," said the Lao official. On the same day, the Chinese side officially handed over the second batch of assistance supplies for the demonstration zone to the Lao side, including 12 new energy buses, eight new energy trucks, and eight new energy law enforcement vehicles. In August last year, the first batch of China-aided materials arrived in Vientiane. So far, all the material assistance proposed in the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in building the Vientiane Saysettha low-carbon demonstration zone has been fully realized. On July 16, 2020, the environment ministers of China and Laos signed the mentioned memorandum of understanding at a video conference. In the past two years, the teams from both sides have made joint efforts to overcome difficulties from the COVID-19 epidemic and complete the planning work for the low-carbon demonstration zone, including on development goals, main tasks and key projects. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) WELLINGTON, May 1 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported its first case of Omicron BA.4 variant at the border amid 12,699 community cases during the weekend, said the Ministry of Health on Sunday. A person who has traveled from overseas to New Zealand has been confirmed as having the BA.4 variant of Omicron. This is the first known detection of the variant in New Zealand, the ministry said in a statement . Two other sub-variants of Omicron, the BA.2.12.1 and the BA 2.12.2, have also been detected in two returnees for the first time in New Zealand from travelers arriving in April, said the ministry. Meanwhile, the country reported the deaths of 13 people with COVID-19 amid the new community cases in the past two days. In addition, there were 138 new cases of COVID-19 detected at the New Zealand border during the weekend, according to the ministry. The country has reported 933,464 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. New Zealand is currently under the orange settings of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, where there is no limit for gatherings. KABUL, May 1 (Xinhua) -- "We have offered our Eid al-Fitr prayers in a peaceful environment today," said Fakhrudin, a 35-year-old Kabul resident. War-torn Afghanistan under the Taliban-run administration on Sunday celebrated Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan. Although no security incident has been reported across the war-torn country so far today, the war-weary Afghans celebrated the Eid al-Fitr amid hope and frustration as security personnel have arranged foolproof security measures around all mosques in Kabul and other cities. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran has assured the public that security arrangements are tight and Eid al-Fitr prayers have been offered a peaceful environment. "We have experienced war and miseries over the past 40 years. We need peace, happiness and prosperity to forget the past desolation," Fakhrudin told Xinhua outside a mosque where he offered his prayer. Some Afghan cities, including the capital city Kabul, have experienced deadly terrorist attacks recently, even inside mosques, in the shape of bomb blasts that claimed scores of lives. On Friday, a blast ripped through a mosque in Kabul, killing at least 10 persons and injuring dozens others. Following the U.S.-led forces withdrawal and the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the war practically ended in the country, which has been widely welcomed by Afghans. "Today is a joyful day for all the Muslims, and I congratulate Eid al-Fitr to all Muslims across the globe and also pray for the return of lasting peace and security to our country Afghanistan," Nawedullah Afzali told Xinhua. Afzali, 40, who came from the northern Badakhshan province to offer Eid al-Fitr prayer at the historic Shah-e-Doshamshira mosque here in Kabul, expressed his hatred towards war. "This is my wish to see we Afghans get united and stop shedding our blood," Afzali said. Prayer leaders in their sermons have also prayed for the returning viable peace in their country, besides calling upon Afghans from all walks of life to get united and help rebuild the war-ravaged Afghanistan. House Bill 4842, Revise state liquor wholesale rate detail: Passed 33 to 2 in the Senate To allow liquor makers to get a higher wholesale price if 40 percent of the grain they use is grown in Michigan. Under Michigan's extraordinarily detailed "liquor control" regulatory regime, the state government is the sole statewide wholesaler of all distilled liquor, and sells to retailers at uniform statewide prices. Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 House Bill 5968, Create state opioid healing and recovery fund: Passed 89 to 10 in the House To create a segregated state account (fund) to hold money extracted from pharmaceutical companies in lawsuits related to their sales of opioid pain killers, and spend it in a manner consistent with the judgment, settlement, or compromise of claims in legal settlements with certain drug producers (called the "Janssen settlement" and the "National Prescription Opiate Litigation"). Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100 N Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102 Senate Bill 627, Adopt another remonumentation of Michigan-Indiana state line plan: Passed 99 to 0 in the House To create a Michigan-Indiana state line commission comprised of the county surveyors of Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale counties, to oversee a survey and remonumentation of the Michigan-Indiana state line. This would be paid for from an existing state account that collects fees on recording deeds. It would be the eighth law passed in the past 20 years related to this task. Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100 Y Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102 Senate Bill 258, Mandate newspapers post printed legal notices on free website: Passed 61 to 38 in the House To require a newspaper in which government legal notices are published to also place these on a section of a website that can be accessed at no charge. (Note: Before the internet even most small communities had daily or weekly newspapers, and state laws required them to publish certain local government notices to the public, for which they were paid. As the 21st century advances these laws have been modified to reflect changes in technology and the newspaper industry, with some changes opposed by newspapers previously paid to run the notices.) Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100 Y Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102 House Bill 5512, Resolve medical marijuana law/drug court law conflict: Passed 87 to 16 in the House To clarify that where there are inconsistencies between the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act and certain parts of the revised judicature act of 1961 related to drug treatment courts, the provisions of the latter are the ones that apply. Because the bill amends an initiated law placed on the ballot by a petition drive, amending it requires a three-fourths majority in the House and Senate. The bill addresses an issue in "drug specialty courts" of judges excluding defendants who use "medical marijuana." Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, don't know much about history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices MACAO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) have huge potential for further cooperation in areas ranging from food security, sustainable energy as well as connectivity of goods, services and people, experts said. Francisco B. S. Jose Leandro, associate dean of the Institute for Research on the PSCs of the City University of Macao, told Xinhua that the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the PSCs, also known as Forum Macao, can play a big role in promoting such cooperation. Acknowledging Macao's role as a bridge linking China and the PSCs, Leandro said the forum can make efforts to increase the visibility of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the PSCs and facilitate the accessibility of regions like the Hengqin island of Zhuhai city, which is adjacent to Macao, to foreigners. In September last year, Chinese central authorities issued a general plan for building the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a major arrangement to enrich the practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao and boost the SAR's appropriate economic diversification. Leandro also called for more cooperation between China and the PSCs in higher education, such as scholarships, joint training and mutual recognition of diplomas. Carlos Morais Jose, director of Hoje Macao, a local newspaper, said it is always of significance for different countries to enhance cooperation through meetings, referring to the special ministerial conference of Forum Macao held last month. "It would be very important for China and the PSCs to further cooperation in scientific and technological areas," said Jose, who has published a book on China titled "Nine Points in the Mist - texts about China." The two sides can also step up cultural exchanges in order to create opportunities for encounters between people, habits, behaviors and values from different cultures, Jose added. Written by experts from within their communities, this book compares the legal regimes of Christian churches as systems of religious law. The ecumenical movement, with its historical theological focus, has failed to date to address the role of church law in shaping relations between churches and fostering greater mutual understanding between them. In turn, theologians and jurists from the different traditions have not hitherto worked together on a fully ecumenical appreciation of the potential value of church laws to help, and sometimes to hinder, the achievement of greater Christian unity. This book seeks to correct this ecumenical church law deficit. It takes account of the recent formulation by an ecumenical panel of a Statement of Principles of Christian Law, which has been welcomed by Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, leader of the Orthodox Church worldwide, as recognizing the importance of canon law for ecumenical dialogue. This book, therefore, not only provides the fruits of an understanding of church laws within ten Christian traditions, but also critically evaluates the Statement against the laws of these individual ecclesial communities. The book will be an essential resource for scholars of law and religion, theology, and sociology. It will also be of interest to those working in religious institutions and policy-makers. BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey is ready to provide support for the United Nations (UN) humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the latest developments in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine over phone, Turkey's Directorate of Communications said in a statement. The Turkish leader told Guterres that Turkey is ready to deliver all kinds of assistance to the UN-led work in Ukraine on humanitarian aid and evacuations. According to the statement, Guterres briefed Erdogan about his latest visits to Moscow and Kiev. - - - - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that he had discussed defensive support for Ukraine with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The two sides talked about the situation on the battlefield and the blocked city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky said on Twitter, adding necessary diplomatic efforts to achieve peace was another topic of the conversation. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian leader said he had discussed defense cooperation in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. - - - - Ukraine has appropriated billions of U.S. dollars to the defense ministry amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Friday. The Ukrainian government has allocated 119 billion hryvnias (about 4 billion dollars) for the ministry, Shmyhal said on Telegram. "We are trying to provide maximum support for our fighters." The funds will be used to pay salaries to Ukrainian troops, and supply them with equipment, fuel, food, protective devices and weapons, Shmyhal said. - - - - Indonesia has invited both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Group of 20 (G20) summit in November, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Friday. "Indonesia is ready to contribute to the peace effort," Widodo said in a virtual press conference. "Indonesia wants to unite the G20. Do not let there be a split. Peace and stability are the keys to the world economic development." The G20, he said, plays a catalyst role in the recovery of the world economy, adding that he had telephone conversations with both leaders of Russia and Ukraine this week. The man who brought down CBD killer Mert Ney after he murdered a young woman and stabbed another is to receive an international bravery award. Jamie Ingram, who works for Westpac, knocked Ney to the ground and pinned him down with a chair as others jumped on with a second chair and a milk crate. He is to receive the Stanhope Gold Medal awarded by the UKs Royal Humane Society. It will either be presented in London by Princess Alexandra or in Sydney by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley. Jamie Ingram in Wynyard Lane where he was the first man in to bring down killer Mert Ney. Credit:Brook Mitchell The Sun-Herald has learnt that Joanne Dunn, the mother of Michaela Dunn, 24, who was stabbed to death in the attack, died recently. In a statement read out at court in March last year Dunn said she missed her daughters beautiful eyes, the touch of her hands, her conversations, and even our arguments, but most of all, I miss four magical words: I love you, Mum. Ney, shouted Allah Akbar as he sprinted down the street waving a knife. He had a USB stick that contained a video of the Christchurch mosque shooting when he was arrested. He was sentenced to 44 years in prison after admitting to murder, telling the court his actions were meant to ensure he was killed by police. COVID conquered Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese led Labors finest to Perth on Sunday for Labors official campaign launch. Well, most of them anyway. Launch away: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese Credit:Illustration: Joe Benke As this column revealed, popular frontbencher Tanya Plibersek wasnt invited to the launch so redirected her efforts to a Labor Day function in the morning and her own campaign launch in the afternoon. But the well-regarded education spokeswoman wasnt Labors only leading lady missed in Perth. While former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating were spotted in the enthusiastic crowd, PM27 Julia Gillard was nowhere to be seen. Unlike Plibersek, Gillard was invited but wasnt able to attend given shes in London for her roles chairing international charity Wellcome and the Global Institute for Womens Leadership. But its not like Labors bash at Perths Optus Stadium was short of star power. There was more than a touch of Hollywood when Man of the Hour Albo was introduced to the audience with a stirring promotional video highlighting the Labor leaders election commitments and key election issues all narrated by a rugged, familiar voice. And not just any voice, as it turns out: none other than Oscar winner and South Sydney Rabbitohs part-owner Russell Crowe. A new campaign will tell Australians that the time has come to decide if they want to recognise the nations first people in the Constitution as it calls on the country to support its first referendum since 1999. The landmark call to action backed by campaign veterans, philanthropists and corporates will be heard and seen on screens across Australia for the next three weeks as an Indigenous-led campaign seeks to elevate the Voice to Parliament as a key election issue for the May 21 poll. The ad will be launched this week and will make the case for the first referendum in 23 years, arguing that an Indigenous Voice would be most symbolic and powerful if it came with the support of the Australian public. We could ask the government to legislate it, but we would rather the Australian people vote for it, the ad, voiced by advertising legend Ted Horton and set to a plain black backdrop, says. The fight for Treasurer Josh Frydenbergs storied seat of Kooyong turned ugly after his campaign launch on Sunday, when challenger Monique Ryan accused the treasurer of misquoting her frail 87-year-old mother-in-law in an attempt to embarrass the teal independent. Frydenberg rejected Ryans claim, saying he had quoted the elderly woman word for word. Josh Frydenberg is surrounded by supporters at his campaign launch on Sunday. Credit:Chris Hopkins At the high-energy launch, where Frydenberg acknowledged his seat was in danger and implored his supporters to harness the power of the dark blue to win, he told a story of running into a woman near a cafe who said she was voting for him. The woman was Ryans mother-in-law. When he asked why, Frydenberg claimed the woman said: Because you know what youre doing and youre a nice person. The treasurers recounting of the conversation, which he also delivered at a private function days earlier, drew laughter from the crowd but angered Ryan. If the Liberal Party was looking for runaway momentum as the campaign enters its second innings, it was found in the quick exit of controversial candidate Katherine Deves from a Sydney rally on Sunday. Prime Minister Scott Morrisons captains pick for Warringah, promoted as a beacon for free speech and an antidote to cancel culture, was whisked from the Sydney Olympic Park venue with the aid of a security detail to avoid being peppered with questions by journalists as a high-octane event wrapped up. Warringah candidate Katherine Deves was whisked from the event by security. Credit:James Brickwood Ending with her inside an elevator and facing off against a media throng, Deves escape was the finale to a day which marked the halfway point of the federal campaign. A campaign that had been punctured by news of a security pact between Solomon Islands and China and heat over Deves was reset on Sunday morning by the prime ministers visit to a western Sydney community centre to talk about mental health. When the time came for the man Labor hopes will be its next prime minister to be welcomed by one of its living legends, things got a little awkward. Should we shake hands or should we hug? Amid the blaring music, camera flashes and sea of grinning faces, neither Paul Keating nor Anthony Albanese seemed quite sure until they finally came together in tentative embrace. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese with former prime minister Paul Keating at the Labor Party campaign launch in Perth. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen It was no more than a moments hesitation in an otherwise carefully planned and well delivered campaign launch but it sums up where things sit at the halfway point of this campaign. Only the most passionate Labor supporters would give up a glorious Sunday in Perth to go to a football stadium where no game was playing and spend an hour inside a windowless function room listening to political speeches. The Liberal National Party will urge voters to preference One Nation candidates ahead of all others in more than half of the federal seats the populist right-wing minor party is contesting in Queensland. However, an analysis of the LNPs how-to-vote cards also reveals the Coalition will ask voters to support Labor ahead of One Nation in three Brisbane-based electorates. The Liberal National Party is suggesting Queensland voters place One Nation second in the majority of electoral contests statewide, in stark contrast to how Scott Morrison treated the right-wing party at the last election. Credit:James Brickwood Labor figures have already seized on the senate aspect of what they claim is a deal between the parties in Queensland, in which the LNP is asking voters to preference One Nation uin the upper house where party leader Pauline Hanson is fighting for re-election. The how-to-vote card analysis by Brisbane Times shows the Coalition will also urge voters to mark One Nation candidates second on ballot papers across 16 of the 29 seats Hansons party is contesting statewide. As Moscow this week cut off gas supplies to two European Union members, Poland and Bulgaria, fears have again been raised about the future of the blocs energy supplies. The suspensions were the first since Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that unfriendly foreign buyers would have to pay in roubles instead of other currencies. The demands have weaponised gas supplies and challenge the EUs ability to maintain a united front against Moscow. A man attempts to cool himself down at a fountain in Aci Trezza, Sicily, where temperatures hit a new European record. Credit:AP Italy imports 95 per cent of the gas it uses and 40 per cent of that comes from Russia. Draghi, an economist and president of the European Central Bank for the past decade, has made the energy transition among his top priorities since he became prime minister in February last year. His government has been seeking alternatives since Russias invasion of Ukraine on February 24 including new deals to import gas from Angola, Algeria and the Republic of Congo. Draghi now believes Italy can end its reliance within 18 months after previously stating it could take up to two years. He is also confident the nations gas needs are covered until October, even if Moscow turns off the tap. Diversification is possible and can be implemented in a relatively short amount of time quicker than we imagined just a month ago, he said in a recent interview. The government is also evaluating the inclusion of a rule to limit the number of street lamps lit and the hours of lighting. While Europe, like other Western nations, has spent the past few months imposing sanctions on Russia from travel bans to asset freeze, they had convenient not addressed the elephant in the room gas. Russia is Europes largest natural gas supplier, meeting 33 per cent of the regions demand in 2021, up from 25 per cent in 2009. It also relies heavily on revenues from oil and natural gas, which in 2021 made up 45 per cent of Russias federal budget. But now the EU has announced that it plans to slash gas imports by two-thirds by 2023 in response to the war. But Italys approach has its critics. Public Administration Minister Renato Brunetta took them on this week in an interview with Milans daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, saying it was also an important educational measure. It is understandable that any community, in the face of a similar sequence, has selfish deviations and that some say enough, we cant take it any more, he said. [But] it reminds me of my mother who told me when you leave the room, turn off the light. I intend to do much more by putting solar panels on the roofs of a million public buildings, with particular reference to schools. It would not solve the dependence on Russian gas, but it would have enormous educational value. The International Energy Agency says the growing use of air conditioners in homes and offices will be one of the top drivers of global electricity demand over the next three decades. Using air conditioners and electric fans to stay cool already accounts for about a fifth of the total electricity used in buildings around the world or 10 per cent of global electricity consumption. Loading And demand from air conditioners is expected to triple by 2050, requiring new electricity capacity the equivalent to the combined electricity capacity of the United States, the EU and Japan. Less than a third of global households own an air conditioner, but in countries such as Australia, the United States and Japan, more than 75 per cent of households have air conditioning, compared to just 8 per cent of the 2.8 billion people living in the hottest parts of the world. The issue is particularly sensitive in the fastest-growing nations, with the biggest increases coming in hot countries such as India where the share of AC in peak electricity load could reach 45 per cent in 2050, up from 13 per cent today. IEA executive director Fatih Birol said this week that faced with the horrendous scenes of human suffering following Russias invasion of Ukraine, people in Europe want to take action. Using less energy is a concrete way to help the Ukrainian people and to help ourselves, he said. With little or no discomfort on our part [we] can reduce the flow of money to Russias military and help put us on a path to a cleaner and more sustainable planet. He estimated turning down the thermostat by just 1 degree would save around 7 per cent of the energy used for heating, while setting an air conditioner 1 degree warmer could reduce the amount of electricity used by up to 10 per cent. The action against Russia could fast-track the aims of European leaders to shift away from fossil fuels in the coming years, as part of international climate targets which aim to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels. Critics of net zero policies have called for them to be revised post the Ukraine war and rising prices, but this week 100 EU cities including Barcelona, Munich, Stockholm, Lisbon, Budapest and Rome committed to hitting that target by the end of the decade. As of April 1, it is now illegal for French cafes, bars, restaurants and other establishments to operate heated terraces. The French environment ministry estimated that the countrys outdoor heating produced 500,000 tonnes of CO2 annually the equivalent to the average yearly emissions from 300,000 cars. Loading Brussels, Edinburgh and Milan have also used car-free Sundays to promote public health, community-oriented spaces and cultural events, with motorists told that leaving their car at home every Sunday could save households on average 100 a year. Birrol says Russias invasion of Ukraine has fuelled an unnecessary cost-of-living crisis thats being felt most painfully by those who can afford it least, especially in developing economies. At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the climate crisis that, left unchecked, will bring even greater disruption and suffering, he said. Belgrade: Serbia has publicly displayed a recently delivered Chinese anti-aircraft missile system, raising concerns in the West and among some of Serbias neighbours that an arms buildup in the Balkans could threaten fragile peace in the region. The sophisticated HQ-22 surface-to-air system was delivered last month by a dozen Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes in what was believed to be the largest-ever airlift delivery of Chinese arms to Europe. Serbia shows off their recently delivered Chinese HQ-22 anti-aircraft systems, whose export version is known as FK-3, at Batajnica military airport near Belgrade, on Saturday. Credit:AP Although Serbia officially seeks membership in the European Union, it has been arming itself mostly with Russian and Chinese weapons, including T-72 battle tanks, MiG-29 fighter jets, Mi-35 attack helicopters and drones. Back in 2020, US officials warned Belgrade against purchasing HQ-22 missile systems, whose export version is known as FK-3. They said that if Serbia really wants to join the EU and other Western alliances, it must align its military equipment with Western standards. DENVER, the United States, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A highly contagious equine flu virus sweeping through a herd in Colorado has killed 102 horses, according to Federal officials. They first announced the outbreak on Monday and said 57 horses had died of H3N8 equine influenza in the prior three days. And according to the latest situation report released by the agency Friday, the toll was at 102. The wild horses, also called mustangs, were captured by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from Colorado rangeland after a huge wildfire last year and hauled to a federal holding facility on state prison grounds in Canon City, located three hours southwest of the state capital Denver. According to the report, most of the dead mustangs were from the West Douglas range, in far western Colorado along the border with Utah. "Post mortem examinations consistently found pneumonia characterized by severe pulmonary edema and hemorrhage," the report stated, adding about 40 to 60 percent of the West Douglas horses were showing signs of fever, nasal discharge and coughing, and about 20 percent of horses in other pens throughout the facility were showing similar symptoms. Those horses might be particularly vulnerable to the influenza, because they were exposed last year to a wildfire that prompted their emergency roundup, the BLM's acting associate state director Ben Gruber told the local Colorado Sun. Gruber said that the federal agency will "review operations" to prevent future outbreaks, calling the outbreak a "tragic outcome." Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease with a high rate of transmission among horses and a short incubation time, Colorado Agriculture Department said on its official website Friday, adding the virus is spread through aerosols from coughing infected horses as well as through contact with contaminated materials, such as clothing or surfaces. The facility on the grounds of the Colorado Department of Corrections was the new home for the 450 mustangs relocated last July and August, which joined hundreds of mustangs from a large-scale helicopter roundup last year in the Sand Wash Basin in far northwestern Colorado, along the border of Wyoming, the Sun said. Mustang advocates are pointing to the deaths as a failure of the federal wild horse and burro program, which has plans to round up another 19,000 horses by next year, and have called on Colorado Governor Jared Polis to step in to help stop helicopter roundups and overcrowded holding pens, the article added. Istanbul: Just hours into the war, business executive Igor Volobuyev started receiving videos from childhood friends showing shells dropping onto his Ukrainian hometown Okhtyrka, near the border with Russia. Volobuyev had spent over two decades at Gazprom, Russias state-owned gas giant, rising to become a vice president at Gazprombank, which is owned by the conglomerate and is the countrys third-largest bank. Former Gazprom executive and high-profile defector Igor Volobuyev. Credit:Twitter I was glued to my phone. I felt like I was sitting in a cosy cinema watching a horror film, Volobuyev said. Its such a miserable feeling when people call you and say: Russians are killing us. You work in Gazprombank. Youre an important guy. Can you do something to stop this? Latest News MFAA CEO Mike Felton retires Shock announcement at annual conference Labor might consider limiting clawbacks Party to review system if it wins government If you are self-employed, you can apply for the same mortgages as anyone who is employed by another person or business. The major difference between applying for a mortgage for those of us who are self-employed is the level of detail you will have to submit regarding your financial situation. To help you better understand the requirements of applying for a mortgage if you are self-employed, here are six expert tips. Improve your cash flow If you are self-employed, utilizing a financial plan to improve your cash flow is critical. If you want to find a good way to qualify for a high loan amount from certain lenders, you should pay off your outstanding debtspersonal loans or credit cards, for instancewhich will make a huge difference when it comes to improving your cash flow, and possibly even your credit score. Provide evidence of your business financial position Providing details of your business finances is a good way to get a mortgage if you are self-employed. The documents you are required to provide are very different to those required by salary earners. For this reason, it is crucial to maintain the habit of keeping good business records, since having wrong or inaccurate documentation of your financial position may make it more difficult to apply for a home loan. For sole traders, the documents outlining your financial position should include your personal tax returns, which will be supported by each years Australia Taxation Office (ATO) notice of assessments. For business partnerships, companies and trusts, you should include the following: partnership, company, or tax returns; financial statements which include profit and loss accounts and balance sheets; and personal tax returns, which will be supported by each years Australia Taxation Office notice of assessment. Make sure your records are accurate When applying for a mortgage if you are self-employed, it is important to make sure your records are accurate. It is usually best practice to provide original documentation such as recent bank statements, past payslips, or anything else that can accurately confirm your financial situation. Prior to applying for a mortgage, some basic records you should prepare will likely include: outstanding loans, such as credit cards, prior home loans, or personal or car loans; savings history; employment details; and existing assets, such as superannuation, real estate, investments, or vehicles. Maintain a high credit score Maintaining a high credit score will make your chances to qualify for a home loan that much better, and that applies whether you are an employee or self-employed. It is important to know that your lender will inspect your business credit historyrather than simply running a credit check on youto ensure your company has a strong credit score as well. You can, however, still improve your credit score by organizing yourself and finally repaying those unpaid debts on time, if you do happen to find yourself with bad credit. And to make sure there are no mistakes, you can also check your credit score from your provider. Build a relationship with your lender or broker More than if you are completing a standard home loan application, applying for a home loan when you are self-employed usually involves more documentation. That means there are more complex requirements, nuances, and documents to submit, making it critical to connect with your broker or bank early in the application process to build a strong relationship. Doing this will ensure the broker or lender will take the necessary time to fully know your personal situationand provide guidance and sound financial advice throughout the application process. Use tax minimisation for business owners strategy This is a common approach, especially if you use a tax professional or an accountant to do your tax returns. If you use tax minimisation, your taxable income usually appears lower and could impact your loan approval or loan amount. The best approach is to speak with your tax professional or accountant to tell them you want to buy a property within the next two years or so. The reason for that is that you might then need to provide two years of your business financial records. For your home loan application, you could be required to maximise your income. Additionally, you might want to explore tax deductions for any expenses related to your business that you would want to claim. Any tax deductions might help you increase your home loan deposit savings. on Sunday reported a 5 per cent decline in total sales at 56,201 units in April 2022. The company had sold 59,203 units in the same month last year, Ltd said in a statement. Domestic sales were down 10 per cent to 44,001 units last month, as against 49,002 units in April 2021. Exports increased to 12,200 units as compared to 10,201 units in April last year, the auto major 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 country's largest carmaker (MSI) on Sunday reported a 6 per cent decline in total wholesales to 1,50,661 units in April. The company had dispatched 1,59,691 units to dealers in April 2021, MSI said in a statement. Last month, the company's domestic sales slipped 7 per cent to 1,32,248 units as against 1,42,454 units in April 2021, it added. Sales of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, fell 32 per cent to 17,137 units compared to 25,041 in the same month last year. Similarly, sales in the compact segment, including models such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, slumped 18 per cent to 59,184 units against 72,318 in April 2021. Sales of mid-sized sedan Ciaz dropped to 579 units from 1,567 in April 2021. However, utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, rose 33 per cent to 33,941 units compared to 25,484 vehicles in the year-ago month, MSI said. Exports jumped 7 per cent to 18,413 units against 17,237 vehicles in the corresponding month last year, the company 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.) (TKM) on Sunday said its dispatches to dealers rose by 57 per cent in April to 15,085 units from 9,600 in the same month last year. In April, the company also achieved a significant milestone of clocking cumulative wholesales of over two million units since its inception. "Demand continues to peak in the new financial year, as we close the month of April with an overall growth of 57 per cent over wholesales in April 2021. Along with the Crysta, Fortuner and the Legender, the Camry Hybrid has too received very encouraging booking orders," TKM Associate Vice President, Sales, and Strategic Marketing Atul Sood said in a statement. The response to the new Glanza has also been great and has done very well since the beginning of its deliveries, starting March this year, right from Tier I cities to rural markets, he added. (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.) After Reliance and Viacom18, Bodhi Tree Systems, a platform of James Murdoch's Lupa Systems and Uday Shankar, has announced a $600 million (over Rs 4,500 crore) investment in a strategic partnership with ALLEN Career Institute to build India's biggest test-prep company. The transaction is expected to close within three months and is subject to closing conditions and requisite approvals. A newly-formed platform between Lupa Systems Founder and CEO James Murdoch and Uday Shankar, the former president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and former Chairman of Star and Disney India, Bodhi Tree Systems is also backed by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, as an investor. With a pan-India footprint and growing presence in the Middle East through 138 classrooms in 46 cities, ALLEN has become one of the names to reckon with in test-prep, with its presence in competitive college entrance examinations and Olympiads. Now, as part of the strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems, ALLEN is looking to build further on the test-prep offering and deliver at-scale positive impact for millions of students in test-prep and K12 segments, by leveraging digital technology to improve learning outcomes. EY not only acted as the exclusive financial advisor but also provided due diligence services to Bodhi Tree. AZB & Partners were the legal advisors. On the other hand, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas provided legal advisory and documentation support to ALLEN. Commenting on the strategic partnership with ALLEN in a joint statement, both Murdoch and Shankar stated that the platform would look to build an outcome-focused digital company that delivers on the aspirations of millions of learners and parents in India and beyond. " is a critical consumer need, driven by its deeply transformative impact on lives and livelihoods of consumers. We believe that is on the cusp of a technology led renaissance that will fundamentally alter how education is imparted and will increase its efficacy. ALLENs unrivaled success and scale provide the right foundation to build the digital education company of the future," said Murdoch and Shankar. Founded by Rajesh Maheshwari in 1988, ALLEN has reached over 2.5 million young lives since its inception. As a test-prep brand, ALLEN has provided high-quality pedagogy to help aspirants for engineering and medical college entrance exams gain selections in prestigious exams such as IIT JEE Mains & Advanced, NEET-UG, KVPY, and the Olympiads. "Our partnership with Bodhi Tree is an essential ingredient in furthering our mission to significantly increase ALLENs reach and impact," said Maheshwari. According to ALLEN's senior-most director Govind Maheshwari, the test-prep brand's strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree is founded on shared values, principles and an aligned vision of creating societal impact at scale through education globally. The new board has seen Brajesh Maheshwari being designated as the chairman who stated that currently most of the edtech products & services in the market were not solving the needs of students. "With ALLENs time-tested pedagogy and Bodhi Trees track record in technology, the 2 Ts Teaching and Technology, will now come together to finally solve the problems of millions of students of outcome-driven learning in a tech-enabled environment." New age insurer Go Digit General Insurance (Digit) has crossed Rs 5,000 crore-mark in gross written premium in FY22, driven by higher demand from motor, property and health segments. With over four-year of operations, the Bengaluru-headquartered insurtech is backed by Canadian billionaire Prem Wasta's Fairfax Financial Holdings through its parent company Go Digit Inforworks Services. It was founded by Kamesh Goyal. Digit clocked in Rs 5,268 crore in gross written premium in 2021-22 and reported a growth of 62 per cent against the industry average of 10.9 per cent, the company said. Claiming that it is one of India's fastest-growing private general insurance companies, Digit said it has crossed the milestone of Rs 5,000 crore in revenue in a single year in less than five years of operations. Motor, property and health verticals helped the company register the 62 per cent growth in FY22, while the industry average stood at 10.9 per cent, it added. From its motor portfolio alone, Digit clocked in Rs 3,276 crore premium, helping it increase its market share to 4.7 in 2021-22 from 3.7 per cent in FY21. The overall market share of the company grew to 2.4 per cent from 1.7 per cent. Further, the company settled over 6.79 lakh claims worth Rs 2,186 crore during the year. Digit said it has insured over 3.85 lakh electric vehicles in the fiscal ended March 2022 and insured nearly 40,000 corporates under its group health business. Also, as many as 10 lakh customers were serviced via WhatsApp in less than 2 years, it said. Motor, health, property, and travel insurance continue to be Digit's top lines of business. To encourage customers to buy health insurance, in December last year, the company started offering one of the industry's lowest waiting periods of 1 year for specific and pre-existing illnesses, it added. This has ensured that more customers get access to good healthcare when required the most. Commenting on the milestone, Jasleen Kohli, MD & CEO, Digit Insurance said, "As a young insurer, this indeed is a moment of pride for us but above all, it is a testament to our endeavours towards making insurance simple and more accessible. "The collective efforts of our partners and employees have not only helped us accelerate our growth but also ensured that more customers understand the importance of having an adequate financial cushion," Kohli said. Crossing Rs 5,000 crore premium in a year is a testament to the company's endeavours towards making insurance simple and more accessible, she added. The insurtech also trimmed its loss ratio -- a percentage of losses to the premium earned -- to 47 per cent last fiscal from 69 per cent earlier. "Given our innovative group health products, we saw strong growth in our health portfolio in FY22. We were also able to successfully lower our loss ratio by improving our underwriting models and claims management process. To sustain our overall business growth, we will continue to focus on deploying advanced tech tools to empower our partners as well as customers," Kohli said. Since its inception, the company has serviced 99.56 per cent of India's total postal codes, Digit 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.) International consortium ISMC will invest $3 billion (Rs 22,900 crore) in state to set up a chip-making plant, the state government said on Sunday. The investment is for a 65 nm Analog Fabrication plant. The ISMC has requested 150 acres of land in Mysurus Kochanahalli Industrial area. This will be one of Indias first and largest fabrication units under the Central Governments Indian Semiconductor Mission upon project approval by the Government of India. The project is expected to generate more than 1500 direct and 10,000 indirect employment opportunities and ancillary semiconductor ecosystem industry development in the area with significant multiplier effects. Additional Chief Secretary in the department of IT, BT Dr E V Ramana Reddy and Director of ISMC Ajay Jalan signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. This MoU (memorandum of understanding is a significant agreement amid the competition among various states to attract semiconductor fabs, said Bommai, who met the ISMC team at his home office. understands that its not just the fiscal incentives that matter but the availability of a conducive eco-system and overall ease in operations are also important. We have one of the best infrastructures in the country and an abundant skilled talent pool, said Bommai. Tower Semiconductor, is the principal technology partner, with the project initially funded by Next Orbit Ventures Fund (NOVF). The consortium is one of the three applicants for the Central Governments $10 billion incentive package for semiconductor manufacturing. ISMC is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures and Israel's Tower Semiconductor. U.S. chip giant Intel Corp has announced plans to acquire Tower. As a state, we are not just trying to bring down the entry barriers for businesses but also make it easier to exit businesses, should it be so required, said Bommai. With robust policies, a committed team, best-in-class infrastructure, and an ever-increasing talent pool of workers, Karnataka is on its way to becoming a premier investment destination. State Minister for Higher Education Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said semiconductor production in Karnataka will provide further impetus to the economy of the state. We are happy to support global firms to set up manufacturing facilities here, said Narayan. E V Ramana Reddy said the uptick in Indian investment in semiconductors coincides with the global demand for semiconductors amid a shortage expected to run through 2025. We have suggested an Electronics and Systems Design cluster in Mysuru as the investment destination for ISMC, said Reddy. The investment comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged the industry to make India a global hub for semiconductors, asserting that the government had put the odds in your favour as far as possible through a supportive policy environment. The prime minister, in his inaugural address at the Semicon India-2022 conference in Bengaluru, said there was a collective aim to establish India as one of the key partners in global semiconductor supply chains. India is also investing heavily in skilling and training young Indians for the needs of the 21st century. Modi said India has an exceptional semiconductor design talent pool which makes up to 20 per cent of the world's semiconductor design engineers. Almost all of the top 25 semiconductor design have their design or R&D centres in the country. At the conference, it was also revealed that India has received investment proposals from five global Semicon majors to set up semiconductor fabs and display fabs locally in India. The proposals are for manufacturing the chips used in a wide array of products including consumer devices, automotive and personal electronics. The proposals received so far are to the tune of $20.5 billion in the greenfield segment of display and semiconductor chip manufacturing. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Hillsong founder Brian Houston has apologized to members of the Church after resigning over alleged indiscretions. In an email to church members obtained by Eternity, Hillsong's former Global Senior Pastor said he was "so deeply sorry" for his failings and that there was "no one to blame but myself for the position I find myself in". "To those impacted directly by my actions, I am sorry for the pain I have caused you," he wrote. Houston stepped down after investigations by the Hillsong Global Board into two complaints, one alleging that he had entered the hotel room of a woman who was not his wife while under the influence of alcohol, and another alleging that "inappropriate" text messages were sent to a Hillsong staffer. The Global Board concluded that Houston had broken the Pastor's Code of Conduct. Following his resignation, three churches in the US announced they were parting ways with Hillsong. Addressing church members, Houston said that he had "let you down so badly and sorry will never be enough to express my sorrow". Houston also expressed his regret over the pain caused to family members. "To my wonderful, forgiving and gracious family who I love more than anything, I hate hurting you," he said. "Bobbie, in my eyes you are the most Christ-like, beautiful, loyal and faithful person alive today. "It crushes me to see your heart breaking as we navigate this season, letting go of so much that is precious to you. I love my family and it pains me deeply to see you navigating these waters." Houston founded Hillsong Church together with Bobbie in Sydney, Australia, nearly 40 years ago. He said his resignation was "not the way I imagined it to end" and that he was "determined that my mistakes will not define me". In his apology letter, Houston also said he was committed to resolving his issues with alcohol. "Over many years of constant pressure, opposition, challenges, and attacks, accompanied by my personal turmoil over my father's evil, many people have asked 'How do you continue to get up, cope, and keep going?' And now we know the answer. I haven't coped very well at all," he said. "I openly admit that alcohol has been no friend and I am determined to relegate it to my past." He continued, "Please be assured, I accept full responsibility for my actions and I have no one to blame but myself for the position I find myself in. "It may be some time before we see light at the end of this tunnel, but I know God has not finished with us yet." will operate flights with female cabin crew members in its start-up phase and hire male cabin crew members once it reaches a certain operational scale, the airline said on Sunday. It will be following the footsteps of Vistara, which had started hiring male cabin crew in March 2018, approximately three years after it was launched. Jet Airways, which has not flown since April 17, 2019, is currently in the process of re-launching operations under its new promoters Jalan-Kalrock Consortium. Aviation veteran took charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the airline on April 4. In a statement on Sunday, a spokesperson said, "We have a limited number of NCR-based cabin crew, trained and qualified on the aircraft, on our rolls to operate our proving flights that should take place soon. Several of them have worked with in the past." The airline will receive its air operator certificate (AOC) after it conducts it proving flights successfully. "While we only have women in our cabin crew in the current start-up phase, as an equal opportunity employer, we will be having men as cabin crew as well once we reach a certain operational scale," the spokesperson mentioned. Jet Airways has always had a gender-neutral hiring policy, and that will continue, the spokesperson said. "The airline earlier proudly operated with a mixed cabin crew, and we will resume that and hire male crew once we get to a certain scale. It should be noted that it will be one of very few airlines in India that hire male crew, as we believe that it is the right thing to do," the spokesperson mentioned. "The initial women-only crew is only to simplify and optimize rostering and training and layover (overnight stay) costs and crew ratios while we are still subscale and our crew requirements are limited, and is also reflective of the cabin crew applicant pool which is predominantly female," the spokesperson added. (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.) Madhya Pradesh chief on Sunday said the old pension scheme for government employees will be brought back if his party is elected to power in the state in the 2023 Assembly polls. The old pension scheme for government employees was discontinued nationwide from April 1, 2004 and was replaced by the new Pension Scheme (NPS). He was speaking at an event of the Madhya Pradesh Shikshak . "If a government is formed in Madhya Pradesh in 2023, the old pension scheme for government employees will be implemented like how other states ruled by our party have done," Nath said. Hitting back, MP Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel told PTI the Congress was now non-existent and people were never going to vote for it again. "The Congress cheated people and farmers by failing to fulfill promises of loan waiver, regularization of jobs of daily wagers, providing unemployment allowance etc. Now people know the truth about the Congress and are never going to vote for it again," Patel said. In February, the Congress government under Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan had announced in the annual budget about the resumption of the old pension scheme for over three lakh government employees who were appointed on or after January 1, 2004. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday said that his DMK government is for the uplift of the workforce as he extended greetings on the International . Addressing a public function on the occasion, he said that his government was not only extending greetings to the labour force but also working for their upliftment. The Chief Minister said that the DMK government has provided free electricity to 1 lakh farmers in the state and that this was for the first time in the history of . He also said that it was the DMK government that converted hand-pulled rickshaws into cycle rickshaws and said that his government would never tolerate any exploitation of the labour class. Stalin also said that the workforce is the major contributor to the economy of the country and the world and that the governments must provide them with excellent working conditions and financial security. He said that the government under him was committed to the welfare of the labour community and would take all steps to provide the workforce necessary support. --IANS aal/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Navnirman Sena (MNS) president on Sunday said he was firm on the May 3 deadline for removal of loudspeakers, which he termed as a nuisance, atop . Addressing a public rally here late in the evening, Thackeray said, I won't be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove the loudspeakers from the . The MNS chief said that from May 4, all Hindus should play Hanuman Chalisa at double the volume of loudspeakers atop the . If they (Muslims) don't understand nicely, we will show them the power of Maharashtra, he said. Loudspeaker noise is not a religious issue but a social one, he said. All loudspeakers (atop mosques) are illegal. Is it a concert that so many loudspeakers are being used? he said. Thackeray said if Uttar Pradesh government could remove the loudspeakers, what was stopping government, led by his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray, from doing so. (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 Sunday reported 18 COVID-19 cases, taking its tally to 12,24,358, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,943, a state health department official said. So far, 12,13,293 persons have been discharged post recovery, including nine during the day, leaving the state with an active caseload of 122, he added. Vadodara accounted for 11 of the new cases, followed by five in Ahmedabad and one each in Gandhinagar and Rajkot, the official said. A government release said 24,180 people were given COVID-19 vaccine jabs during the day, which took the total number of doses administered so far in the state to 10.78 crore. The neighbouring Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu continued to be coronavirus-free, a local official said. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,24,358, new cases 18, death toll 10,943, discharged 12,13,293, active cases 122, people tested so far - figures not released. (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 expected to "exchange perspective" on the situation in Ukraine during his three-nation European tour from Monday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, insisting the key focus of the visit will be to boost ties on a range of areas including trade, energy and green technology. At a media briefing on Sunday, Kwatra reiterated India's "clear" position on Ukraine and called for the cessation of hostilities and resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The newly appointed foreign secretary underlined the "context, clarity, importance and positive dimension" of India's position on Ukraine and asserted that there should not be any doubt about it. Kwatra said India's international partners are aware of its position on Ukraine and they have shown a deep appreciation of it. In his departure statement, Modi said: "My visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices. Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India's quest for peace and prosperity." On Monday, Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will co-chair the India-Germany inter-governmental consultations (IGC) in Berlin. From Germany, the prime minister will travel to Copenhagen in Denmark on May 3 at the invitation of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. There he will attend the second India-Nordic Summit. On May 4, he will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. "When the prime minister interacts with these leaders, naturally, the issues of regional and global importance would also figure in the discussions," Kwatra said when asked whether the Ukraine issue will figure in Modi's talks with European leaders. "But I must reiterate that the principal focus of the visits and discussions is to structure and strengthen bilateral partnership across a range of areas and of course exchange perspective on the Ukraine issues also," he said. The foreign secretary said it would not be correct for him to comment "on each of the countries of Europe, how they look at Ukraine issue." Kwatra said India's position on Ukraine has been "amplified, made clear and enunciated in great detail in multiple fora". Explaining India's position, he said: "One, we've always maintained that there should be a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, and two, the path to resolution goes through diplomacy and dialogue. I think these strands pretty much capture what we have to say on Ukraine." Kwatra said the visit is focused on expanding India's bilateral ties with the three European nations in a range of areas, including trade and investment, clean energy, digital technology and defence. He added the Ukraine issue will figure in the talks as part of discussions on regional and global developments. Kwatra said talks on energy security will be one of the key areas of discussion during Modi's visit as it has assumed greater significance in the current circumstances. There has been a wider debate and discussion in Europe over ending its dependence on Russian energy given its attack on Ukraine. The foreign secretary talked about the "changing elements" of energy security, its impact on developing countries like India, the challenges in the sector and their mitigation. "I am sure this would constitute one of the elements in the overall discussions. But naturally, one single item would not define what the structure of the discussions would be," he said. Kwatra said Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on Monday. It will be followed by a high-level roundtable where Modi and Scholz will interact with top CEOs of both countries. Modi is also scheduled to interact with the Indian diaspora in Germany. "The meeting between the two leaders would provide an excellent platform not only to strengthen the existing multi-faceted bilateral partnership but to also shape and develop an ambitious agenda of cooperation for months and years ahead, including in the field of the development partnership, green agenda, trade and investment linkages," Kwatra said. Scholz is scheduled to host Modi at a private dinner. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a number of other senior Union ministers are expected to accompany Modi to Germany as the format of the IGC mandates direct talks between senior ministers of the two sides on cooperation in specific areas. In Denmark, Modi is scheduled to hold separate bilateral talks with leaders of Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland. "The prime minister's first visit in 2022 factors in an ambitious and substantial agenda packed into an intense schedule... The principal purpose of the visit is for to continue to strengthen its multi-dimensional multi-faceted partnerships with key countries of Europe," the foreign secretary said. On May 4, Modi will have a brief stopover in Paris on his return journey where he will hold extensive talks with Emmanuel Macron, who was re-elected as French president last week. "Modi's visit to France will provide an opportunity to carry forward high-level engagement between the two countries following the French presidential election," Kwatra said. "Both countries have continuously nurtured and delivered on the ambition of their strategic partnership." Asked whether the Ukraine crisis will figure in his talks with the European leaders, Kwatra said: "When the prime minister interfaces with the leaders, naturally issues of regional and global importance would also figure in the discussions." "But the principal focus of the visit is to structure and strengthen bilateral partnership across a range of areas.. and exchange perspectives on Ukraine issues." Reflecting the EU's tough approach in dealing with the Russian aggression, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Raisina Dialogue on Monday that Europe will make sure that Moscow's "unprovoked and unjustified" aggression against Ukraine will be a "strategic failure". has not yet publicly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been calling for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. (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 Prime Minister embarks on a tour of three European nations, India on Sunday once again called for the cessation of hostilities in and resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, noting that was an appreciation of its position on the crisis by its partner countries. At a media briefing, newly appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra underlined the "context, clarity, importance and positive dimension" of India's position on and asserted that there should not be any doubt about it. On his first trip abroad this year, Modi will embark on a three-day visit to Germany, Denmark and France beginning Monday amid the ongoing crisis in . "Our position on Ukraine has been clear. First, there should be a cessation of hostilities; second, a solution must be found out through dialogue and diplomacy," he said, adding this view has been conveyed very clearly to various countries. The foreign secretary said the visit is focused on expanding India's bilateral ties with the three European nations in a range of areas including trade and investment, clean energy, digital technology and defence, and added that the Ukraine issue will figure in the talks as part of discussions on regional and global developments. He said India's international partners have an understanding of its standpoint on Ukraine and they even have a deep appreciation for it. Kwatra said discussions on energy security will be one of the key areas of discussion during Modi's visit as it has assumed greater significance in the current circumstances. There has been a wider debate and discussion in over ending dependence on its reliance on Russian energy in view of its attack on Ukraine. The foreign secretary talked about the "changing elements" of energy security, its impact on developing countries like India, the challenges in the sector and the mitigation of the challenges. "I am sure this would constitute one of the elements in the overall discussions. But naturally one single item would not define what the structure of the discussions would be," he said. Kwatra said Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on Monday. It will be followed by a high-level roundtable where Modi and Scholz will interact with the top CEOs of both countries. Modi is also scheduled to interact with the Indian diaspora in Germany. "The meeting between the two leaders would provide an excellent platform not only to strengthen the existing multi-faceted bilateral partnership but to also shape and develop an ambitious agenda of cooperation for months and years ahead including in the field of the development partnership, green agenda, trade and investment linkages," Kwatra said. German Chancellor Scholz is scheduled to host Modi at a private dinner. From Germany, Modi will travel to Copenhagen at the invitation of the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. He will also participate in the second India-Nordic summit being hosted by Denmark. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a number of other senior Union ministers are expected to accompany Modi to Germany as the format of the IGC mandates direct talks between senior ministers from the two sides on cooperation in specific areas. In Denmark, Modi is scheduled to hold separate bilateral talks with leaders of Norway, Sweeden, Iceland and Finland. "The prime minister's first visit in 2022 factors an ambitious and substantial agenda packed into an intense schedule...The principal purpose of the visit is for India to continue to strengthen its multi-dimensional multi-faceted partnerships with key countries of Europe," the foreign secretary said. On May 4, Modi will have a brief stopover in Paris on his return journey where he will hold extensive talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was re-elected to the top post last week. "Modi's visit to France will provide an opportunity to carry forward high-level engagement between the two countries following the French presidential election," Kwatra said. "Both countries have continuously nurtured and delivered on the ambition of their strategic partnership," he said. Asked whether the Ukraine crisis will figure in his talks with the European leaders, Kwatra said: "When the prime minister interfaces with the leaders, naturally issues of regional and global importance would also figure in the discussions." "But the principal focus of the visit is to structure and strengthen bilateral partnership across a range of areas.. and exchange perspectives on Ukraine issues." The foreign secretary also said that it would not be correct for him to comment on the position of each of these countries on the Ukraine issue. Reflecting the EU's tough approach in dealing with the Russian aggression, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Raisina Dialogue on Monday that will make sure that Moscow's "unprovoked and unjustified" aggression against Ukraine will be a "strategic failure. India has not yet publicly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been calling for the resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. (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 at north Delhi's site that has been raging for the last six days has upended lives and livelihoods of people living in adjoining areas and left them gasping for breath. Most of the residents living around the nearly 17-story high dumping yard are scrap dealers. While many of them have been risking their lives to earn their daily wage amid the fire, several others have been staying indoors as they are suffering from health issues owing to the smoke. A massive broke out at the site on Tuesday evening. Several videos showed the blaze churning out dense plumes of smoke and turning the sky hazy grey. Narrating her ordeal, Masooda Bibi, a 45-year-old scrap dealer, said they are having sleepless nights ever since the started. "We are not being able to sleep ever since the fire started. We had to request one of our relatives to accommodate us in their house. The smoke from the dumping yard has been entering the house. I have been managing to cook our meals by somehow covering my face," Masooda said. She said they cannot stop their work because of the fire even for a day as they earn their daily bread from that. Sheikh Faroz, another 48-year-old scrap dealer said the number of labourers have reduced after the fire started, particularly because of health problems. "There has been severe irritation in my eyes since the day the fire started. Last few days have been very difficult for me and my family. There is no relief even if we switch on the ceiling fan. "The number of labourers have also reduced after the fire started. But, those who are on their own and do not have a family here, are bound to come back and work even as the fire rages," Faroz said. Noting that he had seen fire tenders trying to douse the flames, Faroz wondered why the flames have not been controlled yet despite their efforts. Firefighting operations are still going on to douse the blaze at the landfill site. Maanav, another 22-year-old scrap dealer at Bhalswa said he lost one of his friends after a portion of the dump collapsed last year. "I have lost one of my friends when the garbage mountain collapsed on one part last year. I work as a scrap dealer. I have developed skin allergies after I started working here. This keeps happening during the summers every year and hence, the scrap dealing work gets difficult at this time," he said. The fire at the landfill site has also been posing health risks for the elderly and children living in the area. Saroj, a 57-year-old woman, said she has been suffering from breathing problems and having irritation in the eyes, ever since the fire started on April 26. She said her health conditions deteriorated to the point where she had to be rushed to a hospital. "The landfill site keeps catching fire during the summers every year. We don't know what the authorities have been doing to resolve it. We are having breathing problems and irritation in the eyes because of the smoke. We have been somehow managing to fast during Ramzan. "My family has not been able to sleep ever since the dumping yard caught fire. We have been keeping our doors and windows shut and staying indoors mostly. I am mainly worried about my two children," said Kohinoor, another resident of Bhalswa. The Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has slapped a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the North Municipal Corporation for being negligent and not taking proper steps to prevent the fire at the . Environment Minister Gopal Rai has also blamed "corruption" in the municipal corporation for the frequent fires at the city's landfill sites, saying the BJP-ruled civic bodies should have used bulldozers to clear the mountains of garbage. Gyan Sarovar School, a child resource centre for children of ragpickers living near the site, has been closed for a week as thick smoke enveloped the area. Three incidents of fire have been reported this year at east Delhi's Ghazipur landfill site, including one on March 28 which was doused after over 50 hours. The wet waste dumped in a landfill produces methane when it rots. In hot weather conditions, methane catches fire spontaneously and the blaze spreads as it feeds on combustible material such as textiles and plastics. (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 has directed the (NALSA) to apprise it about the number of cases initiated till date under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. A bench of Justices U U Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and P S Narasimha said that in order to elicit details on this behalf, NALSA may send an appropriate questionnaire to the State Legal Services Authorities and obtain requisite information. "In order to enable this Court to have complete information, we call upon NALSA to state about the number of cases under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; (initiated till date and pending) and in how many cases the services of Protection Officer/Service Provider or shelter homes were required to be extended," the bench said. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that Project Shakti contemplated by the as well as other projects under the auspices of the Ministry of Law and Justice are at the stage of formalisation. Bhati said Mission Shakti has already received Cabinet approval. The top court has posted the matter for hearing on July 20. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking adequate infrastructure across the country for providing effective legal aid to women abused in matrimonial homes and creating shelter homes for them. The apex court had in February asked the Centre to file an affidavit giving details such as the nature of central programmes/plans outlining assistance to support the efforts under the law by various states, including the extent of funding, conditions of governing financial support and the control mechanisms in place. In its February 25 order, the apex court had said the Centre should file an affidavit giving details or particulars, including the collection of state-wise relevant data of litigation under the Act concerning the complaints made, number of courts, and the relative number of protection officers. It had also asked the Centre to give details about the desirable cadre structure and career progression for the protection officers. The top court is seized of a plea filed by an organisation, "We The Women of India", seeking adequate infrastructure under the Protection of Women from across the country for providing effective legal aid to women abused in matrimonial homes and creating shelter homes for them post lodging of complaints against husbands and in-laws. The plea had said domestic violence continues to be the most common crime against women in India despite the law coming into force more than 15 years ago. "As per the National Crime Records Bureau report for the year 2019, out of 4.05 lakh reported cases categorised under 'crimes against women, over 30 per cent were domestic violence cases," the plea has said. Referring to findings of the National Family Health Survey, it has said about 86 per cent of the women victims of domestic violence never seek help. (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.) Security forces on Sunday detected three improvised explosive devices kept hidden by CPI (Maoists) in a jungle in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, police said in a statement. Acting on a tip-off, the security forces comprising CRPF and district armed force launched a special search operation in the Maktulor jungle under the jurisdiction of Tonto police station on the directive of Superintendent of Police, Ashutosh Shekhar. In course of the operation, the security personnel stumbled upon three kept hidden under stones, the statement said. The each weighing 5 kg were planted by Maoists to target security personnel. The bomb disposal squad defused the explosive devices in the jungle. (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.) (CP) An Italian scientist and his team claim their research shows the Shroud of Turin, a fabric purported to have been Christ's burial garment, may have originated during the time of Jesus's death and resurrection. Using a new X-ray technique called "Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering" to examine a sample of the linen, Liberato De Caro of Italy's Institute of Crystallography at the National Research Council and his colleagues determined in peer-reviewed research the shroud could be around 2,000 years old. The researchers' findings were published in the international journal Heritage in April. The Shroud of Turin is preserved at the royal chapel of the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin, Italy, and it depicts the image of a crucified man. Many have questioned the linen's authenticity since its emergence in the 14th century. Beginning in the 1980s, the Vatican encouraged scientists to conduct further investigations into its legitimacy. The National Catholic Reporter reports that the research conducted in X-ray laboratories at the institute in collaboration with Professor G. Fanti of the University of Padua appears to contradict a 1988 carbon-dating study that suggested the fabric was only about 700 years old. "The Shroud of Turin is the most important relic of Christianity. According to Christian tradition, it is the burial shroud that would have wrapped the body of Jesus after his crucifixion," De Caro wrote in an April 13 email interview with The National Catholic Reporter. The scientist believes that carbon dating, a method of age determination that analyzes radiocarbon decay, is not always reliable with fabric, explaining why the 1988 study's conclusion may be incorrect. "Fabric samples are usually subject to all kinds of contamination, which cannot always be controlled and completely removed from the dated specimen," he continued. "If the cleaning procedure of the sample is not thoroughly performed, carbon-14 dating is not reliable," he added. "This may have been the case in 1988, as confirmed by experimental evidence showing that when moving from the periphery towards the center of the sheet, along the longest side, there is a significant increase in carbon-14 (radiocarbon dating)." De Caro has been investigating the shroud for about 30 years and developing techniques to examine the scale of atoms through X-rays. Three years ago, the scientist and his team developed a new method for dating samples from linen fabrics. "The new dating method, based on a technique called Wide Angle X-ray Scattering, was first tested on linen samples already dated using other techniques, on samples that had nothing to do with the shroud, and then applied to a sample taken from the Shroud of Turin," De Caro told The National Catholic Reporter. The scientist started researching the Shroud of Turin with his team in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed their work. The team eventually applied the new X-ray dating technique to the Holy Shroud, sending their findings to Heritage in March. The findings were published in April after a month of preparation and peer review from three independent experts and the journal's editor. The new technique may also have found evidence that the shroud migrated from the Middle East to Europe. The seven centuries of documented history regarding the Shroud of Turin appear to show it has only ever been located in Europe, leading to further questions regarding its authenticity. But De Caro said an analysis of the shroud showed traces of pollen unique to the ancient region of Palestine trapped in its fibers. The scientist suggested that this means the shroud has spent a significant deal of time in the Middle East and not just Europe. "The Shroud of Turin challenges science, and each new piece of research could clarify part of the complex puzzle this relic represents," De Caro wrote. "For example, the Shroud's image has yet to find a definitive explanation from those who have studied it, an explanation shared by the entire scientific community. "It is as if a photographic plate had been imprinted by radiation," he continued. "By studying the traces left on the plate, one tries to trace the nature of the radiation and its properties. The same could be done for the Shroud's image." De Caro stated that this new dating technique is only in its "infancy," and whether he uses it to continue studying the Holy Shroud depends on if there are new samples to analyze. The scientist also expressed a desire to use the technique to examine other relics associated with Jesus, such as the Sudarium of Oviedo and the Veil of Manoppello. The former is a cloth that allegedly was used to cover and clean Jesus's face after his crucifixion, and the latter, also called the Veil of Veronica, is a piece of fabric supposedly imprinted with the face of Christ during his walk to Golgotha. The Christian Post After Assembly passed a resolution seeking permission to supply rice and essential medicines as aid to Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Dr said that Government's assistance can supplement what is being provided by the Govt of India and informed that prefers inclusive distribution. This comes as the resolution piloted by Chief Minister MK Stalin was unanimously passed by the house, including the opposition AIADMK and the BJP. Jaishankar in a letter addressed to CM Stalin said that the mission in Colombo was consulted over Tamil Nadu's request. The Ministry in a letter stated, "MEA offers that Government's assistance can supplement what is being provided by the Govt of India. The Government of Sri Lanka's preference is for inclusive distribution." On the proposal by the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide humanitarian assistance to the Island nation, Jaishankar noted the TN government can direct TN Chief Secretary to coordinate with the Government of India for supplying the relief material. The EAM said, "You may wish to direct TN Chief Secretary to coordinate with Government of India for supply and distribution of humanitarian relief material to Sri Lankan Government. Relief material will be shared with Government of to be distributed appropriately in the current circumstances." Presently, is struggling with acute food and electricity shortages, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is unable to buy sufficient fuel and gas, while the people are being deprived of basic amenities as well. (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.) Charges under the stringent Security Act (NSA) have been slapped against the principal of a school in the Board of Secondary Education's English question paper leak case, police said on Sunday. The NSA has been invoked against Akshay Lal Yadav, the principal of Ma Lachhiyamurat Yadav Higher Secondary School, Ubhaon police station SHO Avinash Singh said. Earlier, the NSA was invoked against three other accused in the paper leak case -- mastermind Nirbhay Narain Singh, Bhimpura Maharaji Devi Memorial Inter College manager Raju Prajapati and Ravindra Singh. Police have so far arrested over 52 people, including three journalists, six school managers and five school principals, in connection with the leak of Class 12 English question paper on March 30. Ballia District Inspector Of Schools (DIOS) Brijesh Mishra is also among those arrested in the case. The three journalists arrested in the case were recently released on bail. (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 Vice President and Prime Minister on Sunday greeted people of and on the state formation day. Wishing people of Gujarat, Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, "Warm greetings to the people of on their state formation day. Known for its spiritual heritage, iconic monuments and diverse wildlife, # has contributed immensely to the growth of the nation. May the state continue its rapid strides for development." In his greeting to the people of Maharashtra, Vice President Naidu said, "Heartiest greetings to the people of on their state formation day. is known for its rich history, scenic beauty & vibrant culture. The state has played an important role in development. My best wishes for the state's continuous growth." In a tweet Prime Minister Narandra Modi said, "On Gujarat's Foundation Day, my greetings to the people of Gujarat. Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and several other greats, the people of Gujarat are widely admired for their diverse accomplishments. May Gujarat keep progressing in the coming years." In another tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Best wishes to the people of Maharashtra on Maharashtra Day. This state has made phenomenal contributions to progress. The people of the state have excelled in diverse fields. I pray for the prosperity of the people of Maharashtra." --IANS ssb/dpb (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.) Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday said they would continue to support the fight of Marathi-speaking people residing in border areas of neighbouring Karnataka to include those places in . He was addressing a gathering in Pune city on the occasion of Maharashtra's foundation day. The western state was formed on this day in 1960. "While we are celebrating 62 years of formation of Maharashtra, we regret that the Marathi-speaking villages in Bidar, Bhalki, Belgaum, Karwar, Nippani and other places in Karnataka could not be merged with . The citizens of Maharashtra and its government are with their fight to be part of Maharashtra. I assure that we would keep supporting their fight till these villages become part of Maharashtra," Pawar said. Maharashtra claims certain areas, including Belgaum, Karwar nd Nippani which are part of Karnataka, contending that majority population in these areas is Marathi-speaking. The case of Maharashtra-Karnataka bounding dispute is pending before the Supreme Court. Talking to reporters after the programme, Pawar expressed concern over a large number of swords recently seized from parts of Maharashtra and said the state police department was keeping an eye on it and trying to find people behind such activities. On Wednesday, police had seized 89 swords and a dagger from an SUV in Maharashtra's Dhule district and arrested four people in this connection. Pawar said this indicates there may be some people who want to be involved in anti-social activities. "We have asked police to conduct a probe into the seizure of such weapons. We appeal to everyone to maintain religious harmony. While expressing their thoughts, people should take care that their words do not provoke sentiments of any community," he added. Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, who was also present in the programme, said political meetings, rallies and gatherings will go on and the police department will work to maintain peace and harmony during the Maharashtra foundation day celebrations. "They (police) are prepared for any kind of situation. I appeal to everyone to maintain social harmony," Walse Patil said when asked about various political events slated in Maharashtra on the state's foundation day. (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.) Union Power Minister R K Singh has said the is misleading the public with incorrect information about the electricity situation in the national capital. In a letter shot off to the Delhi power minister, Singh has expressed displeasure at the misleading the public, a source said. Replying to a letter by the Delhi power minister expressing concern about coal stock position of some NTPC stations supplying power to NCT of Delhi, Singh said the figures were incorrect. As per Singh's letter, coal stock at Dadri plant was 202.40 thousand tonnes, which is sufficient for 8.43 days at 85 per cent PLF (plant load factor) on April 29, 2022. Similarly, coal stock at Unchahar plant was 97.62 thousand tonnes, sufficient for 4.6 days at 85 per cent PLF or capacity utilisation. The coal at Kahalgaon plant was 187 thousand tonnes (5.31 days), 234.22 thousand tonnes (8.38 days) at Farakka and 162.56 thousand tonnes at Jhajjar (8.02 days) on April 29. The Union minister further said all the five thermal power stations have sufficient reserve coal stocks for 5-8 days. Singh added that the stocks are replenished on a daily basis -- both from domestic sources and coal imported for blending purposes. He further said NTPC has been declaring 100 per cent availability from Dadri and Unchahar power stations. Singh said panic was sought to be created by using wrong figures and this was reprehensible. Citing some previous instances, he said in October 2021 panic was sought to be created among people about disruption of power supplies on the basis that gas supply to Delhi's gas-based plants was likely to be disrupted, which proved to be baseless. The minister stressed that advance gas supply arrangement had not been made by the and that the Power Department of Delhi is expected to monitor these issues. (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.) Eminent economist Suman Bery on Sunday took charge as the Vice Chairman of the government think tank Niti Aayog, according to an official statement. Bery has previously served as Director General (Chief Executive) of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the global chief economist of Royal Dutch Shell. He was also a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, Statistical Commission and the Reserve Bank of India's Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy. " welcomes Suman Bery as NITI Aayog's Vice Chairman with effect from May 1, 2022," the statement said. An experienced policy economist and research administrator, Bery has replaced Rajiv Kumar as the vice chairman of the government think tank. Kumar took over as vice chairman of in August 2017 after the then VC Arvind Panagariya exited the government think-tank to return to academics. "Rajiv Kumar leaves me a dynamic organisation with lots of fresh, young talent and strong links with stakeholders inside and outside the government," the statement quoted Bery as saying. "I am deeply honoured to have been entrusted with its charge at a time of great global uncertainty," he said. According to Bery, Niti Aayog's challenge is to develop a vision of the way ahead based on deep analysis and wide debate and to work with India's states, which is where economic development ultimately happens. India's economic and social choices are of significance to the entire world, he noted. Bery's recent affiliations include senior visiting fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi; non-resident fellow at Bruegel, Brussels; and Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC. (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.) Giving the analogy of chip major Intel's famous slogan "Intel Inside", Minister of State for Communications and IT on Sunday said all efforts of the government in the semiconductor domain should make the world hear " Inside". The minister also said industry players like Dell, Sony as well as and the Atomic Energy Department are all endorsing and working with the RISC-V (DIR-V) programme. The government has set a deadline to commercially launch the first indigenous chipset by 2023-24 under the DIR-V. "In the past, world heard Intel Inside. In the future, the world should hear Inside," Chandrasekhar said. He further said the government will review norms of the design linked incentive (DLI) program which envisages to support 100 companies involved in product design in the semiconductor space as part of the Rs 76,000 crore scheme for developing the electronic chip ecosystem in the country. The scheme will continue to be in place to support all product design projects and start-ups, among others, he added. "Whether the DLI norms need to be modified... We have got some feedback from this conference that maybe the DLI has been designed to be very narrow. Maybe there is a cap on funding that is too restrictive. We will examine all that," Chandrasekhar told reporters. He was addressing the media at the Semicon India 2022 conference after seven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between government organisations and technology companies. "I want to say this very clearly that the USD 10 million package of the Rs 76,000 crore package is for the ecosystem and design and innovation is a very important part of the ecosystem. Talent is a very important part of the ecosystem. There is a need to sort of redesign some of those pieces, we will do it," Chandrasekhar said. The scheme provides for reimbursement of up to Rs 30 lakh per application for MPW (multi-project wafer) fabrication of design and post-silicon validation activities; reimbursement of up to 50 per cent of the eligible expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs 15 crore per application for designing semiconductor goods; and reimbursement of 6 to 4 per cent of net sales of designed semiconductor goods over 5 years subject to a ceiling of Rs 30 crore. At the event, the Ministry of Electronics and IT announced the onboarding of Prof Rao Tummala from Georgia Tech University, US, on the Advisory Committee of India Semiconductor Mission. MoUs were signed between Cyient, WiSig Networks and IIT Hyderabad to enable mass production of "5G Narrowband-IoT- the Koala Chip, Architected and Designed in India". Signalchip Innovations, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) signed an agreement for not only design and manufacture but also deployment and maintenance of 10 lakh Integrated NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) and GPS Receivers. State-run CDAC announced partnership with Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, Siemens EDA and Silvaco for making available their Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and design solutions for Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme being implemented by CDAC. Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme of MeitY aims to create 85,000 specialised engineers at B Tech, M Tech and PhD levels for expanding Indian semiconductor talent at over 100 institutions across the country. Besides, Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) USA and IIT Bombay will focus on bringing together SRC's industry experts and India's R&D talent to create an industry driven research and development program. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has expressed the hope that India has adequate stocks of edible oils with it to tide over the immediate crisis emerging from Indonesias ban on palm oil exports. In a statement released on Sunday, the government said that the country has around 2.1 million tonnes of edible oils in stocks at present while another 1.2 million tonnes is in transit from exporting nations expected to arrive in May. This as per independent assessments should be good enough to cover around three months of domestic requirement as India per month on an average consumes something in between 1.0-1.1 million tonnes of edible oils in various forms. Officials said the stocks in hand and that in the pipeline is good enough to cover the lean period due to the ban on exports (around three months), by which time some decision will be made on whether to extend the ban or not. Trade sources said there are a lot of questions as to whether can hold on to the ban for as long as it is sitting on stockpiles of palm oil which it needs to liquidate in the absence of adequate storage capacities. Nonetheless, there is a fear that Indias prices are expected to spike again after remaining high for a prolonged period due to a sudden ban on exports by Indonesia, the worlds largest producer of palm oil, announced last week. Globally, and also in India, palm oil is used in everything from cakes and frying fats to cosmetics and cleaning products. Though there are questions on how long the ban will remain in place, because Indonesia, as per trade sources, is sitting on stockpiles of palm oil which it needs to liquidate in the absence of adequate storage capacities. But, the development has spooked Indian markets as palm oil comprises almost 70 per cent of Indias annual imports totalling around 8-8.5 million tonnes. supplies around 45 per cent of this, while the rest comes from neighbouring Malaysia. Trade sources expected domestic prices of edible oils and also palm oil based products to rise by at least 7-10 per cent in the short term due absence of supply. The Centre, meanwhile, said that apart from adequate stocks, domestically, production of soybean seed for 20221-22 has been pegged at 12.60 million tonnes, as per the second advance estimate, which is over 0.61 million tonnes higher than last years production of 11.2 million tonnes. That apart, mustard production is also expected to be healthy at 11.4 million tonnes. The food department is monitoring the price and availability situation and meetings are held regularly with major Edible Oil Processing Associations to discuss further reduction in the domestic edible oil prices and MRP to give relief to consumers, the official statement added. It added that special teams have also been constituted by both Centre and State governments to prevent hoarding and profiteering under the Essential Commodities Act. These surprise checks shall continue to check unscrupulous elements, the statement added. Indian FMCG players, particularly food and snacks manufacturers, have said they are concerned about Indonesia's move to ban exports of crude palm oil, though some of them expect the decision is likely to have only transitory impacts on a short-term basis. Several industry leaders hint that they will reduce their reliance on palm oil in phases and shift to alternatives such as rice bran oil and cottonseed oil for food products. Last week Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, banned shipments of (CPO), adding to the previous sanctions on refined oil, to soften the prices in its domestic market. However, the Indian industry and experts expect the impact of this will be transitory in nature as consumes only around one-third of its palm oil output. India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) "believes that the ban is unlikely to sustain for a long duration, given that consumes less than 40 per cent of its total palm oil production, resulting in the impact being transitory". India is the world's largest importer and second-largest consumer of palm oil, which accounts for around 30 per cent of the country's edible oil consumption, said Ind-Ra. Expressing similar views Mayank Shah, senior category head at Parle Product, said palm oil is perishable and eventually they (Indonesian exporters) would have to open up. Their production is much higher than the local requirement. "Hopefully, there could be some reversal in this in the next 10 days as it is not possible for them to continue with the ban for a longer time," Shah told PTI. According to him, the ban is expected to stay for a short period and there should not be an impact on the prices as companies have enough stocks. "However, if the ban continues for a long period then there would be challenges. The question is how long they can continue with the ban," Shah said. has imposed a ban on palm oil exports to increase domestic availability and check the rising prices of the commodity in that country. Some reports indicated that the ban did not apply on CPO but on refined bleached deodorised palmolein, but the government widened the scope a couple of days later to also include CPO. Palm oil is preferred in India by the food industry as it is relatively cheaper, lasts longer and is more stable at high temperatures than other oils. CPO is used by most of the food companies, while soap makers in India use a derivative Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD), a key input for making soaps, soap noodles etc. Snacks making firm Bikano's chief operating officer Pankaj Agarwal said it was a point of worry for all the snack majors in India as palm oil is one of the important ingredients in our products. However, he also suggested looking at alternatives like rice bran oil and cottonseed oil. "Palm oil is one of the important ingredients in our products... With the given situation, we will have to look at some alternative options like rice bran oil and cottonseed oil," said Agarwal. Last week, the largest FMCG major HUL had said it does not see any issue in procuring in terms of volumes, which it needs to produce materials whether it's PFAD or other derivatives of palm used for its business. In a post-results call with the media, HUL CFO Ritesh Tiwari said India needs to do a lot of work to drive palm production into the country. That needs government support. "We also keep looking for alternate materials for producing our product and reducing our reliance on palm," he added. India imports over 90 per cent of its 22 MNT of demand, majorly in the form of CPO. Indonesia constitutes around 50 per cent of the imports, while 45 per cent of imports are from Malaysia and the rest from Thailand, Ind-Ra report 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.) Terming the government "inefficient", BJP leader and former chief minister has accused the JMM-led dispensation of not planning in advance to avoid power cuts in the state during summer. Addressing a rally organised by the saffron party's Jamshedpur Mahanagar Committee in Birsanagar on Saturday to protest against the acute electricity shortage, Das said industries, businesses, hospitals and supply of water were badly affected owing to the prolonged power outage. Students are facing challenges due to the inadequate power supply at a time when their board examinations are going on, he said, adding that the steel city of Jamshedpur is experiencing "15-17 hours of power cut amid the heatwave condition. "The outrage over the acute in Jharkhand, one of the largest coal-producing states in the country, is due to the inefficient government and its lack of pre-planning to tackle such situation," the BJP's national vice president said while addressing the "Akroah March" here. Had the JMM-led government pre-planned to tackle the prevailing situation, it would have made power purchase agreements with utilities such as Tata Power, DVC or any other company, Das said. Chief Minister had recently admitted that the state is unable to meet the peak demand, but said his government has sanctioned additional funds for buying power from the open market through energy exchanges. "The heat is beyond imagination... several states in the country are facing shortage of power. It is also difficult to purchase power from the open market due to high rates and competition among states," the CM had said. Das claimed that the previous BJP government in had signed a memorandum of understanding with authorities of Patratu Thermal Power Station and NTPC to produce 4,000 megawatt of power by 2024 with 800 MW in the first phase. "The project could not be made operational due to inefficiency of the present JMM regime. Our approach was to ensure export of not only coal but power as well to other states," he claimed. BJP leader also said former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone for an NTPC project in North Karanpura in Chatra district but it "remained stalled for ten years under the UPA rule at the Centre". "The project work had started soon after the Narendra Modi government at the Centre came to power in 2014, and it is ready for power generation but is still waiting for a forest department's clearance from the state," Das alleged. BJP's Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato regretted that was reeling under the immense despite the state being a major coal producer in the country. Holding placards, hand fans, candles and lanterns, hundreds of BJP activists held the "Akrosh March" here on Saturday. (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.) At Galilee This was the place Jesus started his ministry. As he walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw fishermen casting their nets. Jesus called out to these men and gave them a new calling in life to be fishers of men. Jesus didnt stay by the lake but went deep inside Galilee to meet his people. People who needed healing, religious people, and people who were desperate for a Saviour. He called out to them, and he was also called for. He went up mountains to sit with His Father and sit with his people. He crossed the lake with his disciples. He performed miracle after miracle. There was no one who did not know about this Jesus. This man of power and authority was unlike anyone they had expected. This God humbly served and loved in countercultural ways. Im going out to fish, Peter told the other disciples. I wonder when the last time was these disciples went fishing. For the last few years, Jesus had called them to be fishers of men. They had indeed got into a boat to cross the lake for ministry, but they didnt need to fish because Jesus was their provider. From a few fish, a meal was provided for thousands. So why did the disciples return to the Sea of Galilee after Jesus resurrection? Perhaps the disciples wanted a sense of control over their lives after a rollercoaster of recent events. Fishing was all they knew before they had met Jesus. How were they supposed to keep living now that Jesus was no longer with them? Or maybe they remembered Jesus would meet them in Galilee. A nostalgic experience as they reminisced about Jesus changing their lives. A renewed calling: feed my sheep It is no irony that Jesus called fishermen to be fishers of men. This imagery made sense to them. When Jesus reappeared to them at the Sea of Galilee, he reminded them he was truly alive and he was still in control. Jesus knew where the fish were. Jesus, through his death and resurrection, proved once again to the disciples that he was the good shepherd. And now he asks Peter to feed his sheep and take care of them. Peters calling was renewed from being a fisherman to being a shepherd. Jesus wanted Peter to keep following his example and lead his people. What comes after Easter? We have reflected on the death of Jesus for our sins and celebrated that he is alive today. How do we live our lives between now and next Easter? We may feel like Peter as we remember our depravity in putting ourselves first over Jesus. And while we are grateful for Jesus transforming grace, we wonder if we can really move forward. Yes, we can, because just like Jesus reinstated Peter that morning, he can restore us too. Or what if we have met Jesus face to face this Easter and realised afresh he is the one we want to commit to for the rest of our lives? Like after attending a mission trip or Christian camp, we live in this honeymoon period with passion and purpose. We need to keep meeting Jesus face to face and persistently carry out his calling on our lives. This is what living with Jesus is like. Jesus meets us. Jesus continues to meet us right where we are. Like from the beginning, he was not looking for sinless and perfect people. Jesus did not require Peter or us to be victorious over sin and death foranyone to enter Gods kingdom. Jesus has won that battle for us. Jesus promises to meet us in Galilee, a sign of his presence and return. He longs for us to walk towards him, even if we are hurting and confused. Jesus has called us on a journey of faith. He will meet us there even though he is not with us now. Find your Galilee and meet him there. The government on Sunday said the country has sufficient stock of edible oils and it is keeping a close watch on the price as well as supply situation. "India has optimum stock of all edible oils. As per the industry sources, the present stock of all edible oils in the country is 21 lakh tonnes approx and 12 lakh tonnes approx. is in transit arriving in May, 2022," the food and consumer affairs ministry said in a statement. Therefore, the country has sufficient stock to cover the lean period due to ban on export by Indonesia, it added. On the oilseeds front, the agriculture ministry's second advance estimate released in February 2022 showed a very positive picture of soyabean production for the year 2021-22 at 126.10 lakh tonnes, which is higher than last year's production of 112 lakh tonnes. As a result of higher sowing of mustard seeds by 37 per cent in all major producing states, including Rajasthan, in comparison with last year, the production may rise to 114 lakh tonnes in the 2021-22 season. "The Department of Food and Public Distribution is monitoring the price and availability situation and meetings are held regularly with major processing associations to discuss further reduction in the domestic prices and MRP to give relief to consumers," the statement said. The food ministry noted that palm oil (crude and refined) constitutes around 62 per cent of the total imported edible oils. They are imported mainly from and Malaysia. Soyabean oil (22 per cent) is imported from Argentina and Brazil, while sunflower oil (15 per cent) is imported mainly from Ukraine and Russia. "International prices of edible oils are under pressure due to shortfall in global production and increase in export tax/levies by the exporting countries," the statement said. India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world. This sector occupies an important position in the agricultural economy, accounting for the estimated production of 37.14 million tonnes of nine cultivated oilseeds during the year 2021-22. "A close watch is being kept on day to day basis on prices of edible oils so that appropriate measures can be taken to keep a check on the prices...," it added. The Inter-Ministerial Committee meetings held weekly on agri-commodities chaired by the food secretary closely monitor the prices and availability of agricultural commodities including edible oil, keeping in view the interest of the farmers, industry and consumers. The committee reviews price situation on a weekly basis, considers relevant measures in relation to edible oils and other food items depending on the domestic production, demand, domestic and international prices and international trade volumes. Special teams have also been constituted by both Central and state governments to prevent hoarding and profiteering under the Essential Commodities Act. "These surprise checks shall continue to check unscrupulous elements," the statement added. (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.) Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Arjun Singh met Union minister of textiles here in the national capital on Saturday to raise his concerns regarding the price capping of raw by the Central government. The meeting comes a day after BJP MP wrote to the Chief Ministers of five states including West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee to intervene in the decision of the Central government with regards to capping the price of raw . "I met Union Minster of Textiles over matter (of industry). The meeting was 1.5 hours long. He is fully convinced that there is some issue and asked me to meet Textiles Secretary for a solution, before putting it in front of top-level," said Arjun Singh to ANI after his meeting with the Union Minister. Flagging the seriousness of the issue that is affecting the entire jute industry in West Bengal, BJP MP expressed satisfaction and hope after the meeting with Union Minister. "Jute mills continue to down shutters in . We have to sort out this matter together. With today's meeting, I am convinced that we're moving on a good path," he said. The Centre has fixed a price cap of Rs 6,500 per quintal on raw jute. The upper cap of Rs 6,500 per quintal was fixed for 2021-22. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has set a target to provide at least one opportunity to every farmer family in the next five years. The government aims to provide training to 2,10,000 entrepreneurs and in the next five years. Apart from focusing on increasing the income of the farmers, the government also plans to establish them as 'entrepreneurs'. This will not only increase their income but also provide more opportunities to the youth. According to the spokesman, the government has planned to set up 375 large food processing units. Also, 41,336 food processing units will be established/upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. Under the PMFME scheme, the government provides assistance to start their work in the food industry. Under this, small food processing industries can be started. The government wants the to get a good price for their crops. For this, it will connect the with the food processing industry. After food processing, there will be no possibility of crop damage and a good price of the product will also be available in the market. This will also generate many opportunities. Moreover, the government is also making arrangements to train the farmers and entrepreneurs to set up enterprises. --IANS amita/dpb (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.) Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, who is on a visit to the country as a special envoy of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was seen meeting children and visiting a cafe in Lviv. Jolie, who has spent almost two decades working with the UNHCR met Ukrainian medical volunteers and visited orphans and injured children evacuated from the Donetsk region of the country. "Jolie visited injured children evacuated from Donetsk Oblast and orphans. She also met volunteers who provide medical and psychological help to Ukrainian evacuees," Kyiv Independent reported in a tweet. The actress was also filmed by locals inside a cafe in Lviv. She was seen greeting the person filming her and smiling at the people present in the cafe. She also signed a few photographs, CNN reported. Recently, Jolie had expressed concern and support for Ukraine when she visited a hospital in Rome that had welcomed dozens of refugee children. As part of her work with UNHCR, the actress has visited several conflict zones to help in providing humanitarian assistance. In March this year, amid the civil war in Yemen, Jolie visited the country in the Middle East to provide aid to the refugees there. The war in Ukraine which has entered its third month now has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with more than 5 million Ukrainian fleeing to neighbouring Western countries, according to the UNHCR data. The war has also resulted in almost 3000 civilian casualties as of April 28. The casualty figures include as many as 70 children, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNOHCR). (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.) Prices for Russian credit default swaps insurance contracts that protect an investor against a default plunged sharply overnight after used its precious foreign currency reserves to make a last minute debt payment on Friday. The cost for a five-year credit default swap on Russian debt was USD 5.84 million to protect USD 10 million in debt. That price was nearly half the one on Thursday, which at roughly USD 11 million for USD 10 million in debt protection was a signal that investors were certain of a eventual Russian default. used its foreign currency reserves sitting outside of the country to make the payment, backing down from the Kremlin's earlier threats that it would use rubles to pay these obligations. In a statement, the Finance Ministry did not say whether future payments would be made in rubles. Despite the insurance contract plunge, investors remain largely convinced that will eventually default on its debts for the first time since 1917. The major ratings agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's have declared Russia is in selective default on its obligations. Russia has been hit with extensive sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others in response to its February 24 invasion of Ukraine and its continuing military operation to take over Ukrainian territory. The Credit Default Determination Committee an industry group of 14 banks and investors that determines whether or not to pay on these swaps said Friday that they continue to monitor the situation after Russia's payment. Their next meeting is on May 3. At the beginning of April, Russia's finance ministry said it tried to make a USD 649 million payment due April 6 toward two bonds to an unnamed US bank previously reported as JPMorgan Chase. At that time, tightened sanctions imposed for Russia's invasion of Ukraine prevented the payment from being accepted, so attempted to make the debt payment in rubles. The Kremlin, which repeatedly said it was financially able and willing to continue to pay on its debts, had argued that extraordinary events gave them the legal footing to pay in rubles, instead of dollars or euros. Investors and rating agencies, however, disagreed and did not expect Russia to be able to convert the rubles into dollars before a 30-day grace period expired next week. (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.) Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Israel's Ambassador to India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan Naor Gilon on Saturday said that his country did its best to mediate between the two nations at war and also provided humanitarian assistance to the people. "Very easy to say that everyone around the world is unhappy to see bloodshed and violence. We hope it'll stop soon. We're trying and did our best to both mediate a little between them and also to give as much assistance as we could to people," Ambassador of to India Gilon told ANI. The Israeli envoy made the remarks on the sidelines of an event on women empowerment organized by Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment (WEE) Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) and the Israeli Embassy. Talking about the initiatives taken by amidst the ongoing conflict and the humanitarian crisis, Gilon said, "We opened the field hospital in Ukraine, on the border with Poland inside Ukraine, which has just finished its work. We sent local medicine and supplies and we do hope that this thing will finish as fast as possible." On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after recognizing the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics. Russia has maintained that the aim of its operation in Ukraine is "demilitarization" and "denazification" of Ukraine. The war in Ukraine which has entered its third month now has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with more than 5 million Ukrainian fleeing to neighbouring Western countries, according to the UNHCR data. The war has also resulted in almost 3000 civilian casualties as of April 28. The casualty figures include as many as 70 children, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNOHCR). (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.) Egypt's said Sunday its monthly revenues hit an all-time record, raking in USD 629 million in April. The unprecedented income came as the in March increased transit fees for ships passing through the waterway. Adm. Ossama Rabei, head of the Authority, said in a statement that 1,929 vessels sailed through the Suez Canal last month, compared to 1,814 in April 2021. He said the revenues rose by 13.9 per cent compared to April last year when the crucial waterway received USD 553.6 million. About 10 per cent of global trade, including 7 per cent of the world's oil, flows through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red seas. The canal, which first opened in 1869, is a major source of foreign currency to . The annual revenues of the canal reached USD 6.3 billion in 2021, the highest in its history. The Canal said 20,649 vessels passed through the waterway last year, a 10 per cent increase compared to 18,830 vessels in 2020. The shipping industry is still under pressure from the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's war on has already added to global economic concerns. (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 is set to propose a ban on Russian oil by the end of the year, with restrictions on imports introduced gradually until then, according to people familiar with the matter. The EU will also push for more banks from Russia and Belarus to be cut off from the payment system SWIFT, including Sberbank, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. A decision could be made as soon as this week at a meeting of the blocs ambassadors. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden tweeted on Sunday that, just as Putin chose to launch this brutal invasion, he could make the choice to end it. One person was injured in a fire on a Russian defence ministry facility in the southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, Belgorod region governor said on Sunday. In Mariupol, a Ukrainian fighter inside the steelworks said that 20 women and children had made it out of the plant. One person was injured in a fire on a Russian defence ministry facility in the southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, Belgorod region governor said on Sunday. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a local resident suffered minor injuries and his life was not in danger. He also said that seven homes had been damaged as a result of the incident. There were no comments from the defence ministry and it was not immediately clear what caused the fire. Reuters was unable to independently verify the statements. Images posted to social media showed a large funnel of smoke rising above the ground. Reuters could not verify the reports. Separately, the governor of the Kursk region which also shares a border with Ukraine said that a railway bridge had been damaged on a line used by freight trains. Speaking in a video posted on his Telegram channel, governor Roman Starovoit called the incident an act of sabotage. last month accused Ukraine of a helicopter attack on a fuel depot in Belgorod, for which Kyiv denied responsibility, as well as shelling villages and firing missiles at an ammunition depot. Other Russian regions that share a border with Ukraine have also reported cross-border shelling incidents since Moscow sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a "special military operation". (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Angus MacSwan) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One person died, six more were injured on Sunday in a Mi-8 helicopter's hard landing at an airfield in the city of Mogocha on return from extinguishing a fire near the village of Maklakan, Trans-Baikal Territory, the emergency services told Sputnik. Earlier in the day, the regional ministry of health told Sputnik that one person died and five were injured in the crash. "One person died, six more were injured in the crash of the Mi-8 helicopter in Transbaikalia," the emergency services said. The message about the hard landing of the MI-8 helicopter was received at 11:05 Moscow time [08:05 GMT]. The helicopter was returning from extinguishing a fire near the village of Maklakan, the press service of the Transbaikalia government specified. (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 painting that really is fresh manna as it is the first painting I have created in quite some time. Being inspired by the creative worship flow that was Shalom Music Festival in Murrayvilley this piece was made. I painted this with two words from the Lord. The first was to take the one with the lions. A canvas that I had not touched for years, but it depicted a lion walking through the fires of the Lord and actually was painted during a live painting experience at a RAW artist event in Adelaide. I remember God word was in that time was PURIFY and my prayer in that painting was that his holy fires would consume the darkness in that room. Fast forward to the Shalom festival and at 3 am on Sunday Lord shows me 1 lion had turned into 5 and that's what I was going to paint. So fully prepared to paint that I went into the war room which was the chapel space at the venue and was ready to recreate my sketch. The second word is to paint this on your knees in front of the fire that was in the room. I entered the room and people were well and truly into singing and God said set up near the fire. I then went to my knees in an atmosphere of worship and got my colours mixed up. I had briefly done a quick paint over revealing a white figure in the fire which I thought was the basis of which the lions were to be created. As I began to build a rhythm with the canvas I just found myself painting the fire as I was kneeling in front of a hot fire and bringing detail into the flames. In this moment God revealed the picture and all of sudden my mind saw Hebrew characters floating in the flames. I then painted the characters into the flames and it revealed the word, Shalom. I also painted a strange symbol above the white figure that was I believed was the tongues of fire. I was taken into a trance like an experience and felt joy consume my spirit. Keep painting It was at this point that the meeting finished and God said to keep painting. The last part of my painting was centred on the figure and where I believe the true message of this piece became clear. I knew that it was Christ resurrected and that the detail of his features was that of Revelation Chapter 1. to finish off the painting God took me deeper and revealed the cross of light as being the centre of the Jesus figure and with that God spoke the message to me so clearly. It was reminiscent of Pauls reminder to the Philippians that it's about Christ being crucified and resurrected. As Paul pulled our focus in that letter back to the Gospel so did God whisper to me as I painted that cross. He said the Church is so caught chasing after the signs and wonders and all the bells and whistles of the Holy Spirit. Especially the charismatic churches which have lost focus on the cross at the expense of trying to be powerful. He followed up this message in my heart with the following words. If you want to access my power, my beautiful Holy Spirit you need to go back to me Yeshua and look at the centre of my ministry which was to reconcile you, my brothers and sisters, back into my Fathers heart. How did this happen my Son he said? My cross Son, My cross. I will let you meditate and pray on this piece and allow the purifying fires to consume you to the place that the Father is calling you into deep deep wells of His life-giving water. Check all my art at https://www.instagram.com/jrfaithcreations/ After the cancellation of his visit to India last month at the eleventh hour, Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's next visit to the country will depend on the political and security situation back home in the Mediterranean country, Ambassador Naor Gilon informed on Saturday. "It was cancelled as he contracted COVID. We're working on it. Really depends also on the political and security situation in Israel, both less stable these days but I hope the situation will be stable and visit will come soon," Israel's Ambassador to India Naor Gilon told ANI. However, the envoy refrained from speculating on the likely dates of the Israel PM's next visit to India. "I don't want to guess. I thought the visit is already... we were finalized, everything was ready, both from the Indian hosting side and our embassy side. And unfortunately, three days before the visit, everything cancelled. So, you know, I would... prefer not to predict and fail again," Gilon said. Notably, Naor Gilon is also Israel's Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Bhutan apart from being the Ambassador to India. PM Bennett's scheduled visit to India in April was called off at the last minute as he tested positive for COVID-19. His visit was to mark 30 years of India-Israel ties. The visit was also to be Bennet's first visit to India after taking oath as the country's Prime Minister. (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.) and relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal before Europe's peak summer tourist season. Greece's civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for and domestic flights except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. Under a decree passed by Italy's health ministry, the country did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. Some indoor mask mandates also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces and stores. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas and in all health care and eldercare facilities. It was needed, said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident who was having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. We have waited more than two years. At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with similarly maskless friends. It's much better, Bichler said. Let's say it's a return to life, a free life. Public health officials say masks still remain highly recommended for all indoor activities, and private companies can still require them. As of Sunday, visitors to also no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated and user-unfriendly online form required at airport check-in. Even with the restrictions increasingly going by the wayside, public health officials urged prudence and stressed that the pandemic was still not over. is reporting 699 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and is recording more than 100 deaths per day, with a total confirmed death toll at 163,500. But hospital capacity remains stable and under the critical threshold. Given the virus is still circulating, "we should keep up the vaccine campaign, including boosters, and keep up behavior inspired by prudence: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever there's a risk of contagion, said Dr. Giovanni Rezza, in charge of prevention at the health ministry. Italy was the epicenter of Europe's outbreak when it recorded the first locally transmitted case on Feb. 21, 2020. The government imposed one of the harshest lockdowns and production shutdowns in the West during the first wave of the virus, and maintained more stringent restrictions than many of its neighbors in subsequent waves. (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.) Latest news live updates: Russian President is set to undergo cancer surgery, and will reportedly nominate hardline former FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev to take temporary control of the invasion while he is under the knife, a Kremlin insider claimed. Ukrainian President switched to Russian in his nightly video address to urge Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expected that thousands of them would die. He said has been recruiting new troops with little motivation and little combat experience for the units that were gutted during the early weeks of the war so these units can be thrown back into battle. He said Russian commanders fully understand that thousands of them will die and thousands more will be wounded in the coming weeks. Despite a decline in daily new Covid cases, active infections rose to 513 in Tamil Nadu with 49 more people testing positive, the health department said on Saturday. With these new cases, the tally of Covid cases in Tamil Nadu increased to 34,53,932. Among the new cases, 24 are male and 25 female, the bulletin stated. Chennai accounted for the majority of new cases with 36. Chengalpet recorded six new Covid cases, while Coimbatore, Erode, Kanyakumari, Namakkal, Salem, Tiruvallur and Vellore reported one case each. The group will look into payment terms in roubles and other national currencies with India and other Russian partners, although countries were ... The has confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is underway. UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Ukrainian President has said that he had discussed defensive support for with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The two sides talked about the situation on the battlefield and the blocked city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky said on Twitter, adding necessary diplomatic efforts to achieve peace was another topic of the conversation. Earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian leader said he had discussed defense cooperation in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Xinhua news agency reported. --IANS int/shs (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.) U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday he will add provisions to a $33 billion Ukraine aid package to allow the to seize Russian oligarchs' assets and send money from their sale directly to Ukraine. "Ukraine needs all the help it can get and, at the same time, we need all the assets we can put together to give Ukraine the aid it needs," Schumer said at a media briefing in New York City. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve $33 billion in assistance for Kyiv on Thursday in what would mark a dramatic escalation of U.S. funding for Ukraine more than two months after it was invaded by . Schumer said the Biden administration had asked lawmakers to insert provisions into the aid bill to help it seize assets, liquidate them and send Ukraine the money. The U.S. House of Representatives signaled its support for giving the administration more power to target oligarchs profiting from their association with Russian President Vladimir Putin when it approved non-binding legislation on Wednesday. The $33 billion in funding for Ukraine, which lawmakers have said they want to approve quickly, would be used to provide weapons, ammunition and other military assistance, as well as direct economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. (Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Daniel Wallis) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ukrainian army says that a Russian offensive along a broad front in the country's east has been stalling amid human and material losses inflicted by Kyiv's forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of said Sunday in a Facebook post that Russian troops were trying to advance in the Sloboda, Donetsk and Tauride regions, but were being held back by Ukrainian forces that continue to fight village by village. Separately, Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of destroying medical infrastructure, taking equipment and denying medical care to residents in several occupied cities and towns. In a Facebook post Sunday, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense claims that ventilators and other equipment provided since 2014 by donors and the government of were removed from a hospital at Starobilsk in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region. The same post alleges that tuberculosis patients were denied medical care in the Kharkiv region at Volchansk while several facilities were used to treat wounded Russian troops. The accuracy of the claims could not be immediately verified. Ukrainian officials also said on Sunday that internet and cellular communications were cut in a large area in the Russian-occupied Kherson region and part of the Zaporizhzhia region and blamed Russian forces. The London-based internet monitor Netblocks said the Kherson region lost 75 per cent of internet connectivity beginning Saturday evening. (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.) Sri Lanka's beleaguered President Gotabaya on Sunday urged all political parties to set aside their differences and appealed to the worried citizens to join hands to steer a "pro-people struggle", amidst growing demands for his government's immediate resignation over its failure to tackle the country's worst economic crisis. His message to the people on Workers' Day came a day after the powerful Buddhist clergy in the island nation warned that people would be influenced to reject all politicians if Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya's elder brother, did not resign to make way for an interim government to resolve the political and economic crisis in the country. "On this #InternationalWorkersDay, I once again invite all political party leaders in #lka to come to a consensus on behalf of the people. It's my sincere wish to call on the people to join hands to steer a pro-people struggle setting aside political differences," Gotabaya tweeted. is currently in the throes of unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices. On Thursday, nearly 1,000 trade unions staged a one-day nationwide strike, demanding the immediate resignation of the government, including President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda. The unions from a number of sectors, including the state service, health, ports, electricity, education and postal joined the strike under the theme Bow to the people - government go home', urging the President, the Prime Minister and the government to go home'. In his May Day message, Gotabaya said instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what is needed is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief to the public, online portal newsfirst.lk reported. Pointing out that in the past three years, the group that faced the most serious challenges in the country are the working class, the president said they are also the ones who were resilient in the face of all these challenges and made great commitments to strengthen the national economy. "As the day-to-day challenges they face are even more intense today, the government is taking various approaches to liberate the people from this situation and alleviate the oppressive nature of the situation," he said. Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across since April 9, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in fuel, medicines and electricity supply. Gotabaya emphasised that the loss of foreign exchange has created many issues, and managing all these factors is the way to solve the current problems. It is with these aspirations that I join with you in celebrating the Workers' Day that embodies the Workers' Brotherhood, the global labour force, the report quoted the president as saying in his message. A senior leader from Sri Lanka's Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Lakshman Kiriella, on Saturday said his party will prove their majority in Parliament this week for the no-confidence motion against the government led by the family. President Gotabaya has asked the Opposition to show their majority by garnering the support of 113 lawmakers in the 225-member Parliament to form the interim government. Everyone will be able to see that we command a majority next week and I will not reveal how we are going to do it as of now, the Daily Mirror newspaper had quoted SJB MP and Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella as saying. needs at least USD 4 billion to tide over its mounting economic woes, and talks with institutions such as the World Bank as well as countries like China and Japan for financial assistance have been going on. Sri Lankan officials were in Washington last week to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout. India has agreed to extend an additional USD 500 million credit line to help Sri Lanka import fuel. India has already agreed to defer USD 1.5 billion in import payments that Sri Lanka needs to make to the Asian Clearing 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.) United Nations Security Council condemned the continued "heinous" terrorist attacks targeting civilians, including religious minority communities, and civilian infrastructure across during the month of Ramzaan and called it a serious threat to peace and security. "The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security," the UNSC press release read. The members of the UNSC condemned attacks including the attack against the Mawlawi Sekander mosque in Kunduz on April 22 which killed more than 25 people and injured dozens. It also rebuked the attack against two minibuses in Mazar-e-Sharif on April 28 which was claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), an entity affiliated with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and resulted in the death of 9 people and wounding several . Moreover, the release also shows the UNSC's condemnation of the attack against the Khalifa Sahib mosque in Kabul on April 29, where early reports indicate that at least 30 people were killed and many more injured. The attacks on civilians have become a regular affair in where religious minority communities were targeted during the month of Ramzaan. The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and they wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured. UNSC members underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under law and relevant Security Council resolutions; to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard. The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whatever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. (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.) Citizens and in cities around were taking to the streets on Sunday for May Day marches, and put out protest messages to their governments, notably in France where the holiday to honour workers was being used as a rallying cry against newly reelected President . In Italy, after a two-year pandemic lull, an outdoor mega-concert was set for Rome with rallies and protests in cities across the country. Besides work, peace was an underlying theme with calls for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Italy's three main labour unions were focusing their main rally in the hilltop town of Assisi, a frequent destination for peace protests. This year's slogan is Working for peace. It's a May Day of social and civil commitment for peace and labour, said the head of Italy's CISL union, Daniela Fumarola. Protests were planned far and wide in Europe, including in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where students and planned to rally in support of Ukraine as Communists, anarchists and anti-European Union groups held their own gatherings. In France, the May Day rallies are meant to show Macron the opposition he could face in his second five-year term and to power up against his centrists before June legislative elections. Opposition parties, notably the far left and far right, are looking to break his government's majority. In a first, far-right leader Marine Le Pen was absent from her party's traditional wreath-laying at the foot of a statue of Joan of Arc, replaced by the interim president of her National Rally party. Le Pen was defeated by Macron in the runoff of the presidential election, and plans to campaign to keep her seat as a lawmaker. I've come to tell the French that the voting isn't over. There is a third round, the legislative elections, said Jordan Bardella, and it would be unbelievable to leave full power to . (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.) Tensions between the and escalated after British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned to play by rules or be ready to face action by the G7 group of leading global powers acting as "an economic NATO". "Countries must play by the rules. And that includes China," Truss said in a speech at Mansion House in London. "They will not continue to rise if they do not play by the rules. needs trade with the G7. We (the Group of Seven) represent around half of the global economy. And we have choices," she said in her speech at Mansion House, London, Global Times reported. Responding to the statement and Truss, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said, " rules should be the norms governing relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, rather than the rules of a small circle or clique." The foreign secretary warned that China could face sanctions like Russia from an "assertive" G7 if it threatens others' security, adding: "They (Russia, China) will not continue to rise if they do not play by the rules,' Global Times reported. Liz Truss also criticised China for not condemning Russia over the Ukraine conflict. "NATO has long adhered to the old concept of security, engaged in the confrontation between factions and become a tool for individual countries to seek hegemony," Wang further stated, calling out NATO as a product of the Cold War. Blaming the organization, he also said that NATO claims to be a defensive organization, but in fact, it is constantly creating confrontations and disturbances. Although Beijing has extended firm diplomatic support to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, it appears unwilling to back Moscow in a whole-hearted manner to avert Western sanctions due to the fear of secondary sanctions. China's support to Russia in opposition to the enlargement of NATO has given rise to concerns in the Eastern and Central European countries about the reliability of the Asian giant as a partner which can be counted on. Wang Wenbin called China's position on the Ukraine issue consistent and clear. Underlining the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has also emphasised earlier the role of NATO and that the and its partner countries need to pre-empt threats in the region to ensure that democracies like Taiwan are able to defend themselves. (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.) Ukrainian forces fought village by village Saturday to hold back a Russian advance through the country's east, while the United Nations worked to broker a civilian evacuation from the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city, and up to 1,000 are living beneath a sprawling Soviet-era steel plant, according to Ukrainian officials. has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but put the number at about 2,000. Russian state media outlets reported Saturday that 25 civilians had been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks, though there was no confirmation from the UN Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said 19 adults and six children were brought out, but gave no further details. A top official with the Azov Regiment, the Ukrainian unit defending the plant, said 20 civilians were evacuated during a cease-fire, though it was not clear if he was referring to the same group as the Russian news reports. These are women and children, Sviatoslav Palamar said in a video posted on the regiment's Telegram channel. He also called for the evacuation of the wounded: We don't know why they are not taken away and their evacuation to the territory controlled by is not being discussed. Video and images from inside the plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands are among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed unidentified men with stained bandages; had open wounds or amputated limbs. A skeleton medical staff was treating at least 600 wounded people, said the women, who identified their husbands as members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine's National Guard. Some of the wounds were rotting with gangrene, they said. In the video the men said that they eat just once daily and share as little as 1.5 litres (50 ounces) of water a day among four people, and that supplies inside the besieged facility are depleted. One shirtless man appeared to be in pain as he described his wounds: two broken ribs, a punctured lung and a dislocated arm that was hanging on the flesh. I want to tell everyone who sees this: If you will not stop this here, in Ukraine, it will go further, to Europe, he said. AP could not independently verify the date and location of the video, which the women said was taken in the last week in the maze of corridors and bunkers beneath the plant. The women urged that Ukrainian fighters also be evacuated alongside civilians, warning they could be tortured and executed if captured. The lives of soldiers matter too, Yuliia Fedusiuk told AP in Rome. In his nightly video address late Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy switched into Russian to urge Russian troops not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expect that thousands more of them will die. The president accused Moscow of recruiting new soldiers with little motivation and little combat experience so that units gutted early in the war can be thrown back into battle. Every Russian soldier can still save his own life, Zelenskyy said. It's better for you to survive in than to perish on our land. In other developments: Ukrainian Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky said in televised remarks that Russian forces have seized hundreds of thousands of tons of grain in territory under their control. is a major grain producer, and the invasion has pushed up world prices and raised concerns about shortages. A Russian rocket attack destroyed the airport runway in Odesa, Ukraine's third-most populous city and a key Black Sea port, the Ukrainian army said. The bodies of three men were found buried in a forest near the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, the head of Kyiv's regional police force said. The men, whose bodies were found Friday, had been tortured before they were shot in the head, Andriy Nebytov wrote on Facebook. Ukrainian officials have alleged that retreating Russian troops carried out mass killings of civilians in Bucha. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators talk almost every day. However, he told Chinese state news agency Xinhua, progress has not been easy. Two buses sent to evacuate residents from the eastern town of Popasna were fired upon, and contact with the organisers was lost, Mayor Nikolai Khanatov said: We know that (the buses) reached the town and then came under fire from an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine has been difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts suggested that the offensive in the Donbas region, which includes Mariupol, was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and the separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Numerically, Russia's military manpower vastly exceeds Ukraine's. In the days before the war began, Western intelligence estimated had positioned near the border as many as 190,000 troops; Ukraine's standing military totals about 200,000, spread throughout the country. Yet, in part because of the tenacity of the Ukrainian resistance, the US believes the Russians are at least several days behind where they wanted to be as they try to encircle Ukrainian troops in the east, said a senior US defence official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the American military's assessment. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russia's offensive still could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel. Russia also has a much larger air force and navy. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russia's vast armouries mean Ukraine's needs are nearly inexhaustible. Mariupol officials have described dire shortages of food, water and medicine. UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said the world organisation was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but he could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort "because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation. There is, right now, ongoing, high-level engagements with all the governments, Russia and Ukraine, to make sure that you can save civilians and support the evacuation of civilians from the plant, Abreu told AP. He would not confirm video posted on social media purportedly showing UN-marked vehicles in Mariupol. Ukraine has blamed the failure of numerous previous evacuation attempts on continued Russian shelling. (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.) U.S. House Speaker has praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and vowed continued U.S. support to help Ukraine defeat Russia after leading a congressional delegation to Kyiv to assess Ukraine's needs for the next phase of the war. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is next in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia's war began more than two months ago. She and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraine's defences so far and offering continued long-term military, humanitarian and economic support, vowing the would stand with Ukraine until it defeated Russia. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. He said: We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Pelosi said she was dazzled by Zelenskyy's expertise of all the issues at hand and described him at their meeting as a remarkable master class of leadership. (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.) Life Insurance of Corporation of Indias initial public offering gets bids from large investors for twice the size of the anchor book, according to people with the knowledge of the matter. The anchor book of 56 billion rupees ($733 million) for the countrys largest public offering of 210 billion rupees will be announced on Monday. Singapores GIC Pte and Norways sovereign wealth fund are among the anchor investors, the people said, asking not to be identified before an official announcement. didnt immediately respond to email seeking comment. The IPO aims to price shares between 902 rupees and 949 rupees each. Firms in India have raised about $1.1 billion through this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Thats less than half of the almost $3 billion raised in the same period in 2021. The offering runs from May 4 to 9 for other investors. Indian exporters are getting lots of enquiries from Russian entities for supply of various types of goods. Many of them, especially the smaller exporters, are not sure whether they can respond in confidence that they can execute the orders and get the payments. Before invading Ukraine, Russia mainly an exporter of military hardware and commodities like oil, gas, coal, and some metals relied on imports from Europe and North America to meet most of its other requirements. After the invasion of Ukraine and the stringent economic sanctions imposed by the United States and ... Google has been rather sceptical about changing Chrome's interface and layout, given its vast user base. However, such changes may be in progress in its Chrome web browser, with the addition of a customizable toolbar shortcut. Google on Android has been following a traditional approach with the toolbar with the home button, address bar, tab switcher, and overflow menu, housing many such actions. According to 9to5Google, Google now appears to be more widely rolling out a 'toolbar shortcut' between the Omnibox and tab button/counter. One of three actions can appear here: New tab (plus sign), Share, or Voice search (microphone). By default, the button users see is 'Based on your usage,' with Google providing a 'Current recommendation.' 'New tab' and 'Share' are already placed in the overflow menu, while the 'Voice search' appears on tapping the address bar. Toolbar shortcuts date back to Chrome 92 for Android in July 2021. It was introduced to some people as part of a regular A/B test. Even after version 101 went stable on Tuesday, its availability has been much higher in the last few weeks, although Google hasn't officially announced the features yet. This addition is a small change in a large scheme, but represents a non-negligible UI addition to the Chrome layout for Android. Google should consider this button a big enough improvement for users to roll out. (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.) Relations with China strategically important: Azerbaijani president Xinhua) 09:36, May 01, 2022 BAKU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijan-China relations are strategically important and have a lot of potential, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said here Friday. "I am very glad that the relations are developing very successfully," Aliyev said when answering a question about the cooperation between Azerbaijan and China during an international conference themed "South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation." Highlighting the cooperation in the field of transportation and transit, he said Azerbaijan "already started to receive cargo from China, but not in big volumes because we clearly understand that China has the diversified supply routes through different sources. And we just tried to make our route more attractive." "But recently we got several messages from Chinese companies that they want to increase the transportation of cargoes through the Middle Corridor," said the president. Calling these the new opportunities for Azerbaijan, Aliyev stressed the necessity of investing in the expansion of the country's transportation to handle potential cargo growth. The Azerbaijani leader also said his country's cooperation with China is not limited just to transit and transportation. "We are now in the process of creating the Alat Free Economic Zone, which will receive its first residents, I hope, next year. It is in a very good location, just next to the sea port, and has a big area. And the regulations there are very attractive for international companies," he said. "We would like to see Chinese companies as investors here," Aliyev noted. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) After its global unveil in India last November and subsequent spy shots showing it landing at the Batangas Port and on its way to dealers... Re. Kelowna looking at crafting an anti-idling bylaw (Castanet, April 22) The reason we have a carbon tax in this country is to raise the amount of economic pain suffered by the users of fossil fuels enough to motivate them to change to another energy source. The tax is currently $50 per tonne, rising to $170 in several increments over the next few years. So why, then, is Kelowna city council proposing a new anti-idling bylaw? Isn't the carbon tax supposed to take care of this problem? One possibility is city council does not believe the carbon tax is robust enough to do the job, so it needs to take matters into its own hands. Trust me, if gasoline at $1.88, the certainty of higher prices coming soon due to geopolitical strife and rising carbon taxes aren't enough to get people to reduce gasoline usage, a new bylaw (with an almost zero chance of being enforced) certainly won't help. Council is merely wasting more tax money (our money, not its) to enact one more bylaw on the books that won't be enforced. What's the point? Another possibility is council feels the need to be seen to be doing something about climate change. This is a problem with every level of government they have fallen deeply in love with banning objects and activities, whether such a ban actually helps or not. Sadly, COVID-19 has brought out this fetish in abundance. Surely our city resources could be focused on more important issues like homelessness, open drug use and vagrancy downtown, the transit system, the fire department and the shortage of affordable housing just to name a few? You know, the things that actually make a city either livable or not. Strangely, the issue of parents idling their cars outside schoolyards, waiting for their kids hasn't been mentioned lately in the Castanet letters section or in any newspaper editorials as something Kelowna residents are truly worried about. But perhaps city council knows better than ordinary (residents) do. Lloyd Vinish, Kelowna Photo: The Canadian Press A Surete du Quebec police car is seen in Montreal on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Quebec provincial police are warning people in the town of Madeleine-Centre to stay in their homes after a report that a polar bear was spotted in the area. Quebec provincial police are warning people in the town of Madeleine-Centre to stay in their homes after a report that a polar bear was spotted in the area. The town, located on the Gaspe peninsula, is less than 300 km north of the New Brunswick border and separated from more northern parts of Quebec by more than 100 km of water. Police spokesman Sgt. Stephane Tremblay says a citizen reported the polar bear to wildlife officials who asked police to ensure the public's safety until they could arrive. Tremblay says conservation officers arrived and took charge of the situation before 2 p.m. Saturday. The province's Forests, Wildlife and Parks Department says it can't yet confirm whether the animal that was spotted is in fact a polar bear. Polar bears have been spotted occasionally in coastal regions on Quebec's Lower North Shore -- around 500 km north of Madeleine-Centre. Indian pharma exports witnessed a growth of 103 per cent since 2013-14. A significant rise has been reported from Rs 90,415 crores in 2013-14 to Rs 1,83,422 crores in 2021-22, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed on Sunday. The exports achieved in 2021-22 is the Pharma Sector's best export performance ever. It is a remarkable growth with exports growing by almost USD 10 billion in 8 years, the Ministry said. Highlighting the achievement in a tweet, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal said that under the active leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been serving as the 'pharmacy of the world'. Building on the outstanding performance in the previous FY 2020-21, Indian pharma exports once again registered a healthy performance in 2021-22. The pharma exports in 2021-22 sustained a positive growth despite the global trade disruptions and drop in demand for COVID-related medicines. The trade balance continues to be in India's favour, with a surplus of USD 15175.81 Million. As per the release, Indian pharma companies enabled by their price competitiveness and good quality have made a global mark with 60 per cent of the world's vaccines and 20 per cent of generic medicines coming from India. India ranks 3rd worldwide for production by volume and 14th by value. Behind India's pharma success story is our world-class manufacturing excellence, robust infrastructure, cost-competitiveness, trained human capital, and innovation. The current market size of the Indian pharmaceutical industry is around USD 50 billion. The share of pharmaceuticals and drugs in our global exports is 5.92 per cent. Formulations and biologicals continue to account for a major share of 73.31 per cent in our total exports, followed by bulk drugs and drug intermediates with exports of USD 4437.64 million. India's top 5 pharma export destinations are the USA, UK, South Africa, Russia and Nigeria. It is also noteworthy that around 55 per cent of our pharma exports cater to highly regulated markets. Indian pharma companies have a substantial share in the prescription market in the US and EU. The largest number of FDA approved plants outside the US is in India. Even in the year, 2020-21, Indian drugs and pharmaceuticals had registered a sharp growth amid the COVID despair, achieving export of USD 24.4 Bn with a YoY growth of 18 per cent, the release read. The extraordinary export growth in 2020-21 was achieved by braving the frequent lockdowns, global supply chain disruptions, and the depressed manufacturing sector. Indian pharma industry played a pivotal role in fighting against the COVID pandemic and demonstrating to the world that we continue to be a reliable and dependent partner when it comes to dealing with a global health crisis. Indian vaccine industry developed the Covid vaccine with indigenous technology in collaboration with India's research institutions like ICMR and NIV within the shortest time on par with highly developed countries like America and the EU. India provided 115million doses of vaccines to more than 97 countries. As part of the trade agreements, India also signed a cooperation agreement with UAE and Australia which will give enhanced access to Indian pharma products in these markets, the release added. (ANI) Also Read: HDFC increases interest rates by 5 basis points Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan avoided condemning the hooliganism and sloganeering by the pilgrims at Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque against newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation, terming the whole incident as a "public reaction". Worshippers present at the Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque in Madina raised slogans against Sharif and his delegation. Although Imran Khan refrained from commenting on the issue, he broke his silence on Friday, reported the News International. "We are not asking the people to come out. It's the public themselves coming out to protest as they are in pain and anger, however, I can challenge they [the rulers] won't be able to show their faces in any public place," he said. Further, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan said that his government was thwarted wrongfully by a foreign conspiracy and that the present government was also involved in the matter, reported the News International. He even added that the sloganeering at the mosque was a "result of their deeds". "A bunch of crooks has been imposed on Pakistan and NRO-II is given through foreign conspiracy, therefore, what happened at Masjid-e-Nabavi was a result of their deeds," Khan said. Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI), refused to take on the blame for the misbehaviour. The PTI chairman stated that all the party members were busy in Shab-e-Dua when the incident took place, reported the News International. Meanwhile, Anil Musarat, a London-based Pakistani PTI leader, denied that he was neither responsible for organizing the protest nor did he provoke anyone to do so. Sahibzada Jehangir, another PTI leader, asserted that he visited Saudi Arabia just to perform Umra and had no connection with the pilgrim protest. Earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister went on a three-day official visit to Saudia Arabia with his delegation, seeking an additional package of USD 3.2 billion from the Arab country. Sharif's decision is to avert further depletion of Pakistan's foreign currency reserves. During his visit to the Masjid-e-Nabwi mosque, a group of pilgrims chanted slogans, calling them "chor". (ANI) Also Read: Former Pak PM Imran Khan announces huge march towards Islamabad against Shehbaz Sharif's government United Nations Security Council condemned the continued "heinous" terrorist attacks targeting civilians, including religious minority communities, and civilian infrastructure across Afghanistan during the month of Ramzaan and called it a serious threat to international peace and security. "The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," the UNSC press release read. The members of the UNSC condemned attacks including the attack against the Mawlawi Sekander mosque in Kunduz on April 22 which killed more than 25 people and injured dozens. It also rebuked the attack against two minibuses in Mazar-e-Sharif on April 28 which was claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), an entity affiliated with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and resulted in the death of 9 people and wounding several others. Moreover, the release also shows the UNSC's condemnation of the attack against the Khalifa Sahib mosque in Kabul on April 29, where early reports indicate that at least 30 people were killed and many more injured. The attacks on civilians have become a regular affair in Afghanistan where religious minority communities were targeted during the month of Ramzaan. The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and they wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured. UNSC members underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions; to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard. The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whatever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. (ANI) Also Read: Sri Lankan Opposition leader slams govt for being reckless The Chattanooga Mocs softball team split the final Saturday doubleheader at Frost Stadium this season against the Mercer Bears. The Mocs won game one 6-3 and fell in game two 3-6.Chattanooga moved to 22-24 overall and 6-8 in Southern Conference action. With the game-two win, Mercer improved to 14-35, 6-11.Mercer and Chattanooga conclude the three-game series tomorrow, May 1 with a 2 p.m. game at Frost Stadium.In game one, Mercer got on the board early with a three-run home run in the top of the first.In the bottom half, Kailey Snell put the Mocs on the board with a double, driving in Emily Coltharp from second.A few batters later, with two on and two out, Reagan Armour doubled off the center field wall, tying the game at three.Coltharp gave the Mocs their first lead in the second, scoring Gracey Kruse on an RBI double down the left field line.In the third, Presley Williamson extended the Chattanooga lead with a sacrifice fly to center. The Mocs scored the games ninth and final run on an Olivia Lipari triple to center.Brooke Parrott was dominant in relief. She picked up the win allowing three hits in six shutout innings out of the bullpen. The Harrison, Tenn. native struck out two and walked three.Coltharp went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Seven other Mocs recorded a base hit in the contest.Mercers Katie Rearley was given the loss. She allowed six earned runs in 3.2 innings of work on nine hits with two strikeouts.In game two, Mercer scored in the first just like game one. The visitors took the lead on a double to the wall in center. In the second inning, the Bears doubled their lead, plating an unearned run on a single to left.Mercer continued to build on its lead in the third, adding two more runs, one earned to the line.In the fourth, Kaili Phillips eliminated the shutout, blasting a solo home run over the center field wall. In the fifth, Chattanooga doubled its runs with a Coltharp RBI single up the middle.Mercer added some insurance in the seventh, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the inning. In the final half, Kruse belted her second home run of the season, cutting the Mocs deficit to three.Kailey Snell led the Chattanooga offense with a 3-for-3 day. The sophomore also stole two bases for the second time this season.Parrott got the start, allowing four runs, two earned on six hits in two innings of work. Hannah Wood entered in relief and threw four innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits.Mercers Alyssa Woods went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. There was plenty of fireworks on Senior Day at Butler Field as the Lee softball rallied from four runs down in the seventh to defeat No. 18 West Florida, 9-8 in eight innings.Senior Janina Remley drilled a three-run homer to cut the lead to 8-7. Coach Emily Russell then went to the bench and called on pinch hitter Riley Goodridge who blasted the game tying home run to left. The Lady Flames completed the comeback with the game winning run in the eighth as Sidney Lee singled to left and Taylor De Adder scored on a misplay by the West Florida left fielder.Caroline Pattison (2-0) earned the win in the circle as she came in relief in the seventh and tossed two scoreless innings.Madison Barnett started and allowed eight runs, seven earned over six innings. She struck out six and gave up 11 hits."What a game one win. This team rallied together and it was really fitting that all three catchers homered in the game and Janina, as a senior, hit the big three-run homer to get us going in that wild seventh inning," said Lee head coach Emily Russell. "It's been a really difficult week for me and my family (coach Russell's father passed away after a long battle with illness earlier this week). It was special to have my family here today and be together. My Dad loved softball and played a big part in my development as a player and a person. It was also special to celebrate senior day with two players who came from a long distance to play for us and got to play in front of their families for the first time in a long time." Senior Taylor De Adder is from Maple Ridge, British Columbia and senior Janina Remley hails from San Diego, Calif.Sidney Lee got the scoring started for the Lady Flames with a three-run home run to straightaway center in the bottom of the first. Javaria Smith doubled, singled twice, and scored two runs.Kelsey Sweatt (13-8) went all 7.2 innings and threw a whopping 180 pitches. She gave up nine runs on nine hits. She struck out eight and walked eight.Madelyn Vasquez and Teala Howard hit a solo homers in the second and third innings. Kayla Mayo registered a two-run double in the fifth.GAME 2 LEE 2 UWF 8Montana Young (11-2) scattered nine hits for the Argonauts in a complete game 8-2 victory over the Lady Flames in Saturday's nightcap. Young allowed one earned run and struck out eight.Brett Leiva got West Florida going with a two-run home run in the second. Mayo made it 3-0 with a single in the third.Annalyn Ormsby got Lee on the board in the fourth inning with a single up the middle to score Smith but from there the Lady Flames were stifled by Young. Bre Patton and Ana Macha had three hits each for the Lady Flames in game two.The Argonauts broke things open with a three-run sixth inning. Kayanna Perez singled home the first run. Teala Howard followed right behind with a run scoring single and Mayo capped the rally with single to give her four RBI on the day. Madilynne Webb launched a two-run home run in seventh to cap the West Florida scoring.Alaina Watson (2-2) battled through 5.2 innings. She allowed six runs on 11 hits and struck out three.Following game two the Lady Flames honored seniors Taylor De Adder, Janina Remley, and Maggie Long. De Adder De Adder's statistics speak for themselves as she wraps up her four-year career. She has started 156 of 158 possible games and is currently batting .373, leads the Lady Flames with 41 RBI, .611 slugging percentage, .521 on-base mark and .993 fielding percentage. Her career marks are also as consistent, .379 hitting, 138 RBI, .584 slugging, .492 on base and .983 fielding. She has been an All-GSC player and All-Academic award winner for three straight years. Remley has made the most of her senior year. The catcher/designated player started just 10 games her first three seasons but has started 27 this year hitting .220 with five homers, 23 RBI, and 21 walks. Long has served as the team manager and was named the top team manager at the annual Starr Awards (Lee Athletic Awards Banquet) earlier this week.The Lady Flames are now 27-20 and 17-11 in the GSC. The Argonauts move to 28-14 and 20-8 in league play. The two teams will wrap up the regular season with the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. from Butler Field. Police spoke with a woman on Highway 58 who said her rental gray Chrysler Voyager was stolen from her apartment complex. She was leaving the parking lot, and went back inside her apartment to use the bathroom. When she came outside the van was gone. It was a rental vehicle from Enterprise Rent-A-Car with no damage, no dents, and no sticker on the vehicle. * * * A man on Waterwalk Place told police he discovered two queries on his credit report that were done apparently from someone trying to open up two credit card accounts in his name. One was an account with TBOM Vervent First Access, which he believes is with a Missouri bank with address - P.O. Box 89028 Sioux Falls, SD 57109. The other one was with Synchrony Financial with address - P.O. Box 8726 Dayton, OH 45401. He said they were probably done online using his identity (name, etc). He then got another address - Rossville, GA 30741 and phone number that were associated with the account. He got that info from Transunion when he checked the queries on there. He said that address in Rossville is possibly where the credit cards were going to be sent to, and he has no idea who is doing this. * * * An employee at Academy Sports, 5929 Hwy. 153, told police that a baggie of a white powder substance was found in the dressing room of the store. Police retrieved the baggie and transported it to Property Division for disposal. * * * A man on Rosemary Drive told police he received a ticket in the mail for running a red light. He said he could not find the date of the violation on the ticket and said it is not on his vehicle. He said his vehicle has been parked in front of his residence for weeks and does not know when the tag was stolen. The TN tag has been listed in NCIC. * * * A woman on Wisdom Street told police that a heavy-set black male wearing a black shirt, black shorts and black ball cap, pointed a black firearm in the direction of her house. She said the man then walked thorough the alley towards Allin Street She said she had not spoken to the man and he never said anything to her. Police searched the area, but were unable to locate a man matching the description. * * * Police were called for a disorder prevention at a residence on N. Chamberlain Avenue. Police spoke with a man who said he and his father had issues. The son said he was called to his mother's house to fix his dog's collar. He told police he has had previous issues with his father and felt like he was being harassed. However, the occupants of the house had called the son to the residence for the purpose of fixing the collar. Once the collar was fixed, they dispersed without incident. * * * Police responded to an abandoned auto at 15 Tunnel Blvd. Police spoke with a man who said that he ran out of gas and had help getting his vehicle pushed to where it was parked. Police asked if he was okay and he said he was; he was just filling up his car and leaving. * * * Police checked at 249 Water St. to see if a former abandoned vehicle had been moved. It was still abandoned and the 48-hour tow sticker had been ripped off. Shackleford Towing responded and towed the vehicle. * * * A woman on Cowart Street told police she discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter from her vehicle. No cameras were in the area that would have caught the theft. No suspect information is available. * * * Officers responded to a vehicle recovered stolen outside of Chattanooga on Pembrook Lane. The listed Chevrolet Malibu was found parked in the parking lot and unoccupied on the south side of the building. Dispatch confirmed the vehicle was stolen and it was towed by NC Towing. The vehicle was removed from NCIC by Fort Oglethorpe Police Department. * * * A disorder was reported at a residence on Gunbarrel Road. Police spoke with a woman and a man. The woman said the man had been living with her for two months and she wanted him to leave and be trespassed. Both of them said they were involved in a verbal disorder that was not physical. The man gathered his belongings and placed them on the edge of the road. He was trespassed by police from the woman's property. Police left the scene while the man was standing off of the woman's property on the edge of the road. The woman called police 10 minutes later and said he had come back on her property. Police told her to take a video of him on the property if he returned again. * * * An employee of River City Co., 850 Market St., called police because a black male was lying on the stage at Miller Plaza and would not leave. He said that he had asked the man to leave, but he would not. Police spoke to the man who was lying on the stage and explained that no one is allowed to lie on the stage area, because if one does, everyone will. The man said that he needed a break from riding his bike to tighten his kickstand. The officer tightened the kickstand for him. The man then said that he believes he is having problems with his kidneys. He refused an ambulance. Police gave him both of their bottles of water. The man was able to get up and leave the area as requested. Judge Tom Greenholtz has been unanimously confirmed to the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section by the Tennessee General Assembly. He was appointed to the intermediate appellate court by Governor Bill Lee on March 28 and will succeed Judge Norma McGee Ogle, who has announced her retirement, effective Sept. 1. The move sets up a second opening on judge posts at Hamilton County Criminal Court. Judge Don Poole is retiring, and Amanda Dunn, Boyd Patterson and Rebecca Stern are running for the seat. Judge Greenholtz first joined the bench in 2015 when he was appointed and then elected Criminal Court Judge for the 11th Judicial District, which is Hamilton County. He also presides over the Hamilton County Drug Recovery Court. Judge Greenholtz is a well-respected and outstanding member of the judiciary and his confirmation to the Court of Criminal Appeals will serve the people of Tennessee well, said Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger A. Page. He has been innovative and diligent in ensuring the criminal courts of Hamilton County are open and transparent, before and during the pandemic, and has also been a strong advocate for civics education in our communities. These issues build public trust in our court system and the Supreme Court is thrilled he will be championing these initiatives on the Court of Criminal Appeals. While on the bench in Hamilton County, Judge Greenholtz built a website for his court that included a full calendar of all hearings and trials so that the public, media, attorneys and case participants had easy and simple access to the courts docket. He broadcast court proceedings to the webpage when court access was limited during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued that practice. Judge Greenholtz is also an active public speaker and frequently visits schools and civic groups to build understanding of the court system. He is regularly invited to teach at continuing legal education classes throughout the state. I am humbled by the trust and confidence expressed in me by Governor Bill Lee and by our General Assembly, Judge Greenholtz said. The Court of Criminal Appeals is an essential institution to the rule of law, and it helps safeguard the equal protection of our laws in our criminal justice system. Judge Ogle and Judge Kelly Thomas, who are both retiring, have given decades of honorable and dedicated service to the people of this State, and I am privileged to help continue, in a small way, their exceptional work. While Judge Greenholtz is the son of a lawyer and was greatly influenced by this fathers legal career as an administrative law judge, that relationship was cut short when his father passed away after a long battle with cancer when the younger Judge Greenholtz was only 15 years old. I have been fortunate to have several important examples to guide my views of the law. Early on, I learned from my father that to serve the law is foremost to serve our people. Later as a law clerk to Justice William M. Barker, I also learned of the important, though limited, role that our courts play within our system of separated powers, Judge Greenholtz said. In my view, the law exists principally to guarantee our fundamental liberties, and, alongside the other branches of government, our courts serve as a valuable protection for our constitutional values. In this context, the role of the judge is one as a servant of the people, keeping in mind both the important and limited nature of this special position. Prior to becoming a judge, he spent 13 years in private practice handling criminal and civil matters at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel P.C., Shumacker Witt Gaither & Whitaker, P.C., and Summers & Wyatt, P.C., all in Chattanooga. After graduating from law school, Judge Greenholtz clerked for former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William H. Barker for three years. He also taught as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for 20 years, teaching classes in judicial decision making, presidential powers, and Constitutional Law, among other topics. He earned his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law and bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Judge Greenholtz is involved with a variety of legal and community organizations, including: United Way of Greater Chattanooga (Board Member of Governing Board of Directors); Community Investment Committee, Co-Chair, Chair, and Member; Allocation Panel Volunteer; St. Peters Episcopal Church, Member of Vestry; Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast; Rotary Club of Chattanooga; Chambliss Center for Children, former Board Member and Past Chairperson; Orange Grove Center, Board Member, former Chairperson, former President; Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, former Board Member; Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, former Board Member; and St. Peters Episcopal School, former Board Member. Judge Greenholtz also served as chairperson of the Tennessee Supreme Courts Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and as a Disciplinary District Committee Member for the Board of Professional Responsibility. He is a member of the Ray L. Brock and Robert E. Cooper American Inn or Court, Tennessee Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association, American Bar Association and Federal Bar Association. 90 Day Fiance couple Emily and Kobe finally reunited in the Apr. 24 episode, and it didnt take long for Emily to start grilling Kobe about their wedding plans. When the couple went to dinner, she questioned Kobes financial situation and demanded a different engagement ring. Emily and Kobe, 90 Day Fiance Season 9 | TLC The pair share a child. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Kobe has yet to meet his son in person. He expected to meet his little boy as soon as he arrived in Salina, Kansas, where Emily and Koban live with her parents, but she had other plans. The 90 Day Fiance stars hit their first bump in their relationship when Emily told Kobe about her plans for his first night. Instead of going directly to meet Koban, Emily wants to spend some alone time with Kobe in a hotel to work on their sex life. She broke the news by showing Kobe some pink lingerie she bought for their special night. However, Kobe told 90 Day Fiance producers that he felt like she was being selfish. He assumed he would meet Koban right away. Kobe finally agreed to Emilys plans for their mommy and daddy time. However, at dinner, Emily fired off a barrage of questions regarding their wedding plans and Kobes financial situation. Date night or meet his son? Kobe arrives in America on #90DayFiance TOMORROW at 8/7c! pic.twitter.com/dRjn6a6u8h 90DayFiance (@90DayFiance) April 30, 2022 RELATED: 90 Day Fiance Fans Have a Sneaky Suspicion That Kara Is a Karen Emily called her engagement ring from Kobe a gumball machine ring 90 Day Fiance star Emily inquired about Kobes financial situation. She asked him about a cafe he bought in his home country of Cameroon. The 34-year-old former underwear model planned to save the money he made from the cafe to use in America. Because Kobe is in America on a K-1 visa, hes unable to work for the first six months of his stay. Kobe told Emily he got back the money he invested in the cafe. However, he dodged the question of how much money he actually brought to the United States. When he balked at her questioning, Emily said, I dont want to have to pay everything. Am I going to have to pay for my own ring? I want a real ring. Emily showed 90 Day Fiance producers her engagement ring in the following scene. So, this is the ring that Kobe proposed with, she said, holding up her left hand. I think he bought it off the streets somewhere in China, but its super fake. Its kind of a gumball machine ring. Its really about the thought that counts, but I want a real ring that I can pass down to my kids. Some 90 Day Fiance fans dont think Emily should put all the responsibility on Kobe 90 Day Fiance star Emily confused fans when she questioned Kobe about his finances. She doesnt have a full-time job and lives with her parents. One Redditor wrote, Emily is so damn annoying. Kobe basically was saying how he supported her ass in China so its ok if she has to do the same. I wouldnt be surprised if the reason hes hiding the amount of money is because he knows shes not good with money. I bet shed want to run through all of his money for things just fun things. Another commenter pointed out how spoiled Emily acts, She is spoiled. She wants a new ring that he buys. She wont let him see his son until she gets her secks [SIC]. She is already going to be one of 90 Days most hated. Will Kobe and Emily eventually tie the knot? Tune into TLC or discovery+ every Sunday for new episodes of 90 Day Fiance Season 9. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance Fans Accuse Season 9 Cast Member Miona of Blackfishing Actor Ian McKellen received a lot of praise for his critically acclaimed performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Although its a role that McKellen himself has spoken highly of, the character wasnt always a captivating one for the veteran actor. Ian McKellen still has no idea how he ended up as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings Ian McKellen | Noam Galai/WireImage To many fans, McKellen will always be tied to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Gandalf has become one of the actors most recognizable and coveted roles, even nabbing the actor an Oscar nomination. But ask McKellen, and even hes still uncertain how he ended up being the wizard. I still dont quite know how Gandalf came my way, McKellen said in an interview with GQ. I think because some of the actors who would have been offered it before me were rather put off by the idea of having to live in New Zealand for a year. Where the hell is that? Well, more fool them. But McKellen himself once admitted that he had his own apprehensions about taking the role. Peter Jackson courted McKellen for the role after a few actors turned Gandalf down. They talked about the story. I rather, grandly said, Let me read the script. Oh dear, McKellen told BAFTA. And I wasnt mad keen. It was a year living in New Zealand, a place Id always wanted to visit, Id heard how beautiful it was. A year away from home, on a script that wasnt quite complete based on books that I didnt know about. It wasnt the huge, big, Oh, chance of a lifetime. But it turned out to be. Ian McKellen thought Gandalf the White was a boring character Although the X-Men actor may see the role as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he wasnt always impressed with his character. Particularly, he found himself a bit disappointed when the wizard switched to Gandalf the White. McKellen quipped that the character experienced a very subtle transformation that came with an underwhelming personality shift. He comes back as the most boring man in the whole world, the most boring wizard thats ever been created. Hes a driven man, the beards been cut, hes dyed his hair white, he seems to have stopped having any sort of fun, McKellen once told Bang Showbiz (via Contact Music). This was why whenever McKellen went back to being Gandalf the Grey, he was more than grateful. Of course, hes got to save Middle Earth so at least hes on a mission. So it was wonderful to come back to the Gandalf that people think about. He doesnt even wear a pointy hat, Gandalf the White, he added. Ian McKellen joked he was snubbed from reprising his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings TV series Amazon Prime is gearing up to release a new Lord of the Rings television series that will air on its streaming service. McKellen expressed interest in reprising his role in The Rings of Power. So much so he quipped hes been wanting someone to get in contact with him. But so far, no one has. Ive been waiting for the call and it hasnt come, McKellen said in an interview with BBC 2 (via The Sun). And there are going to be new shows from Tolkien under the title Lord Of The Rings, I think on television. But I gather that Gandalf wont be a part of them, and if he is . . . well its the one part you cant be too old for. I think hes about 7,000 years old. RELATED: Lord of the Rings: Ian McKellen Stolen Set Memento Are Bilbos House Keys Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge recently completed a tour of the Caribbean. Heres a look at one of the lavish tropical resorts they stayed at. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toured the Caribbean in March 2022 Prince William and Kate Middleton during a visit to Abaco. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images William and Kate made their first joint post-pandemic overseas trip to the Caribbean in March. The tour was made in honor of Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubileea commemoration of the monarchs 70-year reign. The couple visited three former British colonies where the queen still serves as head of state. They started their tour on March 19, with a three-day stay in Belize, before moving on to Jamaica the island country Queen Elizabeth visited following her coronation. After spending two nights in Jamaica, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge concluded their tour with a two-day stay in the Bahamas. While in Nassau, the couple participated in The Bahamas Platinum Jubilee Sailing Regatta at the Royal Sailing Cluban event and venue that was beloved by Prince Williams grandfather, Prince Philip. The Bahamas, excited to be here for the latest leg of our Caribbean tour pic.twitter.com/c3l1nWlBUM The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) March 24, 2022 Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed at one of the most luxurious resorts in the Bahamas The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges Caribbean tour included a stay at one of the Bahamas most luxurious resorts. The couple spent two nights at The Cove Atlantisthe latest addition to the sprawling, multi-property Atlantis resort in Nassau. The Cove is a beachfront hotel that sits atop white sandy beaches and brilliant blue water. It features 600 luxury suites, each with floor-to-ceiling views and private balconies. Field of daydreams Cove Beach at Paradise Island pic.twitter.com/fz57cgHpGy The Cove Atlantis (@TheCoveAtlantis) October 2, 2019 William and Kate stayed in The Coves most opulent offering the Penthouse Suite. The massive, 4,830-square-foot suite features three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and multiple bathrooms. The room is lavishly decked out with stone floors, marble bathrooms, and a double-door entrance. In a statement to People, Atlantis Paradise Island President and Managing Director Audrey Oswell suggested the resort was honored to host the royal couple. We have always admired the focus of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as it aligns with our mission at The Atlantis Blue Project Foundation to promote sustainability and protect the environment, she said. Our team members look forward to extending exceptional and authentic Bahamian hospitality, Oswell added. And demonstrating what makes our resort and The Bahamas so remarkable through our incomparable amenities and culture. So how much does it cost to stay at the hotel Prince William and Kate stayed at in the Bahamas? The Cove is all about luxury and privacy, so it isnt as affordable as some other Atlantis properties. For May 2022, smaller suites at The Cove start at $580 per night. And larger, multi-room suites go up to as much as $4,350 per night. The hotel doesnt list prices for the Penthouse Suite that Prince William and Kate stayed in. But some reports suggest it can run $15,000 and up per night. This was William and Kate earlier, departing The Cove at Atlantis Paradise Island for the Governor Generals reception. Pictures: Atlantis Paradise Island/Donald Knowles/BVS. pic.twitter.com/YBZZdvdxUW Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) March 26, 2022 Luckily, Atlantis has several other resorts in Nassau that can accommodate different price points and all are close to The Cove. But prices will vary, depending on the month, date, and length of stay. For May 2022, rooms at Atlantis The Royal start at around $380. The Reef at Atlantis offers studios and suites for $489. And the family-friendly Harborside Resort has rooms that start at $559 per night. RELATED: Prince Williams Statement on the Commonwealth May Have Been Incredibly Irritating for Prince Charles, Experts Speculate The final half of Ozark Season 4 Part 2 continues with episode 11 Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin. A hand whose nails are getting polished, a fist, an I.V. bag, and a bicycle appear in the title card O find out what they mean for the Byrdes in this installment of the Netflix series. Plus, some characters from the first season of Ozark appear; find out who. [SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers ahead for the Ozark Season 4 Part 2 episode Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin.] Sofia Hublitz, Jason Bateman | Netflix Ozark characters Rachel and Tuck appear in the final season Ruth (Julia Garner) comes up with a master plan to get what shes owed in this episode of Ozark Season 4 Part 2. Shell need some help to pull it off though, what with her criminal record. She flies to Miami to recruit Rachel Garrison (Jordana Spiro) as her business partner. Fans havent seen Rachel since Ozark Season 2 when Marty sent her to rehab. Rachel returns in the final season of Ozark to help Ruth buy the Byrdes out of the Missouri Belle. But Ruths decision to keep Rachel in the dark about Javi Elizonndros (Alfonso Herrera Rodriguez) murder and selling the Snell heroin to Shaw Medical turns her off. Its only when Rachel finds out Marty (Jason Bateman) didnt watch over Tuck (Evan George Vourazeris) in her absence that she gets on board. Jordana Spiro | Netflix Later, Rachel helps Ruth come up with a master plan obtain the rights to the Snell estate and her shares in the casino. After all, Ruth is entitled to that and more as Wyatts (Charles Tahan) legal guardian. Jonahs bicycle symbolizes important conversations in Ozark Season 4 Part 2 After coming back from Mexico, Marty meets with Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) and subsequently Nathan (Richard Thomas). I just wanted to see your face, Marty tells his son, who hasnt been living at home because of the tension with Wendy (Laura Linney). In contrast to the man we saw in Mexico in Youre the Boss, Marty reverts to his old self for a fleeting moment, checking if Jonah needs money, groceries, or even a ride to school. Jonah takes his bike, but its clear father and son are missing their old relationship. Later, Jonah has another meaningful conversation with his bike in tow in front of the Lazy O motel. This time, Rachel and Ruth ask about the best way to contact Charles Wilkes (Darren Goldstein), the well-to-do local with powerful connections. Under the moniker Mike Fleming (a callback to season 2), Ruth and Rachel are on their way to getting ownership of the casino. Navarro comes out of a coma in Ozark Season 4 Part 2 Episode 11 The I.V. bag symbolizes Omar Navarros (Felix Solis) stay in the prison hospital. Every time they take a pound of flesh, Marty, I grow another layer of skin, he says. Later in the episode, when Marty meets with the F.B.I., he pieces together Camila Elizonndro (Veronica Falcon) is behind the attack on her brother. Now, shes working to keep Omar on the S.D.N. list. On top of all this, Marty realizes he killed an innocent man. Veronica Falcon | Netflix When Camila visits Omar, Wendy gets her to agree to take charge of the cartel so Marty can focus on Navarros extradition. Really, Marty wants to focus on getting Camila out of the picture. Wendys fathers alcoholism is exposed Wendys father, Nathan, is in town in search of Ben (Tom Pelphrey). He confides in his church-going girlfriend about his sons disappearance, sharing his theory regarding Wendys lies. Ultimately, Nathan asks for privacy so he can pray drink on it with the shoebox of alcohol he hides under the motel bed. Marty throws fists in the final moments of Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin Marty may have gotten the Byrdes into this whole money laundering for the cartel situation, but Wendy takes control in Ozark Season 4. Frustrated with her decision-making, Marty confides in Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) about the pressure he feels from Wendy. No matter what I say, what I do she finds a way to get mad at me, Marty says. Its f***ing rigged. Martys frustration bubbles over in the episodes finale. He gets out of the van and threatens another driver, resulting in an all-out brawl. Wendy, realizing the weight of Martys trip to Mexico, sees how terrifying he can be. Even more pressure is about to be applied to the couple. Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg) and Maya Miller (Jessica Frances Dukes) find footage of Nelson (Nelson Bonilla) with Ben. How will Wendy talk herself out of this one? Watch new episodes of Ozark on Netflix. RELATED: Ozark: Marty Will Confide in the Navarros Priest in Season 4 Part 2 Ozark Season 4 Part 2 continues with Trouble the Water. The title card for this episode shows a whiskey bottle, barbed wire, a guitar case, and a pool. Relive the pivotal moments from Trouble the Water below. [SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers ahead for the Ozark Season 4 Part 2 episode Trouble the Water.] Laura Linney & Jason Bateman | Netflix Charlie Wilkes, Ruth Langmore, and Rachel Garrison strike a deal over a bottle of whiskey Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) wants nothing more than to avenge her cousins death by getting back at the Byrdes. She has a right to Wyatts (Charles Tahan) belongings. Her inheritance also includes the Snell estate and Darlenes (Lisa Emery) stake in the casino. Armed with that, Ruth plans to take over the Missouri Belle. But first, she needs help from Charles Wilkes (Darren Goldstein). Fans will recognize the powerful Kansas City businessman from Ozark Season 2. With Wilkes help, Ruth can potentially clear her record of three felonies and four misdemeanors. Doing so will allow her to own the casino without needing Rachel Garrison (Jordana Spiro) on the license. After promising to Yes, maam her way through a conversation with the judge, the trio toasts Ruths future. By the end of Trouble the Water, Ruth has a clean record and is ready to start anew. Prison barbed wire symbolizes multiple imprisonments in Trouble the Water Prison comes up multiple times in this episode of Ozarks final season. Marty and Wendy Byrde (Jason Bateman, Laura Linney) get into a physical altercation with an aggravated driver in the previous episode of Ozark. As a result, they go to jail. Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) bail them out at the beginning of Trouble the Water. Barbed wire is also indicative of Camila Elizonndros (Veronica Falcon) visit to Omar Navarro (Felix Solis). During their sit down, he scolds the Byrdes for their lack of progress with the Specially Designated Nationals (S.D.N.) list. On top of that, Omar and Camila have other demands, which include laundering more money through the casino. Camila claims its to keep their lieutenants calm and happy, but Marty knows better. He and Wendy are now being held captive in a metaphorical prison by Camila. Marty knows she wants more money laundered to buy off the lieutenants. Now, Martys focus is getting Omar out so he can get rid of his traitor sister. Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde, Richard Thomas as Nathan Davis, Adam Rothenberg as Mel Sattem | Netflix The idea of life behind bars comes up again for Wendy later in the episode. Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg) presents her father, Nathan (Richard Thomas), with evidence of Ben (Tom Pelphrey) and Nelson (Nelson Bonilla). With Mels help, Nathan petitions to take the kids from Marty and Wendy, threatening to go to the police with the evidence. Wyatts guitar is returned to Ruth in Ozark episode Trouble the Water With very few belongings in the first place, Ruth has little to remember her cousin by. That is, until Deputy Ronnie Wycoff (Brad Carter) returns Wyatts guitar to her. Despite knowing who killed Wyatt and Darlene, Ruth plays dumb and goes to see their alleged killer, a former Snell employee. There, Ruth lets on more than she should. Instead of asking why he killed Wyatt, Ruths more interested in why he took the guitar in the first place. Sam Dermody gets baptized at the Lazy O pool and Ruth gets a fresh start Trouble the Water ends with a few Ozark characters starting anew. Sam Dermody (Kevin L. Johnson), who has been lost since his mothers death in Season 1, finds a religious calling. With the help of Nathans church group Sam is baptized in the pool of the Lazy O. Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore | Netflix Plus, with her officially clean record, Ruth decides its time to give Bens ashes to Jonah. Then theres Wendy, distraught about her children being taken away from her but plotting a new revenge scheme nonetheless. Watch new episodes of Ozark on Netflix. RELATED: Ozark Season 4: Chris Mundy, Jason Bateman, Laura Linney Discuss the Netflix Series Ending Many royal fans remember watching Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding in 2018. At the time, it seemed like everyone was witnessing a real-life fairy tale as the British prince and American TV star said I do. However, within two years the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided that they didnt want to live their happily ever after behind palace walls so they moved to California where they reside today with their two children. The couple has previously spoken about the importance of having a private security detail. And now, its being reported that Harry wanted royal police protection for Meghan early on and decided the best way to get that was to marry her as quickly as possible. Heres more on that. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave to the crowd during the carriage procession following their wedding | Aaron Chown WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince William thought Harry was moving too fast by marrying Meghan so quickly Prince Harry and Meghan began dating in 2016 and in November 2017, the world learned that they were engaged. Some never saw any problem with that time frame but Harrys brother, Prince William, is not one of those people. The Duke of Cambridge dated Kate Middleton for several years before he proposed so William thought Harry was moving too fast with Meghan and reportedly told his sibling not to rush things. According to the biography Finding Freedom, by Carolyn Durrand and Omid Scobie, that advice is said to have infuriated the younger prince who was appalled that he wasnt getting the support he wanted from his older brother. Harry reportedly said the best way I can protect Meghan is to marry her Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding hands as they leave St Georges Chapel on their wedding day | Ben STANSALL WPA Pool/Getty Images Express noted that Tina Brown authored The Palace Papers: Inside The House Of Windsor The Truth And The Turmoil and spoke to over 120 people who know the senior royals about Williams initial concerns with Meghan and Harry getting engaged in 2017. She said she was told that one of the reasons Harry was deadset on marrying Meghan so fast is because he viewed that as the easiest to get her police protection. Browns sources claim that Harry responded to William by saying he wanted Meghan to have the police protection that she would be entitled to when they married. In her book Brown writes: To his brothers concerns, Harrys riposte can be summarised as, I am told, Well, actually the best way I can protect her is to marry her as quickly as possible because as soon as I marry her she will then get police protection. Police protection is a bit of a concern for the Sussexes now that they stepped down Meghan Markle and Prince Harry embrace a competitor at day two of the Invictus Games | Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images Meghan did receive that royal police protection when they got married but lost it when she and the Duke of Sussex stepped down as senior royals. Since living in America the pair has had to fund their own private security team. The security they pay for today is something Harry stated that he wants to have whenever he and his family travel to England. However, the Daily Mail reported that When Harry left The Firm the terms [of his exit] were clear. Like other members of the public, he and his wife are not able to hire armed cops at will no matter how much they offer to pay. Therefore, the security the Sussexes have in the U.S. can not be replicated in the U.K. because people arent allowed to walk the streets with guns. RELATED: Prince Williams Awkward Reaction Alongside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Showed Signs of Family Feud Long Before the Sussexes Exit Even though The Beatles are one of the worlds best-known rock bands, Ringo Starr confirmed that America and England were the groups biggest part of their world. Heres what he said in the Disney+ special The Beatles: Get Back. The Beatles: Get Back is available on Disney+ The Beatles members John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney | Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Even years after the Get Back group disbanded, fans got new Beatles content. Several hours of unseen footage was finally released thanks to the Disney+ original documentary series The Beatles: Get Back. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr wrote and rehearsed music for their upcoming live performance in this production. That included new tracks Get Back, Ive Got A Feeling, One After 909, and Dig a Pony. In addition to songwriting challenges, the group ran into problems deciding the location of this concert. They agreed to play in front of a live audience. Beyond that, the group struggled to choose the best venue. Ringo Starr said that The Beatles felt a special connection to America and England There were plenty of suggestions for this live performance, including Lennons idea for clear plastic bleachers. Let It Be, director Michael Lindsay-Hogg said they should travel to an amphitheater in Sabratha, Africa, for a seaside concert, although half of the band was adamant about staying in London. While still mulling over the boat/abroad performance idea, Lindsay-Hogg said, the only thing is, its, I really do think its gonna be for the world. You know, the biggest part of our world is America and England, Starr responded. Yes, but they do think of you as for everybody in the world, he said. Of course, The Beatles had many memorable moments while in America, including their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Later dubbed the British Invasion, this band impacted pop culture forever with their appearance abroad. The Beatles performed their Get Back concert at Londons Savile Row With Starr and Harrison pushing for England for the people, McCartney suggested they could bring over English-speaking fans via a boat. There could even be performances on the ship before their filmed concert in Africa. Every time weve done an album, weve said, Why are we stuck in EMI? We could be doing it in LA! We could be in France, Lennon pointed out. And every time we do it, and here we are again, building another bloody castle around us, and this time we [should] do it there. Eventually, the group landed on a rooftop performance, filmed at the Apple Corps headquarters on Londons Savile Row. This was one of their final live performances, with the group debuting two other albums (Let It Be and Abbey Road) before officially disbanding. Even today, America and England are both an important part of Ringo Starr and McCartneys world, with the two hosting concerts there as solo artists. RELATED: George Harrison Describes Eric Clapton as Someone Whos Good at Improvising and Keeping It Going Prince Harrys recent comment about wanting to protect the queen drew a fair amount of criticism. One royal expert believes Harry probably knew the reaction he was going to get, noting that the brief interview answer could be quite triggering for the royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Karwai Tang/WireImage Prince Harry said he wants to protect the queen During his April 20 interview with Todays Hoda Kotb, Harry was asked about visiting the queen on the way to the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands. Harry shared that it was really nice to catch up to her. He went on to explain, Being with her, it was great. It was just so nice to see her. Shes on great form. Shes always got a great sense of humor with me. The Duke of Sussex also voiced his need to protect his grandmother. Im just making sure that shes, you know, protected and got the right people around her, he said. Royal expert believes Harry knew the reaction he was going to get Royal expert Roya Nikkhah believes that Harrys mention of protection was significant in that he knew the reaction hed get from saying it. Quite triggering probably for the rest of his family who are around the queen all the time and who I am sure the queen does confide in, Nikkhah said during an appearance on True Royaltys The Royal Beat. There is no doubting that Harry and his granny have an incredibly special close relationship but to say to an American network knowing that the comment is going to go round the world and come right back at your family that the queen tells Harry things that she feels she cannot tell any other member of her family who she sees much more regularly feels quite incendiary, the expert added. Harry probably knew the reaction that he was going to get, she noted. .@RoyaNikkhah joins us from Buckingham Palace to address the reactions following Prince Harrys exclusive interview with Hoda, Queen Elizabeths 96th birthday and more. pic.twitter.com/Md1GyFgz8Z TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 21, 2022 Harrys comment sparked quite the controversy Nikkhah also discussed Harrys comment when she chatted with the Today show hosts on April 21. When asked about the UK reaction to Prince Harrys interview with Kotb, Nikkhah explained, I think people, both in the press here and also in palace circles, are quite bemused by Harrys comments, particularly that comment about him wanting to make sure the queen is protected and has the right people around her. She continued, Its been hard to try and understand and figure out what Harry meant by that and it has sparked quite the controversy over here. I think its really important to remember that Prince Harry is still loved by a lot of people here. But I think, when he makes these kinds of comments which seem to be quite heavily loaded and barbed towards the royal family and staff, it riles people a little bit. The expert added, And I think that was a real shame because actually what he was talking about was the Invictus Games which are a great thing hes achieved and the British public and the British press are really behind that. They really admire what hes done. But you cant get away from the fact that he did say quite a lot of controversial things in those comments and it winds people up. RELATED: Meghan Markles Cringe Gesture at Event With Prince Harry Exposed Her Insecurity, Body Language Expert Says Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg have built a great dynamic through their work together on the Indiana Jones movies. However, Ford played an important in getting another Spielberg movie made. Spielberg recently shared Fords role in getting E.T. made and its a rather interesting story. Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg have worked together on several Indiana Jones movies Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford | ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images Ford and Spielberg first collaborated on Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981. Ford previously worked with Spielbergs friend George Lucas on Star Wars and American Graffiti. Raiders was an instant success and led to four more films in the franchise including Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Ford recently wrapped up production on Indiana Jones 5. However, James Mangold took over for Spielberg as director. Outside of the Indiana Jones franchise, Spielberg and Ford havent worked together on another movie. Still, Ford did end up helping Spielberg make one of his best movies, E.T. Harrison Ford assisted in getting the screenwriter for E.T. Steven Spielberg reveals how Harrison Ford helped ET get made https://t.co/wIVM0v4AsK pic.twitter.com/OiaHpN6HTq Digital Spy (@digitalspy) April 23, 2022 In an interview at the 40th anniversary screening of E.T. at the TCM Classic Film Festival shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Spielberg revealed Fords role in getting E.T. made. The Jaws director was looking for a screenwriter and thought of Melissa Mathison, who wrote The Black Stallion, a movie Spielberg was a big fan of. I pretty much had worked out most of the story and I needed a writer to write with me or, hopefully, write it based on the story, Spielberg said. Mathison initially turned Spielberg down. The director then spoke to Ford, who was dating Mathison at the time, while the two were filming Raiders in Tunisia. Ford was excited about the prospects of E.T. and his excitement eventually convinced Mathison to write the screenplay. She said, Well, Im retired from writing. I dont write anymore. Im not interested in writing anymore, its too hard, Spielberg explained. I went to Harrison and said, Your girlfriend turned me down. She doesnt want to write my next movie. He said, Well, let me talk to her. He talked to her and she came to me the next day and said, OK you got Harrison so excited about this. What is it that I missed? I think I hadnt told her the story very well because I told her the story again and she got really emotional and she committed right there in the Tunisian desert. Steven Spielbergs E.T. was nominated for Best Original Screenplay Spielberg and Mathison turned out to be a beautiful collaboration as E.T. was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards. Spielberg remembers their creative process fondly and said the two worked together while filming Raiders. We would spend two hours a day for five days and she would go off and write pages and come back. Spielberg said. There were so many details for character that Melissa brought into my world from her world. Spielberg credits Mathison with coming up with several iconic moments like E.Ts telekinesis and the quote E.T. phone home. Mathison died in 2015, but the two did collaborate once more on The BFG which came out in 2016. RELATED: Steven Spielberg Explains Why Filming E.T. Inspired Him to Become a Father, I Was a Parent on that Film Paul McCartney explained what The Beatles were trying to accomplish with Love Me Do. In the same vein, John Lennon revealed The Rolling Stones Brian Jones wanted to know about the song. Notably, the song became a hit in multiple decades. The Rolling Stones Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Keith Richards | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Paul McCartney said The Beatles had a formula for the titles of their early songs During a 2015 interview with Billboard, Paul explained what the Beatles were trying to accomplish with Love Me Do. Our early stuff is more simple than our later stuff, and thats one of the great things about The Beatles, Paul said. This was a very simple song that fell into the category of fan songs,' he added. All our early songs contained me or you. We were completely direct and shameless to the fans. Paul noted the use of the words me and you in the titles of Love Me Do, Please Please Me, and I Want to Hold Your Hand. RELATED: George Harrison Felt He Couldnt Beat the Riff from This Rolling Stones Song The Rolling Stones Brian Jones couldnt make out an instrument on The Beatles Love Me Do According to the book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon, John discussed The Beatles relationship with The Rolling Stones during a 1974 interview. We never talked about it, because in the early days we just had our own careers to look after, and we used to we hung around in two separate periods, he said. One was when they were initially still playing in the clubs. John remembered an early encounter with Jones. I remember the first thing one of them ever Brian Jones came over and said, Are you playing a harmonica or a harp on Love Me Do?' John recalled. I said a harmonica, you know, with a button, which wasnt real funky blues, you know. John explained why The Beatles used a harmonica on Love Me Do. You couldnt get Hey! Baby licks on a blues harp, when we were also doing Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel at that time, he recalled. RELATED: Why Fall Out Boys Pete Wentz Prefers The Beatles to The Rolling Stones How Love Me Do performed in the United States and the United Kingdom Love Me Do became a big hit in the United States. For one week, it topped the Billboard Hot 100. The track stayed on the chart for 14 weeks. Love Me Do appeared on the compilation album 1962-1966. The album reached the third position on the Billboard 200. It remained on the album for 175 weeks. Love Me Do became a more modest hit in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the song reached No. 17 in the U.K. in 1962. It lasted on the chart for 18 weeks. In 1982, it reached No. 4, while in 1992, it reached No. 53. Meanwhile, 1962-1966 hit No. 3 and stayed on the chart for 167 weeks. Love Me Do became a huge hit and it intrigued a member of The Rolling Stones. RELATED: The Beatles: John Lennon and Paul McCartney Used These 2 Words in Their Song Titles and Lyrics to Connect to Fans Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee and rapper Christopher Ludacris Bridges are well-known celebrities and accomplished music artists in their respective genres. However, many fans might not know the two teamed up to raise awareness for environmental issues. They co-starred in the 2008 show Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee, where they competed to reduce harmful impacts on the environment. The surprising moment that came out of their collaboration was when the two stars earned a Guinness World Record together. But it wasnt for music. Tommy Lee and Ludacris have had exciting music careers Ludacris and Tommy Lee in August 2009 | Moses Robinson/WireImage Although Tommy Lee and Ludacris come from different musical backgrounds, they found overwhelming success with their fans. Lee is best known as the drummer for Motley Crue. Along with his bandmates, he built a bad-boy reputation for sex, drugs, and rock n roll. Lee has also enjoyed a solo music career and pivoted to other creative endeavors, including television. Ludacris began his career as DJ. Eventually, he moved to making music and signing with Def Jam South. He was one of the first so-called Dirty South rappers to go mainstream with his album Back for the First Time. Like Lee, Ludacris has enjoyed a career pivot, adding TV and movies to his resume. In the acting world, Luda is best known for his role as Tej Parker in the Fast & Furious franchise. The actor has also appeared in Crash, Gamer, and New Years Eve. Tommy Lee and Ludacris broke an unexpected world record together In 2008, Tommy Lee and Ludacris teamed up to help save the planet with the 10-episode series Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee. The show visited 10 cities, and each star was the captain of his team, trying to keep their acts greener at each stop. The winner got to headline a show, while the loser was the opening act. The show raised money for environmental issues and brought a slew of celebrities to help get the word out, IMDb explains. In the Las Vegas episode, Lee and Ludacris didnt just try to help the environment. They set a Guinness World Record in the process. The record was for the largest group shower, and it took place at Planet Hollywood. According to XXL Magazine, it involved more than 1,000 participants, including the two music stars. Guinness World Records that are strange but true There are a lot of common world records, such as the tallest person or the fastest runner, but there are also plenty of Guinness World Records that seem so random you wonder why they exist. According to Complex, theres a record for the most expensive music single to be sold at auction. The single, Do I Love You (Indeed I Do), sold for over $39,000. But theres a catch it was an unreleased single by Frank Wilson, and there are only two known copies. There are also plenty of strange, non-music-related records. Theres a Guinness World Record for the most people showering simultaneously. This is actually a different category from the record that Tommy Lee and Ludacris achieved, though the feats sound the same. The most people showering simultaneously happened at the Firefly Music Festival in Delaware in 2018 with 396 people showering at the same time. RELATED: Yes 1st Grammy Winning Song Involved Jay-Z in a Roundabout Way Dave Grohl had no idea what to do when his Nirvana bandmate, Kurt Cobain, suddenly died in 1994. The music world was in mourning, but Grohls world was upside down. Grohl was just starting his career; hed only been Nirvanas drummer for a short time. The only thing Grohl could think of to do was escape. He traveled to Irelands Ring of Kerry, where he planned to drive around aimlessly to clear his head. Then something unexpected happened. Something made Grohl realize he couldnt hide anymore. He had no idea that that trip would help him heal after Cobains death. Dave Grohl | Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images Dave Grohl didnt want to listen to the radio and put away all his instruments after Kurt Cobain died Grohl was only in Nirvana for four years. They only put out three studio albums, but they took fans and the music industry by storm. Cobain never wanted to be famous, but his songs resonated with a whole generation. Suddenly Nirvana was sucked into a tornado. That chaos stopped when Grohl got the call that Cobain had died. It was like flipping a switch. Nothing felt the same to Grohl anymore, including music. He told Sunday Morning that he was lost. I went through a really dark period where I couldnt really even listen to the radio because it broke my heart just to hear music, he said. Grohl told BBC Radio 4 (per Ultimate Classic Rock) that he put all of his instruments away. It was that way for a few months, he said. I was still in Seattle, and I just felt, I gotta get out. I [had to] go somewhere where I could just disappear and sort through my life, and try to figure out what to do next. Grohl chose to escape to a place he loved that was remote. However, he had no idea that the trip would help heal him. RELATED: Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers Had a Prank War During a 1999 Tour That Involved Golf Balls and Pasta Grohl couldnt escape Cobains death, even when he traveled to a remote part of Ireland, but the trip and a hitchhiker helped him heal In an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Grohl explained what happened when he traveled to Irelands Ring of Kerry. In those three and a half years that I was in Nirvana, it was a lifetime, Grohl explained. I mean you can imagine how much changed in that time. Not just in music but in the world. It was such a beautiful time; it was like a renaissance,iIt was like there was some sort of like new emotional awakening where people felt OK to be themselves. When it all ended, it was just a matter of trying to figure out how to continue life. I wasnt sure what to do with my life; I couldnt even listen to music, I didnt want to turn on the radio, I put my instruments away. It hurt too much to listen to music. So I thought Im going to go to one of my favorite places in the world. One of the most remote areas I could find. Just to go out and like soul search and find myself. So I went to the Ring of Kerry. Its absolutely beautiful. Driving down this country road and Im like trying to figure out my life and trying to move on. And I see a hitchhiker, and hes in a parka, and its kinda maybe raining a little, and as Im pulling up to him, I think Im gonna pick this kid up. Hes got a far way to go. And I got closer and closer, and I saw that he had a Kurt Cobain T-shirt on. I thought even in the most remote area I could possibly find, I cant outrun this thing. And I thought, OK, Im gonna go home, and Im going to start over. And I started the Foo Fighters. Concert for George also helped the Foo Fighters frontman heal Grohl started recording demos of his music, on which he played all the instruments. He named his one-man band Foo Fighters because it was plural, and it would make fans think that there was more than one band member. He was hesitant to put his name on it because it still felt weird playing music after everything. However, playing and hearing music also helped Grohl heal. Although, it took him a little while to figure that out. On his blog, Daves True Stories, Grohl wrote about the time he met George Harrisons son, Dhani. He invited Grohl to Concert for George. Grohl levitated from excitement because hes a big fan of George and The Beatles. However, as he watched the performances at the event, he quickly realized something. Just as Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, and many more were mourning George by playing his music, Grohl had been doing the same with Cobain. Grohl made the connection while Ringo performed his song, Photograph. As if the previous hour hadnt already been the most life affirming jolt to my soul, Ringos presence and this song in particular struck an unpredicted chord within me, Grohl wrote. Here was a man, generously withholding his own grief of losing a dear friend and bandmate, spreading love and joy by sharing the most healing force in time of mourning: Music. I realized that I had been trying to do the exact same thing since that cold, cloudy morning of April 5th, 1994. The day that Kurt Cobain died. I sang along at the top of my lungs. Eventually, Grohl was able to put what hed felt during that time after Cobains death into a song, Foo Fighters Walk. Hell never forget Cobain, but hes been in Foo Fighters for longer. Now, another tragedy has happened. Grohl has lost another close bandmate, Taylor Hawkins, who died on March 25. Grohl and the band have been silent ever since. Maybe hes returned to the Ring of Kerry. Lets hope he sees a hitchhiker walking along the road with a Foo Fighters T-shirt on, and hell want to return to fans. RELATED: Taylor Hawkins Thought It Was Weird Liking Nirvana Because Dave Grohl Was in the Band People walk along a sidewalk on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass., July 16, 2019. Harvard President Lawrence Bacow announced Tuesday, April 26, 2022 that the university is committing $100 million to study its ties to slavery and create a "Legacy of Slavery Fund." Over the last several years, there has been a national emphasis placed on encouraging more students to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Particular focus has been put on increasing the number of female students who pursue a career in the STEM fields and, in Cheshire, the results seem to be paying off. A total of eight Cheshire students recently participated in the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair, where middle and high school-aged participants were asked to devise and construct devices with real-world applications. The event, which was held from March 7th through the 19th, was conducted virtually, with presentations and judging done online. However, even with the continued restrictions, students were able to showcase their creations and receive constructive feedback. And for some local students, awards were handed out. Suchita Srinivasan, an eighth-grader at Dodd Middle School, and Avery Fowler, a seventh-grader at St. Bridget School, were two of the 16 finalists chosen to participate in the upcoming Broadcom MASTERS national competition. Individual state science fairs have the flexibility to send approximately 10% of projects to Broadcom, however the Connecticut fair decided to send only 16 of the more than 600 projects that were submitted. Of those that are invited, the top 300 are announced in early September and given a prize pack. The top 30 are then announced later in the month, with the finalists receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in person plus additional prizes for themselves and their school. So many (participants) in the Fair were extremely talented, said Srinivasan. One student had created a device to detect whether a child was stuck in a well. I thought my project was really cool, but I knew how many amazing projects there were. Im just so happy things went the way they did. Srinivasans submission to the Fair was a domestic violence alert device, designed to try and help those who may be a victim of a violent crime. Srinivasan recalls learning about a classmate who had been the victim of domestic violence, and how hard it was to process what that experience must be like. I kept thinking, I wonder what happened to him? Srinivasan remembered. It was just something that really stayed with me. The middle-schooler began to think even more about domestic violence during the pandemic, after reading a statistic that showed such incidents had increased dramatically throughout the public health crisis. It was really alarming to see that, during the pandemic, (domestic violence) went up around 30%, said Srinivasan. I just kept thinking about how lives could be changed in just one moment. The device utilizes an analog sound level meter to detect what would amount to a loud scream. Connected directly to a mobile app, the device then sends a text message to the phone of the individual, informing them that such a sound had been recorded and asking them to verify that they are all right. If the recorded sound had nothing to do with a violent incident, the individual can signal via a text response that everything is OK. If, however, the individual does not respond, a subsequent text would be sent to either the authorities or someone listed as an emergency contact. Srinivasan acknowledges that the device works somewhat like a home alarm system, where the owner has a few seconds to input their passcode and disarm the alarm upon entering the household. If the code is not put in, an alert is sent to authorities that a possible break-in is occurring. There is one big difference, however, between the two systems no warning sound is heard when the text is sent, since the person in that situation may not want to alert their attacker to the fact that they are signaling for help. For Fowler, the idea for her project stemmed from her own life experiences. I have two goats, explained Fowler. They are identical and I cant tell them apart. I was wondering which was which. The personal conundrum got the young Fowler thinking, was there a low-cost way to easily identify the difference between the two goats and could it then be applied to situations where hundreds of livestock must be identified? Whether it be to access health information to present to a veterinarian or identify a lost goat, the uses are multiple. The idea was to have the best working materials at the lowest possible cost, explained Fowler. Farmers who have hundreds of livestock can use costly systems to identify their animals and access important information about each one, however Fowler was looking for a way to offer a similar service using already-available hardware and software. Initially, she hoped to use the microchips already inserted into her goats, however she found that the technology wasnt compatible. Instead, she turned her attention to using an identification collar and an app that could read the collar. In order to complete the project, Fowler had to familiarize herself with computer coding, which she admits took some time. That was the biggest challenge, she stated. I am fairly new to coding, so just coming into this new thing, it took a little bit for me to get (comfortable). Fowler used Python coding, described as a high-level, general-purpose programming language, along with Raspberry Pi hardware single-board computers to use as the scanners. Ultimately, the project was successful, with Fowler able to access the information using the affordable hardware and software. It was definitely a huge sense of accomplishment, she said. Entering the Fair, Fowler admits to being really nervous, especially when it came to interacting with the judges. I was afraid I wouldnt know any of the answers to their questions, she said, with a laugh. However, the youngster handled herself admirably and when it came time to announce who the winners were, she and her family gathered around the television screen. We had (an announcement) on livestream on the television, she said. When I found out (about her first-place finish) I was so shocked. I wasnt expecting (to take) first. While Fowler and Srinivasan move on to the finals, other award winners look forward to entering their devices in other upcoming competitions. One of them is well known to Srinivasan her sister, Sagarika. For her project, Sagarika Srinivasan, an 11th grader at Cheshire High School, created a drunk driving detector. The device, connected to the drivers side of a persons vehicle, is alerted when a person sits in the seat thereby releasing it to drop in front of the individual and record their blood-alcohol level via a breathalyzer. If the person is over the limit, an alert is sent to a contact. Sagarika Srinivasan began thinking about the device after a discussion in her health class last November. We discussed how people have poor judgment when they are drunk, said Sagarika, and how the advice was not to drink and then drive, to get a (designated driver), and more. But I was thinking that, at that moment, so many other things are going through peoples heads. They may feel pressure to say, Im fine, I can drive. That realization spurred Sagarika Srinivasan on to create a device that would immediately prompt the driver to check their own sobriety, providing them the opportunity to take a moment and make a more informed decision. For her creation, Sagarika Srinivasan was named a Senior High School Finalist Medallion winner for the Stanley Black & Decker Applied Science Awards. She, along with her sister, will be competing in the upcoming Connecticut Invention Convention. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 China shuts down popular Christian website amid crackdown on religious groups The latest victim of the Chinese Communist Partys ongoing crackdown against Christianity in cyberspace is a well-known Christian website which has disappeared after serving believers for about 21 years, according to a report. The people behind the popular Christian website, Jona Home, have put a notice on the Home page, which reads, Due to reasons known to everyone, from now on our site can no longer serve brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks to all for your company and support in the past 21 years! U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said. The notice further reads, The disappearance of a website is merely a disappearance of a website, it does not carry any meaning. Except that the website link can no longer be opened, there is nothing else which stopped at that moment; Need not to be concerned, and just keep walking. A new legislation, known as Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services, was enacted on March 1, Bitter Winter, a publication produced by the Center for Studies on New Religion which covers human rights issues in China, reported earlier. The law mandates an Internet Religious Information Service License for any religious group that wants to disseminate religious content on the internet. But it says only legally established organizations can do so, which practically means only groups that are part of the five authorized religions in China can use the internet to distribute religious content. Open Doors USA, which covers persecution in over 60 countries, estimates that China has more than 97 million Christians, many of whom worship in unregistered or so-called illegal underground churches. The five state-sanctioned religious groups in China are the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Even the organizations within the five authorized religions are subject to surveillance and limitations, Bitter Winter reported. As per the new law: [T]hey can broadcast sermons and lessons, but these would be checked by the authorities for their Sinicized content, making sure they promote socialist values and support the party, and are not intended as proselytization tools. Religious universities and colleges may disseminate content via the internet only to their students. Any attempt to spread religious content to minors or induce minors to believe in religion will lead to the termination of the license. Without the license, it will be severely prohibited to share images or comments on religious ceremonies such as worshiping Buddha, burning incense, taking ordination, chanting, worship, mass and baptisms. The law followed dictates by President Xi Jinping that prohibitions on the use of the internet to advertise religion were not enough to prevent religious propaganda. In 2018, the Chinese government banned the sale of Bibles at online bookstores across the country to comply with a white paper that dictated compliance with the core values of socialism. Australia's ABC News reported at the time that copies of the Gospels had been removed from online retailers following the release of a regime document titled Chinas Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief. The white paper declared that Chinese faith communities should adhere to the direction of localizing the religion, practice the core values of socialism, develop and expand the fine Chinese tradition and actively explore the religious thought which accords with China's national circumstances. What should you do if a pastor ever tells you to repent of your 'whiteness'? Last week I attended the biannual and final Together for the Gospel (T4G) conference. Started by Mark Dever, Al Mohler Jr., Ligon Duncan, and C.J. Mahaney in 2006, the goal of the conference over the last 16 years has been to gather pastors together for a time of encouragement through sermons, singing, and fellowship. The hope was that the conference could live up to its name, bringing Christians and pastors from around the world together for the Gospel that is, centered on a fellowship grounded in a shared understanding of the key doctrinal commitments of the true Gospel found in the Scriptures, which (ideally and normally) would transcend denominational and ecclesiological differences. Despite doctrinal disagreement and opposition that I have with some of the previous speakers, I have a personal friendship with the founder of the conference, Mark Dever, who is a man I love and respect. I dont agree with Mark on everything, of course, and we may weigh the threats facing the American church differently, but Mark led me to the faith and has served as a spiritual father and mentor to me for the last decade. While other parts of evangelicalism have also suffered conflict over compromise related to sexual ethics, the role of women in the Church, and so on, I think its fair to say that the main issue that has disrupted T4G in a variety of ways since 2016 has been the issue of race in America and how pastors, Christians, and churches should respond in the wake of national events like the deaths of Michael Brown, George Floyd, and others. Perhaps most infamously, David Platt used his sermon in 2018 to chastise the room full of pastors about the demographic makeup of their churches, despite the fact that the vast majority of them probably serve in communities that are 90% white (if not higher). With that as background, I want to share with you some of the highlights of what Kevin DeYoung, a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) pastor of a church in North Carolina, had to say about how Christians should approach CRT on the (aptly named) panel entitled, Why We Should Be Critical of CRT. The highlight of the CRT panel The panel was pitched as a time to raise issues of CRT that have been so hot in the evangelical world and beyond. Dever asked DeYoung and Bobby Scott, pastor of Community of Faith Bible Church in California, to address how pastors can keep the Gospel central and engage with CRT. But thats not entirely what happened. The dynamic of the panel, and the conversation that ensued, broke down essentially like this: DeYoung directly addressed issues with CRT, while Scott shared his personal biography and familial history dealing with racism and the experience of being a minority in America. At the outset of the panel, Scott rightly noted that pastors dont need to be experts on every legal theory or ideology out there, but they do need to be experts in the Bible. I think hes spot on there. He also rightly exhorted those present that we have to filter everything through the Bible whatever ideology, left or right, we have to filter through the Word of God. Then Dever transitioned to DeYoung, who argued that CRT, according to its own admission and definitions, presents a revisionist view of American history where white people have only ever supported efforts to reduce racism in this country when it serves to work to their own benefits. Of course, thats not true, but thats what CRT practitioners want us to think. DeYoung effectively summed it up like this: As CRT-infected thinking has swept across our nation we have traded a hagiography of American history for a hamartiography of American history. In other words, instead of looking at our past and seeing it full of saints (thats hagiography), its full of irredeemable sinners (thats the hamartiography). Next, he rightly noted that CRT presents the presumption that disparities by definition are the result of racism. This is a really important point of contention. Are all racial disparities the result of discrimination? Or are some racial disparities due to any number of different factors? The answer, of course, is the latter. And he rightly encouraged pastors there to reject CRTs monocausal explanations for racial disparities in our nation, which are bound to be incorrect. A third point DeYoung raised, the most damaging of all, is that CRT pushes us in a direction that is not Gospel Rather than pushing us to see all the things that we most have in common with one another CRT pushes an aggressive color-consciousness. DeYoung characterized this aggressive color-consciousness as antithetical to the emphasis Gospel ministers should have. Instead, Christians should acknowledge that we all have the same sinful nature from Adam and the answer to sin, racism, partiality, what have you, is the same and singular message of Jesus Christ. That Gospel hope, which is what brought even this conference together, is what we should focus on, because as Christians that is what we have most in common and CRT purposely distracts us from that. A deeply troubling anecdote Reflecting further on the disconnect between the media presentation of race relations in America and the reality on the ground, DeYoung argued, Objectively, at no time in American history has there been less racism not no racism but racism is so stigmatized. Then he asked, Why is it in a time when there is less institutional and personal racism than ever before we see mainstream news outlets talking about it more than ever before? Good question, Kevin. As DeYoung was interrogating this sense of hopeless that Christians are beginning to feel over what to do about the picture the media and CRT paint of race, he recounted how a white couple came to his church one recent Sunday, and its just their own anecdote, maybe they are inaccurate, but they said, Our church, a white pastor, has been telling us to repent of our whiteness. This anecdote should not go unnoticed. Its one of the more jaw-dropping revelations from T4G 2022. Christians, forgiven in Christ, are being told by their pastors in presumably orthodox evangelical churches to repent of their whiteness. DeYoung went on to explain how this couple shared that they want to be faithful, to repent of any racism, of any partiality, but they are, in fact, white and they have no idea how to repent of their whiteness. They had to presume that they are just white supremacists now. Sadly, as CRT has infected many Christian churches, more and more good, ordinary, faithful people will be made to feel and bear this impossible burden and be asked to repent of the sin of simply being born white. What should you do if your pastor tells you to repent of your whiteness? This leads me to my final point, and really my one-sentence summary of the entire panel: If a pastor ever tells you to repent of your whiteness run. Its time to find a new church. Why do you need a new church if this is what you hear from a pastor? Because if any pastor is demanding that you repent of something thats not a sin being white as if it is a sin, then they clearly dont understand the Bible, the Gospel, or sin in the first place. Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29). The Chief Shepherd doesnt tie up impossible burdens on the backs of His sheep, demanding that they repent of how they were born. No, He says to come to Him and find rest. Want to know how to spot a fake pastor real fast? Hold their teaching up to this test: Do they point you to Jesus to find rest? Or do they point you to CRT to find condemnation? If the latter, its time to pick up your Bible, stand up from those pews, gather your family, and get out of there. DeYoung said Christians should be critical of CRT. I agree. I would take it one step further, however. Christians must reject CRT because it is fundamentally at odds with biblical Christianity. There may be room on your bookshelf for some CRT to be critically read as an intellectual exercise, but there shouldnt be any room for CRT in the pulpit of Gospel-preaching churches. Gods Word, and Gods Word alone, must rule within His Church. Gods Word tells us to repent of sin and only sin and to find salvation in Christ, and Christ alone. Thats a message of hope that this burdened world desperately needs. Lets all hope and pray that pastors, across the country, can be together in that until Christ comes back. Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center. After losing $100 million property case, Fort Worth Episcopalians mull reunion with Texas Diocese A group of Episcopalians in Texas who lost a legal battle with a breakaway diocese over church property valued at $100 million are considering reuniting with an Episcopal diocese that they originally belonged to in the 19th century. In February of last year, the Anglican Church in North America secured control of The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth following several years of litigation against The Episcopal Church and the local Episcopalian presence, known as The Episcopal Church of North Texas (ECNTX). ECNTX and The Episcopal Diocese of Texas released a joint statement last week announcing their plans to consider a reunion of the two local church bodies. At present, the Diocese of Texas has over 160 congregations and around 72,000 active members, while the ECNTX has 13 congregations and around 5,000 active members. ECNTX spokesperson Katie Sherrod told The Christian Post that, as a result of the breakaway Anglican group winning the legal battle, we lost all but three of our historic buildings and much of our funds. While our people are amazingly creative, resilient, and resourceful for example, our 4Staints Episcopal Food Pantry did not miss one day of food distribution despite having to move we now face the challenge of rebuilding and planting churches, Sherrod explained. We need resources and courageous partners who share our values and who understand the gifts we bring to the table. The Episcopal Diocese of Texas is that partner. Sherrod believed that this reunion will strengthen both of us as we carry the message of God's amazing love for all to this part of Texas. ECNTX Bishop Scott Mayer and Bishop Andrew Doyle of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas are holding meetings with their respective regional body leaders and others to work out the implementation of the proposed reunification, according to Sherrod. Both dioceses will eventually call for special meetings of their diocesan conventions, she told CP. Once both conventions approve the reunion, then it has to be agreed to by the bishops and Standing Committees of The Episcopal Church. In 2008, most of the Fort Worth diocesan leadership voted to leave The Episcopal Church due in part to differences stemming from the denominations increased acceptance of homosexuality. The leadership decided to join the more theologically conservative ACNA denomination, with litigation ensuing over the dozens of church properties owned by the diocese. The national church argued that they held the diocesan properties in a trust, while the breakaway leadership argued that amendments to their official documents overruled that trust claim. Although the Fort Worth Court of Appeals ruled in favor of The Episcopal Church in 2018, the decision was partially reversed in 2020 by the Texas Supreme Court. In February 2021, the United States Supreme Court refused without comment to hear an appeal in the case, effectively allowing the Texas Supreme Court ruling to remain in effect. Anglican Bishop Ryan Reed, head of the breakaway Fort Worth Diocese, said in a statement at the time that the court's decision marked "a turning point" for the diocese. "After directing so many resources to this dispute, we can now put our entire focus on Gospel ministry and Kingdom work," Reed stated last year. "We are nearing completion on a strategic plan that will keep us focused on sharing the transforming love of Jesus Christ and our mission to equip the saints for the work of ministry." 'Take my soul': Megan Fox says she drinks fiance's blood as 'ritual' Actress Megan Fox said this week that she and her fiance, recording artist Machine Gun Kelly, drink each others blood for ritual purposes. The 35-year-old Transformers star first mentioned their ritual practices in January when she told Glamour UK that she and MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, drank each others blood on the day of their engagement. So, I guess to drink each others blood might mislead people or people are imagining us with goblets and were like Game of Thrones, drinking each others blood, Fox told the magazine. Its just a few drops. But yes, we do consume each others blood on occasion for ritual purposes only. Fox, who was raised Pentecostal, also admitted to engaging in other occult practices. I read tarot cards and Im into astrology and Im doing all these metaphysical practices and meditations, she added. And I do rituals on new moons and full moons, and all these things. And so, when I do it, its a passage or it is used for a reason. And it is controlled where its like, Lets shed a few drops of blood and each drink it. Fox then explained that MGK is much more haphazard and hectic and chaotic when he goes about retrieving his own blood during their rituals. Hes willing to just cut his chest open with broken glass and be like, Take my soul, she said, adding that, on occasion, a version of that has happened many times. The actress has made it clear in past interviews that shes strayed far away from her Pentecostal upbringing. In a 2013 interview with Esquire, Fox said she had witnessed miracles, healings and speaking as a child. "It feels like a lot of energy coming through the top of your head I'm going to sound like such a lunatic and then your whole body is filled with this electric current. And you just start speaking, but you're not thinking because you have no idea what you're saying. Words are coming out of your mouth, and you can't control it," Fox told Esquire of speaking in tongues. "The idea is that it's a language that only God understands. It's the language that's spoken in Heaven. It's called 'getting the Holy Ghost.'" She added, "I have seen magical, crazy things happen. I've seen people be healed. Even now, in the church I go to, during praise and worship, I could feel that I was maybe getting ready to speak in tongues, and I'd have to shut it off because I don't know what that church would do if I started screaming out in tongues in the back." The mother of three who's now dabbling in the dark arts told Glamour UK that she has been manifesting MGK since she was 4 years old. Im also four years older than him, so I think I made him, Fox said. My thoughts and intentions grew him into the person that he is. Who knows what he wouldve looked like or been like if it wasnt for me. She also told the magazine that while on vacation in Costa Rica, the couple visited shamans who purportedly delivered MGK from a "demonic spirit." Fox recently divorced actor Brian Austin Green and is often portrayed in the media as a sex symbol. No Vacancy star Dean Cain talks faith, reliance on God: 'If you're doing the right thing, never give up' During the toughest seasons in his life, actor Dean Cain said he relies on his faith and turns to God to get him through. The star of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman plays Pastor Cliff Lea in the new film No Vacancy, which tells the true story of a congregation that transforms an entire community by renovating a motel and turning it into a homeless shelter called the Good Samaritan Inn. The film follows a jaded reporter demoted to a rural news bureau who finds her cynicism slowly transformed as she befriends a recovering addict and writes about a church struggling to purchase a motel for homeless families, reads the film's synopsis. Premiering May 9 in more than 700 cinemas nationwide, Cain is joined on screen by actress Sean Young (Blade Runner) and actor T.C. Stallings (War Room). Cain said he was drawn to the film because it was a true story, and many of the people involved in making the film were beneficiaries of the Good Samaritan Inn spearheaded by First Baptist Leesburg in Leesburg, Florida. "So you see lots of these folks walking around, and you talk to them, and you realize how they've been helped and what they've done. A lot of people were working on the film, and you realize that they have their own story, and this has helped them, Cain recounted in a video interview with The Christian Post. The main story of the film, according to Cain, is that of Cecil Johnson, whose story is portrayed by Stallings. Cecil Johnson had a heck of a story, he declared. Johnson was down and out, suicidal and a drug addict who had no faith when he was approached by a man who would take him to the Good Samaritan Inn. Now he's beloved by the community and a follower of Christ. Cain plays Pastor Lea, the minister who was on the front lines working to purchase the vacant motel and get planning approval to renovate the building as a homeless shelter that saved Johnson and the lives of hundreds more. The actor said it was "impossible" not to be inspired while filming at The Good Samaritan Inn. The inspiration factor is "very consistent throughout making faith-based films," he said. "That's one of the reasons I started doing that when my son was born. Then [when he] got a little bit older, and was able to come on set with me and see things or watch my films, [he was] able to take away a positive, uplifting message." Much like the example of Johnson's life, Cain credited his faith for sustaining him through life's most challenging moments. "There are so many conversations I've had with God at the toughest points and times of my life, and there's nowhere else to turn if you don't have that faith,'' The "God's Not Dead" actor stressed. "I feel bad for someone who doesn't. And maybe it takes those moments to find Him." Cain added that his pursuit of God has been "a wonderful journey," especially with his son. Once he was born, Cain started thinking much more seriously about faith and someone being more important than himself. "I remember I had explained to him when he was 5-years-old that one day he's going to die, and he couldn't sleep and I had to sit outside with him on my lap," Cain recalled. "Then it comes back around right at us, what you've been teaching your child, and then suddenly they have more strength than you or they give you that strength," he added. In "No Vacancy," the pastor and his members faced opposition when they tried to buy the motel, but they stood firm and didn't back down from what they believed God had called them to do. Cain said they set an example for others not to allow challenges and disappointment to deter them from their mission. "All you can do is keep moving forward," Cain advised. "You're going to meet that opposition, and whether you say it's the devil doing it, or you believe that's the case or not, you're going to have to fight that battle." "To see the whole community come together to support [the Good Samaritan Inn], it's the kind of thing that you can't even put into words," he continued. "And the community did come together and did something completely wonderful," he added. The film also shows the power of influence that the media wields. "Sean Young, who plays Brandy Michaels, her character is that person in the media who wouldn't care about it whatsoever," Cain said. "She starts off in that place, and then has to go to Leesburg and cover this feel-good story church thing that she doesn't care about. And then her own life gets changed as her eyes are opened. She sees that even within her own family, her own brother is a victim, in that sense. For her to change, and then put that out there [in the media] is wonderful. "Then for the community to see it, it's a wonderful story," he added. "The media is hugely important. That's why I like to make these films, because if it changes one person's heart, 10 people's heart, or reaffirms something or maybe opens somebody's eyes, then it's worth it." There's a line in the film where Johnson asked the reporter if she believed in angels because he believed that the man that took him to the Good Samaritan Inn was, in fact, an angel. Cain told CP that while he also believes in angels, he doesn't know if he's ever encountered one: "I don't know that I've encountered an angel, but you never know. ... "I just don't know where in my life they've been. But I live a very blessed life. And so I imagine it's happened a number of times along the way." The actor ended his interview with CP by offering advice to those who have a calling but are feeling discouraged. "It's the same advice I give anybody about filmmaking or about life, it's to never give up, Cain said. "If you're doing the right thing and you believe in what you're doing, never give up! You're going to hit those hurdles, nothing wonderful ever comes easily. "I look back at all of the things in my life where I've become super successful. I really doubted whether I could get them done, whether I could make it," he added. "I took on more than I thought I could handle but it's all those moments where I stepped up and did it that have led to all of the biggest successes in my life. "I think that's true for Pastor Lea, my character in this film, there's no way he was about to get this done. It just couldn't have happened. It was over. He knew it was done, but he felt like that was what he was called to do. Then suddenly, it happens," Cain said. "So for anybody out there who is wondering if they're doing the right thing, if it's right in your heart, and you know you're helping other people, carry on, because eventually, it will happen." To learn more about "No Vacancy," visit the film's website. Oklahoma becomes first state to ban nonbinary gender X option on birth certificates Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law a bill that bans nonbinary identification of residents on their government-issued documents, making his state the first in the nation to require birth certificates to indicate only male or female as a persons biological sex. The bill, SB 1100, requires the biological sex designation on a birth certificate to be either male or female and prohibits a nonbinary or any symbol representing a nonbinary designation. People are free to believe whatever they want about their identity, but science has determined people are either biologically male or female at birth, Oklahoma Rep. Sheila Dills, the House sponsor of the bill, said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. We want clarity and truth on official state documents. Information should be based on established medical fact and not an ever-changing social dialogue. While many states only allow the sex designation of male or female on birth certificates, the law makes Oklahoma the first to prohibit nonbinary identification for those who don't want to identify as their birth sex and instead self-identify as the opposite sex or claim to be gender fluid. State Rep. Mauree Turner, a Democrat, who publicly identifies as nonbinary, called the law extreme and grotesque. I find it very extreme and grotesque use of power in this body to write this law and try to pass it when literally none of them live like us, Turner tweeted. Some of our fate, for now, lies in the hands of some people who claim to get it and some people who absolutely dont. Last October, the state issued its first nonbinary birth certificate, which led Republican lawmakers to pass legislation banning the misidentification of residents' sex on the document. The governor said at the time he would take whatever action necessary to prohibit the practice. I believe that people are created by God to be male or female. Period, Stitt said at the time. There is no such thing as nonbinary sex, and I wholeheartedly condemn the purported [Oklahoma State Department of Health] court settlement that was entered into by rogue activists who acted without receiving proper approval or oversight. A month later, Stitt signed an executive order asking the Department of Health to stop amending or issuing birth certificates with a nonbinary option. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia specifically allow a gender marker designation outside of male or female, and the number will increase to 16 on July 1 when Vermonts new statute goes into effect, the AP noted. Last month, the Biden administration announced that airport security would allow passengers to choose their gender as X, regardless of the gender listed in their passports or other IDs, and Americans would be able to select their gender on their passports without supporting medical documentation. Previously, the U.S. State Department had defended the gender binary for passports by arguing that it ensured accuracy, helped identify eligibility, and made passport data useful for other agencies. The department had also previously contended that there was no medical consensus on determining intersex identity and that creating a third designation for sex, such as an X mark, was not feasible. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled in May 2020 that three of the five reasons argued by the State Department lacked record support and sent the case back down to the district court level. The circuit panel still considered the reasons for helping identify individuals ineligible for passports and helping to make passport data useful for other agencies valid. Pastor wins religious discrimination case over tweet warning parents not to expose kids to LGBT pride march A British tribunal has ruled that an Evangelical pastor and ex-school caretaker who claims his former employer forced him to resign after he tweeted that LGBT pride month events are "harmful" to children and "contrary to Christian faith" experienced "indirect discrimination." Pastor Keith Waters, 55, contends he had no other choice but to resign from his part-time caretaker role at the Isle of Ely primary school in 2019 following his tweet warning that Christians should not support or attend pride month events. The Cambridge Employment Tribunal heard Waters discrimination case in January and issued a ruling on April 22. The tribunal dismissed Waters' claims of "direct discrimination" and "constructive dismissal" but upheld his claim of "indirect discrimination in the imposition of the disciplinary sanction." However, the tribunal found that the imposition of the disciplinary sanction "post dates the resignation so cannot be the reason why the claimant resigned." The judges found the fact that Waters made the tweet outside of work on his personal Twitter account as part of his role as a Christian minister "highly relevant." The body declared that it is "one thing to have rules that apply during work and something else to extend those to ones private life outside of work." The ruling noted that curtailing "the claimants freedom of speech outside of work which is an important part of his role as a Christian minister and thus part of freedom to practice his religion; must be done with some exercise of caution and only in the clearest cases where the rights of others are being damaged should the school intervene to prevent the claimant from preaching." The ruling finds that Waters is "entitled" to hold his views on sexual relationships. Even if they may "conflict with the fundamental rights of others," "it is clear that the same could be said about some other aspects of Christianity which could conflict with other religions. The tribunal stated that Waters Christian beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010. "It is clear to us that evangelical Christian ministers will have views not necessarily shared by everyone in Society but that is part of their duty as a Christian minister to preach those beliefs," the tribunal ruling led by Employment Judge King states. "In today's modern society social media is one medium in which these beliefs are preached which is good for spreading the word but puts the word in the public forum more and more accessibly." Waters had argued that his sermons are also recorded and posted on the church's website and that there could be content in those sermons that others could find offensive and trigger a breach in the school's employment policies. The tribunal accepted that argument, saying that in theory, a member of the public could be a member of his church and "take offense such that anytime an evangelical Christian minister carried out his role he was at risk of a disciplinary sanction." "There are other Christian Ministers with secular employment and it is a requirement that they preach the gospel to others," the ruling states. "The respondent submitted that there is no evidence that any of the respondents other employees either shared the same belief or that they suffered a disadvantage because of it. We cannot accept that as we had no evidence of the religious beliefs of the respondents other employees as none was led. The policy we agree would apply to all but others would be disadvantaged by the PCP in the same way as the claimant if they hold the same beliefs as the claimant and then preach those beliefs and that resulted in a complaint to the School." The tribunal rejected the claim of "direct discrimination" because he was not terminated and that others who would write a "similar post for non-religious reasons would be subject to the same treatment." In a statement, Waters said he is "pleased with the outcome." This is a victory, not just for me, but for Christian Evangelical leaders across the country, he said. "The freedom to resign from your job or be silenced from speaking as a Christian pastor is no freedom at all." Waters was represented by the Christian Legal Centre. The organization's chief executive Andrea Williams believes Waters "received justice in this crucial case for Christian freedom." For loving Jesus, speaking biblical truth, and caring for the welfare of children, Keith became persona non grata his words and intentions distorted, his character assassinated," Williams said in a statement. Our schools and churches need more community-minded people like him, not less. For sending one tweet, that raised genuine concern for children, he was vilified, threatened and hounded out of his employment." Willaims said Waters is "the latest in a long line of cases where honest, kind, normal people are subjected to harassment and intimidation for expressing moderate, mainstream Christian views on sexual ethics." "Why should a Christian pastor not be able to speak out on such concerning issues without being threatened and losing his job? she added. Waters said he felt called to the vocation as a caretaker at the Isle of Ely Primary School and to his other job doing pastoral ministry at Ely New Connexions Free Church. When he first took both jobs, he had to go through a change in all his prior occupational pursuits to commit to both lines of work. He left his previous church, which was a place he had served for more than a decade. And he willingly terminated his work as an estates manager at a Cambridge University college. The career change also meant a 60% reduction in salary and moving his family 100 miles across the country, Christian Concern reported. Waters said that he is left with lasting emotional turmoil" because of all that transpired. Despite knowing this was the right thing to do, this whole episode has taken a lasting toll on me and my family," he said. "In 37 years of employment, I have never been treated in such a heartless and hostile way." Waters still believes anyone who attends a Pride event risks being exposed to obscenities, that is self-evidently harmful for children. In a free, responsible and truly loving society, we must be free to say that and raise concern without fear, Waters said. I still stand by what I said, and Ill always stand up for the truth. I believe that childrens safety is paramount; and that everyone, but especially Christian pastors, must be able to voice concerns and raise red flags where children may be at risk." Waters hopes that the ruling may help pastors who might go through similar experiences. I pray that this ruling will help protect pastors in the future that have to work part-time in other jobs to make up their income. This is an important win for our freedom to speak the truth of the Gospel without fear of losing our jobs, Waters said. I took legal action, not because I wanted to sue the school, but because what happens to me goes to the heart of what it means to be free to preach the Gospel in the UK. I believed the issues my case raised were much bigger than anything that was happening to me and that it was the right thing to do." UMC Bishops president decries schism over LGBT stance Global Methodist Church breakaway denomination launches Sunday The outgoing head of the United Methodist Church Council of Bishops has denounced the split of the mainline Protestant denomination over LGBT issues, arguing that fomenting division is counterintuitive to the Bible. A theologically conservative denomination known as the Global Methodist Church is set to officially launch on Sunday, with many UMC congregations expected to join. At the official spring meeting for the UMC Council of Bishops held virtually last week, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey gave her final address for the leadership body, having served in the position for two years. She handed over the helm to new president Bishop Thomas Bickerton Friday. During a Monday speech, Harvey touched on the expected split within the UMC, acknowledging that tensions in our United Methodist Church are running high as we anticipate the pending launch of a new expression of Methodism in our short future. Harvey referenced Romans 12, which speaks about how in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others and that believers have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. We are part of one another, and the energy we have spent trying to figure out how to make sense of this separation is egregious, said the bishop, who mentioned reading the UMC Book of Discipline to help make sense of separation for any reason. Perhaps the reason the Book of Discipline is complex in this matter or is silent or vague about separation is that it is because that is not its intent. The Book of Discipline is designed to give us direction for how to be United Methodists, not how not to be United Methodists. Harvey told the other bishops that it saddened her to see leaders at various annual conferences say things like, Im here to help you understand the process for disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. Now I understand the intent, but the mere words make me so sad in the very pit of my stomach, continued Harvey. The fact that we have to give instructions for how to separate from the body is so counterintuitive from the instruction for how to be the Body of Christ. We have said that we cannot be a traditional church or a progressive church or a centrist church, we cannot be a gay church or a straight church," she added. "Our churches must be more than echo chambers made in our own image, arguing with each other while neglecting our central purpose. Harvey referenced megachurch pastor Andy Stanley, who said in March while serving as guest chaplain for the Georgia House of Representatives that those of you who pander to and foster division, you are terrible leaders. We ought never pander and foster division, she said. We lead out of and because of the love and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are to bring people together, not tear them apart. This is what it means to be the Body of Christ. Harvey says the UMC must be one people, rooted in Scripture, centered in Christ, serving in love, and united in the essentials" and must also be a church that is big enough for the left and the right and the in-between. Harvey conceded that although she "will always wish we could all remain in this Church, I am clear some cannot. She said, it might be time to bless and send our sisters and brothers who cannot remain under the big tent. Our best witness is to love each other as Christ loves us, to show the world the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to bring us together despite our differences. This is what it means to live out the Gospel, she emphasized. The UMC Book of Discipline presently identifies homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching and prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of clergy in same-sex romantic relationships. Although the UMC has reaffirmed this stance several times at their churchwide General Conference meeting, theological progressives in the UMC have tried to change the teachings, occasionally outright refusing to enforce them. Keith Boyette, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and spokesman for the GMC, told The Christian Post last year that UMC leadership has shown an unwillingness to uphold its teachings. In the United States, particularly, some bishops, clergy, and churches are operating in open defiance to the teachings of the United Methodist Church, Boyette said at the time. The Church has become ungovernable as a consequence, such unchecked defiance has destroyed the integrity of the Church. Boyette contends that those who advocate for change in the official teachings and who are in defiance have made it very clear that they will not leave the Church voluntarily. In light of this, theologically conservative leaders have decided to launch a new denomination that will be true to its doctrine and teachings and end this endless conflict within the United Methodist Church, he added. Initially, the UMC was to consider proposals on creating a gracious separation policy at the 2020 General Conference. However, the gathering was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, when UMC leadership said the General Conference will be pushed back to 2024, conservatives announced that they would go ahead with plans to launch the Global Methodist Church. It is anticipated that some theologically conservative local churches will find annual conferences willing to negotiate fair and just exit provisions, while others will unfortunately face obstacles placed in their paths, stated the GMC. The Transitional Leadership Council decided it was time to launch the Global Methodist Church, so those who can leave early will have a place to land, to begin building and growing, and making room for others to join later. Andrew Cuomo sued over pandemic order placing COVID-19 patients in nursing homes Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is being sued over his pandemic order placing thousands of COVID-19 patients in nursing homes during the pandemic, which critics argue put thousands of elderly individuals at risk. Daniel Arbeeny, whose 89-year-old father died in April 2020 after developing coronavirus symptoms while at a nursing home in Brooklyn, filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The filing names Cuomo, top Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa and former New York State Commissioner of Health Howard A. Zucker as defendants. This policy of mandatory admission, non-testing and comingling of nursing home residents constituted reckless endangerment by all of the Defendants, the complaint reads, according to The New York Post. Arbeeny told the outlet that his lawsuit is about holding those in charge accountable for the directive Cuomo issued in March 2020 requiring recovering COVID-19 patients to be transferred to nursing homes. Wrongful death is wrongful death, whether its the state or not," Arbeeny was quoted as saying. "Its wrong. The government needs to make amends for this." In June 2021, Arbeeny authored an opinion column with his brother Peter, writing that thousands of grieving families who lost loved ones in nursing homes are seeking the truth about Cuomos ill-fated advisory and subsequent cover-up of the true death toll. Common sense tells us that nursing homes are the absolute last place that any sensible elected leader should send COVID-positive patients, wrote the Arbeeny brothers. The governors strategy was to make nursing homes the first and only place to send discharged COVID-19 positive hospital patients, and without PPE. This happened even though not one nursing home was properly equipped to handle COVID-19 patients in March of 2020. In March 2020 as pandemic lockdowns began, a Cuomo directed approximately 9,000 recovering COVID-19 patients to be transported to hundreds of nursing homes in New York. According to records obtained by The Associated Press, the 9,056 recovering patients sent to nursing homes were 40% higher than what the state health department had previously reported. Cuomo aide DeRosa told state lawmakers in February 2021 that the administration had withheld data on the states nursing home death toll because they feared that the information would be used against us by federal prosecutors. Two weeks earlier, New York Attorney General Letitia James published a report stating that the actual death toll of nursing home residents between March and August 2020 could have been twice as high as what the state had reported. These revelations, combined with multiple allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Cuomo, led to him resigning as governor in August of last year. Last month, the New York Office of the State Comptroller released an audit that found that Cuomos Health Department misled the public about the data on nursing home deaths and was not transparent in its reporting of COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes. "While the Department's duty is to act solely to promote public health, we determined that, rather than providing accurate and reliable information during a public health emergency, the Department instead conformed its presentation to the Executive's narrative, often presenting data in a manner that misled the public," the report states. Whether due to the poor-quality data that it was collecting initially or, later, a deliberate decision, for certain periods during the pandemic, the Department understated the number of deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%, the audit report added. It was reported earlier this year that the Manhattan District Attorneys Office does not plan to prosecute Cuomo over the temporary COVID-19 nursing home order. The lawsuit comes as a court in the United Kingdom ruled earlier this week that a government policy to discharge hospital patients to nursing homes in March and April 2020 without testing them for COVID-19 first was illegal because it failed to account for the risk it would pose to older and vulnerable individuals. Biden tells teachers students are like your kids, 'not somebody elses while at school President Joe Biden is facing criticism for suggesting to teachers that their students are like your children and not somebody elses when they are in their classrooms at a time when parental rights in education are receiving heightened attention nationwide. Biden made remarks at the 2022 National and State Teachers of the Year Event in the East Room of the White House Wednesday. While he spent most of his speech recalling the impact his teachers had on him as a child and highlighting his wife Jills role as a teacher, the president weighed in on what he described as American teachers becoming the target of the culture wars. Today, there are too many politicians trying to score political points, trying to ban books even math books, he said. I mean, did you even think even you younger teachers did you ever think, that youd be worried about book burnings and banning books, all because it doesnt fit somebodys political agenda? American teachers have dedicated their lives to teaching our children and lifting them up. We got to stop making them the target of the culture wars. Biden pushed back on the idea that teachers educate someone elses children during the school day, insisting that theyre our children. He described children as the kite strings that literally lift our national ambitions aloft in a literal sense" and reiterated that theyre all our children. And the reason youre the Teachers of the Year is that you recognize that, Biden said. Theyre not somebody elses children; theyre like yours when theyre in the classroom. Biden faced pushback as critics believe his implication is that parents relinquish their authority over their children to teachers and school officials when they drop them off at school. The conservative think tank American Principles Project published a tweet declaring, No, Joe, they are not somebody elses children. They are OUR children. Joe Biden says to teachers about their students "they are not somebody else's children. They're yours when you're in the classroom." No, Joe, they are not "somebody else's children." They are OUR children. pic.twitter.com/A5wW3ytRQk American Principles ???????? (@approject) April 27, 2022 Oklahomas Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt sent out a similar tweet. God gave kids to parents NOT the government," Stitt argued. God gave kids to parents - NOT the government. https://t.co/EEc4aFlSag Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) April 28, 2022 The advocacy group Moms for America tweeted, No #POTUS, theyre our children. Every minute of every day. Dont ever forget that. No #POTUS, theyre our children. Every minute of every day. Dont ever forget that. https://t.co/Na7HnzVeXy Moms for America (@momsforamerica) April 28, 2022 The fact-checking website PolitiFact accused conservatives and the Republican National Committee of misrepresenting what Biden was trying to say, contending that Biden's inclusion of the word "like" before "yours" changes the meaning of the sentence. "Biden was saying that the nation's future depends on the successful education of American children not that children belong to their teachers," the PolitiFact article reads. "In his speech to teachers, Biden was talking about educators responsibility to their students and urged them to treat kids in the classroom with care, as if they were their own children. He told teachers students were 'like' their own." Public schools across the nation have faced backlash in recent years from parents who believe the school districts are allowing sexually explicit material in their libraries and incorporating elements of critical race theory as part of the curriculum. Concerns about the exposure of young children to LGBT ideology, specifically the topics of sexual orientation and gender identity, prompted the state of Florida to enact a law restricting school officials from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation with students in kindergarten through third grade. Bidens comment about book burnings and banning books likely refers to the Florida Department of Educations rejection of several math textbooks submitted to the states initial adoption list for mathematics instructional materials properly aligned to Floridas Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards. The Florida Department of Education cited the incorporation of prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including CRT as the reason for rejecting 28 of the 132 submitted textbooks. While 21% of the submitted textbooks were rejected for their inclusion of such topics, 41% of all mathematics textbooks submitted were denied for one reason or another. An example of an offending textbook provided by the Florida Department of Education features a lesson on adding and subtracting polynomials, accompanied by a problem based on a graph of results from the Race Implicit Association Test. The graphs demonstrate that conservatives have a moderate level of racial prejudice compared to their very liberal counterparts, who have the lowest level of bias based on responses to a questionnaire. At the same time, the graphs identify Americans older than 65 as having the highest level of racial prejudice. The doctrine of "in loco parentis," as explained by Encyclopedia Britannica, is when minor children are entrusted by parents to a school" and "parents delegate to the school certain responsibilities for their children, and the school has certain liabilities. Additionally, the school and the teachers take some of the responsibility and some of the authority of the parents. Over the past year, parents and community members across the United States have descended on school board meetings to accuse teachers and school boards of overstepping their authority. Several advocacy groups have popped up over the past year, including Parents Defending Education and the 1776 Project PAC, which supports school board candidates opposed to critical race theory and sexually explicit material in the school curriculum. The issue of education loomed large in last years Virginia gubernatorial election, especially after the Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe said on the debate stage I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. McAuliffe lost the election to his Republican challenger, Glenn Youngkin. In addition to the Virginia gubernatorial election, several candidates supported by the 1776 Project PAC were victorious in school board elections last fall. New American Academy of Pediatrics guide claims some girls can get erections A new American Academy of Pediatrics guide created to educate kids about puberty contains language intended to normalize the idea of children identifying as the opposite gender, including a suggestion that some girls can get erections. The 150-page guide published by the AAP on April 19 is targeted at children ages 9 to 13. Titled "You-ology: A Puberty Guide for Every Body," the book was authored by three physicians, Dr. Kathryn Lowe, Dr. Trish Hutchison and Dr. Melisa Holmes. According to AAP Books, it embraces an inclusive approach that normalizes puberty for all kids. With this book, were trying to change that language to be more inclusive, Lowe said in an April 23 interview with National Public Radio. As a pediatrician, Lowes work includes instructing AAP on gender and sexual identity-related issues. In her interview with NPR, the pediatrician noted how schools and books that follow a traditional model for puberty education often teach people that girls menstruate while boys experience erections. But some girls for example, transgender girls might not get their periods, she asserted. They need to understand about erections and those changes in their bodies. So we wanted to fill this void in puberty education so that kids, regardless of their gender, can see themselves in a book and learn about their bodies. The book uses phrases like for most girls, this happens; for most boys, this happens, an approach Lowe praised as more inclusive. The authors also talked about puberty through fictional cisgender, transgender and non-binary characters, using phrases like most boys and kids like this character to be more gender diverse. And then a lot of the time we also simply talked about body parts and what happens with ovaries and penises, because thats all completely accurate and is inclusive language also, Lowe said. You dont have to use gendered words. The books other authors, Holmes and Hutchison, teach classes on puberty. The former is an OB/GYN, while the latter is a pediatrician. The pair are also the co-founders of Girlology, an online community that began in 2003 to provide girls with medically accurate information about their changing bodies. When we started [teaching puberty classes in 2003], we separated [kids] by gender, Hutchison told NPR. But that was long before there was a better understanding of gender, and the language for it. I think within the last three to five years, its really become [clear that] we need to be more inclusive of everybody. Hutchison revealed that when the book was in its planning stages a few years ago, the goal was for it to be in every school in the country, so that any kid could pick it up and see themselves and their peers. But she maintained that recent anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ legislation has restricted what types of books are allowed in schools. There are certain states out there where you cant even say [some] of these words, she stated. It is possible that Florida House Bill 1557, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month, is one of the bills that Hutchison was referring to. The Florida law prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation for children in kindergarten through third grade and requires schools to inform parents about changes in services that could impact their childs well-being. Critics of the law have called it the Dont Say Gay Bill and derided it as a vehicle for discrimination against LGBT students and staff. "Regardless of whats going on in state capitals, our jobs are to be pediatricians, and to teach kids about their bodies and how to take care of themselves, Lowe added. The AAP did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. A 2017 document published by the Christian organization Focus on the Family points to previous research suggesting that most children suffering from gender dysphoria grow out of their gender confusion by the time they reach puberty. The organization cites a 2010 study titled: Desisting and persisting gender dysphoria after childhood: a qualitative follow-up study. The study was led by Dr. Thomas D. Steensma, a health psychologist with experience in counseling individuals with gender incongruence and supporting them in their medical transition. However, proponents of allowing children to socially transition at younger ages argue that such findings on desistance trends in children with gender dysphoria are overblown. But Focus on the Family, a group founded by Christian psychologist Dr. James Dobson, warns that a potential consequence of encouraging children to live as the opposite gender is that those kids may later have increased difficulty being assertive about switching back and explaining to others why they want to live as their biological gender. The conservative American College of Pediatricians also has warned about the consequences of placing trans-identified children on puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones. "Currently, there is a vigorous debate among physicians, therapists, and academics regarding what is fast becoming the new treatment standard for [gender dysphoria] in children," the group states on its website. "This new paradigm is rooted in the assumption that GD is innate, but a review of the current literature suggests that this claim is founded upon an unscientific gender ideology and lacks an evidence base." Focus on the Family believes Christians should "seek to live in grace and truth" and that treatment for children suffering from gender dysphoria "should focus on helping children embrace their God-given biological reality." Atheist activist demands Fla. school districts ban the Bible for being dangerous,' obscene A liberal activist who sells sex toys online is getting national attention for calling on Floridas public schools to ban and even burn the Holy Bible over what he says are obscene and harmful passages. Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach, Florida, wrote letters to superintendents in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and other school districts throughout the state asking them to immediately remove the Bible from the classroom, library, and any instructional material in their schools. The campaign comes weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1467, allowing Florida residents to request the removal of books they find objectionable from school classrooms and libraries. Critics have alleged that the measure stifles the free speech rights of students and faculty on LGBT issues and other matters. Citing HB 1467, Stevens letter calls not only for the removal of the Bible and the banishment of any book that references it but also calls on education officials to burn what Stevens described as that giant stack of fiction in a pyre worthy of a Viking sendoff. Stevens presented Jose Dotres, the superintendent of Miami-Dade County Schools, with his objections, including references to verses from the Old and New Testament. He sent a similar letter to Kenneth Savage, the interim superintendent of Lee County Public Schools, indicating that his effort to ban the Bible from public schools extends to the entire state. In his letter to Dotres, Stevens misquotes Genesis 2:18 as It is not good enough for man to be alone, therefore, encourage one another and build each other up! The verse written by Stevens actually (and incorrectly) combines Genesis 2:18 with a New Testament verse from Pauls first letter to the Thessalonians, to which Stevens comments: The most troubling of issues for many, as its obvious once we teach little Jimmy and Susie to show empathy for their classmates, theyre one giant step closer to getting their LGBTQ+ freak on. Genesis 2:18 actually reads: It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reads, Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, as indeed you are doing. Stevens letter also takes apparent umbrage with the words of Jesus in a warning of the depravity of the human heart in Matthew 15:19: For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Additionally, the letter cites the Apostle Pauls inspired words in Romans 13:13 as a cause for concern: Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. As the Bible casually references such topics as adultery and fornication or as I like to think, Date Night Friday Night do we really want to teach our youth about drunken orgies? Stevens writes. The context for Matthew 15:19 is when Jesus is teaching His disciples that its not food that defiles a man but rather what comes out of his mouth. Paul, meanwhile, was writing to the church in Rome where sexual promiscuity was a cultural norm when he described orgies and drunkenness. Quoting Gods warning to the Israelites not to participate in bestiality in Leviticus 18:23, Stevens says, one should consider such discussions to be harmful to minors and obscene. He also linked the Bibles view of slavery which calls on masters to treat their servants justly and for servants to obey them as they would obey Christ Himself with critical race theory, saying he was concerned our young white students will read such passages and wake up to civilizations sordid past. A note on Stevens website says the Bible has been used to justify slavery, homophobia, and wars for centuries and its long past time to ban this dangerous book from our public schools. Hes asking supporters for donations to his campaign of demanding every single Florida school board banish the Bible. Stevens identifies himself in his letter to Dotres as an ordained minister for the Church of Mars in California and Florida. In addition to his activism, Stevens also sells non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of sex toys featuring the names of DeSantis, former President Donald Trump and other political figures on his website. Last December, he reportedly sent similar objects to DeSantis and other state and local officials who landed on his naughty list. According to PEN, which characterizes itself as a literary and free expression advocacy organization, Florida had the third-highest number of books banned in schools with 204 across seven districts, coming behind only Pennsylvania and Texas. Its also one of only five states with at least five districts banning books. Stevens effort to ban the Bible from public schools in Florida follows the enactment of House Bill 1557, a bill that prevents school officials from discussing matters related to sexual orientation and gender identity with students in kindergarten through third grade. Derisively called the Dont Say Gay bill, critics of HB 1557 claimed that it censored the speech of students and faculty regarding LGBT issues. Supporters of HB 1557 contend it is a necessary law to support the rights of parents who question the morality of teachers to young children about sexual matters. Parents rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents and the fundamental role they play in the education of their children, DeSantis said in a statement last month. Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old, he added. How we showed women they are known, seen and loved by God For those of us who live in the United States and read and speak English, we have amazing quality and quantity of Bible resources at our fingertips. Unfortunately, this is not the case for our sisters and brothers around the world whose primary language is not English. That is the need we are fighting to meet at Love God Greatly through the resources and Bible studies we create. Our mission is to fight biblical illiteracy in as many languages as possible. Women are hungry for the word of God, desperate for Bible study resources written with them in mind in their heart language. I saw this truth personally in 2020 as the world succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic. As country borders closed, travel halted, and churches moved online, women around the world went online as well, searching for truth. Before COVID-19 my ministry team of translators was translating our Bible studies into 25 different languages. During an eight-month period, we gained a total of 33 languages. My team and I were astonished and amazed when we calculated how many new languages God had brought to us in such a short amount of time. Women from Africa, Europe, and Asia were contacting us wanting to help translate our studies so that the women who read and speak their language could have our Bible studies in their native language, too. I remember a few years ago traveling to Budapest, Hungary, and speaking at a conference there. After the conference, I handed out copies of one of our Love God Greatly Bible studies in Hungarian. As I gave the printed studies out to the women standing in line to talk to me, tears began to fill their eyes. They explained how much it meant to them to have a beautiful, quality Bible study written for them in the Hungarian language. These Bible studies were a tangible display for them of how much they are known, seen, and loved by God. Ill never forget that moment because not only did it impact them, it impacted me, too. No longer did I want to take for granted the blessing I had in having so many wonderful Bible resources in my language and at my fingertips. Recently, I heard a testimony from one of our translation teams in South America. Our branch leader shared how a woman in a local coffee bean company was discipling a group of women during their lunch breaks using our Bible studies. Many women in the group could not read so she printed the studies and read them aloud to the group. This was the first time many of the group members were able to memorize Gods Word for themselves. It was transformative for these women to memorize Gods Word, having it to think about as they went about their days and shared Gods truth with their families and friends. God is actively moving around the world. He is moving in ways to make His Word more accessible to those who want to know Him. He is not silent nor is He passive. God is on the move! Our ministry had the great opportunity to publish a Bible this past Fall. We were able to share more testimonies of women from around the world sharing how God is moving in their lives and in their hearts right in their own countries. It's a beautiful reminder to all of us that God is indeed working as women around the world search for His truth. He will make Himself known. As the world seems to be getting darker, Gods light to the nations is shining brighter than ever. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's president before heading to Poland for talks with officials there on Sunday. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia's war began more than two months ago. Her visit to Kyiv on Saturday marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Moscow. Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, Pelosi said in a statement released Sunday. Footage released by President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office showed Pelosi and other U.S. legislators in Kyiv. In video later released by Pelosis office, the speaker and Zelenskyy both thanked each other for their support in the war. Well win and well win together, Zelenskyy said. Pelosi added: We are here until victory is won. The full congressional delegation included Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Schiff, of California who chairs the House Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the House Rules Committee; Jason Crow of Colorado; Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts. You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told Zelenskyy: We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom." We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi added. The visit wasn't previously announced. The delegation continued its trip in southeast Poland, and Pelosi said they would later visit the capital, Warsaw, to meet with President Andrzej Duda and other senior officials. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, she said. In a news conference in Poland, Pelosi said she and others in the delegation applauded the courage of the Ukrainian people. She added that the delegation brought Zelenskyy a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership. Schiff said the U.S. lawmakers had a three-hour meeting with Zelenskyy and his administration, talking about sanctions, weapons and aid assistance. Schiff promised that intelligence sharing would continue between Ukraine and the U.S. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, Schiff said. And in that struggle, Ukraine is on the front lines. McGovern said Russia's war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine, saying it was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added that Ukraine is a breadbasket of the world. I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world, McGovern said. OXFORD, Miss. (AP) It wouldnt be fair to call Oxford resident Brion Whitten a jack of all trades. Just a lot of them. He hunts. He fishes. He fights fires, both for a living and in his spare time. Hes a former Marine who toured Iraq, Africa and Peru before being honorably discharged with a rank of corporal. Hes authored a book about his experiences outdoors and how they relate to his faith. He created his own line of award-winning turkey calls. And now, seemingly out of nowhere, hes become a content creator whos steadily amassed a sizable online audience. But no matter what adventure life takes him on next, Whitten, 39, remains focused on having fun, spreading the gospel, and telling a few good stories along the way. As a teenager, Whitten didnt care for turkey hunting. But while on the way to his usual deer hunting spot, he would come across lots of turkeys. Knowing his stepdad was an avid turkey hunter, Whitten showed him to the spot one day when he was 16 years old. He had no interest in bagging a gobbler that day, but while his stepdad was unpacking his calls, he handed Whitten the shotgun. He called one time, and that bird came down and landed (in front of us), Whitten said. From that moment, he was hooked; hes been turkey hunting on his own ever since. In nature, the hen goes to the gobbler. When hunters use a turkey call, theyre essentially reversing nature, tricking the gobbler to come to the hen. Thats really one of the things that really intrigued me about making a turkey call, Whitten said. Because you handmade something, take that handmade something and go out in the woods. And it has to be good enough to fool the actual thing. When you do that with your actual call, thats a feeling that you cant explain. After receiving a custom hand-turned turkey call from his brother-in-law for Christmas one year, Whitten decided to try making a call himself. I got to looking at it, and I said Man, as much as I like turkey hunting, I bet Id be good at this because I know what theyre supposed to sound like, Whitten said. Whitten made his first turkey call in 2015. Some may assume the name Soggy Bottom Calls is a reference to the fictional bluegrass group The Soggy Bottom Boys from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and they would be right. But the name goes deeper than that. When Whitten married his wife, Kelly, he quickly became best friends with his late father-in-law, Randy Houston, with whom he regularly fished, hunted and discussed the Bible. The Coen brothers classic was hands down Houstons favorite movie. Not long before Houston died, Whitten took the first turkey call to his bedside. You know what would be cool? Houston said. If your business was called Soggy Bottom Calls. I can see it now. So, thats what he called it. It took a while for the business to take off. In the first couple years, Whitten sold maybe 200 calls. It didnt do much until I figured out that there was a sound that people were really looking for, Whitten said. You can sell some pretty calls, but if they dont have that sound, people are just collecting them. Three years into the business, he put his call head-to-head with others at a turkey call competition. Thats when he realized his call didnt have the right sound. I came back to the drawing board, and I redid all my measurements, all my dimensions and tweaked it down to basically what it is today, Whitten said. It took a while. It took a lot of calls going in the garbage, calls that didnt do right. Now Ive got it down to a science. He now has a collection of trophies and medals from turkey call competitions, proof of his products quality. To date, hes sold more than 3,000 calls. Whitten sells them online, and theyre also carried by three area hunting stores: Hunters Haven in Tupelo; Hunters Hollow in Oxford and Down Range Outdoors in Water Valley. The trick to selling calls, Whitten said, is as simple as getting people to give them a try. They get one turkey to answer to your call, and theyll be hooked, Whitten said. In May 2021, Whitten released a book titled Chasing The Gobble: Stories of Turkeys, a Marine, and God Almighty. He started writing it in 2020, inspired by comments over the years encouraging him to write down the hunting stories he loves to tell. Like a lot of what Whitten does, the book was lovingly crafted by hand. For eight months, Whitten spent weekends and downtime at the fire department writing the book chapter by chapter. When he was done, his wife, Kelly, and friend Angela Eylar edited the book. Whitten self-published the book through Amazon. The 86-page autobiography includes a dozen turkey hunting stories and a handful of stories from his time in the U.S. Marine Corps. Each chapter concludes with a devotional to tie each story to a biblical message. Chasing the Gobble has sold around 1,100 copies since release, and Whitten hopes to write another book in the future. He always has more stories to tell. Recently, Whitten found a new outlet to share his interests. Whitten had heard about TikTok, but he didnt think it would be an app hed enjoy. That was until a friend sent him a video hed recorded that had reached 600,000 views. He had been making funny videos to post on his personal Facebook page for years and thought to himself I can do that. So he made a TikTok account in November, posting several videos that got very little interaction. It wasnt until he started making videos about firefighting and knot-tying that his videos took off. His typical videos get several thousand views. Some have gotten far more hundreds of thousands, even millions of views. Whittens most popular TikTok, viewed more than 1.2 million times, starts with a viral clip of a cave explorer taking off their helmet to fit into a tiny tunnel, followed by a bewildered-looking Whitten saying to the camera, Even with all my rope skills, if the helmet must go, the answer is no. Whittens TikTok following has grown to more than 79,500 followers in around five months, and he has accrued over 20,000 followers on Facebook in just a couple of weeks. For the avid outdoorsman, firefighter, craftsman and Christian, its all about fun. Or, mostly. Among the comedy and instructional videos, every third or fourth TikTok is a devotional or a Christ-oriented video using Whittens own words or a trending sound. At the end of the day, thats what were here for, Whitten said. Spreading the gospel, he added, to the ends of the earth and back, is the goal of it all. I can get attention off of social media and then throw the gospel in there, but in a fun way to where people will actually watch it, he said. Its safe to say Northeast Mississippians, and anyone with a phone, can expect a steady stream of videos about firefighting, rope skills, hunting and faith from him in the future. DELANO, Calif. (AP) The death of a 50-year-old inmate at a Southern California prison is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said Sunday. Alfredo Valenzuela was found unresponsive Saturday in his cell at Kern Valley State Prison, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement. He was pronounced dead a short time later. FORT BENNING, Ga. (AP) The top commander at Fort Benning plans to retire later this year, and his replacement has already been named, Army officials said. Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe plans to step down in July as commanding general at the base in Georgia, post officials told the Ledger-Enquirer on Friday. Maj. Gen. Curtiss Buzzard, currently the deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, is set to take his place. By the spring of 1865, a weary, war-torn nation had had enough. Americas deadliest war was sputtering to a bloody close. Its first president to die at an assassins hand had just been murdered and was awaiting burial. Next, the killer was killed. Then came a tragedy so immense that it still holds a record today. It wasnt supposed to have turned out that way. It should have been the opposite, a Hollywood-style happy ending for men who had suffered and survived some of the Civil Wars worst horrors. Yet in an instant, the Disney tale turned into a horror movie. In 1865, hundreds of steamboats chugged the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans carrying products and people. It was a busy place then, the quickest way to travel long distances when you were in a hurry. The men in blue were indeed in a hurry to get home. After all, most of them were Union soldiers recently released from the Andersonville POW camp in Georgia. With the war over, the weakened survivors wanted to put it behind them. Enter the steamboat Sultana. It was designed to carry cotton on runs from St. Louis to the Big Easy. But money is money, and Sultanas owner supplemented his income by ferrying federal troops up and down the river. When used as a passenger vessel, it was authorized to carry 376 people. The Sultana was docked at Vicksburg, Mississippi, when an Army officer came looking for Capt. James Mason. The officer knew the war had hit Masons bottom line hard and that he desperately needed cash to keep his boat in business. The officer had a problem of his own, too. A temporary holding camp outside town was overrun with soldiers liberated from Andersonville and another POW camp in Alabama. So, he offered a deal. The Army paid $2.75 for each enlisted man and $8 for every officer transported up the river. If Mason would turn a blind eye to the number of men crammed on board, plus give a generous kickback to the officer, the Sultanas trip upriver would be her most lucrative ever. They shook hands. When the anchor was weighed and her side paddlewheel began churning on the night of April 24, an estimated 1,960 liberated prisoners, 22 other soldiers, an additional 70 paying travelers, plus a crew of 85 were aboard. That was 2,137 people on a boat designed to carry 461. The sight was so unusual when the Sultana docked upriver at Helena, Arkansas, 36 hours later, photographer Thomas Bankes rushed to the levy to capture the scene. Photography was cumbersome and time-consuming then, meaning such an overloaded boat was so extraordinary it was considered worth preserving. The image clearly shows Sultana lilting to port from the excess weight. A few hours later it took off again. There had been engine trouble. The worst was to come. It was slow going, paddling against the ferocious current with a weight the boat was never intended to bear. On top of everything else, the Mississippi was at flood stage just then. The boats complex steam engine, prone to problems even in ideal conditions, strained to provide power. It reached Memphis around 7 p.m., dropped off 200 men and 120 tons of sugar freight while taking on several tons of coal, then resumed plodding northward at midnight. Two hours later, it happened. There was a massive explosion. A giant fireball lit up the spring night. Bodies and pieces of wreckage flew everywhere. Survivor Anna Annis recalled, My husband, with our child, jumped overboard. I held on to the rudder till I was obliged to let go by the fire. Solomon Bogart said, I jumped overboard among countless numbers of drowning men and made my way to the bank after hard swimming for 8 or 9 miles. Well never know the exact number of fatalities. Estimates range from 1,100 to as many as 1,547. Recent research suggests it was likely close to 1,200. Some people suggested it was an act of late-war sabotage. While theories about the explosions cause abound, it was most likely mechanically related. Two things are beyond dispute. First, no one was held accountable. Capt. Mason died in the blast. The Army officer who bribed him was found guilty in a court-martial, but his sentence was later overturned. Second, it remains the worst disaster in American maritime history. The nearly 1,200 lives lost puts it on par with the Titanics 1,500 death toll. So given the magnitude, why dont many remember it today? Because it happened at the wrong time. It occurred at the end of a month that had already seen more than its share of death. It was finally one tragedy too many. Americans simply wanted to forget. And forget they did. Set in North Carolina in 1773, Season 6 of Starz's "Outlander," based on Diana Gabaldon's book "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," continues the tale of Scottish heartthrob Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and time-traveling healer Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) as they face the American Revolutionary War as backcountry settlers. But though Season 6 is set in a period that will be familiar, in broad strokes, to U.S. audiences, "Outlander" also introduces a number of lesser-known details from 18th-century American history. Showrunner Matthew Roberts says it takes an average of six weeks to research and prepare for filming, and another six weeks to film. All of that preproduction work goes into learning, researching and consulting with experts about the different cultures they're portraying in each episode. Native Americans are a particular focus this season. Roberts explains that much of the research was into understanding mannerisms and body language. To cite one example, "We learned that the Cherokee don't point with their fingers," he said. "They wouldn't ever do that, so we said (to the actors) don't do that." But Fraser's Ridge itself about 20 miles or three nights on horseback from Wilmington, N.C., production designer Mike Gunn imagines is fiction, though many Scottish settlers came to Salisbury and Wilmington in this period, according to Danielle Berrow, a writer and historical consultant on "Outlander." "There are things that are just absolute facts, and we tried to portray them that way," said Roberts. "But we're not making a documentary. This is 100% fiction." Plus, he acknowledges, certain aspects of history aren't knowable, such as the comportment of real historical figures like William Tyron, who served as governor of both North Carolina and New York, or George Washington. "We have no idea what George Washington sounded like or acted like. It's our fictional portrayal of him," Roberts said. What was Freemasonry, and was it common in the 18th century? Though Freemasonry wasn't a religion, per se, Berrow explains that to be a Freemason, one had to believe in "a supreme being." One of the world's oldest fraternal organizations, the Freemasons' origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Freemasonry was banned by the Catholic Church in 1738. "Some of the founding fathers have various associations, or at least are rumored to have associations, to be Freemasons," said Berrow. She elaborated that sometimes it's difficult to get an idea of exactly how many people were involved in these Masonic ceremonies "because of the secrecy around it." The opening scene of Season 6 flashes back to 1752 to show Jamie's involvement in the order, as he is given a leadership position while in Ardsmuir prison. After Jamie is named a Freemason by the prison governor, tension rises between him and the devout Protestant Tom Christie, played by Mark Lewis Jones. The plot portrays Jamie's all-too-cunning way of finding peace within the divided Catholic and Protestant prisoners in an attempt to control the narrative. As the story transports viewers to the episode's present-day of 1773, religious tension arises once again between Jamie and Christie, as Christie settles in Fraser's Ridge and tries to build a church. Jamie quickly readjusts Christie's expectations and suggests that the church instead be a meeting house a nod to the Old South Meeting House where participants in that year's Boston Tea Party met to fan the flames of American revolutionary fervor. What's with all the glass? Jamie and Claire's house on Fraser's Ridge features colorful furniture and vivid wall drawings common aspects of living lavishly in the 1770s. But elegant glass designs stand out this season: beakers, distilling apparatus and bewitching ornamentation on the main houses' doors and windows. Gunn explains that he wanted to allow himself artistic license, given that Jamie and Claire are well funded and Claire kens the future. Knowing the limited resources and technology available to Claire, however, the production tried to stay within historically accurate parameters of innovation and design. "We normally have the freedom (of) Claire's knowledge of the future that she could bring back," said Gunn. Glass, a rare commodity at the time, is an indication of wealth. But windows and beakers aren't the only elements that tease at the plot for this season. Sand clocks, known as hourglasses, are another key motif. Even though hourglasses were invented in the 8th century, "Outlander" has never featured them in previous seasons. This season, however, Claire is seen with an hourglass on multiple occasions to measure her "ether naps." Gunn said that hourglasses became a way to nudge the fans toward the "sense of time running out.". "The winter's coming, the bad things are coming," he said. Wait, what's an 'ether nap'? Season 6 highlights an innovative time for the Frasers. Claire discovers ether, an inhaled anesthetic, 73 years before its official discovery in real life . Ether, which can be dangerous if overused, is administered through a variety of methods. Gunn explains that in the 1700s, the most common way would be by applying the ether to a piece of cloth, then placing the cloth over the nose and mouth. But because of her background as a combat nurse during World War II, Claire knows about another method: the Ferguson face mask. The designer opted to combine Claire's knowledge with the limited resources that were available to her. "We wanted something a little bit more sexy, a little bit more exciting than just a cloth," said Gunn. Because ether carries a similar consistency to alcohol, Gunn and his team also had to work out a way to show Claire's intricate process of distilling the chemical. "We had to work out how she would capture it, and then contain it," he said. "And we designed props to have it dripping into the glass beaker. We worked on the physics about how it would stay there and not evaporate." And Claire isn't the only innovator this season: Brianna Fraser (Sophie Skelton) invents safety matches. (In reality, safety matches were invented about 53 years later by John Walker, a British pharmacist.) The word "matches" goes back to the early medieval period. Berrow explains that a lot of people are surprised that a more primitive version of matches existed for that long: "It was sulfur-dipped little sticks," she said. "These 18th century characters are used to using fire on a daily basis, and they must be lighting it somehow. But there are obviously little bits of modern convenience that our characters can maybe help within the show," she added. Brianna's underrated invention, likely to be underrated by modern audiences as well, transforms an onerous chore into a simple task with the stroke of a match. How accurate is the series' depiction of Anglo-Indigenous relations? For viewers wondering if Ian Murray's acceptance into the Mohawk tribe in which he receives face markings with a fishbone dipped in pigments is based on real events: Yes, it is, says Berrow, who explains that such ceremonies, if not common, did take place. "I thought that was incredibly moving, especially given the traumas that these people have historically been through, and the fact that they have been colonized and forced to convert to Christianity," said Berrow. "It's really interesting to hear about the sort of ceremonies of acceptance and how appearance plays a big part." Ian's storyline, which culminates in the Mohawk chief telling him, "Every drop of white blood has been washed from your veins," is adapted from one of the first settlers in the colonies, Captain James Smith. Smith, who described the experience in his diary, was adopted by the Mohawk and underwent a similar ceremony, even down to the language that was used. The message, according to Berrow, is, "You become one of us, we love you as one of our own." The series also accurately captures the position of the Cherokee in the American revolution through a fictionalized version of Alexander Cameron, a Scottish settler who was commissioned by the British to act as a British Indian agent. Cameron lived among the Cherokees for almost 15 years as they switched allegiances between the British Army and the American colonists, ultimately siding with Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. . Berrow explained that many high school textbooks don't teach the full complexity of the American Revolution especially Native Americans' strategic engagement in conflicts among European powers and settlers in order to achieve their own political ends. "The British are the bad guys," she said of the popular understanding of this period. "How could they (the Cherokee and Mohawks) be aligned with them?" "Outlander" tries to portray a more accurate version of the conflict in which each population is pursuing the course it believes serves its interests best, which was no less true of the Mohawk and Cherokee than it was of the British and Americans. Season 6 has only six episodes, marking a shorter-than-usual "Outlander." But dinna fash, Roberts confirms that the "Droughtlander" will be brief, with Season 7's 16 episodes just around the corner. EDWARDSVILLE A Belleville man has been indicted by a Madison County grand jury for weapons-related crimes from a March 30 incident in Venice. Leon McClendon IV, 20, of Belleville, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony, and aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony. The case was originally presented by the Venice Police Department. According to court documents, on March 30, McClendon allegedly shot a person in the stomach. He then fired in the direction of another person in a 2008 Ford Focus. Other indictments issued April 28 include: Kendrick M. Moore, 30, of Cahokia Heights, was indicted for unlawful delivery or possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class X felony, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. Charges were originally filed March 8, and the case was presented by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois. According to court documents, on Sept. 20, 2020, Moore allegedly had 15-100 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded and accessible Smith & Wesson SD40 VE .40 caliber pistol. Lacy A. Saunders-Robertson, 30, of East Carondolet, was indicted for unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class 1 felony. Charges were originally filed Feb. 17 and the case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. According to court documents, on May 19 Saunders-Robertson allegedly had 5-15 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. David Solis, 38, of Collinsville, was indicted for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was originally presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on Sept. 5 Solis allegedly was driving a vehicle when he attempted to flee from a Madison County sheriffs deputy, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit. James D. Hughes, 57, of Bethalto, was indicted for harassing and stalking a potential witness in a court case in which he allegedly victimized her during an October aggravated battery incident. He was charged April 28 with harassment of a witness, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated stalking, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On April 26 he allegedly communicated with a woman who is expected to be a witness in a criminal case against him, calling her six separate times and leaving voicemails as well as violating the terms of an order of protection by the victim. Bail was set at $50,000. On Oct. 4 he was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, for allegedly strangling a man and grabbing the arm of a woman, the victim in the April incident. Terence D. Johnson Jr., 21, of Madison, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. On April 27 Johnson allegedly hit a senior citizen in the head with a closed fist and resisted a Pontoon Beach police officer attempting to arrest him. Bail was set at $20,000. Brittany A. Molloy, 27, of Alton, was charged with three counts of aggravated battery, one Class 2 and two Class 3 felonies. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On March 31 Molloy allegedly attacked a St. Anthonys Health Center security officer and two nurses. Bail was set at $25,000. Justin N. Prestito, 32, of Highland, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm with revoked Firearm Owners ID Card, a Class 3 felony, and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Highland Police Department. On April 26 Prestito allegedly had a Springfield Armory .40 caliber handgun and a Taurus .357 caliber revolver while having a revoked FOID card; he also allegedly grabbed a household or family member by the neck, causing injury. Bail was set at $40,000. Elena L. Pedrero, 27, of Alton, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On March 28 Pedrero allegedly caused more than $500 damage to a mattress and metal window frame at Alton Memorial Hospital. Bail was set at $25,000. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SALE, Morocco (AP) As a combatant for the Islamic State group who left his native Morocco to join what he felt was a holy fight in Syria, Mohsin says he saw all the horrors of war. A terrifying experience, he says. Now a prisoner, the 38-year-old claims he is no longer the fanatic he was then, enraged with a murderous hatred for non-Muslims. Captured in Turkey and extradited to Morocco, he is serving a 10-year prison term on terrorism charges. Now the former fighter has graduated with 14 other prisoners convicted of terror offenses from a Morocco de-radicalization program that might make them more eligible for an early release. The Associated Press and other media were invited to observe their graduation ceremony Thursday in a prison in Sale near the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and to interview some prisoners under monitored and controlled conditions. Prison administration officials picked out three men they said were willing to be interviewed. Officials stipulated that the inmates shouldn't be identified by their full names and that their faces mustn't be shown, citing privacy reasons. But prison officials didn't listen to the interviews or intervene to shut down media lines of questioning or inmates' answers. The 15 inmates in crisp shirts and trousers stood solemnly for Moroccos national anthem and were handed certificates. Prison officials said the de-radicalization program consisted of three months of classes in prison on religion, law and economics, and that inmates also received training on how to start a business. These most recent graduates were the ninth batch since the program started in 2017. Moulay Idriss Agoulmam, the director of social-cultural action and prisoner reintegration at Morocco's prison administration, said the program is entirely voluntary and works with inmates to change their behaviour and improve their life path. It enables prisoners to form an awareness of the gravity of their mistakes," he said. Graduating from the program doesn't make inmates automatically eligible for early release, but does increase their chances of getting a royal pardon or a reduced sentence. That's been the case for just over half of the program's 222 graduates so far, the prison administration says. Since 2019, the training has also been offered to women convicted under Morocco's Anti-Terrorism Act. Ten women have graduated so far all of them since released, including eight with pardons. Called Moussalaha, meaning reconciliation in Arabic, the program is offered to prisoners who have demonstrated a readiness to disavow extremism. Mohsin said he left to fight in Syria in 2012. A school dropout as a teen, he said he was virtually illiterate and couldnt discern good from bad. He said he was radicalized by people who showed him extremist videos about the divine obligation to battle those who don't follow Islamic principles and to murder non-Muslims." In Syria, I saw massacres, rapes, and thefts," he said. "I concluded after a time that the fight being conducted in the name of Islam had nothing to do with our religion. He escaped to Turkey in 2018 and was detained for a year there before being extradited to Morocco. He says he has now disavowed extremism. That period of my life has passed, he said. Numerous Moroccans have traveled to Syria, Iraq and elsewhere to join extremist groups. Morocco has also experienced multiple attacks itself. Five suicide attacks in Casablanca in 2003 killed 33 people. In 2011, an explosion destroyed a cafe in Marrakech, killing 17 people, most of them foreign tourists. Al Mustapaha Razrazi, a clinical psychologist and member of the programs scientific committee, said among 156 people who have been released after attending the courses, just one has been caught committing a crime again. That person was convicted of a non-terrorism-related offense, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BALTIMORE (AP) Dr. Morton Mower, a former Maryland-based cardiologist who helped invent an automatic implantable defibrillator that has helped countless heart patients live longer and healthier, has died at age 89. Funeral services were held Wednesday for Mower, who died two days earlier of cancer at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, The Baltimore Sun reported. The Maryland native had moved to Colorado about a decade ago. Mower and Dr. Michel Mirowski, both colleagues at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, began working in 1969 on developing a miniature defibrillator that could be implanted into a patient. The device would correct a patients over-rapid or inefficient heartbeat with an electric shock to resume its regular rhythm. It was the talk of the whole hospital that these two crazy guys are going to put in an automatic defibrillator, Mower said in a 2015 interview with The Lancet medical journal. If something had gone awry, we would have never lived it down. We were these two crazy guys who wanted to put a time bomb in peoples chests, so to speak. The physicians had, in a matter of months, a model of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator for demonstration. But it wasnt until 1980 that the device was implanted into a human at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the newspaper reported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the device in 1985. Both doctors shared the patent for the device, the technology of which was sold to pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. Mower later became director of medical research for the Eli Lilly division that produced the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, according to the newspaper. I think Morty had as much influence successfully finding a treatment for sudden death as anyone in our profession, said Dr. David Cannom, a retired Los Angeles cardiologist and longtime friend. The device proved that it was better than medication in treating arrhythmia, and they did this against all odds at a small hospital in Baltimore, Cannom added. And for the past 40 years, it has proven that it's reliable" while saving many lives. Mower, a Baltimore native who grew up in Frederick, attended Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He worked at Baltimore hospitals and served in the Army before beginning his professional career at Sinai in 1966 as a co-investigator of its Coronary Drug Project. He was chief or acting chief of cardiology at the hospital for several years in the 1970s and 1980s. Sinai Hospital named a medical office building for him in 2005. Later in his career, he was a consultant or executive for several medical companies. He continued his research and worked up until his death, his son, Mark Mower, of Beverly Hills, California, wrote in an email to the newspaper. He never wanted to waste a moment of his life. Mower received many awards, including a 2002 induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He also was involved in many Jewish charitable organizations. One group, Jewish National Fund-USA, praised him for his fundraising efforts toward water infrastructure, education and community centers in Israel. Mower and his wife of 57 years, Toby, had visited Israel weeks before his death. As a medical inventor, his innovations restarted the hearts of millions, yet he also gave a heartbeat to an entire nation the land and people of Israel, Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson said in a news release. In addition to his wife and son, Mower is survived by his daughter, Robin Sara Mower of Denver; and three grandchildren. LEESBURG, Va. (AP) A young adult has been charged with murder and other counts after his father was found dead inside a northern Virginia home this weekend, police said on Sunday. Schuyler Lake, 21, of Leesburg, was charged with second-degree murder, credit card theft and credit card fraud, Leesburg police announced in a news release. SMITHFIELD, Ky. (AP) U.S. Sen. Rand Paul promised Saturday to wage a vigorous review into the origins of the coronavirus if Republicans retake the Senate and he lands a committee chairmanship. Speaking to supporters at a campaign rally, the libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican denounced what he sees as government overreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He applauded a recent judges order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs. "Last week I was on an airplane for the first time in two years and didnt have to wear a mask, he said, drawing cheers from the partisan crowd. And you know what I saw in the airport? I saw at least 97% of the other free individuals not wearing masks. Paul has clashed repeatedly with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the countrys top infectious disease expert, over the government's COVID-19 policies and the origins of the virus that caused the global pandemic. Paul, who is seeking a third term this year in Kentucky, said he's in line to assume a committee chairmanship if the GOP wins Senate control after the November election. The Senate currently has a 50-50 split, but Democrats have the slim edge because Vice President Kamala Harris is a tie-breaking vote. When we take over in November, I will be chairman of a committee and I will have subpoena power, Paul said. And we will get to the bottom of where this virus came from. The senator, an eye surgeon, continued to offer his theory about the origins of the virus. "If you look at the evidence, overwhelmingly, not 100%, but overwhelmingly the evidence points to this virus being a leak from a lab, Paul said. In the U.S., many conservatives have accused Chinese scientists of developing COVID-19 in a lab and allowing it to leak. U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided on the origins of the coronavirus but believe Chinas leaders did not know about the virus before the start of the global pandemic, according a Biden-ordered review that was released last summer. The scientific consensus remains that the virus most likely migrated from animals in whats known as a zoonotic transmission. So-called spillover events occur in nature, and there are at least two coronaviruses that evolved in bats and caused human epidemics, SARS1 and MERS. At the Kentucky GOP rally for Paul, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the state's senior senator, also pointed to Paul's opportunity to lead a committee if the GOP wins Senate control. If that occurs, he said, Paul would become chairman of one of the most important committees in the Senate in charge of health, education, labor and pensions. McConnell was upbeat about Republican prospects in November. I've never seen a better environment for us than this year, said McConnell, who is in line to again become majority leader if the GOP reclaims the Senate. The rally featured a number of other prominent Kentucky Republicans, including several who are considering running for governor in 2023, when Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear will seek a second term. In his speech, Paul continued to rail against socialism, saying it would encroach on individual liberties. The senator was first elected to the Senate in the tea party-driven wave of 2010. When President Trump said he wanted to Make America Great Again, I said, Amen," Paul said. "But lets understand what made America great in the first place, and thats freedom, constitutionally guaranteed liberty. In this year's Senate race in Kentucky, Charles Booker is by far the best known of a handful of Democrats seeking their party's nomination for Paul's seat in the May 17 primary. Paul is being challenged by several little-known candidates in the GOP primary. A general election campaign between Paul and Booker would be a battle between candidates with starkly different philosophies. Booker, a Black former state lawmaker, narrowly lost a bid for the Senate Democratic nomination in 2020. He is a progressive who touts Medicare for all, anti-poverty programs, a clean-energy agenda and criminal justice changes. Paul, a former presidential candidate, has accumulated a massive fundraising advantage over Booker. Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992. TETERBORO, N.J. (AP) Authorities say a small plane made an emergency landing at a New Jersey airport over the weekend after smoke was reported in the cockpit. The Federal Aviation Administration says the Maryland-bound plane landed safely at about 11 a.m. Sunday at Teterboro Airport in Bergen County. No injuries were reported. Travelers across Taylor's Bayou will soon have a temporary bridge to use while the existing one on Texas 124 is under construction as part of a project to widen the body of water underneath. Jefferson County Commissioners last week approved a contract for engineering services to plan the temporary bridge. During a flood event, the flow of water from the northwestern part of the county China, Nome, and parts of Beaumont down through that system was pinched off, said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. Part of the project is to build a new bridge, which will allow them to open up the bayou so that we don't have that impediment to water flow down into the diversion channel and on down south out into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Texas Department of Transportation said that if the original bridge is closed completely, the project could be finished in nine months. However, if the bridge remained open to one-lane traffic during construction, the entire reconstruction would take 18 months. Closing the bridge was deemed more time effective. Additionally, closing the bridge and maintaining a temporary bridge beside it was determined to be a good option for other projects going on simultaneously. Just to the west, you got all this work going on Interstate 10, and so TxDOT came back and said we don't want to close it completely because if we have a wreck over here, we've got to route traffic around to 124, Branick said. And if that bridge is closed completely, we've really got a mess over here on Interstate 10. According to Branick, the temporary bridge will allow two-way traffic, one lane at a time. Traffic lights will signal vehicles when its their directions turn to advance. The temporary bridges construction will add more than $140,000 to the projects total, bringing it to more than $500,000. The county and Drainage District 6 are evenly splitting the additional cost for the temporary bridge. The majority of the projects cost is being covered by a grant from the Texas General Land Office. Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday he is moving another $500 million to fund Operation Lone Star, his border security initiative at the Texas-Mexico border. The move comes three weeks after state military officials said the multibillion-dollar operation was in need of an infusion of cash to keep it afloat through the end of the fiscal year. Abbott said the money would be taken from the budgets of other Texas agencies, including nearly $210 million from the states Health and Human Services Commission over two years and about $160 million from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Department of State Health Services and Juvenile Justice Department will each see tens of millions of dollars taken from their budgets to fund the border mission, Abbott said. In a letter to the agencies, Abbott said that this transfer will not affect any agency or program function. The governor's office did not answer whether the agencies would be reimbursed later or would see budget cuts, and instead referred questions back to Abbott's original announcement. Operation Lone Stars price tag for taxpayers is upwards of $2 billion a year. State officials already transferred another $480 million from other agencies in January to keep the operation running through the spring. Texas will not sit on the sidelines as President Biden continues turning a blind eye to the crisis at our southern border, Abbott said in his statement. Texans safety and security is our top priority, and we will continue fighting to keep our communities safe. This additional funding ensures the Lone Star State is fully equipped to provide Texans the border security strategy they demand and deserve. Abbotts Operation Lone Star is a series of policy changes at the border that the governor says is in response to an increase of illegal border crossings under the Biden administration. The project includes the deployment of thousands of state troopers and National Guard soldiers at the border, as well as Abbotts state-funded border wall project. The increase in funding comes as Abbott has implemented initiatives at the border such as boat blockades and razor wire at border crossings and chartered buses to Washington, D.C., for migrants in Texas. He says he is working to counter the Biden administrations repeal of Title 42, a pandemic-era health order that allowed immigration officials to deny migrants entry to the U.S. because of the coronavirus. The announcement also comes about one week after a Texas National Guard soldier drowned in Eagle Pass attempting to rescue migrants struggling to swim in the Rio Grande. Days later, it was revealed that the soldier was not properly equipped with a flotation device, The Texas Tribune reported Wednesday. Abbott said $465.3 million of the $500 million will be allocated to the Texas National Guard. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX 751 PM CDT Sat Apr 30 2022 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL EDWARDS AND SOUTHWESTERN REAL COUNTIES... At 751 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Camp Wood, or 15 miles west of Leakey, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Camp Wood and Barksdale. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. TX . TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ANGELINA CASS CHEROKEE GREGG HARRISON MARION NACOGDOCHES PANOLA RUSK SAN AUGUSTINE SHELBY SMITH UPSHUR The National Weather Service in League City has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northwestern Trinity County in southeastern Texas... Northwestern Houston County in southeastern Texas... * Until 900 PM CDT. * At 753 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 9 miles southwest of Grapeland to 6 miles west of Crockett, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected. * Locations impacted include... Crockett, Grapeland and Latexo. If on or near Houston County Lake, get away from the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 15 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Anderson County in central Texas... * Until 645 PM CDT. * At 548 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Palestine, moving southeast at 10 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Palestine and Elkhart. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 836 PM CDT Sat Apr 30 2022 ...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southeastern Montgomery County through 915 PM CDT... At 835 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles northwest of The Woodlands to Porter Heights. Movement was east at 5 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Southern Conroe, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, Splendora, Patton Village, Roman Forest, Woodbranch, Woodloch, Porter Heights, Chateau Woods and New Caney. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. If on or near Lake Conroe, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. LAT...LON 3030 9533 3026 9522 3016 9511 3011 9528 3021 9562 3029 9566 TIME...MOT...LOC 0135Z 275DEG 4KT 3026 9555 3017 9531 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH ...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Trinity, southwestern Houston, northeastern Madison and north central Walker Counties through 945 PM CDT... At 839 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles north of Austonio to 7 miles southeast of Crockett. Movement was southeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail. Crockett, Austonio, Groveton, Lovelady and Pennington. These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3130 9526 3108 9495 3099 9557 3109 9576 3114 9577 3116 9573 3118 9574 3121 9575 3123 9573 3127 9573 3130 9570 3129 9568 3132 9567 3132 9566 3134 9566 3135 9568 3136 9566 TIME...MOT...LOC 0139Z 303DEG 14KT 3128 9566 3124 9537 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 1, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 408 PM CDT Sun May 1 2022 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN PECOS...EAST CENTRAL REEVES AND CENTRAL WARD COUNTIES... At 407 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 17 miles south of Barstow, or 17 miles southeast of Pecos, moving northeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Coyanosa, B F Goodrich Testing Track and Imperial Reservoir. This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 58 and 60. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for western and southwestern Texas. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Northwestern Andrews County in western Texas... * Until 500 PM CDT. * At 408 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 15 miles southeast of Eunice, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Andrews County, including the following locations... Frankel City. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Lea County in southeastern New Mexico... Northwestern Gaines County in western Texas... * Until 515 PM CDT/415 PM MDT/. * At 409 PM CDT/309 PM MDT/, a severe thunderstorm was located near Lovington, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 70 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. * Locations impacted include... Hobbs, Lovington, McDonald, Humble City, Knowles, Industrial Airpark and Higginbotham. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT/900 PM MDT/ for southeastern New Mexico...and western Texas. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather ZZ Top pulled into the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Wednesday evening for a rocking performance. The band has been together for over five decades and sold over 30 million records across 15 studio albums. The loss of long-time bassist Dusty Hill in 2021 did not stop the band as his spot o 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. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Personal Mention April 27, 2022 Anna J. Siefken will take a leave of absence from her position as executive director of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation to join the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) as a commercialization executive. The OTT serves as the central hub for the technology transfer activities across the Department of Energys extensive R&D enterprise. The office ensures groundbreaking scientific discoveries achieve their maximum public return and impact, advancing the economic, energy, and national security interests of the United States. Thank you to my amazing colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University and the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation for the opportunity to expand our collective research and innovation work via this important cross-cutting role, driving toward a more sustainable, low carbon energy future. There is much to do, Siefken said. As executive director of the Scott Institute for more than five years, Siefken has guided efforts to optimize energy resources, reduce the environmental impacts of energy production and use, and develop breakthrough technologies that will have meaningful impact. In 2020, the American Energy Society recognized the Scott Institute for the first time as one of the Top Ten Energy Elites. Learn more about Siefken. Alex John London, the Clara L. West Professor of Ethics and Philosophy, has been appointed to a new National Academies committee on Creating a Framework for Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health and Medicine. The committee will develop a framework founded upon core ethical principles with a focus on equity, for considering the potential benefits and risks that emerging science, technology, and innovation in health and medicine can bring to society. Director of the Center for Ethics and Policy at Carnegie Mellon, Londons work focuses on ethical and policy issues surrounding the development and deployment of novel technologies in medicine, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, on methodological issues in theoretical and practical ethics, and on cross-national issues of justice and fairness. He is the author of For the Common Good: Philosophical Foundations of Research Ethics. His papers have appeared in Mind, The Philosophers Imprint, Science, JAMA, The Lancet, The BMJ, PLoS Medicine, Statistics In Medicine, The Hastings Center Report, and numerous other journals and collections. He is also co-editor of Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine, one of the most widely used textbooks in medical ethics. Learn more about London. Alex Waibel, a professor in Carnegie Mellon Language Technologies Institute, has been elected a fellow of the International Speech Communication Association (ISCA). The ISCA recognized Waibel for his pioneering contributions in multilingual and multimodal spoken language processing and translation. Waibel, also faculty at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, has worked on speech and machine translation for decades, developing systems that now can translate speech in real time. Waibel demonstrated the first speech translation systems in the 1990s and 2000s. By 2020, he had developed a system that outperformed humans in recognizing conversational speech on a public benchmark. Waibel has founded and co-founded nearly a dozen companies, including Jibbigo, which was acquired by Facebook. Learn more about Waibel. Slow trains continue to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices, services in Xinjiang Xinhua) 11:48, May 01, 2022 A craftsman sells his handicrafts aboard a slow train running in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 28, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Passengers take selfies aboard a slow train bound for Urumqi in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A senior passenger talks with a kid aboard a slow train bound for Hotan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 27, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A train attendant studies the reference for Uygur language and Mandarin Chinese translation aboard a slow train running in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A train steward waits for passengers on the platform beside a slow train bound for Hotan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 27, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Passengers take a rest aboard a slow train bound for Hotan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 27, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Passengers choose handicrafts aboard a slow train running in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 28, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) This combo photo shows (top) passengers walking to Hotan Railway Station in Hotan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 28, 2022 , and (bottom) passengers walking out of Urumqi Railway Station in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2022, As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Children play toys aboard a slow train bound for Hotan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 27, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A passenger plays the guitar aboard a slow train bound for Hotan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 27, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A passenger takes photos of scenery along the rail route aboard a slow train bound for Urumqi in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Passengers have their tickets checked to board the train 7558 bound for Urumqi in Hotan Railway Station in Hotan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 28, 2022. As bullet trains zoom through stations in many parts of China, the seemingly outdated, rumbling slow-speed trains have continued to serve residents of remote areas with stable ticket prices and services. Though home to the world's most developed high-speed railway network, China still regularly operates 81 slow train services. The trains 7556/7557 and 7558/7555, running between Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and Hotan, are typical examples. The whole journey of the trains is 1,960 km, with 66 stops along the way. Since the trains' operation in June 2011, the fares have remained affordable for locals to help them shake off poverty and embrace better lives. People adore taking the slow-speed trains to carry goods to markets, send children to schools, and head for megacities as migrant workers. The slow trains, carrying the hope of local people, move forward steadily and surely with a unique rhythm that has not changed for years. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Ilbnslbys.gaosoft.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 17 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the ilbnslbys.gaosoft homepage on StumbleUpon. 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The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND In an industry known for toxic culture, poor treatment of employees, and abysmal womens rights stances, theres one company that takes the cake home and then further abuses it. Activision Blizzard has come under intense scrutiny from the community and pressure from the justice system. For a game maker whos created some of the worlds most popular games to play with friends; World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Diablo to name a few, they sure are bad at treating their own people right. Heres a breakdown of the major controversies the company has idiotically brought upon itself by being objectively terrible. Advertisement Movies obviously arent real, as evidenced by the fact that youre reading this article and not busy dodging large chunks of the moon as they violently fall onto the Earths surface. But we still like to buy into the illusion of our favorite high-concept stories, right? This can be increasingly tough with movies that were made in the past, but take place in the future, and not just because were not all chowing down on Soylent Green, or shipping off prisoners to the maximum security island of Manhattan. Even smaller details can date an older, supposedly futuristic movie but weirdly, thanks to our cultures obsession with nostalgia, a lot of these problems have been totally fixed. Take 1990s Total Recall, the story of how one man either saved Mars or tragically slipped into a coma, its hard to say which, exactly. In one scene, we see a fridgeful of Pepsi cans, and clearly theyre the 1980s-style labels. I mean, we can accept the memory implants, mutant space colonists and three-breasted women, but why would they have old Pepsi cans in the year 2084?! Tri-Star Pictures While this may have been an anachronism 20 years ago, thanks to corporate Americas penchant for marketing the superficial aspects of our youth back to us at a premium, its no longer a problem. You can go into any supermarket today and buy Pepsis retro throwback cans that are pretty much the same as the old ones. So those Martian colonists may have just stocked up on exclusively nostalgia-baiting soda products. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ROME (AP) For travelers heading to Europe, summer vacations just got a whole lot easier. Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday before Europe's peak summer tourist season, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal. Greeces civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. As of Sunday, visitors to Italy no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated online ordeal required at airport check-in. Italy also did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. .Some indoor mask mandates in Italy also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces and stores. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas and in all health care facilities and nursing homes. It was needed, said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. We have waited more than two years. At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with friends, all without masks. Its much better, Bichler said. Lets say its a return to life, a free life. In Greece, where tourism accounts for about 20% of its GNP, enforcing the rules had already fallen off prior to Sunday. On the tourist island of Mykonos, revelers flooded beaches, bars and restaurant the previous weekend for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Some owners said business was the best they had seen in years and expected that to continue for the long May Day weekend. Vaccination certificates in Greece were abolished, not permanently, but from May 1 to August 31 and it will be determined in August whether to bring them back. Also suspended were restrictions on the number of customers in indoor spaces. But masks are still required indoors and in vehicles in Greece, and experts recommend using them outdoors in crowded situations like concerts. Business owners said many unvaccinated people were among those enjoying the end of COVID-19 restrictions. We saw again old customers whom we hadnt seen since November, when vaccination certificates first became mandatory, Michalis Epitropidis, general secretary of the association of restaurant, cafe and bar owners in Thessaloniki, told the Associated Press. By punishing the unvaccinated, the state was punishing us. Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, was a hotbed of militant vaccine denialism and protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Like Italy, Greece saw tourism revenues plunge in 2020 and only partially rebound in 2021. Greece is now hoping for a record tourism year in 2022 and so does neighboring Albania, where restrictions were also lifted Sunday. Public health officials say masks still remain highly recommended in Italy for all indoor activities, and private companies can still require them. Given that the virus is still circulating, we should keep up the vaccine campaign, including boosters, and keep up behavior inspired by prudence: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever theres a risk of contagion, said Dr. Giovanni Rezza, in charge of prevention at the health ministry. ___ Nellas reported from Athens, Greece. Francesco Sportelli contributed from Italy, Costas Kantouris from Thessaloniki, Greece and Llazar Semini from Albania. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) A long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was under way Sunday, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraine's president to show unflinching American support for the country's defense against Russia's invasion. Video posted online by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children bundled in winter clothing being helped as they climbed a steep pile of debris from the sprawling Azovstal steel plants rubble, and then eventually boarded a bus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 100 civilians, primarily women and children, were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday. Today, for the first time in all the days of the war, this vitally needed (humanitarian) corridor has started working, he said in a pre-recorded address published on his Telegram messaging app channel. The Mariupol City Council said on Telegram that the evacuation of civilians from other parts of the city would begin Monday morning. People fleeing Russian-occupied areas in the past have described their vehicles being fired on, and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of shelling evacuation routes on which the two sides had agreed. Later Sunday, one of the plants defenders said Russian forces resumed shelling the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed. Denys Shlega, the commander of the 12th Operational Brigade of Ukraines National Guard, said in a televised interview Sunday night that several hundred civilians remain trapped alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. Several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant, Shlega said. We need one or two more rounds of evacuation. Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the steel plant, told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday that it has been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. We hear voices of people who are still alive inside shattered buildings. As many as 100,000 people may still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a key target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said civilians who have been stranded for nearly two months at the plant would receive immediate humanitarian support, including psychological services, once they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) northwest of Mariupol. Mariupol has seen some of the worst suffering. A maternity hospital was hit with a lethal Russian airstrike in the opening weeks of the war, and about 300 people were reported killed in the bombing of a theater where civilians were taking shelter. A Doctors Without Borders team was at a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, in preparation for the U.N. convoys arrival. Stress, exhaustion and low food supplies have likely weakened civilians trapped underground at the plant. Ukrainian regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar, meanwhile, called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. We dont know why they are not taken away, and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed, he said in a video posted Saturday on the regiments Telegram channel. Video from inside the steel plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands were among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed men with blood-stained bandages, open wounds or amputated limbs, including some that appeared gangrenous. The AP could not independently verify the location and date of the video, which the women said was taken last week. Meanwhile, Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers visited Kyiv on Saturday. She is the most senior American lawmaker to travel to the country since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. Her visit came just days after Russia launched rockets at the capital during a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Rep. Jason Crow, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. In his nightly televised address Sunday, Zelenskyy said more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-agreed with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion. The organization of humanitarian corridors is one of the elements of the negotiation process (with Russia), which is ongoing, he said. Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, saying Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. What could be Russias strategic success in this war? Honestly, I do not know. The ruined lives of people and the burned or stolen property will give nothing to Russia, he said. In Zaporizhzhia, residents ignored air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home to visit cemeteries Sunday, when Ukrainians observe the Orthodox Christian day of the dead. If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, Its not possible, theyre worse than the Germans, Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said while marking the day with his family at a picnic table among the graves. All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture the capital, Kyiv. Russias high-stakes offensive has Ukrainian forces fighting village-by-village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling. Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of seizing medical facilities to treat wounded Russian soldiers in several occupied towns, as well as destroying medical infrastructure, taking away equipment, and leaving the population without medical care. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine is difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested the offensive was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russias vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russias offensive could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel, and a much larger air force and navy. In Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, an explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday, and a criminal investigation has been started, the regions government reported in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. ___ Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine RED BAY, Ala. (AP) An Alabama sheriff says a public health worker was killed by dogs after she went to a home to follow up on a report about dogs attacking and injuring another person days earlier. Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the dogs' owner, Brandy Dowdy, 39, has been charged with manslaughter and with violating Alabama's dangerous dog law, WTVA-TV reported. Jail records on Sunday did not show whether she is represented by an attorney. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) A search launched Saturday for an inmate who escaped from the Kilby Correctional Facility in Alabama. Mitchell Lindsey, 29, fled just before 8:30 a.m. from the prison located in Montgomery County, the state Department of Corrections said in a news release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the last section of Mariupol not occupied by the Russians, said he was glad evacuations had begun. Palamar hoped the evacuations from the Azovstal steel mill continue until everyone in the plant, civilians and soldiers, had gotten out. Its been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant, he told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. The Azovstal plant is strewn with mines, rockets, artillery shells and unexploded cluster ordnance, he said. Along with the Azov regiment, Palamar said, the plant is being defended by the 36th Marine Brigade, police officers, border guards, coast guard and more. Some of them guard the territory, some of them prevent attempted attacks, some of them are responsible for a ceasefire, some of them help to clear the rubble under shelling. He said the presence of children and civilians makes it harder to fight, and there are many injured people in the plant. Theres not enough water, he said, and the air smells of decomposing bodies. The fighters in the plant will continue to resist until they receive an order not to, Palamar said. The best solution in this situation is our evacuation. Does it make a sense to continue carrying this massacre? he asked. The standoff at the steel plant saved many lives, he believes. Because if we hadnt done this, the front line would be much bigger. The front line would be in another area. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Evacuations underway at steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol Pelosi leads delegation to Kyiv and Poland; vows US support Combat death puts spotlight on Americans fighting in Ukraine Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers evacuation Look for the orange vest: Ukrainians in Romania help others Germany vows to stop using Russian oil exports by late summer Ukraine admits Ghost of Kyiv fighter pilot is a myth Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: An explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday in the Kursk region of Russia, which borders Ukraine, and a criminal investigation has been started. The regions government reported the blast in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. The explosion Sunday caused a partial collapse of the bridge near the village of Konopelka, on the Sudzha-Sosnovy Bor railway, the report from Kursk said. It was a sabotage, a criminal case has been opened, said the regions governor, Roman Starovoit, according to TASS. He said there were no casualties, and no effect on the movement of trains. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Four civilians were reported killed and 11 more were injured by Russian shelling in the Donetsk region on Sunday, the Ukrainian regional governor said that evening. The deaths and seven of the injuries were in the northern city of Lyman, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. One person also died in the city of Bakhmut from injuries received in the Luhansk region, he said. In the same post, Kyrylenko said that it was impossible to determine the number of victims in the bombed-out port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha, which is controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists. ___ LVIV, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, citing strikes against non-military targets on Sunday. Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. The targets they choose prove once again that the war against Ukraine is a war of extermination for the Russian army, he said. He said Russia will gain nothing from the damage but will further isolate itself from the rest of the world. What could be Russias strategic success in this war?" Zelenskyy said. "Honestly, I do not know. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukraines president is describing his hourslong weekend meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv as a powerful signal of support in a difficult time. In a televised address on Sunday evening, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his meeting with Pelosi included discussions of defense supplies to Ukraine, financial support and sanctions against Russia. Pelosi and a half dozen U.S. lawmakers met with Zelenskyy and his top aides for about three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Zelenskyy says Ukrainians are grateful to all partners who send such important and powerful signals of support by visiting our capital at such a difficult time. Additionally, Zelenskyy estimated that more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-arranged with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine in late February. Many civilians were evacuated Sunday from at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. ___ KYIV, Ukraine A Ukrainian military officer says that Russian forces have resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the war-torn port city Mariupol immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said Sunday in a televised interview that the shelling began as soon as rescue crews ceased evacuating civilians at the Azovstal steel mill. Shlega says that at least one more round of evacuations is needed to clear civilians from the plant. He says dozens of small children remain in bunkers below the industrial facilities. The commander estimates that several hundred civilians still are trapped at the site alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. A video published earlier on Sunday by the Russian defense ministry showed people walking out of the steel plant, including a small group of women accompanied by two pet dogs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Sundays evacuations from Mariupol marked the initiation of a vitally need humanitarian corridor. ___ BERLIN Germany says its making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of crude oil imports from Russia by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europes largest economy has reduced its share of Russian energy imports to 12% for oil, 8% for coal and 35% for natural gas. Habeck says those steps mean increased costs for the economy and for consumers. But he says the changes are necessary if Germany no longer wants to be blackmailed by Russia. The announcement comes as the European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil. The bloc has already decided to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. Weaning German off Russian natural gas is a far bigger challenge. Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany got more than half of its natural gas imports from Russia. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The city council in the bombed-out southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol says Monday is the scheduled start date for a broad, U.N.-backed evacuation of its civilians, other than those sheltering at a steel plant. The city council also confirmed Sunday in a social media post on Telegram that some civilians were being evacuated Sunday from the Azovstal steelworks that is the last Ukrainian defense stronghold in Mariupol. City officials note the support of the Red Cross and say the wider evacuation of the strategic port city was delayed by security concerns. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The Ukrainian army says that a Russian offensive along a broad front in the countrys east has been stalling amid human and material losses inflicted by Kyivs forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Sunday in a Facebook post that Russian troops were trying to advance in the Sloboda, Donetsk and Tauride regions, but were being held back by Ukrainian forces that continue to fight village by village. Separately, Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of destroying medical infrastructure, taking equipment and denying medical care to residents in several occupied cities and towns. In a Facebook post Sunday, Ukraines Ministry of Defense claims that ventilators and other equipment provided since 2014 by international donors and the government of Ukraine were removed from a hospital at Starobilsk in Ukraines eastern Luhansk region. The same post alleges that tuberculosis patients were denied medical care in the Kharkiv region at Volchansk while several facilities were used to treat wounded Russian troops. The accuracy of the claims could not be immediately verified. Ukrainian officials also said Sunday that internet and cellular communications were cut in a large area in the Russian-occupied Kherson region and part of the Zaporizhzhia region and blamed Russian forces. The London-based internet monitor Netblocks said the Kherson region lost 75% of internet connectivity beginning Saturday evening. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that an evacuation is underway of civilians at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday that a group of 100 people are on their way from Azovstal steelworks to Ukrainian-controlled territory. He indicated that plans are underway for a Monday rendezvous with the evacuees at the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia that has previously been a staging post for those fleeing Mariupol. Zaporizhzhia is located about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from Mariupol. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ DUSSELDORF, Germany German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to continue to support Ukraine with money, aid and also weapons, saying a pacifist approach to the war is outdated. Speaking at a May Day rally in Dusseldorf, Scholz said: I respect all pacifism, I respect all attitudes, but it must seem cynical to a citizen of Ukraine to be told to defend himself against Putins aggression without weapons. The German leader also warned that the war would have consequences for food supply, potentially leading to a worldwide hunger crisis. Soaring food prices and disruption to supplies coming from Russia and Ukraine have threatened food shortages in countries in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia. ___ ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine The United Nations has confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is underway. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the sprawling Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ BERLIN German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has brushed aside criticism that his government is not doing enough to help Ukraine defend itself against Russias invasion. Even though Germany reversed its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, Scholz has been accused at home and abroad of being hesitant and slow in coming to Ukraines aid. In an interview published Sunday by newspaper Bild, the Social Democratic leader defended his governments approach. I make my decisions quickly and in coordination with our partners, Scholz was quoted as saying. I am suspicious of acting too hastily and Germany going it alone. Germany broke with tradition after Russias invasion on Feb. 24 to supply anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Ukraine. It has since agreed to provide Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Scholz has faced mounting pressure to send other heavy weapons including tanks and other armored vehicles. Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor late last year, said he wasnt bothered by opposition claims that hes too hesitant and timid. It is part of a democracy that you are robustly challenged by the opposition, he said. ___ VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has appealed again for a safe evacuation of Ukrainians trapped in the steel plant of Mariupol, saying he weeps thinking of their suffering and how their city has been barbarously bombed and destroyed. Speaking Sunday during his traditional noontime prayer, Francis urged all the faithful to pray the Rosary every day in May for peace. He noted that May 1 begins the month Christians dedicate to Mary, the mother of God and for whom Mariupol is named. He said: Even now, even from here, I renew the request that safe humanitarian corridors be arranged for the people trapped in the steelworks of that city. I suffer and cry thinking of the suffering of the Ukrainian population, especially the weakest, the elderly and children. He noted the terrible reports of children being expelled and deported and the terrible regression of humanity. ___ WARSAW, Poland Polands armed forces said Sunday that military exercises involving thousands of NATO soldiers have begun. They are regular exercises aimed at improving the security of the alliances eastern flank but come this year with Russias war against Ukraine raging nearby. Due to those circumstances, Polands military appealed to the public on Sunday not to publish information or photos of the columns of military vehicles expected to move through the country in the coming weeks. It warned that ill-considered activity could harm the alliances security. Lets be aware of the dangers! the statement said. The Polish Army said in a statement that 18,000 soldiers from over 20 countries were taking part in the Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises that are taking place in Poland and eight other countries. The exercises are scheduled to run May 1-27. ___ RZESZOW, Poland U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and vowed continued U.S. support to help Ukraine defeat Russia after leading a congressional delegation to Kyiv to assess Ukraines needs for the next phase of the war. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is next in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. She and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses so far and offering continued long-term military, humanitarian and economic support, vowing the United States would stand with Ukraine until it defeated Russia. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. He said: We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Pelosi said she was dazzled by Zelenskyys expertise of all the issues at hand and described him at their meeting as a remarkable master class of leadership. ___ LONDON Russian cyber soldiers have launched a new offensive against foreign leaders, targeting social media platforms with a large-scale disinformation campaign that seeks to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine, according to research funded by the U.K. Paid operatives working from a factory in St. Petersburg use the Telegram messaging app to recruit and coordinate supporters who then flood the social media accounts of Kremlin critics with comments supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, the U.K. Foreign Office said Sunday. The so-called troll factory has developed new techniques to avoid detection by social media platforms, posting comments and amplifying pro-Kremlin content created by legitimate users rather than creating its own content, the Foreign Office said. Traces of its activity have been found on eight social media platforms, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The operation has targeted politicians and wider audiences in a number of countries, including the U.K., South Africa and India, the Foreign Office said. It is believed to have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and Britain for financing the Kremlins online influence operations. We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putins illegal war, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in the statement. The U.K. government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to oil depots just across the Ukrainian border in Russia after suspected Ukrainian attacks. The photos from Saturday show damage at two sites in Bryansk. The blasts damaged multiple tanks, leaving the surrounding grounds charred. The explosions happened Monday. One hit an oil depot owned by Transneft-Druzhba, a subsidiary of the Russian state-controlled company Transneft that operates the western-bound Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline carrying crude oil to Europe. The second facility is a short distance from the other. Bryansk is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the border with Ukraine. ___ KYIV, Ukraine U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has met with Ukraines president. Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a Congressional delegation. Those with Pelosi included Reps. Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff. Zelenskyy told the delegation: You all are welcome. Pelosi later said: We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. The visit was not previously announced. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant that is the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol, a Ukrainian official and Russian state news organizations said. But hundreds are believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. The United Nations was working to broker an evacuation of the up to 1,000 civilians living beneath the sprawling Soviet-era Azovstal plant after numerous previous attempts failed. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city. U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Saviano Abreu said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but he could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation. ___ LVIV, Ukraine U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says American diplomats are making plans to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. Blinken made the comment while speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. An overnight statement Sunday said Blinken told Kuleba that America plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. He said diplomats had been making initial visits to Lviv to prepare. The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Kyiv in February just before Russia launched its war on the country. The U.S. had been bringing diplomats across the Polish border each day to work in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, before stopping the practice. Lviv has largely been spared in the conflict, though a missile strike several days ago targeted a railroad facility near the city. The U.S. is one of Ukraines main backers in the war, providing billions in aid and weaponry. DURHAM, N.C. (AP) An armed woman was shot this weekend by a central North Carolina police officer who had responded to an indecent exposure report, authorities said. The Durham Police Department said in a news release that the shooting occurred after its officers arrived shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday and found the woman with a weapon. The woman was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Her condition wasnt immediately released. Democrats, including Gov. Ned Lamont, are justifiably proud of the budget theyve crafted in the soon-to-conclude 2022 state legislative session. The state of Connecticut, which for years suffered from budget shortfalls and resorted to accounting gimmicks to make the numbers add up, is this year cutting taxes, investing in necessary projects and paying down long-term debt, all at once. With every position in state government up for election this year, its important for officials to put their best vision forward for the states voters. More importantly, its vital for the future of Connecticut that we get our books in order. State Republicans, mostly shut out of power for the past decade other than a two-year power-sharing agreement in the Senate after the 2016 election, were less enthusiastic. The abnormally large sums of money flowing into state coffers mean that more should be going toward tax cuts, leaders said. This isnt unexpected, and theres some justification for this belief. The budget situation has no recent precedent. The current budget surplus is nearly $4 billion. The rainy-day fund is as large as its allowed to be by statute, and while long-term debt related to pensions and health care remains a concern, the state has done more to pay down those bills in the past few years than it had in decades. It would be misleading, though, to think our problems have been solved. While Lamont made fixing the budget his top priority upon taking office in 2019, it would be premature to say that his goal has been accomplished. Too much of the current situation is dependent on one-time occurrences or what could be temporary realities. COVID relief, or course, is a major factor. The federal government has sent huge sums of money to state and local governments in the past two years to cover losses from the pandemic, and while that help has been welcome, its also skewed our vision of what government funding looks like. Those revenue streams wont last much longer, and we clearly cant make future plans based on them. That relief money also came with restrictions Washington did not want to write a big check to states and have it all go directly to tax cuts, but instead it is meant to be used to fund necessary pandemic-related projects. That has limited Connecticuts options, but the governor and legislative leaders believe they have found the best way forward and are cutting car taxes, offering a child tax credit and cutting fees for seniors. As always, state funds are heavily dependent on the stock market. Even with measures taken to limit volatility, a healthy Wall Street means good times for Connecticuts budget, which has mostly been the case for Lamonts time in office. Again, as always, thats subject to change, and the good times could go south if the economy falters. That, along with the COVID relief conundrum, is why some of the tax cut proposals are not long-term, but offer mostly immediate relief. We dont know what the budget situation will look like in a year or two. It would surely please some voters and interest groups to cut more long-term taxes. But this appears to be the more responsible path. Australia's most popular 'TikTok medium' reveals the 'shocking' moment he told a woman she would be giving birth in 13 months, just days after she had suffered a miscarriage. Cael O'Donnell, 25, said he was 'drawn to doing a reading' for a young woman who appeared on his Instagram Live. When he 'connected to spirit' he was told the young woman had just found out she had lost her first baby to miscarriage. Cael O'Donnell, 25, is Australia's most famout TikTok psychic - he says he is often shocked by the messages he's 'asked to convey' from the spirit world Mum Katie Richens, 30, is now the psychic's top fan - after he correctly predicted she would have a little boy But that 'she would have a son in late October', he conveyed the message despite it being 'very bold'. 'I heard the words come out of my mouth, and I just thought to myself well that was bold. I hope it happens or my career could be over,' he said. 'These moment happen so often, I think to myself that was a huge prediction, but I am just here to pass on the messages so that's what I do.' The young woman, Katie Richens, now has a baby boy, Charlie, who was born in early November and has become Cael's biggest fan. 'Everything he said was so spot on, and Charlie very easily could have been born at the end of October, he was only a few days off,' she told FEMAIL. The mum confirmed she was struggling with very fresh news about her first pregnancy when she spoke to Cael. 'Being told I was going to have a son soon, to be pregnant again so soon and that my first baby was a boy was bittersweet,' she said. Adding that Cael had known things about their baby, who they lost at ten weeks, that they hadn't told anyone. 'He said the baby didn't have a good heart, which was the case,' she said. 'The heartbeat was slow during the eight week ultrasound, which can sometimes resolve itself, se we were hoping that would be the case but we lost him,' she said. The psychic said he connected to the spirit of the baby she had lost just days earlier, and told her she would be a mum soon - suggesting she manifest it by washing baby clothes Cael told the 30-year-old mum to 'buy a baby jumpsuit and put it in the wash' to help 'manifest her second baby'. 'I bought the jumpsuit and found it really healing when I put it in the wash every week, four months later we were pregnant,' she said. 'It was really hard to be excited at first, but at about 16 weeks I was finally able to celebrate being pregnant again because it felt safe,' she said. Cael said he was thrilled when the mum jumped on his Instagram live to tell him, his supporters and his critics that his prediction had come through. Katie said she 'had to tell him' once her son Charlie was safely in the world. 'So many people jump on those things and are so quick to criticise - I wanted to show them the proof - that Cael was the real deal,' she said. Cael said he loves hearing back from clients when his predictions come true. 'A lot of people don't realise when their predictions come true, because over the course of a year or a few months it can all feel natural,' he said. The mum said Cael predicted she would have a baby in late October - her son was born in early November which was close enough for her to continue to believe He said he recently got a message from a young woman who found love after a reading. 'I told her she was going to meet a really boring man, that the first date would be awful but that she had to give him three more chances,' he said. 'She called me to say two weeks after out chat she had the most boring date of her life, but my reading was still fresh so she decided to give him a chance.' 'She said after date three he really started to open up, and she quickly started falling for him,' he said. Cael is currently touring Australia after writing his first book about being a psychic And while he mostly passes on good news - he will sometimes tell people to 'delay' holidays or from making big decisions. 'I hate bringing doom and gloom to the table so will guide them around it instead,' he said. 'I always sent my intention for readings for good news,' he added. Cael is set to start his first Australian tour next week, coupling the huge event with the launch of his first book 'Three minutes with spirit'. Cael was a therapist before deciding to quit his 9-5 job to become a full-time psychic. A new book by four academics has claimed that women are spending 200 hours more a year doing 'office housework' than men. The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women's Dead-End Work says that women are expected to do more 'non-promotable tasks' than their male counterparts - including fetch coffee, train junior staff, and organise leaving dos. As such, the American-based authors - professors Linda Babcock, Lisa Vesterlund, Brenda Peyser and Laurie Weingart - argue this is one of the main factors holding women back from advancing their skills or career, reported The Times. They are encouraging female employees to 'say no' to 'office housework' after analysing workers at unnamed professional service firms and finding women on average were unwilling to decline the jobs due to 'guilt or anxiety'. They found that senior and junior women spent 200 more hours per year than the average male employee on non-promotable work equivalent to about a month's labour. In their book, the academics insist female workers should create 'No clubs', places to get advice and pep talks from female friends and colleagues to help them 'say no' to 'non-promotable' work. The No Club from left to right: Laurie Weingart, Lise Vesterlund, Linda Babcock, and Brenda Peyser. The four academics argue that women are spending too much time on 'non-promotable tasks' They say female staff are spending too much of their working day completing tasks such as sitting on committees, taking notes and training junior colleagues, in addition to what they coin as 'office housework' such as getting coffees, organising leaving dos and sorting out birthday cakes. Jobs of this kind exist in all types of employment, they claim. For example in schools female teachers tend to be expected to do more classroom work whilst male staff accrue more time for managerial tasks, which enhance their chances of promotion. Babcock, 60, the James M Walton professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said these tasks are 'invisible,' explaining that many places of work don't even notice them. The quartet's research suggests that women do this work for two reasons - because they are more likely to be asked and because they are more likely to say yes. The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women's Dead-End Work (above) Vesterlund, 55, a professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh suggest women were doing this work not because they were better at it or actually enjoyed it but because employers and colleagues expected them to. She told The Times: 'Organisations are losing out by letting this happen because they are giving this work to the people who will do it, not the people who will be best at it.' The book claims that bosses and colleagues believe that women are not team players if they don't volunteer for these tasks, but men don't receive the same censure. In addition, women are left feeling guilty and anxious if they decline these jobs. Vesterlund added that women feel stressed and anxious when no one jumps to a task and will end up volunteering themselves, even though they don't want to do it. She said: 'The emotions we see are very different because one gender is expected to come forward, and another one isn't.' Professors Babcock, Vesterlund, Peyser and Weingart, a business professor at Carnegie Mellon, created their own No club 12 years ago. The four were struggling and exhausted with their endless lists of tasks, of which were of no use to their careers, but kept the workplace ticking over. These tasks took away time from the women that they could have been spending on productive work. It was Babcock who realised that a male colleague was able to spend more hours doing a research task of which both of them were being evaluated on, while she was attending endless committee meetings. Princess Charlene of Monaco appeared 'emotionally isolated from an animated Prince Albert' despite trying to 'emphasise her role as a loving wife' during the couple's first public appearance since November, a body language expert has claimed. Former Olympic swimmer Charlene, 44, joined her husband Prince Albert, 64 and their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, seven, at Monaco's E-Prix yesterday. They have rarely been seen together since Zimbabwean-born Charlene spent some 10 months in South Africa last year, after contracting a serious sinus infection during a solo charity trip. The illness left her hospitalised and delayed her return to Monaco. After returning to the principality last November, the mother-of-two almost immediately left and went to Switzerland to receive treatment for 'exhaustion'. Looking at the couple's body language, expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Albert and Charlene were keeping their distance from one another, and that Charlene's 'pensive' expression made her look 'isolated' from the rest of her upbeat family. Former Olympic swimmer Charlene, 44, joined her husband Prince Albert, 64 and their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, seven, at Monaco's E-Prix yesterday The expert noted that Charlene's lips looked like she was trying to smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes (pictured) 'Charlenes lack of mirroring makes her look emotionally isolated here, with her very sad-looking eye expression and her reflective or pensive gaze,' Judi said. She added her expression made the royal 'look distanced from her more animated family, despite the fact that she is standing with them and even cuddling her small daughter.' In pictures taken from the event, Charlene could be seen standing behind Gabriella, with her hand - featuring her wedding and engagement ring - on her daughter's chest. Judi added that keeping her hands across her daughter's chest suggested that Charlene wanted to keep Gabriella 'safe and loved, while also creating an emphatic focus on her wedding and engagement rings to emphasis her role as a loving wife.' The body language expert also suggested that there was very little interaction between Albert and his wife, who have been plagued with rumours of marital discord since their wedding over ten years ago. The Monaco palace has consistently denied media reports of a rift between Charlene and Albert. The mother-of-two (pictured with her family) wore a business suit to appear strong and confident, but adopted a 'self-hiding' pose, claimed the body language expert While the rest of the family was upbeat, Charlene's pensive looks made her seem isolated and sad, Judi claimed Charlene stood closer to her children than she did her husband during the family event, Judi noted Commenting on Charlene's interactions yesterday, Judi said: 'Her only verbal and non-verbal communication in these poses appear to be with her daughter and there are no signs of her using any eye-engage techniques with either her husband or the public.' Timeline: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's year apart 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 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival 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 July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. '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. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell' November 13 - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically framed treatment' outside of Monaco November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 - Prince Albert attends a Monaco Red Cross event without Princess Charlene November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location November 19 - Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention January 25 - Charlene celebrates her birthday alone outside of Monaco January 26 - Prince Albert is joined by his children and sister without Charlene at St Devote's Day February 27 - Prince Albert and his two children attend AS Monaco football match without Princess Charlene March 14 - The royal palace announced Charlene had returned to Monaco. April 17 - Palace released Easter Sunday family portrait of couple with their seven-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques Advertisement The expert also noted the Monaco princess's smile was anything but joyful. 'If this can be called a smile it does not reach her eyes, whereas an authentic smile will tend to start in the eye expression,' she said. 'Her mouth expression is asymmetric, pulled up very slightly at the right corner but in some shots the left corner is curled down. 'There is some puckering of the sides of the mouth in one pose but the incongruence of the mouth movement suggests she is conflicted here, perhaps trying to smile or thinking that she should, but failing,' the expert added. However, Charlene's pensive look differed greatly from her husband's demeanour. 'Albert seems to try to look upbeat, waving to the crown palm-out and performing a social smile but neither the wave nor the smile is mimicked by Charlene,' Judi said, adding that there was a lot of space between Albert and Charlene. Judi also noted how Charlene's choice of outfit showed her attempt to look strong and confident. 'Charlenes choice of a tailored charcoal pants suit with padded shoulders suggests that, as a pre-planned intentional gesture, she was keen to project a sense of strength and confidence,' she said. The expert noted it was a departure from the ethereal dress Charlene wore in the picture the Monaco royal family released for Easter. 'This is a stylish, more business-like outfit but she adopts a part-protective, part-self-hiding or shielded pose, standing behind her daughter with her hands folded across her chest,' Judi said. Yesterday's event marked the first time the Monaco royals have been seen in public together as a family since Charlene returned to the principality following her treatment. Charlene was pictured wearing an all-grey ensemble, pairing her trouser suit with a matching top. Her blonde crop was neatly coiffed, and she wore elegant make-up, including liquid eye liner and natural glossy lips. She has faced a variety of health problems, including what the palace has previously referred to as a 'state of profound general fatigue' over the last year, which have kept her largely out of the public eye. The Monaco palace has consistently denied media reports of a rift between Charlene and the principality's ruler Prince Albert, who were wed in 2011. Rumours the pair were incompatible were sparked from the outset, with Charlene attracting a barrage of attention over an apparent bad dose of pre-wedding jitters which, reportedly, saw her seeking refuge in her country's embassy and gaining the moniker 'the Runaway Bride'. Charlene first had a 10-month absence in her native South Africa last year, where she contracted and was hospitalised for a serious sinus infection that delayed her return to Monaco. She underwent surgery in October for an ear, nose and throat infection after checking in under a pseudonym in a Durban hospital, a palace source said at the time. After her return to the principality in November, Charlene left almost immediately to receive treatment for 'exhaustion' at a Swiss clinic. Friends previously told Page Six that the mother-of-two 'almost died' while she was in her home country, while her husband spoke out to say she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical'. 'She was clearly exhausted, physically and emotionally. She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life,' Albert told People magazine in November. A palace statement released on December 23 revealed Albert and the couple's children were planning to visit Charlene during the Christmas holidays, as well as asking for the family's privacy to be respected. It added that the princess 'is recuperating in a satisfactory and reassuring manner, although it may take a few more months before her health has reached a full recovery.' But distinguished royal journalist Stephane Bern has long speculated that Charlene's litany of supposed health problems could simply be a cover-up to excuse her from participating in royal activities alongside her husband. Bern said in January of last year, Charlene was expected to make a trip to visit French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, but suddenly came down with an illness. 'The princess had contracted a sudden gastroenteritis,' he said. 'The Palace has had to invoke a suffering princess so often that the Monegasques today find it hard to believe. By crying wolf, the mother of Jacques and Gabriella has discredited and isolated herself.' The couple released an official family portrait earlier this month to mark Easter. Judi note at the time that Albert looked 'tense' in the image, while highlighting the close bond shared by Charlene and her children. Charlene and Albert's marriage has made numerous headlines over the years, with a third paternity suit emerging in December 2020. Soon afterwards Charlene famously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker. Months later she left for South Africa. The allegations in December 2020 claimed that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene were already in a relationship. The woman said she met the prince in a nightclub in Rio de Janeiro in 2004 when Charlene and Albert were supposedly dating. Her daughter, a 15-year-old Brazilian schoolgirl, sent a handwritten note in Portuguese to Prince Albert at the Royal Palace last September. The royal couple, pictured on their wedding day 2011 in Monaco. The couple has been plagued with rumours of marital discord since their wedding over 10 years ago Albert's legal team call the allegations 'a hoax' and the legal team of the woman concerned declined to comment. It was due to come to court in Milan in February but never commenced. Some believe the matter has been settled. But the Prince has also fathered two other children outside of wedlock. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 18, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess. Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements. Charlene has directly attempted to address the talk about a third possible love child. She told Point de Vue magazine last January: 'When my husband has problems, he tells me about it. I often tell him, 'No matter what, I'm a thousand percent behind you. I'll stand by you whatever you do, in good times or in bad.' Stylish European royals have been raiding their older generations' closets in order to find statement pieces. Yesterday, as she celebrated her confirmation with her family at Fredensborg Castle, Princess Isabella of Denmark, 15, wore a white blazer and jumpsuit previously worn by her mother Princess Mary, 50. She is the latest of the very stylish European royals who have turned to the wardrobes of the older women in their families to find vintage pieces. In January, as she turned 18, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway donned a black number from Lanvin, which her mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 48, first wore in 2004 at the Nobel concert. Elsewhere, also in January of this year, Queen Letizia of Spain, 49, turned heads when she wore a Valentino number her mother-in-law Queen Sofia of Spain, 83, first wore during a state visit to Germany in 1977. Here, Femail takes a look at how these thrifty royals struck gold by wearing luxury hand-me-downs... Princess Isabella and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark Princess Isabella of Denmark, 15, (pictured) wore a white blazer previously worn by her mother in 2017, for her confirmation Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in 2017 wearing the same outfit as she visited the Danish jewellery brand Olen Lynggaard in Stockholm For her confirmation Princess Isabella of Denmark, 15, styled her mother's blazer and jumpsuit from Italian brand Max Mara with nude open toe sandals and a delicate pearl brooch. The young royal looked youthful with rosy cheeks, natural makeup and her brunette locks loose, curled over her shoulders. She also had her nails done for the occasion - pearly pink acrylics. When her mother wore the same outfit in 2017 whilst visiting Danish jewellery brand Olen Lynggaard, in Stockholm, she opted for snakeskin stilettos and a larger golden leaf designed brooch. In an elegant fashion she pulled her hair up and donned natural makeup with a dusky pink brown lipstick. Like her mother Princess Isabelle wore silver diamond stud earrings and with a ring to match her brooch. Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway pictured on her 18th birthday in her mother's Lanvin number Crown Princess Mette-Marit pictured 2004 at the Nobel concert, wearing the same black Lanvin dress as her daughter In January, as she turned 18, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway donned a black number from Lanvin, which her mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 48, first wore in 2004 at the Nobel concert. The young stylish royal wore her brunette locks loose and chose some simple yet dazzling gold and diamond drop earrings. She kept her makeup neutral and styled the dress up with an assortment of rings. Over a decade ago in 2004 Princess Alexandra's mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit first wore the dress at the Nobel Concert in Oslo. With more bling than her daughter the Crown Princess wore silver sandals, with a patterned stitch and large silver earrings with an intricate design. Her blonde bob was semi-tightly curled and she held a tiny noughties black satin bag. Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia of Spain Queen Letizia of Spain, King Felipe VI's wife, 49, sported a Valentino number Queen Sofia, 83, wore during a visit to Germany 44 years ago during a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace in January 2022 Queen Sofia, now 83, pictured donning the same Valentino outfit in 1977 during her visit to Germany Also in January of this year, Queen Letizia of Spain, 49, turned heads when she wore a Valentino number her mother-in-law Queen Sofia of Spain, 83, first wore during a state visit to Germany. The vintage number consists of a large floor-length green skirt and a delicate pink floral blouse. Letizia updated it with a new pink belt for a diplomatic reception at the Royal Palace, in Madrid. Letizia stayed true to the aesthetic of Sofia's outfit and kept her accessories to a minimum. Sofia, who was 39 when she wore the Valentino number, cinched the top at the waist with a bow and had also chosen to pair the outfit with a sparkling diamond necklace and matching bracelets and earrings. Princess Beatrice and the Queen Princess Beatrice, 33, pictured on her wedding day with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Beatrice wore a dress she borrowed from her grandmother, the Queen Queen Elizabeth pictured wearing the Norman Hartnell dress arriving at the Odeon, Leicester Square for the world charity premiere of the film Lawrence of Arabia, in December 1962 Princess Beatrice admitted it was an 'honour' to wear the Queen's dress on her wedding day in July 2020. The Queen's granddaughter, 34, married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in secret on July 17 2020 at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor. For her big day she borrowed her grandmother's Norman Hartnell gown. Her Majesty, 96, wore the stunning vintage gown to a State dinner for the Italian Prime Minister in Rome in 1961 and to the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square in 1962. Small adjustments were made to the gown by the monarch's dresser Angela Kelly and designer Stewart Parvin for Beatrice's wedding day, including the addition of cap sleeves embroidered with vintage diamantes. The Queen also loaned Beatrice the Queen Mary Fringe tiara she wore herself when she married Prince Philip in 1947. Crown Princess Victoria and Queen Silvia of Sweden Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden pictured in 2018 wearing her mother's vintage Nina Ricci ball gown to the Nobel Prize Ceremony Queen Silvia of Sweden pictured in 1995 at the Nobel Prize Ceremony. She paired the showstopper gown with a spectacular tiara and ceremonial sash And it's not just in recent years that royals have been wearing luxury hand-me-downs, with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden appearing to be ahead of the curve when the 44-year-old wore a vintage Nina Ricci ball gown to the Nobel Prize Ceremony on December 10, 2018. The dress was first worn by Victoria's mother, Queen Silvia of Sweden, to the Nobel Prize Ceremony back in 1995. The gown features a ruched candy pink and green bodice with a full grey skirt in the same satin effect material. An oversized pink bow at the back of the gown adds a dramatic flair to the piece. Victoria, who attended the ceremony with senior royals, paired the showstopper with a spectacular tiara and a ceremonial sash. Queen Silvia, 78, looked just as radiant when she sported the gown, wearing it with the same ceremonial sash and her own glittering tiara. Davina McCall has opened up about how her severe menopause symptoms left her feeling like she had a 'brain tumour or Alzheimer's' following a mistake on TV. Speaking from Tunbridge Wells, the presenter, 54, told Sophie Raworth on today's Sunday Morning on BBC One, that her menopause 'aged' her and left her feeling 'embarrassed' and 'irrelevant'. Davina, who recently penned a book on the matter, titled Menopausing, said the brain fog she experienced during peri-menopause led her to make a mistake in her job. She revealed that during a particularly vulnerable moment, she burst into tears, thinking she was suffering from 'a brain tumour or Alzheimer's or something'. Scroll down for video Davina McCall, 54, has opened up about her severe menopause symptoms and how they made her fear she had a brain tumour or dementia. She told Sophie Raworth on today's Sunday Morning on BBC One, that her menopause 'aged' her and left her feeling 'embarrassed' Davina (pictured), who recently penned a book on the matter, titled Menopausing, said the brain fog she experienced during peri-menopause led her to make a mistake in her job 'During peri-menopause, the hormones go up and down and up and down, so you think you're going completely mad,' Davina said. 'I felt it aged me, I felt it would make me irrelevant, I felt embarrassed because I'd always felt at the top of my game, 'I'd been in television at that point for 20 years, I really knew what I was doing, I was extremely proud of my kind of list-making and my logistical practicality and the fact that I could multitask,' she said. But Davina revealed her skills were hindered by menopause as she recalled making a mistake on TV. 'Somebody asked me if I was okay because I messed up on a TV programme, and I said yes, and when she shut the door and went away, I just burst into tears,' she told Sophie. She revealed that during a particularly vulnerable moment, she burst into tears, thinking she was suffering from 'a brain tumour or Alzheimer's or something' 'Because I thought "I'm not okay, I think I got a brain tumour, or I got Alzheimer's or something, help me",' the presenter added. Writing for the Mail on Sunday today, Davina spoke more of her symptoms as she discussed the ongoing shortage of HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy - which women use to manage their menopause symptoms. 'I started with symptoms around ten years ago after suffering brain fog and anxiety to the extent I thought I was losing my mind,' she said. 'In my mid-40s, I was considered by my doctor to be too young to be menopausal, so I took the decision to consult a gynaecologist,' she added. Alongside Penny Lancaster and Mariella Frostrup, and MP Carolyn Harris, Davina is campaigning to change the law around HRT prescription for women 'They put me on HRT patches which give me much needed oestrogen the hormone whose rapid depletion in menopause causes so many of our problems and a coil which gives me progesterone by way of balance. 'I felt better almost instantly and have been vocal ever since about the fact that I intend to take HRT until the day I die,' she said. The supply crisis has seen major shortages of some HRT products, which are used by approximately 1 million women in the UK. The Duke of Kent has labelled his role in the Queen's Coronation in 1953 'daunting' - and admitted his 'chief anxiety was that I'd forget my lines' in his upcoming memoir. In his new book 'A Royal Life,' Her Majesty's cousin, 86, details the events following his uncle King George VI's death at Sandringham at the age of 56 - including the Queen's Coronation, reported The Telegraph. He recalls in his memoir, set for release later this month, how he was nervous about his lines after being told he would have a prominent role in the ceremony. Then aged 17, the Duke was informed he would be seated in front of the peers alongside his cousin Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his uncle, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, as one of the three royal dukes who would pay homage to the Queen after the Archbishop of Canterbury. 'My chief anxiety was that I would forget my lines. I had been given the impression that I had to remember them so I had learned them by heart,' he recalls. The Royal Family photographed at Buckingham Palace after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The Duke of Kent third on back row Rows of peers in Westminster Abbey during the Coronation service of Queen Elizabeth II. In the foreground left to right are the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent The Duke of Kent, 82, pictured attending the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh. He recalls in his new book being afraid that he would forget his lines during the Queen's Coronation However, when his moment came, the Bishop of Durham held up a card with the words the Duke would need to read on it. 'It was quite daunting,' admits the Duke, as he recalls remembering that the moment would be watched on TV by people all around the world. He adds: 'The whole service was pretty long and it was certainly very impressive. It got to the point where people were eating sandwiches out of their coronets.' In 1952, King George VI had gone to London Airport to wave off Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh as they embarked on a tour of the Commonwealth. Yet they only got as far as Kenya when the news of his death brought them quickly home. The Duke of Kent, then aged 16, was at school at Le Rosey in Switzerland at the time and recalls hearing the news early in the morning before being flown back to RAF Northolt to return to his family home in Buckinghamshire, Coppins. Looking back 69 years on the Duke says that this was his first major experience of a royal ceremony. The Coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953. In front of crimson chairs, right, are from left to right, Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Gloucester and Duke of Kent The king's body was transported by train from Sandringham and taken in procession to Westminster Hall. The Duke recalls arriving with his mother, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, and following the Queen and other members of the royal family in for the service, which was lead by the Archbishop of York. The young royal says that on the day of the funeral he joined the Dukes of Edinburgh, Gloucester and Windsor for the funeral procession walking in front of visiting kings and presidents. This was the first time that the Duke of Kent had ever met his uncle, the Duke of Windsor. He says that his mother had never spoken about him in 'polite terms.' The Duke of Windsor did not who Edward was and asked 'who is that boy?' Advertisement Princess Isabella of Denmark has celebrated her confirmation day in spectacular style by donning her mother Mary's iconic white pantsuit and Queen Alexandrine's pearl and diamond brooch. The Danish royal family assembled on Saturday at Fredensborg Castle Church in Fredensborg, Denmark, to herald the special occasion with Crown Princess Mary, 50, and Prince Frederik, 53, joined by their four children Christian, 16, Isabella, 15, and twins Josephine and Vincent, 11. Hobart-born Mary looked every inch the royal in an amaranth-coloured gown for the event, but it was Princess Isabella in a borrowed Max Mara blazer and brooch belonging to the late Queen that held the attention of her peers. Even her youngest sister Josephine got involved in the clothes swapping fun by wearing a pink dress once wornby Isabella. The men of the family kept things classy and simple in statement blue suits. Scroll down for video Royals: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have celebrated the confirmation of their eldest daughter, 15-year-old Princess Isabella. L-R: Princess Josephine, Frederik, Princess Isabella, Mary, Prince Vincent and Prince Christian Seen it before: Princess Mary wore the same Max Mara blazer in 2017 during a visit to Stockholm, Sweden Unveiled: Princess Isabella wore a Max Mara blazer for her confirmation ceremony The teenage Princess is currently third in line to the Danish throne after her father and elder brother Christian. According to the Danish Royal family's official Instagram account 'Isabella was confirmed today by royal confessor, bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulson. 'Over the past 100 years, Fredensborg Castle Church has been used for several Ecclesiastes for members of the royal family. 'Especially, the church has formed the framework for royal confirmations. Thus it was also in this church that both Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Crown Prince were confirmed in 1955 and 1981 respectively and most recently His Royal Highness Prince Christian in 2021.' Confirmed: Princess Isabella is spotted standing before the congregation at her confirmation ceremony Pecking order: The teenage Princess is currently third in line to the Danish throne after her father and elder brother Christian After their 2000 Slip Inn encounter in Sydney during the Olympic Games, a then 32-year-old Frederik - who was in Australia to support Denmark's sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed. 'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the Prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, "Do you know who these people are?"' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne. They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001. Fairytale: Mary and Frederik famously met by chance at Sydney CBD pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics Origin story: After their 2000 Slip Inn encounter, 32-year-old Fred - who was in Australia to support Denmark's Olympic sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed In early 2003 Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8. Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, with the newly minted Crown Princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905. Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born October 15, 2005; Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe followed on April 21, 2007. Almost four years later Mary and Frederik welcomed twins, Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen on January 8, 2011. British politicians have been permissive to the point of naivete in their attitudes to Chinese raids on UK national assets. Until recently, ministers were extremely relaxed about China's involvement in such key sectors as nuclear power, communications and energy supply. The issue has come to the fore this weekend at HSBC, the UK's biggest bank. Its leading shareholder, a Chinese insurance company part-owned by the Communist state, has demanded HSBC dismember itself, by splitting off its Asian business. Time we woke up: Until recently, ministers were extremely relaxed about China's involvement in such key sectors as nuclear power, communications and energy supply In comparison with a multi-billion pound international finance powerhouse like HSBC, the fate of Newport Wafer Fab, a microchip factory based in Wales, may seem a niche interest. Certainly, in City terms, the 63million deal to sell NWF to a Chinese-owned rival is small beer. But it will be the first big test for the new National Security and Investment Act, brought in this year to safeguard the country's strategic interests. The decision Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng takes on NWF will have a huge impact on the prosperity of the UK for decades to come. Unfortunately, the situation is already a mess. NWF has been sold to Nexperia, a Dutch company whose parent is the Chinese group Wingtech. That should never have been permitted. However, courtesy of the new Act, that sale can still be unpicked, which is exactly what should happen. NWF ran into difficulty during Covid because it fell through the Government safety nets. This, according to observers, gave Nexperia an opening to strong-arm it into a takeover. The decision Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng takes on NWF will have a huge impact on the prosperity of the UK for decades to come Be that as it may, it is astounding that the deal was waved through. It raises competition concerns, since it gives the Chinese, who via Nexperia own another facility in Manchester, control of around 65 per cent of large-scale UK power chip manufacture. A third plant in Greenock, near Glasgow, is owned by a US company. That leaves the UK in a parlous situation for sovereign chip production at a time when every other major economy is ramping up, not selling off. Wisely so, given chips are used in everything from smart phones to washing machines and electric cars. Some fear that Wingtech's acquisition of NWF is an opportunistic, short-term move to tide it over until a new facility is opened in Shanghai in a couple of years. That is speculation but the stakes are very high. Before the takeover, NWF was engaged in research in sensitive areas including defence cybersecurity, 5G telecoms and robotics. It was also the only independent open-access facility of any scale in the UK. The handling of the deal has been shambolic. Boris Johnson last year asked national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove to examine the transaction. But MPs on the foreign affairs committee said so few details had been provided that they were 'left with the unfortunate conclusion that no review has taken place'. That is truly shocking. A report last month claimed Lovegrove believed it did not merit intervention. The Government says it has made no decisions. In the Cameron years, China was courted as an investor. Under Theresa May and then Johnson, the climate chilled. Even so, ministers welcomed Jingye of China when it bought British Steel in 2019. The UK tends to see takeovers such as that of NWF through a commercial lens, sometimes clouded by greed or expediency. But in Beijing, opportunities to pounce on western companies or to finance infrastructure projects are seized upon, as a way of advancing political interests. The boss of British Airways is under mounting pressure as its parent company prepares for another quarter of bruising losses. Directors at International Airlines Group are said to have already discussed the possibility of removing BA chief Sean Doyle over a string of failures, including the recent cancellation of hundreds of flights. IAG executives could be quizzed on Doyle's future when the company reports first-quarter results on Friday. Flying into turbulence: Directors at International Airlines Group are said to have already discussed the possibility of removing BA chief Sean Doyle over a string of failures City analysts are expecting the airline group, which also owns Aer Lingus and Iberia, to post a loss of 462m for the first three months of 2022. Soaring jet fuel costs and severe flight disruption have led to brokers at Peel Hunt halving IAG's annual profit forecasts from 839m to 416m. There have also been warnings that BA's problems could lead to passengers booking else where. Analyst Chris Tarry said the pressure facing Doyle is 'huge': 'We're moving to a stage where BA's reputation is continuing to decline. 'You look at the short notice of cancellations and it is very disruptive. It is easier and costs less to retain a passenger than to win them back.' Friday's figures are likely to raise questions about the recent crises at BA and Doyle's role. Doubt has been cast on the chief executive after sources said the IAG board discussed the possibility of removing him at its most recent meeting. BA has suffered a string of IT meltdowns and a lack of investment in new systems was said to be one of directors' main concerns. Analysts have said the technical blunders are not something IAG's competitors are facing. When Doyle took over in October 2020 he vowed that BA would 'stand for excellence' and again become a stand-out premium airline. However, he was recently forced to cancel more flights for the next two months due to staff shortages. This comes after BA scrapped more than 1,500 flights in April. John Strickland, who heads aviation consultancy JLS, said Doyle had been 'passed the baton when the industry is at its roughest', adding that he should be given time. 'He inherited a brief when nobody wished to deal with the challenges,' he said. 'He is painfully aware of the need to put things right.' Doyle informed staff last month that the airline would cut schedules until the end of June. An IAG spokesman said: 'The IAG Board and its CEO fully support Sean Doyle.' Aussie blokes have been buying up kitted out 4WDs in the hope of exploring the country. But their adventures into the wild are turning into a nightmare, with many getting bogged on beaches, grasslands and muddy bushland surfaces. Tow truck drivers have been making a fortune rescuing Aussie blokes 'with all the gear and no idea' and have issued a blunt warning to drivers with 'no skill level'. Many are unaware of how to safely operate these vehicles on surfaces other than tarmac, before they get stuck or break down hundreds of kilometres from help. One Queensland company reported 11 rescues of bogged vehicles over the Easter long weekend. A number of inexperienced drivers who are buying kitted out 4WD's and other expensive vehicles are getting bogged on beaches and other surfaces Tow truck drivers have been making a fortune rescuing Aussie blokes 'with all the gear and no idea' Many who have opted to spend their weekends taking their new 4WD's out onto to the beach, desert or grasslands are usually unaware on how to safely operate these vehicles on these surfaces before they get stuck or break down James Stewart, director of Driving Solutions, told Daily Mail Australia that more drivers purchased expensive off-road vehicles to travel around and see Australia during the coronavirus pandemic while international borders were closed. 'There's more people travelling around Australia so the number of bogged vehicles is more visible,' he said. 'The cars [4WD's] are more compatible [with off-road terrain] now and it makes drivers more comfortable and overconfident. Eventually conditions are catching people out.' 'They [drivers] then usually give us a call and think, 'Oh s**t, I wish I had done this course'. Stewart's company runs a specialised 4WD course that helps Aussies develop safer off-road driving skills. Stewart says he only 'wishes' his business could reach new 4WD drivers before they make their 'first mistake'. 'Four wheel driving is the most dangerous driving,' he continued. 'The tracks are a living organism and forever changing due to the weather conditions.' 'It's important to get an understanding of what your car can do and what the driver can do.' Queensland towing company Clayton's Towing reported 11 rescues of bogged vehicles over the Easter long weekend on beaches north of Noosa and along Fraser Island. (Pictured: One of the bogged vehicles) Driving Solutions director James Stewart (pictured) says many new drivers are taking newly purchased 4WD's out onto different terrain for the first time with 'no skill level' James (pictured) heads Driving Solutions which offers event and drive team services along with extensive driving training courses in Sydney. One of the main training courses at Driving Solutions is 4WD driving training Andrew Boyd from Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia believes many Aussies are buying 4WD's without being properly informed by dealers on how to safely operate them. 'They [buyers] take them out of the showrooms. The dealers would not tell these people the different buttons to press,' Boyd said. 'They then take them out to the beaches and get into all sorts of trouble.' Boyd recalled a time he had just purchased a new 4WD when he was in his 20s and took it out to a beach for the first time. He soon found himself bogged in the sand but was fortunately helped by a driver passing by who informed Boyd that his tyre pressure was the reason he was stuck. 'Someone drove up to me and told me,' Have you let your tyres down?'' Boyd recounted. 'When I got home my brother told me to join this club. It taught me how to drive these vehicles,' he added. Many who have opted to spend their weekends taking their new 4WD's out onto different terrain are usually unaware on how to safely operate these vehicles on new surfaces before they get stuck or break down Andrew Boyd (pictured) from Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia told Daily Mail Australia that many Aussies buying 4WD's are not being properly informed by dealers on how to safely operate them David Wilson from Adventure 4WD explained that crashing down or getting bogged while driving on new terrain can be an 'expensive exercise' and driver training can help mitigate the chances of a breakdown occurring David Wilson from Adventure 4WD agreed with the point that there are now more drivers than ever off road after the pandemic - hence a higher number of incidents. 'Post-Covid theres been a massive spike in interest in Aussies wanting to travel around the country and plenty have bought new or second-hand vehicles to do just that,' he said. Wilson explained that crashing down or getting bogged while driving on new terrain can be an 'expensive exercise' and driver training can help mitigate the chances of a breakdown occurring. 'Budding travellers can reference plenty of sites that are helpful to offer pointers to vehicle operation and management. Thats good and so too experience sourced from a practical course, the sort of thing we do here at Adventure 4WD.' It comes as another driver earlier this week walked for nine hours for help after their 4WD became bogged in black soil in outback Queensland. A 24-year-old man became stuck in the black soil on Tuesday night after his vehicle veered off road near the outback town of Aramac, according to the ABC. The man, who was not from the area, ended up walking nine hours in the pitch black along Torrens Creek Road to find help and was eventually found by a local resident who contacted police on Wednesday. The conditions in the area had recently changed from dry to soft and muddy due to heavy rainfall. Police reported that the man had been located about 30 kilometres from his vehicle and was 'travelling from Townsville' without 'any knowledge of the area itself'. It's not only inexperienced or novice 4WD drivers getting stuck off road. Last year, one driver became stuck when they took their $150,000 Maserati Levante SUV out onto Stockton Beach in northern New South Wales. A photo surfaced online showing the bogged luxury vehicle, with a Land Rover Discovery behind it. Locals from Newcastle, north of Sydney, said the tourists should have known that the Maserati was not equipped for driving on deep sand. 'This is one of the dumbest things I've seen in my life,' one person commented. 'Money doesn't buy brains.' A 24-year-old man became stuck in the black soil on Tuesday night after his 4WD veered off road near the outback town of Aramac. The man, who was not from the area, ended up walking nine hours in the pitch black along Torrens Creek Road A group of travellers have been slammed for driving their Maseratis worth upwards of $150,000 onto a popular beach - only for the luxury cars to get bogged in the sand dunes A stock image of a Maserati Levante, which has been available on international markets since 2016. The vehicle is an all-wheel drive, but is not designed for challenging off-road conditions, as it does not have the ability to provide high torque separately to the two axles to get out of situations like bogging. The luxury Maserati Levante SUV has an 'all-wheel drive' system - but is not a proper 4WD with low and high range and the ability to lock the differential between the vehicle's two axles. Such vehicles do not have the capacity to apply high torque to one set of wheels to pull the car forward while the other wheels are bogged. 'Anyone taking a Maserati onto a beach deserves to get bogged,' one person said after a photo of a young couple struggling in the sand dunes was shared online. Others joked that at least the stranded drivers should be able to afford the fees to hire a tow driver if they can pay $150,000 for a car. The luxury cars are not designed to be driven on rough terrain and sand dunes, despite their appearance. Permit holders at the Stockton Beach are able to travel along the sand dunes in a 4WD, but require a particular permit to ensure they are eligible to travel in the conditions. William Tyrrell's foster mother fought to keep secret the truth about the missing toddler, arguing that revealing he was a foster child would intensify publicity and force her family into hiding. The now 57-year-old was part of the court battle waged to keep a veil of secrecy over William's foster status in the years after he vanished without trace. Daily Mail Australia has obtained an affidavit written by the foster mother two years after William vanished from her mother's house in the NSW Mid North Coast town of Kendall on September 12, 2014. In the document designed to keep William's foster care past under wraps, the foster mother claimed disclosure 'will lead to intense interest from the public and a much larger number of people will learn William was in foster care'. This was despite the fact the foster mother and father were actively engaged in the massive 'Where's William' publicity crusade with former lead detective Gary Jubelin. The PR campaign, which raised more than $1 million in public donations, had as its main objectives 'to manage public consciousness surrounding the disappearance' and 'empower William's Parents as the foremost voice for William'. This referred to the foster mother and foster father rather than William's parents, at a time when the toddler's out-of-home care when he disappeared was one of the legal community's worst kept secrets. 'I am responsible for determining the appropriate media strategy (which) takes into account the views of ... the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS),' Mr Jubelin said in a court affidavit also obtained by Daily Mail Australia. William Tyrrell's foster mother fought to keep the toddler's status as a foster child secret and argued that revealing it might send her family into hiding The foster mother said disclosing the fact that William had ben taken from his birth parents and placed with her and the foster father put her and her relatives at risk The foster mother (above) the FACS department and head cop Gary Jubelin all argued that revealing the truth about William would be bad strategically, but a judge disagreed He said information should be revealed 'in a managed way' and revealing that the missing toddler had been removed from his biological parents and placed with the foster couple 'would be damaging to the investigation'. The details of the court battle to shed light on William's status can be revealed as the foster parents are due to be listed for a two-day hearing on charges they stalked, intimidated and assaulted a child. Separate lawyers for the foster couple appeared on Friday in Hornsby Local Court which heard police have 'a large amount of surveillance device material' on the couple and up to ten witnesses for the prosecution. Lawyers Sharon Ramsden for the foster father and Lauren Macdougall for the foster mother told the court they each had one witness for the defence. The child police allege the foster mother and foster father assaulted and then stalked is the same child mentioned in the foster foster mother's affidavit. In the document the foster mother contends that exposing William's foster status would put that same child at high risk of 'security issues' and 'long term psychological impacts'. Lone child advocate Allanna Pearl Smith represented herself in the fight against the department to expose William's true status and won, though at a personal cost to her Former task force boss Gary Jubelin, who quit the force after he was charged with offences, claimed he controlled publicity over William Tyrrell via a massive PR campaign William's foster mother (above) at the inquest into the toddler's disappearance wearing a blue-and-red Where's William ribbon, part of the PR campaign merchandise The foster mother says the child, who had lived with her at the time, was at risk of being recognised, then targeted and harassed. This would 'probably lead to a lot of unwanted attention ... could potentially have security issues (and) longer term psychological impacts'. The foster mother's statement was among the documents in the action taken out by FACS to obstruct a lone child advocate's bid to make public William's status. Armed with senior lawyers, the now defunct department desperately fought to silence advocate Allanna Pearl Smith, but instead suffered a stinging loss in the Supreme Court and again in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. The foster mother said in the affidavit that many details about her and the foster father were on social media and that FACS' lawyers had told her Ms Smith wanted the foster fact out there. 'Ms Smith intends to publish the fact that William was in foster care in the internet,' she says in the affidavit, 'she also wants to circulate a petition calling for an inquest. 'If she is allowed to do that ... if a much larger number of people become aware that William was in foster care .. . the more likely it is that people "will be able to put two and two together" and identify and locate us. 'People will assume that (we) were involved in William's disappearance ... we will be harassed. The foster mother (above) will apply to have assault and stalking charges against a child be heard under the Mental Health Act which requires a mental assessment to be delivered soon William Tyrrell vanished from the house (above, being searched by police last November) owned by the foster mother's own mother in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast 'It is likely that we would have to move from our home, probably change jobs and we may need to take steps to change our identity.' She said it was the 'mainstream media' which had called them William's 'parents' and they had 'followed police advice' about how to handle publicity. In his statement supporting FACS' continued concealment about William's foster status, Mr Jubelin said the Tyrrell strike force's media strategy 'takes into account the views of (FACS) and accommodates these views where possible'. He conjectured that releasing the foster information 'in an unmanaged way ... is likely to provoke significant interest and lead to intense speculation and rumour in the media and among the general public'. He warned the foster revelation 'may also divert police resources away from the investigation' to respond to that rumour. The foster mother (left) is facing two charges of stalk and one charge of assaulting the same child, while the foster father (right) has been charged with one count each of stalking and assaulting a child William Tyrrell's removal from his birth parents and placement in the foster system was secret until child advocate Allanna Smith took on the NSW Government to fight for his rights The foster father (right) with a detective does a walk through the grounds of the Kendall house from which William vanished as a three-year-old almost eight years ago Then FACS director Bryony Foster said in her affidavit filed to argue its case that the department 'and police were concerned that at the time saturating the media might not be beneficial as it could drive the abductor underground'. FACS tried to silence Ms Smith and the Facebook group, Walking Warriors 4 Missing Children, with an injunction, arguing that identifying William would have a 'stigmatising' effect. At the time the Walking Warriors group was seen as a fringe rival by the Where's William campaign, which had logos and merchandise featuring William's face and the Spiderman suit he was wearing in his last known photograph. In a stunning victory for Ms Smith 2016, Justice Paul Brereton ruled William could be revealed as a foster child, but his judgment could not be revealed as FACS immediately appealed. The department lost again in August 2017, when the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal upheld Justice Brereton's decision and only then did the truth finally come out. His Honour said it was inexplicable why William's carers (the foster parents) had been represented as William's parents. Allan Smith is critical of the PR campaign started by Gary Jubelin and 'empowering' the foster parents as 'the foremost voice', saying it had turned a missing boy into 'a brand' William's foster mother (above) will apply to have charges against her of stalking and assaulting a child hear under the Mental Health Act after an assessment is made by psychologists He said it was probable that William had died, there was a substantial public interest in the foster care system and Ms Smith had the 'right of free expression' about it. About the repercussions of revealing William's foster status, Justice Brereton said 'I am quite unpersuaded that it would hinder it (the police investigation)'. Ms Smith applauded the court victory and later said she had a 'primal connection' to help his birth mother. This stemmed from the fact she herself had been separated from her real mother in the foster system, in which she was abused. 'I asked the court to ask William's biological parents what they thought and it came back that they did not oppose the publication of the fact William was in foster care,' Ms Smith told Daily Mail Australia. Gary Jubelin (above with his lawyer, Margaret Cunneen) led the PR campaign Where's William until his own career was derailed by offences under the Surveillance Devices Act of which he was convicted Rural fire service officers search bush last December around 700m from the Kendall house where William had disappeared seven years earlier Detectives and forensic experts stand on Batar Creek Road in Kendall on the final day of the four week search Strike Force Rosann made in bushland to find the remains of William Tyrrell She said she believed the FACS case was hollow and more about the need to keep secrets, and about the prestige of holding special knowledge that others didn't have. "It was like a club. Tell me where they talk about the need for William to be found in any of the statements?' Her motivation had been to stand up for the birth mother who she didn't know, although she and Ms Smith have since met in the course of the William Tyrrell inquest she had also fought for. 'I feel her loss, that primal loss, through no fault of her own,' Ms Smith said. 'The only thing she did wrong was being young, with no support of her own I feel for that young woman and I have never even met her.' Mr Jubelin stated publicly after Ms Smith's court win, that the foster revelation had not damaged his investigation. He left the NSW police Force in 2019, after being removed from the Tyrrell strike force and charged with breaching the Surveillance Devices Act for illegally recording a Tyrrell case person of interest. Mr Jubelin was convicted of four four counts of recording a person without permission, and fined $10,000. He later lost an appeal against conviction in the NSW District Court. The publicity campaign he launched with FACs and the foster parents, using PR firm Insight Communications, had helped double Strike Force Rosann's funds from state coffers and establish a $1 million reward by the State Government. Although no-one has collected the reward, or been charged over his disappearance, 'Where's William Tyrrell? Bring Him Home' helped make him Australia's most high profile missing child. Ms Smith, who remains frustrated to this day about the lack of success in finding William's likely abductor or killer, is highly critical of PR strategy. 'What, William's face was used to develop a brand? A brand of a cute kid lost in a SpiderMan suit?' she said. 'It hasn't helped find him has it, and where's the investigation gone? William's (birth) parents have no answers and it'll be eight years in September that he vanished while in the care of the state foster system.' Between 2014 and 2016, Ms Smith went out every weekend to colllect the 10,00 signatures required to petition the NSW Government to hold an inquest into William's case. She has gathered around 8500 when police finally agreed that an inquest was needed, with that inquest starting in 2019 but yet to conclude. Earlier this month, William Tyrrell's foster mother was charged with allegedly lying to the secretive state Crime Commission. This followed a the foster father being charged with two counts of falsifying information to the commission, after appearing before it last November. This was days before Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw, the police commander who took over Strike Force Rosann from Mr Jubelin, launched a new search for the boy's remains near his foster grandmother's Kendall house. Police revealed at the time that the foster mother and her mother were persons of interest in William's disappearance. The foster parents are due to face court in late May on the lying allegations. A jury has convicted a Missouri man of murder in the death of his pregnant wife whose battered body was found about a week after she was reported missing in 2019. In addition to the murder count, Beau Rothwell, 31, of Creve Coeur, was found guilty on Thursday of tampering with physical evidence and abandonment of a corpse, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Rothwell admitted to killing his 28-year-old wife, Jennifer Rothwell, during his trial, but denied the killing was premeditated and sought conviction on a lesser manslaughter count. He testified during the trial that he bludgeoned Jennifer to death with a mallet at their home on November 11, 2019, during a heated argument over his affair with another woman. Rothwell reported Jennifer missing on November 12. Police then found her car abandoned on the side of a busy intersection. Her body was found about 45 miles northwest of her home and authorities said she was about six weeks pregnant when she died. In the days prior to her tragic death, Jennifer, who was a chemical engineer, had looked up 'what to do if your husband is upset you are pregnant' on her cellphone, police said. Rothwell will be sentenced on July 8. A jury has convicted Beau Rothwell, 31, of first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife whose battered body was found about a week after she was reported missing in 2019 In addition to the murder count, Beau Rothwell, 31, Creve Coeur, was found guilty Thursday, April 28, 2022 of tampering with physical evidence and abandonment of a corpse. Above, the couple pictured at their wedding in 2015 Prosecutors revealed during the trial that Rothwell had made a pros and cons list about his affair before killing Jennifer, the St. Louis Dispatch reported. He reportedly wrote 'better sex life,' 'more respect,' and 'fresh start' as pros, and listed 'half my assets/money,' 'trust is shaken/tainted,' 'my family disappointment,' and 'take on her kid with his probs,' as cons. Rothwell's attorney argued that the pregnancy had not been a surprise to him and he was happy about it but it was an argument about his extra-marital affair what ignited the violence that led to Jennifer's murder. According to Facebook messages shared by prosecutors, Rothwell told his mistress that 'part of him wanted Jennifer's pregnancy not to work out. 'If there is a miscarriage or something I'll leave her after that and be with you,' another message reads, according to FOX News. Law enforcement also said in court that he referred to Jennifer's body as 'it,' when telling police where it was located. In the days prior to her tragic death, Jennifer, who was a chemical engineer, had looked up 'what to do if your husband is upset you are pregnant' on her cellphone, police said According to Facebook messages shared by prosecutors, Rothwell told his mistress that 'part of him wanted Jennifer's pregnancy not to work out. Above, a picture of the couple She was found naked and in fetal position, with her head covered in a plastic bag on November 18. Rothwell testified that he hit his wife in the head from behind with a mallet, followed her as she stumbled toward the garage door and hit her again. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he's sentenced July 8. Prosecutors painted Beau Rothwell as a meticulous planner and showed the jury his texts with the other woman, as well as a list of pros and cons he made for leaving his wife. He had reported his wife missing, and police later found bottles of bleach in the home and a wet, blood-stained carpet. Investigators said the blood was his wife's. A tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and buildings, injured several people and left more than 15,000 people without power, officials said Saturday. In addition to wreckage from the tornado itself, three University of Oklahoma meteorology students traveling back from storm chasing in Kansas were also killed in a crash Friday evening, according to officials. Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, died in the crash shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. The three were in a vehicle being driven by Nair southbound on Interstate 35 when the vehicle hydroplaned and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Tonkawa, about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City, the report said. A statement released by OU said: 'The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community.' More than 1,000 buildings were affected when a strong twister swept through Andover on Friday evening, according to authorities. In the daylight Saturday, emergency crews found a more widespread path of destruction than was earlier estimated. Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, posted a selfie while storm chasing in Kansas, hours before they were killed in a crash Nair posted a video of the tornado hours before the crash A massive tornado crashed down in Andover, Kansas on Friday evening as counties throughout the state issued warnings A home is destroyed from a possible tornado the next before near Andover, Kan., on Saturday, April 30, 2022 A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas has damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power. (Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle via AP) Wichita firefighters search what's left of John's Animal World on Saturday. A tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas has damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power 'We now know that our damage path extended approximately 3 1/2 to 4 miles (5.6 to 6.4 kilometers) to the north of where we believed it to have ended last night,' Andover Deputy Fire Chief Mike Roosevelt said at a briefing. There were no reported fatalities or critical injuries from the tornado itself, despite the widespread destruction. Officials said only a few injuries had been reported. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including one woman who sustained serious injuries. Search and rescue operations continued Saturday with more than 200 emergency responders from 30 agencies. Officials kept volunteers away from the damage until a secondary search of debris is done. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said earlier that some neighborhood homes 'were completely blown away.' There are homes knocked completely off their foundations and entire neighborhoods wiped out, Russell said. City Hall, the Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School were among buildings heavily damaged. Field crews from the National Weather Service worked Saturday to determine the extent and strength of the twister, said meteorologist Kevin Darmofal at the Wichita office. Flor and Aldo Delgado said they prayed in the basement of their Andover home as a tornado passed right above them, destroying their home and cars. The couple looked out of the window Friday night and saw the tornado beginning to form, so they headed to the basement. Wichita firefighters fist-bump 7-year-old Camden Oyewole while searching an area in Andover, Wichita firefighters search what's left of John's Animal World Wichita firefighters search a neighborhood in Andover A tornado passes south-central Kansas on Friday, April 29, 2022, southeast Wichita 'The lights started flickering and eventually went out, and within a minute from that the whole house started shaking and it was so loud. We started feeling water hitting our faces, and there was just dust everywhere. It lasted for what felt like a minute that it was right above us,' Aldo Delgado said. Flor Delgado said she could hear their home being torn apart as they prayed for their safety, the Wichita Eagle reported. 'In the moment I realized there is absolutely nothing we could do. I knew my husband felt it too because he was calm and comforting me, but at one point he just starts losing it and crying. I could hear his voice cracking as hes praying,' she said. Once the tornado passed, the couple made it out of the debris with only the clothes on their backs. Their home, cars and personal items are gone. 'We didnt even have our wedding rings on at the time,' Flor Delgado added. Gov. Laura Kelly declared a State of Disaster Emergency for the hardest-hit areas. The declaration makes state resources available to help local jurisdictions with response and recovery efforts in areas impacted statewide. Evergy said about 15,000 customers lost power during the tornado and that work continued to restore electricity. Any broken gas and water lines were shut off and by noon there were no known active leaks. In addition to the tornadoes, large hail was reported in several towns across the Plains. Hail the size of softballs was spotted near Holbrook, Nebraska, and Enterprise, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service and storm spotters. Kim Kardashian and her new beau Pete Davidson were seen rubbing shoulders with Martha Stewart at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday. The reality TV star and her boyfriend led the star-studded arrivals, which included Brooke Fields, Drew Barrymore, Gayle King and Academy Award-winning actor Michael Keaton. When Kim, 41, and Pete, 28, arrived at the dinner, they were informed Stewart, 80, was sitting at the DailyMail.com table. Kim said she would be delighted to catch up with Martha, and the lifestyle legend made her way over to the reality star and the Saturday Night Live comedian to cheers from the audience. Stewart held hands with Pete as they posed with Kim. The pair had moments earlier made their red carpet debut together. 'This truly was one of the highlights of the dinner. It showed the glitz and glamor had returned to Washington DC,' a guest told DailyMail.com. Kim Kardashian (right) and Pete Davidson (center) were seen rubbing shoulders with Martha Stewart (left) at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner The trio were among the biggest celebrities at the star-studded event, which resumed this year after being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID Pete and Kim are seen walking through the crowd after arriving at the event in Washington Kim and Pete, who started dating late last year, are sitting with ABC at the dinner as Kardashian's new reality show is now streaming on the Disney-owned platform Hulu. Martha, Kim and Pete were all guests at ABC News' glitzy invite-only pre-party where they were all seen posing with guests who wanted selfies. Stewart, whose own ABC show - The Great American Tag Sale with Martha Stewart - is set to premier in May, is attending the dinner as a guest of DailyMail.com. Moments after meeting Kim and Pete, Stewart wrote on Instagram: 'We are at the Washington Correspondents' Dinner. Kim and Pete and I said our hellos while we await the President of the United States! 'President Biden is due shortly to address about 2,600 journalists and Trevor Noah is the master of ceremonies. I am a guest of DailyMail.com.' The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner serves as a celebration that brings together journalists, celebrities and politicians and often includes jabs and roasts at the otherwise serious Capitol. Also in attendance were DailyMail.com columnist Meghan McCain and DailyMailTV senior correspondent Alicia Quarles. The hour-long event also featured an opening skit by James Corden and Billy Eichner. For years, a comedian has poked fun at political leaders and journalists alike at the Correspondents' dinner. Previous hosts have included Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers. The Daily Show's Tevor Noah will become the first comedian to headline the event since Michelle Wolf in 2018, when she sparked controversy with jokes about the Trump administration. Noah is expected to deliver his own roast against the Biden administration, and will most likely take a few jabs at Kim, the biggest celebrity attending the event. Kim, who attended as a guest of ABC, worse a dazzling silver dress, while the comedian Davidson sported a black suit with sneakers and dark sunglasses Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Pete Davidson, of SNL fame, were hailed as the biggest stars attending the 2022 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Stewart wore a shining, white coat over a pitch-bark skirt while on the red carpet. She was invited as a guest of DailyMail.com The Bidens' presence at the event will also be a return to form after former President Donald Trump snubbed the dinner while he was in office. Every president since Calvin Coolidge had attended the WHCA's annual dinner with the exception of Trump. The White House Correspondents' Association previously said that the dinner will offer 'the first opportunity since 2016 for the press and the president to share a few laughs for a good cause.' Proceeds from the event support the White House press corps' work, scholarships for aspiring journalists and awards for those in the profession. After the dinner, Comcast and NBC News will host their famous after-party at the Kennedy Center with DJ Jaime Ferreira. Invitations to this party are harder to come by than seats at the dinner. NBC Universal News Group decided to invite guests who are government heavy hitters, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice and Deputy CIA Director David Cohen. A Disney historian has come forward to dismiss the idea that the famous family are united against Florida's controversial 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Historian Jim Korkis described the family, which still owns a 3 percent stake in the company, as 'very conservative' and 'private,' in an interview with the New York Post. This comes as the Disney corporation clashes with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the bill that is officially known as Parental Rights in Education. The bill, which will become law from July 1, bans formal lessons on gender identity for children from kindergarten through to third grade. When the bill first passed in March 2022, Disney CEO Bob Chapek was initially silent. But, days later, the company public said it opposed the bill following internal pressure from workers and the public. Some members of the Disney family, like Abigail Disney and her brother Roy P. Disney - whose stepdaughter is transgender - have been openly critical of the bill, but their views don't appear to be mirrored by some family members. 'In general, the whole family is very conservative and they keep to themselves Korkis told The Post. 'They have always been extremely private. The family is not unified whatsoever.' Walt Disney (1901 - 1966) sits at his drawing board in his studio, drawing a sketch of his character Mickey Mouse, Burbank, California Walt Disney is shown on the beach at Waikiki playing on a ukulele, while his brother and business manager, Roy, makes him the subject of a movie Walt Disney relaxing on a hammock with his family and their pet dog, California. Pictured are Disney's wife, Lillian Bounds and their daughter, Diane and her family According to Roy P. Disney, Walt Disney's grand nephew, the family still owns around three percent of the company. In 2021, the Disney corporation raked in nearly $22 billion in revenue. Although the family has no control of the company's decisions, Korkis told the Post that it was Walt Disney's goal to keep his family away from running the business. Roy P. Disney said in April 2022 that his stepdaughter Charlee Corra is transgender. He said that he is 'heartbroken' by the 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Laws similar to the one in Florida are also being considered in Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Roy and his wife Sheri announced that they would match donations Disney made to the Republican Party to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the country, up to $500,000. 'Equality matters deeply to us, especially because our child, Charlee, is transgender and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community,' he wrote in a statement. Charlee told The Los Angeles Times, said that they were dismayed at Florida governor Ron DeSantis's signing of the controversial 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which forbids the discussion of homosexuality or transgender issues in classrooms for children through third grade. Charlee Corra Disney, a 30-year-old teacher, said that they wished they had done more to speak out against Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill Roy P. Disney, grandson of the company's founder, and his wife Sheri Disney are pictured in October 2013. Last week they announced a grant matching donations to LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign Charlee said that they were dismayed at the bill, signed into law on March 28, and wished they had done more at the time to campaign against it. 'I feel like I don't do very much to help,' Charlee said. 'I don't call senators or take action. I felt like I could be doing more.' Charlee said the new bill would isolate young people and make them feel uncomfortable in their own skin. 'I had very few openly gay role models,' said Charlee, whose mother remembers Charlee aged two or three tugging her away from the little girls' shoe section, saying: 'But mom, I'm a boy on the inside.' Charlee added: 'And I certainly didn't have any trans or nonbinary role models. 'I didn't see myself reflected in anyone, and that made me feel like there was something wrong with me.' The most outspoken member of the family has been Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney's brother's granddaughter, Abigail Disney, 62. Abigail Disney has even gone so far as to criticize her family's business practices and their treatment of staff. At one point, she labelled Walt Disney as a racist anti-semite. Last month, she responded to criticism of the family firm for its move to be more inclusive and create more LGBTQ characters. She said the attacks from right-wing critics were 'absurd'. 'There have been gay people whether or not the word was ever spoken,' she told CNN. 'It denies the fact that everyone, conservative or not, has a gay friend or a transgender family member.' The most outspoken member of the family has been Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney's brother's granddaughter, Abigail Disney, 62. Abigail Disney has even gone so far as to criticize her family's business practices and their treatment of staff. At one point, she labelled Walt Disney as a racist anti-semite She publicly celebrated her brother's decision to publicly speak about Charlee, posting on Twitter: 'Today I am busting with pride at what my brother and his wife have done. So proud so proud so proud!!!' she said. Korkis told the Post that Abigail Disney is the 'wildcard' of the family. He went on to say that due to their wealth, members of the Disney do whatever they want in life. Roy O. Disney, who died in 1971, and Walt Disney, who died in 1966, were both conservatives but had some liberal tendencies, Korkis said. According to Korkis, both were concerned with environmental issues and both believed hiring women to work at Disney. Walt Disney (1901-1966) sits with his family while they read and drink tea or coffee in a turn-of-the-century interior, possibly at Disneyland, California. L-R: His daughter, Diane, Disney, an unidentified man, his daughter, Sharon, and his wife, Lilly. Disney wears shirt sleeves and stocking feet while slouching in his chair Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue inside of the Magic Kingdom theme park. Florida Republicans are aiming to strip Disney of some of its privileges Disney's head of communications Geoff Morrell left the company after just three months following the company's disastrous response to the 'Don't Say Gay Bill' Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, considered one of the frontrunners for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, has declared war on Disney What is the Parental Rights in Education bill? HB 1557 was introduced by two Republican members of the Florida Legislature - Representative Joe Harding and Senator Dennis Baxley. They say the bill's aim is to 'empower parents' in their children's education, and make teachers recognize the distinction between 'instruction' and 'discussion.' 'What we're prohibiting is instructing them in a specific direction,' Baxley said about how teachers lead students in a classroom. 'Students can talk about whatever they want to bring up, but sometimes the right answer is, ''You really ought to talk to your parents about that.''' The bill applies to children in kindergarten through third grade. It states that 'classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur.' It also requires districts to 'adopt procedures for notifying a student's parent if there is a change in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being,' something LGBTQ advocates argue could lead to students being outed to their parents without the student's knowledge or consent. It was passed on March 8 in a 22-17 vote. The state House had approved the bill late last month. DeSantis signed it into law on March 28 and it will come into effect on July 1. Advertisement In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would strip Disney of its Reedy Creek Improvement District, which has been in place for 55 years and allows the company to govern itself. 'Disney has alienated a lot of people now,' DeSantis said on April 1. 'And so the political influence they're used to wielding, I think has dissipated. 'And so the question is, why would you want to have special privileges in the law at all? And I don't think that we should.' Abigail Disney said DeSantis, considered a likely Republican contender for the presidency in 2024, was playing a strategic game to win over conservatives. 'This attack against Disney was so timed and rolled out so strategically that it was really hard for me to imagine that it didn't come from a series of decisions that got made in the background,' Abigail Disney said. She said the company's CEO Bob Chapek, who has been criticized for wavering in his support for protests against the bill, needed to be courageous and take a hard stance. 'You can't claim neutrality if you're supporting the people who write these laws,' Disney said. 'But on top of it, there is no neutrality anymore.' Disney employs around 60,000 people. On Friday, it was reported that Geoff Morrell, the company's head of communications who helped to construct Disney's response to the Florida bill, was to leave his job after just three months in the role. Morrell initially advised Chapek to remain silent on the bill out of fear that it would make Disney a punching bag for Republican figures DeSantis and Donald Trump reports CNBC. He will be replaced in the role by Kristina Schake. Following Disney's decision to oppose the bill, DeSantis retaliated by beginning efforts to strip Disney of its privileges in Florida where one of the the company's theme parks is located. The company has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates over the years, Korkis said. He added, 'It's quite a slap in the face that the Republicans have declared war on Disney.' Advertisement Shocking new images have revealed the extent of the carnage in the city of Mariupol which has endured two months of constant bombardment amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The southern port city, which Putin sees as a key strategic position in the eastern Donbas region on the Sea of Azov, has been under siege for more than eight weeks as Russian forces have conducted round the clock bombing raids and indiscriminate missile strikes on military, administrative and civilian targets alike. Now with the war well into its ninth week, the once vibrant coastal metropolis with a pre-war population of around 450,000 has been largely reduced to rubble amid Putin's wrath, and not a single row of houses appears to have survived the onslaught without sustaining at least some damage. More than 90 percent of the city's infrastructure has been severely damaged, while 45 per cent of it has been completely destroyed according to mayor Vadym Boychenko. There are now just 100,000 people living among the bombed out ruins. More than three quarters of the pre-war population have fled and tens of thousands are believed to have died according to Ukrainian authorities. Satellite images released yesterday of the city centre by Maxar Technologies reveal the true scale of the destruction. Entire blocks have been completely decimated, while the Donetsk regional theatre, which once provided shelter to around 400 Ukrainian civilians until it was targeted in a direct strike by Russian missiles, can be seen totally caved in. Other images showed rows of what appear to be freshly dug mass graves along a cemetery on the edge of the city, as well as the dilapidated exterior of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol's harbour. The factory remains the only part of the city not under total Russian control and its network of underground rooms and tunnels constitute the final stronghold of a small contingent of Ukrainian fighters, along with roughly 1,000 civilians sheltering from Putin's bombs. Slide me The first image taken from Google Earth shows the area around the Donetsk regional theatre in Mariupol before the war in Ukraine began. The second image, released on April 30, 2022, by Maxar Technologies, shows the same area completely destroyed following eight weeks of Russian bombardment. The theatre in the centre acted as a bomb shelter for hundreds until it was targeted in a direct strike This handout satellite image released on April 30, 2022, by Maxar Technologies shows multiple street blocks with destroyed buildings in Mariupol, on the Azov Sea, on April 29, 2022, amid Russia's military invasion launched on Ukraine This April 30, 2022 image released by Maxar Technologies shows the Azovstal steel plant, the city's last holdout where up to 1,000 civilians are sheltering with Ukrainian troops. Russia has continually bombed the plant, causing surface damage, but the Ukrainians are hiding in a deep network of underground tunnels This image appears to show a large patch of freshly dug mass graves in the Vynohradne cemetery, near Mariupol, on April 29, 2022. Tens of thousands of civilians are thought to have been killed in Mariupol in the past eight weeks according to Ukrainian authorities Russia continued its brutal bombardment of Mariupol yesterday, even as a small battalion of Ukrainian fighters attempted to evacuate a small group of desperate civilians from the Azovstal steel plant. Putin's forces now control the overwhelming majority of the city and are mostly focusing their airstrikes on the Soviet-era steel plant located close to the harbour, where a contingent of between 1,000-2000 Ukrainian soldiers are staging a desperate holdout alongside roughly 1,000 civilians. Commanders of the soldiers hiding in the network of tunnels and rooms underneath the plant have repeatedly called for international aid and a safe passage for evacuation, saying the plant's residents are barely surviving on extremely limited food and water and that there are many injured soldiers and civilians suffering without proper medical attention. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu yesterday said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv to organise a ceasefire. 'There is, right now, ongoing, high-level engagements with all the governments, Russia and Ukraine, to make sure that you can save civilians and support the evacuation of civilians from the plant,' Abreu said. But the spokesman could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort 'because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation.' Russia's attacks are now concentrated on the Soviet-era steel plant (pictured) located close to the harbour - the only part of the city not under occupation - where a small contingent of between 1,000-2000 Ukrainian soldiers are staging a desperate holdout alongside roughly 1,000 civilians Russian servicemen guard the territory of the cargo sea port in Mariupol. Russia has continued its brutal bombardment of the southern port city, where a small battalion of Ukrainian fighters are attempting to evacuate desperate civilians from the Azovstal steel plant Smoke rises from the grounds of the Azovstal steel plant in the city of Mariupol on April 29, 2022, amid the ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine People hold banners during the demonstration in support of Mariupol defenders, on April 30, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine Miracle as Sofia survives cluster bomb attack A nine-year-old girl has miraculously survived a Russian cluster bomb attack that left shrapnel lodged in her brain. Sofia Hurmasa even summoned the strength to speak from her hospital bed: 'Now, my dream is for the war to be over.' Her ability to speak at all has astonished doctors after the blast in the southern city of Mykolaiv left Sofia in a coma. Shrapnel from a banned cluster bomb shattered her skull, with one piece ripping through her forehead and passing through her brain. She underwent surgery in Mykolaiv before being brought to Lviv where medics are planning a seven-hour procedure to remove the fragment. Her mother Nina, 48, recalled how just two months ago, Sofia was posting TikTok videos of herself dancing and singing. Now she can barely walk and struggles to compose her thoughts. Nina and Sofia were caught in a Russian bombardment as they walked to a restaurant to buy some soup. Nina saw her daughter's favourite beanie hat had turned crimson red. 'Sofia lost consciousness. In that moment I thought I was losing her,' she said. Gazing lovingly at Sofia in her hospital bed, Nina seethes at Putin. 'This man has no heart. I cannot even say his name. How can he do this to our children? Sofia Hurmasa, 9, sits with her mother, Nina, in her hospital bed in Lviv Advertisement Ukrainian authorities have time and again attempted to evacuate civilians from the worst-hit areas in Mariupol via 'humanitarian corridors', during a pre-agreed period lasting typically a few hours in which both sides agreed not to launch any strikes. But officials say Russia habitually breaks the ceasefire and conducts attacks on the corridors, killing civilians and bringing the rescue operations to an early end each time evacuations get underway. The ferocity of the fighting, and the plight of the civilians hiding in the Azovstal factory, has stunned the world, bringing Pentagon press secretary John Kirby to the verge of tears on Friday. 'It's hard to look at what [Putin] is doing in Ukraine, what his forces are doing in Ukraine, and think that any ethical, moral individual could justify that,' Kirby, a retired rear admiral, told reporters. 'It's difficult to look at some of the images and imagine that any well-thinking, serious, mature leader would do that. So, I can't talk to his psychology. But I think we can all speak to his depravity.' A vast underground network of tunnels and bunkers has provided civilians and fighters hiding in the steel plant with relative safety from airstrikes. But the situation has grown more dire in recent days after the Russians dropped 'bunker busters' and other bombs on the plant, mayor Boychenko said Friday. Women whose husbands are trapped in the plant with the Azov Regiment said they feared soldiers will be tortured and killed if they are left behind and captured. Yesterday, a commander of the Azov battalion trapped in the steel factory said some civilians were successfully evacuated from the plant after a planned ceasefire for 6am local time eventually got underway at 11am. Captain Svyatoslav Palamar, the deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, said 20 civilians were evacuated and are now on their way Ukrainian-controlled territory in Zaporizhzhia, after a 12-hour wait. 'Since 6am we've been waiting for the evacuation convoy to arrive, which only arrived at 6:25pm,' Palamar said in a video statement released online. 'We have brought 20 civilians to the agreed meeting point, whom we've managed to rescue from under the rubble. These are women and children. We hope these people will go the agreed destination, which is Zaporizhzhia, the territory controlled by Ukraine.' Palamar continued: 'As of now, the rescue operation is ongoing, conducted by the servicemen of Azov - we rescue the civilians from under the rubble. 'These are women, children and the elderly,' he repeated, before imploring Russian troops to respect further ceasefire arrangements. 'We hope that this process will be further extended and we will successfully evacuate all civilians,' he said. Major Australian airlines will scrap free flight credits and flexibility as travel begins to return to normal after Covid-19 lockdowns. Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin are banishing their Covid safety nets for domestic travellers from Sunday, May 1, with international travellers to follow from June 30. During the pandemic, the airlines introduced free flight credits and date changes so if customers had to isolate due to Covid, it would be of no extra cost to rearrange flights. Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin have scrapped free flexible travel for domestic travellers from Sunday, May 1, with international travellers to follow from June 30 Flexible tickets with the option for free date changes will still be available but will be of cost to the traveller, as it was prior to the pandemic. However, the airlines will not reintroduce cancellation fees for customers forced to scrap plans due to Covid isolation orders. International travellers will reap the pandemic perks until June 30 for flights booked until the end of this year. Airports around Australia have reported large crowds as Covid restrictions continue to ease Ben Mead, a travel agent and managing director of Holidays of Australia & The World tole Nine News airlines had shown consideration for customers throughout the pandemic, but now it was time for 'buyers beware'. 'Credit to the airlines, they've met market conditions and having that flexibility has been incredibly important for the recovery of tourism and getting people back on planes,' he said. Mr Mead urged customers to check the fine print when booking their tickets under the new conditions and to consider travel insurance. Customers questioned at Adelaide airport said they didn't want airlines to revert to pre-Covid policies, including one woman (pictured) who said it would discourage her from flying However travellers at Adelaide airport said they weren't keen on the change. 'It was really good to have that, not to have it anymore it's going to be hard to actually want to book,' one woman said. 'Probably a bit soon I think,' a man said. 'Because a lot of plans have been changed, changed, and changed again.' Australian airlines are also starting to bring back popular flights with Jetstar resuming its Adelaide to Bali service from Monday. 'Assassins come with smiles, when youre at your weakest and most in need, so said Henry Hill, the turncoat mobster in Goodfellas. And on Tuesday, nowhere was a more dangerous group of smiling assassins than those gathered in Downing Street at the invitation of the boss of bosses. Boris Johnson was hosting a legal and booze-free shindig in honour of all Tory MPs who have served 25 years in Parliament. The guests arrived for afternoon tea with pearly whites on display and knives behind their backs. Among them, Sir Graham Brady, keeper of the letters of no confidence in the PM. Also in this so-called Class of 1997 was Theresa May, whos well used to hostile environments and has given Johnson both barrels over Partygate, lockdowns and the Rwanda deportation plan. ANNA MIKHAILOVA: 'Assassins come with smiles, when you're at your weakest and most in need,' so said Henry Hill, and on Tuesday, nowhere was a more dangerous group of smiling assassins than those gathered in Downing Street at the invitation of the boss of bosses (Boris Johnson pictured at Burnley College Sixth Form this week) But there was no mention of the many elephants in the room. It was all very English a genteel affair, said one MP present. The reason? All these Tory grandees are waiting the results of Thursdays local elections before making clear where their loyalties lie no doubt at the same time as sending Boris a thank you for a most pleasant party. Meanwhile, Tory MPs are nervous about the Metropolitan Polices verdict on the party held in the Downing Street flat during lockdown when Abba songs blared after Dominic Cummings departure. It risks being BoJos Waterloo. For the PM denied to Parliament that a party had been held, as he also told backbenchers on the 1922 Committee who had specifically asked him to confirm it was a work event. Allies of Boris have since said he was only in the flat to conduct a job interview with Henry Newman, a Tory adviser and friend of his wife Carrie. However, sources tell me that Boris has privately given a different account of why he and some No 10 staffers were in the flat after the departure of Cummings and his colleague Lee Cain. It went like this: Youve got to understand, wed just lost Dom and Lee. We didnt know who we could trust. So some of us went up to the flat to work out what to do next for a council of war. Naturally, every council of war should be accompanied by the sound of Abbas Can you hear the drums, Fernando?. Porngate... a job for Better Call Paul Scully? Do you feel doomed? Have opponents of freedom wrongly intimidated you? Maybe theyve said youre in serious trouble and theres nothing you can do about it. Im here to tell you, theyre wrong... No charge is too big for me. Ill give you the defence you deserve. Better Call Saul. This ad for shifty US lawyer Saul Goodmans spin-off from the US drama Breaking Bad has been compared to how Tory MP Paul Scully is wheeled out as a human shield whenever the proverbial hits the fan. Whether the issue is non-doms, PPE or Partygate, the Small Business Minister appears on the airwaves taking one for Team Boris. Now mischievous colleagues shared this mocked-up advert ahead of Thursdays local elections. But surely even Saul Goodman would draw the line at defending Neil Porn Parish MP. Allegra Stratton, whose career as the Tory Governments mouthpiece ended in tears when she was caught on video laughing about Downing Street lockdown parties, is about to be hired as a columnist by the New York-based media giant Bloomberg, I hear. We look forward to more classic Allegra tips, such as her infamous advice that, to help combat global warming, we should not rinse plates before putting them in the dishwasher. After torrential rain and flooding caused widespread havoc over swathes of Australia this summer, the wet weather looks stubbornly set to stick around. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki explained that La Nina is working together with other weather systems to create the perfect conditions for heavy rainfall, which could continue until at least late June. Already this year, many towns and cities along the country's east coast have reached their annual rainfall, including Sydney, which by early April had seen at least 1112mm of rain. The average annual rainfall in Sydney is 1164mm, and there is still nine months of the year left go. The deluge also caused devastating flooding in northern NSW. Lismore was particularly hard hit with the entire town submerged and hundreds of homes severely damaged after the Wilsons River broke its bank and reached a peak of about 15metres twice in a month. Bureau of Meteorology data from the last 13 La Nina events showing where has got the most rainfall. The NSW coast has historically been drier than inland but not in 2022 'These weather events can be extremely dangerous. People can die. Buildings and infrastructure can be damaged. Just look at Lismore,' Dr Karl told Today on the weekend. He explained that the intense rain is being caused by 'two pools of hot water up against our coast.' 'La Nina on our east coast and on the west coast we have what they call the Indian Ocean Dipole and that is warm so it will evaporate.' The beloved science presenter explained that the hotter water evaporates at a greater rate than normal which then sits in the upper atmosphere - eventually falling back down as rain. Dr Karl said these two system were then combing with a third called the Southern Annular Mode. 'This is basically a bunch of cyclones continuously going around the South Pole'. 'When they get snug in you get blizzards on the Antarctic, when they expand out you get cold weather patterns coming across Australia.' He said this cold air causes low-pressure systems to travel up over Australia. When this collides with a high pressure-system 'atmospheric rivers' can form which allow water vapor to collect and be transported over vast distances. Dr Karl (pictured) said the wet weather could stick around until at least winter and possibly longer Lismore on March 30 (pictured) was hit with a second record-breaking flood in the same month putting most of the town underwater With so much moisture already in the air, Dr Karl, said this atmospheric river is what caused the deluge in Brisbane earlier this year and subsequent flooding on the northern NSW coast. 'That dumped eight cubic km of water on Brisbane in three days - that's the equivalent of 16 Sydney harbours.' As for when the rain will finally return to normal, Dr Karl bluntly said 'we're stuck with it in the short term'. 'For a couple of more months at least, it looks like it's going to get worse. Maybe until June then things are up in the air.' According to the Bureau of Meteorology La Nina will subside in the next few weeks. 'La Nina will ease in strength over the coming months, with a return to neutral ENSO conditions (neither El Nino nor La Nina) most likely in late autumn or early winter,' BoM's climate driver report said in April. But overseas forecasters have painted a different picture saying the system could persist over Australia all the way through winter. La Nina is caused by wind pushing warmer surface water across the Pacific Ocean to Australian's east coast where it evaporates (pictured) Weatherzone looked at data from the U.S. National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Centre (CPC) and Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) 'La Nina has a 59 percent chance of continuing through the Southern Hemisphere's winter and a 50 to 55 percent chance of persisting thorough the Southern Hemisphere's spring,' it said. The data also found that this summer's La Nina was among the most powerful since 1950. Dr Karl added the driving factor behind the stronger than usual La Nina was climate change. 'We can stop and reverse global warming which is the cause of it all we can drop our carbon emissions by 95 per cent in 10 years if we decide to,' he said. 'Whether we decide to or not depends on the influence of the fossil fuel companies. Dr Karl said climate change was behind the particularly strong La Nina this year but said that it is reversible (pictured: Lismore in March) 'We can reverse global warming and bring temperatures back to what they were in the 20th century.' The rain isn't the only climate problem the country is currently facing with warm, dry weather in Australia's red centre sparking fire concerns. The Alice Springs region's vegetation fuel load is huge and highly flammable after one of the wettest winters on record and a scorching summer. 'In the desert, fire burns where water flows because that's where fuel, in the form of vegetation, is heaviest,' Charles Darwin University fire expert Rohan Fisher said. Parts of Alice Springs were under a watch and act alert over the Easter long weekend, and fires west of the town of 25,000 could be seen from space. Additional fire services have been flown to Alice Springs as a precautionary measure to help mitigate any additional risks. Mr Fisher said even as the weather cooled it was important to be aware that the fuel load and fire risk remained. A learner bus driver has ploughed into the side of a popular south Sydney pub while undergoing training. The trainee was travelling along Pitt Street, in Mortdale, on Friday morning when he appeared to encounter difficulty negotiating a turn at a forked road. Failing the pivot, the bus mounted the kerb and crashed into Mortdale Hotel, leaving the vehicle's front crumpled and debris scattered along the footpath. It is understood no passengers were onboard at the time of the crash and no one was injured. Photos posted online show the busted-up bus embedded into the corner of the pub, which sits on the edge of Pitt and George street. A learner bus driver crashed into Sydney's Mortdale Hotel on Friday while undergoing training (pictured) Bystanders gathered to take pictures of the scene as the instructor spoke to his student while repair men worked on the vehicle. It is understood the corner is a bus stop typically bustling with waiting passengers, including school students, but the accident luckily took place after peak hour. Social media users were left bemused by the viral photos, with many speculating over the cause of the crash. 'Takes drive thru bottleo to another level,' one person joked. 'Whole new meaning to bus stop,' another said. 'Door to door service,' a third wrote. Others weighed in on the driver's mark on his training test. 'Driver lost job before getting into [the] job,' a man joked. The driver appeared to have encountered trouble executing a turn at the forked road Workers arrived at the scene to examine the condition of the bus before it was taken away from the scene 'First and last time behind a wheel,' another wrote. Someone else chimed: 'It will cost a carton to get a pass.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Transport for comment. The incident comes just weeks after nine people had to be rescued after a bus crashed into a concrete pylon in Sydney's west. The front of the bus split in half after colliding with the pillar at a Seven Hills multi-storey carpark on April 7. A female passenger aged in her 50s suffering back pain and the bus driver, also aged in his 50s, were both taken to hospital in serious but stable conditions. The remaining passengers were assessed at the scene by paramedics but sustained no serious injuries. NSW government ministers have slammed a 'woke' inclusion training seminar after they were told they should not refer to each other as 'mate'. The NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet conducted a series of 'diversity and inclusion' consultations this week. The program listed a number of workplace changes including bans on drinking alcohol in the office, yelling at colleagues and gossiping about staff. The seminars are estimated to have cost taxpayers $202,000. Some ministers have criticised the 'Respect at Work' consultations and labelled them as 'PC insanity', 'straight out of 1984' and 'mumbo jumbo'. NSW government ministers have slammed a 'woke' inclusion training seminar after they were told they should not refer to each other as 'mate' A series of workplace changes were listed including bans on drinking alcohol in the office, yelling at colleagues and gossiping about staff 'I use 'mate' all the time it's as Australian as you can get. How can it be offensive?' one told The Daily Telegraph. Another added: 'We're not allowed to have individual opinions. We have to engage in group thought This is straight out of 1984.' All staff must be invited out to after-work drinks to ensure 'inclusivity' while work tasks must be fairly divided between senior and junior colleagues. Veterans Minister David Elliott said he kept a bottle of whisky in his office to 'placate my parliamentary colleagues'. The seminars lasted three-and-a-half hours and were run by an external 'diversity and inclusion' consultant. The sessions were aimed at fostering 'inclusive leadership', 'unconscious bias and mindful inclusion', 'gender equity' and 'cultural inclusion'. Ministers were also taught how to properly report allegations of sexual abuse to the department. A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesman said the consultations were held in response to a report into bullying and harassment. All staff must be invited out to after-work drinks to ensure 'inclusivity' while work tasks must be fairly divided between senior and junior colleagues Ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian had ordered the review and placed former sex discrimination commissioner Pru Goward in charge of the report. It was handed to the NSW government in April 2021 and included 13 recommendations. 'The NSW government takes its work, health and safety obligations very seriously,' the Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesman said. Ms Berejiklian previously said she was 'keen to adopt all the recommendations'. 'If we're serious about making change, we have to do it properly and this will involve engagement with NSW Parliament and any survivors. 'I want to have a clear conscience that I've done everything I can to make sure that our workplace is supportive, respectful, and fair and that staff are always comfortable in coming forward in a safe setting.' With India betting on young workers to drive growth in one of the worlds fastest-expanding economies, the latest numbers are an ominous harbinger. (Bloomberg) Indias job creation problem is morphing into a greater threat: a growing number of people are no longer even looking for work. Frustrated at not being able to find the right kind of job, millions of Indians, particularly women, are exiting the labor force entirely, according to new data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt, a private research firm in Mumbai. With India betting on young workers to drive growth in one of the worlds fastest-expanding economies, the latest numbers are an ominous harbinger. Between 2017 and 2022, the overall labor participation rate dropped from 46% to 40%. Among women, the data is even starker. About 21 million disappeared from the workforce, leaving only 9% of the eligible population employed or looking for positions. Now, more than half of the 900 million Indians of legal working age -- roughly the population of the U.S. and Russia combined -- dont want a job, according to the CMIE. The large share of discouraged workers suggests that India is unlikely to reap the dividend that its young population has to offer, said Kunal Kundu, an economist with Societe Generale GSC Pvt in Bengaluru. India will likely remain in a middle-income trap, with the K-shaped growth path further fueling inequality. Indias challenges around job creation are well-documented. With about two-thirds of the population between the ages of 15 and 64, competition for anything beyond menial labor is fierce. Stable positions in the government routinely draw millions of applications and entrance to top engineering schools is practically a crapshoot. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized jobs, pressing India to strive for amrit kaal, or a golden era of growth, his administration has made limited progress in solving impossible demographic math. To keep pace with a youth bulge, India needs to create at least 90 million new non-farm jobs by 2030, according to a 2020 report by McKinsey Global Institute. That would require an annual GDP growth of 8% to 8.5%. Im dependent on others for every penny, said Shivani Thakur, 25, who recently left a hotel job because the hours were so irregular. Failing to put young people to work could push India off the road to developed-country status. Though the nation has made great strides in liberalizing its economy, drawing in the likes of Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc, Indias dependency ratio will start rising soon. Economists worry that the country may miss the window to reap a demographic dividend. In other words, Indians may become older, but not richer. A decline in labor predates the pandemic. In 2016, after the government banned most currency notes in an attempt to stamp out black money, the economy sputtered. The roll-out of a nationwide sales tax around the same time posed another challenge. India has struggled to adapt to the transition from an informal to formal economy. Explanations for the drop in workforce participation vary. Unemployed Indians are often students or homemakers. Many of them survive on rental income, the pensions of elderly household members or government transfers. In a world of rapid technological change, others are simply falling behind in having marketable skill-sets. For women, the reasons sometimes relate to safety or time-consuming responsibilities at home. Though they represent 49% of Indias population, women contribute only 18% of its economic output, about half the global average. Women do not join the labor force in as many numbers because jobs are often not kind to them, said Mahesh Vyas of CMIE. For example, men are willing to change trains to reach their job. Women are less likely to be willing to do that. This is happening on a very large scale. The government has tried to address the problem, including announcing plans to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 21 years. That could improve workforce participation by freeing women to pursue higher education and a career, according to a recent report from the State Bank of India. Changing cultural expectations is perhaps the harder part. After graduating from college, Thakur started working as a mehndi artist, earning a monthly salary of about 20,000 rupees ($260) applying henna on the hands of guests at a five-star hotel in the city of Agra. But because of late working hours, her parents asked her to quit this year. They are now planning to marry her off. A life of financial independence, she said, is slipping away. The future is being ruined in front of my eyes, Thakur said. I have tried everything to convince my parents, but nothing is working. Vladimir Putin is believed to be ramping up the information war as the war in Ukraine continues to widen the gulf between Russia and the West. The Kremlin has long maintained strict control over traditional print and broadcast media in Russia, but new UK government funded research has revealed Moscow is now conducting a large-scale cyber operation to spread support for the war in Ukraine over social media and via the comments sections of major media sites. Online operatives were found to be ordering followers to target Western media outlets and politicians including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, by posting pro-war comments on their social media accounts. The social media profiles of bands and musicians including Daft Punk, David Guetta, Tiesto and Rammstein also appear to have been targeted by the disinformation operation, which is being waged by Russia's infamous 'troll farms'. One such troll farm - the ominously-named 'Cyber Front Z' - is said to operate out of a rented warehouse in Russia's second city St. Petersburg, where workers are believed to be paid up to 45,000 roubles (500) per month to post 200 pro-war and pro-Putin comments per day to platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. The group uses messaging app Telegram to encourage Russians citizens to help wage its cyber war, organise targeted social media offensives and parrot Putin's rhetoric that Russia is freeing Ukraine from the grip of neo-Nazis and fascists. It comes as senior officers from MI5 informed the Home Office that the threat of Russian saboteurs entering Britain to carry out attacks on key British infrastructure and target high-profile politicians had increased. 'There is a serious concern that officers or agents attached to Russia's security services may attempt to enter the UK and target strategic locations,' one security source told The Express. Meanwhile, Russian state television earlier this week broadcast a segment which simulated how Putin could launch a three pronged nuclear strike on London, Paris and Berlin, leaving 'no survivors'. Hosts on Channel One's 60 Minutes programme said the three capital cities could be hit within 200 seconds of nuclear missiles being launched, as chairman of the nationalist Rodina party, Aleksey Zhuravlyov, declared: 'one Sarmat missile and the British Isles will be no more.' Vladimir Putin is believed to be ramping up the information war as the war in Ukraine continues to widen the gulf between Russia and the West Online operatives were found to be ordering followers to target Western media outlets and politicians including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, by posting pro-war comments on their social media accounts The disinformation operation is being waged by Russia's infamous 'troll farms' like the ominously-named 'Cyber Front Z'. The group, which has over 94,000 subscribers on Telegram, is said to operate out of a rented warehouse in Russia's second city St. Petersburg, where workers are believed to be paid up to 45,000 roubles (500) per month to post 200 pro-war and pro-Putin comments per day to platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok The government-funded research will soon be shared with Western media companies in an attempt to help them crack down on the Russian misinformation operation. 'Cyber Front Z', whose headquarters is allegedly located in rented space in St Petersburg's Arsenal Machine-building Factory, is believed to be one leading troll farm responsible for much of the Kremlin's social media offensive. Researchers say the group seems to have learned from the tactics used by QAnon conspiracy theorists and from the Islamic State terror group, and appears to hire salaried workers while encouraging Russian citizens to join targeted 'social media attacks'. A pinned message on the group's Telegram channel explains to Cyber Front Z's subscribers how they can help strengthen Russia's pro-war narrative. 'Friends, the main weapon of a cyber fighter is information! But for effective actions on the field of information war, efficiency is important, which means you should always have your orders to hand,' the post reads. 'Therefore, for your convenience, we will mark our posts with hashtags, each of which will correspond to a specific category. This will allow you to quickly find the information you need on the channel and apply it during the ''battle''.' The channel goes on to list a series of distinctive calls to arms, directing its subscribers to begin sharing, posting and commenting on specific posts, profiles and platforms to saturate social media and media sites with pro-war content. Cyber Front Z justifies the work as 'patriotic activity' in support of the 'special military operation' in Ukraine, and intermittently posts propagandistic images and slogans to stir support among its followers. Some of the posters tell subscribers they are fighting for 'the freedom of our motherland from western colonialism,' while others say the fight will secure 'the right to count ourselves part of one united Russia.' A propaganda poster shared on the Telegram channel of Russian troll farm Cyber Front Z. The title reads: 'What are we fighting for? Like always, we're fighting for our own!' The poster goes on to say: 'We're fighting for peace and security. For the freedom of our common homeland from western colonialism and global dictators. For the safety of our borders from aggressive NATO expansion. For a happy and peaceful future for us and our children.' Russian state television earlier this week broadcast a segment which simulated how Putin could launch a three pronged nuclear strike on London, Paris and Berlin, leaving 'no survivors' Another tactic of the troll farms is to manipulate polls published by Western media sites in an attempt to skew the results of a survey on whether sanctions against Russia were supported. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said yesterday: 'We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putin's illegal war. 'The UK Government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations.' The Foreign Office was not identifying the researchers behind the work amid concerns over their safety for conducting work critical of the Russian president's regime. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: 'These are insidious attempts by Putin and his propaganda machine to deceive the world about the brutality he's inflicting on the people of Ukraine. 'This evidence will help us to more effectively identify and remove Russian disinformation and follows our decisive action to block anyone from doing business with Kremlin-controlled outlets RT and Sputnik.' The troll factory is suspected to be linked to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the founder of the Internet Research Agency which is known to have been instrumental in causing friction between opposing groups in the US in the run up to the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. The oligarch and close Putin ally is also the lead financier of the infamous Wagner Group, a network of mercenaries essentially operating as the Russian president's private army. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said yesterday: 'We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putin's illegal war. The UK Government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations' The Five Eyes agencies issued a warning about the use of remote desktops and 'other potentially risky services' The Cyber Front Z troll factory is suspected to be linked to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the founder of the Internet Research Agency which is known to have been instrumental in causing friction between opposing groups in the US in the run up to the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. The oligarch and close Putin ally is also the lead financier of the infamous Wagner Group, a network of mercenaries essentially operating as the Russian president's private army Meanwhile, Ed Johnson, head of global intelligence at the Sibylline strategic risk group, said there are a range of possible targets for a would-be Russian saboteur in the UK. 'They'll aim to sow chaos, panic or distrust in the Government,' he told The Express, as MI5 briefed top government officials on the heightened security concerns. 'This could range from taking down a substation and amplifying the effect through a cyber attack, to bringing hard currency into Britain to finance separatist organisations, to targeting ministers, agents and officials and releasing embarrassing documents.' The latest research into the activities of Russian troll factories comes just one week after Western intelligence agencies warned Russian state-sponsored hackers are targeting critical infrastructure - and cautioned that working from home increases the risk of a successful attack. An alert was issued by agencies from the Five Eyes alliance - made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US, on April 22, declaring the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions would 'increase the risk of malicious cyber activity'. The Five Eyes cybersecurity agencies urged those working in critical infrastructure to 'prepare for and mitigate potential cyber threats'. Russian-linked cybercrime groups were said to have targeted critical IT systems, health services, a nuclear power plant, an airport, and government networks. In their advice on how to mitigate against the Russian cyber threat, the agencies urged organisations to update software and enforce multi-factor authentication 'to the greatest extent possible'. They also issued a warning about the use of remote desktops and 'other potentially risky services' - a major concern given the majority of Britain's civil service staff continue to work from home. A British Minister flew to the British Virgin Islands for crisis talks last night as calls grew for the UK to take direct control of the overseas territory after its premier was held on drugs trafficking charges. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Amanda Milling, the Minister for Overseas Territories, was travelling to the Caribbean for urgent talks with the Governor and other leaders. Premier Andrew Fahie, 51, was arrested on Thursday in Miami by US agents posing as members of a Mexican drug cartel. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Amanda Milling, the Minister for Overseas Territories, was travelling to the Caribbean for urgent talks with the Governor and other leaders He allegedly demanded 560,000 to let the fake traffickers move Colombian cocaine worth millions of pounds through the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to Miami and New York. BVI official Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem were also held. Fahie allegedly told a US informant that the UK had been trying to remove him from office for years. He is quoted in court papers as telling the informant: I have plenty of people and I dont sell them out to the British with their plans they always want to capture people, but me, I see what they are doing, and I protect the people. He also allegedly said: The British dont pay me much. Premier Andrew Fahie, 51, was arrested on Thursday in Miami by US agents posing as members of a Mexican drug cartel The BVI operates as a parliamentary democracy, with the premier acting as head of the elected government alongside Governor John Rankin, a British civil servant appointed by the UK Government. It includes more than 50 islands with a total population of more than 35,000. In an unrelated development on Friday, a critical 946-page report by a British judge recommended the BVI should be temporarily returned to UK rule. The inquiry was ordered by Governor Rankin last year and headed by British judge Sir Gary Hickinbottom, who vowed to investigate the corruption, abuse of office and other serious dishonesty. It found millions in state funds were squandered annually by BVI politicians without proper process, along with serious dishonesty in relation to sales of public property and Crown land. Governor Rankin said the report showed that unless the most drastic and urgent steps are taken the alleged abuses will go on indefinitely. The report recommended a temporary suspension of the BVI government and constitution for two years and a return to direct rule from London. Ms Truss said: Substantive legislative and constitutional change is required to restore the standards of governance. Hospitals are still banning patients from having bedside visitors in immoral Covid restrictions. Last night, MPs, patient groups and campaigners criticised the postcode lottery that means some frail patients are still denied the support of loved ones. Nine trusts continue to impose total bans on any visitors for some patients, The Mail on Sunday has found. Almost half of trusts maintain policies so strict that they flaunt NHS Englands guidance that patients should be allowed at least two visitors a day. Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are among those continuing total bans on visiting for some of their patients. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) has even been imposing its draconian restrictions on disabled patients who need special help for their care only allowing visits on three days a week for a maximum of an hour each time. Alicia Kearns MP said: 'Visitors save lives, they advocate and calm their loved ones. When will this madness end? Dozens of other trusts only allow one visitor to visit once a day for up to one hour despite NHS England guidance on March 8 saying two visitors should be allowed for at least one hour per day and ideally for longer. NHS infection prevention guidance, updated on April 14, reiterated this by stating: Visits from [a] patients relatives and/or carers should be encouraged and supported. Hospital bosses are maintaining the restrictions despite plunging Covid cases. New reported infections have plummeted since mid-March, from about 87,000 a day to fewer than 20,000. Over the past month, Covid-related hospital admissions have almost halved, from 2,400 a day to 1,400. Of 125 hospital trusts in England publishing clear visitor policies online, only 66 are meeting the new guidance. Fifty allow only one visitor a day and in many cases they say this must be the same individual for the patients entire stay. Nine are still banning visits for most patients, although several said they intended to restart visits in the coming days. MPs have attacked the restrictions as inhumane. Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he met a man yesterday who was denied any chance of visiting his wife in hospital when she fell ill. The woman, in her 50s, died alone. Sir Iain said: Its just shocking an example of just how heartless this process is. The most restrictive trusts are in parts of London, the West Midlands and Norfolk. Sandwell and West Birmingham only allows visitors on certain wards and just one visitor for up to 30 minutes a day. The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust, in Shropshire, does not allow any visitors on some wards. Shrewbury and Telford bans visitors except for compassionate and exceptional circumstances. It said from Tuesday that all patients can have one visitor for an hour a day. Sir Iain said: People need to see their loved ones. There is no reason why they cant. Tory MP Alicia Kearns said: It is utterly unforgivable and immoral. There is no scientific evidence for any remaining inhumane restrictions on visiting. Trusts are breaching the rights of families. 'Visitors save lives, they advocate and calm their loved ones. When will this madness end? Lou Flynn has been desperate to visit her mother in hospital in Birmingham but says she has been banned. We are so gutted we cannot see her, she said. After being approached by the MoS, UCLH said it plans to allow daily visiting for every patient but declined to specify how long for or for how many visitors. An NHS spokesman said: In line with the latest guidance, NHS Trusts should facilitate patient visits and measures should already be in place for this to be done safely. Sir Keir Starmer was last night accused of misleading the public as fresh questions were raised over his account of swigging beer with colleagues during lockdown. The Labour leader has consistently denied breaking Covid rules after he and several party officials were caught on camera chatting over beers on April 30 last year when indoor socialising was banned. He insists they had been working at Durham Miners Hall but stopped for food before resuming their work. Interviewed on LBC radio in January, Sir Keir said: No restaurants were open, no pubs were open. The hotel we were staying in had no food, they didnt run food. So if you didnt get a takeaway then our team wasnt eating that evening. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Sir Keir stayed at the Radisson Blu hotel in Durham and that its restaurant was serving food outside on its terrace until 9pm. Sir Keir was accused of misleading the public as fresh questions were raised over his account of swigging beer with colleagues during lockdown, as the MoS reveal the hotel he was staying at was serving food - contrary to his justification for drinking during lockdown (pictured) A source at the hotel recalled Sir Keir and a number of aides staying there last April and confirmed the exact date after being shown pictures posted by Sir Keir on Twitter showing him in the city the following day. I cant tell you how many people were with him, but he had a lot of aides, the source said. At the time, we were serving limited food and there was room service. It wasnt like the first lockdown when the bar and restaurant were closed. On April 12 last year more than a fortnight before Sir Keirs visit to Durham the hotel announced on Facebook: The day has finally arrived where we can welcome you to drink and dine with us outside. 'Serving food including afternoon tea from 12pm to 9pm weekends and 3pm to 9pm through the week. On April 30, the day of Sir Keirs Beergate drinks, the hotel posted a bank holiday menu, including a 10oz steak and glass of wine for 25. A 43-second video of Sir Keir drinking was filmed just after 10pm that night after he had spent the day on the campaign trail. He and his deputy, Angela Rayner, also took part in a video call with party members which is understood to have finished at 9.20pm. A source at the hotel recalled Sir Keir (pictured on BBC's Sunday Morning in April) and a number of aides staying there last April and confirmed the exact date after being shown pictures posted by Sir Keir on Twitter showing him in the city the following day Labour last night declined to say when Sir Keir checked into his hotel or whether there had been a chance for him to eat there before the restaurant closed. The revelations come after Labour was forced to admit Ms Rayner had been at the Miners Hall gathering, having previously categorically insisted in response to Daily Mail questions: Angela wasnt there. Last night, a Tory source said: When Keir Starmer was first asked about this, he claimed he had to drink alcohol and eat inside with others because his hotel wasnt serving food. This now appears to be false. The same people who have been caught twice misleading the public about this are asking them to believe Keir Starmer stopped working at 10pm on a Friday to drink beers with activists then returned to work. Nobody does this. Labour should come clean now and refer this matter to the police. A Labour spokesman said: Keir Starmer was in the workplace, meeting a local MP in her constituency office and participating in an online Labour Party event. They paused for food as the meeting was during the evening. No rules were broken. Shipping containers packed with thousands of boxes of food funded by generous-hearted Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail readers are now only a few hundred miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine and its desperate civilians. A staggering 500,000 food parcels have been bought in an 8 million joint project between the Mail Force charity and the Ukrainian Embassy in London. Readers have pledged 11 million to our Ukrainian refugee appeal, which was kickstarted by a 500,000 donation from the Mails parent company DMGT at the request of Lord Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, and Lady Rothermere. The MoS watched last week as a train carrying the first shipment made its way east. Russia has targeted Ukraines rail network, so we are not revealing exactly where the boxes are. More than 186,000 food boxes have already been packed in Leicester and in excess of 70 lorry loads of food have arrived at a secure depot in central Poland where they are loaded onto trains. More than 186,000 food boxes have already been packed in Leicester and in excess of 70 lorry loads of food have arrived at a secure depot in central Poland where they are loaded onto trains. Pictured: Vitalina Polishenko who works on the packing line for the boxes in Leicester Shipping containers packed with thousands of boxes of food funded by generous-hearted Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail readers are now only a few hundred miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine and its desperate civilians. Pictured: Vitalina Polishenko who works on the packing line for the boxes in Leicester Each box contains 12,000 calories of food, enough to feed someone for a week. It is hoped that they will be delivered to civilians in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas of eastern Ukraine, now the focus of the war. Among those running short of supplies is Roman, 42, who is living in the basement beneath a block of flats in the shelled city of Severodonetsk. He has stayed because his elderly parents and frail grandmother refused to flee. We all live in the basement, because shooting by Russians never stops, he said. The situation with food is close to critical. From time to time volunteers manage to squeeze in some humanitarian aid, risking their lives because its extremely dangerous, but our part of the city is so hard to access that it happens very rarely. There is no bread in the city, and hasnt been for a long while. No matter how much money you want to give for it, it simply isnt there. Water is also scarce. When it rains, we rush out even if theres shelling and fill buckets with rain water, he said. Earlier we could get water from a nearby lake, but its too dangerous to get to it now. Usually we manage to eat once a day. We cook porridge on the fire, and deliver it to grandmothers who cant walk. Russia has been accused of targeting aid workers bringing food supplies to civilians. Food distribution centres have been bombed and two British aid workers, Paul Urey and Dylan Healy, were taken hostage by Russian forces last week. This is one of the shameful aims pursued by the Russian Federation, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the Donetsk region. Svetlana Popova, press secretary of Luhansk regional administration, said: The situation with food is difficult all around the region, there are towns and villages where the situation is a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. Additional reporting: Will Stewart Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova slammed Pentagon press secretary John Kirby and said he's 'losing his nerve' in his comments over Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Kirby delivered an emotional condemnation of Vladimir Putin's 'depravity' in Ukraine on Friday, and came close to tears as he described the horror of looking at images coming from the war-torn country. Zakharova, who has served as Moscow's foreign ministry spokesperson since 2015, called Kirby's statement 'rude, insulting and troublesome' in a post on Telegram. She added that Kirby 'said some nonsense' about Russian President Putin. 'Among other gibberish, he said it was 'hard to look at what Russian forces are doing in Ukraine.' Really? How hard can it be for an American rear admiral to look at anything?' she asked. Kirby has yet to respond to Zakharova's statement. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova slammed Pentagon press secretary John Kirby and said he's 'losing his nerve' in his comments over Putin's invasion of Ukraine Kirby delivered an emotional condemnation of Vladimir Putin 's 'depravity' in Ukraine on Friday, and came close to tears as he described the horror of looking at images coming from the war-torn country Zakharova, who has served as Moscow's foreign ministry spokesperson since 2015, called Kirby's statement 'rude, insulting and troublesome' in a post on Telegram 'Among other gibberish, he said it was 'hard to look at what Russian forces are doing in Ukraine.' Really? How hard can it be for an American rear admiral to look at anything?' she asked The Pentagon press secretary has won rave reviews for his unflappable manner and dry sense of humor during briefings, delivering grim news with the minimum of fuss. But on Friday, the toll of 65 days of war in Ukraine caught up with him when he was asked about President Putin's state of mind. 'I'm not going to go into the psychology of Vladimir Putin,' he began. 'It's hard to look at what he's doing in Ukraine, what his forces are doing in Ukraine and think that any ethical, moral individual could justify that. 'It's difficult to look at the...' He tailed off, apparently choking up and battling to regain his composure. After a few seconds, he resumed his train of thought and delivered one of his most powerful condemnations yet of the Russian president. 'Sorry,' he said. 'It's difficult to look at some of the images and imagine that any well-thinking, serious mature leader would do that. 'So I can't talk to his psychology. But I think we can all speak to his depravity.' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby choked up during a briefing on Friday when he was asked about Vladimir Putin's state of mind as he waged war in Ukraine The world has been outraged by the way civilian targets have been hit in Russian assaults, and the International Criminal Court has launched a war crimes investigation Earlier the retired rear admiral announced that the U.S. had begun training Ukrainian soldiers on key weapons systems at bases in Germany. The U.S. and partners are pouring in weapons in a race against time before Russia launches its full onslaught against Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region. U.S. officials - including Kirby - have already accused Russian forces of war crimes. After his emotional words, he was asked why had used the term 'depravity' and what had pushed him into such powerful condemnation. 'I can't speak for the entire US government. I speak for the Defense Department and I didn't mean to get emotional,' he said. 'I apologize for that. I don't want to make this about me. 'But I've been around the military a long, long time and I've known friends who didn't make it back. It's just hard.' Then he listed Russian actions in Ukraine, including killing civilians, and asked how it was related to Putin's war aims. His tearful moment gave way to furious indignation. Come of the worst atrocities have been reported in Bucha, which was occupied by Russian troops as they tried to advance on Kyiv. But they withdrew earlier this month leaving bodies in the streets and investigators have reported finding mass graves An aerial view of officials continue to exhume the bodies of civilians who died during the Russian attacks in Bucha earlier this month 'And it's hard to it's hard to square his - let's just call it what it is - BS that this is about Nazism in Ukraine, and it's about protecting Russians in Ukraine, and it's about defending Russian national interests when none of them ... none of them were threatened by Ukraine,' he said, thumping the lectern to emphasize his fury. 'It's hard to square that rhetoric by what he's actually doing inside Ukraine to innocent people shot in the back of the head, hands tied behind their backs. 'Women, pregnant women being killed hospitals being bombed. 'I mean, it's just unconscionable. And I don't know, I don't have the mental capacity to understand how you get how you connect those two things. It's just beyond me.' The International Criminal Court and at least nine countries have launched war crimes investigations. Some of the worst atrocities have been identified around Kyiv after the Kremlin's troops pulled out early in April. Investigators have described signs of torture and mutilation on bodies left in the streets of Bucha and have uncovered mass graves. A body of a civilian man with hands tied behind his back lies in the street as a communal worker prepares a plastic body bag to carry him 'I don't think we fully appreciated the degree to which he would visit that kind of violence and cruelty and as I said depravity on innocent people, on non-combatants on civilians, with such such utter disregard for the lives he was taking,' said Kirby. 'I mean, there's not even there's not even an attempt by Russia to be precise in their targeting.' Even if you could justify the war, he continued, it was impossible to justify the war it was being conducted. 'It's just ... it's brutality of the coldest and and most depraved sort.' he said. Earlier news emerged of the latest shipments of weapons to Ukraine. More than a dozen flights will leave the continental U.S. in the next 24 hours carrying weapons destined for Ukrainian armed forces, including more howitzers and the first of the new Phoenix Ghost drones. A senior defense official told reporters that the new, secret drones will join 100 Switchblades - kamikaze drones that carry a warhead - that have already been delivered. It comes as Russia on Thursday pounded targets across Ukraine, hitting high-rise apartments in Kyiv, just when the capital was beginning a return to normal. And as the Pentagon announced it had begun training some Ukrainian forces at bases in Germany on key weapons systems. U.S. officials have suggested they face a race against time to deliver weapons to Ukrainian forces as they fight fierce battles in the eastern Donbas region. Last week, President Joe Biden announced he was giving them a new weapon - previously classified Phoenix Ghost drones specially tailored for the conflict. A cemetery in Irpin where three dug graves await the next funerals after a slew of attacks Very little is known about the new Phoenix Ghost drones other than that they operate in similar style to Switchblade killer drones, seen here, which crash into their targets A senior defense official on Friday said that more than a dozen flights would carry weapons - including the first tranche of Phoenix Ghosts - from the U.S. to Europe in the next 24 hours Kirby said Putin's stated war aims of protecting Russians in Ukraine were BS, and simply did not square with the way civilians had been killed execution-style in some cases The U.S. is seeking to provide munitions that can counter Russian armor during the next phase of the war 'In the next 24 hours, more than a dozen flights are expected from the continental United States and that will include howitzers, more 155 rounds, Some of those Phoenix ghost UAVs and and even some of the radars that we talked about,' said a defense official. Little is known about the unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone. It is manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. However, the company is known for modifying drones and providing flight training, suggesting the Phoenix Ghost could be based on a commercially available aircraft. The company did not respond to a request for more information. However, U.S. officials have previously described it as a 'one-way drone' that 'delivers a punch,' leading analysts to say it might operate like a Switchblade, which can loiter over a target before crashing into it with an explosive payload. The official said training of Ukrainian troops in the new weapon had not yet started. 'We believe that the first tranche of those drones should be arriving in the region today, but not all 121. the first tranche of them will be arriving in the region today,' said the official at Friday's briefing. 'And again, we're still working out the how the specific training is going to be done on this. We do believe that training will not take very long for for pilots that have some existing UAV knowledge.' Australian pets won't be raking up their own air miles anytime soon despite changes to aviation regulations allowing them to fly inside plane cabins with their owners. Last December, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) changed its regulations to allow pets to sit with their owners in the passenger cabin - if the airline allowed it. Back when the issue was first up for debate in July, 2021, Virgin was the only airline that said it was considering the pets' upgrade from cargo to cabin. Last December Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) changed its regulations to allow pets to sit with their owners in the passenger cabin, if the airline allowed it However, it's been six months, and none of Australia's three major airlines - Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar - have shown signs of changing their pet policies. At the time of discussion CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said it would be up to the airlines to ensure pets and people were travelling safely together on flights. 'If they're going to do it, they're going to have to do it safely, and they'll have to show us how they're going to be able to do it safely,' he said. None of Australia's three major airlines - Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin - have shown they will implement new laws and allow pets to fly in the passenger cabin with their owners Public opinion has remained divided on the subject, with some travellers keen to bring their furry family members along while others are concerned about allergies and aggressive behaviour. Mr Gibson told ABC the CASA's updated regulations were too broad for airlines to uniformly implement. 'It just talks about animals so theoretically, it could be a boa constrictor,' he said. Dogs and cats that weigh less than 6kg are already allowed to fly in the passenger cabin in several European countries 'At a serious level, you've got people who can be highly allergic to animals, so you've got to take that into account. 'Some people get bad asthma, so that's a serious issue. Other people just get freaked out by snakes.' In order for airlines to meet safety regulations and introduce pets in cabins, they would need to ensure pets do not block cabin aisles or exit rows. The airlines would also need to have procedures in place so that the pets can be properly restrained during an emergency. Airlines could require small pets to remain in a carrier or on their owners lap throughout the flight if allowed inside the passenger cabin This could mean small pets would be required to sit on the passenger's lap or remain in a carrier throughout the flight, while bigger pets could need a whole extra seat of their own. Service dogs are currently required to have a 'moisture absorbent mat' during cabin flights so it's likely airlines would choose the mats to also address other animals' bathroom needs. Several European countries already allow cats and dogs that weigh less than 6kg to fly in the passenger cabin. However Mr Gibson said it seems airlines aren't 'bothered' to go to the effort of creating new procedures just so pets can have a more luxurious ride. Airlines would be res;onsible for creating safety procedures for pet cabin travel including addressing bathroom needs and restraints in emergency situations All three major airlines currently allow service dogs - including guide dogs, hearing dogs, and assistance dogs - to fly in the passenger cabin. Service dogs must adhere to a series of restrictions while flying that include wearing a harness, holding the proper qualifications for flying, and remaining restrained during the flight. However emotional support dogs are still up for debate, with Virgin allowing them in the cabin on flights to and from the US while Jetstar confines them to cargo. Stripping civil servants of the extra pay they receive for working in London could save the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds. No 10 is determined to drag Whitehall out of its post-Covid malaise by forcing mandarins out of their home offices and back into city centres. In an article for The Mail on Sunday last week, Jacob Rees-Mogg the Minister charged with reversing the work-from-home culture implied that civil servants based in the capital could see their London weighting pay subsidies scrapped if they do not return to work for the majority of the week. According to calculations by the TaxPayers Alliance pressure group, removing the subsidy which is awarded to offset the higher cost of living in the capital from those who work from home three days a week or more would save up to 250 million. If such a move was imposed, it would affect many working at the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Work and Pensions, who are currently being asked to go into the office for just two days a week. Stripping civil servants of the extra pay they receive for working in London could save the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds, but No 10 is determined to drag Whitehall back into office. Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured, is charged with reversing the work-from-home culture The Cabinet Office last night insisted that the estimate was too high because more London-based civil servants are going into work for the majority or all of the time. But Tory MPs welcomed the idea. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, said: If they simply refuse to come back to work for the majority of the week surely London weighting should be removed. They are paid to come into work, and if they are not, they should not get that money. Danielle Boxall, media manager at the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers facing a cost of living crisis want to know they are getting value for money from the Civil Service. If mandarins insist on going remote long-term, officials must make savings. If such a move was imposed, it would affect many working at the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Work and Pensions (offices in London pictured), who are currently being asked to go into the office for just two days a week Using data from the 2016 Trust for London and Loughborough University Centre for Research in Social Policy report, London Weighting and London Costs, which details the average public sector top up for the capital, the lobbying group estimates that 251,012,767 could be saved if a three-day rule was imposed. For each Civil Service pay band, apart from senior civil servants, the difference between national and London salaries is about 4,000. Meanwhile, updated figures from across Whitehall show that in the week beginning April 18, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had fewer staff in the office than before the pandemic. Asked about the TaxPayers Alliance analysis, a Government spokesman said: These figures are inaccurate and misleading about pay for civil servants in London. Crazy NHS bureaucracy is preventing doctors from prescribing hormone replacement therapies (HRT) that could immediately help thousands of menopausal women, it was claimed last night. The manufacturer of Bijuve, a substitute for Oestrogel for which there is a chronic shortage, say they have pallets of supplies gathering dust in a warehouse but cannot ship them out due to red tape. Tina Backhouse, of Theramex, which makes Bijuve, said the crisis could be eased within days if drug approval rules were streamlined. It really could be a quick win, she said. Frankly, this red-tape nightmare could be solved by the end of the week. Around a million women in the UK take HRT in patches, pills or gel form to replace hormones lost during the menopause. Supply issues have left tens of thousands struggling to access products, particularly Oestrogel. Last week The Mail on Sunday combined forces with our sister paper, the Daily Mail, to launch our Fix The HRT Crisis campaign. Oestrogel (pictured) is used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but it is often in short supply. Alternatives like Bijuve, are well-stocked but cannot be used due to red tape Lisa Snowdon (pictured), runs a campaign to help women and raise awareness about the high demand for HRT Bijuve is an alternative and has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, yet is available only in three areas Somerset, Norfolk and Oxford because around 150 NHS hospital trusts and almost 130 NHS clinical commissioning groups have yet to sign it off. Theramex representatives will meet with Health Secretary Sajid Javid and the new HRT tsar Madelaine McTernan on Thursday. TV presenter Davina McCall (pictured) has been very open about her positive experiences with HRT and is a big supporter of improving supply in the UK While Bijuve is not suitable for all women currently prescribed Oestrogel, both are body identical forms of HRT, meaning they are practically identical to the human sex hormones they are replacing. Some 30,000 women rely on Oestrogel and Ms Backhouse said Theramex definitely has the capacity to step in. Twelve months ago we increased our production and our stocks are very good, she said. Describing the system as crazy, she added: It would be better for there to be a national formulary [for HRT medicines] with experts giving recommendations on what should be on the list. That would cut out the local bureaucracy. Dr Paula Briggs, chair-elect of the British Menopause Society, said the current system of local sign-off was massively delaying the use of new therapies. Demand for HRT in Britain has risen in recent years, in part due to celebrities talking about their own menopause. TV presenter Davina McCall created the so-called Davina effect by heralding the benefits of HRT, and Lisa Snowdon, who speaks about her campaign to help women in todays You magazine, have done much to raise awareness. MADELAINE McTERNAN: I shall leave no stone unturned to end the UK's HRT shortage Madelaine McTernan has been made the new HRT tsar to try to relieve shortages She helped lead the Vaccine Taskforce as crucial part in the Covid jab success She says she will do everything she can so women have reliable access to HRT By Madelaine Mcternan For The Mail On Sunday Two years ago, none of us could have imagined the phenomenal impact vaccines might have in leading our way out of the worst public health emergency for generations. Bringing together expertise from across the private sector, academia and government meant Britain was the first country in the world to roll out the Oxford University/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines. Thanks to the monumental efforts of the NHS and volunteers, we have deployed more than 140 million doses of vaccine across the UK that have become our best defence against Covid. As Director General of the Vaccine Taskforce, I am immensely proud of what we achieved together on this national mission. We have overcome many obstacles and learned lessons from the pandemic, systematically working through issues to find and implement the right solutions. Madelaine McTernan (pictured) has been appointed the new HRT tsar and will spearhead efforts to deal with shortages of the medicine Women across the UK have protested against prescription charges for HRT and supply shortages (pictured: a protest in London on April 29) I am also proud of the key role that female leaders have played in the pandemic response. Now is the time to extend those successes to another challenge facing the UK Hormone Replacement Therapy supply. Menopause is a natural part of ageing but for some women it can have serious and debilitating effects that can impact their work, family life and mental health. I am very pleased the discussion on this topic is opening up and more women are aware of, and accessing, products to help them manage these sometimes-distressing symptoms. While most HRT products are widely available, there are various challenges facing the availability of some products, meaning that some women have been struggling to access the medication they need. Over the past week, I have read the human stories about how a supply shortage can leave women in a desperate state and about the rationing of their supply of HRT. This is terrible, and I want to reassure women across the country that I will do everything I can to ensure they can have reliable access to HRT. Some of the challenges stem from rising demand. There has been a 38 per cent increase in the number of HRT prescription items over the past seven years. This is, of course, positive and we need to work across the system to ensure the supply chain can support demand. We want to make sure HRT supply not only matches demand now, but matches growing demand in the future. The Government is already taking action. On Friday, in order to even out distribution and make sure that women can access the medication they need, three Serious Shortage Protocols were issued to limit dispensing of three HRT products to three months supply. This is a step in the right direction. The Vaccine Taskforce works closely with suppliers and has done so throughout the Covid pandemic. I will be taking the same approach in this role working closely with HRT suppliers to understand where their constraints are and what can be done to address them. I understand why women are worried. We are listening to your concerns and we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure you can access the medication you need. DAVINA McCALL: It's time for husbands, brothers and sons to join us... and bring an end to the HRT crisis By Davina Mccall For The Mail On Sunday Recently I heard a story about a lady I will call Natalie, who was in her late 40s when she was hit by depression and anxiety so profound that she was confined to her bed for a month. She didnt have the energy even to get up and make a cup of tea. As a result, she lost everything her fiance left her, she was fired from her job and she had to leave her home because she could no longer afford to maintain it. Her friends and immediate family were so frightened for her that they would not allow her to be on her own, anxious that history might repeat itself, as Natalies mother had taken her own life at the age of 45. You might wonder what on earth could have plunged Natalie into such despair? For some of you it may be a shock to read it was the menopause, although others among you who have battled its debilitating symptoms or watched others do so may not be so surprised. Natalies story is only one of many that I have read on websites and in the WhatsApp messages with which I have been inundated since speaking out about my own menopause in last years documentary and on my social media. Many pierce my heart, like the Scottish woman I interview for my new documentary that airs tomorrow, who told the heart-breaking story of the moment she was in a car and wondered what to drive into to kill herself. These stories arent uncommon and its borne out by statistics. Its no coincidence that the highest rate of suicide among women is between the ages of 45 and 55 the time when women go through this life-changing transition. Other symptoms, which can last for years, include hot flushes; night sweats; migraines; palpitations; dry mouth, eyes, skin and vagina; brain fog and aching joints. Again the statistics make clear that these symptoms can affect quality of life to the extent that some women leave their jobs and their relationships fail. The good news is that treatment is available in the form of HRT, which can help manage all symptoms, replenishing vital hormones that your body has lost. HRT also plays an active part in disease management, massively reducing your risk of dementia, motor neurone diseases, Parkinsons and MS, as well as reducing your risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. Its not an exaggeration to say that for many women its transformative. It was for me when I started taking it seven years ago, and it was for Natalie, who after finally being persuaded to see her doctor was immediately placed on a high dose of HRT and who is now able to face the world again. Many other women will testify to its miraculous qualities. If its available that is. Weve all read the news reports about women bartering their diminishing supplies over the internet, or trying to buy them from unknown and very often untrustworthy suppliers abroad on the black market. I would urge women not to do it, but its an indicator of how desperate they are to get their hands on HRT treatment. Many women are nothing short of terrified at being without it and I dont think it is being melodramatic to say this is a crisis. Nor is it the first time this has happened: there have been on-and-off shortages of HRT for years, and its not been uncommon in the past for women to turn to the private sector, paying through the nose for something which should be available from their doctor for a quarter of the price. Today, though, the situation has got so bad that even being prepared to pay for HRT doesnt guarantee women will get it. I cant imagine the same apparent torpor being shown by the authorities if this were another form of medication. Can you imagine the outcry if there was a shortage of insulin? It would be all hands to the pump, and rightly so. Yet only a relatively small percentage are diabetic, but the menopause happens to 52 per cent of the population. Thats more than half of us, potentially facing a crisis at some point. Of course, not everyone has a terrible time. Menopause is different for everyone, and some women sail through with barely a hot flush or flash of temper. Lucky them! I certainly wasnt one of those. I started with symptoms around ten years ago after suffering brain fog and anxiety to the extent I thought I was losing my mind. In my mid-40s, I was considered by my doctor to be too young to be menopausal, so I took the decision to consult a gynaecologist. They put me on HRT patches which give me much needed oestrogen the hormone whose rapid depletion in menopause causes so many of our problems and a coil which gives me progesterone by way of balance. I felt better almost instantly and have been vocal ever since about the fact that I intend to take HRT until the day I die. But I also know I was lucky: too many women are going to their GPs and getting diagnosed with depression even though guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) say that if a woman over 45 is presenting as depressed or anxious then they should be offered HRT. Instead many doctors are routinely giving out anti-depressants, which dont work, and are simply a waste of time and money. Its one of so many injustices in this country, where it can sometimes feel that, when it comes to the health system, women are second-class citizens. Its hard to see it any differently when you learn that in Scotland, doctors prescribe the oral tablet form of HRT, a synthetic version that is linked although only fractionally so to a slightly incrementally higher risk of breast cancer compared with the bio-identical hormone gel, patch or spray. The reason? Expense of course: it costs 18 more per year per person to provide the gel. Around the country, different regions are offering different types of HRT a postcode lottery that is nothing short of a scandal. There is some evidence, too, that there is a divide running along wealth lines, with more affluent areas getting better access to a wider range of HRT options. Its one reason Ive decided to use my platform in the public eye to campaign for change. Its a campaign I would urge everyone to join including our sons, brothers and husbands. I dont see this as a feminist issue, its an everyone issue. All those women going through the menopause have families, or work colleagues or friends. It may not be their bodies but it is still their problem. The best thing you can do if you want to make noise is join us on menopausemandate.com because we are going to empower ourselves to make a change. That means young women too. They may not be able to imagine it now, but they will all be menopausal one day. Happily, there is hope. Many brave female MPs have talked in Parliament about their own experiences, while the wondrous ball of energy that is Carolyn Harris MP, is proving to be an absolute juggernaut in driving for change putting the menopause at the forefront of the government agenda. I am pleased to see that it is viewed as a cross-party issue, one on which everyone can agree. I also welcome the appointment of Madelaine McTernan as HRT Tsar. Her success with the pioneering Vaccines Taskforce on which she played a leading role bodes well. We know theres a problem. Now we need a solution, and quickly. The first port of call is talking to the companies who supply HRT, to find out what is happening in the supply chain, how those problems can be ironed out, and what strategies can be put in place to make sure this never happens again. It is unsustainable. And it is destroying lives. Davina McCall: Sex, Mind And The Menopause is on Channel 4 tomorrow at 9pm. Two students who filmed a video of Sir Keir Starmer swigging beer with Labour officials during lockdown have accused him of breaking Covid rules. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, they cast doubt on the Labour leaders claim that he was not in breach of the rules because he was attending a work meeting. And in comments that will heap more pressure on Durham Constabulary to investigate the incident, both said they were prepared to make detailed statements to officers about what they saw. The university students, who asked to remain anonymous, filmed a 43-second video of Sir Keir drinking a beer and chatting with colleagues just after 10pm on April 30 last year. At the time, indoor socialising was banned and those who disobeyed the rules faced being fined by police. While repeatedly lambasting Boris Johnson over the Partygate scandal, Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted that no rules were broken during his trip to Durham and continues to say that he returned to work after the 10pm drinks. Two students who filmed a video of Sir Keir Starmer swigging beer with Labour officials during lockdown have accused him of breaking Covid rules (pictured) But his defence is now under fresh scrutiny after the Daily Mail last week forced Labour to admit that Deputy Leader Angela Rayner was at the Durham Miners Hall on the same day, having previously denied it. The MoS can today reveal that Sir Keir, local Labour MP Mary Foy and a mystery woman, who may have been Ms Rayner, were actually gathered in a narrow kitchen next to Ms Foys office. The eyewitnesses said the trio and other Labour officials, who were standing in a narrow corridor outside, appeared to be socialising. I have never seen a work meeting with people sitting on tables, drinking San Miguel and standing around eating off plates, one said. They werent having a meeting. There is a clear difference between a meeting and what was happening there, which was entirely social. After watching for five minutes, the pair went back to their accommodation. They returned an hour later and saw that people were still inside the room. They could not see if Sir Keir was among them. Durham Police are facing mounting calls from Tory Ministers and MPs to launch a new probe, having announced in February that no rules had been broken. Both witnesses said they are prepared to help the police. We are the only two eyewitnesses that arent trying to defend it, one said. I would be so happy to talk to them and tell them the truth. About three weeks before Sir Keirs trip to Durham, factory worker Tyler James, 20, from Chester-le-Street, Durham, was fined 400 for also holding a balloon-releasing memorial for a friend who died in March 2021. It just makes you think, its one rule for them, and one rule for us, he said. I dont understand, if Boris Johnson was fined, why wasnt he? Durham Constabulary said: We have since received further communications on this subject and will now consider the content of those communications and respond in due course. The police sent the girl to the government hospital where she was confirmed as being in the fifth month of pregnancy. Representational image/DC KAKINADA: Tallapudi police arrested two persons-Mondi Maridayya and Posamma from Vegeswarapuram village of Tallapudi mandal in East Godavari district in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old girl. According to Tallapudi police, when the girls father was admitted to the government hospital at Kakinada and his wife was attending on him, the girl was looked after by the accused. He developed an extra-marital relationship with another woman, who started living in his house. When the girl was coming to their house to watch TV, the accused lured and sexually abused. His wife supported him. Meanwhile, the parents after the father was discharged came home and changed their daughters body. When they asked, she told them that the accused Mondi Maridayya has sexually abused her with the support of his wife Posamma. The police sent the girl to the government hospital where she was confirmed as being in the fifth month of pregnancy. Tallapudi police registered a case under POCSO Act and arrested Maridayya and Posamma. Meanwhile, Telugu mahila Kakinada district president Pavani visited the hospital and consoled the girl and her parents and gave financial assistance to them. She said that after the YSRC came to power, atrocities on women and girls have increased. She demanded stringent punishment for the accused. Three members of a family have been convicted of fraud after swindling a local authority out of 734,000 by faking a neurological condition to claim a care package for 12 years. Husband and wife Laura and Philip Borrell - who once appeared on This Morning to discuss dementia - along with Mrs Borrell's mother, Frances Noble, conspired to commit fraud by convincing Hertfordshire County Council that Ms Noble, 66, had a brain disorder. The trio, from the village of Weston, near Hitchin, succeeded in accessing a 'direct payments care package' worth 733,936.20 from the council between August 1, 2005 and November 30, 2018, according to The Comet. It is believed to be one of the largest frauds ever committed against a local authority. Husband and wife Laura and Philip Borrell - along with Mrs Borrell's mother, Frances Noble - conspired to commit fraud by convincing Hertfordshire County Council that Ms Noble, 66, had a brain disorder. Above, the couple appeared on This Morning in 2017 to discuss her own struggle with dementia Philip and Laura Borrell (pictured in 2017) and her mother were this week convicted of fraud after swindling their local authority out of 734,000 by faking a neurological condition to claim a care package for 12 years Care packages such as the one they received are meant for those who need assistance in paying for their own care and support services - but the Borrells and Noble kept the money for themselves. Neighbours started to become suspicious after noticing that although Mrs Borrell did not appear to work, they saw a huge number of packages arrive at her house. One resident told The Times: 'Delivery vans all day long... ordering lots of stuff, like money was no object.' Another added: 'There were Amazon vans coming every single day. And then this brand new top-of-the-range Volvo arrived. You started thinking, what does he do? What does she do?' Although the Borrells returned to the UK ten days ago before their court hearing, Frances Noble is still in Berlin, and continues to deny any wrongdoing. The pensioner (above with her daughter) said the guilty pleas were an effort to bring an end to a case they are running out of money to fight Hertfordshire county council then began a fraud investigation after carers became suspicious that Noble was exaggerating the extent of her needs. Subsequently, the Borrells were accused of assisting the pensioner by laundering the proceeds of her crime. All three - who have lived in Germany for the past few months - were due to stand trial at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, April 27 after pleading not guilty in June 2020. They changed their pleas to guilty this week and are due to be sentenced on June 24. Although the Borrells returned to the UK ten days ago before their court hearing, Frances Noble is still in Berlin, and continues to deny any wrongdoing. The pensioner said that the guilty pleas were an effort to bring an end to a case they are running out of money to fight, according to The Times. Meanwhile, in 2017, Mrs Borrell - then aged 39 - appeared on This Morning, where she was introduced by hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as 'one of the youngest people to be diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia'. She told them she'd received the devastating dementia diagnosis but that it had been a battle to initially get doctors to take her seriously. Borrell said doctors were baffled by her condition, assuming she was too young to have dementia, and told her she was being 'hysterical'. Above, the Borrells. The pair, and Noble - who have lived in Germany for the past few months - were due to stand trial at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, April 27 after pleading not guilty in June 2020. They changed their pleas to guilty this week and are due to be sentenced on June 24 Appearing alongside her husband, Borrell said: 'I thought I was absolutely going crazy. They [neurologists] were vile, they were so rude to me, they even referred to me as a hysterical white female.' Laura explained how she had to give up her studies and became afraid to leave the house when she found herself easily confused, forgetful and struggling with her speech. In June 2015, she said that tests revealed she had frontotemporal degenerative dementia - a condition very rarely seen in anyone under the age of 65. The family then began fundraising so she could have one last road trip with her husband before her memories were 'taken away'. Mrs Borrell said her symptoms became progressively worse and she dropped out of her law degree at the University of London, despite having another two years of the course still to complete. Unan Choudhury, a lawyer representing Laura, told The Times that she denies any allegation of wrongdoing relating to the dementia. He said: 'She has suffered with serious neurological illnesses in the past and continues to suffer with illnesses now. She is receiving specialist treatment for her various conditions.' Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is ready to launch a Tory leadership bid if Boris Johnson is ousted, his allies have revealed. Mr Hunt who came second to Mr Johnson in the 2019 contest is lining up supporters and sounding out potential Cabinet Ministers in anticipation of the Prime Minister losing a confidence vote in the wake of Thursdays local elections. The prospect has been greeted with dismay by Cabinet allies of Mr Johnson, one of whom last night described Mr Hunt as Theresa May without the personality. Mr Hunt, who backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, is understood to have been brazenly courting pro-Brexit MPs by distancing himself from his previous views. Jeremy Hunt who came second to Mr Johnson in the 2019 contest is lining up supporters and sounding out potential Cabinet Ministers His moves come in anticipation of the Prime Minister (above) losing a confidence vote in the wake of Thursdays local elections Chancellor Rishi Sunak had long been tipped as Mr Johnsons successor. But the fall in his political fortunes since the revelations about his wifes tax status has been seized upon by Mr Hunts team, with Mr Sunaks supporters in the One Nation group of Tory MPs being actively courted. A source said: Six weeks ago you would have said its a done deal, Rishis got it. Not any more. Mr Hunt, who was also a long-serving Health Secretary, is expected to brand himself as a safe pair of hands after Mr Johnsons roller-coaster premiership. Another supporter said he was Mrs Thatchers soulmate, economically. A senior Hunt supporter said: Hes definitely running. Theres a significant groundswell of support. Chancellor Rishi Sunak (above) had long been tipped as Mr Johnsons successor. But the fall in his political fortunes since the revelations about his wifes tax status has been seized upon by Mr Hunts team, with Mr Sunaks supporters in the One Nation group of Tory MPs being actively courted The South West Surrey MP has publicly said his ambition to be leader has not completely vanished although supporters insist he would not be the one to directly trigger a leadership challenge. MPs say he has assembled a team around him, including ex-Cabinet Minister Andrew Mitchell. A eurosceptic Tory MP said: Hes going round seeing everyone to test the waters. He says he is pro-Brexit now, that he is not going to reverse it. Hes a nice bloke, but I dont know what the question is, if Jeremy Hunt is the answer. Tom Tugendhat, the foreign affairs committee chair, is also said to be planning a leadership bid. The wife of a former U.S. Marine who was killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia has seen her life 'completely fall apart' since she received the news of her husband's death. On Monday, Willy Joseph Cancel of Orange County New York, 22, was killed in Ukraine after he was deployed there by a private military contracting company. In a GoFundMe post, his father, Willy Cancel, wrote that his 22-year-old widow, Brittany Cancel's - who is also a Marine veteran - she received 'the worst call of her life' the next day, when she was informed that her husband was killed on the battlefield. 'Your husband fought bravely but unfortunately he did not make it,' she was told, Willy Cancel wrote. 'Since that April 26th phone call, her life has completely fallen apart and now she has to figure out how to build it back together, to figure out how to raise her son without his father or financial support,' the father wrote on GoFundMe. 'As a family, we are trying to support them as much as possible and be there for each other, but Brittany and Anthony will need more than what we can provide.' As of Saturday evening, the fundraiser has garnered over $63,000 toward supporting Cancel's wife and his seven-month-old son. 'He will grow up without a father, a father who was brave and selfless and whose life was senselessly lost,' Cancel's father wrote about his grandson, Anthony. 'While he will grow knowing that his father died a hero, we know this will not be easy. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no child should have to grow up without a parent.' Willy Joseph Cancel, 22 (left), was killed fighting Ukrainian forces with a private security firm on Monday. His father, Willy, wrote on GoFundMe that his wife Brittany's (right) life has 'completely fallen apart' after her husband's death Cancel's father wrote that Brittany, left, received the 'worst call of her life' on Tuesday, when she was told that her husband 'found bravely, but unfortunately he didn't make it The circumstances surrounding Cancel's death are unclear, and his body has not been recovered, according to this parents Cancel's mother, Rebecca Cabrera, said her son was working for a private military contracting company when he agreed to take up a job to fight in the Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February. 'He wanted to go over because he believed in what Ukraine was fighting for, and he wanted to be a part of it to contain it there so it didn't come here, and that maybe our American soldiers wouldn't have to be involved in it,' Cabrera told CNN. The circumstances of Cancel's death remain unclear, including how and where he was killed. His mother added that those fighting alongside Cancel were not able to retrieve his body during the conflict that killed him. 'They haven't found his body,' she said. 'They are trying, the men that were with him, but it was either grab his body or get killed, but we would love for him to come back to us.' Cancel was the father of a seven-month-old son. The young dad is pictured cradling his son The family said Cancel was living in Tennessee working as a corrections officer when he flew to Poland on March 12 and crossed into Ukraine. Cabrera told CNN that her son was joined by men from 'all different countries' to assist the Ukrainian troops. 'It was something that he believed in his heart, that was the right thing,' Cabrera said. 'He was the type of man who always stepped up when everybody else stepped back, and there were a lot of men who were like that that were with him.' Cancel's brother-in-law, Devin Tietze, echoed Cabrera's remarks, saying that Cancel was the 'type to fight for what's right regardless of the outcome.' 'He believed wholeheartedly this shouldn't have happened and he wanted to go help the people in Ukraine,' Tietze told CNN. Cancel (second from the left, front row) moved on from the Marines to work as a correctional officer in Tennessee. While there, he also worked for a private security firm that provided him the opportunity to travel to the Ukraine to fight in March Cancel's family said they are heartbroken by his death, and his body has yet to be found His family described him as a hero who wanted to help the Ukrainian people and stop the war before US troops could be called in. Cancel pictured with Brittany Previously, Cancel was stations at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and served as a rifleman in the Marines. He was never deployed to a war zone, and was discharged for bad conduct after violating a lawful general order, according to Marine Corps spokesman Major Jim Stenger.' The U.S. State Department said they were aware of the reports of Cancel's death but could not comment based on privacy matters. The Department reiterated in a statement that: 'US citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of US citizens in Ukraine by Russian government security officials, and that US citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so, using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options.' It is not known how many U.S. citizens are actively assisting Ukrainian troops in the war, but the Ukrainian Defense Ministry estimates that more than 20,000 volunteer veterans from 52 countries have joined the fight. The influx of foreign fighters has led the Ukranian government to create the special International Legion, composed of the visiting veterans allied with the country. Hill had been in Ukraine caring for his partner Irina who has multiple sclerosis. He shared this photo of her, right, previously with an Idaho TV station about their fight to get out of the conflict zone Brent Renaud, 50, was in a car with other journalists when Putin's troops opened fire on him. He has worked in numerous conflict zones around the world and had won awards for his documentaries Cancel is not the first American to die in the Ukraine as a result of the bloody war. Jimmy Hill, 67, of Idaho, was gunned down in the streets of Ukraine while buying bread when he refused to leave the warzone because he was looking after his sick partner. Hill was a lecturer in Kyiv but was in Chernihiv to care for his partner Ira, who has multiple sclerosis. They had returned to the country in December so Ira, who is Ukrainian, could be treated for MS, and became trapped at a regional hospital there. Hill was among a group of 10 who were lining up to buy bread at a grocery store when Russian troops opened fire in a sickening act of war. Hill's death came just a few days after American journalist and freelance filmmaker Brent Renaud, 50, was shot dead by Russian troops while filming refugees in the Ukraine. Renaud was in a car with other journalists in Irpin when Putin's troops opened fire. He was fatally-shot in the neck, with one of his colleagues also injured. Although Renaud was carrying a New York Times press badge at the time of his death, he was in fact working as a freelancer on a global film about refugees commissioned by Time magazine's studio division. Renaud's death was announced by Andrey Nebitov, the head of Kyiv's police department, who said he paid 'with his life for trying to highlight the aggressor's ingenuity, cruelty and ruthlessness.' The Business Secretary has ordered the countrys oil and gas giants to reinvest their profits to boost the UKs energy supply and help to ease the cost of living crisis. Kwasi Kwarteng has written to energy companies asking them to set out a clear plan on how they will use their huge windfalls to fire up domestic production. It comes amid continuing sky-high profits being made by the energy firms on the back of surging global energy prices. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has ordered the countrys oil and gas giants to reinvest their profits to boost the UKs energy supply and help to ease the cost of living crisis Last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak opened the door to a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. He had previously dismissed the idea saying he did not want to stem investment by those companies in new oil and gas extraction. Mr Kwarteng said he would also not bend to the will of activists who naively want us to extinguish production and repeated the Governments commitment to North Sea oil and gas. He added: I want to see a very clear plan from the oil and gas industry to reinvest profits in the North Sea and, importantly, in the clean energy technologies of the future. The father of JonBenet Ramsey is calling on the Colorado governor to allow an independent agency, rather than the Boulder Police Department, to conduct DNA testing in his murdered daughter's case in an effort to help finally identify her murderer. John Ramsey made the announcement at the CrimeCon 2022 convention in Las Vegas on Saturday as he continues to seek answers in his daughter's famous 1996 murder. 'It's a petition to hopefully get the state of Colorado to intervene and have the items from the crime scene that could be tested for DNA that haven't been tested,' Ramsey told Fox News Digital at CrimeCon. The new petition, which garnered more than 600 signatures immediately after Ramsey's speech, appeals to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to use his 'power' to intervene and allow for an independent DNA analysis. 'You have the power,' the petition reads. 'Given the lack of progress by the Boulder Police, we the undersigned petitioners ask you to move DNA decisions in this case away from the BPD to an independent agency so that JonBenet has a last chance at the justice she deserves.' The six-year-old beauty queen was found dead in the basement of her family's Boulder home on December 26, 1996, bludgeoned and strangled, several hours after her mother Patsy Ramsey called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been left behind. Her death was ruled a homicide, but no one was ever charged in the case. 'It's going to take a lot of help to get that moving again,' Ramsey said of her case on Saturday. 'But, you know, the government is very reactive, and we're talking about politicians, and we want them to do the right thing.' He added that if Colorado officials 'know there's enough people behind' the petition 'asking them to do the right thing, they'll do it.' Six-year-old JonBenet was found dead in the basement of her family's Boulder home on December 26, 1996, bludgeoned and strangled, hours after her mother reported her missing John Ramsey is calling on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to allow an independent agency, rather than the Boulder Police, to conduct DNA testing in his slain daughter's case in an effort to help finally identify her murderer In December 2021, police marked the 25th anniversary of JonBenet's murder stating they are looking into 'genetic DNA testing processes to see if they can be applied to this case moving forward' and are working closely with state investigators on 'future DNA advancements.' The new petition by John Ramsey, which garnered more than 600 signatures immediately after his speech on Saturday, appeals to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (pictured) to use his 'power' to intervene and allow for an independent DNA analysis They also announced they had processed more than 1,500 pieces of evidence and 'reviewed or investigated more than 21,016 tips, letters and emails.' But on Saturday while speaking on a panel with investigative journalist Paula Woodward, John Ramsey criticized the department for its 'arrogance,' 'pride,' 'ego' and inexperience at the time his daughter was killed. 'The Boulder police were totally inexperienced, and I don't blame them for that,' Ramsey said during the conference. 'I fault them for not accepting help from people who knew what they were doing.' Boulder Police said in a statement in December that due to advances in DNA technology, 'multiple suspects have been run through the system to check for matches' and that investigators have updated more than '750 reference samples with the latest DNA technology.' JonBenet Ramsey a child beauty queen was brutally murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado. Her parents John and Patsy Ramsey as well as her older brother Burke have at various times been considered suspects in the case but no charges have been filed 'As the Department continues to use new technology to enhance the investigation, it is actively reviewing genetic DNA testing processes to see if those can be applied to this case moving forward,' BPD said at the time. Cold case detectives have increasingly turned to genealogy DNA databases to crack crimes, and in 2018 used it to uncover the identity of the Golden State Killer who terrorized neighborhoods in the 1970s and 80s. Former cop Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 72, was arrested after DNA testing linked him to some of the 12 murders and 51 rapes carried out during that time. Investigators linked nearly 40-year-old DNA from crime scenes to a distant relative, and eventually to a discarded tissue they surreptitiously sneaked from DeAngelo's garbage can in suburban Sacramento. He was sentenced in August to consecutive life sentences. John and Patsy Ramsey, the parents of JonBenet Ramsey, meet with a small selected group of the local Colorado media after four months of silence in Boulder, Colorado on May 1, 1997 The body of JonBenet Ramsey (pictured) was found bludgeoned and strangled in her basement hours after she was reported missing on December 26, 1996 No one in the family was ever charged in the death, but for years tabloids and members of the public believed one or more were the culprits JonBenet Ramsey who was found dead inside the basement of her parent's palatial home in Boulder, Colorado in 1996 (pictured) The use of the genetic DNA testing is the latest update in one of the most controversial unsolved crimes in American history that started when the body of JonBenet was found bludgeoned and strangled in her basement hours after she was reported missing on December 26, 1996. She was covered by a white blanket with a nylon cord around her neck, her wrists bound above her head and her mouth covered by duct tape. Her parents John and Patsy had called police to report her kidnapping and said they found a note demanding a ransom of $118,000 for her safe return, which instructed them not to contact the authorities. Despite this, police arrived to their home shortly after in clearly marked vehicles. John and Patsy would remain the primary suspects in their daughter's death for more than a decade, and it was not until 2008 that police finally cleared them of any wrongdoing. Patsy, who passed away in 2006 from ovarian cancer, was suspected by members of the public of being the murderer after reports emerged that handwriting on the ransom note was similar to her own, but after she willingly provided a sample to police it was determined she did not write the note. Many also suspected someone in the family, as they claimed there were no footprints in the snow around the house. Patsy Ramsey is pictured with her daughter JonBenet and son Burke in 1993 Burke Ramsey was suspected of being responsible for killing his sister- despite the fact that he was only nine-years-old at the time No one in the family was ever charged in the death, but for years tabloids and members of the public believed one or more were the culprits. Several years ago, CBS aired The Case Of: JonBenet Ramsey, which concluded with investigators revealing that after extensive research into the events that happened on the night of the murder they believed Burke Ramsey was responsible for killing his sister- despite the fact that he was only nine-years-old at the time. Burke sued the network and settled that case after demanding damages of $750million. John and Patsy would remain the primary suspects in their daughter's death for more than a decade, and it was not until 2008 that police finally cleared them of any wrongdoing In 2006 - 10 years after JonBenet's death - a 41-year-old schoolteacher named John Mark Karr confessed to killing the little beauty Private investigator Ollie Gray, who continued to investigate the murder case even after he stopped working for the Ramseys, claimed in 2016 that the child's killer was a local 26-year-old whose family owned a junkyard on the outskirts of the city - Michael Helgoth. On February 13, 1997, Alex Hunter, who was the district attorney at the time of the murder, held a press conference where he spoke to JonBenet's unknown killer, saying: 'The list of suspect narrows. Soon there will be no one on the list but you.' Helgoth died of an apparent suicide two days later at his home. A few years after his death, however, Helgoth was cleared when it was revealed that none of his DNA was found under JonBenet's fingernails or in her underwear. In 2006 - 10 years after JonBenet's death - a 41-year-old schoolteacher named John Mark Karr confessed to killing the little beauty. He was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, but he was never charged with the murder because his DNA did not match that found on the girl's body. The Labour Party and its many media allies have spent much of the past week in a state of prune-faced hypocrisy, denouncing The Mail on Sunday for accurately reporting what Angela Rayner had in fact openly said to fellow MPs. It is easy to understand why Ms Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, might want to divert attention from her own behaviour. The party she helps to lead is constantly pulling long, disapproving faces about actions and words which used to be regarded as harmless but must now be pursued with fury and, if possible, prosecuted as thought crimes. Hardly a week goes by without demands from the Left-wing establishment that somebody should be sacked or cancelled for such an offence. The Labour Party and its many media allies have spent much of the past week in a state of prune-faced hypocrisy, denouncing The Mail on Sunday for accurately reporting what Angela Rayner had in fact openly said to fellow MPs Of course some of the things which are exposed and attacked are truly wicked and need to be acted against. But not all of them are, as we see, and these purse-lipped moralists are themselves no better than they ought to be. Labour greets such events like a Victorian maiden lady glimpsing an unclothed table leg, shrieking for her smelling salts, even though it must know that plenty of its own supporters, perhaps even some members of its upper echelons, are often guilty of saying such things. Indeed, modern Left-wing alternative comedy (to which there is in fact very little alternative) is packed with such material. As we know from Sir Keir Starmers contortions over his lockdown beer break in Durham, Labour does not think the rules in general apply to itself. After weeks of yelling about Partygate, Sir Keir crossly tries to pretend that there is no parallel between it and his own behaviour. As we know from the partys reluctant and long-delayed admission that Ms Rayner was present at this event (how can they not have known?), Labours machine puts truth a poor second after its propaganda needs. It was fascinating to see that what Ms Rayner no doubt regarded as amusing conversation was suddenly converted into evil and unforgivable misogyny when it was accurately described by others and reported equally accurately in this newspaper. Glen Owen, The Mail on Sundays Political Editor and author of the story at the centre of the row, puts it neatly in his account of these events today. He says: Ms Rayner was professing herself outraged by something she had laughed about before and had herself helped to propagate. As we know from Sir Keir Starmers contortions over his lockdown beer break in Durham, Labour does not think the rules in general apply to itself Any decent person will be shocked at the vicious and obscene tone of the Twitter abuse of Mr Owen which followed. The episode will, in the long run, turn out to be embarrassing for Ms Rayner and all those who joined the electronic lynch mob. Yet they have still to climb down properly, let alone express true regret for their behaviour. Meanwhile, the basic point remains: The Mail on Sunday was attacked for reporting what Ms Rayner had said. You might have thought that in the midst of the biggest foreign-policy crisis in Europe since 1945, with naked war raging in Ukraine, Her Majestys Loyal Opposition might have had more important things to do than to make unjust attacks on this newspaper and Mr Owen. But you would have been wrong. Since the Blair era began a quarter of a century ago, the Labour Party has been ever keener to destroy its critics through derision, spite and personal attack, while barely bothering to offer a serious political argument. It has relied instead on crudity, abuse, evasion of true debate, and caricature. This is perhaps because it has a low opinion of its own policies and its own ability to deliver the expansive promises it never ceases to make, and never ceases to break. It returned to power after a long and deserved exile 25 years ago claiming to be the scourge of sleaze, while rapidly turning out to be up to its chin in sleaze itself. No wonder it preferred smears to reasoned argument. Its tone was set in a crude, childish and dishonest Election broadcast of April 21, 1997, in which speeded-up footage of a Tory conference was shown to mock Conservative leaders and supporters, and a caption told the blatant lie that a re-elected Tory government would abolish the state pension. In any other walk of life but politics, this cruel falsehood, clearly intended to win votes by terrifying the old and lonely, would have led to censure and possibly actual prosecution. But it was forgotten in the Election victory it helped to bring about. Only later, when a Labour spin doctor remarked that the terrorist mass murders of 9/11 provided a good day to bury bad news did the nation begin to grasp the deep cynicism of this once-idealistic movement. The heirs of Keir Hardie and Clement Attlee, true apostles of compassion and serious reform, turned out to be less principled than a bunch of bookmakers. This is the sorry background to events of last week. With local elections due on Thursday and with almost nothing to say about politics or the future of the nation, Keir Starmers strategists saw a chance to look good and to hamstring their media critics. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on April 27 At one point even the Speaker of the Commons, the generally measured and thoughtful Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was caught up in the tsunami of hysteria. So were some Tories, in a party that has sometimes not tried very hard to distinguish itself from New Labours attitudes and methods. Caroline Nokes, a Conservative MP who called for Glen Owens parliamentary pass to be revoked, may need to do some revoking of her own now it is clear she rushed to judgment long before she knew the facts. This newspapers case was succinctly made by its Editor, David Dillon, when he wrote to Sir Lindsay declining an offered meeting, saying: The Mail on Sunday deplores sexism and misogyny in all its forms. However, journalists must be free to report what they are told by MPs about conversations which take place in the House of Commons, however unpalatable some may find them. He said that press freedom was in danger if journalists have to take instruction from officials of the House of Commons, however august they may be, on what they can report and not report. This is absolutely correct and rather alarming. A strong counter-attack by this newspaper and its sister the Daily Mail, plus the good sense of some others in the media and Parliament, successfully beat off the lynch mob which sought to punish us for telling the truth. Not everybody attacked in this way has the resources or the fortitude to stand up to such assaults. Britains political and media classes, up to and including the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker, are going to have to re-learn old rules such as the one that advises waiting for the facts before passing judgment, and that trial comes before verdict, and verdict before sentence. If they do not, and if they continue to allow themselves to be stampeded by social media mobs, then freedom of speech, freedom of the press and democracy itself are in danger. It really is that serious. Footy legend Dustin Martin's father Shane was facing charges in New Zealand for violently attacking a woman in her bedroom at the time of his death. The former Rebels bikie boss was found dead last December, in the kitchen of his Mount Maunganui home, 200km south east of Auckland, due to suspected natural causes. The 54-year-old, who had a number of minor drug convictions, was deported from Australia in 2016 under 'character' grounds due to his affiliation with the notorious gang. He spent his final years running a local trucking business after a series of failed legal attempts to reunite with family across the Tasman, where he had lived most of his adult life. Footy legend Dustin Martin 's father Shane (pictured) was facing charges for violently attacking a woman in her bedroom at the time of his death Dustin Martin's father Shane was deported under 'character grounds' due to his affiliation with a notorious gang in 2016. Pictured is his son Dustin. It has now emerged Martin was facing active criminal charges of male assaults female, strangulation, burglary and illegal possession of steroids after allegedly attacking a woman known to him in October, the New Zealand Herald reports. Shortly before his death, Martin appeared in the Tauranga District Court in November, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. Martin and the woman had been in an 'intermittent relationship' dating back to 2020, court documents obtained by the New Zealand Herald show. The assault allegedly occurred on an early Saturday morning in October last year. The alleged victim was out socialising with friends, but she ignored several phone calls from Martin. She later returned home to find Martin in her bed after he snuck into the house. After requesting Martin leave, he called her a 'slut' and accused her of 'whoring around' before allegedly punching her in the face. Police allege he also threw her around the bedroom, grabbed her by the neck and squeezed, and bit her finger. The woman called 111 after Martin left, with the responding officer noticing she had a swollen, bloodied lip and slight redness on her neck. Martin had been living in Mount Maunganui, 200km from Auckland, where he ran a trucking business The police officer reported that Martin called her phone several times during that time which left her 'visibly shaken', but the woman declined to make a formal complaint over the incident. However, police decided to prosecute Martin anyway 'because of the transcript of the 111 call, and the injuries to the alleged victim,' according to a police spokesperson. When police charged Martin, they found empty vials of steroids at his address, with court documents saying he admitted to using steroids to increase muscle mass. Martin told detectives he left the house after a heated argument with the woman, but 'he would never hurt her'. Police declined to comment on the case due to privacy grounds. 'However, in general we can confirm where matters are prosecuted in line with the Solicitor-General's guidelines, the victim is informed of case developments as the investigation progresses,' the spokesperson told the New Zealand Herald. 'Some victims are pressured to withdraw by the suspect or other parties, however, police seek to obtain evidence early and put measures in place to ensure victims are supported through the prosecution process. Dustin Martin was reportedly close to his father but had not seen him since last April due to the Covid pandemic 'Victims are at the centre of what we do. Police encourage anyone who has concerns for themselves or someone they know, or is in a situation where they feel unsafe, to get in touch with police.' Lawyer Hannah Stuart, representing the alleged victim, said her client 'did not support the prosecution' but declined to comment further. Dustin, one of Australia's biggest sporting stars, last saw his father last April. The Richmond Tigers superstar shared a close bond with his father, who was infamously a top-ranking official in the Rebels outlaw bikie gang. The pair had not seen each other for 12 months prior to that visit because of travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. 'Its been a massive challenge, but it is what it is' Dustin said in March. 'I love my dad and hes made me the man I am today. Ive got full belief hell back here to watch us win another flag. Martin, who died in New Zealand last December aged 54, had links to the outlaw gang the Rebel bikies 'Thats my dream to be able to have the old man up there (in the grandstand) with the rest of my family and watch the Tigers win another flag.' Martin spent almost three decades in Australia after migrating as a 20-year-old, later marrying Kathy Knight and having three sons, Dustin, Bronson, and Tyson. In 2015, the Australian government introduced a policy to deport anyone sentenced to more than 12 months in prison or convicted of child sex offences. The legislation also allows residents to be booted out on 'character grounds' if they have gang links or pose a risk to national security. Martin, one of thousands of deportees under the 501 immigration act, made several unsuccessful appeals to return to Australia. Comedian Bill Maher slammed Twitter for flagging a tweet by satire site Babylon Bee, which posted a skit about the social media network's workers needing therapy after Elon Musk's $44 billion takeover. 'You do need a new sheriff,' the Real Time host said on his show on Friday night. 'This is well within what satire has always been.' Maher backed Musk to turn Twitter into a 'town square' of thoughts and opinions rather than a 'left wing place.' The comedian said that Twitter was a place for people who want their news to reflect their politics. Maher then took aim at President Barack Obama's opinion that Generation Z would figure out how to combat misinformation was way wrong. 'I'd much rather have Elon Musk making the rules that a 23-year-old who can't take the joke on Babylon Beeswax, or whatever the f*** that is,' he said. 'I mean, this is a generation that doesn't know what the word 'violence' means. They think 'violence' means 'anything I don't like.' Their standard of free speech is 'I'm uncomfortable.' That's not where the standard is, right?' MSNBC host Ari Velshi and former Alabama Senator Doug Jones chimed in with their views on Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter Maher backed Elon Musk to turn Twitter into a 'town square' of thoughts and opinions rather than a 'left wing place.' The comedian said that Twitter was a place for people who want their news to reflect their politics Bill Maher said that the video mocking Twitter employees reaction to the Musk takeover was what satire is all about Maher, 66, brought up the takeover twice during his April 29 show that airs on HBO. The first was during his monologue, and the topic came up again during the panel discussion with former Alabama Senator Doug Jones, New York Times writer David Leonhardt and MSNBC host Ali Velshi. In April, it was announced that Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, acquired Twitter in a $44 billion leveraged buyout. In his monologue at the top of the show, Maher joked that one of Musk's promises was to get rid of bots on Twitter. He quipped that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded to that promise, 'Why are you making it personal?' Earlier this week, Musk tweeted that his next plan was to buy Coca-Cola and have the company begin using cocaine as an ingredient again. Maher joked, 'Sure, it's all fun and games, until Hunter Biden gets his head stuck in the vending machine.' Maher told his guests later in the show that Twitter has 'failed' being a judge over what can and cannot be said in public discourse. He continued, 'You failed when you threw the New York Post off of Twitter for talking about Hunter Biden's emails. And it turned out that was a real story. You failed when you said we couldn't read about whether COVID had come from a lab. You failed!' Maher slammed Twitter's suppressing of stories about Covid-19 originating in a lab in Wuhan as well as the Hunter Biden laptop story Turing his attention to conservative satire site The Babylon Bee, Maher mocked Twitter employees for flagging a video that accused them of being too sensitive. Velshi chimed into the conversation saying that Facebook and Twitter needed to have conversations internally about the harm they are doing to Democracy. That prompted Doug Jones to add, 'I'm all for the First Amendment, all Democrats are for the First Amendment for goodness sakes. But Russian bots do not have a First Amendment privilege in this country or on Twitter period.' The former senator continued, 'Civics in this country is a relic of the past and we've got to get back to that. That's why you see different people on the one hand looking at the Jan. 6 riots was simply a group of tourists that were doing OK.' When Maher referred to Twitter as a 'left wing place,' Jones retorted by saying, 'There's a lot of right wing garbage on there.' In a separate part of the discussion, Jones said that the Democratic party had lost its way and that they should 'get back to giving those messages ...'We are working. We are doing things.' Maher also said that he was worried about the lack of civics being taught in schools. The New York-born comedian said that all young people care about is whether or not their feelings had been hurt rather than learning about the first amendment. In his concluding remarks on the Twitter takeover, Maher spoke about how the company had suppressed free speech about whether or not Covid-19 was created in a lab in Wuhan. He said, 'We don't know where coronavirus came from, but there's no reason to think it couldn't have emerged from a lab. They have a lab in Wuhan that was studying coronavirus! And you couldn't even discuss this! I mean, that's outrageous!.' Maher stated his belief that Musk will 'fix' Twitter. During the Overtime portion of the show, Velshi was asked about corporations taking stances on divisive issues. Velshi said that it was important for companies to be mindful of their employees opinions when choosing stances in order to keep workers happy. Maher turned the conversation back toward generations saying that anyone he knows who runs a company hates Generation Z and Millenials. He noted that although his show hires young people, 'we don't hire a*******.' Police forces have been urged to decolonise their training material in a bid to attract new recruits. The College of Policing, which sets guidance for the training of police officers, issued the call in a jargon-filled equality manifesto sent to forces nationwide. It wants trainers to review curriculums to ensure decolonisation of learning content and check that teaching methods implement culturally sustaining pedagogy. The guidance is the latest move in a controversial drive by educational institutions to make lessons more diverse, with race campaigners urging them to be more conscious of ethnic minority experiences. Forces and universities offering professional policing courses are also being advised to consider introducing gender neutral facilities to take account of gender reassignment candidates. Police forces have been urged to decolonise their training material in a bid to attract new recruits from diverse backgrounds The College of Policing document encourages forces to become a Stonewall Champion an organisation endorsed by the LGBT campaign group for meeting its workplace equality criteria. But many Government departments that paid to be part of Stonewalls scheme have pulled out of the programme amid criticism of the lobby groups extreme stance on transgender rights. In the College guidance, training staff are also warned that not giving individuals the time to reflect on unconscious bias programmes which claims to look at peoples underlying prejudices may lead to unconscious bias. Harry Miller, a former police officer and founder of the Fair Cop campaign group, said: This is further evidence that the police only have an interest in being woke and very little interest in addressing the matters that concern the public. The new training plan was designed as the Government continues its drive for 20,000 extra officers. Last week it was announced that more than 13,500 officers had been recruited, 42 per cent of them women and 12 per cent from ethnic minorities. But police leaders have warned of an alarming dropout rate because many new officers are unprepared for the reality of frontline policing. In March, the Police Federation said some trainees were too scared to speak to the public, ran away from violence and even got their parents to ask for their birthday off. A College of Policing spokesman said: Equality impact assessments fulfil a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010. As part of fulfilling that legal requirement, this technical document shares existing research that forces may wish to consider to help them attract and develop effective officers. It is for each force to decide whether specific elements of this research would be of benefit. Advertisement President Joe Biden mocked his own low approval rating and called the Trump administration a 'horrible plague' as members of the press poked fun at him during the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. 'Tonight, we come here to answer a very important question in everybody's mind. Why in hell are we still doing this?' Biden quipped as he took the stage in the room full of journalists and D.C. insiders. 'I know there are questions about whether we should gather here tonight because of COVID. Well, we're here to show the country that we're getting through this pandemic. Plus, everyone had to prove they're fully vaccinated and boosted,' he said. 'Just contact your favorite Fox News reporter they're all here vaccinated and boosted.' He then addressed his historically low poll numbers for the first time, claiming that journalists were the only people who were less well-liked. 'I'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans have a lower approval rating than I have,' Biden said. However, Biden wasn't the only one to embrace comedy at Saturday's affair. The Late Late Show James Corden opened the dinner with a sketch of him taking over the duties of Press Secretary Jen Psaki, which included a cameo from a reporter she regularly clashes with, Fox News' Peter Doocy. Comedian Trevor Noah mocked the administration for rising inflation rates and took jabs at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' possible presidential candidacy after the state banned dozens of math books earlier this month. President Joe Biden poked fun at his own low approval rating and called the Trump administration a 'horrible plague' as he cracked jokes and roasted the press at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Comedian James Corden (right) opened the 2022 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner with a sketch of him taking over the duties of Press Secretary Jen Psaki (left) The humorous skit involved a back-and-forth with the no-nonsense Peter Doocy (second from the right) who was called a ''stupid son of a b****' by Biden, with Psaki echoing similar remarks Corden eagerly took to the podium to take questions from reporters following a briefing with Psaki and Biden, but the ill-prepared Corden was immediately flanked with complicated questions from reporters. Among them was Doocy, who Biden was recorded calling a 'stupid son of a b****' in January, with Psaki echoing similar remarks earlier this month. Biden reportedly called Doocy afterwards to apologize. Despite the critical comments from them, Doocy played his part in Corden's sketch on Saturday, appearing straight-forward and no-nonsense as he took on the fumbling comedian. Doocy asks the 'interim-press secretary', 'When the president says one thing, and White House staff say something else, who are we supposed to listen to? The president, or White House staff?' 'Well you know what, David,' the comedian, appearing fed up by the questions from all the reporters. 'That's not my name,' Doocy quickly replies. 'You say your name is not David. I say your name is David,' Corden snaps back. 'And I'm stood up here and you're sat down there - unless you wanna be sat at the back with whoever they are' Corden added as he threatened to move Doocy to the far-end of the press room. Corden's sketch also involved digs at the Biden administration as Psaki told him that the CDC is 'good,' to which he replies, 'Really? 'They've been pissing me off.' Psaki also tells him that the economy is strong, with Corden again questioning the validity of the statement. 'Is it,' he asks doubtfully as Psaki moves on to the rest of the briefing. During a live taping of the Pod Save America podcast, Psaki (right) suggested Doocy received his questions from Fox News and that 'with questions that, nothing personal to any individual including Peter Doocy, but might make anyone sound like a stupid son of a b***h' Despite Biden and Psaki's comments, Doocy said he wanted to move forward and played a prominent bit in Corden's opening sketch on Saturday Psaki was in a live taping of the Pod Save America podcast on April 14 when she was recorded criticizing Doocy and Fox News, saying: 'He works for a network that provides people with questions that, nothing personal to any individual including Peter Doocy, but might make anyone sound like a stupid son of a b***h.' The Press Secretary has since stressed that she was not deliberately attempting to insult the Fox News White House correspondent, but instead criticizing the news outlet. Following the insult, Psaki tweeted: 'Full video shows I also told a story about Peter's grace last night and made very clear I was not being critical of him or any reporter at Fox, and instead was critical of the slant of some Fox topics. 'He is doing his job. I am doing mine. We debate. We disagree. I respect that.' Despite the insults from the president and press secretary, Doocy has remained composed and said he would just like to move forward after he accepted Biden's apology. Biden attended the event with First Lady Jill Biden (dressed in white) and took part in the roast of politicians and journalists alike before handing things off to the night's host, The Daily Show's Trevor Noah (left) Noah went on to immediately mock the large, maskless event taking place during the pandemic and took jabs at Biden Comedian Trevor Noah slammed the Biden Administration for rising consumer costs and joked about inflation, which is at the highest it's been in 40 years. He is pictured with Biden at Saturday's dinner Also at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Trevor Noah slammed the administration for rising consumer costs, taking aim at what analysts predict is a looming recession. The Daily Show Host touted Biden for coming out to the event on Saturday, saying he doesn't know why the president would miss a chance to hear all about his supposed accomplishments. 'You know, I think ever since you've come into office, things are really looking up. Gas is up. Rent is up. Food is up. Everything,' Noah joked about inflation, which is at the highest it's been in 40 years. Noah also took aim at Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, and used the former Republican president as a gateway to roast DeSantis. '[If] Trump was the original Terminator, DeSantis is like the T-1000,' Noah said of the Florida governor. 'You're smarter than him, you're slicker than him, you can walk down ramps. 'Because you see, Trump said he won the election, but everyone was just able to look at the numbers and see he was wrong. 'That's why Ron DeSantis is one step ahead,' Noah said, referencing the fact that Florida tossed out 41 percent of the 132 math textbooks submitted for the next school year, more than half of which the state said referenced Critical Race Theory (CRT), with the rest containing Common Core and Social Emotional Learning (SEL). 'First you ban the math textbooks, then nobody knows how to count the votes,' Noah quipped. 'Boom, my man!' Karen Travers, correspondent at ABC News, Trevor Noah, the host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, and U.S. First Lady Jill Biden applaud during the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner JOE BIDEN OPENS UP THE DINNER WITH HIS OWN ROASTS President Joe Biden kicked off the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday with his own quips about his administration and his political rivals. 'I'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans have a lower approval rating than I have,' Biden, who FiveThiryEight's latest poll has him at a 41.7 approval rating, told the journalists, celebrities and politicians attending the event. 'Well, that's hard to say after what we just saw this the first time President attended this dinner in six years.' 'Well that's understandable - we had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID,' the president added. 'Imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would really have been a real coup that occurred,' Biden said, taking jabs at the January 6 Capitol riot. 'Folks, I'm not really here to roast the GOP. That's not my style. Besides, there's nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn't already put on tape,' Biden quipped, referencing the leaked tapes of the House Minority leader saying he would ask former President Donald Trump to resign after January 6. 'At the same time, a lot of people say the Republican Party's too extreme too divisive to control by one person. They say that's not your father's Republican Party. Ronald Reagan said Mr. Gorbachev, tear this wall down. Today's Republicans say 'Tear down Mickey Mouse's house.' And pretty soon they'll be storming Cinderella's castle. You can be sure that Republicans seem to support one fella. Some guy named Brandon. He's having a really good year. I'm kind of happy for him,' Biden said, referring to conservative rallying cry 'Let's Go Brandon.' Advertisement Saturday night's event - attended by reality TV star Kim Kardashian and her boyfriend, Pete Davidson, and other big stars including Drew Barrymore, Martha Stewart, Chris Tucker and Academy Award-winning actor Michael Keaton - saw Biden mock himself by addressing his low approval rating of 41.7 and his predecessor, Donald Trump. 'Well, that's hard to say after what we just saw this the first time President attended this dinner in six years.' 'Well that's understandable - we had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID,' the president added. 'Imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would really have been a real coup that occurred!' Biden then turned his attention to Republicans, and the leaked tapes of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy claiming he would ask President Trump to resign after January 6. 'Folks, I'm not really here to roast the GOP. That's not my style. Besides, there's nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn't already put on tape,' Biden said to a room full of chuckles. 'At the same time, a lot of people say the Republican Party's too extreme too divisive to control by one person. They say that's not your father's Republican Party. Ronald Reagan said Mr. Gorbachev, tear this wall down. Today's Republicans say 'Tear down Mickey Mouse's house.' 'And pretty soon they'll be storming Cinderella's castle. You can be sure that Republicans seem to support one fella. Some guy named Brandon. He's having a really good year. I'm kind of happy for him,' Biden said, referring to conservative rallying cry 'Let's Go Brandon.' Biden then introduced comedian Trevor Noah, who is headlining the event, who mocked the large maskless gathering. 'It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nation's most distinguished super spreader events,' Noah said. 'No for real people. What are we doing here? Let's be honest. What are we doing? Like did none of you learn anything from the Grid Iron Dinner?' Dozens of high-profile attendees tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the exclusive media event weeks earlier. 'Do you read any of your own newspapers? I mean, I expect this from Sean Hannity, but the rest of you What are you doing?,' he added. 'I spent the last two years telling everyone the importance of wearing masks and avoiding large indoor gatherings. Then the second someone offers you a free dinner you'll turn into Joe Rogan. I mean, Dr. Fauci dropped out,' Noah said. 'That should have been a pretty big sign. Fauci thought it was too dangerous to come tonight. Pete Davidson thinks it's okay,' Noah said, pointing to Kim Kardashian's date. Noah then turned his focus to the president. 'As you all know, President Biden's lack of a filter does get him into hot water sometimes, you know, last month he caused a huge international incidents saying that Vladimir Putin should be removed from power was very, very upsetting to Russia,' Noah said. 'So someone explained to them that none of the stuff Biden wants actually gets done.' In late March Biden made waves by proclaiming Russian Leader Vladimir Putin 'cannot remain in power,' remarks that the Kremlin replayed on state TV airwaves as a personal attack on Russia. 'I'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans have a lower approval rating than I have,' Biden said Noah was the first comedian to headline the event since Michelle Wolf in 2018, when she sparked controversy with jokes about the Trump administration. Trump had never attended the annual event during his presidency Noah also poked fun at Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson (left) who attended the event with Kim Kardashian Noah enjoyed the night taking shots at politicians and journalist alike during the Correspondent's dinner Noah then turned his attention to Psaki, who is reportedly in negotiations with MSNBC for a contract after she soon leaves the White House. 'The word on the streets is actually that Jen Psaki is going to MSNBC next month. Yeah. Yeah, apparently just being on C-SPAN the ratings are too high. And she wanted more of a challenge, you know, want to switch things up? She can't laugh at that. Don't put the camera on her.' 'You know, moving to MSNBC is going to be a big switch for you because right now your current job is to make the Biden administration looks as good as possible, you know, at all costs. Now you're going to be at MSNBC and you're going to have to .... you'll be fine actually,' he quipped. 'By the way MSNBC, can I just say you guys are doing great work. I love watching your shows you know when Trump was in office, your shows were all about how bad he was. And now that Biden's in office, your shows are all about how bad Trump was. Consistency is important.' Noah then poked fun at CNN's Jeffrey Toobin, who was caught masturbating on a work call. 'We're celebrating without you don't get comfortable. Not too comfortable, Jeffrey Toobin, not too comfortable,' Noah said. 'No, you know what? No, don't don't do him a bunch of haters. You know what? So what Jeffrey, you made a mistake. You whipped it out in front of your coworkers.' 'Where is Jeffrey Zucker?' Noah asked, referring to CNN's former head, who left after it was revealed he was having a relationship with a colleague. 'Jeff got fired off because he tried to keep his workplace relationship secret, which is weird, because if he really didn't want anyone to know about him, he could have just made a show about it on CNN Plus!' 'I know I know. It's so sad. CNN Plus gone, but forgotten,' Noah added, referring to CNN's now-failed streaming venture. 'I blame John King. That's true. Yeah, John, your magic wall can predict how every person in the country is going to vote in every county, but it couldn't give you a heads up that nobody wanted more CNN,' Noah added. Biden was pictured chuckling as Noah roasted his administration and face-off with Russian President Vladimir Putin The event features several celebrities making their way to the Washington Hilton. Actress turned TV host Drew Barrymore was pictured chatting with guests and taking photos with reporters as the dinner got underway American singer JC Chasez (center) was pictured mingling with the night's guests, including actor Kevin McHale (second from the left) and Choreographer Kyle Hanagami (right) Celebrity chef Martha Stewart also attended the dinner event as a guest of DailyMail.com American film director and actor Mario Van Peebles (left) was pictured with actor Chris Tucker He then turned his attention to CNN's gratuitous use of the 'Breaking News' banner. 'My man over there, Chris, as the new head of news. His first order of business hire guy who knows how to turn off the breaking news banner. What happened with that they just put it on during the OJ chase and then never figured out how to get rid of it? The news is not always breaking!' Noah also directed his wise cracks at Fox News, as he turned to the White House press corps: 'Everyday you demand answers on the pressing issues of the day. And then Fox News asked about Hunter Biden. And I'll be honest, though, I actually think that's a good thing. I really do. I think people need to be held accountable if they're using their dad's name to get ahead in life. I can't think of anyone better to ask about that than Peter Doocy.' Doocy's prominent role with the channel came after his father Steve Doocy joined the channel. He then turned his attention to primetime host Sean Hannity, who is dating Fox host Ainsley Earhardt. 'Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhart's actually dating now. Yes. And I actually think it's beautiful to see an office romance of folks that won't enter the $20 million settlement. Yeah. I'm sure whoever Roger Ailes is right now. He's looking up and smiling.' 'Laura Ingram - wow. What can you say about her that hasn't already been said by the anti-Defamation League?' Noah added. Then came Tucker Carlson. 'Tucker Carlson Are you kidding me? I mean, he's a beast who else could fill an entire show each night asking questions that Google could easily answer. 'Do vaccines work? Who really won the election? Who is the president right now? Is this America?' Noah said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) arrived at the event with his wife Evan Ryan Also at the event was billionaire Melinda Gates, of the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, wearing a cream-colored dress DailyMailTV correspondent Alicia Quarles (left) appeared on the red carpet in a stunning golden dress joined with fellow DailyMail.com columnist Meghan McCain (right) in a sparkling black dress Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump (left) attended with the Reverend Al Sharpton Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel (right) was at the event with his wife, supermodel Miranda Kerr White. Spiegel wore a black suit while white showed off a pink dress and diamond necklace The comedian also took a minute to thank the reporters in the room for their duty as the fourth estate to make sure those in power are held accountable by the people, and noted that being able to roast a sitting president was a luxury afforded to him by America's freedoms. 'I stood here tonight and I made fun of the President of the United States, and I'm going to be fine,' Noah said. But, he made one last dig at Biden as he concluded the evening, referencing the U.S.'s frenzied withdrawal from Afghanistan. 'Please be careful leaving tonight. This administration doesn't handle evacuations. Well. Good night, everybody.' : A policeman fires in air to maintain law after a clash broke out between followers of Shiv Sena and pro-Khalistani Sikh organisations, near Kali Mata Mandir in Patiala, (PTI Photo) Mohali (Punjab): The main accused and the key conspirator in the Patiala clashes, Barjinder Singh Parwana was arrested by police in Mohali on Sunday morning. The accused was brought to Mumbai by Vistara flight at Mohali airport at 7.20 am. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Patiala team headed by Inspector Shaminder Singh arrested him at the Mohali airport. Tension prevailed in Patiala after two groups clashed outside the Kali Mata temple on Friday, brandishing swords and pelting stones at each other, at a rally in which four people, including two policemen, were injured. Police registered six FIRs and arrested three accused in connection with the violence yesterday, according to IG, MS Chhina. "The 3 arrested accused are Harish Singla, Kuldeep Singh Danthal, and Daljit Singh," Chinna added announcing the names of the arrested persons in the matter. The IG also asserted that none of the accused in the matter will be spared and the ones with whatever connection with the incident will be arrested. 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort attempted to give Volodymyr Zelensky a packet of Tim Tams and bottle of red wine before the gifts were confiscated. Steinfort wanted to give the iconic chocolate biscuits and Penfolds wine to the Ukrainian president after he agreed to an interview with the Nine Network. The veteran reporter flew with his production team to the Ukraine and awaited further instructions on where to meet Zelensky for the sit-down. 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort attempted to give Volodymyr Zelensky a packet of Tim Tams and bottle of red wine before the gifts were confiscated Steinfort received a text message at 10.39pm informing him of the location before he went to the undisclosed bunker in Kyiv with his gifts in hand. Ukrainian soldiers stopped Steinfort at the door before confiscating the items, he wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald. 'We need to send these away for testing before giving them to the president, we can't risk radiation poisoning,' the soldiers told Steinfort. Steinfort said his production team had to pass through several roadblocks being patrolled by armed troops, follow soldiers down a concealed alleyway and go through an x-ray machine before meeting Zelensky. 'There, we have to put all of our equipment through x-ray machines, go through more passport checks, and are then handed to the dog squad who sniff our belongings for explosives,' he wrote. The production team were led to the same room where Zelensky had met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for face-to-face talks days earlier. Steinfort said Zelensky pulled him to the side to chat with him briefly before the cameras recorded the interview. The Ukrainian president had nothing but praise for Australia. Steinfort wanted to give the iconic chocolate biscuits and a bottle of Penfolds to the Ukrainian president after he agreed to an interview with the Nine Network Steinfort received a text message at 10.39pm informing him of the location before he went to the undisclosed bunker in Kyiv with his gifts in hand (stock image) 'Before our cameras roll, he wants to tell me about how much he loves Australia volunteering a story about when he visited Sydney many years ago, and got lost on a morning run,' Steinfort wrote. 'He says he was struck by how many complete strangers offered to help this random Ukrainian find his way back to his hotel.' The 60 Minutes segment will air on Channel Nine on Sunday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there is no rush to deal with the issue of Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the next G20 leaders' summit. Mr Putin and Zelensky have agreed to attend the G20 summit to be held in Bali in November. Russia is a member while Mr Zelensky would attend as an invited observer. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there is no rush to deal with the issue of Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the next G20 leaders' summit G20 host leader and Indonesian President Joko Widodo has spoken with Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin, urging them to end the war and offering to play a role in peace negotiations. Indonesia has rejected the Ukrainian leader's request for arms on constitutional and foreign policy grounds, but instead will send humanitarian aid. Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Sunday the issue of Mr Putin's attendance 'still has some distance to travel'. He said Australia would consult with other like-minded countries, but the key was to ensure the Indonesian summit was successful. 'We don't know what the situation (in Ukraine) will be in November of this year,' Mr Morrison said. An Alabama public health employee is dead after she was mauled by dogs while attempting to investigate a prior attack by those same dogs. Brandy Dowdy, 39, was arrested and charged with manslaughter after her dogs allegedly committed multiple attacks on local residents, including the deadly one Friday. She's being held without bail, AL.com reports. Jacqueline Summer Beard, 58, was responding to a separate dog attack that had happened in the area just a day earlier. Beard arrived at the home along Route 11 in Alabama, about 120 miles east of Birmingham, on Friday morning. That's when Sheriff Shannon Oliver says those same exact dogs attacked and killed Beard. Authorities found her body while investigating on Crumpton Road after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle near the residence at 6pm on Friday. Brandy Dowdy, 39, was arrested and charged with manslaughter after her dogs allegedly committed multiple attacks on local residents, including a deadly one Friday. She's being held without bail Jacqueline Summer Beard, 58, was responding to a separate dog attack that had happened in the area just a day earlier Beard arrived at the home along Route 11 in Alabama, about 120 miles east of Birmingham , on Friday morning That's when Sheriff Shannon Oliver says those same exact dogs attacked and killed Beard. Authorities found her body while investigating on Crumpton Road after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle near the residence at 6 p.m. on Friday The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a woman after a pack of dangerous dogs attacked her... Posted by Franklin County Sheriff's Office on Friday, April 29, 2022 When they got to the scene, those same dogs attacked again and Dowdy allegedly began attacking people, leaving one person with minor injuries. Dowdy was then arrested. Oliver said there were seven dogs, some of which have already been euthanized. Beard had worked for the Alabama Department of Public Health for nearly 17 years and was most recently an environmentalist supervisor in multiple counties. 'The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) extends our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of Summer Beard, after her tragic passing,' Ryan Easterling, the director of the ADPH's Health Media and Communications Division, said in a statement. 'Summer was known to her coworkers as an exceptional person. She was a tremendous team worker and was loved by those who knew her,' Easterling added. 'It is a very sad day for ADPH, and we ask that everyone respect the privacy of the family during this most difficult time.' The woman from the original dog attack remains hospitalized in Mississippi, according to Oliver. Katherine Deves was ushered out of a Liberal Party campaign rally to avoid an onslaught of questions about her controversial opinions on transgender rights. On Sunday, the controversial 'captain's pick' for the northern beaches seat of Warringah in Sydney made her second in-person appearance since kicking off the campaign trail last month. She has spent the last few weeks hunkering down after her contentious tweets resurfaced in which she described transgender teenagers as 'surgically mutilated'. Ms Deves also bizarrely linked cross-dressing males and and trans women to 'sexual predators, even serial killers'. The Sydney lawyer, 44, sat front row of a campaign rally hosted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday but was flanked by guards who helped her make a hasty exit as soon as the rally concluded. As Ms Deves made a dash for the waiting elevator, she was inundated with questions from journalists but refused to comment. Katherine Deves was quickly ushered out of a Liberal Party campaign rally when confronted with an onslaught of questions The controversial 'captain's pick' for the northern beaches seat of Warringah in Sydney made her first in-person appearance since kicking off the campaign trail last month She sat front row of a campaign rally hosted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison but was flanked by guards who helped her make a hasty exit as soon as the rally concluded Throughout the rally, Mr Morrison tried to hype up local candidates and doubled down on his campaign promise that the Liberal Party offers the safest economic future for Australians. 'A strong economy is not some certificate you put on the wall and admire from a distance,' he said. 'A strong economy is always at the centre of everything we do.' The prime minister argued only the Liberal party could guarantee Australian families the opportunity of 'raising their children the way you want to raise your children'. Mr Morrison personally addressed several Liberal candidates in attendance but did not single out Ms Deves throughout his speech. As Ms Deves made a dash for the waiting elevator, she was inundated with questions from journalists but refused to comment Ms Deves has become a divisive figure following a number of provocative comments on her Twitter account - which she has since deleted - with some Liberal MPs calling for to be disendorsed as the party's candidate in Warringah Mr Morrison personally addressed several Liberal candidates in attendance but did not single out Ms Deves throughout his speech Ms Deves earlier told 2GB despite being attacked for her comments on trans people participating in women's sport, she has never contemplated backing out of the race to represent her region. 'I believe this is very much an issue of equality and fairness and I have received messages of support from all over Australia,' she said. 'Australians are very much on side with my position.' Current Warringah MP, Independent Zali Steggall, is the favourite to hold onto her seat. Fordham mentioned Ms Deves had arrived at the 2GB studios flanked by security guards as she faced death threats as a result of her old social media posts. Ms Deves said she had 'drawn strength' from meeting people in the electorate during the campaign as she battled intense criticism. 'I don't look at it. I have a great supportive team around me so I can concentrate on the job,' she said of the 'pile-on' she had received as a result of her stance. Ms Deves first became inspired to weigh in on transgender issues because she has three little girls who are each competitive in their chosen sport. 'Little girls and young women should have someone standing up representing their interests and all I ever wanted was for this debate to be held in the public domain,' she said. Fordham asked Ms Deves directly whether she was transphobic. 'Oh of course not, Ben,' she responded. 'This isn't about (transphobia), this argument is about women and girls. Ms Deves denied she was transphobic during the 2GB interview, saying she had attended Mardi Gras in the early 1990s and voted for same-sex marriage and her comments were not about 'that' 'Back in the early 1990s I was going to Mardi Gras, I voted for same-sex marriage, I don't have an issue with that but this is about a collision of rights and we just need to be able to debate it in a respectful way.' Ms Deves said she still believes still win Warringah. 'I wouldn't have stood up if I didn't believe I had a chance to win,' she said. In the wake of Ms Deves' comments, there have been multiple calls for her to be disendorsed, including by prominent Liberals North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman and NSW Treasurer Matt Kean. Katherine Deves told Ben Fordham on 2GB that despite being attacked for her comments on trans people participating in women's sport, she has never contemplated quitting One person has been shot dead and five others were injured at the Mudbugs food festival at Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones confirmed that one person was pronounced dead at the scene while several others are injured on Saturday night. The five wounded people suffered non-life threatening injuries. The victims were not directly involved in the shooting, according to the sheriff. Several shooters are involved and the investigation is being conducted as an active shooter situation, the sheriff said in a series of tweets. Sheriff Jones said that an officer involved shooting shortly after the festival shooting was related. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations are assisting local authorities. The officer involved in the shooting was not harmed. Two people have been detained for questioning. They are both juveniles. Shortly after the Mudbugs shooting, an officer-involved shooting was reported. The sheriff said that both incidents are related A video posted to Instagram showed a two groups of people involved in a brawl A video posted on Instagram showed a large scale brawl breaking out involving men and women as security guards attempt to break it up. According to posts on Facebook, the brawl occurred shortly before the gunfire broke out. The scene has been secured, the sheriff said. The Mississippi Mudbug festival is an annual crawfish food festival that also features musical performances. The festival runs from April 27 until May 1. Following the shooting, rides at the festival were shut down as a large police presence was seen at the grounds. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones briefs the media following the incident The brawl erupted just minutes before the gunfire broke out The brawl involved both men and women. Security guards could be seen attempting to wrestle people away from each other Sheriff Tyree Jones said that multiple shooters are being sought by authorities The Mudbugs festival is a crawfish food event that features live music and carnival rides One person was pronounced dead at the scene while multiple others were brought to local hospitals Parents have been reminded to watch their children while applying hand sanitiser because a toxic chemical is some hand sanitizers could be absorbed through the skin. The warning comes amid renewed calls for Australians to keep up Covid safety measures. NSW Health on Sunday urged residents to maintain hygiene protocols as the state recorded 9303 new daily infections and a further five deaths. The department said it was important to use hand sanitiser to 'keep those germs at bay' and offered application advice to ensure the product worked effectively. 'The amount you use matters,' NSW Health tweeted. 'Apply a palmful of alcohol-based sanitiser to cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together using the right technique until theyre dry (20-30 seconds).' Australians have been warned of hand sanitiser's potential dangers as health authorities call for people to maintain Covid safety measures However, the department warned the disinfectant is dangerous if swallowed, and in some cases can be poisonous - especially for young children. 'Imported hand sanitisers often wont be clearly labelled and may contain methanol and other stronger alcohol products that are even more toxic,' they wrote. Methanol is one of three types of alcohol used in hand sanitizer products, and consumption of it could cause blindness and death. Some experts fear that the chemical could be absorbed through children's skin, causing long-term health issues. 'Children can actually absorb enough methanol through their skin to be toxic,' said Dr Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases doctor at the Mayo Clinic, to the Globe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 15 cases of methanol poisoning associated with the use of hand sanitizer in Arizona and New Mexico last year. Four of the patients died, and three had permanent damage to their vision. Overuse of the 'safer' hand sanitizers can have negative effects as well. People overusing hand sanitizer in fear of COVID-19 could produce dangerous vapors that could cause irritate peoples skin and airways, Poland said. Consistent use of the hand sanitizer can also cause skin irritation because of the high alcohol content. 'The skin is like a brick wall,' Dr Abigail Waldman, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told the Globe. 'You have these bricks that protect it and the hand sanitizer does such a good job that often it will create holes in that brick wall.' Bacteria can also eventually develop resistances to hand sanitizer if they are overly exposed to it. 'You can actually get resistance to the hand sanitizer, meaning the flora or the typical bacteria or viruses that you run into will develop resistance against whatever you're using,' Waldman said. NSW Health urged parents to 'always watch young children as they apply hand sanitiser and then put the bottle in a safe place so they cant use it without your supervision. 'If you think your child has swallowed hand sanitiser, even just a small amount, call the 24-hour Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for first aid and monitoring advice [and] have the bottle with you when you call.' Reports to poison helplines skyrocketed during the pandemic as hand sanitiser became a popular household item The caution comes after the incidence of children being poisoned skyrocketed during the Covid pandemic as hand sanitiser became a popular household item. In April 2020, New South Wales Poisons Information Centre fielded 164 calls about hand sanitiser poisoning - up from just 65 during the same month the year before. Under the safety guidelines, NSW Health says washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is ideal, but alcohol-based hand sanitiser should be used when the first option is not available. 'Follow the instructions on the bottle the amount you use and how long you spend applying it affects how well it works,' the advice continues. 'Its important to remember that if hand sanitiser is left in the heat the alcohol in it will evaporate and it wont work effectively, so dont leave it in the car in hot weather.' NSW HEALTH'S GUIDE ON HOW TO USE HAND SANITISER SAFELY Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is a safe and effective option. When you cant wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Follow the instructions on the bottle the amount you use and how long you spend applying it affects how well it works. Its important to remember that if hand sanitiser is left in the heat the alcohol in it will evaporate and it wont work effectively, so dont leave it in the car in hot weather. Hand sanitiser can be dangerous if it is swallowed, and in some cases can be poisonous, especially for children. Imported hand sanitisers often wont be clearly labelled and may contain methanol and other stronger alcohol products that are even more toxic. Always watch young children as they apply hand sanitiser and then put the bottle in a safe place so they cant use it without your supervision. If you think your child has swallowed hand sanitiser, even just a small amount, call the 24-hour Poisons Information Centrelaunch on 13 11 26launch for first aid and monitoring advice. Have the bottle of hand sanitiser with you when you call. Source: www.nsw.gov.au Advertisement Mark McGowan has hailed Anthony Albanese's economic credentials as federal Labor looks to ride a wave of support in Western Australia to win government. The popular WA premier on Sunday introduced Mr Albanese as 'the next prime minister of Australia' at Labor's election campaign launch in Perth. Labor insiders remain confident the party can win three Liberal-held WA seats - Swan, Pearce and Hasluck - at the May 21 poll. It would take a reversal of the party's poor recent track record in a state that has long been a federal coalition stronghold. Federal Labor has sought to capitalise on the strong popularity of Mr McGowan, whose government last year won re-election in one of the most one-sided results in the nation's history. The premier on Sunday said Mr Albanese understood the resources-rich state's importance to Australia's prosperity, highlighting his own government's track record in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. He said WA had produced two of the nation's greatest citizens in wartime - prime ministers John Curtin and Bob Hawke, the latter having told him "he always identified as a Western Australian". 'We know that it is Labor governments that best manage our economy and responsibly manage our finances,' Mr McGowan said. Labor has sought to present Mr McGowan and his federal counterpart as close allies, playing down past visits to WA by Mr Albanese in which the pair did not publicly appear together. It has reminded voters the Morrison government initially supported billionaire Clive Palmer's challenge of WA's hard border. The federal government withdrew its intervention after facing backlash in WA, and the High Court ultimately ruled against Mr Palmer. 'Just imagine where we would be, where Western Australia would be ... if the Liberals and Nationals, and their fellow traveller Clive Palmer had been successful in their efforts to undermine our hard work,' Mr McGowan said. The premier said a decision by the Liberals to send preferences to Mr Palmer's United Australia Party in the Senate - although not in WA - was 'desperate' and an insult to West Australians. He described Mr Albanese as resilient, authentic and one of the most experienced political figures in the nation. 'He is a fundamentally decent person, driven by empathy and a deep sense of civic responsibility,' Mr McGowan said. 'I have every confidence he will make a fine prime minister.' A high school's new half-a-million dollar toilet block redevelopment has been compared to a prison with iron bars to 'prevent them from vaping', students claim. Work on the Cleveland District High School facilities is under construction, with the Queensland Education Department saying the project was an upgrade and in no way linked to e-cigarettes. Both the student council and the P&C have reviewed the plans and given the design the okay, the department said. But one student said vaping was an issue at the school, and the $500,000 project was an invasion of privacy for the entire student cohort. A Queensland school has installed metal bars around a toilet block instead of a wall in some parts to prevent students from secretly vaping (stock image) 'It's like a prison,' one student told The Courier Mail. They said a teacher told them non-vapers would not be affected, but they felt they were being unfairly targeted. 'I don't think the school should punish everyone.' 'A lot of students are upset by it and it's not going to stop them vaping.' An education department spokesperson said the new toilet block features private cubicles, but the wash basins were in an open area surrounded by metal bars - to ensure better ventilation and safety. 'The refit of the toilet blocks is not related in any way to vaping,' the spokesman said. The current redevelopment affects the male toilets but not the female amenities with those having been done in a similar style with bars three years ago. The Education Department said the design at the Cleveland District State High School facilities was not linked to vaping (pictured) Another south-east Queensland school, Immanuel Lutheran College, revealed last month they would be cracking down on vaping by installing vape detectors on CCTV camera near toilet blocks. Principal Colin Minke said Instagram and TikTok had 'glamourised' vaping and he was working 'diligently to educate students on their dangers'. Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace earlier this year said vaping was not a rapidly growing problem. 'Obviously, vaping is a concern, but it's no bigger an issue than kids bringing cigarettes to school in my day it's not a bigger issue than that.' Ms Grace later backtracked those comments saying she intended to communicate vaping is as serious an issue as smoking and was not trying to downplay the practice. A neighbour desperately tried to save a woman's life after she was found with fatal injuries at a home in Melbourne's outer east. Emergency services were called to the Patrick Avenue address, in Croydon North, about 10.15pm on Saturday to reports of an assault. Witnesses recalled hearing screams and a commotion emanating from the home, with one neighbour rushing over and performing CPR, the Herald Sun reports. Paramedics arrived to find the woman with critical injuries and took over from the neighbour, but despite their best efforts she could not be saved and died at the scene. The woman is yet to be identified and the exact circumstances surrounding her death are unknown. A woman has been found dead at a home on Patrick Avenue (pictured) in Melbourne's outer east Police were called to the property about 10.15pm on Saturday to reports of an assault Homicide squad detectives are investigating and a 40-year-old Croydon North man is assisting police with their enquiries. It is understood the man and woman were in a relationship. Neighbours said they head a woman scream, with one saying they believed the commotion was animals having a fight. Another local said the man in custody was a 'nice normal person' and 'they were a quiet family'. Police have taped off the scene as forensic teams carried items away from the scene. Children's toys, including stuffed animal and balls, could be seen in the garage, with police taking a box of the items away. Neighbour Mr Woodrow who lives nearby said he was shocked to stumble across the police presence during his morning walk. 'I got woken up last night, I got out of bed I actually thought it mightve been a cat trying to kill a possum, there was a human element to it,' he said. Anyone with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through the website. Australian intelligence agencies are monitoring possible Chinese interference in the federal election. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrew said last week the timing of Beijing's security deal with the Solomon Islands was significant and Beijing was 'clearly aware' Australia was in the middle of a federal election. 'We talk about political interference and that has many forms so I think we need to be very much aware of what Beijing is doing,' she said. Labor took aim at the minister with campaign spokesman Jim Chalmers saying her comments were 'remarkably desperate and remarkably unhinged'. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told Sky News on Sunday the comments were legitimate. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrew said Australian security will be watching China's moves in the Solomon Islands, adding Beijing was 'clearly aware' Australia is in the middle of an election 'We have known that foreign interference is a real risk in the Australian electorate landscape and in Australian politics generally,' he said. 'It's why we as a government put in place foreign interference laws as part of a range of different protections we have applied to Australia in response to the more aggressive and assertive stance of China and indeed other risks over recent years.' Asked whether interference was occurring, he said: 'That will be a matter for our intelligence analysts and others who would be no doubt monitoring these matters very closely.' 'We have seen enormous hostility in the commentary from elements of the Chinese communist party and their mouthpiece organs in Beijing towards this government,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described a possible Chinese military base in the Solomons as a 'red line' 'We want to fight this election on the policies as they matter to Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described a possible Chinese military base in the Solomons as a 'red line', but is taking the Solomon Islands government at its word that no such base is intended. Senator Birmingham said such a base 'may necessitate other basing or operational decisions that the US or other partner countries might need to make into the future'. 'We will continue to work with Prime Minister Sogavare and others across the Pacific and we acknowledge his public statements and ongoing commitments that there will not be foreign military bases established in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands have signed a security deal with China but has said the Communist Party will not build a military base 'And we will continue to provide the record levels of assistance.' Asked how a Labor government would approach China, foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said it was a matter of 'sensibly, calmly, and consistently' managing differences in values and interests. 'The reality is we had a prime minister who dropped the ball when it came to the Pacific ... we will seek to (work) consistently and calmly,' she told the ABC. 'We have to work with all sovereign nations in our region.' The news comes as the Labor Party holds its official campaign launch at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said it was a matter of 'sensibly, calmly, and consistently' managing differences in values and interests WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan introduced Labor leader Anthony Albanese 'the next prime minister of Australia' at the event on Sunday as insiders say the party is confident it can win three Liberal-held WA seats in the upcoming Federal Election.. The premier on Sunday praised Mr Albanese's understanding of the state's important resources and highlighting his own government's track record in managing the Covid pandemic. He added that WA had produced two of the nation's greatest citizens in wartime - prime ministers John Curtin and Bob Hawke, the latter having told him 'he always identified as a Western Australian'. 'We know that it is Labor governments that best manage our economy and responsibly manage our finances,' Mr McGowan said. WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan introduced Labor leader Anthony Albanese 'the next prime minister of Australia' at Labor's campaign launch on Sunday Labor has sought to present Mr McGowan and his federal counterpart as close allies, playing down past visits to WA by Mr Albanese in which the pair did not publicly appear together. Mr McGowan described Mr Albanese as resilient, authentic and one of the most experienced political figures in the nation. 'He is a fundamentally decent person, driven by empathy and a deep sense of civic responsibility,' Mr McGowan said. 'I have every confidence he will make a fine prime minister.' Advertisement A brutal sect of feared Chechen soldiers executed 'heavily wounded' Russian troops in a 'field hospital' that was situated northwest of Bucha, eyewitnesses have claimed. The Kadyrovtsy, who have been used as a PR tool in Vladimir Putin's war, allegedly murdered their own comrades and 'operated a torture chamber' in a glass factory on Yablonska Street - confirming previous reports by Ukraine's ombudsman for human rights, Lyudmila Denisova. Artem Hurin, a member of the city council of the neighboring town of Irpin who also serves as a deputy commander in Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, was one of the first to visit Borodyanka, northwest of Bucha, after the Putin's soldiers retreated last month when Ukrainian forces recaptured the town on April 2. He said: 'They would bring heavily wounded Russian soldiers to a big hospital they had there, and those who were very heavily wounded, they would just shoot them. No one other than the Kadyrovtsy did this.' Hurin recalled the litany of horrifying stories from residents who were tortured and raped by lawless Russian troops and saw evidence of 'executed civilians' who lay dead on the street, the Daily Beast reports. According to residents of the town, the killer squad of Chechen fighters - known as Kadyrovtsy - had executed people as early as March 5. The revelations came as Ukraine said the first group of civilians were safely evacuated from the steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol on Saturday night. A Ukrainian fighter, who had sheltered in the network of underground rooms and tunnels located underneath the factory since mid-April, said a group of around 20 women and children had managed to get out - but a reported 1,000 people are currently still stuck underneath the plant. Sviatoslav Palamar, Azov regiment deputy commander, told Reuters: 'We are getting civilians out of the rubble with ropes its the elderly, women and children.' A brutal sect of Chechen soldiers executed 'heavily wounded' Russian troops in a hospital that lies northwest of Bucha , witnesses have claimed. Pictured: A group of Chechen fighters have been seen on video wildly firing heavy machine guns towards residential buildings in Ukraine's besieged city of Mariupol The Kadyrovtsy, who have been used as a PR tool in Vladimir Putin's war, allegedly murdered their own comrades and 'operated a torture chamber' in a glass factory on Yablonska Street Collapsed building is seen as civilians are being evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol under the control of Russian military and pro-Russian separatists, on March 26, 2022 Pictured: The feared Chechen unit - known as Kadyrovtsy - in Mariupol holding firearms in front of a burning building Kadyrovtsy speaker (pictured in the centre) filmed a video in Mariupol last month and said: 'An order to destroy and purge Mariupol is fulfilled. The order of president Putin is fulfilled, the order of Kadyrov is fulfilled' The Chechen military is known for its Hollywood-inspired videos claiming to show their soldiers in action, while actually showing them doing very little. Experts say the videos are just another branch of Putin's propaganda efforts President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) is pictured earlier today with US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) before their meeting in Kyiv One woman recalled how she endured four days of torture by one Kadyrovtsy soldier and one Belarusian soldier before they brutally shot her husband in the head. Meanwhile, the Bucha Mayor, Anatoliy Fedoruk, claimed Chechen troops tied white bands around prisoners' arms who were captured, which were similar to those found on the bodies of executed civilians in the city. Opening up about civilians who attempted to leave their homes to get food and water, Hurin added: 'They didn't allow them to do anything. There they just killed people through binoculars for example. They just shot them.' Many Chechen soldiers were fighting alongside the Russian military, which waged two wars against Chechnya a Muslim republic in southern Russia between 1994 and 2000. As the towns around Kyiv which were recaptured by Ukrainian forces have revealed horrific atrocities, with the bodies of hundreds of dead civilians piled up after Putin withdrew his band of thugs. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers arrive at an abandoned building to rest and receive medical treatment after fighting on the front line for two months near Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine on April 30 One woman recalled how she endured four days of torture by one Kadyrovtsy soldier and one Belarusian soldier before they brutally shot her husband in the head. Pictured: A wrecked bus is seen as civilians are being evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol Pictured: Several Ukrainian soldiers line up at an abandoned building to rest and receive medical treatment near Kramatorsk on April 30 Russia has denied targeting civilians despite the many stories of gang rape, sexual abuse in front of children, torture and executions to emerge from the barbaric war. Pictured: Service members of pro-Russian troops drive an armoured vehicle during Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road outside the southern port city of Mariupol Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers are seen unloading their guns to receive medical treatment on April 30 near Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine Russia has denied targeting civilians despite the many stories of gang rape, sexual abuse in front of children, torture and executions to emerge from the barbaric war. A United Nations mission to Bucha documented 'the unlawful killing, including by summary execution, of some 50 civilians there', the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said. Forensic tests carried out on civilian corpses dumped in mass graves in the Kyiv region show women were raped before being brutally killed. Dozens of autopsies have been carried out on mutilated corpses from Bucha, Irpin and Borodianka, with many showing signs of torture and multiple bullet holes in the back. Some have been so badly disfigured or even decapitated that investigators have been unable to identify them. Vladyslav Pirovskyi, a Ukrainian forensic doctor who carried out the autopsies, told The Guardian: 'We already have a few cases which suggest that these women had been raped before being shot to death. 'We can't give more details as my colleagues are still collecting the data and we still have hundreds of bodies to examine.' His team has been analysing 15 bodies a day, with most killed by automatic gunfire. He added: 'There are many burnt bodies, and heavily disfigured bodies that are just impossible to identify. 'The face could be smashed into pieces, you can't put it back together, sometimes there's no head at all.' The evidence has been passed on to the region's senior prosecutor, Oleh Tkalenko, for further investigations. This comes as a group of Chechen fighters were seen firing heavy machine guns towards residential buildings in Ukraine's besieged city of Mariupol, on a video released on TikTok last month. Aftermath image of the Drama Theatre in the encircled Ukrainian port city of Mariupol where hundreds of civilians were sheltering on Wednesday March 16, 2022 Damaged buildings are seen as civilians are being evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol under the control of Russian military and pro-Russian separatists, on March 26, 2022 Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers arrive at an abandoned building to rest and receive medical treatment after fighting on the front line for two months near Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine on April 30 The footage, shared by Kremlin-allied Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, also showed the Chechen soldiers seemingly celebrating as the camera panned to show the hollowed-out shells of destroyed apartment blocks. The soldiers, dressed in camouflaged military gear, pumped their fists to the camera and could be heard shouting 'allahu akbar'. On his Telegram channel, Kadyrov claimed his fighters were clearing 'the territory of the Nazis' - parroting a line used by President Putin and his propaganda machine to justify the invasion of Ukraine. Mariupol has seen some of the most intense fighting since Putin ordered his armies into Ukraine on February 24. Russian forces have been shelling the city indiscriminately, razing large swathes of the city. Officials say at least 2,400 civilians have been killed in the southern port city, but it is feared that the true toll is much higher. One official said earlier this month that he feared as many as 20,000 people could have been killed. The Chechen military is known for its Hollywood-inspired videos claiming to show their soldiers in action, while actually showing them doing very little. Experts say the videos are just another branch of Putin's propaganda efforts. Kadyrov's video also showed his soldiers climbing through the window of a building, seemingly to help a civilian out. However, while the soldiers were passing a mattress between then, the footage did not actually show anyone being carried. Instead, one grinning fighter wearing sunglasses panned his camera around to show the scene of devastation around him, in a style that - anywhere else in the world - could be mistaken with a selfie-video from an Instagram influencer. In a separate TikTok video released in March, Chechen special forces were filmed fighting house-to-house in besieged Mariupol while 'hundreds' of women and children remained trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders. The footage, said to have been released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers. The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians. The video emerged as hundreds of people were still feared trapped under the rubble of a theatre in the devastated city that has been obliterated by Russian forces who control the overwhelming majority of the city and are mostly focusing their airstrikes on the Soviet-era steel plant located close to the harbour, where a contingent of between 1,000-2000 Ukrainian soldiers are staging a desperate holdout alongside roughly 1,000 civilians. Chechen troops have been embedded in the National Guard of Russia and have been fighting in Ukraine since the start of the invasion. Feared Chechen special forces shared a video in March showing them fighting house-to-house in besieged Mariupol while 'hundreds' of women and children remain trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians The video released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) switched into Russian in his nightly video address to urge Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expected that thousands of them would die One squad of Kadyrov's fighters was reportedly sent to try and assassinate Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, but was destroyed by Ukraine's forces. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky switched into Russian in his nightly video address to urge Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expected that thousands of them would die. He said Russia has been recruiting new troops 'with little motivation and little combat experience' for the units that were gutted during the early weeks of the war so these units can be thrown back into battle. He said Russian commanders fully understand that thousands of them will die and thousands more will be wounded in the coming weeks. 'The Russian commanders are lying to their soldiers when they tell them they can expect to be held seriously responsible for refusing to fight and then also don't tell them, for example, that the Russian army is preparing additional refrigerator trucks for storing the bodies,' Mr Zelensky said late on Saturday. 'They don't tell them about the new losses the generals expect. Every Russian soldier can still save his own life. It's better for you to survive in Russia than to perish on our land.' It comes as Sweden said a Russian military plane violated Swedish airspace. The incident happened late on Friday in the Baltic Sea near the island of Bornholm. In a statement on Saturday, the Swedish Armed Forces said a Russian AN-30 propeller plane flew toward Swedish airspace and briefly entered it before leaving the area. The Swedish Air Force scrambled fighter jets which photographed the Russian plane. Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish public radio that the violation was 'unacceptable' and 'unprofessional'. In a similar incident in early March four Russian warplanes violated Swedish airspace over the Baltic Sea. Sweden and neighbouring Finland are both considering Nato membership following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has warned that such a move would have consequences, without giving specifics. Meanwhile, Russia has been forced to merge and redeploy depleted and disparate units from failed advances in northeast Ukraine, a British military update said on Saturday. 'Shortcomings in Russian tactical coordination remain. A lack of unit-level skills and inconsistent air support have left Russia unable to fully leverage its combat mass, despite localised improvements,' the military tweeted. 'Russia hopes to rectify issues that have previously constrained its invasion by geographically concentrating combat power, shortening supply lines and simplifying command and control,' it said. Vijayawada: Trading in mangoes, largely hit during the two years of the Covid season, is now returning to normalcy in AP. The Nunna Mango Market on the city outskirts is seeing major arrival of stocks and farmers from the NTR district as also the Eluru and Krishna districts. According to officials, during this year, mango farming was carried out on 24,000 hectares in and around Nuzvid. Out of these, 40 per cent farming was of the delicious Banginapalli variety while the remaining 60 per cent farming was of Rasalu, Suvarnarekha and Thotapuri mangoes. The yield of the Banginapalli variety was not as per expectations of the farmers due to reasons like rains during flowering time and sudden rise in temperature in the March first and second weeks. The yield expected for this variety is 2 to 2.5 tonnes per acre. The yield of other mango varieties might be around 4 to 5 tonnes per acre, according to horticulture officials. Earlier, these mangoes were being exported to other countries and also to North Indian states. There was a huge demand and a roaring business for the Nuzvid mangoes. During the 2020 and 2021 summer seasons, mango growers had a tough time selling their produce. They could sell the stocks only in the domestic market. Very little was sent to the North India states by rail cargo. Nunna mango growers association president Daria Hussain said, We are expecting good business this year. Additional director of horticulture J Jyothi said the yield expected for Banginapalli variety would be around 2 to 2.5 tonnes per acre while the other mango varieties were expected to be around 4 to 5 tonnes per acre. However, during the initial days, the price of Bangainapalli is about Rs 80,000 a tonne and this might increase to Rs 1.5 lakh, farm circles believe. Traders said the Nunna mango market exports 300 tonne of mangoes to states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Shocking footage has emerged of the dramatic arrest of a driver who lead specialist police in unmarked cars on a chaotic high speed chase. The incident followed an alleged aggravated burglary, armed robbery and firearms incident in the Melbourne suburb of Melton on Sunday. Initially, a car with three people in it was involved in a crash with another car at the intersection of Melton Highway and Ryans Lane in the city's north-west suburbs. Police were told the man fled the scene of a two-vehicle collision after allegedly producing a firearm and threatening the driver of the second car, at about 9.30am. A car is pictured airborne while trying to escape from police in a high speed chase on Sunday A fugitive driver with a death wish has been arrested after a dangerous and chaotic high-speed chase in Melbourne's north-west. Weaving through traffic, and at one point airborne, he's accused of holding a woman at gunpoint to steal a getaway car. @Eliza_Rugg9 #9News pic.twitter.com/e9Zwkie3Hd 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) May 1, 2022 The passenger of the second vehicle, a 63-year-old woman, was later taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. As witnesses tried to help the woman, the driver of the other car allegedly pulled out a gun. 'They all sort of backed away from him a little bit and everyone was just saying "He has a gun" as he was running off with his girlfriend,' Steven Tucker told Channel Nine. A search was conducted of the area before information was received that the man, acting on his own, had allegedly committed an aggravated burglary at an address on Old Park Drive, Melton at around 11.30am. He allegedly produced a firearm, threatened the occupants and stole their Kia Sportage SUV. 'It's alleged that the same male entered a premises and held a woman at gunpoint by pushing her to the wall and taking the car keys to her car,' said Inspector Rhonda Brown of Victoria Police. The vehicle was allegedly driven in an erratic and dangerous manner, at high speeds, often crossing onto the wrong side of the road and at times leaving the road completely. The SUV was then recorded by helicopter footage trying to escape from police pursuers in unmarked cars. The vehicle became airborne at one one point as it went over a footpath. It was also filmed crossing onto the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoiding other cars. The SUV then crossed a median strip and went straight through the centre of a roundabout. A 24-year-old Box Hill man is currently assisting police with their enquiries after being arrested (pictured) Police pursued the car to Bacchus Marsh before ramming it on Bond Street and arresting the male about 12.05pm. The man fell out of the vehicle before being captured by officers wearing camouflage gear, including green military-style jackets and helmets. Video footage shows the man being kicked and punched by officers. 'We're talking about here, a man who has allegedly produced firearms at two incidents in this long-running scenario,' said Inspector Brown. 'We always review what we do. But at this stage I'm comfortable with what's occurred.' A man is pictured leaning against a car following a high speed police chase in Melbourne A witness the arrested man looked 'hurt'. A 24-year-old Box Hill man was arrested at the scene and is currently assisting police with their enquiries. Police believe he may have been drug affected. He is in hospital under police guard. His injuries are thought not to have been caused by his arrest, but the arrest will be subject to a review, which is standard procedure. The man is expected to be charged when he is well enough to be interviewed by police. Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at crimestoppersvic.com.au. A mother has claimed Levi Bellfield got her pregnant weeks before he killed Milly Dowler and says she was forced to flee when neighbours threatened to tell her 19-year-old son the truth about his father. Bellfield, 53, is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of 13-year-old schoolgirl Dowler. He was also convicted of murdering Marsha McDonnell, 19, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, and will never be considered for parole. But now a woman has claimed she was in a relationship with the serial killer and fathered his secret son weeks before Dowler's murder, The Mirror reports. The mother-of-three says she met Bellfield, who was using the alias Levi Taylor, in the queue of a nightclub before driving her home in the red Daewoo Nexia used in Dowler's abduction. She says she fell pregnant following a one-night stand, an evening she describes as 'the mistake of my life', adding that her son remains unaware of her father's identity. The mother said: 'How do you tell your child their father is Britains most dangerous killer?' Bellfield (pictured) is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of 13-year-old schoolgirl Dowler Dowler was snatched from the street while on her way from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002 Marsha McDonnell, 19, was had been to the cinema with friends and was on a late night bus when she was attacked with a hammer Amelie Delagrange, 22, whose body was found, with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London Bellfield's name does not appear on her son's birth certificate, but police papers and social services documents are understood to show that the woman alerted authorities to their relationship in 2006 - before he faced court for the heinous crimes. She told police that keeping the secret had caused her to suffer from depression, while she was also forced to flee her home in 2014 when her neighbours threatened to inform her father's identity. The woman, who has not been named, said: 'This is something Ive kept a secret for more than 20 years. Ive not wanted to talk about it. 'Ive kept it quiet for such a long time, I havent even been able to speak his name. My son is gentle and caring, hes nothing like Levi. 'Hes just a gentle boy, hes never asked who his dad is. 'Ive always said I would never tell him because I dont want him to carry that around. I dont know what to do. I dont want to lie to my son.' The woman also claimed that, after having sex with Bellfield on her sofa, he told her he had 'always thought about burning schoolgirls with cigarettes'. It was a comment that made the mother think he was trying to gauge her thoughts on becoming 'his Myra Hindley'. But she told him the thoughts were 'horrific' and described Bellfield as 'manipulative'. Bellfield is currently being held within the vulnerable prisoners' unit at HMP Frankland in Durham. Bellfield was already serving a whole life term for the murder of Ms McDonnell and Ms Delagrange and attempting to murder Ms Sheedy, 18, in 2004, when he went on trial for killing Milly He was found guilty of Dowler's murder in 2011, nine years after her death, and sentenced with the recommendation that he never be released from prison. She was snatched from the street while on her way from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002. He was already serving a whole life term for the murder of Ms McDonnell and Ms Delagrange and attempting to murder Ms Sheedy, 18, in 2004, when he went on trial for killing Milly. The mother said: 'Its something Ive got to live with. My son and I are very close, but he doesnt ask about it. 'Ive always said that I hoped Levi would die, every year that goes by, because it would make my life easier. 'People have asked me about my sons dad and I just say, Hes dead, he drove off a cliff . She added: 'I dont regret what happened with Levi, because I have a son I love. Hes nothing like Levi, hes so soft and wouldnt hurt a fly. 'But this is just a big lie Im carrying around, its exhausting.' A man convinced he had Covid taped his car shut and stayed inside for ten hours without even opening the window. The Beijing resident had decorators round that morning who told him they tested positive, the China News Service reported. At midday on Tuesday he got into his slick white coupe and didn't move till 10pm, despite never getting tested for the virus. 'I knew my chances of being infected are very high, so I tried to avoid contact with anyone to avoid troubles with others', he explained. The man's car doors were sealed with tape despite the fact he never tested positive for Covid Government stickers left on the vehicle showed the date and advised people stay away 'Immediately after I knew about this, I stayed in my car without even opening the window. That was what I should do for public health.' Images show the man's car was sealed from the outside with tape and stickers referencing Covid. He did not address this in his comments. Finally at around 5pm he ordered KFC, but still didn't leave the vicinity of his car to retrieve it. The man said: 'It was a contact-free delivery. The delivery man put my food by the roadside and I went to pick it up after he left.' His story was shared by the state-backed news agency in an apparent effort to rally the public behind extreme measures seen throughout the country. The man stayed in the car park outside his apartment building (pictured) in capital Beijing Beijing tightened restrictions today, while Shanghai let some of its 25million residents venture out for light and air after reporting a second day of zero infections outside of quarantine areas. Beijing, with dozens of daily infections in an outbreak now in its 10th day, has not formally locked down. More than 300 locally transmitted cases have been logged since April 22. But on Sunday the capital tightened social distancing rules and launched a fresh round of mass testing in its most populous and worst-hit district. In the past week the city of 22 million has conducted mass testing in most of its 16 districts, suspended all entertainment venues and closed restaurants. 'The impact of all this on us is too great - 20,000 In Shanghai residents have turned to social media to vent their frustration, some clanged pots and pans outside their windows. Others have clashed with public health workers. The song 'Do you hear the people sing?' from the musical Les Miserables has become a popular protest anthem. On Saturday, an online video of a Chinese orchestra playing the song, with the musicians performing from their respective homes, went viral with nearly 19,000 shares before it was blocked. While much of the city remains in lockdown, Shanghai officials, striking a confident tone, said on Sunday that curbs on some areas would be eased after the city reined in COVID transmission risks at the community level, excluding cases in quarantine centres. Public transport will be allowed to resume in five districts, but residents must remain in their districts as they visit supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals, a health official told the news conference. Social media posts showed the streets of Fengxian, one of the six districts, filled with pedestrians and choked with scooters and bicycles. Reuters could not independently verify the videos. But despite the fall in transmissions, Shanghai will launch a new round of citywide PCR and antigen tests from today till May 7. Excluding imported cases arriving from outside the mainland, China reported 8,256 new local cases for Saturday, down from 10,703 a day before. Beijing accounted for 59 of the infections, while Shanghai saw 7,872 new cases and all of the nation's 38 fatalities. China has pursued a Zero Covid strategy despite experts' warnings that the Omicron variant spreads too quickly to be contained by lockdowns, in a year when Xi Jinping is expected to secure an unprecedented third term as president. President Xi reaffirmed his commitment to the policy on Friday, putting China at odds with much of the world. While many countries are dropping restrictions and trying to live with the virus, China is keeping its international borders largely shut and closing off entire cities to all but essential travel. That includes Shanghai's shipping port, a lynchpin for global trade. China's largest city entered its second month of draconian measures today after weeks of inhumane restriction from child-parent separations to the erection of walls around people's homes. Buildings where cases were found have had entrances sealed up, with a small opening for Covid prevention guards to pass through. 'This is so disrespectful of the rights of the people inside, using metal barriers to enclose them like domestic animals,' said one Weibo user. Another video showed residents shouting from balconies at workers as they set up fencing. The workers relented and took it away. Other videos showed people trying to pull fences down. 'Isn't this a fire hazard?' commented one user. There are increasing concerns over the impact on the Chinese economy, with a leading Hong Kong equity investor warning the nation is in 'deep crisis'. Weijian Shan said on Friday the nation is in its 'worst shape for 30 years'. The Xi ally also told the private meeting: 'While we remain long-term confident in China's growth and market potentials, we are very cautious towards China markets', in comments reported by the FT. Corrupt Russian officers may have saved cash on tyres for their trucks and armoured vehicles by opting for cheap Chinese alternatives. With Russian vehicles and armoured trucks getting stuck in the mud when veering off road, officials in the West are pointing to Chinese exports as a key factor behind the stalled invasion of Ukraine. The poor quality of the tyres has meant Russian vehicles often get mired in difficult terrain, slowing the military advance of Putin's forces as the weather turns wetter. NATO vehicles use Michelin XZL tyres, but Chinese businesses often copy the intellectual property of Western companies to produce cheaper copies in greater quantities. Ukrainian forces capture a Russian army vehicle near Kyiv with the tyres burst. Corrupt Russian officers may have saved cash on tyres for their trucks and armoured vehicles by opting for cheap Chinese alternatives Western officials believe cheap Chinese knock-offs may have played a role in the stalled invasion as more Russian vehicles are found abandoned in difficult terrain NATO vehicles use Michelin XZL tyres, but Chinese businesses often copy the intellectual property of Western companies to produce cheaper copies in greater quantities A Ukrainian serviceman jumps to shake the mud from his boots near the frontline village of Krymske. Crimea and south Ukraine is dryer with terrain, posing less of a risk for the Russians 'Russian generals are notoriously corrupt. Russia has a defense budget of around 60billion a year, but much of that budget is siphoned off at various levels,' an intelligence source told the New Zealand Times. 'The impact of this is that the Russians are forced to buy cheap tires to fit on expensive armored vehicles, and they just dont work.' China's version of the tire is the Yellow Sea YS20, of significantly poorer quality, according to self-described 'tyre expert' and University of Chicargo academic Karl Muth. A set of 50 Michelin XZL tyres retails on Alibaba at approximately $36,000, whereas 50 sets of the Chinese equivalent retails at around $208. Poor vehicle maintenance could also partially explain the stalling. Leaving tyres in direct sunlight for months on end often causes them to rip, adding to the amount of abandoned vehicles Ukrainians have encountered in various parts of the country during the war. One photo shows a Russian Army Pantsir-S1 SAM stuck in the mud after its tyres burst. 'There is a huge operational level implication in this,' commented Trent Telenko, a retired US Department of Defence Civil Servant who carried out vehicle maintenance for the US army. 'If the Russian Army was too corrupt to exercise a Pantsir-S1. They were too corrupt to exercise the trucks & wheeled AFV's now in Ukraine.' A Russian Army Pantsir-S1 SAM is shown stuck in the mud after its tyres burst. Leaving tyres in direct sunlight for months on end often causes them to rip, adding to the amount of abandoned vehicles Ukrainians have encountered in various parts of the country Potential tyre ruptures may be forcing the Russian army to stick to roads to else risk losing their armoured cars in the muck, leaving them more exposed to drone attacks and military ambushes. Crimea and south Ukraine is dryer with terrain posing less of a risk for the Russian military, but wet conditions pose a challenge elsewhere in the country. Russia is attempting a push into the Donbass region of east Ukraine, hoping to solidify its foothold in the country to place itself in a stronger bargaining position. 'Putin has modified his approach,' ex-MI6 chief Sit Alex Younger told the Sunday Mirror. 'Arguably his objectives are more realistic and he is not going to give up.' Russia has been forced to merge and redeploy depleted and disparate units from failed advances in northeast Ukraine, a British military update said on Saturday. Kyiv estimates its forces have now killed 22,400 Russian soldiers, up from 22,100 last week. People walk at a damaged area inside a burning plant, following Russian shelling in Kharkiv. Kyiv estimates its forces have now killed 22,400 Russian soldiers Russia's land army consisted of 280,000 full-time active soldiers compared with Ukraine's 125,600. The Russin army will be unable to fight another war for years because of catastrophic kit losses in Ukraine, defence experts have also said. Military analyst Henry Boyd from the International Institute for Strategic Studies said Putin could still draw on sizeable, Soviet-era reserve forces stationed across Russia. But most Russian soldiers could be unable to use it, he added, owing to insufficient training planning for troops having to rely on outdated equipment. Russia's land army consisted of 280,000 full-time active soldiers compared with Ukraine's 125,600. But the amount of Russian soldiers needed to seize the whole country and control the entire population would be close to one million, putting Russia's chances of occupying the entire country out of reach. A flood of Ukrainian conscripts, high-tech weaponry sent by NATO countries and Russian strategic failures have all helped stymie the Russian advance. Scott Morrison's wife Jenny joined the prime minster on the campaign trail as he outlined his bold new plan to tackle anonymous trolls on social media. Speaking at Batyr, a youth-focused mental health organisation in western Sydney, the couple were in a relaxed and lighthearted mood as Mr Morrison underscored his commitment to addressing the issue of online abuse. The two even cuddled up to each other when speaking about the importance of good mental health and listening to inspirational stories of young adults who've overcome trauma. As part the pre-election promise, funding will be increased for schools to combat the problem, victim support services will get a boost and laws will be beefed up to laws to target harassment - with tech giants also warned to do their part. But the prime minster was later grilled about his support for Warringah candidate Katherine Deves, who has a long history of posting anti-transgender remarks on Twitter. Scott Morrison's and his wife Jenny hit the campaign trail together to outline the government's plan to tackle cyberbullying (pictured cuddling up together with Liberal candidate for Parramatta Maria Kovacic, right) 'Our kids should be able to learn, be entertained, or connect with their friends and family without facing abuse, humiliation or online predators,' he said on Sunday. 'The online world cannot be a cowards' cavern where the rules of the real world do not exist. 'Big tech and social media giants must be held to account. Our plan will force them to do more they cannot create it, and wash their hands of all consequences of it.' He said the plan will 'help to prevent harm by raising awareness in every school' and by improving our support for those harmed online. 'We have achieved so much in the online world, but there is much more to be done, and only a Coalition government will stand up to big tech and social media giants,' he said. Scott Morrison (pictured) visited Batyr, a youth-focused mental health organisation in western Sydney, as he underscored his commitment to addressing the issue of online abuse Ms Deves was handpicked by Scott Morrison to run in the marginal seat of Warringah against Independent MP Zali Steggall and has a long history of anti-trans remarks on Twitter The upbeat mood at the campaign doorstop quickly changed when the prime minister was asked about his support for Katherine Deves, who he handpicked to win back the marginal Sydney seat of Warringah at the May 21 election. The controversial candidate has previously claimed on social media that 'half of all males with trans identities are sex offenders' and also described trans people as 'surgically mutilated'. Mr Morrison hoping to distance himself from the fallout noted that Ms Deves has since deleted the post and withdrawn the remarks. He also stressed that he in no way supported the comments. Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny were in a relaxed and lighthearted mood for the campaign stop (pictured together with reporters) The Coalition's proposed measures to tackle online abuse includes increased funding for schools to stamp out the problem, a boost in victim support services and tougher penalties for online trolls. Mr Morrison has also vowed regulate parental controls on smartphones to protect children, if tech companies refuse to introduce effective controls themselves. However, earlier attempts to amend defamation laws at the federal level have so far proved unsuccessful. The couple sat in on a roundtable discussion where they listened to young adults share their stories on issues surrounding mental health and family trauma A gay author has praised striking teachers at the Catholic boy's school where his World Book Day talk was cancelled after the Archdiocese of Southwark raised concerns about his 'literature that insults the faith'. Simon James Green was due to visit the John Fisher School in Purley, Croydon, to discuss his queer fiction. The award-winning author has written 12 books for children and young adults that feature LGBT+ characters, including Heartbreak Boys, Noah Can't Even and Gay Club! which is being released on May 5. Autor Simon James Green was due to visit the John Fisher School in Purley, Croydon, last month, but the visit was cancelled over concerns about his books' content. Pictured, Mr Green at another talk Since his visit was cancelled last month, teachers have gone on strike, with staff shortages closing the school. On Thursday, Mr Green Tweeted his support for the teachers. There were around 40 people outside the school gates as part of the National Education Union (NEU) action, the BBC reported. '@NEUnion members from John Fisher school are striking over my banned school visit and their sacked governors,' Mr Green said. 'Theyre standing up for LGBT students everywhere who need to see the reality of their lives in books. Please show them how much support they have.' Daniel Kebede, national president of the NEU, said the strike was an 'absolute last resort'. 'Staff and pupils are absolutely gutted about what has happened,' he told the BBC. On Thursday, around 40 people were protesting outside the school, with teachers going on strike over the Archdiocese of Southwark's decision to ban the author 'Banning a gay author from attending a book talk in the school sends out a really horrific message to the young people in this school and particularly to those who may be gay or lesbian. 'I would like everybody to consider how those particular children feel right now.' The school had planned to host the author on March 3, but staff were advised to cancel the visit by Diocesan Schools Commissioner, Simon Hughes. In a statement on March 3, Dr Hughes said: 'From time to time materials or events emerge for consideration that fall outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school. 'In such circumstances, we have no alternative but to affirm our unequivocal and well-known theological and moral precepts and to act in accordance with them.' School governors voted against this recommendation, but intervention from the archdiocese saw the event cancelled. This prompted two governors to resign, with the rest removed from their posts by the archdiocese, according to an Ofsted report. There was a sudden inspection on March 16, after the incident earlier that month. Simon Hughes, Diocesan Schools Commissioner, said that Mr Green's (pictured) books 'fall outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school' In a letter sent to school head teacher Philip McCullagh by Ofsted inspector Sarah Murphy on Monday, Ms Murphy wrote that 'elected parent and staff governors, as well as the local authority governor' were no longer in their roles after the incident, but 'have since been reinstated'. She said that 'some leaders, staff and pupils have been left feeling angry, confused and frustrated' by the situation. 'Others are worried about the impression these events might give of the school's ethos,' she wrote. The archdiocese has now reacted to the report, claiming it has 'inaccuracies' and includes evidence 'drawn solely from media reports', and called for another review. In a statement, it said: 'Respect for the God-given dignity of each human life sits at the heart of Catholic education and respect is a two-way street. 'Literature that insults the faith, which in the case of Mr Greens book was a highly sexualised re-writing of the Lords Prayer, understandably causes offence to many Christians, and as such has no place in a Catholic school. 'It is important that the school can now move on from this, and the Diocesan Education Commission will continue to work with the Local Authority, Governing Body, unions, and senior leaders at The John Fisher, in the best interest of parents, pupils and all members of staff.' The archdiocese's position throughout has caused widespread criticism over the 'message' that it sends to LGBT+ students. The award-winning author has written 12 books for children and young adults that feature LGBT+ characters, including Heartbreak Boys, Noah Can't Even and Gay Club! (pictured) which is being released on May 5 On Friday, headteachers at the NAHT school leaders conference in Telford, called for Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to investigate the archdiocese, GB News reported. Speaking at the event, Dave Woods, head of Beaconsfield Primary School, said: 'To the pupils, the staff, the parents, it sends a message of intolerance or harking-back to those dark days of exclusion and invisibility to that abnormality, which many LGBT adults remember, or try to block out from their own past experiences.' And the headteacher of a Church of England school, Clive Leach, said: 'This action is not the faith I hold as a Christian ... it is not as Christ as I understand him would hold he stood by those who were different'. The leaders voted for a motion, which also called for NAHT members to 'stand in solidarity with the staff and governors of John Fisher School who recognise value and celebrate the humanity, the rights and the lives of young LGBT+ people in their community.' Staff from John Fisher School sent a video to conference attendees, thanking them for their recent support. 'We belong to a great school, and the governance is in disarray,' they added. 'The events of the last seven weeks have placed an enormous strain on our community.' Sir Keir Starmer enlisted former prime minister Tony Blair to officially endorse his leadership today as he seeks 'gains' in Thursday's local elections. In a video to mark 25 years since Labour's historic 1997 landslide election win, Mr Blair praises praised Sir Keir's Starmer's 'strength, determination and intelligence'. He also recounted the 'huge ways and the myriad of small ways [that] Britain was changed for the better' by his administration. The endorsement is a bold move by a party in which Mr Blair remains a controversial figure. He is hated by the hard left for the Iraq war and centrist policies that won him three terms in office. Sir Keir today insisted that Labour had to make 'gains' in Thursday's local elections in order for them to be a success - as a new poll suggested more than half of voters preferred him to Boris Johnson. Exclusive research by former Tory deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, published in today's Mail on Sunday shows that when asked to choose between a Conservative Government led by Boris Johnson and a Labour Government led by Sir Keir, 57 per cent of people backed Sir Keir, and 43 per cent backed Mr Johnson. But the 8,000-sample survey also picked up a 55 per cent approval rating for the Prime Minister's handling of the Ukrainian crisis, with just 25 per cent who disapprove. Despite the rows still raging about 'Partygate', the survey says the cost of living crisis is regarded as the most important issue facing the country, followed by the NHS, the economy, climate change and immigration. Tory chairman Oliver Dowden used an interview with the Sunday Telegraph today to echo this, claiming that voters were 'fed up' with media attention focused on the PM's law-breaking. 'The further you get from Westminster, the more people are focused on the delivery issues. There's this perception in Westminster that every door we're knocking on, parties are coming up on the doorstep. That really is not the case,' he said. Sir Keir enlisted former prime minister Tony Blair - a controversial figure for the party's left - to officially endorse his leadership today with days to go before the poll Sir Keir Starmer today insisted that Labour had to make 'gains' in Thursday's local elections in order for them to be a success Lord Ashcroft's poll results (pictured) show high approval for Boris Johnson's handling of the Ukraine crisis, but other aspects of his leadership are less popular Tory chairman Oliver Dowden used an interview with the Sunday Telegraph today to claimvoters were 'fed up' with media attention focused on the PM's law-breaking. Elections are taking place in some local councils in England, Wales and Scotland, as well as London boroughs and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The results in Britain will provide a strong marker of the state of play ahead of a general election expected in 2024. Sir Keir denied that Labour has a secret electoral pact with the Liberal Democrats. Asked about claims made by Conservative Party chair Oliver Dowden of a pact, the Labour leader told Sky News: 'I wouldn't take anything Oliver Dowden says particularly seriously. 'The fact that he is spending his Sunday... attacking Labour... why doesn't he say something about the cost-of-living crisis for heaven's sake? 'There is no pact, everybody knows there is no pact. We will put a candidate up when there is a by-election, obviously after the Neil Parish resignation of yesterday.' He later claimed Labour is standing more candidates than ever in the local elections. Mr Dowden claimed Sir Keir was standing down candidates 'in swathes of the country' where Lib Dem support is strong to avoid splitting the anti-Tory vote. And he alleges Sir Ed Davey's party has returned the favour where Labour is dominant elsewhere. In a letter to the Labour leader, which has been seen by The Mail on Sunday, Mr Dowden claimed that Sir Keir planned to 'deny the voters a proper democratic choice' on Thursday. If the alleged tactics are replicated at a General Election, it could see a return to the days of the Lib-Lab pacts of the 1970s. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey later also denied there was a pact, and accused the Tories of being 'desperate'. He told the BBC: 'In fact if you look at what we are doing in these local elections, we are fighting Labour in many areas, in Hull, in Sunderland, in Sheffield, in Haringey, in Southwark, I could go on. 'This is pretty desperate from the Conservatives. I am not surprised because lifelong Conservatives are switching away from them because they are really upset that we have a Prime Minister who is not decent to run our country.' This is the darkly funny moment an MP from Putin's ruling party tells the UK to 'clear off and eat porridge' before accusing Britain of stealing fish and chips from Russia. Andrey Isayev, 50, also told Brits to 'pray for your moss-covered Queen' in the bizarre tirade on main TV channel Russia 1 on Friday. The incredible comments came during a heated discussion on the Kremlin's humiliating failed invasion of Ukraine. United Russia politician Isayev began his remarks by saying Britain and Poland are 'the mad ones' of NATO. The Western alliance is a 'two-headed dragon', he added, and 'Britain is the more evil head'. Isayev (left) directed his vague, darkly hilarious comments at UK politicians including Liz Truss Even the Russia 1 presenters looked baffled as Isayev launched into Britain. He slandered the country's wartime record, stating without elaboration: 'Even during World War Two, England created trouble.' The eccentric politician continued: 'We realise that they're enemies. Historically the more hardcore anti-Russian one has always been the UK. 'We too should take anti-British positions. 'Clear off back to your island. Catch your chip and fish from your foggy marshes! Pray for your moss-covered Queen!' Even Isayev's co-hosts looked slightly baffled as the pro-Kremlin MP lambasted Britain for causing 'trouble' during World War Two and said the UK should 'clear off' out of Europe. Host Evgeny Popov (right) chimed in to point out that Britain 'stole' fish and chips from Russia Mr Isayev lost his job as the ruling party's deputy leader in 2013 after he was booted off a plane during a drunken brawl with cabin crew. The Duma parliamentarian threatened to fire Aeroflot flight attendants when they refused to move his assistant to business class. Fellow passengers filmed the fracas. Isayev apologised for the outburst and said he was sorry 'on behalf' of his secretary. The hilarious tirade followed a simulation on state TV of a nuclear attack on Britain. On Thursday's show the chairman of the nationalist Rodina party, Aleksey Zhuravlyov, pondered what would happen if Russia launched nuclear weapons against the UK, saying: 'one Sarmat missile and the British Isles will be no more.' When pulled up on the comment by one of the hosts, he insisted he was 'saying this seriously', while another host added that the UK has nuclear weapons too and that 'no one will survive in this war'. Producers on the show then showed viewers a map seeming to suggest missiles could be launched from Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave between Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea. It suggested these could reach Berlin in 106 seconds, Paris in 200 seconds and London in 202 seconds. It comes as the UK and other western nations continue in their support for Ukraine, with allies providing equipment, military vehicles and weapons to the beleaguered country. In response to the western support of Ukraine, war-mongering Putin ordered the military to test-fire its Sarmat missiles, which are also known as Satan II. Last week Putin bragged that his country's hypersonic missiles could 'break through all modern defences' and could be ready to strike the UK 'by autumn'. RMT is planning 'Extinction Rebellion style' strike action that will cause summer travel chaos in a row over jobs and pay - as a senior figure says union is preparing for 'civil disobedience'. The rail union is balloting more than 40,000 of its members over considerations to bring 15 train services including Govia Thameslink Railway, Avanti West Coast, and West Midlands Trains to a grinding halt. RMT has blamed Network Rail's planned cut of at least 2,500 safety-critical maintenance jobs as part of a 2 billion of savings on the network - changes that bosses say will lead to 'trains flying off the tracks'. It has also taken aim at train operators looking to freeze pay to combat the lowest passenger numbers in over 150 years. Now the union's assistant secretary general Eddie Dempsey has revealed that, in addition to potential strike action, members are also considering civil disobedience, The Telegraph reports. Micky Lynch, RMT general secretary, has warned that its members are 'extremely motivated' to deliver a 'huge yes vote' when the ballot closes on May 24 - leading to potential action as soon as June. And Government sources have warned that union officials could adopt Extinction Rebellion style tactics of blocking the railway system. Passengers await trains at London's Euston railway station ahead of the May Day bank holiday on Friday - amid planned engineering works and RMT strikes The RMT is balloting more than 40,000 of its members over considerations to bring 15 train services including Govia Thameslink Railway, Avanti West Coast, and West Midlands Trains to a grinding halt Commuters queue for the underground at Waterloo station in London during RMT strikes last month Long queues at London's St Pancras International station on Thursday as a number of rail services were affected by planned engineering works and a 48-hour rail strike by the RMT union TFL workers to be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pensions Transport workers in London are to be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pensions. Members of Unite employed at Transport for London (TfL) and London Underground will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action. The union said workers have been told that the value of their pensions will be cut and a final salary scheme will end following a central government-demanded review in return for pandemic-recovery funding. Unite regional officer Simon McCartney said: 'Our members are dedicated to keeping London moving. Now they are being told that they will be poorer in old age. 'This is an appalling way to treat a loyal and committed workforce. 'Workers are balloting for industrial action as a last resort. Despite repeated calls to management there have been no guarantees on pensions or job cuts. 'Strike action would inevitably cause severe disruption to public transport throughout London.' Unite's members at TfL are spread across different parts of the organisation including Dial-a Ride, London Underground and Croydon trams. The union said its members are also in dispute over pay and the threat of job losses. The ballot will close on 26 May. If members vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could begin by mid-June, although Unite said action is likely to be co-ordinated with other unions who also have members in TfL. Advertisement A source told The Telegraph: 'The mind boggles at the RMT turning themselves into Extinction Rebellion and gluing themselves to the tracks could anything be more counter-productive? 'With the railway on life support, it should worry all rail workers that their union leaders are spoiling for a confrontation before there have even been any substantive talks.' Mr Dempsey was last month accused of harbouring long-standing sympathies for pro-Putin separatists. He shared glowing praise for Luhansk rebel Aleksey Mozgovoy in an obituary following his death in 2015, while Mr Dempsey even visited the Donbas region of Ukraine seven years ago - where he posed for a picture with the pro-Russian separatist commander. Mr Dempsey is understood to be on a package worth 108,549 as part of his RMT role. It breaks down to 78,282 of gross salary, Employers' NI contributions of 9,978 with pension contributions of 20,289. In March's issue of RMT News, he wrote: 'The union is looking at industrial action and even civil disobedience if we have to in order to alert the membership and the general public about the effects of the cuts coming down the line. 'If this continues then we must declare ourselves in dispute in order to defend our industry, defend our terms and conditions, defend our pensions and defend jobs.' And in an address to a meeting of the Communication Workers Unions annual conference on Monday, Mr Dempsey added: 'We are going to try to create a culture of civil peaceful disobedience in this country. 'Weve got to get out there with industrial strategies to make sure every depot, every workplace, is a fortress for the trade union movement and people are ready to come out and defend their rights.' With further travel chaos in the summer looming, Tim Shoveller, Network Rail's regional director, said the operator 'cannot keep relying on Government handouts'. He continued: 'Our railway has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, and even as passenger numbers start to recover, we know travel habits and passenger demand have changed and the industry has to change too. 'We cannot keep relying on Government handouts, and so we must work together with train operators and our trades unions to save millions of pounds and deliver a more efficient railway. 'Our modernisation programme aims to build a sustainable future that delivers for passengers and creates better and safer jobs for our people. 'We are disappointed that the RMT has taken this decision and urge them again to work with us, not against us, as we build an affordable railway fit for the future.' People wait for buses at Waterloo station in London during a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) last month A sign at Paddington Station in London during a strike by members of the RMT union on March 3 Mr Shoveller added: 'We would not consider any changes that would make the railway less safe.' But RMT general secretary Mr Lynch yesterday accused the Government of 'throwing political petrol on the fire' regarding the dispute. He added: 'The changes they seek to impose on railway workers would not be acceptable to any trade union worth their salt and they represent a fundamental danger to passenger safety.' An RMT spokesman continued: 'RMT has at no time suggested its members will glue themselves to any railway tracks during this dispute with Network Rail and the train operating companies. 'Rather than trying to mount anonymous scare stories in the media with no evidence, the Government would be better placed halting their mad-hatter cuts programme they want to unleash on the railways, endangering public safety and destroying railway workers livelihoods. 'The RMT is focused on beating the most draconian anti-trade union laws in any western European country, in order to take lawful industrial action in June, so we can stop 2,500 safety-critical maintenance jobs being lost and protect rail passenger safety on the network.' An outspoken activist who held up a sign which read 'f*** Xi Jinping' at a busy Asian market could be charged over the brazen stunt. Drew Pavlou, 20, confronted an angry mob with the obscene message to the Chinese President at Eastwood Plaza in Sydney's north-west on Saturday. Mr Pavlou quickly provoked a furious reaction at the crowded shopping centre as dozens of locals made their disapproval of the stunt known. The activist took to Twitter on Sunday to tell his followers he had been contacted by NSW Police, who said they intended to press charges. He took to Twitter on Sunday to tell his followers he had received a phone call from NSW Police who he claimed said they intended to press charges A NSW Police spokesperson said an investigation was ongoing and no charges had been laid 'New South Wales police just called me to tell me I'm getting charged for holding a sign saying 'Fuck Xi Jinping' in Sydney,' he tweeted on Sunday afternoon. 'They won't tell me what the exact charge is and they won't tell me whether the men who physically assaulted us are being charged.' Several of his followers expressed their shock at the threat of formal charges, which Mr Pavlou described on Instagram as 'so unfair'. 'Simple intimidation tactics. There is no law against foul language and there is no law against insults,' one user replied. 'Unfortunately the police will treat your situation as inciting public unrest, which it was,' another commented. Mr Pavlou said if he had to 'potentially get bashed and charged for holding a protest' for talking about the Chinese President 'so be it'. A NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia officers were investigating an alleged assault that occurred during political protest activity at Eastwood Plaza. There were no reports of any serious injuries and no charges have been laid. A political activist caused a huge stir at a Sydney shopping centre on Saturday after carrying a sign which read 'F*** Xi Jinping' (pictured, stunned locals in Eastwood vent their anger towards Drew Pavlou) In footage of the tense showdown the activist and a friend were circled by shoppers who screamed abuse, forcing officers to protect the pair. At one stage one local grappled with Mr Pavlou's sidekick, who was filming the stunt, with the stand-off caught on camera by another bystander. Eastwood has one of the highest Chinese populations in Sydney, and Mr Pavlou's provocative action caused an incendiary reaction. It only took seconds for many stunned shoppers and stallholders to vent their fury at him over the sign. Mr Pavlou posted footage of the clash on Facebook showing him surrounded by angry stallholders at the Asian market, yelling abuse at him. 'F*** you, motherf***er,' one screamed at him repeatedly. 'It's free speech!' Another punches the sign and tells him: 'America has genocide, not Xi Jinping.' And several women call the man a coward and tell him to 'f*** off' as he stands in the street with his hands behind his back in the face of the abuse. He tells the crowd he's not a coward and has not threatened anyone, and invites them to hit him while his hands are behind his back. Police eventually restored calm after they intervened to keep the sides apart. Drew Pavlou later defended his conduct on Facebook, stating 'Australia is a democracy and we should be free to insult any leader no matter how coarsely' 'My point is a simple one - I should be able to insult a dictator like Xi Jinping in my own country without being physically assaulted and attacked,' Mr Pavlou posted on Facebook. 'Australia is a democracy and we should be free to insult any leader no matter how coarsely - this is a simple principle of free speech. 'No way would I have been surrounded by 50 people and physically assaulted if I held up a sign saying 'F*** Scott Morrison' in Sydney. 'Why should Chinese ultra-nationalists get a free pass to assault people in Australia if someone insults Xi Jinping?' Mr Pavlou was widely lauded by his followers on social media, who acknowledged his public conduct was dangerous, but felt it sent a strong message. 'Stay safe, Drew! This is typical barbaric behaviour by Chinese Communist Party supporters. Hope they all get deported so they can enjoy their 'freedom' under Xi's rule,' one said. Another stated 'that's why people can't and don't like CCP supporters. How can we allow dictatorship to spread their voice in our country? 'I bet those Chinese people won't dare to do the same thing abusing their politicians in Beijing. Double standard of some Chinese people.' As his stunt threatened to spiral out of control, Pavlou had to be protected by NSW Police at the scene (pictured) Pavlou (pictured with his sign slurring the Chinese President) was widely lauded by his followers on social media Brisbane-based Mr Pavlou was in Sydney to support Kyinzom Dhongdue, the Tibetan-heritage Democratic Alliance candidate for the seat of Bennelong. In July 2019, at the height of the Hong Kong protests, Mr Pavlou organised a protest at the University of Queensland in support of the Hong Kong democracy movement. He was later suspended by the university who accused him of 11 cases of misconduct - but was able to return and continue his politics degree this year. In December 2021, he launched the Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance (DPDA) federal political party, pledging to fight corruption, protect human rights, tackle poverty and homelessness and build a green economy. Hyderabad: Urging Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar to join hands with the BJP-led NDA government, Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that no front will defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country. Athawale, who is the president of Republican Party of India (RPI), said, "Anyone can form fronts but it is not a child's play to defeat Modi." Referring to Chandrasekhar Rao meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, he said, There is nothing wrong with meeting Chief Ministers and forming fronts in the country. The Centre has given importance to Telangana with an allocation of Rs 1.40 lakh crore funds by taking up several development works as well as in the IT, irrigation and health sectors and National Highways. He demanded that the state government distribute five acres of land to Scheduled Castes and Tribes communities. He stated that RPI would intensify its membership drive in Telangana. SAS members are saddling-up on a caravan of camels, as Britain's elite special forces echo Lawrence of Arabia during reconnaissance missions in Mali. The UK's elite forces are preparing for reconnaissance missions in Mali have been operating in the region for almost 10 years, opting to ride camels rather than mechanical vehicles according to a senior military source. 'Vehicles need to be maintained and refueled every few days - the vehicle logistical support is a real hindrance,' said the source. 'Camels store fat in their humps and can go for up to 10 days without needing food and water.' The idea was reportedly hatched when the special forces started employing local Bedouin guides, a nomadic Arab tribe who has inhabited the region and used camels for centuries. Stock image: The photo depicts Belgian Special forces riding camels in Chad between 2008-2009, as no verifiable photos have emerged of the SAS. A senior military source has said the SAS is riding camels while on reconnaissance missions in Mali, fighting against ISIS Vehicles used in missions have been stymied by mechanical issues, clogging up with sand, according to the Mirror. A senior military source said camels were more efficient. The UK deployed a task group 300-strong to Mali in December 2020 to support the UN peacekeeping mission, which is made up of soldiers from 56 different countries. The SAS have been deployed to the region, but the reports mark the first public acknowledgements that the forces have emulated the tactics of Thomas Edward Lawrence, the British officer made famous for his role during the Arab Revolt of 1916. Lawrence of Arabia was the name given to a British Intelligence Officer, who fought alongside Arab guerrilla forces in the Middle East during the First World War. British special forces soldiers are pictured with weapons during a rescue operation. The SAS have been deployed to the region, where vehicles used in missions have been stymied by mechanical issues The UK deployed a task group 300-strong to Mali in December 2020 to support the UN peacekeeping mission, which is made up of soldiers from 56 different countries The SAS has its origins in desert warfare, when elite British forces were dropped deep within the north African desert during World War II. It was formed as 62 Commando in July 1941 to undertake small-scale raids behind enemy lines, drawing its men from No 7 Commando and also operating under the title L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade. The term 'brigade' was usually used to refer to a unit of 5,000 men a title the SAS adopted to deceive the enemy into believing the force was larger than it was in reality. The SAS was created during the Second World War, when small bands of soldiers were dropped behind enemy lines in North Africa and Europe. UK forces operate in the Hombori mountains in Mali at sunset. The Menaka region is home to many of the actors in the Sahelian conflict The Royal Air Force Chinooks currently deployed in Mali in support of French Military Operations there have passed a significant milestone after recording 3000 hours of operational flight time The news comes as Vladimir Putin launches a search for British SAS forces alleged to be fighting in western Ukraine. The Kremlin's Investigative Committee (IC), often referred to as Putin's personal CIA, said it will look into 'the facts of the activities of British SAS saboteurs in Ukrainian regions,' in particular Lviv, according to state-controlled outlet RIA Novosti. Earlier on Saturday, the IC claimed that 'at least two groups of specialists in sabotage and guerrilla warfare from the British Special Air Service (SAS) have been sent to the Lviv region'. An IC source claimed SAS operatives in Ukraine 'are specialists in sabotage and partisan activities, recruiting and training agents to work in hostile territory'. Russia appears to base its investigation on information allegedly received from captured Ukrainian troops. Russia, basing its information allegedly received from captured Ukrainian troops, said the SAS is working in war zones under cover of medical workers Missiles continue to bombard Ukraine. The Kremlin's investigative Committee claimed: 'At least two groups of specialists in sabotage and guerrilla warfare from the British Special Air Service (SAS) have been sent to the Lviv region'. The SAS is 'considered one of the most highly qualified in the world in organising coups d'etat, mass protest rallies, contract killings of political figures, recruiting agents, including those in the highest echelons of power, and preparing terrorist attacks', said the RIA Novosti report. 'This is no ordinary special force - these are intellectuals, in each group there is always an ideologist, you can say a professor, and the rest are particular specialists,' said a Russian law enforcement source. The report claimed that the SAS often work in war zones under cover of medical workers. 'With a high degree of probability, these specialists arrived in order to improve the skills and efficiency of the Ukrainian special services in coordinating the activities of sabotage groups in the territories of Ukraine controlled by Russian troops,' said the IC source. The committee is headed by Russia's top criminal investigator, Alexander Bastrykin, who was a university classmate of Vladimir Putin's. Earlier this month it was reported that SAS troops have trained local forces in Kyiv for the first time since the war began. Two officers from separate battalions stationed around the country's capital said special forces had trained their troops on two occasions in early April. British military trainers have had a presence in Ukraine since Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, but were withdrawn in February as the likelihood of Putin ordering an all-out invasion of Ukraine increased. A UK defense source said they do not comment on stories related to special forces. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made sure his campaign launch for the Melbourne seat of Kooyong was a memorable one, with two very unexpected moments on Sunday. In what will probably go down in political history as one of the most bizarre ever incidents at a Liberal Party launch, one of Mr Frydenberg's supporters entertained the attendees with scarily accurate bird impressions. And then Mr Frydenberg revealed the mother-in-law of his independent rival Monique Ryan told him she'll be voting for him. But when you are running as the underdog, as the Treasurer claims he is, then every bit of publicity helps. One of the less expected moments at @JoshFrydenbergs campaign launch today. pic.twitter.com/L9GF2ey9p8 Blake Johnson (@BlakeJohnson) May 1, 2022 Phil Elwood, the bird man of the Liberal Party, is a volunteer on Josh Frydenbergs campaign The Kooyong launch was treated to an impression of a kookaburra by Phil Elwood, the bird man of the Liberal Party. He followed that fine impression with one of a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Mr Elwood, who is a volunteer on Mr Frydenbergs campaign is confident of success. 'I know the Liberals will win because of Josh,' he said. They met 10 years ago, when Mr Frydenberg dropped off Christmas hampers at Servants Community Housing in Kew where Mr Elwood was living. He reportedly had a difficult life when he was younger, but has turned his life around. In the other surprising moment of Mr Frydenberg's launch, he revealed that he has an unexpected vote in the bag. 'A very nice lady, in her 70s I think, came up to me and said "Josh, I'm voting for you." 'I said, "That's very nice". And she goes "I'm Monique Ryan's mother-in-law",' he said to loud laughter from the Liberal faithful. With polling showing he is in danger of losing his seat to Ms Ryan, he will need every vote he can get. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is pictured centre in black jacket, surrounded by blue-clad supporters Josh Frydenberg (pictured centre) claps the bird impressions done by his loyal supporter Phil Elwood Asked if he is feeling desperate with pressure from Ms Ryan, the Treasurer said 'I think what we've seen today how much community support I have. Genuine community support.' A sign of Mr Frydenberg's concern about losing a seat that has always been held by political conservatives is that he said on Sunday he is 'not up against a true independent. I'm up against a political party.' Ms Ryan's campaign is well funded and was initially outspending Mr Frydenberg on social media advertising. 'I said this is the fight of my political life, and it is,' said Josh Frydenberg (pictured) But the Treasurer has since raised more money and has now shelled out more than $1million on advertising - twice the amount Ms Ryan has spent. Mr Frydenberg warned in his campaign launch that 'a hung parliament will bring chaos and confusion' and voters should stick to what they know. 'I said this is the fight of my political life, and it is.' A ninth Russian general was reportedly killed in a Ukrainian artillery strike near Kharkiv. Major General Anton Simonov, 55, died during the attack on a Russian army command past in northern Ukraine, President Zelensky adviser Alexey Arestovych said yesterday. Mr Arestovych told YouTube livestream viewers he was informed by well-placed army sources. Simonov would be the ninth and youngest Russian general killed so far in the latest blow to Putin's disastrous invasion of Ukraine. He was seen as the Russian military's leading electronic warfare specialist. Major General Andrey Simonov (picture date unknown) was an electronic warfare commander The April 29 Ukrainian artillery attack on a Russian command post in Izyum, Kharkiv region Simonov died in a devastating fightback by the Ukrainians against a Russian offensive. Simonov led electronic warfare within the 2nd Combined Arms Army and is a former cyber commander of the Western Military District. Footage of the strike on the Izyum command post on April 29 was re-shared after it emerged Simonov may have been killed. The Ukrainian Army said it destroyed 30 Russian vehicles during the artillery assault. Simonov's alleged killing adds to the 36 colonels and more than 300 Russian officers who have died in Ukraine so far. Simonov, 55, poses in his military uniform in this undated image of the electronics expert The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence claimed this morning it has killed 23,500 Russian soldiers, destroyed 1,026 tanks and wrecked nearly 200 planes since the war began. Daily Mail foreign columnist Ian Birrell tweeted: 'Russia is losing one general a week on average in Putin's disastrous war, which must be an almost unprecedented rate of attrition for such senior officers.' But Sinonovs death alongside 100 Russian troops - and the reported loss of armoured vehicles - indicates another setback for the Kremlin leader. Putin has aimed to declare the success of his mission on 9 May, Victory Day in Russia, marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. From Kirov region, the Major-General was a graduate of the Tomsk Higher Military Command School of Communications. Just two weeks ago Russia's eighth slain general Vladimir Frolov's grave in St Petersburg was pictured. Frolov 'sacrificed his life so that children, women and the elderly in Donbas would not hear bombs exploding again', the St Petersburg governor said as his friend was laid to rest. The general was from a military family and 'died the death of the brave in battle against Ukrainian nationalists', Alexander Beglov added. He was 'a true patriot, a brave and courageous man' who 'honestly and to the end fulfilled his military and human duty. 'People will not forget their heroes. Eternal memory to him.' He became the 42nd high-ranking officer known to have died in a war that has haemorrhaged Putin's top brass. The scale of the death toll invalidates Vladimir Putin's claim that his 'special military operation' is going according to plan. A Singaporean dancer will portray the Queen in the Platinum Jubilee pageant later this year, in a move to represent the head of the Commonwealth as a global icon. Janice Ho, 22, a third-year student at the London Contemporary Dance School, will open the 'Let's Celebrate' part of the pageant, playing the young Princess Elizabeth before she became Queen. The dance, titled, Princess and the Dragon, will include a 14ft tall dragon puppet to symbolise the princess recognising her imminent power and responsibility. Trigger, the arts group that created Ms Ho's act, had hoped its 'Bridgerton casting' would result in a woman of colour taking on the part. Singaporean dancer Janice Ho, 22, will play the young Princess Elizabeth before she became Queen The Netflix Regency drama has been praised for it's diverse actors, including Simone Ashley, who takes the leading role of Kate Sharma in its recently released second series. The pageant will be Ms Ho's first professional role, having been cast from open auditions. 'I'm really excited to be able to perform to such a big crowd in countries across he Commonwealth,' she told The Sunday Telegraph. 'London is such a diverse place and being able to represent that is such a great opportunity.' Casting the princess as a woman of colour has been done to celebrate her role as an international role model, said arts group. Pictured, Princess Elizabeth in 1944 at Windsor Castle Ms Ho said that it is 'very important' to her that actors from the 'global majority' can showcase their talents, and said she was pleased by Bridgerton's casting. She hopes to bring a 'sense of light-heartedness' to her depiction of the princess, before she faces 'the reality' of becoming Queen. Angie Bual, artistic director of Trigger, said that it was Ms Ho's 'dynamic' auditions that landed her the part, and that she did not want to cast a Queen Elizabeth look-alike. 'She is a woman of colour and that is something we strongly stand by,' she told the paper. Angie Bual, artistic director of Trigger, said that she did not want to cast a Queen Elizabeth look-alike. Pictured, the Queen on Thursday at Windsor Castle Ms Bual said that Bridgerton's casting is a 'great example of how we can loosen up our unconscious bias and shake up who we usually see as role models'. 'The Queen is such a role mode, obviously in this country and internationally, and I think we need to role model all types of diversity,' she added. 'It is a reflection of the make-up of Britain and London today.' There will be many other 'carnival queens' in this section, including a royal wedding reimagined in Bollywood style, a drag queen by the name of Cheddar Gorgeous, and 'Gangsta Grannies' with the oldest cast member in her 90s. Alongside the dragon, there will be other gigantic puppets, including one of Her Majesty walking her pet corgis. Pictured, with her dogs in 1980 at the Windsor Horse Trials The aim is that the performance will be 'relevant to our times', and reflect the 'diverse voices of our country', celebrating multicultural Great Britain in a similar way to the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony. Ms Ho is the only dancer who will represent Queen Elizabeth, with the remaining roles based on queens from all aspects of life, but taking inspiration from the monarch's 70-year reign. Alongside the dragon, there will be other gigantic puppets, including one of Her Majesty walking her pet corgis, and a bust with a coronation robe made-up of dancers. The entire pageant, broken down into four parts, features more than 100 'national treasures'. It will travel down The Mall to an expected crowd of 10,000, with a grand finale outside Buckingham Palace. A man has been hospitalised with a fractured skull following his head being stamped on in Belfast city centre this morning. Police are searching for a gang-of-four after a man was punched by another male close to Queen's University Belfast. The three other males then stamped on his head and body near a busy area of the city which has lots of pubs and a theatre. Officers believe the men then fled the scene towards the Lower Crescent area close to the prestigious university. The injured man is still in hospital after the assault and his injuries are believed to be serious. Police are searching for a gang-of-four after a man was punched by another male close to Queen's University Belfast in the Botanic Avenue (pictured) area Officers believe the men then fled the scene towards the Lower Crescent area close to the prestigious university (stock) Police have appealed for information about the incident in the Botanic Avenue area in the early hours of Sunday. PSNI detective sergeant Lorraine Dougherty said: 'Shortly after 2.55am, it was reported that a man in his 30s was assaulted by four males at the junction with Donegall Pass. 'It was reported that one of the males punched the man, who fell to the ground, while the other three males stamped on his head and body. 'The male was taken to hospital with severe head injuries including a suspected fractured skull. 'His condition is described as serious. 'The males then made off towards the Lower Crescent area following the incident. 'Inquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who has any information or who witnessed the incident to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 293 of May 1.' Advertisement Up to 230 migrants have crossed the English Channel this morning after an eleven day hiatus in what was being claimed as an early victory for the Government's new scheme for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. UK officials, including a Border Force vessel, escorted seven small boats of men, women and children into Dover Harbour, Kent, at around 12.30am. The last migrants to arrive at Dover in Kent were a total of 263 across seven small boats on April 19 - and Ministry of Justice data revealed not a single adult or child made it across since. It comes amid a new strategy to deal with Channel migrants launched on April 14 which saw the military take charge of attempts to control crossings with a joint task force drawn from the Navy, Army and Air Force in Kent. This week, Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said that the drop to zero was evidence that Home Secretary Priti Patel's scheme, which will see asylum seekers sent 4,000 miles to claim refugee status from Rwanda, is 'working already'. The controversial agreement with the East African nation, which will see it receive asylum seekers deemed by the UK to have arrived 'illegally' and therefore inadmissible under new immigration rules, was signed on April 14. Mr Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, tweeted: 'Priti's migrant policy is working already. No illegal migrant crossing for a week and no income for people traffickers, freeing up civil servants to work on Ukrainian evacuees. We should offer the illegal migrants already here the option of returning to France or going to Rwanda.' But former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told GB News: 'There are some saying Rwanda is working, it's a success because virtually no migrants have come now for the last six or seven days. Believe you me, I know this subject. 'That is nothing to do with the prospect of being shipped off to Rwanda. It's because there has been a persistent, strong, north-easterly wind in the English Channel. When it gets calm again, the boats will continue to come.' At least 230 migrants have crossed the English Channel this morning after an eleven day hiatus in what was being claimed as an early victory for the Government's new scheme for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda UK officials, including a Border Force vessel, escorted seven small boats of men, women and children into Dover Harbour, Kent, at around 12.30am The last migrants to arrive at Dover in Kent were a total of 263 across seven small boats on April 19 - and Ministry of Justice data revealed not a single adult or child made it across since It comes amid a new strategy to deal with Channel migrants launched on April 14 which saw the military take charge of attempts to control crossings with a joint task force drawn from the Navy, Army and Air Force in Kent Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen (left) said that the drop in migrants arriving in small boats to zero was evidence that the Rwanda scheme from Home Secretary Priti Patel (right) is 'working already' Up to 300 military servicemen, Navy ships and surveillance drones are being deployed to the Channel after the Armed Forces took control with the Navy assuming Border Force's responsibility for intercepting migrant boats. An RAF Wildcat helicopter is now the key military asset in the air and is being used to carry out a final 'sweep' of the Channel at the end of each day to ensure all migrants - and their dinghies - have been recovered. The helicopter is being aided by RAF drones operated out of Lydd Airport in Kent. Soldiers and airmen are also now being based at Dover to help UK Border Force staff with initial processing, and the military are able to issue directions to civilian staff of the UK Border Force, whose ships are remaining part of the Channel taskforce. Seven ships including HMS Tyne, plus smaller boats and a helicopter are being made available to patrol the sea and coastline, so Border Force staff can be freed up for processing migrants once they arrive on land. More than 6,500 migrants are thought to have arrived in the UK this year so far after crossing the Channel. In 2021 some 28,526 migrants reached UK shores aboard dinghies and small boats - up from 8,417 in 2020. The total number of migrants arriving so far this month has been 2,143 across 58 small boats, although the final day of arrivals to the present date was on April 19 when 263 were intercepted across seven small boats. The controversial agreement with the East African nation, which will see it receive asylum seekers deemed by the UK to have arrived 'illegally' and therefore inadmissible under new immigration rules, was signed on April 14 Up to 300 military servicemen, Navy ships and surveillance drones are being deployed to the Channel after the Armed Forces took control with the Navy assuming Border Force's responsibility for intercepting migrant boats An RAF Wildcat helicopter is now the key military asset in the air and is being used to carry out a final 'sweep' of the Channel at the end of each day to ensure all migrants - and their dinghies - have been recovered The helicopter is being aided by RAF drones operated out of Lydd Airport in Kent Soldiers and airmen are also now being based at Dover to help UK Border Force staff with initial processing, and the military are able to issue directions to civilian staff of the UK Border Force, whose ships are remaining part of the Channel taskforce Seven ships including HMS Tyne, plus smaller boats and a helicopter are being made available to patrol the sea and coastline, so Border Force staff can be freed up for processing migrants once they arrive on land More than 6,500 migrants are thought to have arrived in the UK this year so far after crossing the Channel. In 2021 some 28,526 migrants reached UK shores aboard dinghies and small boats - up from 8,417 in 2020 The total number of migrants arriving so far this month has been 2,143 across 58 small boats, although the final day of arrivals to the present date was on April 19 when 263 were intercepted across seven small boats In March this year, 3,066 people made the crossing. That was nearly four times the amount recorded for the same month in 2021 (831) and more than 16 times the amount for 2020 (187) It was also the fourth highest monthly total recorded since the start of 2020, behind July (3,510), September (4,652) and November (6,869) last year The figures for April 2022 mean the total number of migrants to arrive so far this year is 6,693 across 204 boats In March this year, 3,066 people made the crossing. That was nearly four times the amount recorded for the same month in 2021 (831) and more than 16 times the amount for 2020 (187). It was also the fourth highest monthly total recorded since the start of 2020, behind July (3,510), September (4,652) and November (6,869) last year. The figures for April 2022 mean the total number of migrants to arrive so far this year is 6,693 across 204 boats. Some 1,425 of these had made it across since the Royal Navy took over control of migrant operations in the Channel on April 14. Earlier this month, the UK's former Border Force chief Tony Smith told the Daily Mail that more than 100,000 Channel migrants will reach Britain this year. Backing the Government's asylum deal with Rwanda, Mr Smith said: 'There comes a point where we need to get a grip of our border and stop the boats. 'The numbers are going up, a fourfold increase already this year 28,500 last year,' he added. 'That's going to be over 100,000 this year just by migrant boats alone.' Mr Smith's prediction would be nearly 12 times the level seen in 2020, 54 times that of 2019 and more than 300 times that in 2018. In January, it emerged that the Home Office had produced official papers warning that 65,000 migrants could cross this year. Some 1,425 of these had made it across since the Royal Navy took over control of migrant operations in the Channel on April 14 Earlier this month, the UK's former Border Force chief Tony Smith told the Daily Mail that more than 100,000 Channel migrants will reach Britain this year Backing the Government's asylum deal with Rwanda, Mr Smith said: 'There comes a point where we need to get a grip of our border and stop the boats 'The numbers are going up, a fourfold increase already this year 28,500 last year,' he added. 'That's going to be over 100,000 this year just by migrant boats alone' Mr Smith's prediction would be nearly 12 times the level seen in 2020, 54 times that of 2019 and more than 300 times that in 2018 A Government spokesperson said: 'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws but they also impact on the UK taxpayer, risk lives and our ability to help refugees come to the UK via safe and legal routes. 'This week, the Nationality and Borders Act completed its passage through Parliament. 'Through this landmark legislation, the Government is cracking down on people smugglers and fixing the broken system by making it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introducing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those who facilitate illegal entry into our country.' An Australian Jihadi fighter jailed for flying to Syria to join an Islamic terror group is back in prison after allegedly failing to notify police he was importing fake luxury handbags and selling them online. Mehmet Biber, 29, was sentenced to a minimum of two-and-a-half years in 2018 after pleading guilty to entering a foreign state intending hostile activity. The Sydney resident had tight restrictions placed on his movements and activities by the Australian Federal Police as a condition of his release. Part of Biber's control order forbids him from undertaking paid work without first notifying the police. The alleged breach means he could face a further five years in prison if found guilty. Mehmet Biber, 29 (pictured), was sentenced to a minimum of two-and-a-half years in 2018 after pleading guilty to entering a foreign state intending hostile activity He is accused of importing counterfeit handbags and selling them on Facebook Marketplace for a profit, a direct breach of his Control Order which forbids undertaking paid work without first notifying the police Biber, who was the first Australian citizen sentenced under foreign incursion laws, is accused of importing counterfeit handbags and selling them on Facebook Marketplace for a profit. Counter-terrorism expert Professor Greg Barton told Channel 10 News that although the breach may seem innocuous, 'looking at his case history he very quickly could have been in trouble with more serious actions'. He added that the concern is not about him selling goods on Facebook Marketplace, but reconnecting with extremists online and exposing him to further radicalisation. The 29-year-old was just 20 when he flew to Syria via Turkey in 2013 to join the violent terror group Jabhat al-Nusra which fell under the control of the al-Qaeda network. Biber (pictured) was the first Australian citizen sentenced under foreign incursion laws The 29-year-old was just 20 when he flew to Syria via Turkey in 2013 to join the violent terror group Jabha al-Nusra Biber returned to Sydney just six months later in February 2014. He was arrested and sentenced to four years and nine months with a non-parole period of two and a half years. Although the charge carried a maximum sentence of 20 years, the judge took Biber's youth and naivety at the time of the trip into account as mitigating factors. Biber's bail has been formally refused and he will return to Parramatta Local Court on May 4. A ban on cheap alcohol has cost Scottish people about 270 million, a report has suggested. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has said the nanny state policy had little positive impact on employment, crime and health and warned policies like this often make cost of living worse. Nicolas Sturgeon's government had claimed the policy would reduce alcohol-related harms, including death, crime and unemployment by preventing cheap drink being bought easily in supermarkets and off-licenses. The report did say alcohol consumption fell 'slightly' but said it did not translate into better health outcomes. Alcohol deaths have also grown in Scotland going from 1,045 in 2015 to 1,190 in 2020 while hospitalisation due to drinking went from 35,430 in 2015/16 and fell to 33,015 in 2020/21, spiking to 36,543 in 2019/2020. It has also cost drinkers in Scotland an average of 71.12 per head. A flagship policy intended to prevent the sale of cheap drinks has cost Scottish people about 270 million, a report has suggested (stock images of cheap wine at a supermarket in the UK) First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon makes a cocktail in Dunfermline, while on the local election campaign trail, yesterday as a report claimed the SNP's minimum pricing policy has had little positive impact on employment, crime and health The report, titled The Hangover: The Cost Of Minimum Alcohol Pricing In Scotland, said the minimum pricing was introduced in 2018, and justified based on computer modelling from a team at Sheffield University - the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model (SAPM). Computer-based models from Sheffield University showed that the policy could reduce improvements in health, employment and crime rates but the IEA claims this has not been the case. The think tank also argues that the policy has been 'counter-productive' because it collects extra revenue for alcohol supplies, rather than as a tax. Christopher Snowdon, a co-author of the report and an economist at the IEA, said: 'Our estimate suggests that minimum pricing has cost Scottish drinkers more than a quarter of a billion pounds. 'Now in its fifth year, minimum pricing is a reminder that politicians are often responsible for the rising cost of living. 'Although alcohol consumption has fallen slightly in Scotland, we find no evidence that this has led to an improvement in health outcomes. 'Consumers have simply switched from the most affordable alcohol to mid-range brands, to the benefit of alcohol producers and retailers. 'The policy could be dropped tomorrow without costing the Government a penny.' Researchers also found the policy has cost drinkers in Scotland an average of 71.12 per head (stock image of alcohol in an Edinburgh off-licence shop) The report also points out that though alcohol-related hospital stays were seven per cent lower than the 201719 average in Scotland, in 2020. But says 'there was a 30% reduction in all admissions to general acute hospitals in Scotland between 2019/20 and 2020/21'. It then concludes it is 'very unlikely that the decline in alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2020/21 reflects a reduction in alcohol-related harm'. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'In 2020 we saw total alcohol sales reported as falling to their lowest level for 26 years. 'We had already seen that alcohol sales were falling since our world-leading policy was introduced in 2018 - indeed research published in the Lancet found alcohol sales fell almost 8%. 'Prior to the pandemic, the reduction in alcohol specific deaths showed encouraging early signs that the introduction of MUP was having a positive impact. 'Evaluation is ongoing, with a final report from Public Health Scotland in 2023.' The report is set to also have implications on whether England considers a similar minimum pricing after Wales also introduced the policy on 2 March 2020. Despite not having the policy, IIEA said: 'Scotland saw a 15.6 per cent increase in the rate of alcohol specific deaths in 2020, which is not statistically significant from the 19.3 per cent increase seen in England.' They also claimed consumption patterns in England and Wales 'would have been mirrored in Scotland' with no minimum pricing. Priti Patel and Boris Johnson have been warned by MI5 that Vladimir Putin could send an army of saboteurs to attack public infrastructure including power stations. Britain's domestic counter-intelligence agency is reportedly on 'high alert' amid the fears of Russian agents set to infiltrate the UK. Threats include 'deniable' infrastructure attacks and operations to humiliate the UK government in an effort swing public opinion against Britain's support for Ukraine. 'There is a serious concern that officers or agents attached to Russias security services may attempt to enter the UK and target strategic locations,' a security source said. Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered intelligence officials to sabotage key UK infrastructure Special Branch cops will now increase the monitoring of travellers to the UK, the source told The Sunday Express. Putin's FSB security agency, formerly known as the KGB, is clamouring to restore its reputation amid repeated intelligence failures in Ukraine. One of its most important officers is thought to have been locked up at Moscow's most notorious prison as Putin raged about a flurry of unexpected challenges. The source confirmed Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and GCHQ have been briefed. The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office did not comment when contacted by MailOnline. Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured in 2021) was briefed on the matter, a source said They added: 'We are well aware of their capabilities and have seen how Putin is using these agencies in Eastern Europe.' The news emerged as Russia is set to unleash a mass of 'troll farms' in a striking disinformation campaign against the UK. New government-funded research revealed today that Moscow is conducting a large-scale cyber operation to spread support for the war in Ukraine over social media and via the comments sections of major news sites. Operatives were found to be ordering followers to target Western media outlets and politicians including Mr Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell with pro-war comments under their social media posts. One such troll farm - the ominously-named 'Cyber Front Z' - is said to operate out of a rented warehouse in Russia's second city St. Petersburg, where workers are believed to be paid up to 45,000 roubles (500) per month to post 200 pro-war and pro-Putin comments per day to platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. The Russian FSB spy agency (Moscow HQ pictured) is clamouring to restore its reputation Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said yesterday: 'We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putin's illegal war. 'The UK Government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations.' The Foreign Office was not identifying the researchers behind the work amid concerns over their safety for conducting work critical of the Russian president's regime. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: 'These are insidious attempts by Putin and his propaganda machine to deceive the world about the brutality he's inflicting on the people of Ukraine. 'This evidence will help us to more effectively identify and remove Russian disinformation and follows our decisive action to block anyone from doing business with Kremlin-controlled outlets RT and Sputnik.' Democrat Senator Joe Manchin is crossing the aisle to weigh in on a fierce GOP primary race in his home state of West Virginia. The centrist Democrat appeared in a Friday campaign ad attacking Donald Trump-backed House Rep. Alex Mooney, instead appearing to endorse his challenger, Rep. David McKinley. He also takes aim at President Joe Biden's failed $1.75 trillion Build Back Better plan, which Manchin himself killed when announcing his opposition to it late last year. Mooney and McKinley are fighting for the GOP nomination to represent West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District after the state lost a seat to redistricting after the 2020 census. It's rare for sitting lawmakers to wade into a race pitting two incumbents against one another in a primary, much less so for the opposing party. Manchin is the only Democrat currently representing deep red West Virginia in Congress. Trump won the state by roughly 40 points in the 2020 presidential election. 'I've always said if I can't go home to explain it, I can't vote for it. And that's why I opposed Build Back Better,' the senator said in the TV spot. 'For Alex Mooney and his out-of-state supporters to suggest David McKinley supported Build Back Better is an outright lie.' Trump-backed Rep. Alex Mooney said Manchin's ad backing Rep. David McKinley is further 'proof' that his challenger is a Republican In Name Only He continued, 'David McKinley has always opposed reckless spending, because it doesn't make sense for West Virginia.' 'Alex Mooney has proven he's all about Alex Mooney. West Virginians know David McKinley is all about us.' Mooney has been floated as a potential Senate challenger to Manchin when he's up for re-election in 2024. Manchin's press secretary told DailyMail.com that the advertisement 'speaks for itself.' Mooney said Manchin's backing shows his challenger is a 'RINO,' or 'Republican In Name Only.' 'Further proof David McKinley is a complete and total RINO. Democrat Joe Manchin is endorsing him,' the GOP lawmaker wrote on Twitter. McKinley's campaign touted the ad on GOP fundraising platform WinRed, writing: 'Joe Manchin knows that I've always fought wasteful spending and opposed liberal policies that don't work for West Virginians.' Mooney (left) and McKinley (right) are locked in a fierce primary race for West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District Manchin's fellow West Virginia senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, has not endorsed anyone in the race. McKinley was one of 35 House Republicans to vote in favor of a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot, though he's since opposed the House Select Committee assembled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He also voted in favor of Biden's $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal, which both Trump and Mooney have attacked him over. 'Congressman Alex Mooney is a conservative warrior running in West Virginias 2nd Congressional District,' the ex-president said in a statement last week. He bashed McKinley, declaring Mooney's 'opponent is a RINO who supported the Unfrastucture Bill and the Sham January 6 Unselect Committee.' 'Alex fights for our Veterans, for Energy and Clean Coal, Election Integrity, our Borders, Jobs, and against the horrible drug epidemic. On May 10th, Vote for Alex Mooney, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement. I love West Virginia!' Trump-backed Mooney has out-raised McKinley by more than $3 million in this campaign cycle, according to the most recent filings through April 20. China, Portuguese-speaking countries have co-op potential in multiple areas: experts Xinhua) 13:31, May 01, 2022 MACAO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) have huge potential for further cooperation in areas ranging from food security, sustainable energy as well as connectivity of goods, services and people, experts said. Francisco B. S. Jose Leandro, associate dean of the Institute for Research on the PSCs of the City University of Macao, told Xinhua that the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the PSCs, also known as Forum Macao, can play a big role in promoting such cooperation. Acknowledging Macao's role as a bridge linking China and the PSCs, Leandro said the forum can make efforts to increase the visibility of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the PSCs and facilitate the accessibility of regions like the Hengqin island of Zhuhai city, which is adjacent to Macao, to foreigners. In September last year, Chinese central authorities issued a general plan for building the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a major arrangement to enrich the practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao and boost the SAR's appropriate economic diversification. Leandro also called for more cooperation between China and the PSCs in higher education, such as scholarships, joint training and mutual recognition of diplomas. Carlos Morais Jose, director of Hoje Macao, a local newspaper, said it is always of significance for different countries to enhance cooperation through meetings, referring to the special ministerial conference of Forum Macao held last month. "It would be very important for China and the PSCs to further cooperation in scientific and technological areas," said Jose, who has published a book on China titled "Nine Points in the Mist - texts about China." The two sides can also step up cultural exchanges in order to create opportunities for encounters between people, habits, behaviors and values from different cultures, Jose added. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Apparently, hundreds of posts are currently vacant in various ministries and departments at various levels, impeding the efficient functioning of the government. (Representational Image/ PTI) The recent protests by Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers about promotion and career prospects have prodded the government into action. And the action stems from the very top, triggered probably by Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent interaction with Union secretaries, where he, too, had expressed concern over the growing number of vacancies in various ministries and departments. Sources have informed DKB that Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba has shot off letters to heads of various ministries and departments directing them to immediately fill the existing vacancies against sanctioned posts. Apparently, hundreds of posts are currently vacant in various ministries and departments at various levels, impeding the efficient functioning of the government. Most of these posts are staffed by CSS service officers, and the vacancies have left the existing CSS officers doubling duty and working long hours. A few weeks ago, the representatives of CSS officers had met with the minister of state for personnel and PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, seeking his intervention in the matter. With the Prime Minister stepping in, it appears that there is a new urgency in the government to fill the vacancies and also take a measured look at the promotion issues of these babus. Will Manoj Soni defy the Cassandras? An inspiring story of struggle and hard work or the result of proximity to the reigning political ideology? The appointment of Manoj Soni as chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has cleaved opinion among civil servants, public commentators and the public. It matters little that Mr Soni is not new to the institution he has been a UPSC member since 2017 and no rules have been bent for his appointment, as far as we know. Yet, there are dissenting voices who fear that the former vice-chancellor of Vadodaras MS University and a former speechwriter for Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses a threat to the civil service system. To make him responsible for the recruitment of officers of the All-India Services, given his saffron background, is a recipe for trouble, they argue. The liberals may have their concerns, but for the Centre, Mr Soni seems to tick all the right boxes. Humble origins like Mr Modis, self-made scholar-monk with ties to the hugely influential Swaminarayan sect, staunch defender of then-CM Modis government in Gujarat, etc. Whats not to like? But perhaps the bigger fear that has not been voiced is that in the past UPSC chairpersons were renowned academics with excellent records, and more significantly, career babus from the IAS. It is this last bit that perhaps rankles the most. Will Mr Soni defy the Cassandras? Well see. Reshuffle of Delhi babus sets off speculation In a recent reshuffle of UT cadre officers, it is the appointment of former NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) chairman Naresh Kumar as the new chief secretary of Delhi that has drawn the most attention. A 1987-batch IAS officer, Mr Kumar has replaced his batchmate Vijay Kumar Dev, who is now the chief election commissioner of Delhi. Babu-watchers consider Mr Kumars appointment as significant in the context of the unification of Delhis three municipal corporations that is underway. In a unified municipal corporation, the special officer of the civic body will have considerably more power and privileges than the chief secretary! Apparently, this is already so in Maharashtra, where the BMC commissioner enjoys more power than the senior-most bureaucrat in the state. On the other hand, the present NDMC chairman, Dharmendra, has been posted out as chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, which many babus strangely seem to consider a demotion. But Mr Dharmendra, sources have informed DKB, stands a good chance to hold a prime posting before retirement since age is on his side. For now, however, the big question is about the future of Satya Gopal, who Mr Dharmendra is replacing. Will the former Arunachal chief secretary return to Delhi as NDMC chairman or get some other prime post? Oprah Winfrey criticized a court ruling earlier this month that lifted mask mandates for public transportation, saying 'it's too soon' to remove certain COVID-19 restrictions and that she will continue to wear a mask inside planes. Discussing her new documentary 'The Color of Care' with the Los Angeles Times, the veteran talk show host revealed she was so fearful of becoming infected that she spent 332 days without leaving her home during the peak of the pandemic. Oprah, who quarantined at her '$40million' mansion in Santa Barbara, California, told the outlet she is not quite ready just yet to let go of precautions. 'I personally think it's too soon to be removing masks from planes. But that's what people choose to do. And if I were on a commercial plane, I would be one of the people who would still be wearing my mask,' Oprah told the Los Angeles Times. She continued: 'And I would be one of the people still wearing my masks in an enclosed building with people who I didn't know if they were or were not vaccinated. But that is just me. And I certainly accept that there are other people who disagree. I'm OK with that as long as I can wear mine.' Several airlines dropped mask mandates after US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, struck down the Biden policy on April 18. In Judge Mizelle's 59-page ruling, she suggested that the mandate - in which non-complying travelers are 'forcibly removed from their airplane seats, denied board at the bus steps, and turned away at the train station doors' - was akin to 'detention and quarantine,' CNN reported. The CDC has since requested the Justice Department to appeal the ruling and reinstate the mandate, citing a recent spike in COVID-19 cases of the BA.2 Omicron variant. More than 990,000 Americans have perished from COVID-19, according to the CDC, while more than 81million active infections have been reported. Discussing her new documentary 'The Color of Care' with the Los Angeles Times, Oprah said she is not ready to let go of precautions and criticized a court ruling earlier this month that lifted mask mandates for public transportation Oprah said she will continue to wear a mask inside airplanes, enclosed buildings, or around unvaccinated people. Above, Oprah at the Paul Simon Tribute held at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood on April The veteran talk show host revealed she was so fearful of becoming infected that she spent 332 days without leaving her '$40million' mansion in Santa Barbara, California, during the peak of the pandemic Oprah said she is aware of the immense privilege her fame and wealth have granted her throughout the pandemic. She shared she decided to make the film - which airs Sunday on the Smithsonian Channel - after reading about the countless stories of people of color for whom the pandemic proved fatal because of racial inequities in the healthcare system. The 68-year-old said she was appalled by the close to one million COVID-19 deaths in America. 'One of the reasons I read all of those stories is because I am appalled, I am stunned. I dont recognize a country where youve lost nearly a million people and there hasnt been some form of remembering that is significant,' Oprah said. '...There hasnt been a communal gathering where there is acknowledgment that this has happened to us. Who are we that there is no acknowledgment, profoundly, in our society that we have lost our loved ones? And at times, were not even able to bury our dead.' Oprah told the LA Times she had been lucky not to have lost anybody in her family to COVID-19, but said she was able to have access to privileges many Americans did not have, like staying home for almost a year to avoid becoming infected. 'You can do that when you don't have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from. I didn't have to worry about ''Am I going to have rent? Am I going to be able to get food? Am I going to be able to keep the lights on and am I going to be able to take care of my children?''' Oprah said. Oprah said she was inspired to document the harsh reality of many families of color after reading on USA Today about Gary Fowler, a black man who died of COVID-19 without receiving a test for it despite being in contact with his father, who also perished from the virus. Fowler was turned away by three hospitals in Detroit, before giving up on seeking treatment. He died at home, in his favorite chair, having written shortly before that he couldn't breathe, the Detroit Press first reported. Oprah said she was inspired to document the harsh reality of many families of color after reading on USA Today about Gary Fowler, a black man who died of COVID-19 without receiving a test for it despite being in contact with his father, who also perished from the virus Fowler was turned away by three hospitals in Detroit, before giving up on seeking treatment. He died at home, in his favorite chair, having written shortly before that he couldn't breathe More than 990,000 Americans have perished from COVID-19, according to the CDC, while more than 81million active infections have been reported A recent poll found that black and Hispanic Americans remain far more cautious in their approach to COVID-19 than white Americans, reflecting diverging preferences on how to deal with the pandemic as federal, state and local restrictions fall by the wayside. Despite majority favorability among US adults overall for measures like mask mandates, public health experts said divided opinions among racial groups reflect not only the unequal impact of the pandemic on people of color but also apathy among some white Americans. Blacks and Hispanics continue to be more likely than white people to say they are at least somewhat worried about themselves or a family member being infected with COVID-19, according to an April poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Throughout the pandemic, black and Hispanic communities have experienced higher rates of illness and death from COVID, said Amelia Burke-Garcia, public health program area director at NORC. Those experiences have resulted in greater levels of stress, anxiety and awareness of the risks of catching COVID-19, she said, which means people of color are more likely to feel measures like mask mandates are needed. Throughout the pandemic, black and Hispanic communities have experienced higher rates of illness and death from COVID Those experiences have resulted in greater levels of stress, anxiety and awareness of the risks of catching COVID-19 'We've seen these trends endure throughout the entire pandemic,' Burke-Garcia said. 'What we're seeing now as mitigation measures are being rolled back is there's still great concern amongst Black Americans and Hispanic Americans around the risk of getting sick.' Seventy-one percent of Black Americans say they favor requiring face masks for people traveling on airplanes, trains and other types of public transportation. That's more than the 52percent of white Americans who support mask mandates for travelers; 29percent of white Americans are opposed. Among Hispanic Americans, 59percent are in favor and 20percent are opposed. The poll was conducted before a ruling by a federal judge scuttled the government's mask mandate for travelers. An emotional Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed Ukraine will always remember the support of Australians in the wake of Russia's bloody invasion. Australia has provided humanitarian and military aid to the besieged nation with the government sending 20 refitted Bushmaster vehicles as part of a $50million package. The heroic Ukrainian leader, who sat down with 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort, said he would like to give a special message to those watching at home. Staring straight down the camera, the president said the support Australia had provided his war-torn country in its time of need was unforgettable. 'You have to know that Ukraine will always remember, it will be written in our history books about your help, thanks a lot,' a visibly emotional Zelensky said. The veteran reporter had flown in with his production team to an undisclosed bunker in Kyiv to spend some time with the revered world leader who has faced down Vladimir Putin and Russia's invading forces. 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort attempted to give Volodymyr Zelensky a packet of Tim Tams and bottle of red wine before the gifts were confiscated Mr Zelensky revealed it's hard for people overseas to comprehend the full extent of the horror currently unfolding in the eastern European nation. 'It's very difficult for them. You can't feel the pain before you lose someone. You can't feel the pain until you're wounded,' he replied. 'I am not wishing anyone to feel that pain, I'm just telling that this is the feeling.' Steinfort then asked his high-profile guest what he imagined victory would look like. 'To return what is ours, to return the calmness, the tranquility, to have our people returned. I don't need anything extra,' Mr Zelensky said. The Australian journalist had attempted to gift the president a packet of Tim Tams and an expensive bottle of red wine before the gifts were confiscated and sent away for testing - amid fears Russia has been trying to poison the president. Steinfort had wanted to give the iconic chocolate biscuits and Penfolds wine to the president after he agreed to an interview with the Nine Network, but tough security restrictions in place to protect the president from assassins would not allow it. The team received a text message at 10.39pm informing him of the location before he went to the undisclosed bunker in the capital. Ukrainian soldiers stopped Steinfort at the door before confiscating the items, he wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald. Steinfort received a text message at 10.39pm informing him of the location before he went to the undisclosed bunker in Kyiv with his gifts in hand (stock image) 'We need to send these away for testing before giving them to the president, we can't risk radiation poisoning,' the soldiers told Steinfort. Steinfort said his production team had to pass through several roadblocks being patrolled by armed troops, follow soldiers down a concealed alleyway and go through an x-ray machine before meeting Zelensky. 'There, we have to put all of our equipment through x-ray machines, go through more passport checks, and are then handed to the dog squad who sniff our belongings for explosives,' he wrote. The production team were led to the same room where Zelensky had met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for face-to-face talks days earlier. Steinfort said Zelensky pulled him to the side to chat with him briefly before the cameras recorded the interview. The Ukrainian president had nothing but praise for Australia. Steinfort wanted to give the iconic chocolate biscuits and a bottle of Penfolds to the Ukrainian president (pictured) after he agreed to an interview with the Nine Network 'Before our cameras roll, he wants to tell me about how much he loves Australia volunteering a story about when he visited Sydney many years ago, and got lost on a morning run,' Steinfort wrote. 'He says he was struck by how many complete strangers offered to help this random Ukrainian find his way back to his hotel.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there is no rush to deal with the issue of Russian President Putin attending the next G20 leaders' summit. Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky have agreed to attend the G20 summit to be held in Bali in November. Russia is a member while Mr Zelensky would attend as an invited observer. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there is no rush to deal with the issue of Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the next G20 leaders' summit G20 host leader and Indonesian President Joko Widodo has spoken with Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin, urging them to end the war and offering to play a role in peace negotiations. Indonesia has rejected the Ukrainian leader's request for arms on constitutional and foreign policy grounds, but instead will send humanitarian aid. Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Sunday the issue of Mr Putin's attendance 'still has some distance to travel'. He said Australia would consult with other like-minded countries, but the key was to ensure the Indonesian summit was successful. 'We don't know what the situation (in Ukraine) will be in November of this year,' Mr Morrison said. Bushmaster armoured vehicles that Australia is sending to Ukraine amid the deadly war against Russia are refitted and repainted with a heartfelt message BY KYLIE STEVENS Australia has ramped up its support for Ukrainian forces by sending $50million worth of military vehicles to assist in the European nation's ongoing war with Russia. The first convoy of 20 refitted Bushmaster vehicles will leave Brisbane on aircraft C-17 Globemasters. Australia is one of the first countries to provide combat vehicle support to Ukraine as the Russian invasion enters its sixth week. The armoured vehicles have been repainted olive green with Ukraine's flag stencilled on each side. The first Bushmaster PMV is loaded into a C-17 Globemaster aircraft headed for Ukraine following the federal government announcement Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko thanks Major General Scott Winter after Australia announced $50million worth of military vehicles will be sent to the Ukraine Australia is one of the first countries to provide combat vehicle support to Ukraine (pictured is a vehicle being repainted) The words 'United with Ukraine' are also emblazoned on the vehicles in both English Ukrainian in a pledge of solidarity. The vehicles have been fitted with radios, a global positioning system and additional bolt-on armour, along with protection against mines, artillery shrapnel and small arms fire. 'Australia may be thousands of kilometres away but we're standing side by side with Ukraine against this illegal invasion with arms, equipment, aid and even energy sources,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. 'Once again Ukraine has asked for our help and once again we have stepped up.' 'Our Australian-designed and made Bushmasters are known around the world for their usefulness in a combat zone and they will help boost Ukraine's defence against Russia's unprovoked and illegal violence. 'This fight is important because not only are Ukrainian lives and their lands at stake, but so are the principles of freedom and the rule of law.' Two ambulatory vehicles (one pictured on Friday) are among 20 retired Bushmaster PMVs which were repainted and refitted to be used in the Ukraine Defence Minister Peter Dutton, Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko and Major General Scott Winter checked out the first convoy of Bushmaster PMVs now on their to the Ukraine The combat vehicles (pictured being refitted) will provide support to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia The military support is the result of a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after he addressed federal parliament a week ago. It's on top of almost $120million in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The retired Bushmasters previously been used by Australian forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and disaster zones at home. 'It is one of the world leading vehicles and it provides protection to the crew that are onboard that,' defence minister Peter Dutton told the Today show on Friday. 'It will be a big win for the Ukrainian forces in their attempts to stare down the barbaric efforts of the Russian forces.' Meanwhile, Mr Morrison and more than 200 other Australian officials have been banned from entering Russia. Defence Minister Peter Dutton (pictured left with Ukraine Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko) inspected the vhicles before the first convoy left Brisbane The first of the armoured vehicles will make their way from Brisbane RAAF Base Amberley to Ukraine on Friday The ban is in response to foreign minister Marise Payne declared Australia will take action against 67 elites linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a new round of sanctions. Mr Dutton said Australia will continue to stand with Ukraine again tyranny and autocrats. 'People have fought and died for the freedoms that we have in our country. We need to realise we just can't take for granted what we have - our system of democracy and freedom of speech,' he said. 'These are values that dictators like Putin and Hitler and others will always be against. We need to stand up against them.' The Ukrainian flag is painted on each side of every vehicle, along with a special message written in English and Ukrainian Advertisement A teenage girl was filmed being viciously beaten by two other girls - one of them her best friend - after her supposed pal lured to a Texas park late at night, according to police and the shocking video. Maya Tremillo, 17, suffered a concussion, several cuts to her face and a sprained ankle after the shocking beating at Clifton City Park on April 18 by Savannah Walker, 17, and 17-year-old Ahliah Vestal, the Clifton Police Department said. The two girls were charged with aggravated assault. A third unidentified suspect, who filmed the beatdown and posted it to Snapchat, was also taken into custody and charges are pending. The girls attend the same high school in Clifton, about 35 miles northwest of Waco, and Maya was attacked by the other teens because of a spat over a boy, her distraught mother said. On the day of the fight, Tremillo was told by Vestal - her best friend - to bring back some shoes she had previously borrowed, which the victim reportedly thought was an odd request, according to her mother. But when Tremillo made it to the park and approached Vestal's car, she was attacked by Walker, who was coming out of the vehicle, local authorities confirmed. Maya Tremillo, 17, was lured to a local park in Clifton, Texas, by her best friend, where she was beaten up while being recorded on Snapchat She suffered several scratches to her face as well as a sprained ankle and a concussion from the attack Savannah Walker (left), 17, and Ahliah Vestal (right), 17 - Maya's best friend - were charged with aggravated assault Screen grab shows Maya being pinned to the ground by the two other girls Walker jumped out of Vestal's car out of the blue to blindly attack Tremillo Maya Tremillo had reported being harassed by Walker the night before the attack but police told her and her mom there was nothing they could do '[Walker] jumped out of the car and the other girl that was filming her also jumped out of the car with her phone, and then [Walker] started yelling at Maya,' Julie Kross - Tremillo's mother - told The US Sun. 'Maya turned away to go back to her car and [Walker] hit her in the back of the head and just jumped on her and started beating her,' she added. The night before the attack, Tremillo and her mother had filed a police report against Walker, claiming in-person and online threats of alleged harassments. 'They were threatening to beat her up and said 'you better watch your back, we're gonna kick your ass,'' Kross said. ''It scared her and it scared me so we filed a police report.' Police reportedly told Tremillo and her worried mother that there was little they could do to handle the harassment claims, as no evidence of a crime having been committed had surfaced. During the fight, Walker reportedly told Tremillo to 'go file a report on that now.' The brawl at the park stemmed from arguments between the girls over a boy, Kross added. She declined to reveal more over the incident. Teen attacked at Clifton City Park #UPDATE - #Clifton Police arrested Savannah Walker, 17, and Ahliah Vestal, 17, and charged both with aggravated assault after an attack against a girl at a park. INFO: kwtx.com/2022/04/19/clifton-police-charge-2-teens-after-girl-was-lured-park-assaulted-while-group-watched-recorded-video/ Posted by KWTX News 10 on Thursday, April 21, 2022 Maya Tremillo (center) is pictured in back seat having good time with Savannah Walker (right) and Ahliah Vestal (left) in undated photo A video that circulated online shows the two teenage perpetrators attacking Tremillo after one of them posted recordings of the fight onto her Snapchat story. Several selfies of Walker from that night were also shared. One of them was captioned: 'Talk your fu****g s**t now b***h!!!' Another selfie was sent along with the threat: 'Keep my cousins name and my name out your f*****g mouth b***h don't play with me.' A third read: 'I'm okay guys untouched as always.' In response to the explicit footage shared on its platform, Snapchat said: 'Using Snapchat to share videos of someone being attacked is strictly against our rules. We encourage people to report harmful content to us immediately through our in-app tools. Even though Snaps disappear, we are still able to review reported content so we can investigate and take appropriate action.' The selfie-based app added that it is currently reviewing the shared content before taking any further steps. Tremillo was taken to a local hospital after being found at the park, where she was treated for a sprained ankle and a concussion, Kross revealed. However, Tremillo is having a harder time coming to terms with what happened than physically recuperating, her mother pointed out. Maya Tremillo is picured celebrating her 17th birthday with her mom, Julie Kross 'She's obviously very traumatized, very depressed and I'm really worried about her emotionally,' Kross shared. '[Maya] is constantly looking over her shoulder and jumps when a car drives by. Physically, she's gonna heal, but I know the emotional things are gonna take longer,' she added. Although the two attackers have not received sentencing, Kross said she hopes Walker's anger issues will be addressed through potential counseling. 'But I do also hope there are consequences and they're serious enough to help them wake up and not do anything like this again,' she further said. 'I just hope the court system works and the judges will make a decision on what best to do with these girls.' Both Walker and Vestal are currently released on bond, which has not yet been publicly disclosed. Clifton High School, where all three girls are students, said it will soon decide on appropriate disciplinary measures against the juveniles and that it will also address the incident to those who were present and watched the fight. Meanwhile, Maya, who is expected to complete high school in May, will wrap up her senior year from home after recommendations from doctors. An Australian university has apologised after a transgender student objected to an online list of terms deemed offensive to minorities, which includes various gay slurs as well as the words 'husband' and 'wife'. Flinders University in South Australia removed their harassment and discrimination guidelines after the complaint, agreeing the list was 'no longer suitable'. The main gripe from the transgender community was that the list considered the term transsexual 'appropriate' when it is now regarded as an 'outdated and offensive'. Another sticking point was the reference to the 'condition of trans-sexualism'. Flinders University (pictured) in South Australia has removed an online list of terms offensive to minorities after a complaint by a transgender student The World Health Organisation stopped considering being transgender as a 'mental health condition' in 2019. It remains unclear why 'husband' and 'wife' were ever included on the list and how the university came to conclusion the words could cause offense or be deemed discriminatory. A staff member who saw the Facebook post the next morning reviewed the contentious guidelines and offered an apology saying the list would immediately be updated. 'We agree that the content on the website is inappropriate,' a statement by Finders University said. 'We are taking immediate action to remove it and will engage with students and the wider diversity community on our campuses to review the content.' Flinders University in South Australia (campus pictured) removed their harassment and discrimination guidelines after the complaint, agreeing the list was 'no longer suitable' 'Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental values that we are committed to upholding in words and in practice it is clear that improvement is needed and we still have work to do. 'We commit to doing this work.' Jane Russo of Transcend, a national support group for transgender people, said the terms used by Flinders University were very dated. 'We've gone beyond this kind of language,' she told the Advertiser. 'When it comes to husband and wife it really comes down to a matter of personal choice. 'As for transsexual it is a mix of language which misconstrues sexuality and gender.' A black-clad Antifa mob in Prtland launched smoke bombs, paint, fireworks and rocks at Republicans supporting an Oregon GOP gubernatorial candidate who were demanding law and order be returned to the crime-plagued city. Video shows the intimidating group waving black flags and lobbing smoke bombs at the conservative crowd, which included children and elderly people, during the rally near Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Main Street on Saturday. 'We're taking the city back. We're funding the police,' one man shouted from a megaphone. 'No longer are we gonna have the crime and the mayhem.' As the group demonstrated, a mob of close to a dozen Antifa protesters approached them and threw smoke bombs at them. 'Heads up, rocks!' one man shouts. Two people were injured and no arrests have been made, police said. The troubling incident came on the heels of another attack by the radical Antifa members who threw rocks from an overpass at People's Convoy truckers. Crime in Portland has skyrocketed in recent years. There were 91 homicides in the city last year, breaking the record of 66 murders in 1987, according to Oregon Public Radio. The city also cut $15 million from the police budge during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, but city lawmakers added $5.2 million back into police coffers last year. A day later, a group of Antifa protesters clad in all black and waving black flags approached a group of Republicans rallying to re-fund the police The intimidating group lobbed smoke bombs at the conservative demonstrators, a crowd that included children and elderly citizens. Two people were injured and sought medical attention on their own, police say The conservative demonstrators yelled, 'We're taking the city back. We're funding the police,' as they were quickly shut down by the black-clad Antifa crowd. Police later said 'significant explosions were heard in the area' Pulliam, the mayor of Sandy, is running on a platform of tripling the size of the Oregon State Police and deploying the Oregon National Guard to end the violence in Portland's streets. 'The culture of criminality that our state has allowed to fester in Oregons big cities must come to an end,' his website states. 'We need to back our local law enforcement officers and provide them with proper training and public support.' Demonstrators on Saturday held signs for Pulliam. The crowd included children and elderly citizens, according to footage shared on social media and on Pulliam's own account. Police said paint and large fireworks were thrown and 'significant explosions were heard in the area' as Pulliam' supporters rallied. The conservative protesters later left the scene and met police elsewhere at their request. 'One adult male had an injury to the hand, an adult female complained of hearing loss. There was also evidence balloons filled with paint and/or other substances were thrown at people and vehicles,' police said. Later that afternoon, Mayor Pulliam tweeted: 'This is what happens when a Republican dares to hold an event in Portland to talk about funding our police. Antifa shows up. Well we won't be intimidated and stop speaking the truth.' Antifa protesters hurled objects, allegedly including 'paint-filled bags,' at a People's Convoy passing through the city on Friday afternoon Police say one shot was fired. No victims were reported, and it is not clear which side pulled the trigger Crime is up in Portland, with many candidates for office making public safety one of their top campaign issues. Homicides are up, breaking the record of 66 set in 1987 On Friday, Antifa protesters allegedly threw paint and other objects at a 'People's Convoy' passing through Portland during what authorities called an 'extremely busy night' for the crime-ridden city. Portland police said at least five people on the Northeast Glisan Street overpass above Interstate 205 hurled objects at cars and trucks shortly before 7pm. Video from that night shows multiple people standing on an overpass and throwing 'paint-filled bags' at the cars below them, according to footage shared on social media. One shot was fired, police said. No victims were reported, and it is not clear which side pulled the trigger. One held a banner whose message was unclear, according to video shared on social media. They were protesting the 'People's Convoy' - an offshoot of Canada's anti-vaccine mandate 'Freedom Convoy' led by truckers who were protesting the country's vaccine requirements. At one point, traffic stops as members of the convoy seem to get into a verbal back-and-forth with the protesters above them. One voice behind the camera says there are 'four or five kids up there with masks on.' One shot was fired, but no one was injured. Police said they were 'monitoring a protest "convoy" that was driving through Portland and counterdemonstrators confronting them. Officers determined that the shot fired call was likely related,' according to a statement released the next day. The Post Millennial reports John Hacker was a member of Friday's violent crowd. Last year, Hacker was charged with robbery in the third degree for stealing journalist Andy Ngo's phone and dumping liquid on him at a 24-Hour Fitness gym in Portland in 2019. Post Millennial editor Andy Ngo said John Hacker was a member of Friday's violent crowd. Hacker was charged with robbery in the third degree for stealing Ngo's phone and dumping liquid on him at a 24-Hour Fitness gym in Portland in 2019 Friday's overpass incident was part of an 'extremely busy night' that 'strained' the department's resources, police say. The night's calls included a murder-suicide at 2.06am in the 14100 block of Southeast Woodward Street. There was also a stolen ambulance that was seen driving recklessly and going on the sidewalk. The driver was arrested. Saturday's protesters were rallying for Stan Pulliam, the mayor of Sandy who is running for governor of Oregon Mayor Pulliam responded to the attack on his supporters on social media Saturday afternoon Late last year, Portland became yet another city to re-fund its police department after calls to 'defund the police' during last year's Black Lives Matter protests led some municipalities to decimate their safety budgets. In November, Portland City Council unanimously passed a fall budget bump that added back $5.2 million of the $15 million it cut from police last year. It comes as the city deals with murder rates not seen since the 1980s and a staffing shortage that has led city leaders to consider hiring back retired cops. 'Many Portlanders no longer feel safe,' Mayor Ted Wheeler said. 'And it is our duty, as leaders of this city, to take action and deliver better results within our crisis response system.' Night after night, hundreds of people marched the streets of Oregon's largest city demanding racial justice after the murder of George Floyd by a white officer. Portland is one of a handful of cities to heed calls to 'defund the police' during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and last year. Above, activists march in Portland in April 2021 The city voted to refund the police after 2020's attempt to divert funds from the department led to undesirable results. Above, officers confront protesters at a Portland ICE facility in May 2021 Among the rallying cries were 'defund the police' - a call for elected officials to reallocate some law enforcement funding elsewhere. In June 2020, the Portland City Council and the mayor answered by cutting $15 million from the police budget. An additional $12 million was cut due to pandemic-caused economic shortfalls. As a result, school resource officers, transit police and a gun violence reduction team - which was found to disproportionately target Black Portland residents during traffic stops, according to an audit in March 2018 - were disbanded. He was a 'big, big fish' in underworld war and had a $1million price on his head Mahmoud Ahmad gunned down as he left Greenacre property last A possible motive for the slaying of crime kingpin 'Mr Big' has come to light as underworld sources reveal he was extorting other gangsters from his prison cell. Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad, 39, was gunned down while visiting an associate in a suburban street in Greenacre at 9.30pm on Wednesday night, after a $1million bounty was placed on his head. He only walked free from jail six months ago after serving a five-year sentence for killing a gangland rival. The development comes as police undergo a major crackdown on criminal groups in the wake of the brazen shooting, with Comanchero enforcer Tarek Zahed slapped with handcuffs on Friday. Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad, 39, (pictured) was gunned down while visiting an associate in a suburban street in Greenacre at 9.30pm on Wednesday night Hundreds of mourners attend the funeral of Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad who was shot dead A harrowing picture shows Sydney underworld kingpin 'Mr Big' fighting for life after he was brazenly executed in a hail of bullets in Sydney In the lead up to his death, Ahmad had demanded friends of one of his fellow inmates cough up about $250,000 to ensure his safety. 'He (Ahmad) bashed one bloke in jail and extorted him, he made his friends on the outside pay up or else he would continue to harass him it was about $250,000,' an underworld source told the Daily Telegraph. Ahmad is also believed to have set his sights on rinsing Sydney businessman Omar Eloma, favouring extortion due to a lack of patience to carry out a hit. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Zahed or Eloma are in anyway responsible for the killing of Ahmad. The source said while he hadn't been too bright, he 'had big balls'. 'If Brownie bumped into you (a rival) in the street, he'd shoot you on the spot,' he said. 'That's how wild he was.' It comes as Tarek Zahed, the national sergeant-at-arms for the Comanchero bikie gang, (pictured) was arrested as part of a major crackdown on gang activity in Sydney The 41-year-old (pictured) was picked up by police in Sydney's southwest on Friday after he allegedly breached Serious Crime Prevention Orders The new details come as the national sergeant-at-arms for the Comancheros was brought down by police in Sydney and charged with two counts of contravening serious crime prevention order. The 41-year-old is widely tipped to be the next national president of the outlaw motorcycle club after former leader Mick Murray was also arrested last week. Police will allege that Zahed failed to notify officers of changes to his living arrangements while visiting NSW from Melbourne. State Crime Command Director Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said the crackdown on criminal activity would last as long as needed. 'Specialist officers will continue to execute raids across Sydney's southwest as part of a targeted mission to dismantle criminal operations,' he said. It has since been revealed Ahmad (pictured) spent a large chunk of his time in and out of jail ruthlessly extorting rich underworld individuals Multiple police vehicles attend the scene at Greenacre, Sydney (pictured) after a man was killed in a hail of bullets Police have scoured multiple crime scenes, including the street where Ahmad was gunned down on Wednesday night Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners, many of them hooded, farewelled Ahmad on Friday amid a heavy police presence. His killers still remain on the run after the 'big, big fish' of Sydney's underworld gangland war was gunned down while visiting an associate. Police sources said Ahmad, also known as Mr Big, had no obvious connection to Greenacre, where he took his last breath on Wednesday night. He had more enemies than friends and detectives aren't shocked Ahmad was gunned down, after he repeatedly failed to heed their warnings to lay low following his release from jail in November last year. 'He's been warned in the past he was a marked man and as a result he didn't heed those words ... he was going about his normal business without a care in the world,' detective superintendent Doherty said. He had more enemies than friends and detectives aren't shocked Ahmad was gunned down Police sources said Ahmad, also known as Mr Big, had no obvious connection to Greenacre, (pictured) where he took his last breath on Wednesday night But there are now suspicions that Ahmad may have been betrayed by someone he trusted when he arrived to visit his associate. 'He wasn't supposed to be here,' one police source told Daily Mail Australia. 'Whoever did this was given a heads up that they could find him here.' Homicide Squad commander Doherty said: 'It was a meticulous assassination ... they weren't going to muck around with this one.' There are mounting fears of a retaliatory attack as the list of victims in Sydney's underworld war soars to nine in 18 months. 'You'd think the Hamzy's would call it,' the source said. 'There aren't too many left.' Earlier, a police officer explained how the Alameddine crime network were 'picking the Hamzy's off like flies'. It's still not entirely clear how Ahmad fits into the equation, but Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty noted he had a lot of enemies. there are now suspicions that Ahmad may have been betrayed by someone he trusted when he arrived to visit his associate (the scene in Greenacre on Thursday) Just last October, Ahmad dodged another attempt on his life when he was tipped off about a planned hit on him in broad daylight at a park at Rushcutters Bay. It's understood Ahmad had connections with the Hamzy and Alameddine wars but was also involved in a separate organised crime network. Since 2020, NSW Police have focused considerable resources on a gangland war between the Alameddine and Hamzy groups which has seen seven people killed. After a number of arrests and top-level Alameddine enforcer Masood Zakaria fleeing overseas the war appeared to have quietened. But Ahmad's death could ignite a new blood-feud police will have to contend with. A series of bullet holes could be seen in the side of a white Toyota Hilux that was towed away in Greencare on Thursday morning The Green Party today reiterated its desire for the UK to quit Nato - once the war in Ukraine has ended. Its co-leader Adrian Ramsay told Sky News he did not want to 'change structures in the middle of a conflict', but believes the UK's long-term aim should be to leave the military alliance. Nato has been given a new lease of life by Vladimir Putin's aggressive assault, with the alliance forming the bedrock of aid to Kyiv to help it fight back Russian forces. But asked on Sky News whether the Greens' position on Nato has changed as a result of the Ukraine conflict, Mr Ramsay confirmed it has not. Asked to confirm again that the Greens want the UK to leave Nato, he added: 'Yes, that is our long-term policy that we would like to see far greater focus on peacekeeping institutions and institutions that support a reduction in our nuclear weapons and countries moving away from nuclear weapons. 'But in the short-term, of course we are not proposing moving out of Nato in the middle of a conflict.' Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay told Sky News he did not want to 'change structures in the middle of a conflict', but believes the UK's long-term aim should be to leave the military alliance. Nato has been given a new lease of life by Vladimir Putin's aggressive assault, with the alliance forming the bedrock of aid to Kyiv to help it fight back Russian forces. Mr Ramsay was elected last year alongside Carla Denyer, a Bristol city councillor and parliamentary candidate. They followed the party's recent tradition of co-leaders, replacing Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry. He was deputy leader of the party from 2008 to 2012 and is the candidate for the proposed new North Suffolk seat at the next General Election. He told Sky: 'We have a long-term policy about reviewing what structures we need to have to build peace in the world and we have to remember this conflict has happened at a time when we are part of Nato, when we are still seeing nuclear weapons dominate. 'Of course we are not about changing structures in the middle of conflict and what we need to do at the moment is focus on how Ukraine can be supported in a wide variety of ways.' Mr Ramsay suggested the UK needs to focus on 'peacekeeping and getting the parties to the table' as well as 'stronger economic action'. He added: 'Across Europe we are still sending a billion euros a day to Vladimir Putin's war machine from buying Russian oil, gas and coal and we need to wean ourselves off this addiction, which of course the Greens want us to do. 'If we want to avoid funding that war machine and really put strong economic pressure on Russia, that has really got to be stepped up.' Meanwhile Lib Dem leader Ed Davey today suggested that the removal of Vladimir Putin from power in Russia would herald the end of nuclear weapons. He told the BBC that he supported the UK's nuclear deterrent but if someone else was in charge in Moscow 'maybe we can change the world'. However he downplayed the idea that it could be anytime soon, adding: 'The Conservative government want to cut the army by 10,000 troops, to the smallest number since pre-Napoleonic times. 'Liberal Democrats have actually supported them when they helped the Ukrainian army, that is good, we really need to get behind the Ukrainians. 'Be in no doubt, we think the nuclear deterrent should stay, but in the long term of course it would make a safer world if we could get rid of all nuclear weapons, I mean thats just, thats common sense.' Jankowicz has been appointed by the Biden administration to head the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board as executive director Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday praised President Joe Biden's new disinformation czar as 'qualified and neutral' despite a slew of Republicans criticizing her as partisan. Asked about that criticism on CNN's State of the Union, Mayorkas called Nina Jankowicz 'eminently qualified, a renowned expert in the field of disinformation.' 'And neutral?' host Dana Bash asked. Mayorkas answered, 'Absolutely so.' He also pledged the White House's new Disinformation Governance Board will not be used to monitor American citizens, despite mounting right-wing concerns that it will be a tool for censorship and surveillance. Conservatives have been voicing their opposition to the disinformation board since the Biden administration announced its creation last week. Jankowicz's appointment in particular has caught criticism, after her previous dismissal of reporting by the New York Post and DailyMail.com on Hunter Biden's laptop as a 'Trump campaign product.' The laptop's contents, some of which are reportedly linked to a federal tax fraud investigation into the president's son, had been dismissed in October 2020 by Democrats and mainstream media outlets as 'Russian disinformation' before being authenticated by the Washington Post earlier this year. A Wilson Center fellow who once advised the Ukrainian government, Jankowicz has also come under scrutiny for praising former British spy Christopher Steele. Steele is behind the notorious and now-debunked Russia dossier that purported Trump had strong ties with Moscow. Jankowicz also caught heat for an old tweet criticizing advertisements promoting mask-wearing at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against public mask-wearing at the time. Mayorkas said the board would not have 'operational authority' despite GOP claims it will be used to crack down on dissent "Will American citizens be monitored?" "No." CNN's @/DanaBashCNN presses Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the department creating a disinformation governance board that he says is meant to "address the threat of foreign state adversaries." @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/JLDNnbtsc7 CNN (@CNN) May 1, 2022 Prominent Republicans like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have compared the disinformation board to the 'Ministry of Truth' in George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984, claiming it's being done to silence right-wing voices. 'It's clear I mean, those criticisms are precisely the opposite of what this small working group within the Department of Homeland Security will do,' Mayorkas said on CNN's State of the Union. However, he acknowledged that the Biden administration 'probably could have done a better job of communicating what it does and does not do.' 'The fact is that disinformation that creates a threat to the security of the homeland is our responsibility to address, and this department has been addressing it for years.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week that it was creating the board in a bid to crack down on disinformation coming from Russia as well as disinformation spread by human smugglers to encourage migrants to attempt to cross the southern border. Biden's Homeland Security chief was forced to defend the new disinformation board after a slew of Republican criticism Mayorkas said Sunday that the board will not have 'operational authority' but was vague when asked about exactly what it will do. 'We know the problems but it's still not clear to me how this governance board will act,' host Dana Bash pressed. Mayorkas answered: 'So what it does, is it works to ensure that the way in which we address threats, the connectivity between threats and acts of violence are addressed without infringing on free speech, protecting civil rights and civil liberties, the right of privacy.' Many Republicans have compared it to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 'The board -- this working group, internal working group -- will draw from best practices and communicate those best practices to the operators, because the board does not have operational authority.' The Biden official gave a firm 'no' when asked whether Americans will be monitored. 'What it will do is gather together best practices in addressing the threat of disinformation from foreign state adversaries, from the cartels, and disseminate those best practices to the operators that have been executing and addressing this threat for years,' he said instead. He drilled down the point during a separate interview on Fox News Sunday, claiming his department was not the 'opinion police.' 'There are people in the department who have a diverse range of views, and theyre incredibly dedicated to the mission,' he said when pledging the board will not step on free speech. It comes days after Florida's GOP governor pledged his state would be 'fighting back' against the disinformation board and accused President Joe Biden of using it to attack his critics. Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas pledged to introduce legislation to combat the board 'You cannot have a Ministry of Truth in this country. Were not going to let Biden get away with this one. So we will be fighting back,' DeSantis said during a press conference. 'When youre not doing well, you have two options: You can try to do better. Or you can try to silence your critics. [Biden] is doing the latter.' Meanwhile, Republican Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton said he would introduce legislation to defund the board. 'The Federal Government has no business creating a Ministry of Truth,' Cotton wrote on Twitter Friday. 'The Department of Homeland Security's "Disinformation Board" is unconstitutional and unamerican, and I'll be introducing a bill to defund it.' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on the platform: 'The Biden administration's proposed Ministry of Truth is completely un-American.' 'Republicans have already introduced legislation to stop it, and we will force votes and a discharge petition to defund this Orwellian idea,' he added. Advertisement Britons didn't let the wet weather dampen their Bank Holiday spirits today as they enjoyed the first May holiday weekend for three years without pandemic restrictions. People braved the showers walking on Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, while umbrellas were on full display at the Central Promenade in Blackpool. Elsewhere, Wessex Morris Men celebrated May Day dawn above the head of the Cerne Abbas Giant and others gathered on Glastonbury Tor for the Gaelic festival of Beltane. Saturday morning saw a cloudy start, before heavy rain hit south-western England by the afternoon, with northern England and Scotland experiencing showers. The rain will clear in most areas by the evening, with spots of rain still for south-western England and for north-eastern Scotland. As the night progresses, mist and fog will develop widely, and by the early hours, it will be dry for all. It will be a cloudy night, with the odd clear spell in places and light winds. Bank Holiday Monday will be mostly dry and cloudy to start, with light rain for eastern Scotland and north-eastern England. Some parts of the UK will experience sunny intervals, including the East Midlands and Western Isles of Scotland. Rain and scattered showers will spread across the country through the afternoon, but by the evening, showers will be confined to northern and central England. Temperatures could reach up to 64.4F (18C) on Monday, although they are not expected to return to the highs seen earlier in the month, as rain gives way to dry weather across the country. David Oliver, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, told The Sun: 'A good deal of dry weather is expected on Monday with most areas only seeing some isolated showers and mild temperatures, widely in the mid-teens.' According to The Mirror, forecasters have also predicted a nine-day mini-heatwave starting on May 5 as temperatures could reach 20C to coincide with the local elections. Rain and scattered showers will spread across the country through the afternoon, but by the evening, showers will be confined to northern and central England (two women shelter from the rain in Cornwall) People brave the showers walking their dogs on Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today Umbrellas were on full display at the Central Promenade in Blackpool to protect against the showers Saturday morning saw a cloudy start, before heavy rain hit south-western England by the afternoon, with northern England and Scotland experiencing showers (two women stroll along Blackpool Central Pier with umbrellas) The Wessex Morris Men celebrate May Day dawn above the head of the Cerne Abbas Giant before parading through the village People gather on Glastonbury Tor to celebrate Beltane - the Gaelic May Day festival The Bank Holiday also triggered a pub rush, with 50million pints expected to be drunk in pubs over the long weekend, according to industry sales data. A source at a major UK pub company said: 'Our pubs had to get extra orders in. It's a bumper weekend thanks to one of the first Bank Holidays since Covid. Drinkers are making the most of it.' Luke Dearden, general manager of The Sydney Arms, Chelsea, west London, said: 'We've had to increase beer orders by 20 to 25 per cent this weekend. Breweries have been making sure we have enough stock. It's a big weekend.' A spokesperson from the British Beer & Pub Association said: 'The May bank holiday is providing a welcome boost to pubs, with customers enjoying their local.' This month has been the latest in the string of dry Aprils, with rainfall about 35 per cent lower than average, according to the Met Office. Predicted highs of below 68F (20C) may prove a disappointment to some after the Easter heatwave. On Good Friday, the temperature recorded at St James' Park in London was higher than in Ibiza. 'What we've seen this month is a long period of time with the UK under the influence of high pressure, bringing calm and settled weather, especially in the south,' the National Climate Information Centre's Dr Mark McCarthy said. However, this weekend's 'mixed bag of spring weather' - which Mr Miles called 'pretty standard' for late April - marks a return to normality after last year's Bank Holiday washout. Visitors enjoying a walk along the beach as light rain falls at the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset on a wet overcast day during the Bank Holiday weekend The rain will clear in most areas by the evening, with spots of rain still for south-western England and for north-eastern Scotland (big coats were needed, even on one dog in Cornwall) As the night progresses, mist and fog will develop widely, and by the early hours, it will be dry for all. It will be a cloudy night, with the odd clear spell in places and light winds (Blackpool Central Prom) Bank Holiday Monday will be mostly dry and cloudy to start, with light rain for eastern Scotland and north-eastern England. Some parts of the UK will experience sunny intervals, including the East Midlands and Western Isles of Scotland (surfers on Fistral beach in Cornwall) Beltane day marks the beginning of summer and was traditionally when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures May Day, a traditional day of celebrations for centuries, is most associated with towns and villages celebrating springtime fertility Visitors with ice cream outside a harbourside kiosk as light rain falls at the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset Temperatures could reach up to 18C (64.4F) on Monday, although they are not expected to return to the highs seen earlier in the month, as rain gives way to dry weather across the country (RNLI were out in force on Fistral Beach) The Bank Holiday also triggered a pub rush, with 50million pints expected to be drunk in pubs over the long weekend, according to industry sales data (revellers walk on the beach in Cornwall) A starling flies on to mans hand to take a bite of his pasty as light rain falls at the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset This month has been the latest in the string of dry Aprils, with rainfall about 35 per cent lower than average, according to the Met Office (a family enjoying a walk along the seafront in Dorset) Predicted highs of below 20C (68F) may prove a disappointment to some after the Easter heatwave. On Good Friday, the temperature recorded at St James' Park in London was higher than in Ibiza (two swimmers enjoy a dip inn the sea in Dorset) 'What we've seen this month is a long period of time with the UK under the influence of high pressure, bringing calm and settled weather, especially in the south,' the National Climate Information Centre's Dr Mark McCarthy said (visitors enjoying a walk along the pier in Dorset) Russian soldiers looted ancient Ukrainian gold while holding museum staff at gunpoint. A lab coat-wearing official led a squad of troops with machine guns into the Museum of Local Lore in occupied Melitopol, close to annexed Crimea on Friday. After inspecting thousands of the museum's most precious treasures with protective gloves and tweezers, the Russians took 198 with them. Brave staff hid the museum's 2,300-year-old Scythian gold pieces including a crown in a dark cellar. A pair of Scythian tiaras (left and right) depict heroic battle scenes in the nomadic tribe's gilded history. Reigning in the era of the ancient Greeks, they conquered much of Europe A soldier is pictured strolling out Mariupol's art museum with a bag of loot in tow last week Staff member Leila Ibrahimova said: 'We hid everything but somehow they found it.' When soldiers pointed guns at a caretaker and insisted he take them to the cellar, the man still refused, the New York Times reported. But the museum's new, Russian military-appointed director led the soldiers to the priceless gold. It's thought Putin will 'relocate' the Scythian treasures to Crimea in an effort to strengthen the region's cultural ties to Russia. The Melitopol Museum of Local Lore was the scene of the twisted theft on Friday (file image) A toy Kalashnikov rifle hangs over the neck of a stone exhibit at Mariupol's looted art museum The Scythians were a family of fearsome nomadic tribes who lived in Ukraine, central Asia and the Middle East between the 7th century BC and the 2nd century AD. Creators of the centaur myth and skilled users of the bow and arrow, the Scythians conquered swathes of Europe during the reign of the ancient Greeks, long before Genghis Khan or Charlemagne. They were also among history's most relentless punishers. Scythian soldiers scalped their slaughtered enemies and tied the skin to their horses They then rubbed it in their hands till it was soft enough to be used as a handkerchief, according to an ancient Greek historian. Herodotus wrote in 430 BC: '[A Scythian rider] hangs the handkerchiefs on the bridle of his horse, and is very proud of them. The best man is the man who has the greatest number.' A battle scene is depicted on the top of a golden Scythian comb, which is held in St Petersburg Mayor Ivan Fedorov, whose city has been occupied by Russian troops from Crimea since February 26, said: 'The orcs have taken hold of our Scythian gold. 'We dont know where they took it. We dont know about its fate. But we hope we can get it back.' Mr Fedorov was imprisoned and 'psychologically tortured' for six days before he was swapped in a prisoner exchange. The Melitopol mayor told Pope Francis during an Easter visit: 'I understood that for Russians my life and the lives of civilians were worth zero.' The Mariupol landscape art museum was wrecked and looted by Russian soldiers on Thursday Describing his detention by Russian forces, Fedorov said: 'They came to me at night with five or seven soldiers and spoke for about four or five hours, hard dialogue.' 'They wanted to make an example of me about what would happen if we did not agree to what the Russians wanted,' the mayor said. It was 'psychological' rather than 'physical' torture, he said. 'Russian soldiers assumed that they would be welcomed but they were not... and that is why the Russians were very, very angry,' he said. 'There is no food in my city. There is no pharmacy. Half of my city is wrecked. More than 200 people have been kidnapped. It is not safe to walk the streets,' he said. Chilling CCTV footage showed the moment Fedorov had a plastic bag placed over his head as he was escorted out of a building and across Melitopol's Victory Square by 10 armed men. Dozens of heroic Ukrainian residents went out to protest against the mayor's kidnapping in Melitopol last month, with video showing the civilians brawling with Russian troops. The Turkish occupation state is intensifying its attacks with heavy weapons and drones on the regions of northern and eastern Syria and on areas in southern Kurdistan, with the aim of undermining the democratic nations project in the regions of northern and eastern Syria and in Shingal, and occupying more Syrian and Iraqi lands. In this regard, Mahmoud Buzan, head of the Relations Office of the Syrian Kurdish Left Party, said, "We condemn the criminal act carried out by the Turkish enemy on the regions of north and east Syria in particular and Syria in general, which is considered a war of genocide for the peoples of the region." He added, "The peoples of the region are not terrorists if they are Arabs or Kurds, as Erdogan and his mercenaries claim, and the peoples of the region are the ones who fought terrorism and planted the brotherhood of peoples in the region and coexistence." He continued, "We appeal to all countries of the world, democracy and freedom-loving countries, and the Human Rights Committee to do their duty towards the peoples of north and east Syria in particular and Syria in general, as Erdogan seeks genocidal wars." Mahmoud Buzan explained that "Turkey's history is clear from time immemorial, and everyone knows its policy towards the region, and intentions of fascism and its decadent criminality against the peoples of the region. Turkey wants to repeat the Ottoman history and differentiate between the peoples of the region as it did in the past." In turn, the head of the public relations office of the Kurdistan Republican Party in Raqqa, Ahmed Nouri, said, "Turkey is conducting a war of extermination against the peoples of the region and a process of demographic change in the region. The aim of these actions is to thwart any democratic project in the region and serve its expansionist Ottoman project at the expense of the Syrian and Iraqi lands, and all of these actions Violation of international law and international covenants. "Turkey is trying to weaken the region more broadly by using the method of siege, demographic change and restricting river waters to put pressure on the region, and to complete its colonial projects that it has been following since the beginning of the Syrian crisis," Ahmed Nouri said. Nuri called on the international community to put an end to Turkish transgressions in the region, abide by international agreements, stop all violations, and abide by human rights standards. A ANHA Advertisement Violence erupted in Paris today where 45 people were arrested as thousands of May Day demonstrators clashed with police to protest against the re-election of President Emmanuel Macron by attacking banks and throwing tear gas and fireworks at a McDonald's restaurant. Protest marches have been held around the world to mark International Workers' Day and while some remained peaceful parades, others escalated into violent clashes and destruction. At least 5,000 officers wearing riot gear were on duty in Paris on Sunday - with water cannons and armoured cars also deployed on the streets of the French capital. Tensions erupted in Paris, as some demonstrators smashed windows at some banks, a fast-food restaurant and a real estate agency, apparently partially the work of masked men dressed in black. French police moved in, firing rounds of tear gas. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 45 people had been detained so far. Eight police officers were injured, he said, calling the perpetrators of the violence 'thugs' who were trying 'to stop the right to demonstrate.' Tear gas and baton charges were used against a mob close to Place de la Bastille, as banks and a McDonalds fast food outlet were attacked by protesters dressed in black hoods and wearing balaclavas. Before the violence erupted, trade unionists and citizens carried banners that read 'Retirement at 60, Freeze Prices', 'Retirement Before Arthritis' and 'Macron, Get Out' in response to the newly re-elected President's plans of raising the retirement age to 65. 'The violence appears organised and directed at specific targets,' said an eye witness. 'Guys with black hoods and balaclavas are smashing stuff up while others scream for Macron to resign.' Today's riots followed street violence breaking out a week ago, when Mr Macron won a second term by beating far-Right rival Marine Le Pen in the presidential election. Macron beat Le Pen 58.5 per cent to 41.5 per cent to win the re-election last Sunday - but Le Pen produced her highest-ever level of support in her three attempts to become France's leader. His win was made official on Wednesday and he is yet to hold a Cabinet meeting before setting a date for his inauguration ceremony, which must be held by May 13. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 45 people had been detained so far. Eight police officers were injured, he said, calling the perpetrators of the violence 'thugs' who were trying 'to stop the right to demonstrate' A fire burns in the road during clashes between protesters and police on the sidelines of the annual May Day (Labour Day) rally, marking International Workers' Day, in Paris Protesters march during the annual May Day (Labour Day) rally, marking International Workers' Day, in Paris on May A journalist runs away from a street fire during clashes of the annual May Day demonstration in Paris, France, May 1 A police officer dodges a flying chair as riot police clash with demonstrators marking International Workers' Day during May Day demonstrations on May 01 Demonstrators clash with Police forces during the annual May Day demonstration in Paris, France, 01 May 2022 Police forces use Flash-Ball gun during clashes of the annual May Day demonstration in Paris, France, 01 May 2022 Pictured: A protester kicks a tear gas canister during the annual May Day demonstrations in Paris, France on Sunday afternoon At least 5000 officers wearing riot gear were on duty in Paris on Sunday - with water cannons and armoured cars also deployed on the streets of the French capital (Pictured) Violence erupted in France today as thousands of rioters used traditional May Day protests to demonstrate against the re-election of President Emmanuel Macron. Pictured: A protester in Paris holds a banner that translates as 'Empty fridge! No more!' at a burning barricade during a May Day march marking International Workers' Day Pictured: A protester aims a firework during clashes with police on the sidelines of the annual May Day rally, marking International Workers' Day, in Paris Pictured: A fire of burning trash is seen in the street during the traditional May Day union march in Paris, France At least 5000 officers were on duty in Paris alone on Sunday, with water cannons and armoured cars also deployed on the streets of the French capital Tear gas and baton charges were used against a mob close to Place de la Bastille, as banks and a McDonalds fast food outlet were attacked by protesters dressed in black hoods and wearing balaclavas (Pictured) Pictured: Protesters gather around a burning object in the road on the sidelines of the annual May Day rally in Paris, France Pictured: One protester holds an umbrella and a yellow vest as thousands of protestors march to mark International Workers' Dry on Sunday The remnants of a black desk chair is pictured on fire on the pavement as protestors walk by on Sunday afternoon Pictured: A protester attempts to stop firefighters from putting out a fire amid clashes on the sidelines of the annual May Day rally in Paris, France 'The May Day mobilisation must be as massive as possible,' said Philippe Martinez, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labour France's largest trade union. 'Beyond the unions, citizens must take to the streets so as to make sure their social and environmental demands are made loud and clear.' Marches and meetings were being held across France, including in major cities beyond Paris, such as Marseille, Nantes and Toulouse. Radical groups due to take part included the Yellow Vests, who were behind regular riots in major cities such as Paris throughout Mr Macron's first term. Anarchists who frequently target buildings including banks and upmarket shops were also due to infiltrate the crowds. 'Some 5000 police and gendarmes are on duty, and they include riot control units,' said a Paris police source. 'May Day usually attracts crowds of up to 20,000, and this year is not expected to be any different.' Pictured: Demonstrators walk by a bus station window with a tag reading 'Burn Capital' during a May Day demonstration march from Republique, Bastille to Nation, in Paris Pictured: A man is seen putting out a fire in front of a business on the Boulevard Voltaire during clashes between protesters and police on the sidelines of the annual May Day rally in Paris, France Pictured: A protester throws a projectile near a fire amid clashes with police in Paris on Sunday afternoon Pictured: Rioters are seen wearing black hoods, scarves and balaclavas as they set fires across Paris in France Pictured: Protesters throw projectiles during clashes with police on the Place Leon Blum on the sidelines of the annual May Day rally in Paris, France French riot police forces take security measures during the annual May Day (Labor Day) rally in Paris, France on May 1, 2022. French riot police forces take security measures during the annual May Day (Labor Day) rally in Paris, France on May 1, 2022 Demonstrators light red flares as they take part in the annual May Day march in Paris, France, 01 May 2022. Labour Day, also known as International Workers' Day or May Day, is observed annually on 01 May worldwide to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers as well as fight for laborers rights There is particular anger at the spiralling cost of living, and Macron's plans to raise the pension age from 62, up to 65. Others including the Yellow Vests are unhappy with the entire system of government in France, saying that too much power is invested in the president. Jean-Luc Melenchon, the hard-Left politician who came third in this year's presidential election, was one of those leading the May Day march in Paris on Sunday. It was between two of the great protest squares in the city Republic and Nation. Melenchon has called for all Left Wing parties to 'unite, and to regain the will to win', in time for legislative elections in June. The Governing Mayor of Berlin Franziska Giffey today attended a rally to mark International Workers' Day at Brandenburg in Berlin, Germany Pictured: Members of various labour unions take part in a May Day rally to mark the international day of the workers, in Sao Paulo, Brazil Demonstrators at Trafalgar Square in London were pictured holding banners that read 'Boycott P&O' following the disgraced operators decision to replace the nearly 800 experienced seafarers with cheap agency staff The traditional May Day protests are taking place around the world in London, Germany, Brazil and Cuba with tens of thousands turning up for the organised rallies. Pictured: Protestors in London hold a banner during a May Day march on Sunday Pictured: International Workers' Day protestors gather this afternoon in Trafalgar Square, London Mr Melenchon's aim is to deprive Mr Macron of a working majority in the National Assembly, so making it harder for him to govern. Meanwhile, the governing Mayor of Berlin Franziska Giffey attended a rally today to mark International Workers' Day at Bradenburg in Germany anfd May Day was in 1889 chosen as the date for International Workers' Day by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International. The traditional May Day protests are taking place around the world in London, Germany, Brazil and Cuba with tens of thousands turning up for the organised rallies. Demonstrators at Trafalgar Square in London were pictured holding banners that read 'Boycott P&O' following the disgraced operators decision to replace the nearly 800 experienced seafarers with cheap agency staff. The London website read: 'May Day will be celebrating everything workers achieved through the Covid pandemic, those hit by it, and all our continuing battles to save jobs, public services and for fair distribution of the wealth workers create. 'The spivs and chancer friends of Government made a killing during Covid. Downing Street became a party centre. Ordinary people took the hits financially and medically. Workers health & safety is under attack. The Grenfell fire exposed what Government really think about protecting ordinary people. 'The environmental crisis poses a threat to us all, hitting the poorest most whilst the rich exploit the planet. The need for international solidarity has never been greater with so many facing physical threat and economic hardship.' Democratic Senator Bob Menendez said that Title 42 is 'not the solution' for the mass migration surge as Republicans push to keep the pandemic-era policy to stop a potential tripling in already record-breaking numbers. 'Title 42 is not the solution, it's part of the problem,' the New Jersey lawmaker told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday morning. 'There needs to be a comprehensive immigration plan,' he continued to host Chuck Todd. 'Our Republican colleagues, however, they want the issue, they don't want the solution.' Many Democrats are joining Republicans in calls for the Biden administration to keep Title 42 in place after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last month that the policy will end on May 23. The Democrats who oppose the policy ending claim that there is not a good alternative to quell the record-breaking surge in migration at the southern border. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Fox News Sunday that 'there is unanimity about the fact that the [immigration] system is broken.' Mayorkas also told Todd in his interview with Meet the Press Sunday morning that he 'respectfully disagrees' with Republican criticism over allegedly prematurely ending Title 42. 'What have you said to the Democratic senators, more of whom particularly those running for reelection who have questioned the plan about Title 42?' Todd asked the secretary of the department threading immigration agencies. 'They feel like that there's sort of a disconnect,' the NBC anchor continued. 'They think the plan that you've outlined is a bit unrealistic. Do you think their criticism is fair?' 'Well, it's not an issue of fair or not,' Mayorkas conceded. 'I respectfully disagree with the criticism.' Title 42 is a public health policy that allows for immigration agencies to expel migrants from the U.S. without hearing their asylum claims in the midst of a public health emergency. It was enacted during Donald Trump's presidency in March 2020 and has been upheld and defended in court by President Joe Biden. Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez said Sunday morning: 'Title 42 is not the solution, it's part of the problem... Our Republican colleagues, however, they want the issue, they don't want the solution' Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (center) led a GOP delegation to the southern border last week as the party pushes the Biden administration not to end pandemic-era Title 42 A caravan of migrants from different countries walk through Chiapas, Mexico on April 26, 2022 as they head to the U.S. to claim asylum as Biden's immigration agencies plan to end Title 42 later this month WATCH: Title 42 "is not the solution; it's part of the problem," @SenatorMenendez says on #MTP. "There needs to be a comprehensive immigration plan. Our Republican colleagues however, they want the issue -- they don't want the solution." pic.twitter.com/JN3jYxGnl0 Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) May 1, 2022 Menendez, a Democrat who does want Title 42 to end, argues that while it is still in place, migrants are able to try and re-enter multiple times without facing legal precautions because their asylum claims were never processed and denied or approved. 'Who, who wants to control the border would permit a provision that allows countless numbers of times an individual can try to cross the border?' the senator questioned. 'That's what Title 42 does.' 'There's no permanent adjudication of those who have a right under asylum and those who do not have a right and then would have an order of deportation and if they try to come back there would be criminal penalties for it. That would stop it,' Menendez assured. Mayorkas insisted Sunday morning that there is a plan to stop the surge and fix the 'broken' immigration system, but explained that he will not lay it out for the public for fear of adversaries using that information. 'You know, we shared with individuals, with the public, a concept of operations, and they were concerned that that was not enough. They didn't see enough, that we don't have a plan,' the secretary told NBC News. 'We've had a plan for months, as I mentioned since fall of last year, for the eventual end of Title 42. So what I did was I published a 20 page memorandum that set forth greater details about our plan.' 'But what I'm not going to do, Chuck, is I'm not going to provide an extraordinarily comprehensive blueprint of everything we're doing because let's remember, we have an adversary. We have the cartels that are exploiting vulnerable immigrants for profit, and I'm not going to provide them a blueprint with what we're doing.' Even though the CDC made the decision to end the policy, Biden will pay the political price. The administration has said if courts decide the policy should remain for now, it will comply and extend Title 42. Republicans point out hypocrisy in Biden's team ending Title 42 without also putting an end to the declared public health emergency and there are a few bipartisan bills on Capitol Hill right now attempting to extend the policy until the declaration also ends. Mayorkas told Fox News host Bret Baier on Sunday morning that it is time to get back to normal U.S. immigration policies, which includes hearing asylum claims from migrants who cross the border and say they fear for their life in returning to their home country. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas explained to Fox News Sunday that asylum proceedings must continue despite warning it will lead to a tripling in illegal crossings when Title 42 ends Biden has face increased criticism for lack of action at the southern border, leading to record-setting illegal immigration figures of upwards of 2.5 million since he took office last January. In March alone, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered 221,303 migrants crossing the southern border from Mexico into the U.S., up from the 165,894 in February. The previous decades-high was set in July 2021, about six months after Biden took office, when CBP encountered 213,593 migrants. Internal estimates predict that the number of crossings could rise from the current 8,000 each day to 18,000 per day once Title 42 ends later this month others claim crossing could close to triple as early summer tends to produce the highest number of crossings each year. Images emerged recently of caravans of migrants from several different countries heading to the U.S.-Mexico border from the south. The matter is further complicated by a slew of Ukrainian migrants fleeing to the U.S. from Eastern Europe after Russia launched a full-scaled invasion in late February. Roughly 100 women and children have been evacuated from a besieged steel plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed as he hailed the 'first real ceasefire' since the war broke out. A rescue operation is finally under way for 1,000 civilians trapped underneath the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol after survivors told of the hell inside. It is feared that any who remain will starve to death if they are not evacuated soon as food is rationed and water supplies are '90 per cent used up'. The United Nations confirmed it had begun the 'safe passage operation' with the International Committee of the Red Cross in co-ordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials on Friday. Around 100 have made it out of the Soviet-era plant, which has been besieged since April 16 although many have been there for nearly two months. But roughly 2,000 remain trapped, of which half are Ukrainian fighters making their last stand. But in a video address on Sunday, Zelensky said: 'For the first time there were two days of real ceasefire on this territory. More than a hundred civilians have already been evacuated - women and children first of all.' Azovstal steel plant employee Valeria, evacuated from Mariupol, hugs her son Matvey, who had earlier left the city with his relatives, as they meet today at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne (pictured) This satellite image shows damage at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Ukraine (pictured) 'Today we finally managed to start the evacuation of people from Azovstal,' Zelensky said in a video address, adding that they were due to arrive in Ukraine-controlled Zaporizhzhia on Monday Azovstal steel plant employee Natalia Usmanova, 37, (pictured) who was evacuated from Mariupol, reacts upon arrival at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne today He added: 'Today we finally managed to start the evacuation of people from Azovstal. After many weeks of negotiations, after many attempts, different meetings, calls and proposals. 'There was not a single day when we did not try to find a solution that would save our people. Today, for the first time in all the days of the war, this vital corridor has started working. For the first time there were two days of real ceasefire. 'More than a hundred civilians have already been evacuated - women and children fleeing hostilities there. At Azovstal. Given all the complexities of the process, the first evacuees will arrive in Zaporizhzhia tomorrow morning. 'Our team will meet them there. I hope that tomorrow all the necessary conditions will be met to continue the evacuation of people from Mariupol. We plan to start at 8 am.' Russia's defence ministry gave a lower figure of 80 civilians, adding: 'Those who wished to leave for areas controlled by the Kyiv regime were handed over to UN and ICRC (Red Cross) representatives.' He said he hoped the evacuations could continue Monday, adding: 'We plan to start at 8am (0600 GMT).' Saviano Abreu, humanitarian spokesman for the UN, warned that the situation was 'very complex'. The operation relies on Moscow keeping evacuation corridors open and allowing the escaping civilians through checkpoints back to Ukraine. Traumatised civilians and soldiers who have been sheltering under the steelworks told of being forced to wrap the dead in bags and leave them to decompose in the same bunkers as the survivors. They are said to have 'forgotten what it means to wash' and must risk getting shot if they want to go to the toilet. One fighter told the German newspaper Bild: 'The last time I washed myself was two months ago. We used cleaning wipes, but there are none left. Azovstal steel plant employee Natalia Usmanova (left), 37, who was evacuated from Mariupol, is seen along with other evacuees near a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) 'The biggest problem is going to the toilet. In the bunkers, everything has been clogged for a long time. We have to climb out with buckets. If you have to go to the toilet, you become a target.' Vladimir Putin refused to storm the site and instead ordered his troops to block it off so that 'even a fly cannot get through'. The fighter said artillery, air and tank attacks against the plant 'won't stop at all', adding: 'If you leave the bunker, even at night, you could be detected by a Russian drone and become a target for a mortar.' The soldier claimed the Russians were deliberately targeting medical facilities, adding: 'Urgently needed medical drugs have been buried under the debris. The Russians know exactly where there's a hospital, and they regularly drop heavy bombs on it.' He said those trapped were limited to one meal a day either porridge or tinned food but the rations were running out and 'there are only a few left'. They must also go to a 'dangerous' area to get water which 'could also be bombarded any time'. The soldier said the mood was 'nervous', adding: 'We hope that a third state will get us out because otherwise we'll stay here forever.' Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of Ukraine's Azov Regiment, called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. 'We don't know why they are not taken away and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed,' he said. Despite the latest civilian rescue attempts, there are also fears for those who do make it out. Azovstal steel plant employee Maxim, evacuated from Mariupol, hugs his son Matvey, who had earlier left the city with his relatives, as they meet at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) Women and children have arrived in Bezimenne, a village east of Mariupol controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, accompanied by UN and Red Cross representatives. It raises fears that they may not be transported to safety and face the risk of ending up in Russian labour camps. Announcing the first evacuations on Saturday, Russia's defence ministry said that 'all of the civilians were given accommodation, food and necessary medical help'. But it did not say where they had been taken. It also released a video of a convoy of cars and buses marked with the letter 'Z' which is used on Russian tanks driving at night. Last night, the UN confirmed details of the operation, saying civilians would now go to Zaporizka, west of Mariupol, adding: 'It was agreed with both parties to the conflict that civilians who had been stranded for nearly two months in Azovstal women, children and the elderly will be evacuated to Zaporizka where they will receive humanitarian support, including psychological services. 'The operation started on Friday with a UN/International Committee of the Red Cross convoy travelling 230km from Zaporizka to reach the plant on Saturday. 'We will not provide further details at this point to guarantee the safety of the civilians and humanitarians in the convoy.' Steel plant employee Natalia Usmanova, 37, who was evacuated from Mariupol, arrives at a temporary accommodation centre in Bezimenne today (pictured) Neither the UN or the ICRC have said how many civilians they are transporting and it was not immediately clear why the sides had given different figures. One Russian news report put the number of civilians still in the plant at more than 500. The Russian defence ministry earlier confirmed that civilians were leaving, releasing a video that showed cars and buses travelling in the dark marked with a 'Z', the letter used by the Russian forces in the conflict. He also thanked those who have helped to organise the humanitarian corridor. President Zelensky added: 'We will continue to do everything to evacuate our people from Azovstal, from Mariupol in general.' Approximately 60 Ukrainian civilians were evacuated from an area near the steelworks over the past two days. The civilians have been receiving refreshments and care at the Bezimenne camp after weeks of suffering. Natalia Usmanova, 37, bursts into tears on arrival at the temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) Azovstal steel plant employee Maxim, evacuated from Mariupol, hugs his son Matvey, who had earlier left the city with his relatives, as they meet at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne (pictured) The evacuation is being coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine and Russia, but no more details are being released for the safety of evacuees, said UN spokesperson Saviano Abreu. It is believed that there are as many as 100,000 people still in the blockaded Mariupol. The steel plant was the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Mr Abreu said that Zaporizhzia, a city 141 miles northwest of Mariupol, was the destination of the evacuation effort. And he said that women, children and the elderly- who have been stranded for nearly two months- will be evacuated to the city. They will receive immediate humanitarian support there, including psychological services. The besieged city of Mariupol has seen some of the worst suffering of the war. In the opening weeks of the invasion, a maternity hospital was hit with a lethal Russian airstrike and hundreds of people were reported killed in the bombing of a theatre where civilians were taking shelter. Mr Abreu said of the evacuation: 'As the operations are still ongoing, we will not provide further details at this point, to guarantee the safety of the civilians and humanitarians in the convoy,' He added: 'The U.N. will also continue to push for the safe passage out of Mariupol city for all those civilians who wish to leave.' Valeria (right), evacuated from Mariupol, hugs her sister Aleksandra as they meet at a temporary accommodation centre during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the village of Bezimenne (pictured) The U.N. said the convoy to evacuate civilians started on Friday, traveling some 140 miles (230 kilometers) before reaching the plant in Mariupol on Saturday morning. Today, a team with Doctors Without Borders was at a reception centre for displaced people in Zaporizhzia, in preparation for the U.N. convoy's arrival, if successful. Those who have fled Russian-occupied areas have described their vehicles being fired on. And Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of shelling evacuation routes on which the two sides had agreed. Russia's high-stakes offensive in coastal southern Ukraine and the country's eastern industrial heartland has Ukrainian forces fighting village-by-village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling. Steel plant employee Maxim hugs his son Matvey after being reunited with him in Bezimenne at a temporary accommodation centre today (pictured) Civil evacuees sit in a bus in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Bezimenne yesterday (pictured) Ms Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to succeed Biden, is the most senior American lawmaker to travel to Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24. Yesterday's visit came just days after Russia launched rockets at Kyiv during a visit by U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Today, during a news conference in the city of Rzeszow, Poland, Pelosi said that she and other members of a U.S congressional delegation met with Zelensky in Kyiv for three hours. She added that they brought him 'a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership.' Today, during a news conference in the city of Rzeszow, Poland, Pelosi (pictured) said that she and other members of a U.S congressional delegation met with Zelensky in Kyiv for three hours Steel plant worker Valeria hugs her son Matvey after being reunited with him in Bezimenne today (pictured) Sharing a hug: Matvey and Valeria embrace today in Bezimenne after fleeing the beseiged city of Mariupol (pictured) Rep. Jason Crow, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: 'Weapons, weapons and weapons.' The Colorado Democrat said: 'We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so.' After Russian forces failed to capture Kyiv, they have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a key target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said: 'All the leaders of the free world know what Russia has done to Mariupol. And Russia will not go unpunished for this,' He warned that Russia was 'gathering additional forces for new attacks against our military in the east of the country.' Civil evacuees accompanied by Red Cross personnel walk in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Bezimenne yesterday (pictured) Children are seen with a cat at a temporary accommodation centre for evacuees in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) A man looks out of a bus door before departing from a temporary accommodation centre for evacuees in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) A woman is seen inside a bus before departing from a temporary accommodation centre for evacuees today (pictured) Yesterday, Ukrainian regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. In a video on the regiment's Telegram channel, he said: 'We don't know why they are not taken away and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed.' Today, people in Zaporizhzhia visited cemeteries, when Ukrainians observe the Orthodox Christian day of the dead, undeterred by air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home. Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said: 'If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, `It's not possible, they're worse than the Germans. 'All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks.' Victoria Kardeldevska talks to a clients at her flower stand at the Kapustyanyy cemetery during the day Ukrainians mark as the day of the dead, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine today (pictured) Vera Velakanova, left, and Lyudmila Vondarenko eat some food at the Kapustyanyy cemetery during the day that Ukrainians mark as the day of the dead, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine today (pictured) As the battle unfolds in eastern Ukraine, it has become increasingly difficult for reporters to get a full picture of what is happening because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it dangerous to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested the offensive in the Donbas region, which includes Mariupol, was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and the separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Service members of pro-Russian troops walk near a temporary accommodation centre for evacuees in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) A boy looks through a bus window before departing from a temporary accommodation centre for evacuees during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) Images and pictures from inside the Mariupol steel plant shared by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands are among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed unidentified men with stained bandages; others had open wounds or amputated limbs. Within the steel plant, the women said that a skeleton medical staff was treating at least 600 wounded people. The women identified their husbands as members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine's National Guard. They said that some of the wounds were rotting with gangrene. A woman sits with children as evacuees, including civilians who left the area near Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, arrive at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) Children are seen with a cat at a temporary accommodation centre for evacuees in the village of Bezimenne today (pictured) Meanwhile, the Belgorod regional governor said a fire broke out today at a Russian defense ministry facility in the southern Belgorod region, around 30 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. In a Telegram post, Vyacheslav Gladkov said emergency responders were working at the site, where he said one resident sustained minor injuries and seven residential buildings suffered 'varying degrees of damage.' The defense ministry did not immediately comment on the incident. Elsewhere, the governor of Russia's Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine, today said on Telegram that a railway bridge on a regional line used by freight trains had been damaged in 'an act of sabotage.' Roman Starovoyt did not identify the alleged perpetrators, but said a criminal investigation had been opened into the case. A woman and child stand with a dog next to one of the buses used to evacuate civilians Ukrainian civilians peer from our of a bus near a temporary-camp in the Donetsk Region A woman sits with two children among bags and a rolled-up blanket, after leaving an area near the Azovstal steel plant Civilians who left the area near Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol walk at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne in the Donetsk Region A woman holds a pet carrier as evacuees arrive at the temporary accommodation centre Civilians walk among newly-erected tent forming the temporary accommodation at the camp A young woman strokes a cat at the camp, as an armed soldier stands nearby Civilians walk accompanied by a service member of pro-Russian troops and a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross after arriving at the camp A woman carries bags across the camp after arriving from the area near Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol Civilians who left the area near Azovstal steel plant are now at the temporary camp Blue tents have been set up to house the civilians who have been evacuated from Mariupol A woman and child peer into a white tent in the camp in the village of Bezimenne A dog runs across the camp as civilians head into one of the tents that has been set up on site Two groups totalling around 60 people were evacuated from near the steelworks, and are now in the temporary camp. Young children were among those evacuated from the plant - where people cowered underground, huddling together under blankets in the plant's bunkers and tunnels as the shelling tore their city apart. Outside blue tents, two children sat looking pensive as they waited, the boy playing with a lighter and heavily armed men looking on. One woman clasped her hands to her face in emotion. A young woman reached out to stroke a cat. A row of light blue tents has been set up on site, and there is a convoy with U.N. and Russian military vehicles. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Thursday that intense discussions were under way to enable the evacuation of Azovstal. Two groups of civilians left the residential area around the Azovstal works on Saturday, the Russian defence ministry confirmed. And earlier today, Ukrainian fighter, Captain Sviatoslav Palamar, confirmed 20 women and children were successfully evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol in a special rescue operation. Armed service members of pro-Russian troops stand guard near one of the arrival buses Service members of pro-Russian troops stand guard near the temporary accommodation centre A armed service member of pro-Russian troops guards the camp, after around 50 civilians arrived yesterday Pro-Russian troops stand on top of a tank at the evacuation camp today Last week, a Ukrainian soldier holed up in the Azovstal steel plant pleaded for the West to rescue everyone trapped in the complex as the allied forces did at Dunkirk in the famous Second World War operation. Commander Serhiy Volyna, who is among Ukrainian marines defending the city from Russian advances, urged Western leaders to 'save the garrison of Mariupol' and 'carry out an extraction to rescue' hundreds of civilians and soldiers trapped in the steel plant. Volyna compared the steps needed to save those in Mariupol to 'Operation Dynamo', where an estimated 338,000 Allied troops were rescued from beaches in Dunkirk, northern France, in 1940 after being bombarded by German troops. Volyna said there are more than 600 injured Ukrainian soldiers and hundreds of civilians including children in the steel plant, the last Ukrainian pocket of resistance in the strategic port city. He said the situation in the steel plant, which was under a renewed attack by Russian forces on Wednesday, is dire with no medicine to help the injured and not enough water and food for those trapped there. Volyna, from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, urged world leaders to help the civilians including women and children and Ukrainian soldiers to flee and take them to safety. The desperate plea came as an aide to the mayor of Mariupol, who said Russian forces had renewed their attacks on the Azovstal steel plant. Volyna said in a video: 'There are more than 600 injured guys in our group in various conditions. They really need medical help. The conditions here are not adequate, and there are no medicines, nor personnel, who could help them. 'We also have injured civilians, who we're trying to help as best we can. There are also hundreds of civilians here and dozens of children. There are lots of handicapped people here, a lot of old people. 'It's a very difficult situation. There is a major problem with water food, various other obstacles, a lack of troops and ammunition.' Volyna said he has previously pleaded with diplomats, leaders around the world and Pope Francis to help them evacuate from Mariupol. The desperate plea came as an aide to the mayor of Mariupol, who said Russian forces had renewed their attacks on the Azovstal steel plant on Wednesday. Pictured: Smoke rises above the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol on April 25 He added: 'I shouted as loud as I could to have our cause heard and to get them to apply 'procedures'. Many say they don't understand what these procedures are.' Volyna compared the desperately needed evacuation to the evacuation of around 340,000 Allied soldiers that were stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk between May 27 and June 4, 1940 after the Nazis pummelled them with artillery. The daring rescue mission saw Navy personnel and civilians travel from Britain in boats of all kinds to rescue the soldiers. The little ships were meant to bring soldiers to the larger ships, but some ended up ferrying people all the way back to England Volyna said: 'As an example, I want to point to the rescue operation in 1940 in WWII. The allies, Great Britain and France, ended up on the French coast surrounded by German troops, and Hitler personally commanded the attack to be halted to allow an allied evacuation operation to be prepared. 'More than 300,000 people were saved in this evacuation, which was carried out as quickly as possible with all manner of ships and civilian boats. 'They saved people civilians and soldiers and other people and organisations, to whom it really mattered.' He added: 'Civilians are dying here with us in bunkers, houses, high-rises, where they are just being shot and blown up by people who may or may not even know they are there. 'This is a huge problem. So many people died in this city. The city is basically wiped off the face of the earth. We are counting on you. Thank you.' Wrecked cars are seen in the city of Mariupol on April 26 as Russia continued to bombard the city On Wednesday, Russian forces were continuing to pound the steel works, with Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the city mayor, saying there had been no let-up in air strikes on the Azovstal plant despite Russian President Vladimir Putin saying there was no need to storm it after declaring victory in Mariupo 'Air attacks on Azovstal are not subsiding. No ceasefire, but attempts to storm again and again. Despite the statements (by Putin),' Andryushchenko wrote on the Telegram messaging app. 'At the same time, street fighting continues again in the sector between the Azovstal plant's management (buildings) to the street.' Local officials said much of Mariupol has been destroyed in weeks of Russian bombardment and siege since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, and that about 100,000 civilians were still in the city. Ukrainian officials described the situation in Mariupol, a strategic port on the Sea of Azov, as a 'humanitarian catastrophe'. Andryushchenko said on Wednesday that no agreements had been reached on trying to evacuate civilians from Mariupol. Many previous efforts to arrange a ceasefire to allow residents to leave the city have broken down A mother who went on hunger strike for 21 days to secure her Ukrainian best friend a visa has spoken of her relief after their reunion in the UK. Kristina Korniiuk, 34, of Kyiv, arrived at the Cambridge home of Rend Platings today from Poland after a journey which took more than 24 hours. Ms Platings applied for a visa for her friend on the first day the Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched on March 18. But the mother-of-one's desperate wait for the Home Office to take action prompted her to launch a hunger strike Ms Korniiuk - whose family remain in Ukraine - has now been granted a visa and the pair have been tearfully reunited at the Cambridge mother's home which she painted in the colours of the Ukraine flag to celebrate. Cambridge-based campaigner Rend Platings (right) and her daughter Samantha with her Ukrainian best friend Kristina Korniiuk (left) as they are reunited at her home in Cambridge Mother-of-one Ms Platings, right, with daughter Samantha, middle, whose house is painted in the colours of the Ukraine flag, said it is both 'wonderful' and 'surreal' to have her friend, Kristina, right, by her side Ms Platings, who went on hunger strike for 21 days after the visa application was made for her friend, said their reunion was 'amazing'. She told the PA news agency: 'For me it feels really, really wonderful. It's a little bit surreal. And it's kind of quite hard to believe. 'But you know what, I've always wanted her to come and to show her Cambridge. 'It's just a shame it was in this situation, but on balance we're happier that she's safe. And I think it's just the right thing to do for her. 'I hope that she'll be able to make the most out of it and find that she makes friends over here and that she, instead of losing her country, she kind of gains another community that she can become close to. 'Then hopefully we'll all be able to visit her back in Ukraine when this is all over.' The British Iraqi businesswoman told the Financial Times on day eight of her hunger strike - April 8 - the fault lay with the Home Office having technical issues. She claimed they acknowledged the application for Ms Korniiuk and did a criminal-background check in her weeks worth of wait. She said: 'That would mean having to admit they have made a mistake. But it would make a huge amount of difference to people who are waiting with bombs going off all around them and who are in fear for their lives in Ukraine.' Reflecting on the moment she saw her friend (left) on Sunday morning, Ms Platings (right) said: 'I think the first thing I felt was just really relieved, and the second thing was that I just couldn't believe that she's actually here' Ms Korniiuk said while she is happy to be in England she would prefer if it was under better circumstances. She said she is worried about her family in the Ukrainian capital, but realises it was her parents' choice to stay there. Pictured: Left with flag and right with friend's daughter Rend Platings, right, with her Ukrainian best friend Kristina Korniiuk and daughter, who went on hunger strike until Kristina's visa was approved and painted her house in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, will be her sponsor whilst she is in the UK. The pair, who have been friends for three years after meeting in a restaurant, last saw each other at the beginning of February Reflecting on the moment she saw her friend this morning, Ms Platings said: 'I think the first thing I felt was just really relieved, and the second thing was that I just couldn't believe that she's actually here.' Ms Korniiuk said while she is happy to be in England she would prefer if it was under better circumstances. She told the PA: 'To tell you the truth I'm too tired to be feeling anything. 'Well it's a curious mixture of feelings - sadness, tiredness. 'Don't get me wrong, I was happy, but it's been more than 24 hours now, and it's been a bus, then a train, then a sleepless night at the airport, then a plane here, then an hour drive from the airport.' She said she stayed in Kyiv for the first three weeks of the invasion before moving to the west of the country. Her parents, grandfather and other family members are still in Kyiv, while her brother is working for the military. She said she is worried about her family in the Ukrainian capital, but realises it was her parents' choice to stay there. She added: 'I tried really hard to convince them. Well I mean we are all adults and we have responsibilities for our lives, so they decided to stay and I couldn't convince them.' Ms Platings, who has an eight-year-old daughter called Samantha, said she wants her friend to rest up and is then looking forward to her having a 'sanctuary' and 'some kind of normality'. The pair, who have been friends for three years after meeting in a restaurant, last saw each other at the beginning of February. Advertisement Vladimir Putin's top military commander has been flown out of the war zone with shrapnel wounds after being to sent to Ukraine by the Russian president to secure victory, a former Russian internal affairs minister has claimed. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of staff of the Russian army, was today wounded in Izyum in Ukraine's Kharviv region, which has been at the centre of intense fighting since Russia's invasion. Putin had sent Gerasimov to the region to take personal control of his push to grab territory in eastern Ukraine, after the Russian army abandoned its plans to take Kyiv at the end of March in favour of a concentrated assault on the Donbas region of Donetsk and Luhansk. An unofficial Russian source reported that Gerasimov sustained 'a shrapnel wound in the upper third of the right leg without a bone fracture. 'The shard was removed - there is no danger to life,' he said. But Gerasimov's injury was severe enough to have him flown away from the frontlines and back to Russia to undergo further treatment, marking another embarrassing defeat for Putin's forces. The chief of staff's injury came just one day after Russian Major General Andrei Simonov, 55, was killed in Kharkiv, according to an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He is Russia's ninth general to have been killed since the start of the invasion. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of staff of the Russian army, was wounded in Izyum in Ukraine's Kharviv region, which has been at the centre of intense fighting since Russia's invasion Valery Gerasimov (L), Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu look on during a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin Russia is believed to have sustained heavy casualties in the eastern Donbas region and around cities Kharkiv and Izyum, as Ukraine's armed forces continue their bitter defence of the Donetsk and Luhansk territories which have been partially occupied by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014 (Ukrainian soldiers stand on an armoured personnel carrier (APC), not far from the front-line with Russian troops, in Izyum district, Kharkiv region on April 18, 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine) Russia's military leaders are pouring troops and equipment into the east of Ukraine in an attempt to force a bloody victory after they abandoned plans to blitz through Ukraine's north and seize Kyiv earlier in the war (Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle to the front line during a fight, amid Russia's invasion in Ukraine, near Izyum, Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 23, 2022) Military chaplain blesses Ukrainian soldiers not far from their positions at a village not far from Izyum city of Kharkiv area, Ukraine, 24 April 2022, amid the Russian invasion Major General Andrey Simonov (picture date unknown) was an electronic warfare commander. He was killed in Kharkiv yesterday according to a Ukrainian interior ministry adviser and is the ninth Russian general to die amid the war in Ukraine Gerasimov's wounding by the Ukrainians would be another deep psychological blow to Putin (pictured) and his faltering war campaign Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko said the attack on Izyum was 'the very place whereGerasimov, who personally came to lead the attack on Slavyansk, was located'. A 'large number' of senior officers were killed in the attack which wounded Gerasimov, Gerashchenko said. Pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Vertikal also alleged Gerasimov had been 'wounded near Izyum', citing unspecified sources. 'Our source reports that his legs and hips are damaged,' Vertikal said. It suggested that three of Gerasimov's entourage had been killed before he was evacuated. Russia is believed to have sustained heavy casualties in the eastern Donbas region and around cities Kharkiv and Izyum, as Ukraine's armed forces continue their bitter defence of the Donetsk and Luhansk territories which have been partially occupied by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014. Russia's military leaders are pouring troops and equipment into the east of Ukraine in an attempt to force a bloody victory after they abandoned plans to blitz through Ukraine's north and seize Kyiv earlier in the war. Britain's ministry of defence yesterday said Putin's troops in the east are still struggling to make ground despite the renewed support, citing poor tactics and the deployment of low-skilled troops as reasons for the slow progress. 'Shortcomings in Russian tactical coordination remain. A lack of unit-level skills and inconsistent air support have left Russia unable to fully leverage its combat mass, despite localised improvements,' the MoD tweeted. 'Russia hopes to rectify issues that have previously constrained its invasion by geographically concentrating combat power, shortening supply lines and simplifying command and control,' it said. Agentstvo media outlet reported that Gerasimov was flown out of the war zone initially by an Mi-8 military helicopter to Belgorod in western Russia - the site of what is suspected to be yet another strategic strike on a Russian military site by Ukrainian armed forces. Three Ka-52 attack helicopters circled as the Mi-8 transported Gerasimov and other top brass. Then in Belgorod he boarded a Defence Ministry Tu-154 plane which flew to an unknown destination. Founder of independent Conflict Intelligence Team Ruslan Leviev said an eyewitness at the airport had seen Gerasimov board the plane unaided. 'The source confirms that it was Gerasimov who flew away,' he posted. 'But he went on board himself, alive and well.' His wounding by the Ukrainians would be another deep psychological blow to Putin and his faltering war campaign. Gerasimov is in charge of the Russian war campaign alongside defence minister Sergei Shoigu, who was a mainstay in the early days of the war but was largely sidelined in late March amid rumblings of a falling out with Putin and suspected health concerns. The Russian army's chief of staff was flown out of Belgorod just as new videos emerged showing a military site in the region on fire - one of many Russian sites which have mysteriously erupted into flames in recent days. Kyiv has not acknowledged carrying out any of the attacks - which have also hit railway bridges, fuel depots and ammo dumps - but is widely thought to be orchestrating them. The attacks are thought to be part of an attempt to cripple Russian supply lines close to Ukraine's eastern border, where Russian troops and armour is massing and forcing its way towards the front lines. Today's attack in Belgorod is not linked to Gerasimov's wounding. The Russian army's chief of staff was flown out of Belgorod just as new videos emerged showing a military site in the region on fire - one of many Russian sites which have mysteriously erupted into flames in recent days Kyiv has not acknowledged carrying out any of the attacks - which have also hit railway bridges, fuel depots and ammo dumps - but is widely thought to be orchestrating them (April 26, 2022 video from Belgorod, Russia, shows explosions and a fire at an ammunition depot in the village of Staraya Nelidovka) Meanwhile in Mariupol, around 100 Ukrainians have been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks despite the factory suffering intermittent Russian airstrikes, according to Zelensky. It comes as a UN 'safe passage operation' began yesterday, when officials reached the site in the decimated port city in southern Ukraine. The city is under almost total Russian control but some Ukrainian fighters and around 1,000 civilians are thought to be holed up in the Azovstal works a vast Soviet-era plant founded under Josef Stalin and designed with a labyrinth of bunkers and tunnels to withstand attack. Zelensky said this afternoon that a group of about 100 people were being evacuated from the steelworks and are to be taken to Ukrainian-controlled territory in Zaporizhzhia. 'Tomorrow well meet them in Zaporizhzhia. Grateful to our team,' he tweeted. 'Now they, together with #UN, are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant.' Approximately 60 Ukrainian civilians were also evacuated from an area near the steelworks over the past two days. They have now arrived at a temporary camp in Russian-held territory in the village of Bezimenne, around 30 km east of Mariupol, where they were receiving refreshments and care after weeks of suffering. The evacuation is being coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine and Russia, but no more details are being released for the safety of evacuees, said UN spokesperson Saviano Abreu. A woman sits with two children among bags and a rolled-up blanket, after leaving an area near the Azovstal steel plant Civilians who left the area near Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol walk at a temporary accommodation centre in the village of Bezimenne in the Donetsk Region A woman and child stand with a dog next to one of the buses used to evacuate civilians The civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel works which is the last remaining Ukrainian holdout currently housing roughly 1,000 civilians. Pictured: Smoke rises above the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol on April 25 The cost of rebuilding Ukraine after invading Russians laid waste to parts of the country now stands at more than 70billion ($88billion), a Ukrainian university has claimed. As of April 26, the total amount of documented direct infrastructure damage to Ukraine stood at 70.3 billion ($87.9 billion) with large amounts of residential buildings and roads in particular destroyed by Russian forces, according to the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). The damage has been verified as part of an open-source data campaign by the KSE to document the damage done by the invasion as part of its 'Russia Must Pay' series The Kyiv School of Economics was supported by Volodymyr Zelensky's government - included his Presidential Office, Ukraine's Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Infrastructure. The research shows the direct damage to Ukrainian infrastructure - but also estimates the knock-on effect of the war on Ukraine's GDP - compounded by loss of investment, a labour exodus and defence costs at between 448 billion ($564 billion) and 478 billion ($600 billion). The cost of the damages to roads and residential buildings account for the bulk of the large amount of money that will be necessary to rebuild Ukraine. Over 23,000 kilometres (14,000 miles) of road has been damaged so far to the tune of 23.6 billion worth of damage. Damage on residential building have been some of the most gruesome that have come out of the conflict as civilians could be seen being targeted by the Russian fire in their homes. Over 40 per cent of the 37,000 square meters of real estate were damaged, destroyed or seized.residential building losses are in the Donetsk region, with Kharkiv (23 per cent) and Chernihiv (12 per cent) also badly affected. Russian attacks have also dealt out damage on 173 industrial sites in Ukraine - with the most notorious attack coming on the steelworks in Mariupol where civilians were trapped inside while Russian fire rained down on them. Education in Ukraine will likely suffer without the investment that is being asked for - as 1401 schools, universities and kindergartens damaged by Putin's war machine in Ukraine in the first two months of the war. The damage was not contained to infrastructure either, with 95 religious buildings also bearing the brunt of Russian bombs and artillery. A majority of the damage to infrastructure was done in the heavily targeted regions in the east of the country. Putin's initial justification for the war was a 'so-called' denazification of the eastern parts of the country. The region has been under heavier attack because of its proximity to Russian territory - allowing troops to rearm without fear of significant reprisals. Boris Johnson vowed a 'new Marshall Plan' to rebuild Ukraine in the aftermath of Vladimir Putin's brutal war on March 9, after Volodymyr Zelensky invoked Churchill in a defiant and emotional address to British MPs in which he repeated his plea for a no-fly zone. KHARKIV: A school that used to be occupied by Russian soldiers but now destroyed after it was retaken by Ukraine LUHANSK: The interior of a destroyed kindergarten after it was heavily damaged by Russian shelling MAKARIV: A heavily damaged playground outside of a kindergarten which was destroyed by a single bomb on March 7 KHARKIV: A ravaged school that used to be occupied by Russian soldiers but is now in Ukraine's hands on April 22 Britain's prime minister promised to 'protect' and 'restore' Ukraine's freedom, sovereignty and independence as he warned: 'The level of disgust and outrage at what is happening in Ukraine is mounting around the world and the noose is tightening on the Putin regime.' He also declared his intention to implement a 'new Marshall Plan' after the war, in reference to the post-1945 American effort to revive the economies of Western Europe and create a bulwark against Stalin's expansionist USSR following the defeat of Hitler's armies. The release of the specifics of the damage done to Ukraine and its infrastructure also comes after the Ukrainian government announced that it will seek reparations from Russia in the aftermath of the war. Ukraine's deputy prime minister Yuliya Sviridenko declared on Friday that the Ukrainian government estimated 431.5billion ($564.9billion) worth of damage had been inflicted since Russian troops rolled across the border on February 24 - including indirect damage to their economy. In a stunning Facebook post, Sviridenko, who is also Ukraine's minister of economic development and trade, said the damage to her nation's infrastructure alone totalled 91bn ($119bn). She went on to declare 'the numbers are growing every day' and that 'Ukraine will seek reparations from the aggressor despite all the obstacles'. Eamon Goodfellow, 50, (pictured) who was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe, did routines which included jokes about a young comic being too ugly for 'child-molesting' by Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady A paedophile stand-up comedian joked about child molestation on stage before he was convicted of paying for and directing the sexual abuse of kids under 13 years of age in the Philippines and Romania. Eamon Goodfellow, 50, who was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe, did routines which included jokes about a young comic being too ugly for 'child-molesting' by Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. A number of chat logs were recovered by the National Crime Agency which showed Goodfellow discussing the abuse of children with facilitators. In the chats, the 2019 New Act of the Year Final runner-up - first arrested in June 2018 - was shown to be actively seeking children under 13-years-old. When a child at the right age was identified, he would direct the facilitators to perform certain sexual acts on the children with a view to live-streaming the offending. Goodfellow, set to be sentenced this month after being found guilty of two counts of attempting to cause the sexual exploitation of a child under 13, also had a show titled 'humour trafficking' which the poster said was 'so funny' it is 'illegal'. In a video seen by the Mirror, Goodfellow also talked about Goldilocks being in the train toilet with one of the three bears. He was also seen on a Zoom show while fellow comics joked about paedophilia and had shows scheduled up until June 2021. Originally from Northern Ireland but living in St Albans, he was arrested by National Crime Agency officers on 14 June 2018 and all of his electronic devices were seized for analysis. Evidence also showed that he sent payment to the facilitators to carry out the abuse. He was found guilty of two counts of attempting to cause the sexual exploitation of a child under 13 at St Albans Crown Court on 12 April following a six day trial. He will be sentenced at the same court on 31 May. In the chats, the 2019 New Act of the Year Final runner-up - first arrested in June 2018 - was shown to be actively seeking children under 13-years-old. In August 2018, he also appeared at an Edinburgh fringe event with a show called 'humor trafficking' Martin Ludlow from the National Crime Agency said: 'Goodfellow made it very clear that he has sexual interest in young children in these chat logs. 'He attempted to arrange for the most horrific abuse of vulnerable children thousands of miles away from him for his own gratification. 'He was helped by facilitators whose motive is to make money. This kind of financially-driven offending is a key threat to the UK. 'The NCA works with international law enforcement partners to safeguard children, identify and disrupt those willing to fund and carry out this abuse. 'In the Philippines the NCA has an excellent relationship and actively supports the work of the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC).' Goodfellow was also employed by Camelot, behind the National Lottery, which said it was 'unaware' of his crimes until he was convicted last month. A Camelot spokesman told the Mirror: 'We were unaware of the charges until the conviction this month. We immediately suspended the employee and the matter is subject to Camelot's internal disciplinary process. 'We are mindful of our employment law obligations and will pursue the strongest possible action.' Twitter's new king Elon Musk dished out some stock-buying tips to his 89 million followers on his social media platform, telling them to 'buy stock in companies that you believe in,' and then took a jab at passive investing by big institutions as the market teeters. The Tesla CEO, who paid $44 billion for Twitter last week, tweeted early Sunday: 'Buy stock in several companies that make products and services that you believe in.' 'Only sell if you think their products and services are trending worse. Don't panic when the market does. This will serve you well in the long-term,' he added, Musk went on to warn about the dangers posed by investment funds that control huge chunks of shares in the wake of the stock market's precipitous drop last week. Passive investors, which refers to mutual funds where shareholders are not involved in the day-to-day decision making of a company's operations, control about 40 percent of US assets. 'Right before he died, Jack Bogle (of Vanguard fame) said index/passive funds were too great a percentage of the market and he really knew what he was talking about!' Musk wrote Sunday, neglecting to note that Vanguard was Twitter's largest shareholder at 10.3 percent before he swooped in to snatch the company. 'There should be a shift back towards active investment. Passive has gone too far.' The Dow plummeted more than 939 points on Friday and the Nasdaq fell four percent as the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted the worst April since 1970, down 8.8% and 4.9%, respectively. Elon Musk (pictured in February 2022) offered up some investing tips to his more than 89 million Twitter followers, arguing against passive investments and urging people to purchase stake in companies that create products or services you 'believe in' Musk alleged that more investors need to take an active approach, meaning they would be involved in the day-to-day decision making of a company's operations He also encouraged his followers to invest in products they 'believe in' and only sell when you believe the company is 'trending worse,' prompting users to point out how he sold off a total of $8.5billion in Tesla shares in recent days The SpaceX founder's criticisms of passive investing comes as Musk is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over whether he violated disclosure rules while amassing a nine percent stake in Twitter before buying the firm in its entirety. Musk, who began purchasing Twitter stock on January 31, initially revealed his stake in the platform on April 4 in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that disclosed him as a passive investor. He filed an amended disclosure the next day reflecting his intentions to be an active investor after he publicly discussed potential changes for Twitter. Social media users questioned Musk's advice to 'only sell if you think their products and services are trending worse' after he sold his Tesla shares last week. 'Bro you just sold $TSLA stock last week,' slammed Twitter user @stocktalkweekly. 'You know very well that there are other reasons to sell stock besides products and services trending worse.' 'It did make you the richest man in the world. Buuut not sure you are following your own advice with your recent buys/sells,' tweeted @SpacBobby. 'Guess we shall see if you can ultimately fix $TWTR.' 'Does that mean you think Tesla products are getting worse since you sold?' @Redmercy questioned. 'Interesting time to tweet this,' wrote @crispylines. Musk sold off a total of $8.5billion in Tesla shares in recent days, regulatory filings on Friday showed, which was presumably in order to fund his $21billion cash commitment in a deal to buy Twitter for $44billion. Though Musk is the richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $246billion, most of his fortune is tied up in stock, and it had seemed clear he would have to sell off some assets to fund the Twitter takeover. Social media users questioned Musk's advice to 'only sell if you think their products and services are trending worse' after he sold his Tesla shares last week About half of Musk's selloff of Tesla shares was made on Tuesday. Musk sold another $4.4billion in the stock on Thursday, the new filings show. On Thursday night, after the first round of share sales became public, Musk tweeted: 'No further TSLA sales planned after today'. Tesla stock, which dropped 12 percent as he made his initial stock dump earlier this week, popped 6 percent in morning trading on Friday following Musk's vow not to sell the remainder of his stake. To complete the Twitter takeover, which is due to close by October, Musk has committed $21billion in cash, $13 billion from Morgan Stanley in traditional bank loans and another $12.5billion from the bank and others in margin loans. It's unclear why Musk decided to liquidate part of his 17 percent stake in Tesla so far in advance of the deal's expected closing date. While Tesla stock has dropped recently, Twitter stock remains on the rise. The social media giant's closed at $49.02 on Friday, which is still well below the deal price of $54.20 per share that Musk and Twitter agreed upon in his bid to buy the platform. Twitter's stock value surged nearly 30 percent in early April after Musk disclosed his stake in the company. However, it has not rebounded to the share price highs of last year when the stock was valued at $73.34 per share. Tesla stock, which dropped 12 percent as he made his initial stock dump earlier this week, rose on Friday following Musk's vow not to sell the remainder of his stake Twitter closed at $49.02 on Friday. The social media giant's stock value surged nearly 30 percent in early April after Musk disclosed his stake in the company Musk has laid out some bold, if still vague, plans for transforming Twitter into a place of 'maximum fun' once he buys the social media platform for $44billion and takes it private. His feistiest priority - but also the one with the vaguest roadmap - is to make the platform a 'politically neutral' digital town square for the world's discourse that allows as much free speech as each country's laws allow. He's acknowledged that his plans to reshape Twitter could anger the political left and mostly please the right. He hasn't specified exactly what he'll do about former President Donald Trump's permanently banned account or other right-wing leaders whose tweets have run afoul of the company's restrictions against hate speech, violent threats or harmful misinformation. Twitter and Facebook permanently suspended Trump's accounts early last year following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In response to his suspension, Trump launched his own platform, Truth Social, which seemingly mirrors the Twitter interface. The former president said last week he has no intention of rejoining Twitter even if his account is reinstated. Musk hasn't ruled out suspending some accounts, but says such bans should be temporary. The billionaire's longstanding interest in AI is reflected in one of the most specific proposals he outlined in his merger announcement - the promise of 'making the algorithms open source to increase trust,' referring to the systems that rank content to decide what appears on a user's feed. Musk (pictured in March 2022) has laid out some bold, if still vague, plans for transforming Twitter into a place of 'maximum fun' once he buys the social media platform for $44billion and takes it private Musk has called for posting the underlying computer code powering Twitter's news feed for public inspection on the coder hangout GitHub. However, some computer scientists allege such 'code-level transparency' gives users little insight into how Twitter is working for them without the data the algorithms are processing. Analysts allege there are good intentions in Musk's broader goal to help people find out why their tweets get promoted or demoted and whether human moderators or automated systems are making those choices, but note it's no easy task. Too much transparency about how individual tweets are ranked, for instance, can make it easier for 'disingenuous people' to game the system and manipulate an algorithm to get maximum exposure for their cause, Nick Diakopoulos, a Northwestern University computer scientist said. Musk also wants to 'defeat spam bots' - accounts that mimic real people - and repeatedly said he wants Twitter to 'authenticate all humans'. The tech tycoon may also be considering offering more people a 'blue check' - the verification checkmark sported on notable Twitter accounts to show they're who they say they are. Musk has suggested users could buy the checkmarks as part of a premium service. He has also floated the idea of an ad-free Twitter, though it wasn't one of the priorities outlined in the official merger announcement. Advertisements accounted for more than 92 percent of Twitter's revenue in the January-March fiscal quarter. The company did last year launch a premium subscription service - known as Twitter Blue - but doesn't appear to have made much headway in getting people to pay for it. Musk has made clear he favors a stronger subscription-based model for Twitter that gives more people an ad-free option. That would also fit into his push to relax Twitter's content restrictions - which brands largely favor because they don't want their ads surrounded by offensive and hate-filled tweets. Musk has tweeted and voiced so many proposals for Twitter that it can be hard to know which ones he takes seriously. He's joined the popular call for an 'edit button' - which Twitter says it's already working on - that would enable people to fix a tweet shortly after posting it. A less serious proposal from Musk suggested converting Twitter's downtown San Francisco headquarters to a homeless shelter 'since no one shows up anyway' - a comment taken more as a dig on Twitter's pandemic-era workforce than an altruistic vision for the building. Here is the harrowing video of the tornado that damaged more than 1,000 buildings in south-central Kansas after generated winds up to 165 mph and carving a path of destruction nearly 13 miles long. The EF-3 tornado was filmed whipping through the Wichita suburb of Andover on Friday, sending cars and structures flying hundreds of feet into the air. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said that at least 300 to 400 buildings were destroyed by the storm as part of a total of 1,074 buildings that were damaged. The Weather Service said the tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes Friday evening. Drone footage from the area shows the tornado's whirlwinds demolishing everything in its path, including the roof of residential homes. Flying debris, especially from wooden houses, was also a dangerous hazard for the remainder of the early weekend. The small town's community center's roof was also partially destroyed and the YMCA building too. Incredible drone footage from Friday showed the EF-3 tornado destroying everything in its path, including parts of a community center and mostly wooden made homes in Andover, Kansas Huge chunks of flying debris from parts of people's homes could be seen in the video as the tornado wrecked everything in its alley A destroyed house and other structures are seen in rural Sedgwick County, Kansas, on Sunday, May 1, 2022, two days after a tornado was reported in the area A home is destroyed from a possible tornado the next before near Andover, Kan., on Saturday, April 30, 2022 A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas has damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power Throughout Friday and Saturday, there have been more than a dozen reported tornadoes from Kansas and Illinois. Four people, including two firefighters who were responding to a call in Andover, were injured during the storm but their injuries were minor. Russell said it will take years for Andover to recover from this storm. 'The city of Andover will be affected by this for years,' he said. 'We still have scars from 1991 (EF-5 tornado). I'm so thankful this tornado was not as bad as that, but we will literally be doing this for years.' A tornado passes south-central Kansas on Friday, April 29, 2022, southeast Wichita. A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power, officials said Saturday. (Amy Leiker /The Wichita Eagle via AP) By Sunday, utility crews had restored power to nearly all of the more than 15,000 customers who lost power during the storm. Evergy said less than 1,000 people still lacked power in the Wichita area Sunday morning. Andover mayor Brandon Whipple confirmed on Saturday that somewhere around 50 to 100 structures were damaged in the city by the tornado. In addition to the storm damage, the Oklahoma State Patrol said three University of Oklahoma meteorology students were killed in a car crash about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City in Oklahoma Friday evening as they returned from storm chasing in Kansas. Wichita firefighters fist-bump 7-year-old Camden Oyewole while searching an area in Andover, Kan., on Saturday, April 30, 2022. A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas has damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power. (Jaime Green /The Wichita Eagle via AP) Wichita firefighters search what's left of John's Animal World on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Andover, Kan. A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas has damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power. (Jaime Green /The Wichita Eagle via AP) A Wichita firefighter searches a home in Andover which had a car land on top of it following the powerful tornado that , Kan., ripped through the area on Friday evening 'We are still really concerned about those areas in the fire district that we have notsearched yet,' Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said on Saturday as firefighters were pictured searching through the remains of a home in Andover A massive tornado crashed down in Andover, Kansas on Friday evening as counties throughout the state issued warnings Three vehicles were tossed in front of the Andover YMCA building, which was left devastated by the tornado Homes in the tornado's path were heavily damaged, with others completely leveled by the twister A man is seen coming out of his house and assessing the damage that took down an entire wall and part of the roof The Andover YMCA also sustained heavy damages as part of its ceiling collapsed as the storm passed through Destructive tornado tearing through Andover KS minutes ago pic.twitter.com/O5KL1Zdcrk Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) April 30, 2022 On Sunday, severe storms will move further west, threatening parts of West Texas with large hail and wind damage and possible tornadoes. Storms are expected to develop in eastern New Mexico and Colorado, before moving eastward into Texas and Oklahoma, the Weather Channel reported. Storm chaser Reed Timmer captured shocking footage of the tornado from his car as it moved quickly through a residential area in Andover, pulling in an intense amount of debris with it it. As it intensifies, he panics and yells to someone to 'go to the apartment complex!' Other storm chasers and local residents have also captured pictures and video of the storm and aftermath, with one man filming the moment the tornado hit power lines, lighting up the sky in violent flashes of light. Moments later, the storm chaser reaches the area the tornado passed through, revealing rows of homes devastated by the twister. The Greater Wichita YMCA said that the Andover branch would be closed due to the damages but that none of the employees were hurt in the storm. 'The Andover YMCA suffered significant damage as a result of the storm that hit the Andover area this evening. We are thankful that all of the staff and members that took shelter at the branch at the time of the storm, were not injured.' A Snapchat user with the handle Aaryn also captured video of the aftermath in his neighborhood as neighbors came out to check up on each other. The video shows the houses on the block heavily damaged, with some completely leveled as Aaryn can only say, 'Oh my god. This whole cul de sac is gone.' Counties across the state issued tornado warnings on Saturday, with twisters appearing and dissipating throughout Kansas, including Wichita, Sedgwick and Butler. Andover, which is located in Wichita County, appeared to be the hardest hit area. Neighboring cities have dispatched emergency workers to assist Andover. A huge tornado was snapped looming menacingly over homes in Andover, Kansas on Friday evening. At least 100 structures were destroyed by the twister, although there have not yet been reports of any injuries A snapchat user filming the aftermath in his neighbor lamented that his cul de sac was practically gone Tornadoes were spotted throughout Kansas with the Andover storm traveling through Wichita, Sedgwick and Butler Friday's storm comes days after the 31st anniversary of the deadly F5 tornado outbreak that struck Oklahoma and Kansas in 1991. The deadly storms lasted two days and killed a total of 21 people, 17 of which were in Andover alone. Afghanistan's supreme leader today appeared publicly for only the second time in six years, telling worshippers celebrating Eid al-Fitr that the Taliban had won 'victory, freedom and success' since taking power last year. Speaking just two days after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul, an atmosphere of heightened security surrounded the man introduced as Hibatullah Akhundzada, the chief of the Taliban. 'Congratulations on victory, freedom and success,' he told thousands of worshippers at the Eidgah mosque in the southern city of Kandahar, the hardline Islamist group's de facto power centre. 'Congratulations on this security and for the Islamic system.' While the number of bombings across the country has dropped since Kabul fell to the Taliban last August, attacks soared over the final two weeks of the fasting month of Ramadan, which ended Saturday for Afghans. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the primarily sectarian attacks - some claimed by the Islamic State group - targeting members of the Shiite and Sufi Muslim communities. Friday's bombing of a Sunni mosque in the capital meanwhile killed at least 10 people. Afghanistan's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada today appeared publicly for only the second time in six years, telling worshippers celebrating Eid al-Fitr that the Taliban had won 'victory, freedom and success' since taking power last year (Akhundzada pictured in a rare photograph in 2016) 'Congratulations on victory, freedom and success,' Akhundzada told thousands of worshippers at the Eidgah mosque in the southern city of Kandahar (Eidgah mosque pictured in Oct 2021 following a bomb attack) Muslim worshippers attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Alaaddin Mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 1, 2022. People's interest in the Eid prayer has decreased due to the bomb attacks, especially targeting the mosques, that have increased recently in the country Security measurements are taken in front of Alaaddin Mosque during Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Kabul, Afghanista on May 1, 2022 Akhundzada delivered his brief address from one of the front rows of worshippers in Kandahar without turning to face the crowd, according to social media posts. Taliban officials did not allow journalists to approach him, while two helicopters hovered over the mosque for the whole of the two-hour event. Dozens of Taliban fighters were deployed where Akhundzada and other Taliban leaders were sitting and they stopped worshippers from taking their pictures on cellphones. An AFP correspondent who reported from the mosque confirmed that the voice said to be Akhundzada's came from the front rows of worshippers. It was the reclusive figure's second known public appearance since taking control of the Taliban in 2016. When the man introduced as the Taliban leader began to speak, worshippers chanted 'Allahu Akbar! Long live Islamic Emirate and Long Live Akhundzada!' Worshipper Aziz Ahmad Ahmadi said he was overwhelmed. 'I cried when I heard the voice of Sheikh Saheb (Akhundzada)... to hear him is like achieving my biggest dream,' he said, but added he had failed to spot the leader among the crowd. Another Kandahar resident Bismillah, who attended the Eid prayers at the Eidgah mosque, said, 'I'm so happy that I can't even describe it'. 'I had a dream to pray alongside my supreme leader, to hear his voice or to see him,' he told AFP. Akhundzada's low profile has fed speculation about his role in the new Taliban government, formed after the group took control of Kabul on August 15 - and even rumours of his death. His public profile has largely been limited to the release of messages during Islamic holidays from his office in Kandahar. In October, Akhundzada visited the Darul Uloom Hakimiah mosque in the southern city, according to an audio recording circulated by Taliban social media accounts. A wounded man receives treatment in a hospital, after a bombing at a mosque in the town of Imam Saheb, in Kunduz Province in north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 22, 2022 People transport injured victims outside the Emergency hospital after a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29 April 2022 Many Afghans in Kabul preferred to stay indoors on Sunday rather than pray at mosques after the recent deadly attacks (Pictured: people who were injured leave the scene of the bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29 April 2022. According to police, at least ten people were killed and dozens more injured in a bombing attack on a mosque during prayers) On Friday, in a message released ahead of Eid al-Fitr, he made no mention of the bloodshed that had rocked Afghanistan over Ramadan, instead praising the Taliban's building of 'a strong Islamic and national army' and 'strong intelligence organisation'. In Kabul, Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund held Eid prayers at the palace, where he slammed Washington for intervening in Afghanistan's internal affairs. 'Didn't they (Washington) withhold the wealth of this country which was in its bank? Isn't that intervention in this country?' Akhund said in a statement released by the authorities. Washington seized billions of dollars of Afghanistan's assets after it withdrew in August, deepening a humanitarian crisis in the country. Many Afghans in Kabul preferred to stay indoors on Sunday rather than pray at mosques after the recent deadly attacks. 'The situation of our people is very sad, especially after what happened in the mosques,' Kabul resident Ahmad Shah Hashemi told AFP. 'Many young and old people have been martyred. The people of Afghanistan have nothing but sorrow.' The deadliest attack during Ramadan was in the northern province of Kunduz, where a bomb ripped through a mosque as a group of Sufis performed rituals. At least 36 people were killed and scores more were wounded. No group has so far claimed that attack. A fire has broken out at a Russian defence ministry facility near to the border with Ukraine following a reported explosion, injuring one person according to a regional governor. A huge explosion in the area of Streletskoe and Tomarovka was reported by Russian media earlier today, video footage shows plumes of smoke and fire bellowing from a building believed to be near to Belgorod. It is currently unclear what caused the fire, and there has been no official comment from the Russian defence ministry yet. It is thought it is an weapons depot that has caught fire, as there have been secondary explosions heard - possibly of ammunition exploding in the heat of the fire. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said only one resident suffered minor injuries but his his life was not in danger and that seven homes had been damaged. A reported explosion was heard near Belgorod, north of Kharkiv, inside the borders of Russia, a fire has subsequently broken out (pictured) Another fire broke out in Belgorod only a few days ago (pictured), April 26, at an ammunition depot in the village of Staraya Nelidovka He said: 'A fire has occurred on the territory of one of the objects belonging to the MoD. 'All operational services are working at the site and all essential measures are being taken to ensure safety.' Last month Russia accused Ukraine of a helicopter attack on a fuel depot in Belgorod, for which Kyiv denied responsibility. They have also accused Ukrainian forces of shelling villages and firing missiles at an ammunition depot. Other Russian regions that share a border with Ukraine have also reported cross-border shelling incidents since Moscow sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a 'special military operation'. In the Russian city of Bryansk, less than 100 miles from the Ukraine border, two large fires broke out at two oil depot last week. It was reported that the first fire occurred at a civilian facility that held 10,000 tons of fuel, while the second fire was at a military fuel depot holding 5,000 tons. EU Members affected by the cut-off of the natural gas supplies have decided to pay rubles for the energy. Countries affected like Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia are willing to set up the ruble accounts. The deal with the US to provide energy has not impressed most members of the European Union; they won't sacrifice energy security. EU Members' Energy Security Is Important According to the Financial Times, some of Europe's top energy companies want to utilize a new payment method for Russian gas deliveries mandated by the Kremlin. Gas distributors in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia plan to open ruble accounts at Gazprombank via Switzerland. They claim that as payment deadlines near, discussions between European buyers and Russian gas provider Gazprom have heated up, cited the Press United. European companies would continue paying Gazprombank in euros for their imports to avoid violating the international sanctions under the new agreement. The Russian bank, which is not subject to EU sanctions, would change euro-denominated deposits into rubles in a second account in their name for payments to the Russian gas provider. Tiina Tuomela, the chief financial officer of Germany's Uniper, stated that the payment mechanism had been modified to comply with the sanctions law, allowing payments to proceed. Austria's OMV also indicated that it had evaluated Gazprom's request for payment options in light of the EU sanctions and was working on a solution. Bloomberg said the Austrian corporation denied on Wednesday that it intends to open an account in Switzerland to pay for Russian gas delivery. Many EU members cannot lose their natural gas supplies. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Children: Does the Ukraine President Have Kids? Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer called reports regarding the country's shift to paying for gas in rubles "fake news." Gazprom's other major customer, Italy's Eni, is considering its options, according to FT sources. The company has until the end of May to settle for its next shipment of Russian materials, noted Reuters. Russia Demands Gas Payment In Ruble Russian President Vladimir Putin requested that 'unfriendly' governments compensate for Russian gas in rubles the previous month. He has also cautioned that if impacted countries do not cooperate with the currency switch, they risk losing their Russian gas supply. Gazprom shut the gas tap to Bulgaria and Poland despite the Kremlin's warning after the two countries disagreed on a new payment scheme for April supplies. Gazprombank, Russia's primary bank in charge of European gas payments, has declined many payment requests for April and May gas deliveries to Germany and Austria, even though they were made via a ruble account. According to persons acquainted with the situation, the bank denied the transaction because the attempted funds originated from a former Russian trading corporation that had been seized in Germany, mentioned Bloomberg. Before April 4, when Berlin's Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced that the subsidiary would fall under the trusteeship of the German energy regulator until September 30, the Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited (GM&T) was managed by Russia's Gazprom Germania Group. The move was supposed to guarantee the nation's energy supplies in the middle of Europe's unprecedented crisis, which has been exacerbated by sanctions on Russia, the region's largest supplier of gas. According to reports, the denied payment is part of a medium-term deal to supply seven terawatt-hours of gas by the end of 2023. Four EU members have decided to pay their natural gas supplies in rubles bypassing sanctions and making Brussels unnerved that there's nothing they can do. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Declares Western Alliance Failed Economic Blitzkrieg Against Russia as It Backfired on Them Instead @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Netflix has dropped Meghan Markle's animated series as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by the streaming service's drop in subscribers. Pearl, the working title for the Markle-created show, has been officially canceled, Deadline reported Sunday. The show, which was created by the Duchess of Sussex through Archewell Productions, was still only in the development stage. Markle and Prince Harry established Archewell Productions in autumn 2020 in an effort to create scripted series, docuseries, documentaries, features and childrens programming. Pearl was expected to be the first animated series created by the production company. Despite dropping Pearl, insiders claim Netflix remains optimistic about the Archewell deal and has a number of projects planned, including a documentary series called Heart of Invictus, which follows the recent Invictus Games. Netflix has dropped Meghan Markle's animated series as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by the streaming service's drop in subscribers. Markle and Prince Harry are pictured at a track and field event at the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands on April 17, 2022 Netflix has made several cuts in recent days, including dropping two other children's shows and firing staff. Last week, the streaming service scratched Dino Daycare, which was created by Jeff King, and the South Asian-inspired adventure Boons and Curses. Both shows were already in production. Sources familiar with the cancellations told Deadline that Netflix had warned producers to take projects still in the development stage elsewhere. It is unclear if they offered Archewell Productions similar advice. The streaming giant shelled out a $100million in the deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in September 2020. As of yet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to produce any published content for the streaming giant. But the company has pinned hopes that their upcoming series documenting the recent Invictus Games will prove value for the money. Markle (pictured April 17) announced the now-canceled program last July. She was taking on the roles of 'creator and executive producer' for the animated series The show, which was created by the Duchess of Sussex through Archewell Productions, was still only in the development stage. Insiders allege the streamer still has a number of projects planned with the couple (Pictured: Netflix headquarters in Los Angeles, California) Markle announced the now-canceled program last July. She was taking on the roles of 'creator and executive producer' - marking the first time the former actress and Suits star would work in the position of EP. Filmmaker David Furnish, husband to musician Elton John, was also expected to serve as an executive producer on the series. Markle said Pearl would 'weave together fantasy and history' while focusing 'on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl' as she attempts to 'overcome life's daily challenges'. While few details had been released about the series, many believed the show was based - at least in part - on Markle's own childhood, citing how she named the show and its title character Pearl, the origin meaning of her name. The name Meghan originated in Wales, where it is traditionally spelled Megan, however, it originally came from the Greek name Margaret, derived from the word margarites, which translates to 'pearl'. Pearl was not the first time that Markle has seemingly chosen to draw on her own life as the inspiration for her professional projects - something that she did most recently with her debut children's book The Bench, which was firmly panned by readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Many believed Pearl was based - at least in part - on Markle's own childhood. Markle and Prince Harry are pictured at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in the Netherlands on April 16 Upon news that it had shed 200,000 subscribers, its shares plunged by 25%. So far this year, its shares are down about 40%, after markets jolted in January when it said that subscriber growth would slow significantly in 2022 Netflix closed on Friday at $190.36 per share Netflix also began firing staff after missing its subscriber target by 200,000 people and watching the value of its shares tank by 50 percent in a month. The company made the layoffs at Tudum, a website filled with stories that are meant to market Netflix's programs, it was revealed on Thursday. At least 10-15 staff tweeted about being fired, although the exact number dismissed remains unclear. The site, named as an onomatopoeia for the sound you hear when a Netflix show begins, was meant to allow subscribers insider access to the company's shows. Netflix refused to tell the Los Angeles Times how many jobs were cut, merely saying 'our fan website Tudum is an important priority for the company.' Some of those laid off took to Twitter, saying that the company had only hired them months earlier. There have been several hypotheses for why the streamer is losing eyeballs, with many including Tesla CEO (and potential future Twitter chief) Elon Musk blaming 'the woke mind virus.' Responding to a tweet about the subscription service's devastating performance, Musk said: 'The woke mind virus is making Netflix unwatchable.' A follower then responded: 'Woke mind virus is the biggest threat to the civilization.' The world's richest man replied to him: 'Yes.' Fans applauded Musk's comments with some even urging him to take over Netflix after he concludes his Twitter deal. Others, however, have suggested that the real problem is Netflix's habit of canceling beloved shows before their time, angering fans. Popular TV dramas like The OA, Marco Polo, and The Punisher are being cancelled by the service after series two - leaving fans furious and threatening to cancel their subscriptions because they no longer want to 'invest their time in a series' over fears it will be 'culled'. Netflix are axing their own shows earlier than ever before and it's thought to be one of the main reasons the platform is quickly losing subscribers, according to new analysis The streaming giant are cancelling many of their own TV series as new data reveals fewer that one in five original shows launched in 2017 reached season three - compared to just 31 per cent in 2015 Meanwhile, over half of Netflix's own reality TV shows and dramas released in 2018 have not been commissioned for a second series, compared with more than a third launched in 2017 and 28 percent in 2016, The Times reported. It comes as the streaming behemoth has lost 200,000 subscribers in just three months, while shareholders of the US firm have been warned to expect another two million subscribers to leave in the three months to July. Bosses say a second price-rise in a year has played a part, while the company has lost 700,000 following its decision to pull out of Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Netflix said the Covid boom had 'created a lot of noise' and blamed the slowdown on the return to normality after two years of lockdowns. It also blamed password sharing for the rise in cancelled accounts, as it estimated that about 10million households worldwide are watching its service for free by using the account of a friend or another family member. The company has now started testing different ways of curbing password sharing in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru and could extend this elsewhere if it proves successful. Bosses are also considering turning the service into a low-fee subscription supported by ads. Filmmaker David Furnish (right), husband to musician Elton John (left), was also expected to serve as an executive producer on Markle's show, Pearl. He and John are pictured together at July 2019 premiere of The Lion King in London Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pictured at the Invictus Games on April 17. They are working on a Netflix documentary series called Heart of Invictus, which follows the event Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen smiling while they visit the track and field event at the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands on April 17, 2022 Netflix also claimed that the market had now been 'saturated' by rising competition from streaming services including Disney+, Apple TV, Now TV, Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount, the cost-of-living crisis gripping the US, Canada and Western Europe, and its decision to quit streaming in Russia after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February. The rapid rise of rival Disney+, which has seen billions of dollars of investment in recent years, has seen competition in the streaming market increase dramatically. And other services like Amazon Prime Video, which has captured a share of the live football market in the UK, and AppleTV+, which has seen success through football comedy Ted Lasso, have also seen people turn away from Netflix. Despite the streaming service's recent issues, there have been some successes, with dystopian Korean series Squid Game proving a huge hit, and season one of period drama Bridgerton taking the world by storm. However, fan favorites such as Bloodline and Jessica Jones were cancelled after their third season, leaving viewers frustrated and 'tired of starting something new only for it to be cancelled two years later'. Pressure is mounting on ministers to help free a retired British geologist who is facing the death penalty in Iraq after being accused of smuggling. Jim Fitton is to be sentenced later this month after being arrested in the middle eastern country in March when he was found with broken pottery shards in his luggage. His family is calling for ministers to help obtain the release of the 66-year-old, and a petition urging them to help has received more than 97,000 signatures in the three days since it was launched. The father-of-two was on an organised archeology and geology tour of Eridu, in the southern Iraq when he was told it was ok to take the shards by a guide, his family claim. UK ministers have faced calls to intervene to help 'make a difference' in the case of Jim Fitton (pictured with his wife) 66, who has been detained in the Middle-Eastern country However, Mr Fitton and a German man on the trip were arrested after the group's baggage was checked at the airport, with 12 shards said to have been recovered from his luggage. The incident took place on March 20 and a serious illness to the group's tour guide was also reported. He has since been accused of attempting to smuggle historic artefacts out of the country. The items were judged to be artefacts under Iraqi law and the charge levelled at Mr Fitton states 'whoever exported or intended to export, deliberately, an antiquity, from Iraq, shall be punishable with execution'. Mr Fitton, pictured here with his wife and two children, Joshua and Leila, was on an organised tour when he picked up the pottery His case in connection with the March incident is expected to go for sentencing in the week beginning May 8. His daughter Leila and her husband Sam Tasker, from Bath, in Somerset, have also disclosed the sentencing is expected to coincide with a long-planned celebration of their wedding. They said: 'There is never a good time for something like this to happen but we are one week away from what should be the happiest day of our lives, and the culmination of more than two years of planning, and it's been turned into an absolute living nightmare. His family say that he has been accused of stealing fragments that were in the open at Eridu, an ancient ruin of a city that is found in Iraq, and was once in southern Mesopotamia 'We have accepted the fact that, without timely intervention from the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), Jim will be unable to attend this ceremony too.' Mr Fitton's family described the response to the petition as 'unbelievable', adding in a statement: 'Jim really appreciates the support from old colleagues, good friends, kindred spirits, and complete strangers who have not allowed this to go unnoticed. 'We will continue to fight while we continue to have you at our backs.' Mr Fitton worked as a geologist for oil and gas companies during his career and lives in his adopted home of Malaysia with his wife, Sarijah. Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, has raised his case with ministers in the House of Commons. The family said their lawyer has drafted a proposal under Iraqi law to have the case closed before trial but they need the Foreign Office to 'put their weight behind the plan and endorse it' so they can secure a high-level meeting with judicial officials in the country. The proposal cites the 'clear lack of criminality, that Jim is a victim of poor guidance and circumstance, and also cites the huge investment that the UK has made in the Iraqi governmental and judicial framework through FCDO funding in the past few years'. Mr Fitton and a German man were detained at the airport after shards of pottery were found in their luggage The family statement, via an update on the petition website, also explained: 'Leila has not seen Jim for more than two years due to Covid travel restrictions. 'We held a small Covid wedding ceremony in Bath in August of last year for close friends and our British family members, mostly on my side. 'We have, since then, been planning a larger celebration in Malaysia with all of Leila's extended family. 'This is scheduled on May 8. Obviously there is never a good time for something like this to happen but we are one week away from what should be the happiest day of our lives, and the culmination of more than two years of planning, and it's been turned into an absolute living nightmare.' Ms Hobhouse said: 'It's impossible to imagine what Jim and his family are going through, especially as Sam and Leila are planning their wedding. 'We are pressing the Foreign Office to intervene but sadly they are continuing to refuse. Pictured: Brickwork is seen at the Eridu archaeological site in Iraq (file photo) 'I cannot understand why the Foreign Office is not intervening when Jim's life lays in the balance. 'The Foreign Office must do everything in their power to bring Jim back home to his family.' The Foreign Office has said it is providing consular support and is in contact with the local authorities. Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling, in a letter to Ms Hobhouse, said last week: 'We understand the urgency of the case, and have already raised our concerns with the Iraqi authorities regarding the possible imposition of the death penalty in Mr Fitton's case and the UK's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle.' The family petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/our-father-is-facing-the-death-penalty-in-iraq-freejimfitton. A family from Tennessee was shocked to discover their 17-year-old daughter's movements were being tracked around Walt Disney World in Florida by an Apple AirTag for around four hours. Jennifer Gaston and her daughter Madison became frantic when the teen received a notification on her iPhone saying they were being tracked as they headed back to their car on the Magic Kingdom's monorail in Florida earlier this week. The notification showed that Madison had been tracked over the course of four hours, from 7.09pm to 11.33pm. The tracker had located everywhere she had visited in the sprawling theme park and all the way to the parking lot. 'We were terrified, we were confused, hurt and scared,' Jennifer told Fox 35 Orlando. 'She [Madison] literally watched it follow us from the tram all the way back to our vehicle.' 'It showed the first destination where it was detected with her, then it basically draws a line and makes the connections of the points where she had been,' she added. The teen and her mother searched their car but couldn't find the device. They locked the car's door and drove away before calling the police, with Madison continuing to monitor the device's location on her iPhone. 'As she was refreshing it, it showed the AirTag was still in our parking spot so somehow when we were frantically shaking out clothes and dumping everything out of our bags it fell out,' Jennifer said. The $30 wireless devices were designed to help keep track of items people often misplace, like keys or wallets, but have been revealed to have been used by stalkers to track people. The device is designed to prohibit 'unwarranted tracking' by alerting a nearby iPhone when an AirTag has been separated from its user. For example, if someone was to place an AirTag on a car but not get in the car, then the driver of the vehicle should be alerted that there is an AirTag nearby or moving with them. Jennifer Gaston said she discovered an AirTag tracking her and her 17-year-old daughter, Madison (right) while heading back to their car on the Walt Disney World monorail in Orlando, Florida. The pair had received a notification on Madison's phone The AirTag, which did not belong to the family, stated that it was first detected with the pair at 7:09 p.m. before receiving a notification four hours later, at about 11:33 p.m. Pictured: Gaston's steps at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World The family made the creepy discovery while paying a day visit to America's busiest theme park How Tennessee teen realized she was being tracked with AirTag The Apple AirTags are designed to emit a sound after they are separated from their owner. Madison received a ping on her iPhone as she was leaving the park to notify her that she was carrying an unknown AirTa from 9:30 pm to 11:33 pm She checked her clothing and dumped everything out of her bags but did not find the device. After she and her mom left the park, the AirTag was still pinging that it was in the parking lot. Advertisement 'I had seen videos of other people warning people about them and what they were basically. So thats how I knew what they were and I did not ignore the notification,' Madison added. The AirTag should begin to play a sound to let people nearby know its location. However, users have reported that the alert and sound can take hours or even days to be sent out and are even able to be turned off. The devices are also very small and can easily be hidden. The location of the AirTag is sent to iCloud - where it can be seen on a map, according to Apple's website. Using the 'Find My' app, the system provides its owner with step-by-step directions to locate the tag and the missing product. Madison and her mother agreed that people should report the slightest unusual digital activity they notice on their phones, and to learn more about new tracking technology as time goes on. 'Definitely do your research and find out what these are. Have proper settings on your phone so that if you do have an Air Tag that ends up with you to make sure that your phone will detect it,' Garson said. The Orange County Sheriffs Office in Florida said since the family didn't end up physically finding the AirTag, the incident has not been identified as a crime. However, investigators have filed an incident report and have been made aware of the event. Apple has released an Android-friendly app called tracker detect to allow Android users to be alerted of an AirTag moving with them. Due to growing concerns on the device's misuse, some privacy groups have called for the gadgets to be stripped from store shelves. 'Some people who have ill will towards others are using it to potentially stalk people, follow people, tag vehicles, high luxury vehicles, that they might want to come back and steal,' said David Benson, a security consultant in the area. 'Even if it's not at epidemic proportions, it's happening enough where it's concerning.' If a person find themselves being tracked after finding an AirTag, then the best outcome is to go to a public location and to inform local authorities rather than to go home or to a hotel, Benson added. People are calling for Apple to discontinue their AirTag tracking devices as women are increasingly reporting finding the devices has been tracking them to their homes In January, a young mother in Texas said she found an AirTag taped inside her duffel bag as she traveled from Texas to Maine. 'I think they definitely would have hurt me. I don't think you do that for no reason,' she told Inside Edition at the time. 'It took almost 14 hours to let me know this was happening,' she said. Hundreds of other women have posted videos on TikTok to share their stories of how they found mysterious AirTags attached to their items and tracking their location since the tracking device was released by Apple in April. Each AirTag has a serial number physically written on it and connected by Bluetooth. If law-enforcement produces a court order, Apple could reveal the identity of the iPhone the AirTag is registered to. Law enforcement officers are advising women to go to the police department immediately after getting an unwarranted AirTag notification or finding the device. If possible they advise to avoid returning home, however most women seem to learn about the tracking devices after going home. Eight civilians were killed in Russian shelling in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Moscow's forces push deeper into the eastern Donetsk region, the regional governor said. Russia's military leaders are pouring troops and equipment into the east of Ukraine in an attempt to force a bloody victory there after they abandoned plans to blitz through Ukraine's north and seize Kyiv earlier in the war. The town of Lyman, located a mere 15 miles from the Donetsk region's northernmost city of Slovyansk and 30 miles from the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region, was the site of five of the civilian deaths. 'On May 1, four civilians were killed in Russian shelling in the Donetsk region, all in Lyman. Eleven other people were injured,' governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Telegram, later adding another person died of his injuries. Ukrainian media organisation Ukraine Now reported the attacks came as part of a consolidated Russian shelling offensive targeting Ukrainian military positions along the eastern front in Lyman, Severodonetsk, Slovyansk, Popasna and Kurakhiv over the weekend. Another three people were killed in shelling on residential areas in and around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, the regional governor Oleg Synegubov said on Telegram. 'As a result of these shellings, unfortunately, three people were killed and eight civilians were injured.' The Ukrainian army has also withdrawn from Kharkiv, its troops now in outlying positions, according to AFP journalists who recently visited the city. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently acknowledged that the situation was 'difficult' in Donbas, the eastern Ukrainian mining basin that has become the priority target of Russian troops, who invaded Ukraine on 24 February. A car and piled sleepers are burning after a shelling near the Lyman station in Lyman, eastern Ukraine, earlier this week. Four civilians were killed in fresh shelling of the town today amid Russia's assault along the eastern front in the Donbas region A garage burns following a military strike on a garage near the railway station, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the frontline city of Lyman, Donetsk region, Ukraine April 28, 2022 A Ukrainian woman sits on a bus after being evacuated from the frontline city of Lyman, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Slovyansk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 29, 2022 Ukrainian soldiers rest at their position near Lyman, eastern Ukraine, on April 28, 2022, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine Both Russia and Ukraine are thought to have sustained heavy losses in the WWI-style fighting along the eastern front, which sees rounds of bloody ground fighting punctuated by artillery strikes as Putin's troops attempt to gain territory inch-by-inch. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of staff of the Russian army, was today wounded in Izyum, just 30 miles from Lyman in a Ukrainian artillery strike. An unofficial Russian source reported that Gerasimov sustained 'a shrapnel wound in the upper third of the right leg without a bone fracture. 'The shard was removed - there is no danger to life,' he said. But Gerasimov's injury was severe enough to have him flown away from the frontlines and back to Russia to undergo further treatment, marking another embarrassing defeat for Putin's forces. The chief of staff's injury came just one day after Russian Major General Andrei Simonov, 55, was killed in Kharkiv, according to an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He is Russia's ninth general to have been killed since the start of the invasion. Elsewhere in the Donbas region, around 100 civilians were evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the decimated city of Mariupol - though up to 1,000 civilians remain trapped in the port's last remaining Ukrainian holdout. It comes as a UN 'safe passage operation' began yesterday, when officials reached the site in the decimated coastal metropolis. The city is under almost total Russian control but some Ukrainian fighters and around 1,000 civilians are thought to be holed up in the steel works a vast Soviet-era plant founded under Josef Stalin and designed with a labyrinth of bunkers and tunnels to withstand attack. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of staff of the Russian army, was wounded in Izyum in Ukraine's Kharviv region, which has been at the centre of intense fighting since Russia's invasion Ukraine's armed forces continue their bitter defence of the Donetsk and Luhansk territories which have been partially occupied by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014 (Ukrainian soldiers stand on an armoured personnel carrier (APC), not far from the front-line with Russian troops, in Izyum district, Kharkiv region on April 18, 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine) Around 100 civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel works which is the last remaining Ukrainian holdout in Mariupol currently housing roughly 1,000 civilians. Pictured: Smoke rises above the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol on April 25 A woman sits with two children among bags and a rolled-up blanket, after leaving an area near the Azovstal steel plant Zelensky said this afternoon that a group of about 100 people were being evacuated from the steelworks and are to be taken to Ukrainian-controlled territory in Zaporizhzhia. 'Tomorrow we'll meet them in Zaporizhzhia. Grateful to our team,' he tweeted. 'Now they, together with #UN, are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant.' With fighting stretching along a broad front in southern and eastern Ukraine, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged continued American support for Ukraine when she met Zelensky in an unannounced visit to Kyiv yesterday. Footage posted by Zelensky on Twitter on Sunday showed him, flanked by an armed escort and dressed in military fatigues, greeting a U.S. Congressional delegation led by Pelosi outside his presidential office the previous day. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) made a secret visit to Kyiv on Saturday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) 'Our delegation travelled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine,' Pelosi, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, said in a statement. Zelensky praised as substantive four hours of talks with Pelosi focused on U.S. weapons deliveries. 'We are grateful to all our partners who send Russia important and powerful signals of support for Ukraine by visiting our capital at such a difficult time,' he said. Speaking from Poland today following her visit to Kyiv, Pelosi urged Ukraine not to back down in the face of 'bullies'. 'Do not be bullied by bullies. If they are making threats, you cannot back down. That's my view of it,' she told a news conference in the Polish city of Rzeszow. 'We are here for the fight and you cannot fold to a bully,' Pelosi said. The family of an Alabama jail official who disappeared with a murder inmate on Friday says she was a 'sweet person' who wouldn't have helped a 'killer' escape, as investigators zero in on 'bogus claims' she made before picking him up from jail. Assistant Director of Corrections Vicky White, 56, picked up inmate Casey White, 38, from the Lauderdale County Jail at 9:41am. She told a booking officer she was taking him to the county courthouse for a mental health evaluation, but no such evaluation was scheduled that day. She also said she was going to a medical appointment for herself, which was confirmed by the doctors' office, but for which she never showed. An hour and a half later, they were both missing and her patrol car was found abandoned at a nearby shopping center. 'All indications are that Director White was involved and participated in the escape,' Lauderdale Sheriff Rick Singleton told WBRC. However, Frances White, Vicky's former mother-in-law, told DailyMail.com on Sunday that the accusations against Vicky don't match the 'awfully good person' she knows. 'I can't understand her leaving with a guy she knew was a murderer,' said Frances, 88, who said she last spoke to her about a month ago. 'If he killed one person, he'd kill another.' The jails guard divorced White's son 16 years ago after being married for just a few years, but the mother-in-law said the two remained friendly until his death in January. Vicky White, assistant director of corrections for the sheriff's department, was missing on Friday evening, having collected Casey Cole White (no relation) from county jail Lauderdale Sheriff Rick Singleton announced on Saturday that Vicky's patrol car was found abandoned in a parking lot about an hour and a half after she 'broke protocol' to transport Casey Vicky had been with the Sheriff's Department for 25 years, and had recently spoken about quitting, with Law and Crime reporting that she had turned in her retirement papers on Thursday. A manhunt for Vicky White and Casey White, who are not related, is ongoing. The US Marshals Service is offering up to $10,000 for information about the pair. On Friday, Sheriff Singleton said that while evidence points to Vicky helping Casey escape, her motivations are unclear. 'We are trying to determine was that done willfully, or was she somehow coerced or threatened into participating?' Singleton said, pointing to the various excuses she used to justify breaking protocol by taking Casey out of jail without other officers present. The jail official was armed with a 9mm handgun when she claimed she was taking Casey for an evaluation that wasn't ever scheduled. She said she would then head to a medical appointment for herself that also turned out to not take place. 'It was all bogus,' Singleton said. 'That leads us to believe that she was involved.' Casey should have always had two deputies with him, he said. The sheriff said it would be nearly impossible for Casey to get out of his handcuffs and free himself without any help, but he added that helping Casey would be out of character for Vicky. 'I dont think there's any question she assisted, but to do it willingly would be so out of character for the Vicki White we all know,' he said. On Saturday, Singleton said investigators are still treating the case as if she was taken against her will. 'Knowing the inmate, I think she's in danger, whatever the circumstances,' the sheriff said. 'He was in jail for capital murder and he had nothing to lose. 'Whether she assisted him or not, we don't know and we won't address that until we have absolute proof that's what happened,' he added, noting: 'We are assuming at this point that she was taken against her will, unless we can prove otherwise.' Frances White, Vicky's former mother-in-law, also has a hard time believing she would have cooperated with Casey, who confessed to killing a 58-year-old woman while serving a 75-year sentence for a string of crimes, including animal cruelty for shooting a dog. Frances, 88, says Vicky was married to her son Tommy White more than 16 years ago for about two to three years, eventually leaving him when his drug problems got bad. 'I read it in the paper this morning,' she told DailyMail.com on Sunday afternoon. 'She left with that man. I said, "I can't see her doing that. She wasn't that kind of person.' Vicky and Tommy were married for about three years, Frances said, raising cattle on a farm right across the street from her home. 'She raised baby cows and stuff, and she worked hard,' Frances said. She added that Vicky remained close with her and her son even after the divorce. Tommy died in January after struggles with Parkinson's Disease. 'Before my son got to where he couldn't drive, Vicky would always - she would come out to the car and help him in. 'We still was really good friends. She was a really sweet person,' Frances said. The US Marshals Service said Sunday that it is offering up to $10,000 for information about an escaped inmate and a 'missing and endangered' correctional officer who disappeared Friday after the two left a jail in north Alabama. Singleton said that officials with the Sheriff's Department first became suspicious at around 3.30pm Friday, when officers at the jail realized Vicky had never returned. They repeatedly tried to call her, he said, but her phone kept going to voicemail. That's when they realized Casey had never returned to the jail. He is descried as six-foot-nine, and is considered armed and dangerous. Casey admitted to the 2015 murder of Connie Ridgeway, who was found stabbed to death in a killing that shocked the small town of Rogersville - about 50 mi west of Huntsville. Connie Ridgeway (center) is pictured with her sons Austin and Cameron. Casey killed her in October 2015 in what he said was a contract hit. No motive has ever been given White is seen during the hearing in the case of Ridgeway's murder in 2020 It remains unclear why she was killed. People said she was known for her friendliness and willingness to help others, and the community for many years held a vigil every October in her memory. Casey's arrest at the age of 32 finally came after he engaged in a crime spree across Tennessee and Alabama. In one night, he staged a home invasion, two carjackings and multiple shootings that left a dog dead and a woman injured. The crimes were followed by a chase, where speeds reached more than 100 miles per hour, WHNT reported. It ended with a stolen car stuck in a field south of Huntsville, and officers - who were evidently well known to him - pleading with him to put down his gun and give himself up. Police are pictured in December 2015 taking Casey White into custody after a wild rampage across Tennessee and Alabama that ended in a 100mph car chase, and his stolen car stuck in a field White got out of the vehicle with a gun and threatened to shoot officers and himself unless he could speak with Limestone Sheriff Mike Blakely. Body-cam footage shows deputies attempting to get White to surrender by offering him smokeless tobacco and Sun Drop citrus soda while they waited for Blakely to arrive. Casey White was found guilty of a total of nine charges, including trying to kill his ex-girlfriend and kidnapping her two roommates. Other charges included first degree robbery, first degree burglary, third degree burglary, breaking and entering a vehicle, animal cruelty for shooting a dog and attempting to elude. He was sentenced in April 2019 to 75 years in prison. In June 2020, he wrote to Lauderdale County requesting a meeting with the sheriffs office, and confessed to killing Ridgeway - providing a detailed description of the crime scene. He said he was paid to kill her, although no motive for hiring a hitman has ever been disclosed. In October 2020, Casey White, aged 37, appeared in court for an arraignment hearing, and requested to stay at the Lauderdale County Jail instead of going back to prison, WAFF reported. His request was denied, after authorities said they believed that he was plotting to escape the Lauderdale County Jail. They had found a makeshift knife, stashed in the showers, and suspected White was intending on using it to force someone to let him out. 'We got information yesterday that he had made a shank and he intended to escape today and take a hostage,' said Connolly, Lauderdale County district attorney, during the hearing. 'Our deputies did a great job. 'Found the shank and eliminated that threat this morning so we obviously aren't equipped to house somebody like that for that long term in our jail, so we are happy that the judge ordered him to go back to the department of corrections.' White, having confessed, then pleaded not guilty, on grounds of insanity. Every household in Victoria is set to receive a $250 cash handout to help with the rising cost of living, as Dan Andrews launches a $250million cash splash. Payments will start from July 1, with Victorians simply having to sign up to the Energy Compare website to become eligible for the huge cash splash. Hikes in the cost of petrol, electricity and food has seen many Australian households struggling to make ends meet, prompting the government to offer the free cash in Tuesday's budget. The scheme was initially rolled out to ease the financial burden of struggling families during Covid-19, but has since been extended. The Power Saving Bonus was originally only available for Pensioner Concession Card and Health Care Card holders in the state, including those claiming Jobseeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy. With the schemes combined together for the most vulnerable in Victoria, up to $800 will be available. Millions of Victorians will be eligible for a $250 handout to help with the rising cost of living (pictured, locals in Melbourne) The $250 Power Saving Bonus is available for Pensioner Concession Card and Health Care Card holders including Jobseeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy Premier Daniel Andrews heaped praise on the one-off payment saying it would go a long way to help families. 'This is a great opportunity for Victorians to save money, ease the cost of living, and cut their energy bills,' he said. 'Big power companies rely on people not having the time, information or knowledge to save money. 'But we know better deals are out there - and we're helping Victorian families find them.' Residents will need to head to Energy Compare and register their details through the website before they can receive the one-off payment. The scheme will open on July 1 and run until June 30 2023. The boost comes after the federal government handed out $250 cash boosts to struggling families on Wednesday. More than six million pensioners, carers, veterans, job seekers, eligible self-funded retirees and concession card holders received the payment. Premier Daniel Andrews heaped praise on the one-off payment saying it would go a long way to help families HOW DO I GET THE $250? From July 1 2022, you can access the new $250 program by visiting the Victorian Energy Compare website and submitting an application. Click here if you would like to receive an invitation to apply when the program opens. The existing $250 Power Saving Bonus for Concession recipients remains open and is available until 30 June 2022. Eligibility Requirements for the existing Power Saving Bonus program: You must be a Victorian residential energy consumer (i.e. have a residential electricity account). You must be receiving payments under one of the following concession programs: Centrelink Pensioner Concession JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession Or hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card Advertisement The measure is one of the key components of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's fourth budget, which was delivered in March and included plans to help millions of vulnerable Australians struggling to keep up with soaring. Another 10 million Australians will get up to $1,500 back in their next tax return under the government's pre-election cash-splash Budget which also slashed petrol excise. Australians earning less than $126,000 will from July 1 get an existing tax offset of up to $1,080 plus a bonus $420 to help manage the rising cost of living in a $4.1billion policy. The government is spending $3 billion to slash fuel duty in half for six months saving an average household $300 over six months and families with two cars $700. Treasurer Josh Fyrdenberg said the Government's plan to help the economy recover after the Covid-19 pandemic was working, with unemployment predicted to reach 3.75 per cent in September, the lowest level since 1974. 'Three years ago we said to the Australian people that under the Coalition, the economy would be stronger. We delivered,' he said in his speech. Treasurer Josh Fyrdenberg said the Government's plan to help the economy recover after the Covid-19 pandemic was working, with unemployment predicted to reach 3.75 per cent in September, the lowest level since 1974 Former Tory MP Neil Parish, who resigned yesterday over his porn-watching scandal in the House of Commons, was in fact searching for 'Dominator' combine harvesters when he opened a link to an adult website, his friends claim. Devon county councillor Colin Slade said that Mr Parish was looking at the farm vehicles when the now infamous incident in the Commons took place. The Claas 'Dominator' is a widely-used brand of combine harvester, and Mr Parish's family farm in North Somerset had one such model on its premises over the weekend. Mr Slade told The Telegraph he 'could see' how the search might have led to inappropriate content, arguing: 'I have never had any concerns about his behaviour and I regard Neil as totally truthful. 'I saw his BBC interview, which was very heartfelt, in which he said he was wrong and he was sorry.' Mr Slade's suggestion has not yet been confirmed by Mr Parish, though the former Tory MP did say he was looking at tractors when he stumbled upon adult content. The 65-year-old environment and rural affairs committee chairman, who is a farmer by trade, announced last night that he would quit his Tiverton and Honiton seat after admitting he watched porn on his phone while sat on the Commons' green benches. Mr Slade's comments come as MPs face increasing pressure to clean up Westminster politics amid a wave of sordid claims about booze-fuelled behavior that has left Parliament's reputation in the gutter. Former Tory MP Neil Parish, who resigned yesterday over his porn-watching scandal in the House of Commons, was in fact searching for 'Dominator' combine harvesters when he opened a link to an adult website, his friends claim (Parish is pictured on a Dominator combine harvester) The 65-year-old environment and rural affairs committee chairman, who is a farmer by trade, announced last night that he would quit his Tiverton and Honiton seat after admitting he watched porn on his phone while sat on the Commons' green benches In an interview with BBC South West, he said that the first time he viewed the material it was accidental and he was trying to look at tractors Tory MP Neil Parish is pictured arriving back to his home in Somerset following news that he is being investigated over claims that he watched porn in the House of Commons before his resignation Among the claims are a minister accused of having 'noisy sex' in his parliamentary office, a Tory MP who sent a 'd**k pic' to a female colleague and another who has been given repeated warnings for his use of prostitutes. Another MP is also said to have drunkenly licked men's faces which cavorting in one of Parliament's many bars. The Sunday Times alleged today one MP got so drunk on champagne at a posh parliamentary bash they had to be escorted out, while in a separate incident a female researcher got so drunk she vomited in a Commons' bar and was later found passed out. The new claims come after previous allegations of boorish and misogynistic behaviour by male politicians, including likening female MPs to sex workers because of the way they are dressed. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle today called for 'radical' reform to working practices, including ending the direct employment of aides by MPs, to make it easier for them to make complaints without fear of losing their jobs. His bid for change was echoed by Andrea Leadsom, the former leader of the Commons, who in 2018 spearheaded the creation of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which looks into claims of bullying and sexual harassment. Meanwhile, Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden reiterated a commitment from Boris Johnson to ensure half of Conservative candidates for the Commons are women. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Dowden said the Tories need to ensure their candidate list 'reflects the fact that half the population are women'. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today denied there was a 'culture of misogyny' in Parliament. He blamed bad behaviour on 'a few bad apples' and told Sky News: 'Generally, most MPs have a sense of responsibility... in some instances people do act irresponsibly.' And he said shutting Parliament's bars to tackle sexual misconduct and sleaze would be 'excessively puritanical'. An extra-ordinary rap sheet of sexist and misogynistic behaviour has been revealed in the wake of Neil Parish's resignation for watching pornography while sat in the Commons. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle today called for 'radical' reform to working practices, including ending the direct employment of aides by MPs, to make it easier for them to make complaints without fear of losing their jobs. His bid for change was echoed by Andrea Leadsom, the former leader of the Commons, who told The Sunday Times: 'Things haven't changed and that's because there aren't enough cases coming through and it's taking too long for investigations to come to an end.' Ex-Tory minister warned me about 'predatory' men in Parliament - SNP MP A former Conservative minister warned a newly elected Scottish MP which 'predatory' men to avoid in Parliament. Anum Qaisar, who was elected SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts in May 2021, said she was told by opposition MPs which men to avoid in Parliament. She told Sky News that a former Conservative minister approached her at a parliamentary event after noticing she was uncomfortable with a male politician being 'too cavalier'. She said: 'Despite the fact we have this horrific, toxic culture in Westminster, it's women looking after women. 'Since I joined Parliament, I've been taken aside by female MPs to warn me about some male MPs who say ''Actually, Anum, you're probably better off staying away from X, Y and Z''. 'In my situation, I was at a parliamentary event and a certain male MP made a beeline for me. I started to feel really uncomfortable because he was being far too over-cavalier. 'It was actually a Conservative MP - a former minister - who took me aside and said ''Look, it seems like you feel uncomfortable. Do you want to stay with me? You're probably best just to stay away from that person''.' Advertisement Mr Kwarteng also did not back all-women shortlists for parliamentary candidates, telling Sky News: 'I've never been a fan of quotas but I think we should do all we can to encourage more women to come into politics and from diverse backgrounds.' Senior Conservative Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has accused the Tories of 'institutional sexism'. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for behavioural and cultural change to tackle sleaze in Westminster, suggesting Boris Johnson must set a better example for his MPs. He told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'We need to listen to women and I've spoken to a number of women in the last few days and they're very clear that whilst there does need to be culture change, those who are engaged in this sort of activity, whether it's comments about Angela Rayner or whether it's watching porn in the House of Commons, have to take responsibility.' He also called for 'political leadership'. He said that when a Tory colleague gets into trouble, ministers' 'first instinct is to push it off into the long grass, hide what's happening, and that's a political problem because the fish rots from the head'. Sir Keir did not give specific answers to solve the problem, instead calling for behavioural and cultural change. 'The Speaker wants to pull parties together, I'm very happy to participate in that,' he added. Mr Parish last night revealed he and his wife have received death threats, saying: 'You know what happened to (murdered MP) David Amess... he was a great friend of mine. 'I might have done things or I might not have done things but I am not here to be killed and I am not here to have my family threatened.' Mr Parish struggled to hold back tears as told how in a 'moment of madness' he then deliberately watched the x-rated video a second time while he was sitting waiting to vote on the side of the Commons chamber. Parish with his wife of 40 years Susan, who described the allegations against him as 'very embarrassing' in The Times. Parish said he and his wife have received death threats Susan Parish (left), his wife of more than 40 years said their marriage would survive the scandal, claiming it is 'all very embarrassing' Parish is the chair of the Commons' Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Who is Neil Parish? Somerset farmer turned politician who left school at 16 and became a 'Rottweiler' on rural issues Neil Parish is a former Somerset farmer who has spend more than two decades as a politician in Westminster and Brussels. Born in Bridgewater, a historic market town on the edge of the Somerset Levels, he became MP for Tiverton and Honiton, a picturesque constituency in the heart of south-west England, in 2010 after a decade as a Tory MEP. Before that he served as a local councillor. The 65-year-old has been a member of the Environment and rural affairs committee since 2010 and was once branded a 'Rottweiler' by former farming minister David Miliband. Mr Parish left school at 16 without qualifications and began working on the family farm, where he still lives. He is married to Susan, a teacher, and they have two children and two grandchildren A biography on Politico described him as a 'devoted family man', with him and his wife considered something of a 'double act'. It continued: 'Shorter than average and slightly rotund, Parish makes up in personality what he lacks in height. He is a whirlwind of activity, giving the impression he never stays still for very long. 'One of his political opposites in the Parliament describes Parish as ''personable'' it is difficult to find anyone who dislikes him but says he suspects him of being ''shallow'', accusing him of a tendency to jump on other people's bandwagons for the sake of publicity. The same person adds with a sigh: ''He's a pretty nice guy actually''.' Mr Parish is known to indulge in stunts, and while an MEP drove a hybrid car from Brussels to Alongside rural issues, he is also interested in animal welfare, and launched a select committee inquiry into the treatment of domestic pets, including cats, dogs and horses. Mr Parish's other interests include African politics, according to an online biography. During the 2000 Presidential elections in Zimbabwe, he acted as an election monitor and criticised the conduct of Robert Mugabe's regime. Following this, Robert Mugabe banned Neil from re-entering the country, a ban that remains in place to this day. He was recently among more than 280 MPs to be sanctioned by Vladimir Putin's regime for comments he had made in Parliament in support of Ukraine. He described this as a 'badge of honour'. His most recent work in Parliament was launching an inquiry into marine mammals, which will look into their welfare in UK waters and worldwide. Advertisement The married father-of-two had previously vowed to continue as the MP for Tiverton and Honiton after it was revealed he was the politician seen watching porn by two Conservative colleagues, but finally bowed to pressure to resign this afternoon. He said in an interview with BBC South West that he recognised the 'furore' and 'damage' he was causing his family and his constituency in Devon before deciding 'it just wasn't worth carrying on'. 'The situation was, funnily enough it was tractors I was looking at, so I did get into another website with sort of a very similar name and I watched it for a bit, which I shouldn't have done,' Mr Parish said. 'My crime, my most biggest crime, is that on another occasion I went in a second time, and that was deliberate. 'I was wrong what I was doing, but this idea that I was there watching it, intimidating women, I mean I have 12 years in Parliament and probably got one of the best reputations ever - or did have.' When pressed on why he chose to view the material in the Commons, he said: 'I don't know, I think I must've taken complete leave of my senses and my sensibilities and my sense of decency, everything.' 'I thought that I could explain to the standards committee what happened and it would be worth explaining what happened which I will in a minute.' He added: 'What I do want to put on record is that for all my rights and wrongs, I was not proud of what I was doing. The one thing I wasn't doing and which I will take to my grave as being true is I was not actually making sure people could see it. 'In fact, I was trying to do quite the opposite. I was wrong what I was doing, but this idea that I was there watching it and intimidating women.' He continued: 'Total madness. I'm not going to defend it. I'm also not going to defend what I did. What I did was absolutely, totally wrong. In the end, what do you do?' He told the BBC that he and his wife discussed fighting it in some way yesterday morning. 'I was wrong. I searched my conscience and that's why I'm here this afternoon. I'm not trying to be virtuous about it in any shape or form. I was wrong. I was stupid. I lost a sense of mind. 'What is done is done. What I am saying is one can use process to delay and hold things up. I decided not to.' He was suspended by the Conservatives on Friday under investigation after confirming that he was the MP who had been seen watching the material. His resignation will trigger a by-election in the South West seat of Tiverton and Honiton in Devon which has a Conservative majority of over 14,000. The resignation follows Parish's wife, Sue Parish, promising to stand by her husband in an interview with the Times today. Mrs Parish, said the incident was 'very embarrassing' but added that 'if you were mad with every man who looked at pornography, you would not have many wives in the world.' His wife of more than 40 years said their marriage would survive the scandal, claiming it is 'all very embarrassing'. After hearing about the allegation, Mrs Parish said: 'My breath was taken away, frankly,' although she defended her husband. 'No. He's quite a normal guy, really. He's a lovely person. It's just so stupid.' She said: 'People shouldn't be looking at pornography. He would never just sit there with people looking. He would never just do that knowing [people were looking]. These ladies were quite right to be as cross as they were because I was cross, too.' Mr Parish admitted that as reports emerged yesterday naming him as the MP in question, he was unable to contact his wife because his phone battery was flat. By the time he arrived home from a constituency surgery, Mrs Parish had already learned the news. Having reached their red-brick farmhouse in Stretcholt near Bridgwater, Somerset, Mr Parish broke down in tears and told her: 'I'm sorry you married a f****** idiot.' Labour welcomed Parish's resignation after it was announced. Thangam Debbonaire MP, Labour's Shadow Leader of the House of Commons said: 'This is the right decision, the people of Tiverton and Honiton deserve better than Neil Parish's disgusting behaviour. 'But it's shocking that the Conservatives have allowed this debacle to drag out over many days. 'Time and again the Tories refuse to act, resorting to cover ups and dragging the reputation of other MPs and the House down with them. 'From the Owen Paterson scandal, voting to keep Rob Roberts in parliament, and their failure to act against their paedophile MP Imran Ahmad Khan, this Conservative government is rotting from the head down. 'Britain deserves better.' Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner was more incredulous. She tweeted: 'He was looking for tractors but ended up with porn actors? 'Neil Parish must think you were all born yesterday. Boris Johnson's Conservatives are a national embarrassment.' The sentiment was echoed by Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper who said: 'It is appalling that Neil Parish had to be pushed to resign after those in charge of the Conservative Party spent days dragging their feet. 'This still leaves unanswered questions about Boris Johnson's leadership and his failure to trust the word of his female MPs. 'The Conservative party must now swiftly call a by-election, so the people of Tiverton and Honiton can finally get the proper representation they deserve. 'From health and crime failures to partygate and porn scandals, the Conservatives are taking voters for granted. This Thursday is a chance to send a clear message that Boris Johnson's time is up.' Nicola Sturgeon has said the resignation of Neil Parish should be a moment for society to say 'enough is enough' when it comes to misogyny. The First Minister reacted to news of the MP's resignation as she campaigned in Burntisland, Fife, on Saturday. She told the PA news agency: 'I don't think there could really be any other outcome to what has come to light about this particular MP over the last few days. 'Watching porn on a mobile phone in the House of Commons when you're there representing constituents is just unacceptable.' She said sexism and misogyny were a 'societal problem' which now needed to change. Keir Starmer was told tonight to provide evidence to back up his claims over Beergate. The Labour leader says he did not break Covid rules when he was caught on camera swigging beer with colleagues last year. He insists he was working and he and his team had only stopped for a break and food before resuming their duties at Durham Miners Hall. But Tory MPs said it stretched credulity to suggest Sir Keir had carried on working so late when the footage of him drinking beer had been shot at 10.04pm on a Friday night. Labour refused to provide any evidence that he really went back to work, saying only that it had nothing to add on the matter. In a further twist, a delivery driver for an Indian restaurant yesterday claimed that he had dropped off quite a big order at the hall of about four bags of curry, rice and naan bread. He also estimated there were probably about 30 or so people there. But after the Mail made further enquires with the restaurant, he changed his story to say he had no recollection of making the delivery on April 30. Sir Keir Starmer insists he did not break Covid rules when he was caught on camera swigging beer with colleagues last year (Stock image) Scott Benton, Tory MP for Blackpool South, said: Labour must provide proof that Keir returned to work after his beers at 10pm if they expect people to believe this claim. Why would they not provide evidence for this claim if it is true? Brendan Clarke-Smith, Conservative MP for Bassetlaw, said: Sir Keir must provide evidence to back up this claim if it is to be believed. Labour already has admitted they lied about Angela Rayners presence. Is there anything else they havent told us? Michael Fabricant, who represents Lichfield for the Conservatives, said: Having first denied that Angela Rayner was present then having to admit that she was, Keir Starmer needs even more to provide some evidence that he did indeed go back to work. It is, after all, pretty unbelievable. Sir Keir was today forced to admit Labour had not told the truth over the Durham gathering. The party had initially claimed that Mrs Rayner, the deputy leader, had not been present, but last week it confirmed she was after being presented with video evidence by the Daily Mail. Appearing on Sky News yesterday, Sir Keir said: It is a genuine mistake and I take responsibility for it. The Tories yesterday stepped up their calls for Durham Constabulary to investigate whether Sir Keir was in breach of Covid regulations. MP Mary Foy at The Capitol Indian Restaurant in Durham In February the force decided not to launch a formal probe after reviewing a video of the event and deciding it did not believe an offence had been established. Richard Holden, the Tory MP for North West Durham, wrote to the force a week ago asking them to reconsider in light of Scotland Yards decision to fine the Prime Minister over a breach in Downing Street. Last night he sent a further letter asking officers to look into Sir Keirs implausible account. Mr Holden wrote: Keir Starmer has again repeated his claim that he returned to work after being pictured drinking beer inside after 10pm on the evening in question. As many observers including residents of County Durham now know, this seems implausible. He added that it simply cannot be the case that Keir Starmer returned to work, or that the drink was reasonably necessary for work purposes. Mr Holden also demanded that police interview two students who filmed the video of Sir Keir swigging beer. The pair told the Mail on Sunday yesterday that Sir Keir, local Labour MP Mary Foy and a mystery woman, who may have been Mrs Rayner, were gathered in a narrow kitchen next to Mrs Foys office. The witnesses, who are university students, said the trio and other Labour officials, who were standing in a narrow corridor outside, appeared to be socialising. Labour dismissed an election 'booze row' after Sir Keir Starmer enjoyed a beer after a day on the campaign trail in April 2021 I have never seen a work meeting with people sitting on tables, drinking San Miguel and standing around eating off plates, one said. They werent having a meeting. There is a clear difference between a meeting and what was happening there, which was entirely social. Sir Keir drank his now-infamous beer with Labour comrades when England was only slowly emerging from lockdown and strict laws remained against indoor socialising. He was in the North East to campaign for candidates ahead of a crucial Red Wall by-election as well as council and crime tsar polls. Under the Step 2 restrictions in place between April 12 and May 17, the Government insisted: You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble. Outdoor groups were limited to just six people. When the photo emerged in January, Sir Keir said: I was in a constituency office just days before the election. We were very busy, we were working in the office and we stopped for something to eat. And then we carried on working. That is the long and the short of it. No party, no breach of the rules and absolutely no comparison with the Prime Minister... Wed stopped to eat a takeaway whilst we were working in the office and then we carried on. Just to put it in context this was about a few days before the May elections. Labour tonight declined to provide proof the party leader continued working. A spokesman said: No rules were broken. Mystery over the disappearing delivery of four bags of curry By James Tozer and Connor Stringer More questions were raised over Beergate tonight after a takeaway driver claimed to have delivered quite a big order of four bags of curries, rice and naans to the work meeting. The driver estimated there were probably about 30 or so people inside but he later U-turned on his story. Sir Keir Starmer insisted no rules were broken as he accused the Tories of trying to throw mud around ahead of Thursdays local elections. The Daily Mail spoke to a staff member at the award-winning The Capital Indian restaurant not far from Durham Miners Hall where Sir Keir was filmed drinking beer who initially said he brought about four bags of food. During the first national lockdown The Capital was hailed by local Labour MP Mary Foy who was among those at the 10pm gathering in her constituency office for supplying meals to NHS staff. However, after the Mail continued to make enquiries last night, the delivery driver changed his story, claiming he had never even been to the Miners Hall. The Labour leader was staying at Durhams Radisson Blu hotel where food was served outside on its terrace until 9pm. But Sir Keir had previously said the hotel he was staying in wasnt serving food. In addition to Sir Keir and Miss Foy, the 43-second footage of the gathering shows a mystery blonde-haired woman, and two young male Labour aides eating what appear to be naan bread from plates. A sixth person a man can briefly be seen walking along a corridor at the far end of the small kitchen in which they were meeting. In May 2020, Mrs Foy posed for photographs with head chef Syed Islam and other staff at The Capital as they displayed a banner highlighting how they had supplied complementary meals for NHS heroes treating Covid patients at University Hospital North Durham. Redhills, the home of the Durham Miners Association in Durham, County Durham In a glowing endorsement posted on her website, she said: This is another heart-warming example of how the communities and businesses in my brilliant constituency look out for one another. I hope all the staff who received one of Syeds incredible meals enjoyed them. I was lucky enough to sample one and I can confirm that his status as an award-winning chef is very much deserved. Well done to Team Capital! Asked at 11am yesterday whether the restaurant had delivered the food seen being consumed in the video, the delivery driver recalled it being quite a big order of curries, rice and naan bread. It was about four bags of stuff, he said. There were a few people. Probably about 30 or so. Questioned as to whether it looked like a party, he said it had not, adding that the people present seemed quite spread out. However after saying he needed to speak to a manager, his account later changed. At 5pm he insisted he had been mistaken in his earlier comments and that other drivers had been carrying out deliveries at that time. Shown a photograph of the Miners Hall, he insisted: I have never been there before. Interviewed about the gathering on LBC radio in January, Sir Keir said: No restaurants were open, no pubs were open. The hotel we were staying in had no food, they didnt run food. So if you didnt get a takeaway then our team wasnt eating that evening. Durham Police are facing mounting calls to launch a new probe into the event, having announced in February that no rules had been broken. The students who filmed the video clip said yesterday they were willing to provide a full statement to officers. The Labour Party was approached for comment. A ban on imports of Russian oil to the EU by the end of the year in line with the British commitment is being considered, two diplomats said yesterday. The development was hinted at after talks between the European Commission and EU member states this weekend. The European Union is preparing a sixth package of sanctions against Russia which is expected to target Russian oil, Russian and Belarusian banks, individuals and companies. The Commission, which is co-ordinating the EU response, held talks dubbed confessionals with small groups of EU countries and aims to firm up its sanctions plan in time for a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday. EU energy ministers are also due to meet in the Belgian capital tomorrow to discuss the issue. The European Union is set to target Russian oil in its latest wave of sanctions against the country. Pictured is a diesel plant in the Yarakta Oil Field, owned by Irkutsk Oil Company (INK), in Irkutsk Region, Russia The diplomats said some EU countries were able to end their use of oil before the end of 2022, but others, particularly more southerly members, were concerned about the impact on prices. Germany, one of the bigger buyers of Russian oil, appeared to be willing to go along with the end-of-2022 cut-off, the diplomats said. But countries including Austria, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia had reservations. An adviser to Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany backed an EU ban on Russian oil imports but needed a few months to secure alternatives. Some EU countries have proposed opting for a cap on the price they are willing to pay for Russian oil. However, it would still leave them forced to pay higher prices for supplies from elsewhere. Joerg Kukies was quoted by the Financial Times as saying: Were asking for a considered wind-down period. 'We want to stop buying Russian oil, but we need a bit of time to make sure we can get other sources of oil into our country. Mr Kukies said Germany wanted to ensure that a refinery in Schwedt, northeastern Germany, operated by Russian state oil company Rosneft could be supplied with non-Russian oil brought by tankers to Rostock on the Baltic Sea. He told the Financial Times that to allow this, the port of Rostock would have to be deepened and work done on the pipeline linking it to Schwedt. One of America's top health officials has come under fire for saying that all pediatricians agree on providing children and teenagers with 'gender-affirming care' - despite vocal opposition to puberty blockers from doctors over the past few years. Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine - who is also the highest-appointed transgender person in U.S. history - told NPR in a recent interview that 'there is [an] evidence-based standard of care for the evaluation and treatment of trans individuals' set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. There have also 'been comments from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, from the [American Medical Association], from the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association - all in support of evidence-based standards of care for [gender-affirming] treatment,' she added. 'There is no argument among medical professionals - pediatricians, pediatric endocrinologists, adolescent medicine physicians, adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, etc. - about the value and importance of gender-affirming care.' Gender-affirming care, according to Levine's Department of Health and Human Services, includes social affirmation of one's gender identity at any age, puberty blockers during puberty and hormone therapy starting in early adolescence. Irreversible surgery is 'typically used in adulthood or [on a] case-by-case basis in adolescence,' the department's March 2022 fact sheet says. Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine - who is also America's highest-appointed transgender female - told NPR in a recent interview that 'there is no argument' amongst medical professionals about 'gender-affirming care' What is 'gender-affirming care'? According to the Department of Health and Human Services' March 2022 fact sheet: 'Gender-affirming care is a supportive form of health care. 'It consists of an array of services that may include medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people. 'For transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being, as it allows the child or adolescent to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence while navigating the health care system.' Advertisement Levine's comments were made in response to questions about Florida Surgeon General Joseph Lapado releasing his own fact sheet on the topic - which strongly advised against adolescents transitioning at all. In its fact sheet, the Florida Department of Health cited a 'lack of conclusive evidence, and the potential for long-term, irreversible effects' to warn against social transitioning, puberty blockers, hormones and surgery as treatment options for children and adolescents. Levine has since dismissed the Florida health guidance as being 'based upon political considerations' and 'not appropriate,' saying: 'We need to stand against that both from a medical and public health point of view.' She is now expected to deliver a speech at the Out for Health Conference at Texas Christian University, in which she will claim that 'Trans youth in particular are being hounded in public, and driven to deaths of despair at an alarming rate. 'Fifty-two percent of all transgender and nonbinary young people in the US seriously contemplated killing themselves in 2020,' Levine writes in her prepared remarks, obtained by NPR. 'Think about how many of them thought it was better to die than to put up with more harassment, scapegoating and intentional abuse. 'The language of medicine and science is being used to drive people to suicide,' her remarks go on to say. She is expected to speak at the Out for Health Conference at Texas Christian University (pictured), at which she will discuss depression among transgender youth But puberty blockers have been shown to have unintended side-effects as well - with several countries now banning the use of the medication for those under the age of 18. The medications are used as a pause button on puberty, offering a child the breathing space to reach a considered decision over whether to proceed with cross-sex hormones and sex-change surgery to achieve full transition. Their supporters say it is better to stop puberty altogether. But opponents to the drug say there is very little research about the effects they have on a young person's body. In Sweden, one young transgender man, Leo, is suffering the consequences, with his back badly hurting whenever he stands up or walks away. He is one of 13 transgender children of the 440 treated by the country's famous Karolinska University Hospital who were found by a Swedish television crew to have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the puberty blockers. Their ailments include liver damage, unexplained weight gains of up to two stone, mental health problems, and in Leos case skeletal damage and a failure to grow as tall as he should. He has spinal fractures and a condition called osteopenia, which weakens the bones, making them more liable to break. It is a disease that is often found in people aged 60 or 70 and is almost impossible to reverse. But according to Leo's bone density tests and X-rays obtained by the Swedish journalists, his bones had become porous, two of his vertebrae had changed shape and he was suffering from osteopenia, a forerunner to osteoporosis in which the back can become permanently curved, there is height loss, and it becomes easy to break your limbs. Crucially, according to the TV investigation, his medical team had never checked his bones, although he took puberty blockers from the age of 11 to 15, double the recommended time period of two years. Soon after starting the treatment, he said he became depressed and unhappy. He began refusing to go to class, saying he was tired during the day and his situation soon became graver still. His mental health got worse and worse, his mother Natalie has recalled. He attempted suicide several times. We couldnt understand why. He was meant to be getting better from the treatment. We just kept hoping he would. Then the aches in Leos body began. At first he didnt say much to his parents, according to the report. Worried, they asked him outright how he was feeling. He answered that he was in pain all the time, says Natalie. It was in his hips, his upper and lower back, his shoulders. My son shouldnt be this way at his age, she told the TV program. He should not have to live with this. Leo has been taken off the blockers and, as a result, his body has turned back to being a girls with all the signs of puberty you would expect - and he is no longer depressed. A Swedish television program revealed that 13 transgender children started having negative reactions to puberty blockers Now, several European countries are debating about prohibiting the use of puberty blockers. After the film aired, the Karolinska reported itself to the national health authorities, and announced it had stopped prescribing puberty blockers to under-18s other than in a strictly-regulated research setting approved by ethics experts. This led to the countrys national health board curtailing the administering of blockers to under-18s, with the admission that they carry risks that outweigh the benefits. One of Swedens leading pediatricians, Ricard Nergardh, has said the drugs chemically castrate children and can harm their mental wellbeing. The television investigation claimed the hospital which oversees the countrys identity development services for transgender children, and operates under the acronym KIDS has rushed through treatments without examining the psychological issues of children who feel they were born into the wrong body. It discovered that girls as young as 14 had received double mastectomies in their quest to live as boys. In the UK, meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid launched a review into the use of puberty blockers in the country. He believes youngsters are wrongly being given them by the NHS and hopes it will lead to a new, safer way of helping those who question their gender identity. Mental health, bullying and previous sexual assault are just some of the issues that could be causing problems for the child, he said. This approach where people just accept what a child says, almost automatically, and then start talking about puberty blockers, thats not in the childs interests at all. In the case of blockers, Javid says a fear of being branded transphobic is encouraging doctors into giving children the drugs. The government is now expected to demand access to the medical records of English children who have received them to assess what has happened to their health afterwards and to find out if they regretted the treatment. Finland has also announced puberty blockers should not be the treatment of first resort for children who want to change gender. Instead, they should be offered psychotherapy. And in France, the National Academy of Medicine has told doctors that the high number of young transgender children is often fueled by the influence of social media and advised that great caution should be exercised when treating them. The academy stressed that hormone treatments carry health risks, have permanent effects, and that it is not possible to distinguish a genuine transgender desire in an adolescent from a passing phase that occurs during the process of growing up. It added that many children are being pushed on to the trans pathway too quickly and that, as young adults, they wish to turn the clock back and de-transition. Erica Anderson, a clinical psychlogist at the University of California Sn Francisco's Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic, left, and Dr. Marci Bowers, a world-renowned vaginoplasty specialist, have spoken out against the use of puberty blockers In the US, doctors have also been warning against the use of puberty blockers for the past few years. Last year, two of the world's top medics for gender reassignment procedures - both of whom are transgender women - publicly expressed their concern about the growing number of children being given the medication. Dr Marci Bowers, a world-renowned vaginoplasty specialist who operated on reality-television star Jazz Jennings, and Erica Anderson, a clinical psychologist at the University of California San Francisco's Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic, both spoke out for Bari Weiss's Substack newsletter, Common Sense, in October. In the post, Bowers said she was 'not a fan' of putting children in the early stages of puberty on blockers. 'This is typical of medicine,' she said, when asked about the prevailing orthodoxy. 'We zig and then we zag, and I think maybe we zigged a little too far to the left in some cases. 'I think there was naivete on the part of pediatric endocrinologists who were proponents of early [puberty] blockage thinking that just this magic can happen, that surgeons can do anything.' She said that the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) could be intolerant of dissenting opinions. Bowers and Anderson were both interviewed for the Substack newsletter run by Bari Weiss (above) 'There are definitely people who are trying to keep out anyone who doesn't absolutely buy the party line that everything should be affirming, and that there's no room for dissent,' Bowers said. 'I think that's a mistake.' She explained that the surgery they opt for can leave people sexually dysfunctional - something she said was not discussed enough. 'The idea all sounded good in the very beginning,' she said. 'Believe me, we're doing some magnificent surgeries on these kids, and they're so determined, and I'm so proud of so many of them and their parents. They've been great. 'But honestly, I can't sit here and tell you that they have better or even as good results. They're not as functional. I worry about their reproductive rights later. I worry about their sexual health later and ability to find intimacy.' Anderson also said she feared many young people would regret their decisions. 'It is my considered opinion that due to some of the - let's see, how to say it? what word to choose? - due to some of the, I'll call it just 'sloppy,' sloppy healthcare work, that we're going to have more young adults who will regret having gone through this process,' she told the site. 'And that is going to earn me a lot of criticism from some colleagues, but given what I see - and I'm sorry, but it's my actual experience as a psychologist treating gender variant youth - I'm worried that decisions will be made that will later be regretted by those making them.' She said she was concerned about 'rushing people through the medicalization', and warned of the 'abject failure to evaluate the mental health of someone historically in current time, and to prepare them for making such a life-changing decision.' Anderson also noted that she had submitted an op ed to The New York Times warning about the risks of treatments, and the paper turned it down because the story was 'outside our coverage priorities right now.' Evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers in children struggling with their gender identity is of 'very low' quality, according to a UK review A UK review also previously found that evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers in children struggling with their gender identity are of 'very low' quality. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said the few studies on the subject were small and 'subject to bias and confounding'. The analysis considered studies that compared the use of the blockers with either psychological support, social transitioning to the desired gender via the likes of changing pronouns or wearing different types of clothing, or no intervention at all. But Nice found that it was difficult to draw conclusions from existing studies because of the way they had been designed. Most had few subjects and did not have groups which did not take any treatment at all which is typically used to determine a drug's true effect. The Nice review says: The intention is to alleviate the distress associated with the development of secondary sex characteristics, thereby providing a time for on-going discussion and exploration of gender identity before deciding whether to take less reversible steps. The existing studies were all small and did not have control groups, which are used to directly compare the effect of different treatments. Some also failed to describe what other physical and mental health problems a young person may have alongside gender dysphoria. Experts have argued that carrying out higher quality, controlled, trials may be difficult because of the potential impact withholding treatment from one group may have on their mental health. Nice accepted this but said offering psychological support may reduce ethical concerns in future trials. Nice also considered the use of cross-sex hormone, which people can take to start the physical transition to their identified gender. The quality of evidence demonstrating their clinical effectiveness and safety was also of very low quality. Nice said: Any potential benefits of gender-affirming hormones must be weighed against the largely unknown long-term safety profile of these treatments in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria. The documents were prepared by Nice in October 2020 to help inform Dr Hilary Casss independent review into NHS gender identity services for children and young people. Neither review includes recommendations and both constitute advice, rather than formal guidance. Researchers discovered that the DNA evidence found in Stonehenge is proof that human activity existed long before the monument became what it is today. It has been the subject of intense study since it was discovered long ago. Events Before the Stonehenge Was Built Hypothetically the new study claims that early hunter-gatherers walked in the archaic past a millennia before the mysterious Stonehenge construction that is still deciphered, reported the Express UK. Researchers discovered DNA information suggesting henge was built on a site; previously been an open mix of grasslands and meadows inhabited by hunter-gatherers for thousands of years. Researchers from Southampton University discovered DNA information suggesting henge was built on a site; previously been an open mix of grasslands and meadows inhabited by hunter-gatherers for thousands of years, cited PLOS ONE. The authors investigated Stonehenge's history before the Bronze Age-Neolithic period, when one of the world's most iconic prehistoric structures was created. Concentration on another aspect of the ancient monument. Previous notions are that the region used to be full of canopy forests before the existence of the structure. Surprising finds that were a gee-whiz moment Until now, the previously accepted notions about the monument have a new chapter, and it is an eye-opener. According to new evidence from the site, hunter-gatherers inhabited this site 4,000 years ago. This period of the region's earliest known farmers and monument-builders, noted Trixabia. They looked at and examined pollen, spores, sedimentary DNA, and animal remains at Blick Mead, which lies on the boundaries of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. This Stonehenge discovery is crucial, with DNA evidence only seen now. Read Also: Climate Change Influences Human Evolution Since the Days of the First Hominid Until the Existence of Modern Man Lead author and doctoral student Samuel Hudson remarked on what has been found. It is important to note that practically the specific location that Stonehenge was built for more purposes. Like a venue of probable religious rituals, as evidenced by the number of timber pillars out from the earliest period of hunter-gatherer settlement at Blick Mead. It presents the notion that in the construction of Europe's grandest monumental landscape, there was more than just spatial-ecological continuity with the late hunter-gatherer setting. In many respects, that was a development of its herbivore grazing and accompanying hunter-gatherer activity from before. Rich Neolithic and Bronze Age monumental landscapes focus on much understanding about the World Heritage Site; yet, the Mesolithic populations remain a mystery. In the environmental research at Blick Mead, hunter-gatherers had already chosen a section of this landscape, an alluvial clearing, as a permanent hunting and occupancy site. Stonehenge Site Served as Ritual Grounds Before Its Construction The findings of Hudson and his colleagues also demonstrate that the ancient peoples that built the Neolithic circle did it on well-maintained ground frequented by huge cow grazers. These grazers tended to the now-extinct auroch, a wild ancestor of all cattle, and are therefore recognized as one of the most important beasts in human history. Aurochs were hunted to extinction in 1627, yet their DNA is still in several original cow varieties of today. Data from the Blick Mead corroborate the notion that the Late Neolithic hunter-gatherers were very important to the late Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. These clearings were also sites of ritual activity, which drew people from far and wide. Finding the Stonehenge Discovery of DNA evidence in the blick mead reveals how the area supported human activities in the ancient past. Related Article: Stonehenge Serves as Ancient Calendar To Keep Track of the Year, Scholar Says @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Back in November 2003, Michael Peterson was only a month into a life sentence for murdering his wife when he received a strange but cheering letter in prison. Its sender, a Frenchwoman living in Paris, insisted that she knew the best-selling American novelist better than anyone, outside his family so much so that she was convinced Peterson was innocent. But Sophie Brunet wasn't one of those weird obsessives who wrote fan mail to convicted serial killers instead, she was the editor of an acclaimed documentary series, The Staircase, about Peterson's intriguing case. Peterson had given her and her team extraordinary access as he sought to prove his innocence. And, at least on her, the strategy had clearly worked. Brunet, who watched some 600 hours of footage relating to Peterson's case, wrote: 'I saw you, I know you're innocent, it was a great injustice.' She added that the way he'd talked about his wife had moved her. She asked if she could send Peterson books, and started with France's great novelist Marcel Proust. Soon they were regularly exchanging letters about books and painting and, a year later, she visited him in prison. They'd speak on the phone every day. When Peterson was released eight years into his sentence to await retrial, he and Brunet became lovers. Every two or three months, she would fly from France to stay at his house in Durham, North Carolina. Peterson even considered moving to Paris and starting a new life with her. Stairway to hell: The real couple's (pictured) bizarre romance and the gruesome and unexplained death of businesswoman Kathleen Peterson is the subject of a forthcoming HBO drama The couple ended their relationship only in 2017, after he visited France. 'I realised, no, I can't live in Paris I don't speak French, I'm too old, I can't afford to live in Paris and my children and grandchildren were in America,' he told his local newspaper. 'We spent three days together and went to Normandy and she said: 'If you can't commit to love with me all the time, let's end it.' It was a blow to both of us for which I feel not guilt but sorrow. I couldn't give her what she needed and deserved.' Their bizarre romance, not to mention the gruesome and unexplained death of businesswoman Kathleen Peterson that preceded it and became an international sensation, is the subject of a forthcoming HBO drama, The Staircase. The eight-part series stars Colin Firth as Michael, Toni Collette as Kathleen and Juliette Binoche as Sophie Brunet. Mrs Peterson's life ended at the bottom of a blood-spattered staircase one night in December 2001. How she got there has provided the army of amateur detectives fascinated by unresolved 'true-crime' cases with one of their most abiding conundrums. It is a riddle subsequent events notably her husband's early release after admitting manslaughter while still asserting his innocence have done nothing to clear up. Conflicting theories range from the mundane: she tripped after too much wine; to the lurid: she was bludgeoned to death after discovering Peterson was bisexual; and the outlandish: she was attacked by an owl. The case was first chronicled in 2004 in the 13-part documentary series, also called The Staircase, on which Sophie Brunet worked. Pictured: Colin Firth and Toni Collette as the couple in the upcoming HBO show There was a further chilling question: had the former U.S. Marines captain and Vietnam veteran done it before? Was he responsible for a shockingly similar death in Germany 18 years earlier? In an unusual approach, the makers of The Staircase will include the various alternative scenarios as to how she died. The case was first chronicled in 2004 in the 13-part documentary series, also called The Staircase, on which Sophie Brunet worked. First shown in the UK on BBC4 as Death On The Staircase and later becoming a hit when made available on Netflix, the series benefited not only from the fact Peterson's trial was televised but also from his decision to co-operate, giving cameras access to him, his family and his legal team. However, even after additional episodes were added in 2013 to update the story, the documentary never mentioned that the woman editing it was having an affair with its subject. That rather significant omission has fuelled accusations that the documentary was far too sympathetic to Peterson, portraying him rather than his wife as the victim and underplaying or even ignoring the evidence against him. Peterson later admitted that the TV series 'was a very powerful instrument in my conviction being overturned' but insisted Brunet didn't let her relationship with him taint her 'professional' impartiality. Many don't believe that, and Kathleen's family convinced he killed her dismissed the documentary as his 'ultimate vanity project'. The emergency services found 48-year-old Mrs Peterson, a telecoms company executive, lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the back staircase at their mansion. Pictured: The death scene The police, however, were suspicious of Peterson from the start. He had dialled 911 just after 2.40am one night in December 2001, gasping and sobbing as he falteringly told an emergency operator: 'She fell down some stairs. She's still breathing, please come!' The emergency services found 48-year-old Mrs Peterson, a telecoms company executive, lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the back staircase at their mansion. The walls around her body were heavily spattered with blood and she had horrific head injuries as well as others around her body. To investigators, it hardly looked like she'd just fallen down stairs. An autopsy revealed Kathleen had sustained seven deep lacerations on her skull, among 38 injuries over her face, back, head, hands, arms and wrists. Prosecutors charged Peterson, then 58, with first-degree murder. They said he'd bludgeoned his wife to death with a fire iron after she discovered details of his gay sex life. Erudite and eccentric, but also brash and egotistical, Peterson was indignant that he should be accused, co-operating fully when the French documentary-makers came calling. Helpfully for him, the director, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, had won an Oscar in 2001 for a documentary about a 15-year-old wrongly accused of murder. Erudite and eccentric, but also brash and egotistical, Peterson was indignant that he should be accused, co-operating fully when the French documentary-makers came calling. Pictured Firth and Collette in HBO's The Staircase According to Peterson, on the night of Kathleen's death, they had drunk wine and champagne to celebrate a possible film deal for one of his books and watched a film, America's Sweethearts. It was little secret within their family that the Petersons were a boozy pair. He stayed outside by their swimming pool when she wearing flip-flops and feeling woozy after taking Valium on top of the alcohol stumbled on the fourth step of a narrow, poorly lit wooden staircase, falling backwards and hitting her head on a door frame. To explain her extensive injuries, Peterson and his lawyers suggested she then slipped in her own blood and hit her head again, losing consciousness and bleeding to death. At his trial, which started in North Carolina in 2003, the prosecution kept returning to those injuries, asking jurors if they could have been the result of slipping down a few stairs. Paramedics who'd attended her testified the blood had been mostly dry and prosecutors alleged Peterson had killed his wife hours before sounding the alarm and spent the intervening time cleaning up. A crime scene analyst described Peterson's behaviour hugging his dead wife and sobbing uncontrollably as melodramatic. A crime scene analyst described Peterson's behaviour hugging his dead wife and sobbing uncontrollably as melodramatic. Pictured: Firth in The Staircase Prosecutors suggested the murder weapon had been a 'blow poke': a hollow fireplace poker that can be blown through to rekindle a fire. The one in the Peterson household was missing. Experts clashed over the abundant blood spattering and whether Peterson would have had space to wield the 3 ft blow poke in a confined area. The defence's spatter expert drank some ketchup and theatrically spat it out to show how Kathleen might have coughed blood on the walls. And what about motive? After analysing Peterson's computer, the prosecution alleged that, the night she died, Kathleen had found 2,000 images of gay sex stored on it. The computer also contained explicit email conversations he'd had with a male prostitute and serving soldier, Brent Wolgamott. 'I'm very bi and that's all there is to it,' Peterson had written. He told Mr Wolgamott he'd never used an escort before, although he had once paid a 'super-macho guy who played lacrosse' for sex. The prosecution argued that Peterson's secret bisexuality had been the 'trigger' for the murder after his wife (they alleged) confronted him. Witnesses attested that he had a vicious temper. Peterson insisted Kathleen had been aware of his sexuality. Prosecutors did their best to play up his sexual preferences with a Bible Belt jury, portraying Peterson as the debauched writer sitting at home looking at 'filth' on his computer while his wife earned their crust. If the prosecution case wasn't totally compelling, it had other evidence to throw at Peterson from a different source. Pictured: Firth (right) in The Staircase Prosecutors also cited an additional motive: money. The Petersons lived in a grand house and seemed successful but they were $143,000 in debt. Kathleen was the main breadwinner and her accidental death would have been worth $1.4 million to Peterson from a life insurance policy, the court heard. If the prosecution case wasn't totally compelling, it had other evidence to throw at Peterson from a different source. It concerned Elizabeth Ratliff, an American military widow who'd been a close friend of Peterson and his first wife Patty while they were living near Frankfurt in West Germany. Eighteen years earlier in 1985, Elizabeth too had been found dead lying in a pool of blood at the foot of a staircase. She had severe head injuries and, again, the surrounding walls were spattered with blood. Peterson had been the last known person to have seen her alive, having helped put her children to bed after he and Patty had dined there the previous night. The verdict had been that she'd died from a brain haemorrhage unrelated to the fall, but the U.S. court trying Peterson ordered her remains to be exhumed from her Texas grave for a second autopsy. This time, to the delight of loved ones who suspected foul play, a coroner listed her cause of death as 'homicide'. Peterson who had adopted Elizabeth's daughters wasn't formally accused of killing her but prosecutors argued that even if he hadn't done it, the circumstances had given him a 'blueprint' of how to get rid of his wife. Nevertheless, his motive for allegedly killing Elizabeth wasn't clear. At his trial for murdering Kathleen, Peterson's lawyers were eventually able to produce the missing blow poke. Pictured: Firth in The Staircase At his trial for murdering Kathleen, Peterson's lawyers were eventually able to produce the missing blow poke. Investigators had supposedly overlooked it in the Peterson garage and, when analysed, it bore no signs of having been used to bludgeon anyone. The four-month trial ended in a guilty verdict and a life sentence without parole. The case had already torn apart Peterson's extended family both he and Kathleen had grown-up children from previous marriages when they wed in 1997 with some supporting him and others not. Caitlin, Kathleen's daughter by another man, filed a civil 'wrongful death' claim against Peterson even before he went on trial. Caitlin eventually won $25 million although her stepfather admitted no liability and had by then filed for bankruptcy. Caitlin, as well as her late mother's two sisters, turned against Peterson after seeing graphic photos of Kathleen's body during the autopsy. They argued that Kathleen would never have put up with Peterson cheating on her, with men or women, after infidelity had ruined her first marriage. Peterson whose lawyers had claimed he'd had an 'idyllic' marriage to Kathleen admitted cheating on first wife Patty with both men and women. However, he insisted his gay affairs during his second marriage hadn't been proper relationships that undermined his love for Kathleen. The four-month trial ended in a guilty verdict and a life sentence without parole. Pictured: The Staircase It was Lawrence Pollard, a lawyer and neighbour, who in 2009 made the outlandish suggestion that an owl might have attacked Kathleen after reading that a microscopic owl feather was mentioned on the trial's evidence list. The feather was entangled with some of Kathleen's hair found clutched in her left hand. Other tiny feathers were found in her hair. The coroner considered the wounds on her scalp too deep to have been made by any bird but three animal experts contradicted her. It was entirely possible, they said, for a large raptor to have become entangled in her hair and panicked. The owl theory was never explored further, as in 2010 Peterson's judge ordered a new trial after the prosecution blood spatter expert who'd testified that stains on his clothing indicated he'd bludgeoned Kathleen was found to have misled other trials. Peterson was released but remained under house arrest awaiting retrial until 2017 when he entered an 'Alford plea' in which he pleaded guilty while still asserting his innocence to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Given he'd already served eight years, longer than a manslaughter sentence, he was freed. His trial judge later conceded Peterson's bisexuality and the earlier death in Germany had been hugely prejudicial and regretted allowing jurors to learn about them. But the jurors themselves insisted it had been the terrible damage inflicted on Kathleen that convinced them she'd been murdered. Colin Firth recently said that he, along with everyone else involved in the new drama series, feels he has no answers to the mystery of Kathleen's death. Only one person may know what happened and Michael Peterson who self-pityingly told The Staircase that 'All are punished' feels he has suffered enough. Just as the theme song always said, the cast members of That '70s Show are all alright and most of them are returning for the spinoff. Variety reported that five of the six original stars will make an appearance in That '90s Show. Topher Grace, Lauren Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Wilmer Valderrama will all return as Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie and Fez respectively. Coming back: Just as the theme song always said, the cast members of That '70s Show are all alright and most of them are returning for the spin-off (L to R: Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, Danny Masterson, Ashton Kutcher and Lauren Prepon pictured 1998) The only main cast member not returning to their previous role is Danny Masterson who played Hyde for all eight seasons of the program. Masterson is preparing to stand trial on multiple allegations of sexual assault. Kurtwood Smith, who played Eric's father Red, and Debra Jo Rupp, who played Eric's mother Kitty, will also reprise their roles, though that information has been known for some time. Lots of the original cast: Variety reported that five of the six members of the original cast will make an appearance in That '90s Show The lone man out: Danny Masterson, pictured 2017, is the only one of the original six kids on the show not coming back because he will soon stand trial for multiple allegations of sexual assault That '90s Show will add a whole new host of cast members including Ashley Aufderheide, Callie Haverda, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi and Sam Morelos. The new show will follow Eric and Donna's daughter Leia, played by Callie Haverda, when she stays for the summer with her grandparents and hangs out with some of the local kids. Netflix has ordered 10 episodes for the first season of the show. Blending new with old characters: Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp (second and third from left, respectively) will return for the spin-off as well (pictured 2002) Hoping for a better spin-off: A spin-off titled That '80s Show was previously attempted though it ran for just 13 episodes That '70s Show ran for 200 episodes over eight seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s on Fox. It was nominated for five Emmys though it one just one of them during its run of nearly a decade. A spin-off titled That '80s Show was previously attempted. While not a direct spin-off, it did have a similar story structure and was made by much of the same creative team. That '80s Show, starring It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Glenn Howerton and Grey's Anatomy actress Chyler Leigh, ran for just 13 episodes before its cancellation. Advertisement They famously met by chance at Sydney CBD pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics. And now 22 years later, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have celebrated the confirmation of their eldest daughter, 15-year-old Princess Isabella. Hobart-born Mary, 50, looked every inch the royal in an amaranth-coloured gown for the event, held at Fredensborg Castle Church in Fredensborg, Denmark on Saturday. Royals: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have celebrated the confirmation of their eldest daughter, 15-year-old Princess Isabella. L-R: Princess Josephine, Frederik, Princess Isabella, Mary, Prince Vincent and Prince Christian The garment boasted a high neck and long sleeves. Mary -born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson- paired the dress with tan stilettos and a bone-coloured headband with a veil. She accessorised with drop earrings and held a box clutch by her side. Bold: Hobart-born Mary, 50, looked every inch the royal in an amaranth-coloured gown for the event, held at Fredensborg Castle Church in Fredensborg, Denmark on Saturday Unveiled: Mary -born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson- paired the dress with tan stilettos and a bone-coloured headband with a veil Daughter Isabella meanwhile looked chic in a cream suit worn with peep-toe heels for her big day. The teenage Princess is currently third in line to the Danish throne after her father and elder brother Christian. According to the Danish Royal family's official Instagram account, 'Isabella was confirmed today by royal confessor, bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulson.' 'Over the past 100 years, Fredensborg Castle Church has been used for several Ecclesiastes for members of the royal family.' 'Especially, the church has formed the framework for royal confirmations. Thus it was also in this church that both Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Crown Prince were confirmed in 1955 and 1981 respectively and most recently His Royal Highness Prince Christian in 2021.' Her big day: Daughter Isabella meanwhile looked chic in a cream suit worn with peep-toe heels for her big day Pecking order: The teenage Princess is currently third in line to the Danish throne after her father and elder brother Christian After their 2000 Slip Inn encounter, 32-year-old Fred - who was in Australia to support Denmark's Olympic sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed. 'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, "Do you know who these people are"?' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne. They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001. Fairytale: Mary and Frederik famously met by chance at Sydney CBD pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics Origin story: After their 2000 Slip Inn encounter, 32-year-old Fred - who was in Australia to support Denmark's Olympic sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed In early 2003, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8. Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, with the newly minted Crown Princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905. Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born October 15, 2005; Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe followed on April 21, 2007. Almost four years later Mary and Frederik welcomed twins, Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen on January 8, 2011. Sarah Jessica Parker stepped out for an afternoon walk in New York City on Saturday afternoon. The 57-year-old actress appeared to be making the most of the sunny springtime weather as she pounded the pavement in a pair of suede heeled boots. Parker's outing comes amid the post-production process on the sequel to Disney's Hocus Pocus, which she originally starred in with Bette Middler and Kathy Najimy in 1993. Out and about: Sarah Jessica Parker was seen stepping out for an afternoon walk in New York City on Saturday afternoon. The 57-year-old actress appeared to be making the most of the sunny springtime weather as she pounded the pavement in a pair of suede heeled boots Parker wore a light gray v-neck shirt underneath a near-matching coat while stepping out. The Sex And The City actress also tucked a pair of sweat pants into a set of heeled light beige boots, which added a bit of color to her look for the day. The Emmy Award-winning performer wore a black backpack and slung a near-matching purse over her right shoulder. She accessorized with a set of necklaces and kept her lovely blonde hair tied back in a tight bun. Layering up: Parker wore a light gray v-neck shirt underneath a near-matching coat while stepping out Extra storage: The Emmy Award-winning performer wore a black backpack and slung a near-matching purse over her right shoulder Parker also sported a black facial covering that reduced her chances of contracting COVID-19 during her time in public. The actress is currently prepping for the release of the upcoming fantasy-comedy film Hocus Pocus 2. The movie will serve as a sequel to the original Hocus Pocus, which premiered in 1993. The feature is centered on a trio of teenagers who must team up in order to stop the Sanderson sisters from wreaking havoc on Salem, Massachusetts. Post-production: Parker's outing comes amid the post-production process on the sequel to Disney's Hocus Pocus, which she originally starred in with Bette Middler and Kathy Najimy in 1993 Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Parker will reprise their roles as Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson, respectively. Doug Jones is also set to return to his previous part as zombie William Butcherson. Other performers who are set to appear in the movie include Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Tony Hale. Rumors about the development of a sequel to Hocus Pocus began circulating in the mid-2010s, although the project was not confirmed to have been in the works until 2017. Building hype: Rumors about the development of a sequel to Hocus Pocus began circulating in the mid-2010s, although the project was not confirmed to have been in the works until 2017 An official announcement about the movie was made two years later, and much of its cast was brought together over the next few years. Physical production on the project began in Rhode Island in 2021, and continued for several months. Midler eventually confirmed that shooting had wrapped with a tweet this past January. Hocus Pocus 2 is currently set to be released on the Disney+ streaming service at an unspecified date near this coming Halloween. Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn has officially left her brokerage, the Oppenheim Group. A source confirmed her departure from the firm to Us Weekly, saying, 'It was Christine's decision to leave the Oppenheim Group.' The Netflix star, 33, was in hot water with the company at the end of the very dramatic season 5, which appeared to show Quinn attempting to bribe one of her fellow real estate agent Emma Hernan's clients. Leaving! Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn has officially left her brokerage, the Oppenheim Group, with a source confirming 'it was her decision'; Pictured Dec 2021 The Netflix 'villainess' has since been removed from the real estate company's website, with only one group photo of her remaining. The Texas native recently blasted the show for allegedly faking storylines, minutes before its recent season five premiere. '30 minutes till the launch of #SellingSunset,' she posted on Thursday night. 'Enjoy the new season and all of it's 5,000 fake storylines!' It appears that the allegedly fake storyline concerns a '$5,000 bribe' fellow Selling Sunset realtor Emma, 30, claims Christine offered in order to steal one of her clients. Trouble: The star, 33, was in hot water with the company at the end of season 5, which appeared to show Quinn attempting to bribe one of her fellow real estate agent Emma Hernan's clients; L to R Chelsea Lazkani, Jason Oppenheim, Quinn, Brett Oppenheim In an interview with E! News, realtor and co-star Mary Fitzgerald, 41, discussed the serious accusations, calling the alleged offer 'completely unethical,' and potentially 'illegal' had a document been signed. 'If Emma had had the listing agreement signed already, which she was getting ready to, it would be illegal,' Fitzgerald explained. 'So [Christine] would lose her license, she would lose everything. But the listing agreement for this particular property wasn't signed just yet, luckily. Otherwise, she would have legal issues.' Serious: In an interview with E! News, realtor and co-star Mary Fitzgerald, 41, (left) discussed the bribe accusations, calling the alleged offer 'completely unethical,' and potentially 'illegal' Fitzgerald added that the conduct was not something that would be acceptable for the brokerage. 'We pride ourselves on our integrity and the way we treat clients and the way we treat each other and we can't have this at our brokerage. It's just it's not okay.' Earlier this week, Christine did not attend the Selling Sunset reunion citing Covid as the reason for her absence. The actor who plays Cedric Charley Charlton in the ITV remake of The Darling Buds Of May will appear in the second series despite on-set tensions that led to his co-star Sabrina Bartlett quitting the show. And it can now be revealed that the reason Ms Bartlett decided not to return to The Larkins is because she made a complaint about Tok Stephens behaviour to ITV bosses. The Mail on Sunday has been told the broadcaster launched an investigation into the allegation but yesterday ITV refused to confirm or deny that one took place. Mr Stephens return comes after Ms Bartlett who played his on-screen love interest Mariette Larkin walked out of the programme. Casting executives are yet to replace her. One member of The Larkins team said: Tok is back but we are sad and surprised that Sabrina is not. Tok Stephen (left) will appear in the second series of The Darling Buds of May despite on-set tensions that led to his co-star Sabrina Bartlett (right) quitting the show It understood that Mr Stephen, 23, has not yet been on set and it is unclear when he will be because the majority of his scenes would need to be filmed with Ms Bartletts replacement We all assumed Tok wouldnt be back when Sabrina quit. The last we heard was that there would be a new duo playing Mariette and Charley. Sabrina loved the show. It is a great shame she has decided to leave. It understood that Mr Stephen, 23, has not yet been on set and it is unclear when he will be because the majority of his scenes would need to be filmed with Ms Bartletts replacement. ITV sources confirmed they had yet to find the right actress to play Mariette but hope to be able to announce their new star soon. Catherine Zeta-Jones took the role in the original TV adaptation, a part that shot her to Hollywood stardom. Last week scenes starring Peter Davison, who plays the shows foul-mouthed vicar, were recorded in a sleepy Kent village. In February, it was revealed that Ms Bartlett would not be returning to The Larkins, with her publicist saying it was due to scheduling clashes. She is yet to announce her next work. The cast of ITV's remake of The Darlings Buds of May, including Montgomery Larkin [Liam Middleton], Petunia Larkin [Rosie Coleman], Victoria Larkin [Lola Shepelev], Zinnia Larkin [Davina Coleman], Mariette [Sabrina Bartlett], Primrose Larkin [Lydia Page], Charley [Tok Stephen], Pop Larkin [Bradley Walsh] and Ma Larkin [Joanna Scanlan] The 30-year-old actress, who starred in the first series of Netflixs Bridgerton, also left her agents, the London-based Independent Talent Group, which represents Mr Stephen too. It declined to comment yesterday. Mr Stephen, who graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2017, has also appeared in the ITV drama Grantchester and the BBC series Holby City and Silent Witness. His character Charley in The Larkins was played by Philip Franks in the original TV adaptation of H.E. Batess novel. Bradley Walsh, 61, and Joanna Scanlan, 60, play Pop and Ma Larkin in the new series. In an interview last year, Mr Stephen spoke fondly of his fellow cast members, saying: Bradley Walsh is hilarious and Sabrina Bartlett is lovely to work with, and Ive always really admired Joanna Scanlan. I think its any actors dream to shoot in a location where you dont have to imagine your surroundings. We were able to live it. A spokesman for Ms Bartlett did not respond to a request to comment. ITV said it takes its duty-of-care responsibilities to all individuals on all productions extremely seriously. Mariah Carey is a proud mom. The legendary vocalist, 53, took to Instagram on Saturday to wish her and ex-husband Nick Cannon's twins, Moroccan and Monroe, a happy birthday. 'Happy 11th birthday to the two greatest blessings of my life,' she wrote in the caption. Proud mom: Mariah Carey took to Instagram to wish her and ex-husband Nick Cannon's twins, Moroccan and Monroe, a happy birthday In one photo the songstress showed a present-day photo of her and her kids sitting on a boat. The trio all smiled while coasting on a blue sea with a clear blue sky behind them. The brother and sister each had dogs sitting with them as they enjoyed quality time with their mother. Mariah wore a silk, blue, white, and yellow patterned dress with her blonde hair styled sleek and straight with a portion clipped back. Throwback: A second photo showed the twins as newborns resting in Mariah's arms The glamorous superstar wore a full face of makeup, complete with a glossy pink lip. Her daughter's hair was pulled back and she wore a multicolor bead necklace with a long-sleeved navy blue shirt. Her brother wore his curly dark hair loose, letting the ringlets frame his smiling face. Carey added in the message to her kids, 'Roc and RoeAlways be my babies,' loosely quoting her 1995 hit single Always Be My Baby. She then used her nickname for them as she wrote, 'DEMKIDS!!!! I LOVE YOU FOREVER! Mommy,' with a red heart emoji. Birthday wish: 'Happy 11th birthday to the two greatest blessings of my life,' she wrote in an Instagram caption A second image showed the twins as newborns as they rested in their mom's arms. The entertainer lay on a bed with white sheets as she looked at the camera and smiled. Her hair was in curls and she wore a navy blue top with a plunging neckline showing off her cleavage. Mariah wore supersized hoop earrings and layers of long necklaces as her babies with wrapped in blankets. Mom and dad: Former couple Mariah and Nick are co-parents to their two children Mariah and Nick were married from 2008 until 2016, welcoming their son and daughter in 2011. In October he revealed that last year for the kids' birthday, he bought them cell phones against Carey's wishes. 'My oldest twins Roc and Roe wanted a cell phone at 8,' he told the audience of his now-cancelled eponymous talk show. 'I was all for it but Mariah was like, "Uh huh...they ain't going to be Googling us, learning about all their new brothers and sisters, no we ain't playing." 'I respected it at 8 but then we made a deal and said at 10 then they can have it, [but] Mariah still said no. So at 10, I snuck and I still got them the cell phones for their birthday.' Tim Robards and his wife Anna Heinrich have listed their Rose Bay unit for sale. The Bachelor and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! stars have set a price guide of $2.8million for the three-bedder, according to realestate.com.au. It was previously listed last November at a price guide of $3.45million. Selling out: Tim Robards and his wife Anna Heinrich have listed their Rose Bay unit for sale. Pictured with daughter Elle, one The boutique apartment is located on a block of six, just moments from the Rose Bay Wharf and eateries. It features open-plan kitchen and dining, which leads out to a balcony. The marble kitchen has luxurious appliances including a Smeg gas cooktop and an integrated fridge/freezer. Must be sold: The Bachelor and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! stars have set a price guide of $2.8million for the three-bedder, according to realestate.com.au The property also has timber floors in the living spaces and high quality carpet in the three bedrooms. Agent Gavin Rubenstein told the website the couple 'need a house' after last year expressing a desire to expand their family. The latest property move for the couple comes after they recently put their third and final investment property in Queensland on the market. Location location: The boutique apartment is located on a block of six, just moments from the Rose Bay Wharf and eateries Tim and Anna last month listed their townhouse in Brisbane's Aspley, reported realestate.com.au last month. The four-bedroom, two-storey house has been advertised as 'an unmissable buying, downsizing or investment opportunity'. It features a fully fenced courtyard and garage, and was purchased by Tim, 39, for $452,500 back in February 2016. That same year, he bought two other properties in Brisbane suburbs Richlands and Murarrie, both of which have since been sold. Finishings: The property also has timber floors in the living spaces and high quality carpet in the three bedrooms Tim and Anna, 35, sold their three-bedroom townhouse in Murarrie for $730,000 in November last year. A month later, they sold their four-bedroom townhouse in Richlands for $450,000, making the Aspley townhouse their last Brisbane property. The couple, who share one-year-old daughter Elle, have made Sydney their permanent base in recent years. They met on the set of the 2013 season of The Bachelor. Advertisement Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber turned heads as they strutted down New York City streets on Saturday while on their way to dinner at Lola Taverna in the West Village before fashion journalist Derek Blasberg's 40th birthday party. The models stunned in matching brown jackets with faux fur collars and sleeves, with Kendall, 26, rocking a smooth suede version and Hailey, 25, a dark rich leather. The party was a star-studded event held at the newly reopened Hotel Chelsea, as stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily James Karlie Kloss and Rebel Wilson were also in attendance. Wild style: Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber turned heads as they strutted down New York City streets on Saturday while on their way to dinner at Lola Taverna in the West Village Kendall and Hailey are set to make a fashion splash at Monday night's Met Gala, which will see all of Kendall's famous Kardashian/Jenner sisters attending together for the first time ever. Jenner put her long model legs on display in a short brown leather mini skirt, which fir together with her 1970's style bohemian jacket. The statuesque beauty further elevated her look, and height, with a pair of knee-high black leather high-heel boots. The Vogue cover girl wore her glossy chestnut tresses parted in the middle, and styled into delicate curls that cascaded down her back. Matching: The models stunned in matching brown jackets with faux fur collars and sleeves, with Kendall, 26, rocking a smooth suede version and Hailey, 25, a dark rich leather Legs for days: Jenner put her long model legs on display in a short brown leather mini skirt, which fit together with her 1970's style bohemian jacket Besties: The two beauties walked with their arms linked As for glam, Devin Booker's girlfriend opted for an understated bronze eyeshadow, a hint of peach-toned blush and a nude lip. The Kardashians star accessorized the look with a pair of small gold earrings and a brown purse slung over her shoulder. She later took to her Instagram, to share a selfie of the fashionable ensemble with her 234M followers. Meanwhile Hailey showed off her sculpted legs in a pair of figure-hugging brown bell bottoms pants with a ruched waist. Having fun: They appeared to have a good time together and smiled on their way to dinner Careful: The dynamic duo expertly navigated the streets in their high heels Accessories: The Kardashians star accessorized the look with a pair of small gold earrings and a brown purse slung over her shoulder Justin Bieber's wife blended her brown aesthetic with a grid-pattern clingy top, and strappy open-toe heels. The blonde beauty wore her tresses parted in the middle and sleeked back into a tight bun. Like her model pal, she went with a soft glam look for the evening out, wearing a touch of pink on her lips and cheeks. Stunner: The statuesque beauty further elevated her look, and height, with a pair of knee-high black leather high-heel boots Statuesque: The Vogue cover girl wore her glossy chestnut tresses parted in the middle, and styled into delicate curls that cascaded down her back Natural beauty: As for glam, Devin Booker's girlfriend opted for an understated bronze eyeshadow, a hint of peach-toned blush and a nude lip Fit: She later took to her Instagram, to share a selfie of the fashionable ensemble with her 234M followers Stephen Baldwin's daughter accessorized her outfit with small gold hoops and a classy white purse. Meanwhile, Lily James put on a stylish display as she attended the birthday bash alongside fellow actress Gemma Chan. The Pam & Tommy star opted for a black leather jacket and a matching pair of trousers while adding height tok her frame with a pair of boots. Lily styled her locks into an updo while she added to her outfit with a black handbag. Looking good: Lily James put on a stylish display as she attended the birthday bash alongside fellow actress Gemma Chan Fashion: Rebel Wilson showed off her recent 35kg weight loss as she was seen leaving the birthday bash in a red patterned top with black leather trousers Gemma also opted for an all-black look, wrapping up for the evening in a dark coat with a matching top and skintight trousers with a leg split. The star also wore black sandals and added to her outfit with a blue handbag as she left the venue holding hands with Lily. Karlie Kloss ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived at the star-studded event in a blackskintight top with a plunging neckline. The sleeveless garment highlighted the model's toned figure, while she also wore a pair of black flared trousers. Stunning: Karlie Kloss ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived at the star-studded event in a blackskintight top with a plunging neckline Radiant: Chloe Sevigny cut a glamorous figure in a black figure-hugging dress with a tasselled hemline and sleeves Stunning: Naomi Campbell looked sensational in a black sheer dress as she departed the event alongside a friend Outfit: The garment also featured a leg slit while Naomi wrapped up warm for the outing in a black woolly jacket Carrying a black clutch, Karlie complimented her ensemble with a pair of matching flats and gold earrings. Rebel Wilson showed off her recent 35kg weight loss as she was seen leaving the birthday bash in a red patterned top with black leather trousers. The actress wrapped up for the evening in a navy coat with a red stripe detail and also sported a pair of black nakle boots. Carrying a matching bag, Rebel added to her look with a pair of sunglasses and let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders. Couple: Amy Schumer attended the event with her husband Chris Fischer and opted for a monochrome look in a brown coat and matching trousers On trend: Anne Hathaway looked nothing short of sensational at the event where she showed off her sense of style in a pink matthered mini dress with a floral print Trendy: Gemma also opted for an all-black look, wrapping up for the evening in a dark coat with a matching top and skintight trousers with a leg split Fellow comedian Amy Schumer attended the event with her husband Chris Fischer and opted for a monochrome look in a brown coat and matching trousers. The I Feel Pretty star added to her outfit with a pair of black shoes while her partner kept it casual in a blue jacket with a matching scarf and dark grey jeans. Chloe Sevigny cut a glamorous figure in a black figure-hugging dress with a tasselled hemline and sleeves. The garment also featured a high leg split while Chloe added height to her frame with a pair of open-toed heels. Pose: Tommy Dorfman opted for a blue and pink patterned midi dress with a pair of black boots Low profile: Leonardo DiCaprio shielded his face with a face mask as he left the event The actress wore her dark blonde tresses in loose waves and completed her outfit for the evening with a black handbag. Anne Hathaway looked nothing short of sensational at the event where she showed off her sense of style in a pink matthered mini dress with a floral print. The outfit also featured a sequinned detail while Anne paired it with a beige coat and a pair of brightpink heels. Letting her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders, the actress accentuated her natural beauty with a light pallet of makeup. Leonardo DiCaprio kept a low-profile for the evening shielding his face with a face mask and cap as he left the event. All brown: Hailey showed off her sculpted legs in a pair of figure-hugging brown bell bottoms pants with a ruched waist The outing comes after Hailey Bieber recently revealed that she underwent a procedure to fix a hole in her heart after she suffered a 'mini-stroke' last month. Hailey, who has a history of migraines, says she was told by doctors that the combination of her new birth control, a recent battle with COVID and traveling 'from Paris and back in a really short amount of time' likely caused the blood clot. While medical professionals were unable to determine how the blood clot had traveled to her brain, they believe that she had a small opening, known as a PFO, in the heart that usually closes after birth. Clean look: The blonde beauty wore her tresses parted in the middle and sleeked back into a tight bun Soft glam: Like her model pal, she went with a soft glam look for the evening out, wearing a touch of pink on her lips and cheeks Upon her doctor's recommendation, she had to PFO closed and has since fully recovered. It's unknown whether Hailey will be attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala with her husband, 28. Last year, the beauty wowed in a black Saint Laurent gown, while Justin donned a black tuxedo by La Maison Drew (from his Drew House label) and painted sneakers. Meanwhile Kendall looked sensational in a sheer crystal-embellished Givenchy Haute Couture gown, which she wore over a corset bodysuit. Radio star Kyle Sandilands has just gained a legion of new US fans after he kicked a pair of controversial American podcasters off the air during a heated interview. Kyle, 50, got into an argument on Friday with Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes of the Fresh & Fit Podcast, who were on the show after their TikTok videos went viral. The duo, who have been widely accused of sexism, believe men and women 'are not equals' and women in serious relationships should not have Instagram accounts. Popular: Radio star Kyle Sandilands has just gained a legion of new US fans after he kicked a pair of controversial American podcasters off the air on Friday, calling them 'clowns' Kyle disagreed with the men, before having an angry exchange with them after they cheekily reminded him they were 'invited' onto the radio show. 'So f**king what, clown!?' Sandilands replied back. 'Here you are on the show, I can turn you off as well! Turn these clowns off, see ya fellas!' 'Come back when you're 30 and not being led around by your d**ks,' he finished, before kicking them off the air. Drama: Myron Gaines (pictured) and Walter Weekes of the Fresh & Fit Podcast, from the US, made shocking claims stating it's 'cheating' if a woman has an Instagram account American Twitter erupted with fans cheering Kyle on - with many comparing him to Santa or Colonel Sanders due to his bushy grey beard. 'Colonel Sanders let that man have it,' one fan wrote. 'Please someone clip ''so f**king what clown'" out of this. I need Santa to dunk on people so bad,' another wrote. New fans: American Twitter erupted with fans cheering Kyle on - with many comparing him to Santa or Colonel Sanders due to his bushy grey beard 'KFC man fried him,' yet another added, while one viewer more said: 'They dragged him!' Some were amused by Kyle's Australian accent, and there was praise for his co-star, Jackie 'O' Henderson, too. 'Santa and Mrs Claus tag teaming like it was WWF Raw,' one amused person tweeted. Praise: There was praise for Kyle's co-star, Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured), too. 'Santa and Mrs Claus tag teaming like it was WWF Raw,' one person tweeted The podcasters left hundreds of listeners fuming after claiming women in serious relationships should not have Instagram because it's 'a form of cheating'. They believe men can have Instagram also be in a committed relationship, but women cannot. Jackie quickly ripped into them, deeming their claims as 'misogynistic and egotistical', while the men laughed. 'I'm explaining to you how men view relationships. You might not like it, it might hurt your feelings, you might say I'm not a piece of property or whatever. But with all due respect, f*ck your feelings,' Myron said to Jackie. Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes are pictured 'If I am going to commit to you, give you a marriage, give you a title, give you a ring, give you children - I expect a certain type of woman,' they said. They added that women shouldn't be 'advertising themselves' as men will act on their options if they have the ability to do so. 'I'm explaining to you how men view relationships. You might not like it, it might hurt your feelings, you might say I'm not a piece of property or whatever. But with all due respect, f*ck your feelings,' Myron said to Jackie. Tough: Kyle jumped in disagreeing with the statements and told the men to grow up before hanging up and calling them 'misogynistic toads' 'You don't own us in a relationship, so we can post what we want! If you have an insecurity with that, that's on you,' Jackie hit back. 'I don't care about your feelings either. You are actually misogynistic and egotistical, and it's kind of a concern the way you view relationships like you have ownerships of women' she continued. Myron replied: 'A man is capable of having sex with other women while still loving their girl the same, so it's not that big a deal, but if your woman is out here fielding options that's an issue'. Controversy: Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes have won fans for their controversial views. But they have also received wide scorn too, with the pair accused of sexism and misogyny Kyle jumped in, disagreeing with the statements, and told the men to grow up before hanging up and calling them 'misogynistic toads'. Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes have won a legion of fans for their controversial views - they boast having the 'number one men's podcast in the world' with their Fresh & Fit show, and have 177,000 followers on TikTok. But they have also received wide scorn too, with the pair widely accused of sexism and misogyny. US Neocons worry over the possible victory of Russian causes next front in the Ukraine conflict as President Joe Biden opens up another battle to bypass laws to get Moscow's assets. Neoconservatives are planning moves to keep Europe destabilized and possibly start new conflicts making the region more explosive. These moves will run afoul of the EU to pacify its already chaotic borders. Non-European Entities Stir More Trouble The Ukraine crisis could worsen as both Ukraine and Romania are sending their forces to enter the disputed Moldovan territory of Transnistria; also, Polish forces are about to occupy Western Ukraine, reported the Daily Telegraph. Kyiv and Warsaw have differences, and Ukraine called the entry of the Poles a land grab. According to sources that say the US is promoting the trouble, one criticism is the allegedly mentally declined president is doing the bidding of neoconservatives that is part of the escalation. Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris, geopolitical specialists, discuss the current scenario. The Neocon strategy of causing turmoil and pouring money and guns has always ended in embarrassment for the United States and needless human misery. Unlawful Grabbing of Russian Assets Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists last Friday that Washington wants to co-opt the assets of Russian Oligarchs to fund Ukraine is short of stealing from Russian property, cited RT. He called it a dangerous development that violates legal norms that President Biden is willing to commit. The Kremlin spokesman added that the Neocons and Joe Biden's willingness to do something that can be outside of accepted conduct. Called out the US government for violating the foundations of law regarding private property rights; with questionable actions like sanctions and political suppression. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Children: Does the Ukraine President Have Kids? Remarks came about after the White House wanted to legalize the seizing of the properties of Russian oligarchs and elites that have allegedly helped in the incursion in Ukraine. The Biden administration wants to have the power to circumvent laws to seize and forfeit oligarch assets; without question. Granting absolute power to the Departments of the Treasury and Justice appropriate the US property of Russians under sanctions, with alleged specified unlawful conduct that can be reviewed in federal. The sale of the private property of Russia will be given to Kyiv, which has been affected by the special operation noted in a document. The New York Times reported that the House passed a non-binding bill urging the Biden administration to sell alleged frozen luxury assets of Russia and use the funds to give more military and humanitarian help to Ukraine. It was not widely accepted as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called out President Biden for endorsing what is called the total absence of due process protection that was violated. Christopher Anders, the ACLU's federal policy director, added that the sanctions statute and the sanctions themselves are declared unlawful by an American court. The Democrat-dominated lawmakers have made the bill a non-binding resolution; despite the misgiving, it was passed with 417 votes and eight dissenting in the House. Washington and its allies heaped sanctions on Moscow due to the Ukraine incursion; it was a wide-ranging financial attack on banks, aviation, and space industries. Combining the US Neocon plan to seed more chaos and Joe Biden's support to grab Russian assets questioned by ACLU, House Foreign Affairs Committee shows how astray things are going. Related Article: Moscow Warns Retaliation Against Western Countries Provoking Neo-Nazi Attacks on Russia @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Miles Teller spent quality time with his wife Keleigh Sperry and several of his Top Gun: Maverick castmates while boarding a plane in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. The 35-year-old performer was captured chatting with co-star Glen Powell while making his way towards the airplane. The group were reportedly headed to San Diego, where the original Top Gun film took place. The long-awaited sequel to the 1986 action flick hits theaters on May 27. Heading out: Miles Teller was seen spending time with his wife, Keleigh Sperry, and several of his Top Gun: Maverick castmates while boarding a plane in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon Teller kept it casual in a red t-shirt and black shorts while preparing to take off with his castmates. Sperry, 29, opted for a leather jacket and jeans, and she made sure to take a photo of the plane, which featured various Top Gun-related graphics. Jon Hamm was also present during the group outing, and he opted to wear a patterned sweater and a set of dark blue jeans. The performer was also spotted while speaking with the feature's director, Joseph Kosinski, who rocked a gray jacket on top of a navy blue polo shirt. Capturing the moment: Sperry, 29, opted for a leather jacket and jeans, and she made sure to take a photo of the plane, which featured various Top Gun-related graphics Standing out: Jon Hamm was also present during the group outing, and he opted to wear a patterned sweater and a set of dark blue jeans Powell also shared a video that had been taken while he entered the plane to his Instagram Story. The performer also added a text graphic to his post that simply read: 'Headed back to Miramar...' Cast member Greg Tarzan Davis shared a lengthy video to his Instagram account to share various stories about his time working on the forthcoming project. Teller also posted a black-and-white shot of the plane to her Instagram Story. Sharing his experience: Powell also shared a video that had been taken while he entered the plane to his Instagram Story Scenic view: Teller also posted a black-and-white shot of the plane to her Instagram Story Expressing his thoughts: Cast member Greg Tarzan Davis shared a lengthy video to his Instagram account to share various stories about his time working on the forthcoming project Development on Top Gun: Maverick initially began in 2010, when producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the first film's director, Tony Scott, were contacted about producing a sequel to the 1986 movie. The title of the project was revealed by star Tom Cruise, who was not present during the group flight, in 2017, and Kosinski signed on to direct that same year. Much of the feature's cast was brought together over the course of the following year, when it was confirmed that Val Kilmer would reprise his role as Admiral Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky. Physical production on the project began in 2018, and continued in several locations before shooting wrapped the following year. Good company: Teller and Powell were seen while having a pleasant conversation as they made their way towards the plane Hopping on: Teller, Hamm and their castmates queued up while waiting to board the plane Top Gun: Maverick was initially set to be released in 2019, although it was initially delayed in order to allow for various visual touch-ups to be added. It was subsequently delayed for a second time owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The feature eventually had its world premiere at the recently-held CinemaCon on April 28. Teller previously spoke about working on Top Gun: Maverick during an interview with Men's Health, where he spoke about experiencing doubts regarding taking on the task of appearing in the project. Capturing the moment: Several cast members, including Bashir Salahuddin, appeared to be impressed with the plane's decoration 'I don't want this to come out the wrong way, but there was a part of me that didn't know if I wanted to be a part of something that could bring that much attention and success to me,' he said. The performer, who underwent extensive flight training before working on the project, spoke about what set certain pilots apart from those featured in the movie. 'There is none of that alpha bravado. Flying these jets is so hard. The difference between a squadron pilot and a Top Gun pilot is how well they understand the plane,' he said. Riding in style: The group's plane featured a custom print that bore Top Gun: Maverick's logo Staying close: Teller, Sperry and a friend were seen while heading towards the airplane Not alone: The social media personality made sure to stay close to her pal as she prepared to board the plane Teller noted that, although the project would likely bring him more exposure, he also understood that simply working on the movie would not exactly make him feel as if he had achieved a certain level of achievement. 'Everybody views success differently. For me, it didn't necessarily mean being a part of the biggest movie,' he said. Top Gun: Maverick is currently scheduled to be released in the United States on May 27. Ella Ding and Brent Vitiello have faced plenty of scepticism when insisting they're 'just friends'. But now the Married At First Sight stars are having their claims put to the test, with the 28-year-old beautician and the 34-year-old hospitality manager seen heading off on a 'romantic holiday' together on Friday - courtesy of a Sydney radio show. Nova's Fitzy and Wippa arranged the Cairns getaway, on the condition they reveal on Monday's show if romance blossomed during their first official date. Denials: Ella Ding and Brent Vitiello have faced plenty of scepticism when insisting they're 'just friends' The rumoured lovebirds chatted warmly as they approached their gate for the flight. The holiday comes after Ding insisted she is 'just friends' with her co-star, despite the pair having a 'sleepover' just weeks ago. And the duo continued to fuel romance rumours on Thursday when they took part in a joint interview with Nova FM's Fitzy and Wippa. Radio presenter Sarah McGilvray noticed their backgrounds on Zoom were 'suspiciously similar' after they claimed to be living in different states. The test: The 28-year-old beautician and the 34-year-old hospitality manager seen heading off on a 'romantic holiday' together On Friday - courtesy of a Sydney radio show Proposal: Nova's Fitzy and Wippa arranged the Cairns getaway, on the condition they reveal on Monday's show if romance blossomed during their first official date Ella had earlier told Nova host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli she was living 'at home' in Melbourne, and Brent told Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald he was based in Bondi, Sydney. But Sarah was not convinced, and suggested they were actually in the same house during the Zoom interview because the rooms they were in looked nearly identical. The pair laughed nervously but didn't deny Sarah's theory, before Ella insisted to Wippa that she and Brent were 'just friends right now'. Sure you're 'just friends?' Ella and Brent were 'busted in the same house on live radio' after they said they were living in different states Hmm! Nova FM radio presenter Sarah McGilvray noticed Ella and Brent's backgrounds on Zoom were 'suspiciously similar' after they claimed to be living in different states It comes just weeks after Ella revealed she had enjoyed a 'sleepover' with Brent. Speaking on The Handbags podcast earlier this month, Ella said: 'We are just friends. We've even had a sleepover and nothing's happened. Nothing.' After host Michael Brunelli asked if the door was open for a relationship with Brent in the future, Ella responded: 'It's so hard for me to answer right now. 'I think Brent is gorgeous. Totally attracted to him. But my headspace is like - I'm still healing, hurting, and thinking about [ex-'husband'] Mitch [Eynaud] and Tamara [Djordjevic, Brent's on-screen wife] still p***es me off. 'I still feel like I don't really know Brent. I think that we're just spending good quality time together now.' Are they or aren't they? It comes after Ella revealed she had enjoyed a 'sleepover' with Brent Shutting down speculation: Speaking on The Handbags podcast earlier this month, Ella said: 'We are just friends. We've even had a sleepover and nothing's happened. Nothing' She added that 'Brent actually sent me flowers on my birthday last week', which was 'very thoughtful'. 'He didn't write his name on it, but I knew it was from him,' she said. Ella had been ghosted by her on-screen husband Mitch Eynaud just days after they filmed the MAFS reunion dinner party in Sydney in January. The financial planner, 27, reportedly broke things off because he was upset about her staging paparazzi photos with Brent. Over: Ella had been ghosted by her own on-screen husband Mitch Eynaud (pictured) just days after they filmed the MAFS reunion dinner party in Sydney in January Their marriage was already on shaky ground by the reunion as Mitch had earlier tried to end things at their final vows, telling Ella he wasn't ready to commit. But they reconciled when Ella flew to the Gold Coast for a 'make-or-break' holiday. Meanwhile, Ella and Brent's former MAFS spouses are now rumoured to be dating. Mitch was spotted looking cosy with Tamara at a bar on the Gold Coast in February. Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth appear to be enjoying the simple pleasures that come with being new parents. On Saturday, the couple enjoyed a family outing with their newborn baby at a jazz festival in Los Angeles. So far, the pair have not publicly revealed whether they welcomed a son or a daughter. Family outing: Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth appear to be enjoying the simple pleasures that come with being new parents. On Saturday, the couple enjoyed a family outing with their newborn baby at a jazz festival in Los Angeles While pushing a baby stroller, LaBeouf looked to be in fatherly bliss as he sported a huge smile on his face. For their walk, Goth looked stylish in a white minidress with matching sneakers. Her flowing blonde tresses were styled long with a part in the middle. LaBeouf opted for casual comfort in a dark short and t-shirt combination, along with a pair of Nike sneakers. Pure bliss: While pushing a baby stroller, LaBeouf looked to be in fatherly bliss as he sported a huge smile on his face. For their walk, Goth looked stylish in a white minidress with matching sneakers. The two looked happy as they walked side-by-side, taking turns pushing their child's stroller through the suburban neighborhood. The family relaxed in a couple of fold-up chairs during the festival, which were laid out on the grass. Periodically, the Transformers star read a book while his ladylove cradled their bundle of joy in her arms. The Peanut Butter Falcon actor became a first-time dad after his on-again, off-again partner gave birth to their first child sometime in March. Afternoon Excursion: The day also included relaxing in a couple of fold-up chairs that were laid out on the grass during the afternoon festival After having met on the set of Nymphomaniac: Vol II. in 2012, their romance seemingly heated up, leading to them getting married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas in October 2016. LaBeouf filed for divorce in 2018, but it's been unclear if the union was actually fully dissolved, or even legally binding, especially after a Twitter account for Clark County, Nevada, tweeted that the actors merely had a non-binding commitment ceremony with the Elvis impersonator. After reportedly doing the 'on-and-off' relationship drama, the pair have seemingly been back 'on' as a couple since March 2020. Tamara Djordjevic celebrated her milestone 30th birthday with her Married At First Sight co-stars on the Gold Coast on Sunday. And the antics certainly were wild with Jackson Lonie going shirtless and giving Tamara a lap dance, in an Instagram Stories clip filmed by Mitch Eynaud. Removing his orange shirt, Jackson, 30, straddled Tamara as she sat on a chair on a balcony, while her co-stars including Jackson's 'wife' Olivia Frazer cheered him on. Dirty 30! Married At First Sight's Jackson Lonie, 30, went shirtless and gave his co-star Tamara Djordjevic (both pictured) a LAP DANCE for her milestone birthday on the Gold Coast on Sunday Tamara looked sensational in a strapless body-hugging mint green dress, and was primped to perfection with her blonde tresses styled out and glamorous makeup. Dressed in just white ripped jeans, Jackson gave Tamara the ultimate lap dance and kissed her toes, while his 'wife' Olivia, 28, was in fits of giggles. The celebrations which were also attended by Jessica Seracino, kicked off early on Sunday with 'shots before 10am' as captured on Tamara's Instagram Stories. Wild: Removing his orange dress shirt, Jackson straddled Tamara as she sat on a chair on a balcony, while her co-stars including Jackson's 'wife' Olivia Frazer cheered him on Racy! Dressed in just white ripped jeans, Jackson gave Tamara the ultimate lap dance and kissed her toes, while his 'wife' Olivia, 28, was in fits of giggles Letting their hair down: The celebrations which were also attended by Jessica Seracino, kicked off early on Sunday with 'shots before 10am' as captured on Tamara's Instagram Stories The sighting comes after Olivia revealed she's moving on from her traumatic experience on the show. Olivia who was unfairly portrayed as the villain on this year's season, shared a post on Instagram on Wednesday about putting bitterness aside. She posed with a cocktail in hand while enjoying an afternoon drink in a courtyard, and wrote: 'Cheers to getting better and not staying bitter.' Reality star pals: Tamara looked sensational on the day in a strapless body-hugging mint green dress as she posed with her co-stars Jessica (centre) and Olivia (right) Classy: The sighting comes after Olivia, who was unfairly portrayed as the villain on this year's season of MAFS, shared a post on Instagram on Wednesday about putting bitterness aside Survivor: She posed with a cocktail in hand while enjoying an afternoon drink in a courtyard, and wrote, 'Cheers to getting better and not staying bitter' The teaching student also shared a video on her Stories of herself and Jackson smiling at a harbourside venue overlooking the city. Confirming they are still together despite their sometimes rocky journey on MAFS, she captioned the clip: 'Happy honeys @jacklonie1.' Olivia, from the Central Coast, was labelled public enemy No. 1 on this year's season of MAFS after her feud with rival bride Domenica Calarco. Couple goals: Olivia also shared a video on her Stories of herself and boyfriend Jackson smiling at a harbourside venue overlooking the city. Confirming they are still together despite their sometimes rocky journey on MAFS, she captioned the clip: 'Happy honeys @jacklonie1' Domenica was given a sympathetic edit after being outed as an OnlyFans model by Olivia, who in turn was portrayed as mean-spirited and vindictive. However, sources have confirmed to Daily Mail Australia this did not tell the full story. Earlier this week, one of the show's participants broke ranks to reveal Domenica's behaviour during filming was just as bad as Olivia's. Hung out to dry: Olivia, from the Central Coast, was labelled public enemy No. 1 on this year's season of MAFS after her feud with rival bride Domenica Calarco Cody Bromley said the feud between the warring brides could 'easily' have been edited to make Domenica the villain, adding: 'There were no heroes or villains.' 'It's a shame. The edit could have gone either way with the whole Domenica and Olivia thing,' he said. '[The edit] could have easily made Dom look like the villain and Liv look like the hero, but it didn't pan out like that. 'It's just a shame to see that there is that divide and a lot of people being nasty.' Luck of the draw: Domenica (pictured) was given a sympathetic edit after being outed as an OnlyFans model by Olivia, who in turn was portrayed as mean-spirited and vindictive 'I'm not gonna sit here and say Liv didn't say those things [about Domenica], but Dom also said a lot of things like that,' he added. 'She referred to the lot of us as "a pack of c**ts" for half of the experiment and said some nasty things as well. Like it sort of weighs up. It purely comes down to the edit.' The MAFS stars are expected to share more behind-the-scenes details about the show in the coming weeks after producers returned their Instagram accounts, which had been strictly monitored for the last few months. Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh appeared in good spirits as they filmed scenes for their upcoming film Oppenheimer in Los Angeles. The film tells the story of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his contributions that lead to the creation of the atomic bomb. Cillian, 45, who plays the lead role, was dressed in a period-appropriate grey blazer with a matching waistcoat and trousers. On location: Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh appeared in good spirits as they filmed scenes for their upcoming film Oppenheimer in Los Angeles The actor also wore a light blue shirt and tie as he filmed an outdoor scene with Florence, who plays psychiatrist and physician Jean Tatlock. Florence, 26, looked radiant as ever in a beige coat along with a dark brown skirt and a light blouse. The star's brunette locks were styled into a vintage bob while she carried a black handbag. Although she was not pictured on set, Emily Blunt is playing J. Robert Oppenheimer's wife Kitty Oppenheimer, whom he married in 1940. Filming: The film tells the story of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his contributions that lead to the creation of the atomic bomb Kitty was born in Germany in 1910 and immigrated to the United States in 1913. She initially studied music and biology and was married to two other men before marrying Oppenheimer in 1940. The couple moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, shortly after the start of World War II to work on the Manhattan Project, which Robert was the director of. The research group was responsible for creating the first atomic bombs, and the devastating explosives would later be dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki later in the war. Smart: Cillian, 45, who plays the lead role, was dressed in a period-appropriate grey blazer with a matching waistcoat and trousers Dapper: The actor also wore a light blue shirt and tie as he filmed an outdoor scene with Florence, who plays psychiatrist and physician Jean Tatlock Oppenheimer, which reportedly has a budget of $100million, is directed by Christopher Nolan. Cillian has cultivated a long relationship with Nolan, who tends to work with many of his supporting actors repeatedly. The two first worked together on 2005's Batman Begins, and Murphy appeared in its sequels The Dark Knight and The Dark Night Rises, along with Inception and Dunkirk. Oppenheimer will feature an incredible all-star cast including that also features Kenneth Branagh, Matt Damon, Gary Oldman, Rami Malek, Josh Hartnett and many more. Production: Oppenheimer, which reportedly has a budget of $100million, is directed by Christopher Nolan It's being adapted adapted from the 2006 book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The book, which won the Pulitzer Prize, details Oppenheimer's personal life and his time leading the Manhattan Project in the early and mid-1940s. Oppenheimer is set to be released on July 21, 2023, by Universal Pictures. She's been spending time in New York City this week for work, and catching up with her US pals. And Amal Clooney put on another effortlessly chic display as she left her Midtown hotel on Saturday. The 44-year-old human rights attorney stood out in her stylish ensemble of jeans and a knitted vest as she enjoyed another day in the Big Apple with her mother Baria Alamuddin, who followed close behind. Looking chic: Amal Clooney put on another effortlessly chic display as she left her Midtown hotel in New York City with her mother Baria Alamuddin on Saturday Amal showed off her svelte figure in the nude vest which she teamed with dark blue flared denim. She added shades and carried a suede bag, while her long curled locks were left loose around her shoulders. Her mother Baria matched in her own blue jeans, teamed with a loose top and blue suede boots. Amal has been spending time in NYC after her address at the United Nations on Wednesday. I heart NY: The 44-year-old human rights attorney stood out in her stylish ensemble of jeans and a knitted vest as she enjoyed another day in the Big Apple During the tense session, Clooney accused the UN of ignoring potential war crimes perpetrated by Russia amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine during an informal meeting of the Security Council. 'Here we are, faced with the evidence of crimes of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity and mounting evidence each day of the crime of genocide,' she said during her statement, via The Hill. She went on to describe Ukraine as a 'slaughterhouse' in the 'heart of Europe. Accessories: She added shades and carried a suede bag, while her long curled locks were left loose around her shoulders Hard at work: Amal has been spending time in NYC after her address at the United Nations on Wednesday While she also expressed concerns that evidence of alleged Russian war crimes would merely sit in 'storage' for years to come. Amal has also been spending some quality time with her mother, Baria Alamuddin, over the last few days. While she's been spotting with her mother, Amal's husband George Clooney has not featured on the East Coast trip. Weekend plans: Amal was later seen arriving at Sant Ambroeus restaurant for lunch with her mother and friends Leggy: Amal added to her long-legged look with towering stiletto heels under her flares The Hembrows are considered Australia's answer to the Kardashians. And eldest sister Amy, 32, admitted to news.com.au on Sunday that there can be tension within her famous family. The mother-of-one, who opened a cosmetic clinic on the Gold Coast with sister Emilee, 30, told the publication with a laugh that they 'absolutely fight'. 'We absolutely fight': Amy Hembrow (right), 32, admitted to news.com.au on Sunday that there can be tension with sister and business partner Emilee (left), 30 'There was teething at the beginning when we were both figuring out our roles, but now we're at the point where it works really seamlessly,' she went on to explain. Amy, who holds a degree in business and marketing, is also the co-founder of sister Tammy's popular fitness app Tammy Fit. Back in October, Tammy, who has a net worth of $2million and a $2.9million Gold Coast mansion in her name thanks to her career as a businesswoman and influencer, revealed on Instagram that their family experienced an impoverished childhood. Issues at first: Amy, who opened a cosmetic clinic on the Gold Coast with Emilee, told the publication: 'There was teething at the beginning when we were both figuring out our roles, but now we're at the point where it works really seamlessly' The 28-year-old posed for photos in front of her $460,000 Bentley and recalled how her family struggled when she was growing up. 'I grew up in a house where we had to take baths outside even in the middle of winter,' she began. 'We didn't have bedrooms so made our own by putting tables on their sides to build walls.' Despite her family's struggles, Tammy said they were still happy. 'Things weren't always easy but we always had fun. Life is what you make it,' she said. From rags to riches: Back in October, sister Tammy (pictured left with Amy), who has a net worth of $2million and a $2.9million Gold Coast mansion in her name, revealed on Instagram that their family experienced an impoverished childhood Ballin': The entrepreneur and influencer, 28, now owns a $460,000 Bentley thanks to her incredible success 'Things weren't always easy but we always had fun': Despite her family's struggles, Tammy said she and her sisters were still happy. Tammy is pictured centre with Amy (left) and Emilee (right) in 1996 Tammy then went on to reflect on how far she has come in life. 'Now I own a beautiful home, two multimillion dollar businesses, a family I adore and amazing friends. So this is your little reminder to celebrate your wins, judge no one, love all, work hard & keep winning!' This is not the first time Tammy has spoken about her past. In February 2020, the bikini model addressed assumptions she has always been rich during an episode of her podcast Hanging With The Hembrows. 'We had no money at all': The blonde bombshell is the daughter of Australian actor Mark Hembrow, along with her two sisters Amy and Emilee. she revealed she grew up poor for the 'majority of her childhood' and used to wash her clothes in a bathtub. Tammy, Emilee and Amy are pictured with their dad in 1996 Striking it rich: 'The majority of our childhood we really had no money at all,' Tammy said on her podcast last year 'The majority of our childhood we really had no money at all,' Tammy said. 'It was only when we got to high school - when we were like teenagers - when we moved with our stepdad and our mum.' Amy, who appeared on the podcast with Tammy, explained the family used to have a bathtub outside where they would wash their clothes. 'Yeah, we had a bathtub outside,' Tammy said at the time. 'We literally had to fill it up with boiling water. Put buckets in it - like we didn't even have hot water.' She recently announced she is pregnant with her first child. And Charlotte Crosby showed off her burgeoning bump on Saturday night as she headed out for dinner with boyfriend Jake Ankers in York. The mother-to-be, 31, donned a gorgeous, figure-hugging red dress and added a few inches to her frame with nude heels. Mother-to-be: Pregnant Charlotte Crosby showed off her baby bump in a gorgeous red dress as she packed on the PDA with boyfriend Jake Ankers in York on Saturday night The former Geordie Shore star, who earlier in the day had hosted her own fashion show as part of York Fashion Week, opted for a bouncy blow-dry, which left her luscious locks tumbling over her shoulders. Businessman Jake, 31, did not shy away from showing his affection for Charlotte as he cradled her stomach and pulled her in for a kiss. For their outing to Italian eatery Lucia, where there were joined by Charlotte's parents Letitia and Gary, Jake wore a white tee, skinny jeans and trainers. In love: Businessman Jake, 31, did not shy away from showing his affection for Charlotte, also 31, as he cradled her stomach and pulled her in for a kiss Beauty: The mother-to-be teamed the figure-hugging ensemble with nude heels Trip: Earlier in the day, the former Geordie Shore star had hosted her own fashion show as part of York Fashion Week Parents-to-be: The reality star opted for a bouncy blow-dry, which left her luscious locks tumbling over her shoulders The outing comes as Charlotte discussed her high-risk pregnancy after announcing she is expecting her first child. Wearing a white bikini top, she beamed from ear-to-ear as she held up the ultrasound scan during her recent Dubai getaway. In her caption, she revealed how she had been staring at the photo 'every single second of the day' and had been 'nervous' following her ectopic pregnancy in 2016 - after falling pregnant by her ex-boyfriend Gaz Beadle. Close: For their outing to Italian eatery Lucia, where there were joined by Charlotte's parents Letitia and Gary (pictured), Jake wore a white tee, skinny jeans and trainers Romance: The pair went public with their romance last year, and have been keeping the relationship under wraps Happy: Charlotte recently hinted that she and Jake could get engaged in the future, after he admitted he may propose soon The TV personality wrote: 'Our little baby. While we were on holiday I literally stared at my scan pictures every single second of the day, like thats our baby! Growing inside of me. 'Im holding up my absolute favourite scan picture! going into my scans was completely new to me, I was so nervous for so many reasons after my EP Im high risk for complications. 'BUT seeing the baby in the correct place with a healthy beating heart At our first ever scan was nothing short of a miracle to me and my partner .' Exciting news: The outing comes as Charlotte discussed her high-risk pregnancy after announcing she is expecting her first child with Jake She continued: 'I didnt expect to see much movement at our first ever scan but the baby had other plans, it was like a little acrobat in there turning and spinning and rolling around I was in awe! 'It was the most magical moment and this picture Im holding was right in the middle of one of the impressive tumbles and I just love it! 'I love how you can see the little tiny shoulders, the cutest little back and he/shes little legs stretched out. I could sit here all day trying to guess what Im having. What do you guys think boy or girl???' Expecting: Revealing how she had been staring at the photo 'every single second of the day', she revealed she had been 'nervous' following her ectopic pregnancy in 2016 Her announcement came just weeks after she hinted that she and Jake could get engaged in the future, after he admitted he may propose soon. The pair went public with their romance last year, and have been keeping the relationship under wraps. To announce her pregnancy, she shared the news in a video showing her positive test and also filmed herself telling the happy news to her family. She penned the caption: 'A moment I wasn't sure would ever be mine is here, it's mine (and Jake's) and I couldn't be happier to be sharing it with you allI'm having a baby.' Luke Hemsworth cut a suave figure as he promoted his Australian drama film Bosch & Rockit at the closing night of the Gold Coast Film Festival on Sunday. The 41-year-old actor was joined on the red carpet by his wife Samantha Hemsworth, as well as his co-star and the ex-girlfriend of his brother Chris, Isabel Lucas, 37. Bosch & Rockit was shot on location in Byron Bay in 2020, and stars Hemsworth as Bosch, a father on the run for drug dealing with his surf gang. Star presence: Luke Hemsworth, 41, cut a suave figure as he promoted his Australian drama film Bosch & Rockit at the closing night of the Gold Coast Film Festival on Sunday (pictured) Luke donned a burgundy suit, a crisp white dress shirt, a purple patterned tie and brown leather shoes for his red carpet appearance. He appeared in great spirits as he embraced wife Samantha, before posing for a slew of photos with co-star Isabel. Samantha looked casually chic in a tan blouse, teamed with black cropped trousers, a bolero-style jacket and tan platform heels. Gorgeous: Luke warmly embraced his wife Samantha Hemsworth (pictured) on the red carpet, with Samantha looking casually chic in a tan blouse, teamed with black cropped trousers, a bolero-style jacket and tan platform heels Chic in black: Meanwhile, Isabel Lucas (pictured), who stars as Deb in the film, showed off her leggy figure in a black mini-dress, paired with black ballet slippers, a glitzy evening jacket and a gold chain shoulder bag Her blonde locks were styled in loose waves around her shoulders and her makeup was elegant. Meanwhile, Isabel, who stars as Deb in the film, showed off her leggy figure in a black mini-dress, paired with black ballet slippers, a glitzy evening jacket and a gold chain shoulder bag. She styled her caramel tresses sleek and straight with a statement fringe, and kept her makeup look fresh and pared back. Primped to perfection: The 37-year-old styled her caramel tresses sleek and straight with a statement fringe, and kept her makeup look fresh and pared back Co-star: Isabel posed for photos on the red carpet with Rasmus King (pictured) who stars as Rockit in the film Cool and edgy: The Byron Bay native showed off his edgy sense of style with a white graphic T-shirt, black trousers, a suit jacket and coordinating sneakers Isabel posed for photos on the red carpet with Rasmus King who stars as Rockit in the film. The Byron Bay native showed off his edgy sense of style with a white graphic T-shirt, black trousers, a suit jacket and coordinating sneakers. Also in attendance was Lincoln Lewis, 34, and his girlfriend Pandora Bonsor, who happily packed on the PDA for the cameras. Former Home and Away star Lincoln donned a blue suit ensemble, while Pandora accentuated her enviable figure in a stretchy white frock with tan wedge heels. Meanwhile, in Bosch & Rockit, Bosch travels along the Australian coast with his 13-year-old son, Rockit, who believes he is on a 'magical holiday'. Going strong: Also in attendance was Lincoln Lewis, 34, and his girlfriend Pandora Bonsor (both pictured), who happily packed on the PDA for the cameras Looking good: Former Home and Away star Lincoln donned a blue suit ensemble, while Pandora accentuated her enviable figure in a stretchy white frock with tan wedge heels The movie is the directorial debut of Tyler Atkins and premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in November. Controversy struck the set in 2020 when Isabel reportedly 'opted out of Covid-19 testing', despite it being mandatory on set. The anti-vaxxer made the admission on the alternative health podcast, Alfa Vedic. 'I gave my duty of care of what I could offer to respect everyone's health and maintain my own health, and I shared that, and I opted out of doing the COVID test,' she said in quotes published by the Brisbane Times. 'Everyone was really respectful and really honouring of, like, how to maintain health while this very tricky time is underway. But I needed to do that. I felt like it was quite an understanding, relaxed group of people.' Filmed on home soil: Bosch & Rockit was shot on location in Byron Bay in 2020, and stars Hemsworth as Bosch, a father on the run for drug dealing with his surf gang. Pictured far left is director Tyler Atkins Premiered last year: The movie is the directorial debut of Tyler and premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in November Isabel insisted that she has a healthy immune system due to her healthy lifestyle and that most of the people on set were wearing masks. 'My immune system has just become so solid from my way of life, how I live and eat and think,' she explained. 'So it was a really beautiful experience all up, even though people were wearing masks most of the time and adhering to those rules.' In a statement, director Tyler and producer Cathy Flannery told the Brisbane Times that they were not aware that Isabel hadn't been tested until the publication contacted them for comment. Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine has wished her daughter Harper a very special 2nd birthday. The shoe designer, 37, celebrated the little one's special day by sharing a gallery of never-before-seen images to her Instagram on Sunday. 'Happy 2nd Birthday to our little ray of sunshine. Your beautiful big heart lights up our lives every day,' she wrote. Tribute: Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine celebrated her daughter Harper's second birthday by sharing never-before-seen family photos to Instagram on Sunday Harper's Today show host dad Karl preferred to keep things short and sweet, writing underneath the post: 'The little bundle of wonder.' The gallery of images shared sees Harper in a variety of different settings, including family outings and snaps with her siblings. Friends and followers of the family wished Harper a happy birthday and commented on the adorable photos. 'Happy 2nd Birthday to our little ray of sunshine. Your beautiful big heart lights up our lives every day,' she wrote 'Nawwwww happy birthday, you sassy little darling. We love you so much, Harps,' Sylvia Jeffreys wrote. 'Love this!!!! Happy birthday baby Harper! We love youuuu,' another person said. A third commented: 'Cant believe Harper is 2 already. Happy birthday gorgeous.' Karl met his shoe designer wife Jasmine during a boat party in Sydney just months after his public separation from ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn in 2016. Throwbacks: The gallery of images shared sees Harper in a variety of different settings, including family outings and snaps with her siblings The couple married at the five-star One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, in December 2018. Karl and Jasmine welcomed their daughter Harper on May 1, 2020. She was born at North Shore Private Hospital in Sydney. Karl also shares daughter Willow as well as sons, Jackson, 20, and River, 13 with his first wife Cassandra. Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine on Saturday to meet with refugees and children suffering from the Russian invasion. Jolie held a conversation with war refugees who have found safety in Lviv, including children receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the missile attack on the Kramatorsk railway station in early April, according to Lviv Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyy. At least 52 people were killed, and dozens more were wounded in the strike in the eastern Ukrainian city, which seemed to target a crowd of primarily women and children fleeing an imminent Russian assault, per AP News. Incredible Experience Jolie, who has been a UNHCR Special Envoy for Refugees since 2011, was "very moved" as she listened to the children's stories. "One girl was even able to privately tell Ms. Jolie about a dream she'd had," Kozytskyy wrote on Telegram. Jolie also visited a boarding school wherein students had a rare opportunity to talk and take pictures with the American actress and filmmaker, who promised: "she would come again." The official added that Jolie met with evacuees at Lviv's central railway station, as well as Ukrainian volunteers offering medical assistance and counseling to the arriving refugees, as per a report from The Guardian. Kozytskyy shared that the Hollywood star's visit was a surprise for everyone. "Plenty of people who saw Ms. Jolie in the Lviv region could not believe that it was really her. But since Feb. 24, Ukraine has shown the entire world that there are plenty of incredible things here," he wrote. The Lviv Regional State Administration, residents of the city, including staff and customers at Lviv Croissants, where the actress stopped, shared images of Jolie's visit in the area. Twitter user Brigitte posted a photo of her and Jolie with the caption, "She is a amazing woman, thank you for being here." Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and Founder of the Institute of the Future, posted a video clip of the actress with the message, "Enjoy your coffee, Angelina, it's delicious in #Lviv!" Angelina Jolie in Lviv She is visiting Ukraine with a humanitarian mission as a UN Special Envoy for Refugees. Enjoy your coffee, Angelina, it's delicious in #Lviv! #AngelinaJolie pic.twitter.com/rrRIcoKFrf Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) April 30, 2022 Over 12 million refugees were displaced in Ukraine, with more than 5 million fleeing to neighboring countries, as reported b UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Read Also: Moscow Warns Retaliation Against Western Countries Provoking Neo-Nazi Attacks on Russia Call To Increase Funds For Humanitarian Efforts Jolie was a United Nations special envoy for many years. However, Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' head of global communications, stated Jolie visited the region at her sole discretion and that UNHCR had no involvement in her Ukraine trip, as reported by CNN. In March, Jolie made a three-day visit to Yemen, where she met both internally displaced Yemenis as well as refugees in the north and south of the war-torn country, which is the poorest in the Middle East and North Africa region. Jolie drew comparisons between people in that country and those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, urging the international community to increase funding for the underfunded humanitarian response and to redouble efforts to put a stop to the conflict. "With over 80 million people displaced worldwide and aid appeals underfunded globally, we urgently need to find solutions that enable conflicts to be addressed and displaced people to be able to return home in dignity and safety," Jolie said according to a UNHCR press statement. Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Amal Clooney Pleads for Justice Against War Crimes as Ukraine Becomes a 'Slaughterhouse' @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Andy Cohen has a full family now with two young children at home. And on Sunday morning the 53-year-old talk show host posted a photo of his family to Instagram. In the snapshot, his son Benjamin, age three, was seen meeting his little sister Lucy. 'When Ben met Lucy,' wrote the single father in his caption as he added a black heart emoji. Sweetness: Andy Cohen has a full family now with two young children at home. And on Sunday morning the 53-year-old talk show host posted a photo of his family to Instagram Andy broke the news on Friday that he has become a dad again. He shared a heart-warming snap of the newest member of his family, daughter Lucy. In a photo posted to his Instagram account on Saturday, the Bravo star, 53, gazed adoringly at his newborn child as she lay swaddled in her cradle. 'Greetings from Cloud 9 #ILoveLucy,' he captioned the post. 'Greetings from Cloud 9': Cohen shared a heart-warming snap of the newest member of his family, daughter Lucy, on Saturday Andy made the surprise announcement that he had welcomed a second child via surrogate - daughter Lucy - on Friday. He shared a sweet image of himself cradling the bundle of joy with the caption: 'HERES LUCY!!!!! Meet my daughter, Lucy Eve Cohen! Shes 8 pounds 13 oz and was born at 5:13 pm in New York City!!!' Back in February 2019, Andy welcomed his first child - a son named Benjamin, now three - via surrogate as he made sure to note in the caption that the youngster is excited about being a big brother. Andy wrote: 'Her big brother cant wait to meet her! Thank you to my rock star surrogate (ALL surrogates are rockstars, by the way) and everyone who helped make this miracle happen. Im so happy.' Rock a bye baby! Cohen also shared a tender shot of him cradling his baby 'Can't wait to meet her!': Back in February 2019, Andy welcomed his first child - a son named Benjamin, now three - via surrogate as he made sure to note in the caption that the youngster is excited about being a big brother, the father and son are seen in February Many of the television personality's famous friends hit the comment section to congratulate the star on his new bundle of joy including Billy Eichner, Billie Lourd, and several personalities from the Bravo universe. Longtime pal Sarah Jessica Parker sent a sweet message which said: 'Oh Lucy Eve we are madly in love with you already. Congratulations Andy. All hands on deck and ready. Ben is a big brother!!!!! So much love from our family to yours!! Xxxxx' Anderson Cooper wrote: 'Amazing! Congratulations! Welcome Lucy!!!!' 'Oh Lucy Eve we are madly in love with you already': Many of the television personality's famous friends hit the comment section to congratulate the star on his new bundle of joy including Billy Eichner, Billie Lourd, and several personalities from the Bravo universe Khloe Kardashian sent well wishes as she said: 'Congratulations!!!!! How wonderful and blessed is your family!!! May God bless you all!! [three red hear emojis]' 'Hello sweet girl! [heart emoji] congrats Andy!,' John Mayer wrote before adding: 'Doing her star chart right now!!!' The Bravo exec was so excited to share the news that he spanned social media platforms as he excitedly posted: 'IM A GIRL-DAD!!!!!' He also shared the same image from Instagram with the caption: 'HERES LUCY!!!! Meet Lucy Eve Cohen!! My heart is bursting' He did not elaborate on the meaning behind the new bundle of joy's name but since 'HERES LUCY!!!!!' was in the caption, it seems to be a reference to one of the most iconic television stars of all-time Lucille Ball. Ball was an icon who famously starred on I Love Lucy from 1951 to 1957, The Lucy Show from 1962 to 1968, and yes Here's Lucy from 1968 to 1974. 'Eternally grateful': In February 2019, he revealed that he had welcomed son Benjamin Allen Cohen also with an Instagram post According to BabyNames.com, the name Lucy is of English origin and means light. In February 2019, he revealed that he had welcomed son Benjamin Allen Cohen also with an Instagram post. 'WOW! This is my son, Benjamin Allen Cohen,' Cohen said. He is 9 lbs 2 ounces !! 20 inches !! Born at 6:35 pm, PT.' 'He is named after my grandfather Ben Allen. Im in love. And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And Im a dad. Wow.' In February, Benjamin sweetly joined Andy as he received a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame. Icon: He did not elaborate on the meaning behind the new bundle of joy's name but since 'HERES LUCY!!!!!' was in the caption, it seems to be a reference to one of the most iconic television stars of all-time Lucille Ball (seen center in Here's Lucy in 1970 along with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) Cohen - who hosts late night talk show Watch What Happens Live on Bravo and Radio Andy on Sirius XM - had the support of his famous friends including Lisa Rinna, Garcelle Beauvais, and John Mayer who all spoke at the event. The ceremony wasn't the only reason the day was special in the Cohen household as they also celebrated Ben's third birthday. Andy ended his speech by saying: 'This is all my honor and my privilege and thank you so much all of you and thanks for coming out to my friends and family. 'And happy birthday Ben! Happy birthday Ben! It's your birthday! We've got cookies waiting for you man.' Andy has worked hard to get to the place he is in as he began his career in the late 1980s working in television as an intern at CBS News where he spent 10 years and eventually served as senior producer for The Early Show. He also served as a producer for 48 Hours and CBS This Morning. He went on to join pop culture network Trio in 2000 which was bought out by Bravo in 2004 and Andy eventually became vice president of original programming. In the summer of 2009, he began hosting a weekly late night chat show titled Watch What Happens Live which later expanded to a weeknight series and still is on air to this day. Andy later shared a post celebrating his son's third birthday with the caption: 'Ben had the best 3rd birthday ever!!! [four heart and one cake emojis]' The proud St. Louis, Missouri native made history with the gig as it made him the first openly gay host of an American late-night talk show. As if that already wasn't enough, in September 2015 Sirius XM launched a new radio channel curated by him, known as Radio Andy. More recently Andy joined pal Anderson Cooper as co-host of CNN's New Year's Eve coverage as he replaced Kathy Griffin in 2017. Brooke Shields spent her Saturday rubbing shoulders with not only the Hollywood elite, but the Washington elite as well. The 56-year-old actress was spotted leaving the White House Correspondents brunch in the company of her daughter, Rowan Henchy, 18, and her pal, actor Harry Hamlin, 70. The statuesque actress exuded elegance in a cream colored silk pantsuit with a crossover top. Brunch bunch: Brooke Shields was spotted leaving the White House Correspondents brunch in the company of her daughter, Rowan Henchy, 18 and her pal, actor Harry Hamlin, 70. Mom and daughter day: The statuesque actress exuded elegance in a cream colored silk pantsuit with a crossover top. Rowan, 18, stepped out in a sky blue silk slip dress with a thigh high slit and black high heel sandals The Glamorous actress wore dark rimmed glasses, neutral pumps and styled her trademark brunette locks in loose curls. Brooke seemed to have some difficulty walking along the pebble stone path and relied on her daughter for a helping hand. Rowan stepped out in a sky blue silk slip dress with a thigh high slit and black high heel sandals. Her strawberry blondes hair was styled in loose waves and she kept her makeup looking natural to show off her peaches and cream complexion. She brought along a cream cropped sweater which she wore outside. Harry looked dapper in a light weight mauve suite, open collar white button down shirt, with a beaded choker, dark rimmed glasses and dark gray shoes. Old friends: Harry looked dapper in a light weight mauve suite, open collar white button down shirt, with a beaded choker, dark rimmed glasses and dark gray shoes as the two friends chatted Helping hand: Rowan holds on to her mom as she walks along the uneven pebble stone path Later, Brooke put on a dazzling display when she changed into a gold ruched evening gown, with long sleeves and a deep V neckline for the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton. The 6'0" model wore black flats and kept her jewelry simple, wearing dangling earrings and a large bejeweled ring on each hand. Rowan chose a long black slip dress and bright pink pumps for the affair, and wore her hair is lose waves. She is a student at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Wowza: Brooke put on a dazzling display when she changed into a gold ruched evening gown, with long sleeves and a deep V neckline for the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton Proud mom: The 56-year-old actress brought along daughter Rowan to the White House Correspondents dinner as her date. The 18-year-old is a student at Wake Forest University The White House Correspondents dinner has been a DC tradition since 1920. It's an evening when political reporters gather with the glamorous to roast each other and politicians, including the president. Other celebrities in attendance included Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Amelia Hamlin, Harry Hamlin, model Miranda Kerr, and philanthropist Melinda Gates. Saturday's gathering was the first since 2019, due to the pandemic, and the first one in which the president has attended since 2016. Donald Trump boycotted the event during his presidency. President Joe Biden, 79, attended only the speaking portion of the evening due to concerns over Covid-19. Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews have revealed their newborn son is named Otto James. In an interview with Hello! Magazine, in which the couple posed up with their third child, the couple said they had 'always loved' the name Otto, with his middle name in honour of Spencer's older brother James, 46. Vogue, 36, said: 'I heard somebody else's child called Otto a couple of years ago and the name always stuck. I just loved it. I think Otto James together sounds really cool.' Three kids: Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews have revealed their newborn son is named Otto James The TV presenter and former Made In Chelsea star, 33, are already proud parents to Theodore, three, and Gigi, 21 months, welcoming Otto on April 18. They said: 'Otto slotted in straight away. The kids love him and we are obsessed with him. Theodore and Gigi love playing with each other and I think that Otto's going to be another little member of their gang. It's really lovely to see.' The pair spoke about Otto's straightforward birth and noted how he is the 'spitting image' of his dad Spencer. Vogue said: 'I mean, there's none of me in there,' Vogue laughs. If I had been shown this baby and had to choose which one was mine, I would never know because he's just the spitting image of Spencer.' Congratulations! The happy couple took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the wonderful news, sharing a photo of their older children meeting their new sibling The couple announced the birth of their son on April 20. The happy couple took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the wonderful news, sharing a photo of their older children meeting their new sibling. Captioning her heartwarming snap, which sees Gigi and Theo cradling the tot, Vogue gushed: 'We are so happy to announce that our beautiful boy arrived safely on Monday evening. Cute: In an interview with Hello! Magazine , in which the couple posed up with their third child, the couple said they had 'always loved' the name Otto, with his middle name in honour of Spencer's older brother James (pictured with wife Pippa Middleton in July) 'Bursting with love he is the perfect addition to our family .' The post was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from her showbiz pals including Angela Scanlan, Emma Louise Connolly and Rosie Fortescue. Spencer also took to social media to celebrate his little boy's birth, sharing a snap of Gigi and Theo looking into their sibling's crib, writing: 'And then there were three .' Blooming lovely: Vogue, 36, said: 'I heard somebody else's child called Otto a couple of years ago and the name always stuck. I just loved it. I think Otto James together sounds really cool' Spencer and Vogue announced they were expecting their third child in October, and then later confirmed the sex in December. Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Vogue said: 'Baby number three on the way!!! This has been a lot harder to hide third time around, I feel like I've had a bump since the first month.' Spencer shared a sweet snap of the couple and wrote: 'WE'RE HAVING A THIRD BABY!!! Sweet: Captioning her heartwarming snap, which sees Gigi and Theo cradling the tot, Vogue gushed: 'We are so happy to announce that our beautiful boy arrived safely on Monday evening. Bursting with love he is the perfect addition to our family ' 'If you'd have told me a few years ago that by the age of 33 I'd have three beautiful children with the woman of my dreams I WOULD have believed you because that was always the plan. 'Having said that I feel fortunate every day for what we have. Family is EVERYTHING.' Vogue added of their new baby: 'It'll be the more the merrier.' Well wishes: The post was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from her showbiz pals including Angela Scanlan, Emma Louise Connolly and Rosie Fortescue Before their third bout of baby joy, Spencer told MailOnline: 'Both Vogue and I love children. We can't wait. We consider ourselves very lucky to have grown our family as quickly as we have. 'It was always the plan for us to move quite quickly in that regard. We're full of joy and excitement. The couple chose the name early on, with Spencer telling Martin King and Una Healy on The Six O'Clock Show in January: 'It happened quite early, pretty much as soon as she was pregnant we haven't really thrown anymore into the mix, as far as I'm concerned we've had the chat.' Delight: Vogue and Spencer, are already parents to three-year-old son Theodore and a 21-month-old daughter called Gigi Happy couple: Spencer and Vogue announced they were expecting their third child in October, and then later confirmed the sex in December (pictured in February) The reality star kept tight-lipped on the moniker of choice, but did say: 'It is not an Irish name. No disrespect to the Irish!' Eldest child Theodore is said to be thrilled to have a little brother, with Vogue telling Hello!: 'My sister asked Theodore if he wants to have a brother or sister and he replied: 'A brother! I don't want a sister, I already have a sister.' So he's delighted.' Spencer and Vogue got engaged in January 2018, before tying the knot in a romantic ceremony at a Scottish mansion owned by Spencer's family just five months later. It looks like Monday could be a big night for all the Kardashian and Jenner ladies. According to PageSix, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour has invited all of the family members from The Kardashians. That includes Kourtney (who will attend with fiance Travis Barker), Kim (who will bring beau Pete Davidson) and Khloe Kardashian as well as Kris, Kendall and Kylie Jenner (whose beau Travis Scott will most likely not attend). Scroll down for a look at Kim, Kendall and Kylie's Met Gala fashion... Thanks Anna, it's about time! It looks like Monday could be a big night for all the Kardashian and Jenner ladies. According to PageSix, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour has invited all of the family members from The Kardashians Kim, 41, and Kendall, 26, have both posed for Vogue covers and attended the Met Gala several times. Kylie, 24, has attended the event four times. Rob Kardashian was likely not invited as he does not attend red carpet events. He is also locked in a fierce legal battle with ex Blac Chyna (together they have daughter Dream) over the cancelation of Rob & Chyna. But it is still not know who will for sure show. She has a big plus one: Kim will bring beau Pete Davidson; seen Saturday at the 2022 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at Washington Hilton Like an anniversary: Kim and Pete first chatted a year ago at the Met Gala where Pete wanted to exchange phone numbers This years theme is Gilded Glamour so expect gowns that look as if they are from the Gilded Age. According to Britannica.com, the Gilded Age is a period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in U.S. history during the 1870s that gave rise to important novels of social and political criticism. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, is considered by many as the 'Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets.' They got an invite: Kourtney Kardashian, left, and Travis Barker appear at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on April 3 Fashion's biggest night is traditionally held the first Monday in May to raise money for the Costume Institute in New York City, with last year's event moved to September due to the pandemic. This year's theme of 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion,' a continuation of last year's 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.' Tickets for the glitzy event can reportedly cost up to $35,000 apiece, while prices for a table range from $200,000 to $300,000, with last year's bash raking in a whopping $16.4 million for the Met's Costume Institute. Regina King, power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are hosting this time, taking over from Timothee Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka. Anna, thanks for getting your act together: Khloe Kardashian has finally been invited even though she has been a massive star for over 10 years This will be Miranda's first time as a Met Gala co-chair (and guest) but he was originally intended to co-host the 2020 edition before the pandemic forced its cancellation. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is once again supervising the benefit as chairwoman, a position she's held since 1995. Her fellow honorary co-chairs are designer Tom Ford and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. As usual, the sartorial theme comes from the exhibit the gala launches: 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion,' which is the second of star curator Andrew Bolton's two-part show exploring the roots of American style. Her not him: Kylie Jenner will likely attends but PageSix thinks her beau Travis Scott will not go due to his Astroworld tragedy where many lives were lost; seen in 2019 This exhibit will showcase some lesser-known designers, and also some top film directors, including Sofia Coppola, Martin Scorsese, host King, and last year's Oscar winner Chloe Zhao. Bolton said eight directors will create what he called 'cinematic vignettes' in the period rooms of the American Wing of the museum. Similar to the September event, there will be 400 guests this year, lower than the pre-pandemic highs of 500-600 attendees. Yes for Kenny: Kendall Jenner, seen in an Alo ad shared on Sunday, goes as often as she can The other four are Ford, the celebrated fashion designer who's also an acclaimed film director, Janicza Bravo (Zola), Julie Dash (Daughters Of The Dust) and Autumn de Wilde (who directed the Jane Austen adaptation Emma. and is also a photographer). The first part of the exhibition will remain on display in the rooms of the Anna Wintour Costume Center, along with the second part, until September 5. More than half the pieces in the opening exhibition will be rotated out and garments from designers not yet featured will go on display. The Met Gala is a huge money-maker for the museum, and provides the Costume Institute with its main source of funding. KIM KARDASHIAN'S MET GALA LOOKS OVER THE YEARS Kim Kardashian has made some fairly dramatic statements at the annual Met Gala in New York City over the years. During her first year at the splashy, star-studded event she had on a tight floral dress that made the most of her very pregnant belly. Later she would be seen in a gold column dress, a silver suit that made her look like a robot, a see-through lace wonder and a dress that came in so tight she had to wear a waist trainer for weeks beforehand. Last year the star, 41, covered her face with black cloth in a shocking move as she shared she had a full face of makeup on underneath for some reason. Here is a look back at the eight looks The Kardashians star has tried out during the most important night in fashion. 2013 - GIVENCHY Her first time at the Met Gala was for PUNK: Chaos to Couture in 2013. She was pregnant with North and wore a floral print dress from Givenchy. The California native said that she was not invited but rather was West's plus one. Sadly, after the gala she 'cried' because she was so insecure about everything, she had said. '2103 Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. I was Kanye's plus one & so nervous! I didn't know anyone & I'm sure no one wanted me there lol. I did my own lipstick & the color is so off. I went home & cried after of insecurity but this is one of my fave looks now,' said the TV vet. 2013 - GIVENCHY 2014 - LANVIN In 2014, Kim had on a blue strapless Lanvin outfit as Kanye had on black. The theme was Charles James: Beyond Fashion. She said it was the first time she had been invited on her own. 'My dress was originally made of this amazing leather with metallic detailing,' Kim said earlier. 'But we decided at the last minute to redo it in blue satin.' 2014 - LANVIN 2015 - ROBERTO CAVALLI She wore a very sheer and sexy lace and net gown by Roberto Cavalli for the May 2015 event. Her hair was slicked back and she modeled huge earrings. And the star posed with husband Kanye West who went with a black suit and boots. The theme was celebrating China: Through the Looking Glass. 2015 - ROBERTO CAVALLI 2016 - BALMAIN Kardashian tried out silver at the Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology in 2016. She wore Balmain, a shimmery silver dress that looked like a futuristic gown with a slit up the side. Husband Kanye West was in the same designer. She said: '2016 Olivier Rousteing for Balmain. I was back to insecure this year because I hadn't lost all of my baby weight. Big mistake to bleach the brows but Kanye looked so good this year with those blue eyes! It was super controversial that he wore denim.' Earlier she had noted: 'I thought Balmain was the perfect choice for me and Kanye, especially. I think Kanye's look is a little bit more downplayed with the denim mixed with all the Balmain bling.' 2016 - BALMAIN 2017 - VIVIENNE WESTWOOD This one in 2017 was celebrating the opening of Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between. The Selfish author had on a white Vivienne Westwood off-the-shoulder dress with no jewelry and strappy heels. In the bus ride to the event she had to stand up so the dress would not wrinkle and she said she was already sweating and had to use the bathroom because she was so nervous. The daughter of Kris Jenner said, '2017 Vivienne Westwood. This was my first year going solo. I was so nervous to go by myself I almost threw up on the way & I had to pee every second.. I was FaceTiming my sisters to meet up at the top of the stairs. Vivienne made me this beautiful dress from her archive.' 2017 - VIVIENNE WESTWOOD 2018 - VERSACE Kim Kardashian attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala in 2018. She said this gold mesh Versace dress fit her like a 'glove.' Kardashian added, 'I knew exactly what I wanted and was most confident this year. 90's, chainmail, sexy and simple.' 2018 - VERSACE 2019 - THIERRY MUGLER Kardashian was in a wet look for Camp: Notes on Fashion in 2019. She had to wear a waist trainer to get her midsection as small as possible to pull off this Thierry Mugler dress. The look was supposed to be 'wet' which is why she had crystals that looked like raindrops coming off of her. Her hair also looked wet as she had oiled skin. 2019 - THIERRY MUGLER 2021 - BALENCIAGA Kim shocked fans when she wore a head to toe black look that covered her famous face. Later the red carpet fixture said that she was fully made up under that face sock which seemed like a lot of effort for no payoff. Turns out, it was not her favorite move. 'I fought against it. I was like, I dont know how I could wear the mask. Why would I want to cover my face?' she told Vogue this year. 'But Demna [Gvasalia, Balenciagas creative director] and the team were like, "This is a costume gala. This is not a Vanity Fair party where everyone looks beautiful. Theres a theme and you have to wear the mask. That is the look."' 2021 - BALENCIAGA 2021 - Sister Kendall Jenner, left, stole the show in GIVENCHY Advertisement Advertisement KENDALL JENNER'S MET GALA LOOKS OVER THE YEARS Kendall Jenner has become one of the stand-out stars at the annual Met Gala in New York City. The supermodel - who works for Versace and Fendi - has served up some of the most elegant looks among the star-studded crowd. Her first year saw her take a chance in Topshop but she moved on nicely to Calvin Klein and Versace. Last year the 5ft10in reality TV star was called the best dressed in her stunning Givenchy gown that made her resemble Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle from the 1964 classic musical My Fair Lady. Here is a look back at all of the Vogue star's ravishing looks during the biggest night in fashion. 2014 - TOPSHOP The budding model looked like a bride in this strapless satin Topshop gown which she paired with a diamond necklace. The brunette beauty had on a custom-made satin Topshop dress with a mermaid finish, adding Tabitha Simmons heels and Chopard jewels. She was only a teen at the time but looked like a sophisticated lady. The theme was Charles James: Beyond Fashion. 2014 - TOPSHOP 2015 - CALVIN KLEIN It was a semi sheer mint green gown by Calvin Klein Collection for Kendall in 2015. The sparkly dress had a surprise on the sides: her skin was showing under a few thin straps. She smartly wore her hair straight and down so as not to take away from the gown. The theme of the year was China: Through the Looking Glass. 2015 - CALVIN KLEIN 2016- VERSACE The KUWTK had on Versace this year. The theme was Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. The dress was blue, white and beige, had a halter top design and cut outs on the sides for a more youthful beachy feel. Kendall also pulled her hair back for a more casual look but added big diamond earrings. 2016- VERSACE 2017 - LA PERLA It was a daring sheer black gown by La Perla for 2017. She had on no bra and only a thong for her undies which exposed her bottom. High heels in sheer black material coordinated nicely. The theme was Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between. 2017 - LA PERLA 2018 - OFF-WHITE Jenner wore an off-the-shoulder white top with white slacks for a less obvious look by Off-White in 2018. And she added gloves, which is unusual for the Met Gala. The long diamond earring lent a Hollywood movie premiere feel. The theme was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. 2018 - OFF-WH ITE 2019 - VERSACE She wore orange Versace for a Las Vegas showgirl look at the Camp: Notes on Fashion event in 2019. Her dress was sheer with a nude undertone and orange beads with feathers at the hem. And she added a massive orange feather boa that was festive. An orange necklace with matching drop earrings added ever more sizzle. Her younger sister Kylie had a similar look but in purple. 2019 - VERSACE 2021 - GIVENCHY It was her best look yet. The Kardashians star was called the best dressed in her stunning Givenchy gown that had a sheer, crystal studded overlay over a nude bodysuit, adding a wide sparkling choker. The show-stopping gown made her resemble Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle from the 1964 classic musical My Fair Lady. She held her head high as she mingled with pal Gigi Hadid and sister Kim Kardashian as she must have known her elegant look was a triumph. 2021 - GIVENCHY She held her head high as she mingled with pal Gigi Hadid and sister Kim Kardashian, right, as she must have known her elegant look was a triumph Advertisement Jessica Chastain looked typically stylish on Saturday as she headed on a solo outing in New York. The American actress, who is currently in the Big Apple filming scenes for Michel Franco's yet-untitled film, donned a tan trench coat over a black blouse and trousers. Jessica, 45, fuelled up on Starbucks before shopping at Gucci on Madison Avenue. Stylish: Jessica Chastain looks effortlessly chic in a tan trench coat as she grabs her caffeine fix in New York The Oscar winner rounded off her look with leather boots, face-framing sunglasses and a shoulder bag. Jessica left her auburn, waved tresses loose and opted to go makeup-free, letting her natural beauty shine through. The film star hasn't taken much time off after winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in late March. Chic: The American actress, who is currently in the Big Apple filming scenes for Michel Franco's yet-untitled film, donned the coat over a black blouse and trousers She took home the award for her performance in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, in which she played Tammy Faye Bakker, the wife of Jim Bakker. The pair preached at a megachurch in the 1970s and 1980s before Jim ended up in prison for financial crimes. Jessica's nomination was her third Oscar nomination but just her first win. She was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress in The Help and Best Actress in Zero Dark Thirty. She won the award over Kristen Stewart for Spencer, Olivia Colman for The Lost Daughter, Penelope Cruz for Parallel Mothers and Nicole Kidman for Being the Ricardos. Coffee: Jessica, 45, fuelled up on Starbucks before shopping at Gucci on Madison Avenue The Juilliard alum's career isn't slowing down at all. She recently completed filming on The Good Nurse, a film about serial killer Charles Cullen who allegedly murdered as many as 300 patients in 16 years while working as a nurse. Eddie Redmayne will play Cullen while Chastain will star as Amy Loughren, a fellow nurse that helped the police take him down. She currently has two other films in pre-production. The first, titled The Division, is set in an apocalyptic near-future where a team of professionals is sent in to save as many people as they can from a deadly virus in New York City. The other movie, Mothers' Instinct, follows two men living charmed lives until a tragic accident completely uproots everything they hold near and dear. Fellow Oscar winner Anne Hathaway will work with Chastain on that movie. Advertisement Kourtney Kardashian, 43, looked stunning in a black one-piece swimsuit with sexy cut out detailing as she soaked up the sunshine by a swimming pool on Sunday. The 43-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians veteran was taking in the beauty of Lake Como in northern Italy where George Clooney has a villa. She was joined on the trip by her future husband, drummer Travis Barker, 46, who showed off his array of tattoos on his bare chest while clad in a pair of Baywatch red swim trunks. Barker stayed close to his lady love, who he has known for eight years and the couple are also neighbours in Calabasas, California. Swim ready: Kourtney Kardashian , 43, looked stunning in a black one-piece swimsuit with cut outs everywhere as she spent time by a swimming pool on Sunday She put a hand on his arm: Also with the petite TV wonder was her husband-to-be Travis Barker of the band Blink 182 As they soaked up the sunshine in the balmy Italian climes, the two were seen taking off their clothes to reveal their swimwear and beamed broadly at one another as they headed into the pool for a refreshing dip. The couple strode into the pool while arm in arm as they couldn't stop making public displays of affection. The POOSH founder showed off her raven tresses that were scraped back in a bun, with some pieces of hair left down to frame her face. Making a big splash: The 43-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians vet was taking in the beauty of Lake Como in northern Italy where George Clooney has a villa She sure keeps her shape nice: The eldest Kardashian showed off her backside where she had zero cellulite The eldest daughter of Kris Jenner also had on black sunglasses and her nails were nicely polished. After their brief swim, they both toweled off with royal blue towels. They were last seen in the Italian city of Milan on Saturday where they wore all black. The pair were spotted taking a stroll around the Italian city, before jetting off in a private plane later in the day. Kourtney donned a black satin trousers and shirt co-ord for their outing, with a pink flower print and collar neck cut. Let's take a dunk: Also seen was her future husband, drummer Travis, 46, who showed off his array of tattoos on his bare chest as he had on his red swim trunks When Kourtis hit Italy; The lookers surprisingly did not match their suits. They often match their clothing at events Getting the most out of their holiday, Kourtney shared videos of a boat ride in Lake Como on Saturday morning to Instagram. The Italian getaway could be a 'honeymoon' for the pair, who wed in an unofficial Las Vegas ceremony earlier this month month - dubbing it a 'practice.' This comes after Barker visited Kardashian's late father Robert Kardashian's grave to ask permission to marry his daughter. Check out my tummy: The college graduate put her hand on her tummy at one point as if she wanted to pull her suit a bit Such a sweet relationship: The TV star smiled at her fiance as he led her into the swimming pool The Blink-182 drummer wanted to make sure he had the blessing of both of the Poosh founder's parents. The famous lawyer died in 2003, aged 59, following a battle with oesophageal cancer. Robert was also known working with pal OJ Simpson during his trial for allegedly murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson; he was quitted. They can't keep away from each other: The beauty smiled as she had her arms around her love, flashing her diamond ring Kisses galore: She looked as if she wanted to go in for a smooch as she looked at her musician beau It might be too cold? Kourtney made a face after she got into the swimming pool which had guests around it Knowing looks in the shallow end: The two could not keep their eyes off each other, even when in the pool Time for some laps: Barker swam to the side of the swimming pool with Kourtney behind him And in the latest episode of Hulu's The Kardashians, Kourtney's mom Kris revealed the 46-year-old rocker's sweet gesture. She said: 'He came over and asked for her hand in marriage and I was like 'It was so sweet and so tender, and then he said he went to your dad's grave and asked your dad, and I just lost it.' It was a very emotional moment for momager Kris. Done with their dip: Kourtney got out of the pool then Travis as a waiter brought them some drinks ABCDEFG - Goodbye! She reached for her towel while still soaking wet from her swim as the server put down the beverages Let's dry off now: They were both seen with royal blue towels after taking a dip in the pool Struggling to hold back the tears, Kris told her eldest daughter: 'It's all happy. 'I wish that your dad was here to see it. I can hardly believe that it's the first time that she's getting married. Isn't that cute?' Kris and Kourtney, 43, then poked fun at Kim Kardashian's three failed marriages. He is a kissing bandit 24/7! Barker went in for another kiss which Kourtney did not seem to mind one bit He loves his ink: Barker has a large collection of tattoos and will likely get many more as one of his lower legs was bare The 41-year-old reality star - who is in a relationship with comedian Pete Davidson after filing for divorce from third husband Kanye West - quipped back: 'While I've had enough for all of us.' Travis popped the question in October, after less than a year of dating. And while the loved-up pair were thought to have tied the knot during a ceremony at the One Love Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas recently, the wedding wasn't legally binding. That is because they did not obtain a marriage license. However, the duo are said to want to host an 'intimate ceremony' with their loved ones. With some clothing on: Barker added a T-shirt as Kourtney had part of her slacks on by her knees Is it time to go already? Kourtney reached for what looked like a coffee drink as she smiled at her man A source said: 'They don't want a big wedding. They want an intimate ceremony and party for family and close friends.' Kourtney hasn't been married before, but she has Mason, 12, Penelope, nine, and Reign, seven, with ex-partner Scott Disick. While Travis has Landon, 18, and Alabama, 16, with ex-spouse Shanna Moakler. A little Java never hurt anyone: They sat side by side as they sipped from their coffee drinks Drink number two: And the siren was seen with a red beverage after she was fully dressed Kourtney and Travis are also trying for a baby and have been documenting their fertility journey on the show. It looks like Monday could be a big night for all the Kardashian and Jenner ladies. According to PageSix, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour has invited all of the family members from The Kardashians. That includes Kourtney (who will attend with fiance Travis Barker), Kim (who will bring beau Pete Davidson) and Khloe Kardashian as well as Kris, Kendall and Kylie Jenner (whose beau Travis Scott will most likely not attend). Kim, 41, and Kendall, 26, have both posed for Vogue covers and attended the Met Gala several times. Not exactly cheerful spring fashion: Kourtney had on a black and white jumpsuit as Travis wore a black tour shirt Kylie, 24, has attended the event four times. Rob Kardashian was likely not invited as he does not attend red carpet events. He is also locked in a fierce legal battle with ex Blac Chyna (together they have daughter Dream) over the cancelation of Rob & Chyna. But it is still not know who will for sure show. This years theme is Gilded Glamour so expect gowns that look as if they are from the Gilded Age. According to Britannica.com, the Gilded Age is a period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in U.S. history during the 1870s that gave rise to important novels of social and political criticism. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, is considered by many as the 'Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets.' Fashion's biggest night is traditionally held the first Monday in May to raise money for the Costume Institute in New York City, with last year's event moved to September due to the pandemic. Final visits: Getting the most out of their holiday, Kourtney shared some Instagram stories from Lake Como before they left on Saturday morning So many coffee breaks in this paradise: The looker also shared an image of the cappuccinos and cookies they were served This year's theme of 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion,' a continuation of last year's 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.' Tickets for the glitzy event can reportedly cost up to $35,000 apiece, while prices for a table range from $200,000 to $300,000, with last year's bash raking in a whopping $16.4 million for the Met's Costume Institute. Regina King, power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are hosting this time, taking over from Timothee Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka. Angelina Jolie made a secret visit to an orphanage in Ukraine as part of a whistle-stop trip to the war-torn nation. The Hollywood star, 46, kept her journey under wraps, with members of her entourage reportedly signing deals banning them from revealing any details. Local officials had no knowledge of her visit to the orphanage at an undisclosed location around 90 minutes drive from the western city of Lviv. Angelina Jolie was pictured visiting an orphanage around 90 minutes from the Ukrainian city of Lviv The US actor and UNHCR Special Envoy, pictured here interacting with a child at Lviv railway station, made the visit in a 'private capacity' The mother of six is a UN envoy for refugees but officials there insisted her visit was made in a private capacity. Sources said Miss Jolie left the country tonight after arriving in Lviv on Saturday. The star of Tomb Raider also visited children at a hospital and later spoke to refugees at the train station, which 1.5 million Ukrainians have travelled through fleeing to safety. When an air raid alert sounded, Miss Jolie seemed unfazed before being ushered away. Asked if she was afraid, she replied: No, I dont care. Last night in a statement, the actress said: Im humbled to witness the resilience and courage and dignity of the Ukrainian people. The impact the war is having on a generation of Ukrainian children is devastating to see. The star of Tomb Raider also visited children at a hospital and later spoke to refugees at the train station A spokesman denied that Miss Jolie, who has three adopted children, planned to adopt another, insisting that the secrecy around the orphanage visit was for security reasons. Reporters who tried to approach the star at the train station on Saturday were told it was a private visit. Angelina said her visit was not for press, said aid volunteer Rostyslav Hetman (CORR) who posed for a selfie with Ms Jolie at the station. Ms Jolie visited the children's hospital in Lviv. Here she is pictured with victims of the Kramatorsk railway station missile strike However, Ms Jolie did pose for dozens of selfies and travelled with her own personal photographer who supplied pictures hand-picked by the star to the media. Before giving birth to her three youngest children Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 13, who she had with actor Brad Pitt, Jolie became a mom to Maddox, 20, Pax, 18 and Zahara, 17, through adoption. Maddox and Zahara were adopted from orphanages in Cambodia and Ethiopia by Angelina. She and her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton adopted her oldest child, Maddox Chivan in 2002. She took the time to have photos with volunteers working at the city's main railway station The pair took in Maddox after finding him in a Cambodian orphanage, but the adoption process took a while due to US government legislation. Three years after welcoming Maddox into her family, Angelina adopted six-month-old Ethiopian orphan Zahara Marley. Miss Jolie previously opened up about the importance of honouring her three adopted childrens roots in an interview with Vogue. Each is a beautiful way of becoming family. What is important is to speak with openness about all of it and to share. Adoption and orphanage are positive words in our home, the Oscar winner said. Reporters were told her visit was private. Angelina said her visit was not for press, said aid volunteer Rostyslav Hetman (CORR) who posed for a selfie with Ms Jolie at the station. Here she is pictured with people at Lviv children's hospital She went on to describe her children as six very brave, very strong young people. In the same interview, the movie star spoke of ending her marriage to Brad Pitt, whom she met in 2004 on the set of the film Mr. And Mrs. Smith, for the well-being of kids. The former Hollywood power couple - known as Brangelina - married in August 2014 after 10 years together. But they split in 2016 after Mr Pitt and Maddox allegedly got into an argument on a private jet while on the way to Los Angeles. The row led to Angelina filing for divorce that year. Mr Pitt was later cleared of any wrongdoing but a judge granted Angelina physical custody of all six children. Kylie Jenner cut a stylish figure as she touched down in New York in her private jet on Sunday. The beauty mogul, 24, is in the Big Apple for the annual Met Gala and ensured all eyes were on her with her ensemble. The reality star created her own version of a flight suit, choosing a oversized grey denim coat with a sheepskin collar and beige suede thigh high boots. Looking good: Kylie Jenner cut a stylish figure in a neutral grey outfit as she touched down in New York in her private jet on Sunday Kylie styled her hair straight, wore large sunglasses and a natural looking lip color for her cross country journey. The star also shared snaps of herself waiting in the lounge at a private airport in Los Angeles with a large sparkling silver travel bag was next to her. Kylie's four year-old daughter, Stormi Webster, was nearby, with the doting mom posting on Instagram, 'my travel buddy for life.' Stormi's aunt, Khloe Kardashian, responded, 'The flyest there is.' Wheels up: Kylie looked flight ready in neutral tones as she waited to board her private jet for New York alongside her daughter Stormi, four It looks like Monday could be a big night for all the Kardashian and Jenner ladies. According to PageSix, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour has invited all of the family members from The Kardashians. That includes Kourtney (who will attend with fiance Travis Barker), Kim (who will bring beau Pete Davidson) and Khloe Kardashian as well as Kris, Kendall and Kylie Jenner (whose beau Travis Scott will most likely not attend). Kim, 41, and Kendall, 26, have both posed for Vogue covers and attended the Met Gala several times. Kylie, 24, has attended the event four times. Flawless: The beauty mogul is in the Big Apple for the annual Met Gala and ensured all eyes were on her with her ensemble which also featued thigh high grey boots Luxury: Kylie added to her outfit with a grey bag as she stepped off her private jet Rob Kardashian was likely not invited as he does not attend red carpet events.He is also locked in a fierce legal battle with ex Blac Chyna (together they have daughter Dream) over the cancelation of Rob & Chyna. But it is still not known who will show. This years theme is Gilded Glamour so expect gowns that look as if they are from the Gilded Age. According to Britannica.com, the Gilded Age is a period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in U.S. history during the 1870s that gave rise to important novels of social and political criticism. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, is considered by many as the 'Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets.' Flight suit: Kylie added to her outfit with a pair of shades and hoop earrings It's about time! It looks like the Met Gala could be a big night for all the Kardashian and Jenner ladies. According to PageSix, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour has invited all of the family members from The Kardashians Fashion's biggest night is traditionally held the first Monday in May to raise money for the Costume Institute in New York City, with last year's event moved to September due to the pandemic. This year's theme of 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion,' a continuation of last year's 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.' Tickets for the glitzy event can reportedly cost up to $35,000 apiece, while prices for a table range from $200,000 to $300,000, with last year's bash raking in a whopping $16.4 million for the Met's Costume Institute. Regina King, power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are hosting this time, taking over from Timothee Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka. She has a big plus one: Kim will bring beau Pete Davidson; seen Saturday at the 2022 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at Washington Hilton They got an invite: Kourtney Kardashian, left, and Travis Barker appear at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on April 3 This will be Miranda's first time as a Met Gala co-chair (and guest) but he was originally intended to co-host the 2020 edition before the pandemic forced its cancellation. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is once again supervising the benefit as chairwoman, a position she's held since 1995. Her fellow honorary co-chairs are designer Tom Ford and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. As usual, the sartorial theme comes from the exhibit the gala launches: 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion,' which is the second of star curator Andrew Bolton's two-part show exploring the roots of American style. Anna, thanks for getting your act together: Khloe Kardashian has finally been invited even though she has been a massive star for more than 10 years This exhibit will showcase some lesser-known designers, and also some top film directors, including Sofia Coppola, Martin Scorsese, host King, and last year's Oscar winner Chloe Zhao. Bolton said eight directors will create what he called 'cinematic vignettes' in the period rooms of the American Wing of the museum. Similar to the September event, there will be 400 guests this year, lower than the pre-pandemic highs of 500-600 attendees. Yes for Kenny: Kendall Jenner, seen in an Alo ad shared on Sunday, goes as often as she can The other four are Ford, the celebrated fashion designer who's also an acclaimed film director, Janicza Bravo (Zola), Julie Dash (Daughters Of The Dust) and Autumn de Wilde (who directed the Jane Austen adaptation Emma. and is also a photographer). The first part of the exhibition will remain on display in the rooms of the Anna Wintour Costume Center, along with the second part, until September 5. More than half the pieces in the opening exhibition will be rotated out and garments from designers not yet featured will go on display. The Met Gala is a huge money-maker for the museum, and provides the Costume Institute with its main source of funding. KIM KARDASHIAN'S MET GALA LOOKS OVER THE YEARS Kim Kardashian has made some fairly dramatic statements at the annual Met Gala in New York City over the years. During her first year at the splashy, star-studded event she had on a tight floral dress that made the most of her very pregnant belly. Later she would be seen in a gold column dress, a silver suit that made her look like a robot, a see-through lace wonder and a dress that came in so tight she had to wear a waist trainer for weeks beforehand. Last year the star, 41, covered her face with black cloth in a shocking move as she shared she had a full face of makeup on underneath for some reason. Here is a look back at the eight looks The Kardashians star has tried out during the most important night in fashion. 2013 - GIVENCHY Her first time at the Met Gala was for PUNK: Chaos to Couture in 2013. She was pregnant with North and wore a floral print dress from Givenchy. The California native said that she was not invited but rather was West's plus one. Sadly, after the gala she 'cried' because she was so insecure about everything, she had said. '2103 Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. I was Kanye's plus one & so nervous! I didn't know anyone & I'm sure no one wanted me there lol. I did my own lipstick & the color is so off. I went home & cried after of insecurity but this is one of my fave looks now,' said the TV vet. 2013 - GIVENCHY 2014 - LANVIN In 2014, Kim had on a blue strapless Lanvin outfit as Kanye had on black. The theme was Charles James: Beyond Fashion. She said it was the first time she had been invited on her own. 'My dress was originally made of this amazing leather with metallic detailing,' Kim said earlier. 'But we decided at the last minute to redo it in blue satin.' 2014 - LANVIN 2015 - ROBERTO CAVALLI She wore a very sheer and sexy lace and net gown by Roberto Cavalli for the May 2015 event. Her hair was slicked back and she modeled huge earrings. And the star posed with husband Kanye West who went with a black suit and boots. The theme was celebrating China: Through the Looking Glass. 2015 - ROBERTO CAVALLI 2016 - BALMAIN Kardashian tried out silver at the Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology in 2016. She wore Balmain, a shimmery silver dress that looked like a futuristic gown with a slit up the side. Husband Kanye West was in the same designer. She said: '2016 Olivier Rousteing for Balmain. I was back to insecure this year because I hadn't lost all of my baby weight. Big mistake to bleach the brows but Kanye looked so good this year with those blue eyes! It was super controversial that he wore denim.' Earlier she had noted: 'I thought Balmain was the perfect choice for me and Kanye, especially. I think Kanye's look is a little bit more downplayed with the denim mixed with all the Balmain bling.' 2016 - BALMAIN 2017 - VIVIENNE WESTWOOD This one in 2017 was celebrating the opening of Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between. The Selfish author had on a white Vivienne Westwood off-the-shoulder dress with no jewelry and strappy heels. In the bus ride to the event she had to stand up so the dress would not wrinkle and she said she was already sweating and had to use the bathroom because she was so nervous. The daughter of Kris Jenner said, '2017 Vivienne Westwood. This was my first year going solo. I was so nervous to go by myself I almost threw up on the way & I had to pee every second.. I was FaceTiming my sisters to meet up at the top of the stairs. Vivienne made me this beautiful dress from her archive.' 2017 - VIVIENNE WESTWOOD 2018 - VERSACE Kim Kardashian attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala in 2018. She said this gold mesh Versace dress fit her like a 'glove.' Kardashian added, 'I knew exactly what I wanted and was most confident this year. 90's, chainmail, sexy and simple.' 2018 - VERSACE 2019 - THIERRY MUGLER Kardashian was in a wet look for Camp: Notes on Fashion in 2019. She had to wear a waist trainer to get her midsection as small as possible to pull off this Thierry Mugler dress. The look was supposed to be 'wet' which is why she had crystals that looked like raindrops coming off of her. Her hair also looked wet as she had oiled skin. 2019 - THIERRY MUGLER 2021 - BALENCIAGA Kim shocked fans when she wore a head to toe black look that covered her famous face. Later the red carpet fixture said that she was fully made up under that face sock which seemed like a lot of effort for no payoff. Turns out, it was not her favorite move. 'I fought against it. I was like, I dont know how I could wear the mask. Why would I want to cover my face?' she told Vogue this year. 'But Demna [Gvasalia, Balenciagas creative director] and the team were like, "This is a costume gala. This is not a Vanity Fair party where everyone looks beautiful. Theres a theme and you have to wear the mask. That is the look."' 2021 - BALENCIAGA 2021 - Sister Kendall Jenner, left, stole the show in GIVENCHY Advertisement Advertisement KENDALL JENNER'S MET GALA LOOKS OVER THE YEARS Kendall Jenner has become one of the stand-out stars at the annual Met Gala in New York City. The supermodel - who works for Versace and Fendi - has served up some of the most elegant looks among the star-studded crowd. Her first year saw her take a chance in Topshop but she moved on nicely to Calvin Klein and Versace. Last year the 5ft10in reality TV star was called the best dressed in her stunning Givenchy gown that made her resemble Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle from the 1964 classic musical My Fair Lady. Here is a look back at all of the Vogue star's ravishing looks during the biggest night in fashion. 2014 - TOPSHOP The budding model looked like a bride in this strapless satin Topshop gown which she paired with a diamond necklace. The brunette beauty had on a custom-made satin Topshop dress with a mermaid finish, adding Tabitha Simmons heels and Chopard jewels. She was only a teen at the time but looked like a sophisticated lady. The theme was Charles James: Beyond Fashion. 2014 - TOPSHOP 2015 - CALVIN KLEIN It was a semi sheer mint green gown by Calvin Klein Collection for Kendall in 2015. The sparkly dress had a surprise on the sides: her skin was showing under a few thin straps. She smartly wore her hair straight and down so as not to take away from the gown. The theme of the year was China: Through the Looking Glass. 2015 - CALVIN KLEIN 2016- VERSACE The KUWTK had on Versace this year. The theme was Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. The dress was blue, white and beige, had a halter top design and cut outs on the sides for a more youthful beachy feel. Kendall also pulled her hair back for a more casual look but added big diamond earrings. 2016- VERSACE 2017 - LA PERLA It was a daring sheer black gown by La Perla for 2017. She had on no bra and only a thong for her undies which exposed her bottom. High heels in sheer black material coordinated nicely. The theme was Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between. 2017 - LA PERLA 2018 - OFF-WHITE Jenner wore an off-the-shoulder white top with white slacks for a less obvious look by Off-White in 2018. And she added gloves, which is unusual for the Met Gala. The long diamond earring lent a Hollywood movie premiere feel. The theme was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. 2018 - OFF-WH ITE 2019 - VERSACE She wore orange Versace for a Las Vegas showgirl look at the Camp: Notes on Fashion event in 2019. Her dress was sheer with a nude undertone and orange beads with feathers at the hem. And she added a massive orange feather boa that was festive. An orange necklace with matching drop earrings added ever more sizzle. Her younger sister Kylie had a similar look but in purple. 2019 - VERSACE 2021 - GIVENCHY It was her best look yet. The Kardashians star was called the best dressed in her stunning Givenchy gown that had a sheer, crystal studded overlay over a nude bodysuit, adding a wide sparkling choker. The show-stopping gown made her resemble Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle from the 1964 classic musical My Fair Lady. She held her head high as she mingled with pal Gigi Hadid and sister Kim Kardashian as she must have known her elegant look was a triumph. 2021 - GIVENCHY She held her head high as she mingled with pal Gigi Hadid and sister Kim Kardashian, right, as she must have known her elegant look was a triumph Advertisement Tech Billionaire Elon Musk dispatched Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who suffered a democrat meltdown after buying out Twitter that progressives and the left controlled. She ranted about billionaires on Twitter that Space X founder answered back in a brutal retort hailed by most conservatives. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on Musk Buying Twitter A representative from New York AOC complained last Friday about billionaires on social media, but the Tesla CEO took to Twitter to silence her with his usual aplomb, reported the Blaze. Cortez stated on Twitter that the far left in the US is medicine shouldn't ruin you, salaries should cover rent, and perhaps it's terrible that Wall Street businesses profit off mass surveillance, fabricated housing crises, and herding people. The progressive left added these billionaires in the US cannot occupy any apartment building; they inadvertently affect people negatively as claims increase. Spoke about the US billionaire votes combined cannot come in second for a NY city council election. According to her tirade, they stay pressed that way, cited World Face UK. .@elonmusk can buy Twitter, but it wont stop him from getting owned on this platform. pic.twitter.com/0Lszpoqqqd Linette Lopez (@lopezlinette) April 30, 2022 She added I'm tired of having to worry about what eruption of hate crimes is happening because some billionaire with such an ego problem dominates and misrepresents a big communication platform since Tucker Carlson or Peter Thiel brought him to dinner and made him feel significant. Read Also: Donald Trump Children: What You Need to Know About the 5 Trump Kids Not only her but other left-oriented politicians and personalities on CNN, MSNBC, and further known pro-Biden media are chaffing under the threat of what will be a field day on them. The New York representative tried to avoid naming Musk, but it was apparent who was the object as the Democratic party and its left operatives had failed even to faze him; instead, they got stinging jabs directed at them. He hammered into the left with this remark; the far left despises everyone, including themselves. However, I am not a supporter of the far-right. Let there be less hatred and more love, noted the Daily Wire. Musk Tweets To Show What He Meant Elon Musk uploaded a cartoon last Thursday depicting liberalism, but progressives went to the left that he appears to be a conservative causing a democrat meltdown. The far left hates everyone, themselves included! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2022 The Tesla founder tore the democrat congresswoman by throwing back what she said in a weaponized tweet; he stumped her. His trolling remark referred to AOC's reason when she was blasted for sanctimoniously going maskless in a requirement in Florida while pursuing COVID-19 regulations in New York. In January, Ocasio-Cortez stated; If Republicans are upset because they can't go out with her. No one wanted to go on a date with her allegedly. Deflected criticism directed at her; the above people need therapy but refuse to go to it, choosing to use politics as an alternative instead. It's very bizarre. Her response to Musk is that she referred to Zuckerberg but deleted it later. Elon Musk has been the focus of a democrat meltdown because of their plans for Twitter that breaks their control of free speech. Relate Article: Elon Musk's Twitter Buyout Registers Reactions of Its Employees From Woke Hysterics To Total Outrage on the Internet @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. $29 - $99 Broadway in Dayton at the Schuster Mean Girls Tour Photo Credit Joan Marcus Direct from Broadway, MEAN GIRLS is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naive newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Reginas reign, she learns the hard way that you cant cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, MEAN GIRLS delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery. USA Today says, Well let you in on a little secret, because were such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! See more: 2021-2022 Premier Health Broadway Series Dayton Live is the only outlet authorized to sell tickets for events at the Schuster Center, Victoria Theatre, PNC Arts Annex, and The Loft Theatre. US Senator Rand Paul pledged to launch an inquiry into the beginnings of the COVID-19 virus if Republicans reclaim the majority of the Senate. The libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican blasted what he perceives as government overreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic while speaking to supporters at a campaign rally. He commended a recent judge's ruling to overturn the federal mask requirement on airplanes, trains, and terminals. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, and Sen. Paul have had numerous disagreements concerning the government's COVID-19 policy and the beginnings of the virus that brought the global epidemic, per The Associated Press. If the GOP takes the majority in the Senate after the November election, Paul, who is running for a third term in Kentucky, claimed he'll be in line to chair a committee. The Senate is now split 50-50, but Democrats have a little advantage since the vote of Vice President Kamala Harris is a tie-breaker. Paul claimed that when Republicans "take over" the Senate, he will be a committee chair with subpoena power."And we will get to the bottom of where this virus came from," he said. In Kentucky's Senate race this year, Charles Booker is by far the most well-known of a handful of Democrats vying for Paul's seat in the May 17 primary. In the Republican primary, Paul faces several unfamiliar contenders. A general election campaign between Paul and Booker would pit two candidates with completely contradictory ideologies. Paul vs. Scientists The senator, who is an eye surgeon, furthered his theory on how the COVID-19 virus came into existence. He said that the evidence is "overwhelmingly, not 100%, but overwhelmingly the evidence points to this virus being a leak from a lab." Many conservatives in the US have accused Chinese scientists of creating COVID-19 in a lab and allowing it to spread. According to a Biden-ordered analysis released last summer, US intelligence agencies are split on the genesis of COVID-19 but believe China's leaders were unaware of the virus before the global pandemic began. Read Also: US Health Officials Detect Highly Infectious Bird Flu in a Prison Inmate Working in Colorado Farm The dreaded virus emerged naturally, not through bioengineering, according to current scientific consensus. There is "no credible evidence" of genetic engineering, as per Ohio State University researchers headed by Shan-Lu Liu. The virus's genome has been sequenced, and we would expect to detect traces of added gene sequences if it had been altered. However, it has been discovered that the spots that distinguish the new virus from bat viruses are dispersed in a very random manner, an indication that it has evolved naturally, as per a report from New Scientist. It Won't Change Much Meanwhile, Dr. Robert C. Gallo and Dr. Dean T. Jamison of the Global Virus Network in Baltimore said in their Time article that, while there is a great interest in discovering the origins of COVID-19, it may "add little" to the present knowledge in terms of resolving the present and future variants of the virus. What both experts recommend as "the best way forward" is to "minimize the distraction of a politicized attempt to assess origins" and by "investing in long-term international collaborative endeavors on SARS-CoV-2 and in preparation for future epidemics and pandemics." Related Article: President Joe Biden Faces Horrific Backlash For Sinking US Economy, Inflation That Could Lead To Midterm Nightmare for the Democrats @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ashanti says she is finally receiving her flowers for her role in two of Jennifer Lopezs hit songs. Ashanti says she was instrumental in the creation of Lopezs Im Real and Aint it Funny remixed tracks, which featured Ja Rule. The songs were released in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The controversy surrounding the songs were brought to light again in January 2021 when Ashanti spoke out it during her Verzuz with Keyshia Cole, and many learnt about it for the first time. In an interview with Metro UK, Ashanti told, You should always care about credit for what you do regardless of what industry youre in. Its really important to give credit. She added, Especially nowadays because things are so smoke and mirrors. Its not that its frustrating the word has been getting out there over the past couple of years, and Im grateful, so a lot of people know, and they were surprised, but its more of a yeah, grateful that you know. A woman harvests wheat on the outskirts of Jammu, India, Thursday, April 28, 2022. An unusually early, record-shattering heat wave in India has reduced wheat yields, raising questions about how the country will balance its domestic needs with ambitions to increase exports and make up for shortfalls due to Russia's war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) NEW DELHI: An unusually early, record-shattering heat wave in India has reduced wheat yields, raising questions about how the country will balance its domestic needs with ambitions to increase exports and make up for shortfalls due to Russias war in Ukraine. Gigantic landfills in New Delhi have caught fire in recent weeks. Schools in eastern Indian state Odisha have been shut for a week and in neighboring West Bengal, schools are stocking up on oral rehydration salts for kids. On Tuesday, Rajgarh, a city of over 1.5 million people in central India, was the countrys hottest, with daytime temperatures peaking at 46.5 degrees Celsius. Temperatures breached the 45 Cmark in nine other cities. But it was the heat in March the hottest in India since records first started being kept in 1901 that stunted crops. Wheat is very sensitive to heat, especially during the final stage when its kernels mature and ripen. Indian farmers time their planting so that this stage coincides with Indias usually cooler spring. Climate change has made Indias heat wave hotter, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Imperial College of London. She said that before human activities increased global temperatures, heat waves like this years would have struck India once in about half a century. But now it is a much more common event we can expect such high temperatures about once in every four years, she said. Indias vulnerability to extreme heat increased 15% from 1990 to 2019, according to a 2021 report by the medical journal The Lancet. It is among the top five countries where vulnerable people, like the old and the poor, have the highest exposure to heat. It and Brazil have the the highest heat-related mortality in the world, the report said. Farm workers like Baldev Singh are among the most vulnerable. Singh, a farmer in Sangrur in northern Indias Punjab state, watched his crop shrivel before his eyes as an usually cool spring quickly shifted to unrelenting heat. He lost about a fifth of his yield. Others lost more. I am afraid the worst is yet to come, Singh said. Punjab is Indias grain bowl and the government has encouraged cultivation of wheat and rice here since the 1960s. It is typically the biggest contributor to Indias national reserves and the government had hoped to buy about a third of this years stock from the region. But government assessments predict lower yields this year, and Devinder Sharma, an agriculture policy expert in northern Chandigarh city. said he expected to get 25% less. The story is the same in other major wheat-producing states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Overall, India purchased over 43 million metric tons (47.3 million U.S. tons) of wheat in 2021. Sharma estimates it will instead get 20% to nearly 50% less. Even though it is the worlds second-largest producer of wheat, India exports only a small fraction of its harvest. It had been looking to capitalize on the global disruption to wheat supplies from Russias war in Ukraine and find new markets for its wheat in Europe, Africa, and Asia. That looks uncertain given the tricky balance the government must maintain between demand and supply. It needs about 25 million tons (27.5 million U.S. tons) of wheat for the vast food welfare program that usually feeds more than 80 million people. Before the pandemic, India had vast stocks that far exceeded its domestic needs a buffer against the risk of famine. Those reserves have been strained, Sharma said, by distribution of free grain during the pandemic to about 800 million people vulnerable groups like migrant workers. The program was extended until September but its unclear if it will continue beyond then. We are no longer with that kind of a surplus . . . with exports now picking up, there would be a lot of pressure on the domestic availability of wheat, Sharma said. Indias federal agriculture and commerce ministries didnt respond to questions sent to them via email. Beyond India, other countries are also grappling with poor harvests that hinder their ability to help offset the potential shortfall of supplies from Russia and Ukraine, normally the worlds largest and fifth-largest exporters of wheat. Chinas agriculture minister, Tang Renjian, said last month that the winter wheat harvest was likely to be poor, hindered by flooding and by delays in planting. In their nine hours shift, they are supposed to make 16 to 32 deliveries, for which they are eligible for incentives. (Representational Image/ PTI) HYDERABAD: Even as the city is reeling under scorching heat and its inhabitants prefer to stay indoors, about 30,000 food delivery executives are out in the sun, ensuring that their orders are delivered on time, braving the extreme weather conditions. As mercury crossed 41C, the delivery executives worked in the heat despite being meagrely paid. Many of them reportedly fell sick, several others had sunstroke and yet others faced dehydration and related uneasiness. In their nine hours shift, they are supposed to make 16 to 32 deliveries, for which they are eligible for incentives. Shuttling from one place to another in the hot summer, they are delivering the orders without any break. They say they do not even have time to drink water. Imran Baba, a delivery executive and resident of Amberpet, said, The aggregators are offering deliveries up to 10 to 15 kilometres distances. When it is going to be the end of the trips, they accept orders to farther locations. Last Monday I met with an accident near Clock Tower, Secunderabad, while I was on my way to deliver. We are taking nonstop assignments to meet our targets. Many of my colleagues are falling ill. Some are admitted to hospitals because of the sunstroke, he added. Aitharaju Mahesh, food delivery executive from Kothapet, Dilsukhnagar, said, Our login hours are eight hours 50 minutes, during which we complete more than 16 deliveries. Each delivery takes 20 to 40 minutes. We are so busy we dont even get time to sip a little water. Even after so much hard work we are left with Rs 800 each day of which we are spending Rs 300. Aggregators charge more from the customers and we are paid less. He added, During Iftar times, orders are more, as there is huge demand for haleem. That makes us busier in the evenings these days. The representatives of Hyderabad wing of Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers said, During these abnormal climate conditions, companies should consider the health of delivery executives. They should be given some breaks after two or three deliveries. They should make sure they are paid for the break times too. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar at the Guard of Honour for General Manoj Pande, on his taking over as the 29th Chief of Army Staff, at South Block in New Delhi, Sunday, May 1, 2022. (PTI/Shahbaz Khan) New Delhi: Newly-appointed Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Sunday said his "utmost and foremost" priority would be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness to face current, contemporary and future security challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict. Gen Pande also said that he would focus on the ongoing reforms, restructuring and transformation of the Army to enhance its operational and functional efficiency. The Army chief was speaking to the media after he was presented a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block lawns, a day after he took charge of the force. Gen Pande said the global geopolitical situation is changing rapidly "as a result of which we have multiple challenges ahead". "My utmost and foremost priority will be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness to face the current contemporary and future challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict," he said. The Army chief said his force, in coordination with the Indian Air Force and Navy, will effectively deal with all possible security challenges facing the nation. "In terms of capability development and force modernisation, my effort would be to leverage new technologies through indigenisation and self-reliance," he said. Gen Manoj Pande on Saturday took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff after incumbent Gen MM Naravane retired from service. Gen Pande, who was serving as the Vice Chief, became the first-ever officer from the Corps of Engineers to take the reins of the 1.3 million-strong force. Before taking charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff on February 1, Gen Pande was heading the Eastern Army Command that takes care of guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors. The chief minister, in the Assembly, underscored that Tamil Nadu has not received any official communication on its earlier requests seeking the Centre's nod to send the supplies. (ANI file image) Chennai: To assist Sri Lanka amid the ongoing economic crisis, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution piloted by Chief Minister MK Stalin in the state assembly seeking permission from the Ministry of External Affairs to supply rice and essential medicines to the island country. The state unit of the BJP has welcomed the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu assembly and also the help being provided by the people of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. The resolution was unanimously passed by the house, including the opposition AIADMK and the BJP. Interestingly, apart from extending support to the government's resolution, Deputy Leader of the Opposition AIADMK O Panneerselvam pledged Rs 50 lakh in his personal capacity, to be extended as an aid to Sri Lankan Tamils. The chief minister, in the Assembly, underscored that Tamil Nadu has not received any official communication on its earlier requests seeking the Centre's nod to send the supplies. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai thanked the Tamil Nadu chief Minister by saying, "The Central Government had followed the 'Neighbourhood First policy' to cement bonds with its neighbours. It is ready to walk that extra mile to help Sri Lanka out of the current crisis, well before the resolution in the Tamil Nadu assembly was passed. We are hopeful that the Government of Tamil Nadu will now hand over the aid package as in the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu to the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure smooth passage to Sri Lanka without insisting on delivering it directly politicising the standard protocols." The State BJP chief further mentioned today, in his official communique, "Despite being in power and a position of command, they put no effort into rescuing the Tamil people from the war zone. Our concern is that this resolution passed yesterday should not be another record '2-hour fast-type situation' orchestrated to create a mirage that the DMK worked hard for ensuring ceasefire during the Civil War in Sri Lanka." Highlighting the discrepancies in the resolution, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief said, "It was rather unfortunate that the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly did not have the information about what the Centre has already provided to Sri Lanka and is providing." On April 30, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai began his four-day visit to Sri Lanka. During his visit, he will meet Tamil leaders, and NGOs and will also take part in the May Day celebrations organised by the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC). This visit is crucial given the importance of the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in Tamil Nadu politics. Annamalai would submit a report of his visit to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda. This visit by the BJP chief comes after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to grant permission to send food, essential goods and lifesaving medicines to the people of Sri Lanka. Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said they would continue to support the fight of Marathi-speaking people residing in border areas of neighbouring Karnataka to include those places in Maharashtra. He was addressing a gathering in Pune city on the occasion of Maharashtra's foundation day. The western state was formed on this day in 1960. "While we are celebrating 62 years of formation of Maharashtra, we regret that the Marathi-speaking villages in Bidar, Bhalki, Belgaum, Karwar, Nippani and other places in Karnataka could not be merged with Maharashtra. The citizens of Maharashtra and its government are with their fight to be part of Maharashtra. I assure that we would keep supporting their fight till these villages become part of Maharashtra," Pawar said. Maharashtra claims certain areas, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani which are part of Karnataka, contending that majority population in these areas is Marathi-speaking. The case of Maharashtra-Karnataka bounding dispute is pending before the Supreme Court. Talking to reporters after the programme, Pawar expressed concern over a large number of swords recently seized from parts of Maharashtra and said the state police department was keeping an eye on it and trying to find people behind such activities. On Wednesday, police had seized 89 swords and a dagger from an SUV in Maharashtra's Dhule district and arrested four people in this connection. Pawar said this indicates there may be some people who want to be involved in anti-social activities. "We have asked police to conduct a probe into the seizure of such weapons. We appeal to everyone to maintain religious harmony. While expressing their thoughts, people should take care that their words do not provoke sentiments of any community," he added. Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, who was also present in the programme, said political meetings, rallies and gatherings will go on and the police department will work to maintain peace and harmony during the Maharashtra foundation day celebrations. "They (police) are prepared for any kind of situation. I appeal to everyone to maintain social harmony," Walse Patil said when asked about various political events slated in Maharashtra on the state's foundation day. HYDERABAD: The historic Hill Fort Palace, which got a ray of hope after the High Courts order on Saturday, faced several years of neglect by the tourism department. The structure was constructed by Sir Nizamat Jung Bahadur, a former Chief Justice of the Hyderabad High Court during the Nizams era. Sir Nizamat later sold it to the Nizam of Hyderabad. It was the residence of the Nizams younger son Moazzam Jah and his wife princess Niloufer for a long time. After Independence, the structure was reverted to the state government which leased it to Ritz Hotel. After the lease expired, it went to the tourism department, which has been its custodian since then. No maintenance work has been carried out at the structure since then. Deepak Kant Gir, founder of Hyderabad Heritage Trust and petitioner in the case, approached the tourism department to either take up restoration work or to let civil society take it up. Gir, along with other citizens, had once done a clean up at the structure. He says film shootings were allowed to be carried out at the palace, which had caused it further harm. But when the tourism department did not agree to either option, Gir said he had no other way out but to approach the court. He says he wants the structure to become a cultural centre which can be used by the public. One of the most common issues in the city is bad odour that comes with the water. (Representational image/DC) HYDERABAD: Summer comes along with its myriad issues and civic authorities, known for their lethargy, are allegedly paying no attention to key issues faced by denizens. Even as the city is facing acute drinking water shortage, it is said that officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) are not responding to complaints of short supply of drinking water and supply of contaminated water from all corners of the city. Despite repeated requests, the authorities are allegedly not waking up to reality quickly enough. For instance, the manager of Fateh Khan Bazaar in Chanchalguda division is yet to respond to a complaint about contaminated water supply in the area three days ago, raised by Naveed Khan via Twitter. Local residents claimed the issue had been persistent for more than a week, while K. Naveen, manager, engineering, Chanchalguda section, HMWS&SB, said he was not aware of any such complaint. One of the most common issues in the city is bad odour that comes with the water. Residents of Chandanwadi in Goshamahal complain of bad smell and dirt in drinking water. This has been the case for several years now, said U. Nomula, a homemaker. Similarly, Rajesh Koule, a resident of Ferozguda in Bowenpally, said despite the water board officials inspecting the place more than 15 days ago, the issue of sewerage water contaminating drinking water was yet to be resolved. This had been going on for around two months now, he complained. Maqbool Khan, a resident of Karmika Nagar in Yousufguda, said the officials had been postponing the replacement of a new pipeline in his area due to lack of funds. Over 50 houses have been severely affected due to the contamination with direct injection of sewerage in drinking water pipes. The authorities cited lack of funds for the delay. In this image provided by the Lviv city hall Angelina Jolie, Hollywood movie star and UNHCR goodwill ambassador, poses for photo with kids in Lviv, Ukraine, Apr. 30. AP-Yonhap Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, going to the station to meet people displaced by the war with Russia before later leaving after air-raid sirens sounded. Jolie, 46, is a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, which says more than 12.7 million people have fled their homes in the past two months, which represents around 30% of Ukraine's pre-war population. During the visit to the station, Jolie met volunteers working with the displaced, who told her that each of the psychiatrists on duty spoke to about 15 people a day. Many of those in the station are children aged from two to 10, according to volunteers. "They must be in shock ... I know how trauma affects children, I know just having somebody show how much they matter, how much their voices matter, I know how healing that is for them," she said in reply. At one point during her visit to the station, she tickled a small girl dressed in red, who laughed out in delight. She also posed for photos with the volunteers and some of the children. Later on, air-raid sirens started to sound, and Jolie together with her aides walked quickly out of the station and got into a waiting car. Last month, in her role as special envoy, Jolie visited Yemen, where millions of people have been displaced by war. (Reuters) Hanamkonda: The Congress will create history with party leader Rahul Gandhis Rythu Sangarshana Sabha to be held here on May 6 and come to power both in the state and at the Centre, said AICCs Telangana state in-charge Manickam Tagore on Saturday. Earlier in the day, accompanied by party leaders Srinivasan Krishnan Boseraju, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Naini Rajendar Reddy, Tagore inspected the arrangements at the helipad in Kazipet and the public meetings venue, Arts College ground. Speaking to the media later, Tagore alleged that by not fixing minimum support price for several foodgrains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao were deceiving farmers. The Rythu Sangarshana Sabha was aimed at exposing the anti-farmer policies of Modi and Rao, he said. In 2002, Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Warangal district to console family members of cotton farmers who had committed suicide. Thereafter, the Congress came to power both at the Centre and the state, he pointed out. This will be repeated after Rahul Gandhis visit, Tagore said. People of the state are so frustrated with the TRS administration that they are waiting for the next Assembly elections in order to put an end to TRS rule and bring Congress back to power, he said. Two Katyusha rockets hit an air base housing the US military experts and agencies in Iraq's western province of Anbar on Saturday, the Iraqi military said. The two rockets landed in the evening in the Ayn al-Asad AirBase near the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the capital Baghdad, causing no casualties, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement released by media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. The rocket attack came, although Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had confirmed on December 29, 2021 the end of the combat mission of the US-led coalition forces in the country. Ahmed al-Dulaimi, a colonel from Anbar Operations Command, told Xinhua that the Iraqi forces found two rocket launchers several km from the air base and the incident is under investigation. Also on Saturday, an Iraqi soldier was killed and another injured in a roadside bomb explosion near their vehicle on the highway near Trebil Border Crossing with Jordan, al-Dulaimi said. In the eastern province of Diyala, six mortar rounds hit a village at 8 p.m. local time, wounding a woman and causing damage to several houses and civilian cars, according to a statement from Diyala Operations Command. Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have carried out deadly attacks against the extremist militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the Islamic State (IS) militant group in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Check out DH's latest videos Sri Lanka's beleaguered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday urged all political parties to set aside their differences and appealed to the protesting citizens to join hands to steer a "pro-people struggle" to meet the challenges, amidst growing demands for his government's immediate resignation over its failure to tackle the countrys worst economic crisis. Gotabaya Rajapaksa's message to the people on International Workers' Day came a day after the powerful Buddhist clergy in the island nation warned that people would be influenced to reject all politicians if Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya's elder brother, did not resign to make way for an interim government to resolve the political and economic crisis in the country. "On this #InternationalWorkersDay, I once again invite all political party leaders in #lka to come to a consensus on behalf of the people. It's my sincere wish to call on the people to join hands to steer a pro-people struggle setting aside political differences," Gotabaya tweeted. Also Read | Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agrees to remove brother Mahinda as PM amid worst economic crisis Sri Lanka is currently in the throes of unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices. On Thursday, nearly 1,000 trade unions staged a one-day nationwide strike, demanding the immediate resignation of the government, including President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda. The unions from a number of sectors, including the state service, health, ports, electricity, education and postal joined the strike under the theme Bow to the people - government go home, urging the President, the Prime Minister and the government to go home. On this #InternationalWorkersDay, I once again invite all political party leaders in #lka to come to a consensus on behalf of the people. It's my sincere wish to call on the people to join hands to steer a pro-people struggle setting aside political differences. pic.twitter.com/NRwLUkxSiA Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) May 1, 2022 Meanwhile, quoting sources, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Sunday that while Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has refused to resign saying he had the majority support in Parliament, the President however has been privately been urging him to resign. However, the Prime Minister has clearly informed the President that he would not vacate his seat at a time when he was trying to resolve the economic crisis, but if the President wanted to sack him, he could do so, the report said. While one section is calling on the President to appoint a new interim government with a new Prime Minister, there is another group that says that premier Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot be removed as he still holds the majority in Parliament. The Opposition however has been going all out asking for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down first. Former Sri Lankan president and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday reiterated his demand that government has to accept the demands of the people and resign for leading the country into an unprecedented crisis. Participating in the SLFP May Day rally, he pointed out that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took over a prosperous country. But the current situation is that over 200,000 300,000 people have to face hunger and starvation. Also Read | Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agrees to remove brother Mahinda as PM amid worst economic crisis Emphasising that the demand of the people of the country is that the leaders of this Government should step down and resign, Sirisena said that fresh elections should be held to elect a new government. "People are dying inside houses. Some even collapse while on the road and die. And someone was shot dead during the protests. This situation could escalate if the Government continues to stay in power. The Government has to accept the demand of the people, he was quoted as saying by News First website. In his May Day message, Gotabaya said instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what is needed is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief to the public, online portal newsfirst.lk reported. Pointing out that in the past three years, the group that faced the most serious challenges in the country are the working class, the president said they are also the ones who were resilient in the face of all these challenges and made great commitments to strengthen the national economy. Also Read | Sri Lankans intensify anti-govt protests, set up camp outside PM office demanding Rajapaksa family exit "As the day-to-day challenges they face are even more intense today, the government is taking various approaches to liberate the people from this situation and alleviate the oppressive nature of the situation," he said. Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in fuel, medicines and electricity supply. Gotabaya emphasised that the loss of foreign exchange has created many issues, and managing all these factors is the way to solve the current problems. "Bearing the responsibility of creating a better future for the people of this country, as the Head of State and on behalf of the people I invited the leaders of all political parties to work together," the Daily Mirror online newspaper quoted the president as saying. Each second, our goal is to find solutions to existing crises by resorting to methods that can alleviate the suffering of the people, he said. "On this year's Workers' Day, I once again invite the leaders of all political parties to come to a consensus on behalf of the people to overcome the challenge we face. I respectfully call on the working people to put politics aside and join to steer the struggle in a positive direction with a pro-people revolutionary transformation on behalf of the working people," he said. A senior leader from Sri Lanka's Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Lakshman Kiriella, on Saturday said his party will prove their majority in Parliament this week for the no-confidence motion against the government led by the Rajapaksa family. President Gotabaya has asked the Opposition to show their majority by garnering the support of 113 lawmakers in the 225-member Parliament to form the interim government. Everyone will be able to see that we command a majority next week and I will not reveal how we are going to do it as of now, the Daily Mirror newspaper had quoted SJB MP and Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella as saying. Sri Lanka needs at least USD 4 billion to tide over its mounting economic woes, and talks with international institutions such as the World Bank as well as countries like India, China and Japan for financial assistance have been going on. Check out the latest videos from DH: The education sector in India is the most vulnerable to online attacks and cyber threats, a new study has revealed, ahead of the United States, United Kingdom, Indonesia and Brazil. The study conducted by Singapore-based company CloudSEK also shows an increase of 20 per cent in such attacks globally. The report, titled Cyber Threats Targeting the Global Education Sector, was compiled by the Threat Research and Information Analytics Division of the Singapore-based CloudSEK, which manages digital risks to companies through artificial intelligence. The report reveals that globally, the education sector saw 20 per cent more digital threats in the first 3 months of 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The reasons for this were the adoption of digital methods in remote learning during the covid pandemic. Also Read | India has strong defence against cyber attacks: Power minister R K Singh By 2025, CloudSEK data says, the global education and training market is expected to reach $7.3 trillion, a growth rate which has doubled from 2019 to 2025. A significant section of the growth, the report reveals, is in the ed-tech sector, especially in developing countries. This growth, in turn, has attracted several cybercriminals. Over 58 per cent of the threats the company studied in Asia and Pacific were found in India or India-based educational institutions, followed by Indonesia which accounted for 10 per cent of the attacks. This included attacks on BYJU's, IIM Kozhikode and Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Technical Education," the report said. Also Read | Centre claims it foiled Chinese cyber-attack on disputed border Apart from India, globally, the US attracted the highest number of such threats accounting for 86 per cent of threats in North America. These include ransomware attacks on prestigious institutions such as Howard University and University of California. In addition, high-risk API vulnerabilities were uncovered in Coursera, he report read. Among the steps that the company has outlined for institutions to adopt to stop such attacks, is the not clicking on suspicious emails, messages and links; not downloading or installing unverified apps; using strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all accounts. The institutions should block illegitimate IP addresses and deactivate port forwarding using network firewalls. They should perform real-time monitoring of the internet to identify and mitigate low-hanging threats, such as misconfigured apps, exposed data, and leaked accesses, that are leveraged by cybercriminals to carry out large scale attacks, the report read. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Follow DH for the latest news updates from India and across the world. Ahead of the violence in Patiala, the Punjab Police, which filed six FIRs and arrested three persons besides witnessing the transfer of 3 senior police officers, were reportedly notified and had inputs on the planned protests and counter-protests that preceded the clashes, but failed to gauge the extent of the fallout and act on it. Barjinder Singh Parwana has been named as the key accused in the incident. According to a report by The Indian Express, correspondences exchanged among police officials suggested that the confrontation was in the making for a week. Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG) Intelligence-2 Harcharan Singh Bhullar's correspondence, read that on Friday 70/80 workers of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackerey) led by Harish Singla has decided to take out a Khalistan Murdabad march to counter the khalistan Declaration Day organised by the outlawed Sikhs for Justice. Also Read | Patiala clash accused Harish Singla sent to 2-day police remand 90/100 leaders/workers of Damdami Taksal Jatha Rajpura under the leadership of Barjinder Singh Parwana will gather at Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib to oppose the Khalistan Murdabad march. They (Parwana faction) have also announced to carry out Kesari march if the Hindu organizations will hold the said march. Subsequently, supporters of Bhindranwale Action Committee led by Bagicha Singh Rattakhera have also decided to oppose the above said Khalistan Murdabad March, the correspondence read. SAD (Amritsar) party general secretary Mohinderpal Singh has also announced to celebrate Khalistan Diwas in Patiala on Friday, the correspondence read. It advised police officers to take "preventive and precautionary measures including lawful action like registration of FIRs and security proceedings under CrPC." Another AIG, in a letter to field police officers marked 'secret' mentioned that if Hindu organisations held a protest march against supporters of Khalistan or raised slogans of Khalistan Murdabad at any place in Punjab, a number of Sikh radical organisations will hold Khalistan Zindabad March. The AIG (Intelligence) posted in Patiala had on Thursday held a meeting with SSP and real time information about gatherings of the rival factions was shared with the district police, a government official told the publication. The Punjab intelligence wing had submitted a detailed note to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the report added. Social media, too, was filled with posts and comments where pro and anti-Khalistan activists challenged one another. The police, however, failed to cognise the scale of the violence. Check out latest DH videos here Nearly 46,000 unauthorised loudspeakers were removed from religious places and the volume of another 59,000 was set to permissible limits across Uttar Pradesh following a government order, a senior police official said on Saturday. UPs Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar also said the drive to regulate the use of loudspeakers in religious places is being implemented without any discrimination. Under the drive, beginning April 25, a total of 45,733 loudspeakers was removed and the volume of 58,861 others was lowered to the permissible decibel limit till Saturday morning, Kumar said. Read | Raj lauds Yogi, targets Uddhav over loudspeaker issue Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said the state government has also sought compliance reports from district authorities on the drive till April 30. The statewide drive to regulate the use of loudspeakers in religious places was launched on April 25, he said, adding it will continue in the coming days. "The loudspeakers which are being removed are unauthorised. Those loudspeakers which have been placed without taking due permission from the district administration or the ones which are used in excess of the permitted numbers are categorised as unauthorised, ADG Kumar explained further. He said, Orders of the high court regarding loudspeakers too are being considered during the exercise." The action followed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths directions during his last week's review meeting on law and order with senior officials here. The chief minister had given the direction observing that the people have the freedom to perform their religious practices according to their faith. "Though microphones can be used, it should be ensured that the sound does not come out of premises. People should not face any problem, he had said. The state authorities, meanwhile, also spoke to religious heads for maintaining law and order during the upcoming Eid festivities. A total of 46 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, seven companies of Central Armed Police Force along with 1,492 police recruits have been deployed across the state to ensure law and order, police officials said. Watch latest videos by DH here: The ongoing power crisis in the country in wake of the coal shortage has kicked up a political brawl with the Opposition questioning the 'Achche Din' promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and launching agitations in states. Not to be cowed down, the BJP has hit back putting the blame on Chief Ministers in the Opposition-ruled states and slamming the non-NDA parties for politicising the issue of power supply. A number of states witnessing severe power cuts has snowballed into a major political crisis as it comes in an election year when two BJP-ruled states Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat - the home state Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah - go to polls at the end of the year. Government data showed the peak power shortage that was 2.64GW on Sunday, shot up to 5.24 GW on Monday, 8.22 GW on Tuesday, 10.29 GW on Wednesday and further to 10.77 GW on Thursday. This is happening at a time when heatwaves have intensified across the country. Also Read | Peak shortage shoots up to 10.77 GW this week, deepens power crisis While in JMM-Congress ruled Jharkhand, BJP's former Chief Minister Raghuvar Das levelled the charge of inefficiency of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and attacked him for not planning in advance to avoid power cuts during the summer, in AAP-ruled Punjab Shiromani Akali Dal hit out at AAP, which had promised free power in the state saying Delhi model has "electrocuted" as people were facing 18-hour power cuts at the onset of the summer season." BJP organised a protest against the acute power shortage in Jharkhand and took out an "Aakrosh March" at which Das said, "the outrage over the acute power crisis in Jharkhand, one of the largest coal-producing states in the country, is due to the inefficient Hemant Soren government and its lack of pre-planning to tackle such situation." Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala hit out at BJP government of Haryana alleging that the "BJP-JJP government in the state is supplying (perhaps free of cost) electricity to a private company in Gujarat when "Haryana has no water for drinking and irrigation and people are spending time under trees (to evade heat)." Also Read | 'Modi hai, mumkin hai': Chidambaram jeers Centre over power outages Putting the blame on the Centre for the ongoing crisis, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chose to highlight "this problem is faced by the whole country due to coal shortage." Union Power Minister RK Singh after reviewing thermal power plants assured in a statement the distribution companies of Delhi will get as much power as requisitioned by them as per their demand after the Kejriwal government repeatedly flagged an "acute shortage" of coal. Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh hit out at the central government asking if there was no shortage why passenger trains are being cancelled. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate has alleged that 16 states, including 12 BJP-ruled ones, are facing long power cuts of up to 10 hours. The government, instead of planning for the peak power demand, is blaming the states for its own failures, she said. Another Congress Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan claimed that due to "efficient management" by his government, there would be no shortage of water and electricity. In a series of tweets, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram portraying the power crisis scenario also sarcastically commented "Modi government cannot be blamed. This is due to the Congress' rule of 60 years." In another sarcasm, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "this is Modi jis masterstroke to increase the sales of inverters and generators!" Check out DH's latest videos: Former Kerala MLA P C George, who was arrested on Sunday in connection with a hate speech against the Muslim commuity, was later granted bail by a local court in Thiruvananthapuram. The BJP backed George by receiving him while the police took him from his house in Kottayam district and brought to Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning. Senior BJP leaders in the state including Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan turned up to greet George. A former Kerala Congress party leader, George was an MLA for over 30 years. He was associated with both Congress-led United Democratic Front and CPM-led Left Democratic Front over the years and also with the NDA for a brief period. He had floated his own party 'Janapaksham'. George has been criticised for using bad language against opponents. George made the anti-Muslim comments while speaking at Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan, an annual event organised by some Hindu outfits, in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. After the statement triggered a row, the police received several complaints. A case was registered against him on Saturday under IPC sections 153A for promoting enmity and 295A for deliberate attempt to outrage religious sentiments. The case was registered at the Fort police station in Thiruvananthapuram city on Saturday. By around 5 am on Sunday a police team reached George's house in Kottayam district and arrested him. He was allowed to travel by his car. DYFI activists raised protest against him at various places, while Congress flayed the decision to allow him to travel by his car. He was later produced before a judicial first-class magistrate and granted bail on the condition that he should not try to influence witnesses or indulge in any sort of hate campaigns. George later told reporters that his remarks in the speech were against a section of extremists in the Muslim community only and he stands by it. He alleged that the CPM and the Congress were supporting extremist outfits for electoral gains and his arrest was an attempt by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to please them. George had sparked off a controversy by asking non-Muslims in Kerala to avoid restaurants run by the community. Addressing a programme organised as part of the ongoing Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan here on Friday, he had alleged that tea laced with drops causing impotence were sold in Muslim-run restaurants to turn people infertile in a bid to seize control of the country. Check out latest DH videos here The police prevented Union Minister of state for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan from meeting former legislator P.C. George, who is in police custody at the Kerala Armed Police camp at Thiruvananthapuram. George was arrested in the early hours of Sunday from his residence in Kottayam district. The arrest followed a reported hate speech that he had delivered during 'Ananathapuri Hindu Mahasammelan' on Thursday. The Union Minister told the mediapersons that the Kerala government was letting criminals, who have killed several people, go scot-free, but was arresting a public leader and a former legislator for a speech. Muraleedharan said, "What George said is his opinion. Kerala government under Pinarayi Vijayan is practicing dual justice. Killers are roaming around freely while public workers, who have made a speech, are arrested. Several others have made such speeches but the police did not take any action." Also Read | Ex-Kerala MLA P C George arrested for hate speech targeting Muslims The arrest of P C George following a speech he made against the Muslim community at the 'Ananthapuram Hindu Maha sammelan' has led to major protests from the Muslim Youth League, Youth Congress, and the DYFI of the CPI-M. The arrest followed complaints by the Youth League and the DYFI. P C George's Personal assistant Shan while speaking to mediapersons said, "He was arrested on a Sunday morning and police did not allow him to even go to the Church for prayers. He has made a speech in a closed function and this has been blown out of proportion. Myself and my wife are standing security to him today when he will be presented before a judicial magistrate court." Being Sunday, the court is on a holiday and senior police officers told IANS that George would be produced either online or at the chamber of the judicial first class magistrate. The youth wing of the CPI-M, DYFI held a black flag demonstration in front of the Armed Reserve Police camp when George was taken inside the camp for questioning. Police could not prevent the DYFI workers from reaching near the vehicle in which George was travelling and it was after a lot of force that the youth workers were removed from the scene. The BJP and Sangh Parivar have taken up the issue of the arrest of P.C. George in a big way and the BJP has already commenced a campaign stating that the police under Pinarayi Vijayan was practising dual justice. Party leaders like state president K. Surendran and former state president Kummanam Rajashekharan have come out strongly against the arrest of P.C. George. The BJP leaders in separate statements said that the Kerala Police were not taking action against those who had earlier indulged in hate speeches and George was arrested only because he had spoken for the Hindu community. Heavy police contingent was manning the state capital Thiruvananthapuram as several organisations have called for protests against George while the BJP and its youth wing Yuva Morcha have extended support to him. Check out latest DH videos here Korea's exports grew at their slowest pace in 14 months in April, with the trade deficit in goods deepening as a continued rise in energy and raw materials prices pushed up the cost of the country's imports. Exports in April grew 12.6 percent from a year earlier to $57.69 billion, trade ministry data showed Sunday, logging the slowest increase since February 2021 and missing a forecast of 14.5 percent growth in a Reuters' poll of analysts. The rate was also slower than the 18.2 percent rise in March. A breakdown by items showed exports of semiconductors, the country's top foreign exchange earner, jumped 15.8 percent, while petrochemical products rose 6.8 percent. Outbound shipments of oil and steel products jumped 68.8 percent and 21.1 percent, respectively. By destination, exports to China, Korea's biggest trading partner, decreased 3.4 percent, while those to the United States and the European Union increased 26.4 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively. The prices of imports, meanwhile, jumped 18.6 percent to $60.35 billion, with a combined $14.81 billion worth of crude oil, gas and coal taking the lead. That brought the trade balance to a $2.66 billion deficit, after logging a $115 million deficit in March. (Reuters) Amid the Centres silence over the DMK Governments move to send material aid to Sri Lankan nationals suffering due to the economic crisis, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is on the island nation on a four-day visit during which he will meet leaders representing ethnic and plantation Tamils. The visit is significant not just because it comes at a time Sri Lanka is undergoing an economic crisis, but also because it is seen as part of the BJPs efforts to project itself as an outfit that is interested in the betterment of Tamils across the globe. Annamalai, who participated in the May Day celebrations of the Ceylon Workers Congress, will also meet leaders from Tamil political parties that are based out of northern Sri Lanka. The former IPS officer will listen to their grievances vis-a-vis the elusive political solution as well as the economic crisis. After his return, Annamalai is likely to submit a report to BJP chief J P Nadda on his interactions in Sri Lanka. The ethnic Tamils issue is still emotive in Tamil Nadu but has never resonated in elections Dravidian parties have always been supportive of the Sri Lankan cause, and the BJP wants to wade into that territory as well. In a statement, Annamalai also said the Tamil Nadu government resolution passed in the Assembly on April 29 did not have the information about what our country has already provided to Sri Lanka. Explaining in detail, Annamalai said ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil new year, India shipped 11,000 MT of rice to help the people of Sri Lanka celebrate one of their biggest festivals. In February, $500 billion was given to Sri Lanka by India as a short-term loan to help it purchase petroleum products through the ministry of energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka, he said. He also expressed the hope that the Tamil Nadu government will now hand over the aid package to the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure smooth passage to Sri Lanka without insisting on delivering it directly by politicising the standard protocols. Watch the latest DH Videos here: For a submarine-deficient navy, the release of Vagsheer the last of six Indian-made Scorpene-class submarines into the water for trial eleven days ago, is undoubtedly good news. After two decades, the Indian Navy finally has six new underwater boats, four of which (Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj and Vela) are in service and the others (Vagir and Vagsheer) will be commissioned by early 2023. Underneath the surface, however, are palpable signs of worry. The Narendra Modi government has failed to conclude the construction of six more conventional submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) that allows submersion for longer periods of time under Project-75I, even after eight years in power. With the Ministry of Defence extending the deadline to respond to the tender until June 2022, it is unclear if a commercial deal with the winning bidder would be realised before the 2024 polls. Such agreements often run into thousands of pages and involve protracted negotiations that can continue for months. As a consequence, the assembly line that was buzzing with activity now wears a deserted look. The naval community had long warned that such a situation could arise. Acquired over many years, the technical skills to manufacture a submarine will be lost if a fresh order doesnt come soon and the chances seem remote. For India, there is a sense of deja vu in the vacant yards of Mazgaon dock in Mumbai. This is the same place that witnessed the consequences of the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) scam three decades ago, freezing Indias first steps in building submarines in its tracks. In December 1967, India got its first submarine, a Foxtrot class (the first INS Kalvari) from the then USSR. By 1974, there were eight such submarines. In 1981, New Delhi entered into an agreement with HDW, a German firm, to buy two Type 209 submarines. Two others were to be manufactured at Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL). The idea was to give the workforce at MDL a chance to acquire the required skills with the ultimate aim of establishing an indigenous assembly line. The programme did not proceed that far. While MDL was making the two boats INS Shalki and INS Shankul the HDW scam in which then defence minister V P Singh ordered an enquiry into allegations of pay-off in purchasing the submarines broke out. With politics overriding military imperatives, the Centre cut its links with the German firm and did not use the option clause in the agreement for the construction of two additional submarines. The production line was shut and skilled MDL workers migrated to other places. Meanwhile, China did not stay idle. The Peoples Liberation Army decided to shift its focus from land-based force to shoring up naval resources. It aimed to dominate the strategic Indian Ocean region through which the bulk of the worlds cargo and oil moves. A report by the Pentagon in 2021 suggests that the PLA Navy (PLAN) currently operates 46 conventional submarines (SSK), six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN). The PLAN will likely maintain between 65 and 70 submarines through the 2020s, replacing older units with more capable units on a near one-to-one basis, the report said. Since the last decade, the PLAN has begun deploying its submarines, demonstrating its increasing familiarity with operating in that region and underscoring Chinas interest in protecting sea lines of communication beyond the South China Sea. Moreover, Beijing is supplying eight new submarines to Islamabad making Pakistans SSK total 11 (all with AIP) in the near future. It is also helping Bangladesh in the construction of a submarine base, which China can use to berth their submarines that are on long-range deployment. By 2028-29 we will face a lot of pressure in the Indian Ocean on the submarine front as most of our Kilo-class submarines may be out of action, Commodore Anil Jai Singh (retd), an Indian Navy submariner, who was involved in drafting the 1999 plan told DH. The Russian submarines are the mainstay of the Indian fleet for the past two decades. While looking for a replacement for the old Foxtrots, New Delhi turned to Moscow and ended up buying ten Kilo-class boats, the first of which came from Russia in the mid-1980s. Two of the Russian submarines are no longer in service. INS Sindhurakshak exploded and sank near Mumbai in 2013 and India gifted the decommissioned INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy. Seven out of the eight remaining boats have surpassed their lifespan of 25 years but are still functioning thanks to multiple upgrades which cost hundreds of crores. The sole Kilo-class boat still left with some of its designed life is INS Sindhushastra which was commissioned in 2000. In February 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved a 30-year plan that envisaged two production lines P-75 and P-75I to make 12 submarines at two Indian shipyards. The plan was to use the experience gained in the process for subsequent indigenous design and manufacturing so that the first set of home-grown submarines would come out by 2030. This would line up with when the last few Kilo-class submarines would be at the end of their lifespan. A mistake The UPA government under Manmohan Singh signed the Rs 23,653 crore P-75 deal in 2005. As per the contract, the French supplier DCNS was to deliver all the six submarines manufactured at MDL by 2012. Though the 30-year plan envisaged two production lines operating simultaneously, the government decided to go for only one. This was a mistake. The Scorpene programme was soon embroiled in all sorts of troubles, from political to technical. Even though all the six submarines were to be delivered by 2012, in reality, the first submarine was handed over to the Indian Navy only in 2017. Our submarine building programme is at least 15 years behind schedule, said Commodore Dilbagh Singh, a retired Indian Navy submariner. The reasons range from policy and bureaucracy to absence of capability in the Indian defence industry. The Naval Headquarters kept pushing the P-75I whose Acceptance of Necessity (AON) was issued multiple times and procurement-cum-manufacturing plans some of which are foolhardy were made, discussed and rejected. The project was more or less stuck when the Modi government took over in 2014. The new government first introduced ambiguity in Defence Procurement Procedure in 2016 and subsequently came out with the idea of strategic partnership which further complicated the business. A new AON for the SP model was issued in 2018 and the global players responded. A long way to go The Defence Ministry last year approved the long-awaited project and a Rs 43,000 crore tender was issued. The five foreign vendors in contention are Rosoboronexport (Russia), Naval Group (formerly DCNS of France), Daewoo (South Korea), Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (Germany) and Navantia (Spain). They would have to tie up with MDL and Larsen & Toubro which have been selected by the Defence Ministry as the manufacturing yards for P-75I. The deadline for submitting the bids was November but now has been extended to June 2022. With AIP being a must for P-75I boats, the Russian, French and Spanish companies suffer a disadvantage as they lack the technology. Only South Korean and German firms have AIP technology but it remains to be seen how others overcome the handicap. Even in the best-case scenario, it would take a few years for the Defence Ministry to complete negotiations with the technology supplier and sign on the dotted lines. The more the delay, the higher the chances of losing skill. If we are delayed with the decision, the capacity to build the submarine will disappear, noted Commodore Anil Jai Singh. With China expanding its submarine fleet, the 30-year plan was modified in 2015 to incorporate the construction of six SSN. Since then very little has been heard of about the plans to build the nuclear-powered attack submarines. Even if everything on the SSN front happens on time, the first Indian SSN wont be in the water before the 2040s. There is a dichotomy between what we want and what we end up with. This is clearly visible on the submarine front, summed up Commodore Singh. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), an independent private body, released distressing data last week saying that more than half of the 90 crore Indians, especially women, of legal working age or roughly the equivalent of the combined total populations of Russia and the United States have stopped looking for jobs in the absence of the right kind of employment opportunities. This should have sent alarm bells ringing in the government, which, according to many observers, is not paying enough attention to creating jobs. Instead, the government decided to deploy all its tools to defend itself and deny the report. The Ministry of Labour and Employment called the report factually incorrect. It went on to claim that the labour force and the workforce in the country increased during 2017-18 and 2019-20. It rubbished the CMIE data by saying there has been an increase in the female labour force, as well as the female worker population, from the year 2017-18 to 2019-20. Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav countered the CMIE findings by releasing the report of the Quarterly Employment Survey for the period October-December 2021, which showed a rising trend in employment in select organised sectors. That India has been suffering from a serious unemployment problem is accepted by many organisations doing research on joblessness in the country. Millions have lost jobs after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. But even before that, the demonetisation of 2016 paralysed the informal sector, industrial output fell, and jobs disappeared. The hasty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in 2017 proved to be another blow that slowed the economy and impacted jobs. The pandemic only aggravated the misery. Given that nearly 85% of Indias workforce is in the informal sector, the government has almost no reliable information on actual job losses as no data till date captures that sector. A household survey that is likely to begin later this year could throw some light on the actual unemployment scenario in the country. Development economists have been suggesting that the government should do more on the job creation front in order to arrest brewing unrest among people. The government must do much more on job creation because lack of employment not only hurts the economy, it can also lead to social discord and other issues, Reetika Khera, an associate professor of economics at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, told DH. She said on the one hand, the country has people desperate for decent work, and on the other, it has a serious shortage of teachers, nurses and other staff for basic public services. The pupil teacher ratio or the ratio of nurses and doctors to population in India is low by international norms. Remember, unemployment rates are highest among the educated currently. For instance, there are too many single-teacher schools where children from classes 1-5 are forced to sit together. Further, teachers spend hours maintaining attendance and other school records, because most government schools do not have any administrative staff to do this work. This lowers motivation of the teachers to teach students and provides them a convenient excuse not to do so. The point Im making is that there is a serious need for adding administrative capacity to improve the quality of public services such as health and education, she said. Besides this, for those who do not have adequate education for such jobs, proposals such as the Decentralised Urban Employment and Training (DUET), a sort of NREGA for urban areas should be considered seriously, according to Khera. Himachal Pradesh and Kerala already have such schemes in place. Others including Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are not waiting for the central government and have announced budgets for this. Whether they actually implement it remains to be seen. Turning to rural employment the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), a demand driven job guarantee scheme whose operation gives a fair sense of the rural job scenario, shows a grim picture again. An MGNREGA tracker developed by the workers rights group Peoples Action for Employment Guarantee, showed that out of 17 crore registered job cards, only 9.7 crore were active in the six months from April 1 to September 30, 2021. A job card is said to be active if it has demanded work at least once in the past three years. The data also showed that some 1.5 crore households, which applied for job cards, were not even issued the cards. It showed only 6% households got more than 80 days of work under the MGNREGA, although the law guarantees 100 days of employment for each rural household at minimum wages. The MGNREGA also provides that employment should be given within 15 days of demanding work, failing which the workers are entitled to an unemployment allowance. Besides, workers should be paid within 15 days of completion of work, failing which they are entitled to compensation for the delays. On both counts, gaps need to be filled. Police have arrested a con artist who swindled a woman out of Rs 89 lakh by making her believe that he was a PMO staffer, an R&AW agent and an IB sleuth all rolled into one. Rajajinagar resident Arahanth was suave when he met Sonul Saxena, 31, on a flight to Kuala Lumpur three years ago and introduced himself as a staffer in the Prime Ministers Office. They exchanged numbers and met a few times in Bengaluru. After some time, Saxena unsuccessfully applied for a visa to Italy and The Czech Republic. She asked him to find out why her application was turned down. He promised to do so. In January 2020, she got the visa. Arahanth told her the visa was approved with the personal intervention of the Presidents personal assistant and embassy officials. Saxena was elated, and made the trip to Europe in February of that year. In December 2020, Arahanth contacted Saxena, informing her that her 2019 visa application was rejected because some countries, including France, Austria, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, had blacklisted her. He scared her later, saying France, Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic had booked her under an anti-terrorism law. He warned that her brother and his wife, who live in the US, were at risk of being expelled. Taking the scaremongering to another level, he claimed she would never get a visa to travel abroad and might lose her job, too. Inexplicably, Sonul got so scared that she walked into his trap and implored him to bail her out. At this point in time, Arahanth revealed his second fake identity: that of an intelligence officer. He said he worked in the Delhi back office of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and promised to help her. But he had one condition: she needs to pay a bomb. In September 2021, Arahanth told Sonul that Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy had agreed to drop the charges against her if she paid a fine of 7.5 lakh euros (over Rs 6 crore). She bargained this down and transferred Rs 89 lakh to a bank account between February and September last year. He promised the money will be returned after 10 years. He then took her passport, saying France had asked for it. To make her believe him, Arahanth once took her to the Whitefield police station and the offices of the CID and senior cops. There, he pretended to be following up on her case. At the CID office, he posed as an intelligence officer. No officer asked for his ID because the posts he mentioned are respectable and sensitive, said S Girish, DCP (Whitefield). Arahanth was finally arrested on April 28 by Bellandur police inspector Mahendra Kumar K H. Police said he was jobless but travelled abroad regularly, which might have given him the idea of cheating foreign travellers. Police have frozen his 16 bank accounts, travel documents as well as a book in which he had jotted down his expenses and money transactions. Police are questioning him in custody. The National College grounds in Bengaluru recently saw hundreds of farmers donning the quintessential green shawl and cheering for Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) president Kodihalli Chandrashekar, as he officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party. All three political parties in the state have let down farmers over the years. They have not brought a single policy to improve the financial condition of farmers. We have no choice, but to represent ourselves, Kodihalli explains to DH on why he joined AAP. He actively took part in the farmers protests in Delhi last year, seeking a roll back of the Centres controversial farm laws. Over the years, the Raitha Sangha has tried to remain non-partisan, but this approach has not yielded results as political parties have not gone beyond sloganeering for farmers welfare. The 2023 Assembly election is an opportunity for farmers to pitch for their own welfare, he adds. Kodihallis optimism draws from examples in Karnatakas political history where farmers have brought a political shift. Farmers groups turned against the ruling Congress and were key to bringing the Janata Party-led government to power in the state in 1983, after the Gundu Rao government opened fire against protesting farmers in Naragund and Navalgund in 1980. Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association president Kuruburu Shanthakumar gives a more recent example of how farmers campaigned against incumbent MLAs in the old Mysore region in 2004, for failing to stand by them in the Kabini water row. We were protesting against release of water to Tamil Nadu as our crops were drying. None of the politicians supported us. We gave a call to defeat all the incumbents and at least 11 MLAs lost the elections, he recalls. Karnataka has seen several farmer leaders successfully transition to politics while remaining rooted to farmers movement. K S Puttannaiah, who served as president of the Rajya Raitha Sangha, was elected as an MLA first in 1994 from Pandavapura, which later became Melkote constituency. He was re-elected from Melkote in 2013. Babagouda Patil, a founder-member of KRRS, was the minister of state for rural development in the A B Vajpayee government. However, much has changed over the years from the days of stalwarts of the movement like M D Nanjundaswamy. The farmers movement in the state has fizzled out with the KRRS being a divided house, points out A Narayana, associate professor, Azim Premji University. Perhaps, the only time when farmers anger resulted in the defeat of the ruling party was in 1983. The bungling of the Congress government in handling farmers movement turned them decisively against the ruling party, he observes. Today, farmers no longer stand united with a strong identity based on their occupation, which would make them vote for a candidate or party overlooking other identities such as caste, religion and region, he says. Shanthakumar concurs. Farmers groups in the state need to stand together as one federation. While there are stray examples of farmers leaders contesting elections, they have been unable to generate a larger support base of voters as they work in isolation, he adds. What does this mean for mainstream political parties? Kodihalli Chandrashekar joining AAP may not make much difference as his is only one among many factions. However, for a party like the Congress, farmers form a crucial voter base, points our Sachin Meega, who leads the Congress farmers wing in Karnataka. Meega cited the recent Mekedatu padayatra as a means to connect with the farmers. Not to be left behind, the JD(S) too has embarked upon Janata Jaladhare, a statewide water campaign, mainly catering to farmers. The regional partys support base largely constitutes farmers and the party, with initiatives like the loan waiver during the tenure of Kumaraswamy as chief minister, has shown commitment to farmers, says JD(S) spokesperson T A Sharavana. Hundreds of young graduates who had cracked the police sub-inspector exam last year are crying foul after the state government annulled the results citing a scam. Over 500 candidates held a demonstration at Freedom Park on Saturday and later submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, lambasting the annulment of the exam results. The notification for the written exam to recruit 545 sub-inspectors was issued on January 22, 2021. The exam was held on October 3 last year while the provisional list of successful candidates was published on January 19 this year. The next step was to hand over appointment letters. Also read | PSI exam scam: 12 candidates held The first sign of trouble came on February 7, 2022, when the additional director-general of police (recruitment) temporarily suspended the hiring process citing administrative reasons. In April, a few successful candidates were arrested in Kalaburagi for rigging the exam, and the case was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The agency says some candidates who had answered very few questions were later found to have attempted all questions and scored high marks. The CID has arrested seven successful candidates as well as Divya Hagaragi, a BJP leader from Kalaburagi, for masterminding the scam. On Friday, the government annulled the exam results, angering the candidates. Rakesh C, an electronics and communications engineer from Ramanagar, who cracked the exam, is furious at the result annulment. He was among the protesters on Saturday. Speaking to DH, he slammed the government for punishing all the 545 candidates for the misdeeds of only seven. This is arbitrary and illogical. This means all of us cheated in the exam. If thats the case, all of us should be arrested and sent to jail. If not, then remove only the bad apples and appoint the rest, Rakesh said. According to him, the CID questioned all the selected candidates from April 20 to 29 and is yet to submit a report. Annulling the results before the CID gives the report is holding us all guilty before the trial, he added. Check out DH's latest videos Where to Watch / Stream DC Showcase: Constantine Online Theatrical release - Not available on any OTT Platform right now. Advertisements DC Showcase: Constantine : Release Date, Trailer, Cast & Songs About DC Showcase: Constantine DC Showcase: Constantine was released on May 02, 2022 and was directed by Matt Peters .This movie is 27 min in duration and is available in English language. Ray Chase, Matt Ryan, Grey DeLisle, Robin Atkin Downes, Camilla Luddington, Damian O'Hare and Lou Diamond Phillips are playing as the star cast in this movie. DC Showcase: Constantine is available in Horror, Action, Fantasy and Animation genres. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe When Poul Kjrholm (1929-1980), a Danish designer and student of Hans Wegner, presented the Element chair as his graduation project, he was a little over 20. And unlike his Scandinavian peers, he did not opt for wood but instead focused on experimenting with new industrial materials. He had trained as a cabinetmaker yet was attracted to the qualities of steel a hallmark of modernity in both architecture and design thanks to its solidity and ability to reflect light, which gives furnishings unique and changing characteristics, amplifying their sculptural effect. China kicks off annual summer fishing ban in South China Sea Xinhua) 14:04, May 01, 2022 GUANGZHOU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China Coast Guard (CCG) has announced that a three-and-half-month fishing moratorium began on Sunday in the South China Sea waters north to 12 degrees north latitude. The annual summer fishing ban is expected to end on Aug. 16. For the next three days, the CCG's South China Sea branch and local authorities will patrol major fishing grounds and ports to ensure that the ban will be well observed. After the middle term of the moratorium, they will hold three law enforcement actions in the Beibu Gulf, the Pearl River Estuary and the water border of Fujian and Guangdong provinces, in a bid to crack down on illegal fishing and protect marine fishery resources. China has imposed the annual fishing ban in the South China Sea since 1999, as part of the country's efforts to promote sustainable marine fishery development and improve marine ecology. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) The Lotus Lantern Festival's iconic parade takes place in downtown Seoul, Saturday, after a two-year hiatus, as participants march from Heunginjimun Gate to Jogye Temple to celebrate Buddha's Birthday, which falls on May 8. Yonhap By Park Han-sol With Korea's social distancing measures mostly eased and the outdoor mask mandate to be lifted effective on Monday, in-person religious and cultural festivals are making their return nationwide to celebrate spring. One of the highlights of this weekend was marked by the iconic Lotus Lantern Parade in Seoul on Saturday evening, held after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the annual festivities ahead of Buddha's Birthday, which falls on May 8 this year. More than 35,000 Buddhists and non-Buddhists were estimated to have taken part in the centuries-old march, illuminating downtown Seoul from Heunginjimun Gate all the way to Jogye Temple with lanterns of various hues, shapes and sizes, according to its organizer, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. This year marks the first time the festival, known as "Yeondeunghoe" in Korean, has returned in its grand scale since being inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. In addition to Saturday's procession, followed by outdoor theatrical performances and workshops the next day, the Exhibition of Traditional Lanterns will run until May 11. Thousands of lanterns made of "hanji," or Korean paper made from the bark of mulberry trees, symbolizing Buddha's wisdom, have pepped up two major temples Jogye and Bongeun in southern Seoul as well as Cheonggye Stream to keep the festive spirit alive. Residents of Busan can enjoy their own edition of the jubilee, the Busan Lotus Lantern Festival, held at Busan Citizens Park and Song Sang-hyeon Square until May 8. A child makes a bowl at the Mungyeong Chasabal Festival in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, in this provided photo. Courtesy of Mungyeong City In the North Gyeongsang provincial city of Mungyeong a city that is famous for traditional tea bowls and that houses the "Mangdaengi" kiln, the oldest existing kiln in Korea built in 1843 the ongoing Mungyeong Chasabal Festival attracted over 20,000 spectators on its opening day alone on Saturday. The festival, nestled in the village that is home to the country's leading ceramic masters, runs through May 8 under the theme of "Thousand-Year-Old Flame Held in Tea Bowls." Hundreds of festival-goers headed to exhibitions featuring ceramic wares produced by local artisans and potters across the country. Selected tea bowls will also be made available for sale at in-person auctions and online for the duration of the fair. Another popular cultural event that is once again crowded with springtime tourists after two years is the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival in South Jeolla Province. The annual fete, known for drawing at least 300,000 visitors a year, has already seen some 12,000 sightseers since its opening on Friday. The main venue is festooned with 500,000 rainbow-like spring flowers, including Surfinia and French marigolds, to attract radiant waves of 220,000 butterflies until May 8. Children release butterflies at Hampyeong Expo Park in South Jeolla Province, Friday, a day before the opening of this year's Hampyeong Butterfly Festival. Newsis The Gangneung Danoje Festival, commonly referred to as the "festival of a thousand years," will be held in the Gangwon provincial city from May 30 to June 6. It is another event inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognized for "the coexistence of Confucian, shamanistic and Buddhist rituals," and is said to date back to the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom. Its signature elements like the outdoor Nanjang Market, "ssireum" (Korean wrestling) and "sintongdaegil" (a type of playful street parade) are expected to return this year. Louth Sinn Fein councillor, Kevin Meenan, brought forward a motion to the Louth County Council April meeting, calling on the council executive to write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to ask him to "call on the Israeli Government to end the use of administrative detention and release all administrative detainees who are currently held without charge or trial". Cllr Meenan's motion also "calls on the Israeli Government to cease using the Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants Law and take action to repeal it." I his submission to the local authority meeting, which was seconded by Cllr Pearse McGeough, Cllr Meenan stated that "Israel's use of administrative detention violates several international standards, such as illegally deporting Palentinians from the occupied territory to Israel, denying family visits and failing to take into account the best interests of child detainees as required under international law. Administrative detention is a procedure that allows the Israeli military to hold prisoners indefinitely on 'secret information' without charging themor allowing them to stand trial." He continued, "Although international human rights law does allow some limited use of this practice in emergency situations, there are basic rules to be followed such as a fair hearing at which the detainee can challenge the reasons for detention or there must be a public emergency that threatens the life of the nation: Israel is in violation of these parameters." Cllr Meenan said that due to this, he was therefore seeking the Minister to call upon the Israeli Government to act, and for the Israeli Government to cease using the law and take action to repeal it. Ravensdaless Ryan Doherty has reached Everest Base Camp and is about to attempt his summit of Island Peak mountain in the Himalayas, despite a bout of sickness. Ryan is climbing to raise funds for Dundalk Dog Rescue. The climb is the culmination of months of training as Ryan told the Democrat back in February. In a Facebook update before attempting to summit Ryan wrote: We have reached our last tea house before we leave for basecamp and high camp of Island Peak. We will travel to high camp and rest then begin our summit attempt of Island Peak at 2am local time so thats 9:30 pm Irish time, after basecamp our group kinda fell apart health wise, we are all suffering with either khumbu cough or stomach problems. I have a bit of both but Ill motor on, physically and mentally Im doing good. The temperature has taken a dramatic turn as you can see our water is freezing as we walk. We are currently waiting for a weather window for our summit attempt. We will be going through some skill work today with our ice axes and shown where our fixed lines are for the ridge to summit. Thats all for now. Hopefully the next post you see will be me at the summit. So far Ryan has raised just over 10,000. Those wishing to support Ryans 20305 Bloody Paws to Everest fundraiser can do so via GoFundMe at: www.gofundme.com/f/20305-bloody-paws-to-everest Ambassador of New Zealand to Korea Philip Turner speaks during the Anzac Day dawn service commemorating New Zealanders who served and died in wars and other operations, at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, April 25. Courtesy of Embassy of New Zealand in Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo The Embassy of New Zealand in Korea commemorated Anzac Day through a dawn service and reception, on April 25. Anzac Day pays tribute to New Zealanders who served and died in wars and other operations. The day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, the first engagement of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War I. The 2022 Anzac Day dawn service was held at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, in the morning. Later on, in the evening, a reception was held at the residence of the ambassador of New Zealand to Korea, Philip Turner. "Today is a special day, Anzac Day, which is an important and sacred day for both New Zealand and Australia. This is the day that we commemorate the sacrifice of all our armed forces and their families who have served our country in wars around the world, including in Korea, for more than 100 years," Turner said in a speech opening the reception. "I also want to say today is a big day for New Zealand for three additional and quite special reasons. First, this is the first large-scale event in about two and a half years... Second, I'm delighted to be able to say that from May 1, we will have quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Korea. Thirdly, we're celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea," he continued. The ambassador added that he hoped to resume the normal rhythm of diplomatic relations for the rest of this year, mentioning New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's first overseas trip in the last two years, which took place in mid-April. "We hope to see a number of high-level visitors to Korea from New Zealand over the course of this year," Turner added. Australia's ambassador to Korea, Catherine Raper, also attended the event. "It is a very significant day for both of our countries for many reasons, because of the spirit that embodies our people, feeling the need to stand up for people... We commemorate those who have served in these wars, not that we're in favor of war, but a chance to remember their service," ambassador Raper said. Lawmakers pass a revision to the Prosecutors' Office Act during a plenary session of the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has unilaterally pushed for the first phase of its proposed prosecutorial reform, and it is flexing its muscles to complete the process of limiting prosecutors' investigative powers before President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol takes office on May 10. According to officials, Sunday, the National Assembly will hold a plenary session on Tuesday during which the DPK plans to pass a revision bill of the Criminal Procedure Act. Since the DPK holds a majority in the Assembly, it can pass the revision without support from the other parties. On Saturday, the DPK embarked on the initiative to establish a Korean version of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which will take over some of investigative rights from the prosecution. The ruling party passed a measure to form a special judiciary committee to prepare legal procedures for the new agency over the next six months. The new agency will assume the other remaining investigative rights from the prosecution one year later. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) protested but the DPK, in collaboration with the minor Justice Party, went ahead with launching the subcommittee. On Saturday, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed a revision bill of the Prosecutors' Office Act, with 172 out of 177 attending lawmakers approving it. It took less than 10 minutes to pass the bill. Members of the main opposition People Power Party hold banners to protest the Democratic Party of Korea's passing of a revision to the Prosecutors' Office Act, during a plenary session at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Saturday. Joint Press Corps The PPP staged filibusters in a vain attempt to prevent the DPK from passing the revision unilaterally, following the DPK's tactic of cutting the plenary session into shorter one-day sessions. Following the revision, prosecutors will be allowed to investigate only corruption and economic crimes. The current Prosecutors' Office Act stipulates that prosecutors can open investigations in six significant crime categories corruption, economic crimes, crimes perpetrated be public officials, election crimes, defense industry crimes and those related to catastrophes. The revised act also stipulates that prosecutors cannot prosecute a case that they investigated themselves. This is interpreted as a clear separation of prosecutors' investigative powers from their authority to indict. Though chances are high for the DPK to pass the Criminal Procedure Act in Tuesday's plenary session and wrap up its prosecutorial reform push, its conflict with the PPP will likely be amplified further in upcoming Assembly sessions. An imminent clash is anticipated over the organization of a special committee related to judicial reform, which will review the DPK's plan to set up an investigation agency that will take over the prosecution's investigative powers. An unseen official removes banners opposing a revision to the Prosecutors' Office Act from Speaker Park Byeong-seug during a plenary session at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Saturday. Joint Press Corps As per section 1.4.2 (iii) of the Directive on Access to Information: "For Projects approved by Bank management where the Board of Directors has delegated the approval authority, the PSD shall be disclosed at the start of the relevant no-objection notification period to a member country of the Bank in accordance with Article 13 (iii) of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD." Project Description The provision of a senior secured loan of up to US$ 3.0 million ( 2.7 million) to Uzbek Leasing International A.O. (the "Company" or "UL"), an Uzbek joint stock company. The second tranche of US$ 1 million will be uncommitted. The loan will be provided in UZS or USD under GEFF Uzbekistan. Project Objectives The GEFF Loan is expected to contribute to the creation of a demand-driven, self-sustaining market for investments in high performance technologies and services supporting Uzbekistan's green economy transition. UL focuses on SME leasing and has a good nation-wide presence. The EBRD's extensive experience in implementing energy and resource efficiency finance facilities across the region combined with UL's position in the Uzbek market with a particular focus on SMEs as well as the company's commitment to support the innovative products create essential ingredients for an effective implementation of this project. Transition Impact ETI score: 70 60 (FW) The project contributes to the Green TI quality in line with the GET TI rating methodology, with 100 per cent of the use of proceeds allocated to GET activities. The Loan will contribute towards building a green economy in Uzbekistan by facilitating the expansion of energy efficiency investments and providing positive demonstration effects of such projects, through on-lending to private sector Sub-borrowers (e.g. businesses, suppliers and vendors of high performing green technologies and service providers). Client Information UZBEK LEASING INTERNATIONAL AO Uzbek Leasing ("UL") was founded in 1996 as the first specialised leasing company in Uzbekistan. With its headquarters in Tashkent and representative offices in 10 regions, UL specialises in providing a wide spectrum of leasing services (lease of equipment and vehicles) to local SMEs including women-led businesses. EBRD Finance Summary USD 3,000,000.00 Total Project Cost USD 3,000,000.00 Additionality Financing Structure: the EBRD offers financing that is not available in the market from commercial sources on reasonable terms and conditions, e.g. a grace period, possible financing in the local currency. Such financing is necessary to structure the project. Innovative financing structures and/or instruments: The terms and conditions of the GEFF Loan go significantly beyond those required by the providers of commercial sources of funding inter alia by offering a comprehensive TC package. They are designed to promote GET compliant investments and sustainable lending practices. Sub-lessees will be engaged in energy and climate audits, minimum performance standards of technologies, climate-related strategies and policies, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems etc. Standard-setting: UL will make use of the EBRD expertise over energy and resource efficiency and climate resilience financing via provision of energy and climate audits, minimum performance standards of technologies, climateirelated strategies and policies, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems etc. Through the TC EBRD will provide expertise, innovation, knowledge and/or capabilities that are material to the timely realisation of the project's objectives, including support to strengthen the capacity of the client. Environmental and Social Summary Categorised FI (2019 ESP). Uzbek Leasing (UL) is an existing client of the Bank and environmental and social due diligence included a review of the annual environmental and social (E&S) report and of the Borrower's current Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). The E&S performance of UL has been satisfactory to date as evidenced by annual reporting on E&S matters. The 2021 E&S report shows that the Client has a Code of Ethics, HR and gender policies in place. The client has updated the ESMS in line with the EBRD's ESP 2019 including the EBRD's E&S Exclusion List. In the context of the WIB Programme and GEFF Loan, Uzbek Leasing will be required to continue to comply with Performance Requirements 2, 4 and 9, and to apply the EBRD's E&S Risk Management Procedures. UL will also be required to implement the E&S Eligibility Criteria for Renewable Energy Projects as part of the GEFF Loan, as applicable for each sub-project. Uzbek Leasing will continue to provide annual E&S reporting to the Bank on compliance with the applicable PRs and any other E&S matters arising during the year. Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing A. TC: UL will benefit from a comprehensive TC package of up to EUR 3.5 million dedicated to support the implementation of the GEFF Uzbekistan. There is no specific TC allocation for each participating financial institution. TC support for UL and Sub-lessees is consistent with the Arrangements for Cost Sharing between Donors and Clients i relevant policy BDS14-024/F. UL is expected to provide both parallel and in-kind client contributions on pro-rata basis: 1) Parallel contribution of up to 1,750 (equivalent of up to 20 per cent of the TC resources linked to marketing and training which directly benefit the PFI). 2) In-kind contribution provided by dedicating internal resources such as office space and human resources to support implementation and disbursement of the Facility. B. Co-investment grants / Concessional Finance (Non-TC) The Facility will be supported with non-refundable co-investment grants (incentives) of up to US$ 330,000 paid as investment incentives to Sub-borrowers in line with the levels and eligibility criteria set forth in the GEFF Policy Statement. Company Contact Information Mr. Zafar Mustafaev info@uzbekleasing.uz (+998 78) 120-02-02 (+998 71) 140-37-74 www.uzbekleasing.uz Amir Temur Avenue 88-A, Tashkent, 100084, Republic of Uzbekistan Implementation summary PSD last updated 29 Apr 2022 Understanding Transition Further information regarding the EBRDs approach to measuring transition impact is available here. Business opportunities For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company. For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact: Tel: +44 20 7338 7168 Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement: Tel: +44 20 7338 6794 Email: procurement@ebrd.com General enquiries Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form. Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) The ESP and the associated Performance Requirements (PRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development. The ESP and the PRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation as well as to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders concerns and grievances, in particular, about environmental and social performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a projects environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD additionally requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts arising from projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback. More information on the EBRDs practices in this regard is set out in the ESP. Integrity and Compliance The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all activities of the Bank in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The Bank believes that identifying and resolving issues at the project assessment approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts, and also helps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment. OCCO is also responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, both within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. All matters reported will be handled by OCCO for follow-up. All reports, including anonymous ones, will be reviewed. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith. Access to Information Policy (AIP) The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website. Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form. Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Clients Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRDs Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM). IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank. Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request. IRELAND'S housing crisis can only be solved by a national referendum on a constitutional right to housing, a rally in Cork was told on Saturday. We are calling for a referendum on the right to housing, and for public housing to be built on public land, by a publicly owned construction company, Gary Baus of the National Homeless and Housing Coalition told The Echo before the rally. "The Government has condemned whole generations to a lifetime of high rent with no chance of ever owning a home and at worst a life of housing insecurity and homelessness," Mr Baus said. We want an end to evictions, an end to repossessions, and we want to see an end to vulture funds in this country." Frank OConnor, who, alongside his partner Jude Sherry, is a prominent campaigner against dereliction and homelessness, said the rally was about raising awareness of the housing crisis. In Ireland, sadly, we have a broken social contract, where a very advanced civilised society cant provide housing for everyone, Mr OConnor said. In Cork City alone, within a two-kilometre radius of the city centre, we have 500-plus empty homes, and its such a waste, and not just with the homelessness crisis in Ireland, but with refugees coming in as well, we really need to act quickly, and what Im looking for is compulsory rental, where vacant properties can be opened up for rental. Its an order that could be put through very quickly by the Government, where any any vacant property, the owner gets a fair rent, and the tenant gets a home, Mr OConnor said. Jude Sherry said proactive action from local and national government was long overdue. The large scale of vacancy and dereliction we have in Ireland gives us a massive opportunity to provide safe harbour for all those seeking refuge in Ireland, and also for those in Ireland traumatised by our housing shortage, Ms Sherry said. 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH' Socialist TD For Cork North Central, Mick Barry, said Government was talking about housing in the pipeline and jam tomorrow, something he said was not good enough. There is a deadly combination of low pay and high rents, and we urgently need a 15-an-hour minimum wage, and we urgently need legislation which doesnt just freeze rents, but actually cuts them, because they are at unreasonable, unjust levels, Deputy Barry said. City Councillor Ted Tynan said the arrival of thousands of Ukrainian refugees was exacerbating the housing crisis, and said urgent action was needed. Brussels and company need to get their act together and fund housing, not alone in Ireland but throughout Europe, because there are 100 million people in poverty in the European Union, and look at the money theyre spending on weapons of destruction, Cllr Tynan said. Stop the war, let peace take over, through dialogue, and lets build a decent Europe for all. Cllr Tynan noted that in 1949, the Inter-Party Government of Fine Gael, Clann na Poblachta, Labour and others had commenced a massive social housing programme. If we were able to do that in 1949, immediately after World War II, when the country was broke, why cant we do the same today? Cllr Tynan asked. After India's two higher education regulators the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had put out joint advisory warning students against pursuing higher education in Pakistan, now the National Medical Commission (NMC) has done the same. The NMC has issued a warning to Indian students and stated in a recent public notice, which was signed by Dr Sandhya Bullar, Secretary, NMC, that those Indian students who hope to pursue their MBBS, BDS or any other equivalent medical degree from Pakistan will not be eligible to appear for FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination) or seeking employment in India on the basis of the educational qualifications gained from universities in Pakistan. This is true for all "except those who had joined Pakistan degree colleges/institutions before December 2018 or later after obtaining Security Clearance from MHA till date." The notice advised any Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India against travelling to Pakistan for their medical education. It also clarified that migrants and their children who acquired medical degrees or higher education in the neighbouring country and have also been awarded citizenship by India would continue to be eligible for appearing for FMGE/NEXT or even seeking employment in India after obtaining security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). With regards to the AICTE-UGC joint advisory that was issued for Indian students against pursuing their higher education in Pakistan, the latter reverted to seek clarification regarding the same. Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs, said, We have sought clarification from the Indian government with reference to the said Public Notice. Pakistan reserves the right to take appropriate measures in response to this openly discriminatory and inexplicable action by India. Former vice foreign minister Kim Sung-han, left, former presidential secretary on national security strategy Kim Tae-hyo, center, and former presidential crisis management officer Shin In-ho / Yonhap President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol picked Kim Sung-han, a former vice foreign minister and his longtime foreign policy mentor, as his national security adviser Sunday, while also naming all five senior presidential secretaries and other members of the presidential office. "Nominee Kim Sung-han is equipped with not only the theory but the capability to draw up and execute policy," Chang Je-won, Yoon's chief of staff during the transition period, said during a press briefing. "He is the right person to serve as the control tower that will defend the security of the nation and the people by proactively responding to the security environment at home and abroad." Kim currently heads the foreign affairs and security subcommittee of the transition team and is also a childhood friend of the president-elect. He has advocated a foreign policy centered on a robust Korea-U.S. alliance. On Sunday, he vowed to work to "normalize South-North relations in line with principles." "Instead of a relationship where we are unconditionally following from behind, I will work to lead inter-Korean relations, as equal partners, under the principle of pursuing peace and prosperity through denuclearization," he told reporters. Chang said Kim Tae-hyo, who served as presidential secretary on national security strategy between 2008 and 2012, was tapped for first deputy national security adviser, while Shin In-ho, former presidential crisis management officer, was named second deputy national security adviser. Kim Tae-hyo is a "strategist" with both the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the national security field and is expected to help improve deadlocked inter-Korean relations and establish the framework for a "principled" North Korea policy, Chang said. Shin also possesses abundant practical experience and is anticipated to present a detailed policy that will help strengthen the country's watertight security posture while demonstrating his crisis management capabilities, according to Chang. Former lawmaker Lee Jin-bok was named senior political secretary, while former lawmaker Kang Seung-kyoo was picked for senior civil society secretary. Choi Young-bum, a journalist-turned-vice president at Hyosung Group, was tapped for senior communications secretary and former Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok was chosen for senior economic secretary. Yoon also picked Ahn Sang-hoon, a professor of social welfare at Seoul National University, for senior social secretary, and Kim Yong-hyun, former operations director at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as head of the presidential security service. Kang In-sun, a former journalist and Washington correspondent for the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, will serve as spokesperson for the presidential office. Currently, she is the president-elect's spokesperson for the foreign press. The appointments, which were announced only days ahead of Yoon's May 10 inauguration, are in line with Yoon's promise to downsize the presidential office from its current eight senior secretaries and three offices. Under the new format, the presidential office will consist of only five senior secretaries and two offices those of the president's chief of staff and the national security adviser. Yoon earlier named Kim Dae-ki, an economic technocrat, as his chief of staff. (Yonhap) Ahn Cheol-soo, center, the chairman of the presidential transition committee, gestures during a session hosted by the Circle Foundation at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung District, Seoul, on Saturday. Yonhap Ahn Cheol-soo, Lee Jae-myung may run in June 1 by-elections By Kang Hyun-kyung The June 1 local elections for mayors, governors and other local government positions have created a handful of open seats in the National Assembly, as seven lawmakers have won internal competitions to run in the elections on their parties' tickets. Lawmakers are required to resign from their parliamentary seats when running in local elections for other positions. Song Young-gil, the former chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), won the party's internal primary on Friday to select the DPK candidate who will face a showdown with incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the Seoul mayoral election. His current constituency, Gyeyang District in the western port city of Incheon, is one of the seven electoral districts where by-elections will be held to elect lawmakers concurrently on June 1. Many are watching who will run in Song's former electoral district on the DPK's ticket. Former DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has been emerging as one of the most likely candidates to run in the by-election to resume his political career, this time as a lawmaker. The former Gyeonggi governor has not officially mentioned his interest or plans to run in the local elections. But his aides have. Song, a confidant of Lee, made the case for Lee to run in the by-election on a radio show interview on April 29. "I don't understand why people are gossiping about him possibly running in the by-election," Song said, noting that there are several politicians who have resumed their political careers as lawmakers after they unsuccessfully ran for president. "He's the one who had garnered 16 million votes during the March 9 presidential election. If he joins the political arena again, I think his presence will surely help the parliament achieve national unity and political stabilization of the nation." Song said what he said during the radio show is his own view, and he had not discussed the matter with Lee. Considering that the electoral district largely favors liberal candidates, as seen in previous election results, political pundits say Lee may be tempted to mull running in the by-election there as the next step in his political career. To become a DPK candidate again in the next presidential election, Lee needs to build a solid support base inside the party. Becoming a lawmaker will make it easier for him to proceed if he is looking for a second chance in the next presidential election. Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of the presidential transition committee, is another presidential hopeful seeking another chance in the next presidential election. He is rumored to be interested in running in the June 1 by-election for the Bundang electoral district in Seongnam City that is vacant since Kim Eun-hye was elected the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) candidate to run in the race for Gyeonggi Province governor. Ahn, who was formerly a doctor, academic and anti-virus software entrepreneur before he entered politics, has neither confirmed nor denied this rumor. Surrounded by reporters on April 29, he was asked if he had ever considered or was interested in running in the June 1 by-election in Bundang, but he declined to answer these questions directly. His silence has sparked speculation that he may be interested in the by-election. Ahn's plans after heading the presidential transition committee have drawn keen attention after he spoke openly about his unwillingness to join the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol government as the prime minister or another member of the Cabinet. Ahn simply said he plans to return to the party, without detailing in which capacity. He has also raised the possibility that he might run in the competition to elect the PPP's chairperson next year. Currently, Lee Jun-seok is in that role, Ahn said, and he doesn't imagine himself as the party's leader. Lee Jun-seok said in a recent radio interview that he thinks Ahn is a good fit to run in the Bundang by-election, considering the fact that he started his IT company there. "So, he has a connection with the voters there," said Lee. "But I would say that if he runs in the election, he should not expect to get elected automatically as the PPP's candidate. He will have to compete against the other candidates in the party's internal competition." Equestrian: Ingham in 3rd Place as the 5* Kentucky event enters its final phase Boyd Martin, Michael Jung & Yasmin Ingham at the post Cross Country Press Conference The Isle of Mans Yasmin Ingham has everything to play for today as she enters the final phase of her Kentucky 5* campaign. The 24 year from Greeba was lying third overnight in the prestigious Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. She is just 1.6 penalties from a second place position and has a pole in hand over fourth. 5-star Eventing is the highest level of Equestrian competition and Ingham currently sits on the podium alongside double Olympic champion Michael Jung of Germany (1st) and Boyd Martin from the USA (2nd). Jung has won the Kentucky event three consecutive times and is bidding to make an historic fourth, making it eleven 5* wins, while Martin is two times Pan-American team gold medalist and individual gold medalist and has won two events at 5*. Yesterday Ingham performed a flawless Cross Country Round going clear just 7 seconds outside the optimum time. Yasmin spoke to Energy FM just after the finish. (Video) Videos Yasmin Ingham At Kentucky 5* Yasmin Ingham after she completes the Cross Country Phase at the 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. She is overall 3rd place as the event enters the final day. So it has been a long time since we last posted comments guidelines and standards. To put it in perspective, the last time we talked comments with y'all, the iPhone 5 hadn't been released, Android fans were using Jelly Bean and Facebook had just gone public. A lot can change in the course of nearly five years, but one thing that's remained constant is our dedication to our readers. To that end, we wanted to take a minute to answer some questions, explain some features and, frankly, lay down the law when it comes to the comments section and our social channels. Pull up a chair and read on to find out what you need to know about Engadget's comments and community. Why do we have a comments section? Comments sections get a bad rap: Everyone is familiar with the adage "Don't read the comments," and that didn't become a common refrain because comments sections are full of hugs and puppies. Even so, there are some genuinely interesting conversations happening in our comments section, from personal experiences with gadgets to incredibly technical explanations of hardware, and we're often impressed by what you have to say. We have a comments section because we sincerely enjoy having a place for our readers to discuss the articles we write -- and our readers often provide us with insights that add to the story, shed light on new angles or help us update the facts in the post. Many of you rely on the comments for additional information and alternative opinions, all while many other publications have opted to shutter their comments sections (or just use Facebook). We've kept ours open because it's valuable to you as readers, which makes it important for us too. While the rules of internet interactions naturally vary from one website to another (and in some cases are unclear), we took the time to rethink our guidelines and have laid out a detailed policy on what does and doesn't fly here. Commenting basics: features and functions First, a few technical details. While the basics of logging in and posting a comment are largely the same as they've always been, there are a few handy features in our current system that are worth highlighting. Editing and deleting. The options to edit or delete your comment can be found in a drop-down menu; the arrow for the drop-down menu appears when you mouse over the upper-right area of your comment. (Mousing over the upper-right of someone else's comment will allow you to report that comment; more on that below.) All links require approval. This means that any comment containing a URL will be held in "pending" until it has been approved by a moderator. Moderators will refuse comments with links that are broken or that direct to spammy or inappropriate content. We know the delay in approving comments with links isn't ideal, but it helps keep a large amount of spam from getting through. Also, please don't resubmit a link over and over again; each one will still wind up in pending. Banned words. We have a list of banned words that will automatically remove a comment. No, you cannot see this list -- but we will tell you that it largely consists of insults, swears and name-calling-type stuff. Any comment with an f-bomb is going to get pulled (no matter how you spell it), but we're pretty lax about the other "blue" words as long as you're not swearing at somebody. Notifications. If you do not want to get an email notification when other commenters like your comment, reply to your comments or mention (@) you, you can disable all of that in your profile settings. (You can access settings by clicking your username next to the alert bell.) Commenting basics: behavior There is pretty much one golden rule here, and it's "don't be a jerk." Please, don't be rude or mean or nasty. We appreciate that you care about these topics and our stories (hey, we care too). But no matter how fired up the discussion, please be civil. Don't jump down people's throat because they made a mistake or disagree with you. Don't be insulting. Don't call people names. Don't make personal attacks. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Try not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions. Have some patience and compassion; everyone comes here to be a part of the community. No one comes here to be ridiculed or belittled. Treat your fellow community members and the Engadget staff with respect. Be nice, and if you can't be nice, then at least be tolerant. There's a comment that is offensive. What can I do? Please report it! The "report" button can be found on any comment by mousing over the upper-right corner of that comment; a drop-down arrow will appear, and from there you can select the "report" button to alert our staff. (We don't currently have tools for community moderators, but we haven't ruled out the idea.) Every comment that's reported to us is vetted by moderators; we delete those that we deem inappropriate or feel are in violation of our guidelines. Rest assured, we will not delete comments just because they're argumentative or because someone has a different opinion than you. For more details on why comments get deleted, see the list below. There's a problem with the article Every single writer and editor for Engadget does their best to produce stories that are clearly written, concise and informative, not to mention error free. However, every writer and editor at Engadget is also a fallible human being capable of making the occasional misstep. If you see a mistake in an article, be it a typo, an imprecise technical detail or a broken link, please do us a solid and let us know (because we'd obviously like to fix it!). You can holler at us by adding #articleerror to your comment, which will flag your comment for our moderators. There's a problem with the comments section If, however, you are experiencing a problem with the comments system or functionality itself, then please let us know by emailing us with as much detail as possible at commentsupport@engadget.com, so we can alert the developers. Comment deletion We prefer to keep a light hand when moderating, but there are still several reasons we might remove your comment. Here are some of the most common reasons for deletion. Spam of any kind (human or robot) is always deleted. Trying to sell something in the comments, pitching us about your product or repeatedly posting discount links and referral codes all count as spam. Posting the same comment over and over again also constitutes spamming. We don't currently ban all swearing by default, but all f-bombs are going to get caught automatically by the banned-words filter. Profanity directed at another person -- be it a commenter or staff member -- will pretty much always be deleted. Comments that are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic or otherwise hateful will be removed. Suggestions that someone is mentally ill, disturbed or should "take their meds" will be removed. (Let's just assume everyone's already taken their meds, OK?) Any comment that contains a threat, that threatens violence or that encourages self-harm or violence toward someone will be deleted. Comments that threaten other commenters or staff members will result in that member being banned from the community. Name-calling. Perhaps unsurprisingly, name-calling in a comments thread does not encourage a positive response. You should be able to have a conversation without resorting to name-calling --- and that includes Engadget's writers and staff members. Our banned-words filter will automatically pull comments with a variety of ruder terms, so keep it classy. You're just slagging on us. If all you have to contribute to the conversation is how much we suck, are biased, don't deserve our jobs, can't perform our jobs, are shills and/or have been bought out by Apple/Samsung/Microsoft/Google, then don't be shocked if your comment disappears (or, in extreme cases, if you are banned altogether). We're perfectly willing to hear constructive criticism, but we are also under no obligation to let you insult us without merit. Comments that are unnecessarily political, polarizing or incendiary are at risk for removal. Please don't jump into a thread just to say things to incite other people or tick them off; that's pretty trolly (and boring). Please don't make generalizations or stereotypes to draw conclusions about another commenter (i.e., "all you millennials/liberals/Trump voters"). We reserve the right to delete comments that are off topic. This includes comments that complain about comments being closed on another story; hijacking the thread to a different article only reinforces the feeling that we were right to keep comments closed on the initial article. In short, we want the comments section to be like an interesting conversation happening in a college classroom: thoughtful, respectful, insightful, funny and interesting. What we don't want is a comments section that's like a fight on a kindergarten playground: pushy, mean, spiteful and requiring adult intervention. We want our comments section to be a place where our readers and staff can interact civilly, learn from one another and participate in an awesome community. And as much as we know some of you like to break out the popcorn and watch the fanboy fights, that's not really the kind of community we're looking to host. Articles without comments Here's the real deal, straight up: We are not required to have a comments section on Engadget. Likewise, we're not obligated to have comments open on every article. While we strongly prefer to give the benefit of the doubt and leave comments open on all stories, there are going to be some instances where it makes more sense to leave comments closed. Our desire to leave comments open comes down to a number of factors, including the proportion of comments that have violated our rules or guidelines, how many moderators are available and how contentious the comments section has gotten on articles on similar topics. A closed comments section is not an invitation to call us names, hijack other threads or otherwise pout about it. We don't want to close comments and will only do so when absolutely necessary. Please respect that and know that the best way to make sure comments sections stay open is to treat one another respectfully and follow our guidelines. "This is just censorship and you're afraid of hearing feedback" This is a common complaint we hear when we delete comments or close comments sections. And to this we have to say: Nah, man. Let's be clear about this: Commenting on our site is not a right of law passed down to you in the Constitution, and Engadget's comments section is not an open forum where you can say whatever you please. Engadget is a news site and a business, which along with its parent company, AOL, allows commenting in order to further the discussion, engage our readers and let interested parties have a good time. Commenting here is a privilege, not a right, and if you must be nasty, well, then ... it's a big internet and you can do that on your own website. And to be frank, if we really didn't want to hear feedback from our readers, we wouldn't have a comments section at all. Banning If you create a user history of trolling, harassment or offensive behavior, or if you only visit our comments section to act like a total jerk, congratulations! You will get banned. That means your user name, email and potentially IP address will all be barred from our system and you will no longer be able to comment. What do we mean by "trolling, harassment or offensive behavior"? Hate speech of any kind is always unacceptable. If you just dropped by to say something nasty concerning someone's race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age, don't be surprised when you find your privileges revoked. If your only purpose in life is to comment on all of our articles to tell us how much we suck and deserve to be fired, then bye, Felicia. If you can't seem to have a discussion without attacking another commenter, using insults, calling people names or cursing at someone, then you're outta here. If at any point you threaten another user or an editor with any form of physical violence or encourage them to commit acts of self-harm, you are no longer welcome here. In conclusion We know that the comments section has been through a lot of bumps and bruises over the past few years, and we're dedicated to making upgrades and changes that will improve the experience for all of our users. You can help make the comments a better place by observing our guidelines and reporting comments that show disregard for our community. We don't want Engadget to be just another site where people "don't read the comments" -- we want the comments to be a reason to come to Engadget. Engadget Morning Edition Readers already know and love Engadget's daily newsletter, The Morning After. Now, we're bringing the news to your ears. Join UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith for a rundown of the day's top headlines because who doesn't love hearing a silky English accent first thing in the morning? Since we're producing this audio in the future, in a distant place called London, we promise we'll always have our recordings ready by the time our American listeners start their days. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | iHeart Radio The Engadget Podcast The Engadget Podcast is back and ready to explore how tech is helping (and hurting) our lives. Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar and Reviews Editor Cherlynn Low dive into a big question every week: Is Microsoft making better PCs than Apple? What's the state of Android versus iOS? Expect to hear the rest of the Engadget crew, along with the occasional expert guest, as we analyze the tech landscape and chat about timely topics. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Play | iHeart Radio Engadget News Here at Engadget, we cover consumer tech from every angle. Sometimes that means we publish more than 40 posts in a single day. It's a lot, and sometimes you're just too busy showering, commuting and filling out TPS reports to read a news story. To keep up with your hectic schedule, we're posting audio versions of select news stories, so that you can still get the gist even when you're too busy to look up from what you're doing. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | iHeart Radio Have a smart speaker? Try saying, "Alexa, open Engadget" or "Hey Google, talk to Engadget." After decades on the decline intro, America's labor movement is undergoing a massive renaissance with Starbucks, Amazon and Apple Store employees leading the way. Though the tech sector has only just begun basking in the newfound glow of collective bargaining rights, the automotive industry has a long been a hotbed for unionization. But the movement is not at all monolithic. In the excerpt below from her new book, Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor, journalist Kim Kelly recalls the summer of 1968 that saw the emergence of a new, more vocal UAW faction, the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement, coincide with a flurry of wildcat strikes in Big Three plants across the Rust Belt. Simon and Schuster Excerpted from Fight Like Hell, published by One Signal/Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Copyright 2022 by Kim Kelly. As of 2021, the U.S. construction industry is still booming and the building trades are heavily unionized, but not all of the nations builders have been so lucky. The countrys manufacturing sector has declined severely since its postWorld War II high point, and so has its union density. The auto industrys shuttered factories and former jobs shipped to countries with lower wages and weaker unions have become a symbol of the waning American empire. But things werent always this dire. Unions once fought tooth and nail to establish a foothold in the countrys automobile plants, factories, and steel mills. When those workers were able to harness the power of collective bargaining, wages went up and working conditions improved. The American Dream, or at least, a stable middle class existence, became an achievable goal for workers without college degrees or privileged backgrounds. Many more became financially secure enough to actually purchase the products they made, boosting the economy as well as their sense of pride in their work. Those jobs were still difficult and demanding and carried physical risks, but those workersor at least, some of those workerscould count on the union to have their back when injustice or calamity befell them. In Detroit, those toiling on the assembly lines of the Big Three automakersChrysler, Ford, and General Motorscould turn to the United Auto Workers (UAW), then hailed as perhaps the most progressive major union in the country as it forced its way into the automotive factories of the mid-twentieth century. The UAW stood out like a sore thumb among the countrys many more conservative (and lily-white) unions, with leadership from the likes of former socialist and advocate of industrial democracy Walter Reuther and a strong history of support for the Civil Rights Movement. But to be clear, there was still much work to be done; Black representation in UAW leadership remained scarce despite its membership reaching nearly 30 percent Black in the late 1960s. The Big Three had hired a wave of Black workers to fill their empty assembly lines during World War II, often subjecting them to the dirtiest and most dangerous tasks available and on-the-job racial discrimination. And then, of course, once white soldiers returned home and a recession set in, those same workers were the first ones sacrificed. Production picked back up in the 1960s, and Black workers were hired in large numbers once again. They grew to become a majority of the workforce in Detroits auto plants, but found themselves confronting the same problems as before. In factories where the union and the company had become accustomed to dealing with one another without much fuss, a culture of complacency set in and some workers began to feel that the union was more interested in keeping peace with the bosses than in fighting for its most vulnerable members. Tensions were rising, both in the factories and the world at large. By May 1968, as the struggle for Black liberation consumed the country, the memory of the 1967 Detroit riots remained fresh, and the streets of Paris were paralyzed by general strikes, a cadre of class-conscious Black activists and autoworkers saw an opportunity to press the union into action. They called themselves DRUMthe Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement. DRUM was founded in the wake of a wildcat strike at Dodges Detroit plant, staffed by a handful of Black revolutionaries from the Black-owned, anti-capitalist Inner City Voice alternative newspaper. The ICV sprang up during the 1967 Detroit riots, published with a focus on Marxist thought and the Black liberation struggle. DRUM members boasted experience with other prominent movement groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Black Panthers, combining tactical knowledge with a revolutionary zeal attuned to their time and community. General Gordon Baker, a seasoned activist and assembly worker at Chryslers Dodge Main plant, started DRUM with a series of clandestine meetings throughout the first half of 1968. By May 2, the group had grown powerful enough to see four thousand workers walk out of Dodge Main in a wildcat strike to protest the speed-up conditions in the plant, which saw workers forced to produce dangerous speed and work overtime to meet impossible quotas. Over the course of just one week, the plant had increased its output 39 percent. Black workers, joined by a group of older Polish women who worked in the plants trim shop, shut down the plant for the day, and soon bore the brunt of managements wrath. Of the seven workers who were fired after the strike, five were Black. Among them was Baker, who sent a searing letter to the company in response to his dismissal. In this day and age under the brutal repression reaped from the backs of Black workers, the leadership of a wildcat strike is a badge of honor and courage, he wrote. You have made the decision to do battle, and that is the only decision you will make. We shall decide the arena and the time. DRUM led another thousands-strong wildcat strike on July 8, this time shutting down the plant for two days and drawing in a number of Arab and white workers as well. Prior to the strike, the group had printed leaflets and held rallies that attracted hundreds of workers, students, and community members, a strategy DRUM would go on to use liberally in later campaigns to gin up support and spread its revolutionary message. Men like Baker, Kenneth Cockrel, and Mike Hamlin were the public face of DRUM, but their work would have been impossible without the work of their female comrades, whose contributions were often overlooked. Hamlin admitted as much in his book-length conversation with longtime political activist and artist Michele Gibbs, A Black Revolutionarys Life in Labor. Possibly my deepest regret, Hamlin writes, is that we could not curb, much less transform, the doggish behavior and chauvinist attitudes of many of the men. Black women in the movement persevered despite this discrimination and disrespect at work, and they also found allies in unexpected places. Grace Lee Boggs, a Chinese American Marxist philosopher and activist with a PhD from Bryn Mawr, met her future husband James Boggs in Detroit after moving there in 1953. She and James, a Black activist, author (1963s The American Revolution: Pages from a Negro Workers Notebook), and Chrysler autoworker, became fixtures in Detroits Black radical circles. They naturally fell in with the DRUM cadre, and Grace fit perfectly when Hamlin organized a DRUM-sponsored book club discussion forum in order to draw in progressive white and more moderate Black sympathizers. Interest in the Marxist book club was unexpectedly robust, and it grew to more than eight hundred members in its first year. Grace stepped in to help lead its discussion groups, and allowed young activists to visit her and James at their apartment and talk through thorny philosophical and political questions until the wee hours. She would go on to become one of the nations most respected Marxist political intellectuals and a lifelong activist for workers rights, feminism, Black liberation, and Asian American issues. As she told an interviewer prior to her death in 2015 at the age of one hundred, People who recognize that the world is always being created anew, and were the ones that have to do it they make revolutions. Further inside the DRUM orbit, Helen Jones, a printer, was the force behind the creation and distribution of their leaflets and publications. Women like Paula Hankins, Rachel Bishop, and Edna Ewell Watson, a nurse and confidant of Marxist scholar and former Black Panther Angela Davis, undertook their own labor organizing projects. In one case, the trio led a union drive among local hospital workers in the DRUM faction, hoping to carve out a place for female leadership within their movement. But ultimately, these expansion plans were dropped due to a lack of full support within DRUM. Many of the male leaders acted as if women were sexual commodities, mindless, emotionally unstable, or invisible, Edna Watson later told Dan Georgakas and Marvin Surkin for their Detroit: I Do Mind Dying. She claimed the organization held a traditionalist Black patriarchal view of women, in which they were expected to center and support their male counterparts needs at the expense of their own agenda. There was no lack of roles for women... as long as they accepted subordination and invisibility. By 1969, the movement had spread to multiple other plants in the city, birthing groups like ELRUM (Eldon Avenue RUM), JARUM (Jefferson Avenue RUM), and outliers like UPRUM (UPS workers) and HRUM (healthcare workers). The disparate RUM groups then combined forces, forming the League of Revolutionary Black Workers. The new organization was to be led by the principles of Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism, but the league was never an ideological monolith. Its seven-member executive committee could not fully cohere the different political tendencies of its board or its eighty-member deep inner control group. Most urgently, opinions diverged on what shape, if any, further growth should take. National Security Director nominee Kim Sung-han speaks during a press conference at the presidential transition committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, Sunday. Joint Press Corps Presidential office to become slimmer, with fewer senior secretaries By Nam Hyun-woo Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University and former vice foreign minister, will serve as national security adviser to President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, Yoon's chief of staff Chang Je-won announced, Sunday. Along with Kim, Chang announced the appointments of a pack of presidential aides who have been widely anticipated. Following the nominations, the current post of chief of staff for policy will be abolished, and the number of senior presidential secretaries will be decreased. "Kim, who served as the second vice foreign minister, has his expertise in diplomacy and national security," Chang said during a press conference. "His competence in both theory and policy making will make him the best fit for the role of control tower for national security." Kim's nomination had been expected, as he has been advising the president-elect on foreign and national security policies since the presidential election campaign period. Kim served as the second vice minister from 2012 to 2013 and built his career as a specialist in South Korea-U.S. relations. He is known as an advocate for a stronger Seoul-Washington alliance, which matches Yoon's idea of having the alliance as the foundation of Korea's foreign policy. "(The Yoon administration) will drive inter-Korean relations based on the firm principle of facilitating peace and prosperity through denuclearization," Kim told reporters after his nomination. "Rather than becoming a passive pursuer, we will approach inter-Korean matters on an equal footing." With Kim leading the Office of National Security, Sungkyunkwan University professor Kim Tae-hyo was named as first deputy director of national security, in charge of national defense and cybersecurity. Shin In-ho, a former Army major general and head of Eulji Research Institute under the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, was nominated as the second deputy director, in charge of foreign policy and unification strategies. Traditionally, the post of first deputy director of the Office of National Security has been filled by former generals or defense specialists, while the second deputy director has mostly been filled by foreign affairs experts. Under Yoon's presidency, however, national security adviser nominee Kim told reporters that the first deputy director will be in charge of foreign policy and national security, while the second deputy director will handle national defense. From top left are National Security Director nominee Kim Sung-han, first deputy director of national security nominee Kim Tae-hyo, second deputy director of national security nominee Shin In-ho, Presidential Security Service head nominee Kim Yong-hyun and senior secretary for political affairs nominee Lee Jin-bok. From bottom left are senior presidential secretary for civic and social agenda nominee Kang Seung-kyoo, senior security for public relations nominee Choi Young-bum, senior secretary for economic affairs nominee Choi Sang-mok, senior secretary for society nominee Ahn Sang-hoon and spokesperson nominee Kang In-sun. Courtesy of presidential transition committee Both statements are correct. What is incorrect are her assumptions about how I performed the analysis, which I documented in my 2014 book, The End of The Zodiac Mystery. When presented with the challenge in 2012 to perform this analysis, it was immediately obvious that I had too few known documents written by Earl Van Best, Jr. to make a valid comparison with the numerous Zodiac killer documents. The only handwriting I had that was allegedly written by Mr. Van Best was on the marriage certificate for his 1962 marriage to Judith Chandler. At first, this presented a conundrum. Many document examiners would have declined to continue, stating they could not offer any insight. In fact, at least one document examiner did decline to accept the case, stating there were an insufficient number of exemplars. Ms. Fisher assumed this was the way I moved forward with the analysisusing one known writing exemplar, which would have provided insufficient data. This is not how I conducted my analysis. In 2012, after spreading out all the Zodiac documents chronologically in front of me, it took some time, but a lightbulb went off that arose from out-of-the-box thinking. After careful thought, I devised a valid approach to provide the required insight. The Zodiac documents contained known writing. The killer had provided these documents to the press and to the police departments, in his twisted, manipulative way, to publicize his killings and to taunt the polices departments inability to track him down. So, rather than treating the Zodiac killers letters as questioned documents, I treated them as the known documents. This enabled me to treat the marriage certificate as the questioned document. This shed a whole new light on the subject, enabling me to perform valid research complying with industry standards. Forensic investigations often require a carefully-constructed approach using unique, valid paradigms. Thats what makes them intriguing. The ASTM standards Ms. Fisher references in the documentary additionally state that known documents must be compared to determine whether they were written by the same person. The images on pages 17, 19 and 20 in my book, The End of The Zodiac Mystery, validate that I did this. As a result of this comparison, I was able to eliminate one document provided to me as known Zodiac writing. It was the document written by Detective David Toschi in 1976 to rekindle public interest in the case to increase his visibility and stature. This was revealed in the subsequent documentary. There was an additional document and envelope from 1990 that was not written by the same person who wrote the legitimate Zodiac letters. After setting the stage using this reverse procedure that enabled me to perform the analysis, the next step I used in my investigation was to determine which words and letter combinations were commonwhich ones were used in both the known Zodiac documents and the questioned document, allegedly written by Earl Van Best, Jr. When examining documents, it is invalid to compare different words or letters from two documents with each otheryou can only compare the same words or letters to determine if the same person wrote the document in question. Pages 98 through 108 and 111 of my book illustrate the comparisons I was able to make. In total, I compared 12 letter and word combinationsnot just a few cherry-picked items as claimed by Ms. Fisher in the documentary. Two examples are: The letters est from the word Best on the marriage certificate compared with est from the word west in the Zodiac letters. The words San Fran on both the marriage certificate and the Zodiac letters and envelopes. These are only two examples of many letters and words that are common between the Zodiac letters and the marriage certificate. The book provides my complete analysis. A single similarity of letter or word formations never offers sufficient evidence of a common author. The referenced pages demonstrate many common attributes I discovered among the writings, such as the formation and spacing of the letters, and the location and length of crossbars on the letter E. Again, these are just a few examples of my complete analysis. Ms. Fisher indicated in the documentary that I cherry picked a few letters, comparing one Zodiac letter at a time with the same letters from the marriage certificate. This is not a proper analysis and it is not what I did. I compared all the writings in the Zodiac letters with the common words and letters in the marriage certificate. In short, Ms. Fishers comments in the documentary did not address the actual procedure I used. Her failure to realize that I was using the Zodiac letters as the known documents as well as not knowing which words and letters I actually compared, led her to reach an erroneous conclusion regarding the validity of my research. Unfortunately the film crew did not come back to allow me to respond to these criticisms. Had they returned and permitted me to review Ms. Fishers critique, the documentary would have been different. The post Inadequate Research Led Patricia Fisher to Erroneous Conclusions appeared first on Q9 Consulting, Inc. Forensic expert witness. Palo Alto, CAJotham Stein, author of Negotiate Like a CEO: How to Get Ahead with Lessons Learned from Top Entrepreneurs and Executives, was featured on the Mark Bishop Radio Show talking about his book, business, negotiating and, most importantly, not getting taken to the cleaners. Mark Bishop, with four decades of media experience, has a distinctive voice and is well known for conducting engaging, informative and entertaining interviews. Bishop's wide range of knowledge gives him the ability to intellectually engage with guests from many different disciplines and backgrounds. In the opening segment of the interview, Jotham Stein relayed a primary reason for writing Negotiate Like a CEO, "Because I've seen all the good things that can happen, and all the bad things that can happen, I wrote this book to help everybody that's out there. We spend so much time in our employment, and in our careers, but don't know so much about it sometimes." Listen to the entire interview of Jotham Stein by Mark Bishop at https://podcasts.markbishopmedia.com/nlgb-e21-jotham-stein-author-of-negotiate-like-a-ceo/ A graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University, Stein has more than two decades of experience in executive law, representing individuals from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, C-Suite executives, and less senior employees of all size companies. In his career he has negotiated robust employment agreements, separation agreements, M & A agreements, change in control agreements, stock option agreements, restricted stock agreements, management carve out agreements, non-compete agreements, and much more. "It's the concept to protect yourself, to read everything or get a good adviser to read everything, to negotiate with leverage, just like a CEO would negotiate with leverage. I wrote this book to help the people out there who have no idea how to help themselves in their employment relationships," says Stein. "Too many just don't know how or are too afraid to ask." Jotham Stein What does it mean to negotiate like a CEO? How important are employment agreements? How can you learn to protect yourself and your family if the worst does happen? These are all questions that Jotham S. Stein addresses in his book Negotiate Like a CEO, with the goal of equipping individuals with the tools they need to safeguard themselves in business and employment. "Jotham has helped me throughout my career, from setting up strong employment agreements to securing stock compensation to protecting the management team during the sale of my company. Jotham is a guy you want in your corner. His book should be required reading for anyone who thinks 'this could never happen to me'." Andy Cohen, founder and former CEO, Caring.com As a hi-tech Silicon Valley attorney Stein is brutally honest in assessing a situation and advising his clients. In Negotiate Like a CEO you'll learn to be aware, to recognize potential employment pitfalls, and how to protect yourself. You'll also learn that you may have more leverage than you might think, either now or as you advance in your career. Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Hall of Fame Reviewer "As a CEO and multi-time Silicon Valley executive, I was very fortunate to learn from Jotham early in my career the great importance of the protective employment offer letter. Employment law is very complex and with this book you can learn from the best." Bonnie Crater, co-founder and CEO, Full Circle Insights; former SVP salesforce.com; former SVP Genesys; former VP Oracle; former VP Netscape Watch the book trailer here: https://bit.ly/NegotiateLikeaCEOtrailer About: Jotham S. Stein is the principal of the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. He has more than two decades of experience representing entrepreneurs and C-Suite executives, board members, venture capitalists, private equity principals, and investment bankers as well as less senior employees of all size companies. Stein is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University. He is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and the District of Columbia as well as the United States Supreme Court, and several United States Courts of Appeals and United States District Courts. He is also a member of multiple bar associations, including the American Bar Association. Stein is the author of Executive Employment Law: Protecting Executives, Entrepreneurs and Employees, a how-to guide for practitioners. Stein's new book, Negotiate Like a CEO, is an enthralling look at how top entrepreneurs and executives protect themselves and how you can too. You can find out more about Jotham Stein at NegotiateLikeaCEO.net Negotiate Like a CEO, ASIN: B09TG125BQ, Published by Political Animal Press, Feb. 24, 2022, 294 pages, available on Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Media Contact: For a review copy of Negotiate Like a CEO or to arrange an interview with Jotham S. Stein, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 248-705-2214. Reach Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The accusation that parents concerns are minimized or ignored by school leaders is animating challenges to three North East Independent School District trustees running for re-election May 7. The campaigning in San Antonios second-largest school district has featured criticism of its board from both sides of the culture wars that have buffeted public education nationwide. Incumbents and challengers alike say they want to close achievement gaps among learners and better support teachers after the pandemic, but several challengers say this can only happen by listening harder to parents. The incumbents Terri Williams in District 2, Omar Leos in District 3 and Sandy Winkley in District 7 say they strive to listen to parents and always have. Leos said the district needs to heavily involve parents and could do it better to find ways to help them support their children academically. Two of three challengers backed by a group called ReImagineISD Marsha Landry in District 7 and Jacqueline Klein in District 2 did not respond to multiple interview requests. The third, Diane Sciba Villarreal in District 3, said she was concerned because parents have lost their voices. Imagine going to a school board meeting and being shown disrespect and being shown that basically (the board members) dont care, said Villarreal, 58, who has lived in San Antonio for 40 years and had one child go through NEISD schools. If we bring parents back in, I think we will see huge changes. The group is funded by Parents United for Freedom, a San Antonio-based political action committee whose website describes a commitment to reclaim our schools from the harmful agendas being promoted. We are fighting indoctrination in the classrooms, it states. We want the restoration of healthy, non-political education for our children. On its social media, Parents United decries healthy kids being isolated, forced masks and the districts sex education curriculum. Villarreal said she had no position on masks or the sex ed program that should be up to parents, she said. Williams, 58, said parents are encouraged to express their views and concerns, but not every concern can result in change because every change has to be weighed by its impact on almost 60,000 NEISD students. She has served on the board since 2018 and has lived in the district for 27 years. We get emails from parents all the time and we follow up with them, Williams said. Can everything be addressed? It just depends. Can changes be made based on one or two situations? Sometimes it can and sometimes it cant. Also in the District 2 race is Rhonda Rowland, 68, who is backed by the San Antonio Family Association, an organization led by religious conservatives that supports city and school board candidates. Rowland has worked as an educator most of her life and lived in San Antonio for 20 years. I really believe that the school should be the hub of the community, she said. I think we have gotten away from hearing parent ideas. With COVID-19 and parents seeing what their kids are doing (learning at home), parents want to be involved weve got to catch them now. They want to be a part of it. Now is the time to draw them in. The public comments section of the boards regular meetings isnt designed for discussion, so speakers shouldnt feel ignored when trustees dont give immediate feedback, said Winkley, 55. A lifelong San Antonio resident, she attended NEISD schools growing up and has served on the board since 2018. One of Winkleys challengers in District 7, former trustee Joseph Trevino, 52, is not part of ReImagineISD or the Family Association but also believes parent concerns are not adequately addressed. Im here to fight for the parents in North East ISD District 7 that have been ignored, Trevino said. A lot of people watch the board meetings and nothing has changed in the last two years. Parents want change. They are demanding change. Trevino was appointed to the board in 2017 to fill a vacancy and was elected in May 2018 to the District 3 seat, but resigned the following year. He was censured twice for leaking information from executive sessions and resigned from the board one week later. Trevino said the real reason he got crossways with other trustees was that he was advocating for parents who said their child was getting abused at school. Boards report card North East ISD, like many area school districts worried about keeping schools open, mandated mask-wearing during the worst weeks of the pandemic in the 2021-22 school year but kept it optional for most of the year. Challengers and some incumbents are criticizing that record from pro-mask and anti-mask positions. Both Winkley and Leos said they wanted to require masks longer but court rulings tied their hands. It is hard to try to please everyone, said Leos, 47, the fine arts coordinator at Harlandale ISD who has been a teacher or administrator for 23 years and lived in San Antonio all his life. That is what the district wanted to do. Board debates over mask mandates showcased trustees indifference to parents, Villarreal said. During the COVID-19 crisis when parents were bringing their concerns to the board, the board was on their cellphone, they were on their computers, they were talking back and forth to each other, she said. This is not about politics, Villarreal said when asked about specific pandemic safety decisions NEISD made. This is about the kids and bringing parents back into the fold. Public opinion on safety went both ways, Winkley noted, calling it heartbreaking to read emails from parents who were concerned about the lack of masks. On ExpressNews.com: Northeast ISD board votes 5-1 to mandate masks following arguments against it from overflow crowd Our governor specifically said you cannot mandate masks in schools, Winkley said. Which is mind blowing to me. But we did what we needed to do. Trevino believes the district could have done more to get around Gov. Greg Abbotts order. It could have made masks part of the uniform dress code, if that is what parents wanted, Trevino said. He pointed to San Antonio ISD and other districts across the state that interpreted court rulings in ways that allowed them to continue to mandate masks. You cant be afraid to fight. If you are afraid to fight, then dont go ask for someones vote, Trevino said. In March, prompted by a conservative lawmaker to review hundreds of books in its libraries, North East ISD removed over 100 titles from circulation and replaced them with books on similar topics. The retired books were deemed outdated or not age-appropriate, among other demerits, and the district insisted the review was not driven by politics. Superintendent Sean Maika responded to Republican Rep. Matt Krauses inquiry about a list of more than 800 books, many written by people of color or dealing with LGBTQ themes, by using the 432 books on the list that were in NEISD libraries as a starting point for the districts review. Maika said he had decided the review was needed before hearing from Krause. Trevino said the district could have questioned Krauses motives and fought his inquiry but chose not to. I didnt agree with the process the district was taking to review the books, Leos said. Based on the list that Rep. Krause had laid out. That list was targeting certain people, marginalizing people like the LGBTQ community, African Americans, Latinos. The timing of the review, coinciding with Krauses pressure tactics, led people to misinterpret Maikas intent, Williams said. Folks thought we were reacting or only doing it because of the (Krause list) as opposed to, this is a normal process to make sure books are still in good condition, continues to be age appropriate as generations move on and the world changes, Williams said. Winkley said she supports a regular process to review library materials for community standards, current relevance and up-to-date science, but said the district mishandled its response to Krauses list. Librarians have a responsibility to keep library materials age-appropriate, Rowland said. I really believe in free speech. There is so much responsibility for parents to teach their children, Dont watch this, dont read this, dont do this, dont participate in this, but you cant watch them at all times, Rowland said. On ExpressNews.com: Barrage of criticism of NEISD book inquiry rejects superintendents denial of political motive She and Villarreal agreed that parents should have more say in what their students are reading. I dont believe in censorship, Villarreal said. But books should be grade appropriate. If a parent doesnt want that book checked out I believe they should have the opportunity to tell the school, No, my child cant read this. On the flip side of that, if the parent really wants a child to read a book, go to the public library and read it there. The district is adding an online tool to allow parents to see what their kids are checking out of school libraries and block their access to books more suited to older age groups, NEISD officials have said. What to teach In March, the board heard and rejected a grievance brought by a parent and current trustee, Steve Hilliard, concerning how sex education is taught in the district. The complaint had argued that NEISDs curriculum does not stress abstinence as the preferred method of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, as required by state law. The board voted not to change the districts sex education program. Texas gives parents the ability to opt out of sex education for their children. I think we handled it well. We listened, Winkley said. We had people on both sides come to speak, which is always beneficial. Rowland wants parents to have more influence on curriculum through advisory committees that can report to the board. Villarreal said she has spoken with parents who are confused and concerned about critical race theory, which is an academic perspective taught and debated at the university level. Its name has become a nationwide shorthand used by conservatives for a grab bag of liberal ideas about diversity and race relations that they allege is forced on K-12 students. Texas is among several states that have restricted how teachers can talk about race. On ExpressNews.com: Teaching the truth Teachers bridle at Texas law that puts bounds on classroom discussions of race, slavery Winkley and Williams both stressed that critical race theory is not taught in North East ISD schools and never has been. CRT is a phrase coined from a collegic thesis that was brought to everyones attention on a national level, Williams said. And somehow it (led to) comments about, Oh this is what is being taught. It is not. I dont know what else to do. CRT is not taught. Weve repeated it over and over again, Winkley said. Rowland and Villarreal said teaching students about differences in how people have treated each other based on race creates division among students. I dont think children see differences. They just see, Youre my buddy, youre my pal, they dont see differences, they are innocent, Rowland said. If you start them young with We are all together, we are family, we are a group, they grow up that way. Villarreal said schools shouldnt talk about race at all. I dont think race should be part of any discussion. We need to get over that, we need to get beyond that, she said. We need to just drop it. It is not an issue. We dont treat people badly because of the color of their skin. It is child abuse to teach children racism. Digging out As the pandemic recedes, closing education gaps and repairing academic damage is a priority for all candidates. Winkley points to three NEISD campuses that are extending their calendars in response to student learning loss. Serna, Larkspur and Jackson-Keller elementary schools are piloting a program in which students learn for six weeks, are evaluated for one week, and if they dont understand the material get a specialized plan to catch them up. Winkley also wants to make sure the district is thoughtful about how it spends its federal pandemic emergency funds, called ESSER. We see where our kids struggled, Winkley said. Each child has a different story. Finding where they need to be so that by the time they graduate they are either ready for college, or for a career in the military or a different industry we need to use those funds to create those programs. Another area where candidates agree is making sure teachers feel supported. Teachers arent getting enough sleep and dont have time for their families, Villarreal said. We need to ask, what can we do to make their life better? Students have not adjusted well to the return to classrooms after the first year of pandemic kept many of them learning remotely at home, and reimposing discipline has been rough for the kids and rough for the teachers, Rowland said. Rowland wants to give teachers more planning time and incentives, including stipends for higher education opportunities, and beef up mentorship for new ones. She said the district should help with housing and child care for teachers to ensure they stay with the district. claire.bryan@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With a hot housing market that has sent San Antonio property values soaring, homeowners searching for ways to cut their tax bills spent part of their Saturday getting the ins and outs of tax exemptions and appraisal protests. About 75 people turned out for the property tax workshop, airing their concerns and frustrations while asking what they can do. For their part, local officials provided them with tips on what to do along with websites and offices to visit and phone numbers to call to help them navigate their options. How to apply for tax exemptions and protest property appraisals were among the most discussed topics. The average value of a home in Bexar County jumped up 28 percent from last year to this year, according to Michael Amezquita, chief appraiser at the Bexar Appraisal District. Other surrounding counties saw percentage increases in the 40s and 50s. Earlier this month, Amezquita said this years increases were the highest he has seen in his 18 years on the job. Were really just reflecting whats going on in the real estate market, he said Saturday. On ExpressNews.com: All of us are at a breaking point: San Antonio, Bexar County leaders look to Austin for property tax relief A persons property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed property value by the tax rate and then dividing by 100, Bexar County Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti explained to attendees. The tax assessor-collectors office collects taxes on behalf of taxing jurisdictions while the Bexar Appraisal District sets property values. Appraisals and protesting Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Properties are valued as of Jan. 1 every year. Amezquita said that property value is looked at by neighborhood and even by street level. He said square footage, the quality of construction, sales prices of properties in each neighborhood and the location of the property all factor into the value of a persons home. Residents who feel like their assessment was not correct have until May 16 to protest it. People who protest by mail will have a time scheduled to meet informally with an appraiser. People also can protest online if they prefer to not meet in person. If someone protesting their assessment does not come to an agreement after that initial meeting, a hearing can be scheduled with the Appraisal Review Board, which will make a decision on the case. On ExpressNews.com: Early voting starts today on Texas property tax relief measures Amezquita said people can protest based on either market value or equity. Someone who protests based on the market is saying they believe their home is not worth what other homes around them are selling for. Someone protesting based on equity is saying their property value is too different from the other properties in the area. When protesting, Amezquita said photographs can help bolster a persons case. If youre in a neighborhood where homes are being remodeled, and your home has been the same for the last 25 years, pictures of that is going to be very helpful in helping you reduce your value, he said. Amezquita said the sooner people sign up to protest the better since he expects there to be about 160,000 appeals this year, up from last years 141,000. Visit bcad.org or call 210-224-2432 to file a protest. On ExpressNews.com: High Bexar County property values prompt residents to learn the art of protesting or find a consultant Exemptions, payment plans Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Exemptions can lower taxable value, which then reduces the tax bill. There are multiple options people can look into, including exemptions for people who are more than 65 years old and veterans with disabilities. A homestead exemption is also an option, and though the deadline to apply for one officially was on Saturday, Amezquita said people can still apply outside of that time frame. According to the comptroller website, a late homestead exemption application can be filed up to two years after the delinquency date, which usually falls on Feb. 1. People can call the tax assessor-collectors office at 210-335-2251 to find out if they have all the property tax exemptions they are eligible for. For those who cant pay large lump sums for their property taxes, Uresti said there are property tax payment plans available. Any taxpayer can have a half-payment plan, which allows people to pay half in November and half in June. There is also a quarter-payment plan and a 10-month payment plan, but there are more stipulations a person must meet to be eligible for those. On ExpressNews.com: Texans shocked as appraised home values skyrocket Workshops Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Denise Lozano, 39, attended the event with her wife, Jacie Lozano, 36, who protests their appraisal each year and has even started helping others learn how to go through the process. The couple lives on the Southwest Side in a neighborhood they say is mostly made up of people with property tax exemptions but who dont typically protest the appraisals. Denise Lozano said others not protesting around them can make it more difficult for them when they try to make their case. Denise Lozano said the event was helpful for her and her wife to think about how to help others in situations like theirs. On ExpressNews.com: 5 things we learned from Nirenbergs State of the City address Saturday mornings workshop at the St. Vincent de Paul Knights of Columbus Banquet Hall on Ray Ellison Boulevard was hosted by District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia. District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo held a similar property tax panel and resource fair later in the day at San Antonio Independent School Districts Harris Middle School. We've heard from everyone across the city in general that their their property taxes went up, Rocha Garcia said. So it's our job to go out and inform people how to protest and how to get those exemptions. And it really is about educating our community. megan.rodriguez@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Estefania Chapa, 20, has looked all over San Antonio the past several weeks trying desperately to find baby formula for her 5-month-old daughter, Rosali. Rosali was born prematurely, and Chapa couldnt supply as much breast milk as she would have liked, so Rosalis pediatrician recommended a special formula for her to be able to grow. The formula was working great, and Rosali was growing strong. But in early April, Chapa began noticing her formula was harder and harder to come by. We go to six, eight, 10 stores in a day, and we cant find anything, she said. Sometimes well go back to the same stores multiple times to see if they got a new shipment in. Chapa and little Rosali are not alone. Thanks to a major recall involving the most popular maker of baby formula, combined with existing supply chain shortages, thousands of mothers in the San Antonio metro area and the United States as a whole are struggling to feed their babies. And while the problem is nationwide, grocery research company Datasembly found that San Antonio has the highest percentage of out-of-stock shelves of any metro area in the country. Fifty-six percent of shelves in the region were out of stock as of mid-April, the company said after analyzing more than 11,000 baby formula sellers. That means mothers of formula-fed babies are scrambling to comb shelves, reach out to strangers on Facebook, scour the internet and hound their pediatricians offices for answers to the shortage problem. Chapa had a brief glimmer of hope recently, when by some miracle she found four cans of her daughters Similac formula at a San Antonio CVS store. The store, however, didnt accept WIC (Women, Infants and Children), a state assistance program that helps mothers purchase formula. Chapa was forced to return the $22 cans to the shelves. It worries me because I think, Where am I going to go? How am I going to feed her? she said. Recall effects Abbott Nutritions plant in Michigan makes the three most popular and widely used brands of baby formula: Similac, Alimentum and EleCare. The formula-maker voluntarily recalled all its products in February after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that a rare bacteria in some of its powder formula caused four infants to get sick, killing two of them. While Abbotts testing of finished product detected no pathogens, we are taking action by recalling the powder formula manufactured in this facility with an expiration of April 1, 2022, or later, the company said in a news release announcing the recall. An FDA investigation released in March revealed that the Michigan plant was found to have an unsanitary manufacturing environment in multiple instances. Upon learning of the recall, pediatrician Subhashini Valavalkar with the Childrens Hospital of San Antonio took all samples of Abbott formulas off her shelves and alerted all her patients mothers that the formula should not be consumed. Valavalkar, like pediatricians across the nation, then began the task of helping mothers figure out what to do in the event that they couldnt find the specific formula they needed for their baby. She said she had to switch mothers who were using Abbott formulas to brands such as Enfamil or Goodstart. But that led to supply shortages of those brands, too, as more mothers were buying them, and now all formula is hard to find. Switching a babys formula is extremely difficult on the baby, Valavalkar said, because babies systems are still very fragile and the slightest change in their nutrition can wreak havoc on their bodies. Any formula change is a problem, she said. Valavalkar has been reaching out to representatives who work for formula companies, as well as wholesalers, to find anything she can. Valavalkar said some mothers are attempting to dilute babies existing formula cans to make them last longer, which can throw off critical electrolyte balances in the formula and sicken the baby. Mothers whose infants are formula-fed are nervous and panicking, she said, because they dont know where their babys next meal will come from. I have one mom who said, I have four (cans of formula) left, and thatll last me maybe a week, she said. They keep calling us, and we are supposed to have answers for them, but this is beyond our control. When will it end? No one knows when the shortage might end, but moms are doing everything they can in the meantime to make sure their babies have the food they need. Kelli Whitleys 4-month-old son Parker tried nine different formulas before he found one that he could tolerate. Whitley, 28, cant produce enough breast milk to feed him, so formula was the only option for her little boy. Whitley, who lives in Victoria, has traveled and called all over South and Central Texas looking for formula since the shortage began. Not being able to find the only food that her son can eat makes me sick to my stomach, Whitley said. Its a hard feeling to describe, not knowing where my kids meals are going to come from, she said. Stores from Corpus Christi so San Antonio are completely wiped out of any formula. She said that at first, she thought that only the special formula her son needed was out of stock, so she sent her husband into an H-E-B last month to find some hypoallergenic formula that could tide Parker over until his special formula came back in stock. Her husband called her from the store and said there was nothing on the shelves. He was like, Weve got to feed him, we have nothing to give him, she said. Thats when Whitley realized how bad the shortage really was. Through Facebook, Whitley managed to buy some cans of Parkers formula from a woman in San Antonio, and the cans should last her a couple of weeks. After that, she isnt sure what shes going to do for her son. Whitley works in early childhood development, and the shelves at her office are usually stocked with formula to give out for free to struggling mothers. Now, however, theyre bare. It makes my heart hurt, and it makes me sick to my stomach that her son and others dont have access to formula, she said. Theres literally no other options for our babies. When is this going to end? Annie Blanks writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. annie.blanks@express-news.net. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible for South-Central Texas through Sunday night, according to a National Weather Service news release. However, the overall risk is low. If thunderstorms do occur, residents could face hail and strong winds, according to the release. If the storms move slowly through the area, rainfall of half an inch to 2 inches is possible in isolated areas, which could lead to minor flooding. As someone who has lived in Pune for her entire life, I can proudly attest to the fact that gone are the days when eateries in the city served the same 10 Indian-style dishes. Today, theres no dearth of lip-smacking delicacies to take your pick from when dining out. From authentic Italian flavours at La Magia to reimagined Indian dishes at Bharat Bhavan, and a well-curated menu featuring global accents at The Market, the city seems to have a lot to offer. This is why we decided to bring you a round-up of the best restaurants in Pune that you need to visit at least once, if you havent already! La Magia Image: Instagram Tucked away in the quaint by-lanes of Koregaon Park, surrounded with lush greenery is the authentic Italian cafe, La Magia that opened doors in the city in the pandemic. Founded by Sonal Barmecha, the menu is put together by the famous Chef Shailendra Kekade. The carefully-curated menu comprises freshly-prepared Italian dishes that are not heavy, yet rich in flavours. Certain must-haves on your trip to La Magia include Cranberry and Walnut Brie Al Forno, Melon Torta, Black Olive Ravioli, Fungo Freddo and Patate E Aglio Pizza. Pair your food with a fresh mocktail or a delicious cocktail like the Dark Chocolate Mulled Wine. Bharat Bhavan Image: Instagram The latest from Meraki hospitality, Bharan Bhavans goal is to pay homage to the legacy of Indian fare through its innovative interpretation of the countrys food. The extensive menu features dishes like Shakarkand Ki Bhel, Rasmalai Chaat, and Paneer Chettiyar, and the unusual desserts like Gajar Ka Halwa ice cream, Khubani Ka Meetha will blow your mind. They have some interesting cocktails and coolers like Kacha Pakka Aam, Chunnilal and Kashmir Ki Kali, that go well with the rich Indian food. All in all, Bharat Bhavan is a great place to head to with your family for a fabulous dinner or with friends for some great cocktails. The Market, Westin Image: Instagram Located at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, The Market offers an extravagant spread of multi cuisines, inspired globally, but raised locally. Although the restaurant is a buffet one and is particularly known for their popular sunday brunches, one can order a-la carte as well. The menu curated by Chef Vikran Khatri, has plenty to offer with lip smacking European and Asian dishes Culture 2.0 Image: Instagram After being a trending spot for years at Fergusson Road, the owners have launched their second outlet, Culture 2.0 at BHS. The menu features a number of dishes including Pan Asian delicacies, continental dishes, assorted wood-fired pizzas and flatbreads. Wash them down with their popular drinks such as Holy Water, Fruity Elixir, An Early Start etc. If getting together and endless conversations is on your mind, then the delicious drinks and comforting flavours at Culture 2.0 will do you good. Alto Vino Image: Instagram The signature Italian restaurant at JW Marriott Pune offers progressive Italian cuisine curated by its expert expat Chef Christian Huber. The delicacies at the restaurant encompass innovations including a delectable variety of antipasti, pastas, pizzas, risottos, seafood dishes and traditional Italian desserts. Chef Huber prefers using home cured and organic ingredients in his cooking. I am a firm believer that restaurant menus should frequently innovate and evolve to ensure guests are always captivated by fresh flavours and diverse ingredients, says Christian Huber, Chef De Cuisine, Alto Vino, JW Marriott Pune, whose menu at Alto Vino draws inspiration from his travels across Italy and India. The restaurant exudes contemporary design and essentially brings together various elements of Italy. Low-hanging chandeliers, illuminated wine towers, tunes of modern Italian music and sporadic clusters of candles that exude the glow of amber, making the ambiance at Alto Vino the perfect place to enjoy a quiet dinner offering subtlety of romance and a family or corporate lunch Next Story : Awwdorable! Restaurants In Mumbai That Are Perf For Your Next Date Night Read More: Restaurants In Mumbai That Are Perf For Your Next Date Night Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Song Young-gil, left, shakes hands with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon during a Buddha's Birthday event at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, Saturday. Song has been selected as the DPK's candidate for the Seoul mayoral race, competing against incumbent Oh of the People Power Party (PPP). Yonhap Gyeonggi Governor election rekindles Yoon-Lee rivalry By Kwon Mee-yoo Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Song Young-gil has been selected to be the party's candidate for the Seoul mayoral election in the June 1 local elections, competing against incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The DPK and PPP are each vying to win the majority of the June 1 local election races, and the Seoul mayor and Gyeonggi Province governor races are likely the fiercest battlegrounds. The DPK, which will soon be the majority opposition party, had initially ruled Song out of the list of Seoul mayoral contenders as Song had resigned from the post of party leader post in March after the party's defeat in the presidential election. However, responding to various objections, the committee later allowed Song to run in its internal primary race for the position. Song, who served as mayor of the port city of Incheon from 2010 to 2014, emphasized that the Seoul mayoral election is not just a competition with Oh, but the results are a litmus test showing the public's opinion toward the Yoon administration. "The Seoul Mayor election is going to be a match to protect human rights, democracy and property rights of citizens against Yoon Suk-yeol's republic of prosecutors," Song said after winning the party's primary, Friday. The PPP, which will be the minor ruling party after Yoon's inauguration on May 10, picked incumbent Oh as its Seoul mayor candidate on April 11 and Oh will vie for his fourth win at the post. Oh served as Seoul mayor from 2006 to 2010, was re-elected in 2010, and then resigned midway through his second term in a clash over his campaign to end free school lunches for all students with the city council. He returned to the post last year after winning the by-election last year in April. Early poll results favor Oh, and Yoon won the Seoul area in the presidential election by 4.83 percent. Interstate Fusion Ventures (fka Akron Fusion Ventures), an Akron, OH-based venture capital firm, plans to raise a $40m second fund. Led by fund manager Bill Manby, Interstate Fusion Ventures will invest in 40-50 portfolio companies continuing to focus on Northeast Ohio, but with a greater inclusion of companies in Silicon Valley and New York. As with the first fund, IFV will target companies able to grow substantially toward larger valuations and raise significant follow-on funding. Beginning in mid-2020, AFV co-invested with M12 (Microsoft Corp.s venture arm) in a startup named Pod Foods, a grocery-store supply chain that offers a full-service wholesale marketplace connecting retailers with brands that sell. The first fund also invested in the Seed and Series A round raised by Splash Financial, a Cleveland company that offers a one-stop shop for comparing loan offers. The first vehicle has invested in 21 companies. FinSMEs 01/05/2022 January Ventures, a Boston, MA- and London, UK-based venture capital firm, closed its second fund, at $21M. Fund II investors include institutions like Wellington Management, Bank of America, IDEAL Investments, and The Kapor Foundation. The fund will continue investing in formation stage B2B software startups. Out of this new $21M Fund II, the firm plans to invest in 35 to 40 companies. Led by Maren Bannon, and Jennifer Neundorfer, January Ventures provides funding and connects founders to an operator network with more than 100 tech leaders who have worked at over 50 unicorn companies, including Uber, Twitter, Miro, Compass, Toast, Airbnb, Google, Amazon, and Stripe. Since 2018, the firm has invested in 50 early stage tech startups including Ethena, Kapwing, PlanetFWD, Sonantic, Ntropy, Sorcero, Gable, Oula Health, Kinside and Elektra Health. January Ventures has proactively built an investor base that reflects the diversity of its portfolio 60% of its LPs identify as women. FinSMEs 01/05/2022 On March 30, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who attended the "Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan" Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, in Tunxi, Anhui Province. Mohammed thanked China for inviting him to attend the Dialogue, spoke highly of China's important role on the Afghan issue, highly appreciated China's consistent and fair position on the Palestinian question, and extended congratulations on the successful Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. He said, Qatar cherishes its friendship with China, and the government and people of Qatar always remember the strong support of China when Qatar encountered difficulties. The Qatari side firmly supports the one-China principle and opposes external interference in China's internal affairs. The economic and trade cooperation between Qatar and China continues to expand, with China becoming Qatar's most important energy partner. Qatar is willing to be China's sustained and stable energy supplier and will firmly fulfill the cooperation agreement between the two sides. The Qatari side attaches great importance to and is willing to actively participate in the important Belt and Road Initiative, and will continue to provide convenience for Chinese enterprises to invest in Qatar. Wang Yi said, President Xi Jinping and Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a successful meeting during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and reached important consensus, leading the China-Qatar relations to constantly make new progress. The two sides should continue to support each other in safeguarding core interests and strengthen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Qatar National Vision 2030. China is willing to be Qatar's long-term, reliable and stable strategic partner in energy cooperation and actively expand cooperation in the whole industrial chain. Wang Yi said, Qatar has participated in the political settlement of various hotspot issues, and contributed to peace and cooperation, making Doha an important stage for small countries to actively carry out a strong foreign policy. The current international situation is turbulent and volatile, and non-peace factors are increasing. However, the Palestinian question should not be marginalized, let alone forgotten. China supports countries in the Middle East in strengthening solidarity and self-improvement, exploring development paths in line with their own choices in the spirit of independence, respecting and accommodating each other's legitimate concerns in an inclusive and reconciliatory manner, and building a collective security architecture in the Middle East. The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, sports, tourism and other fields, so as to strengthen people-to-people bonds between the two countries. The two sides agreed to upgrade cooperation between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Mohammed expressed support for signing the free trade agreement between China and the GCC as soon as possible. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The two sides also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, among others. The Hangreen, a 19.1-meter building mostly made of wood, stands in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The five-story structure symbolizes the new trend of eco-friendly construction in Korea. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min Korea embraces timber as key construction material By Jung Min-ho Korea Forest Service Deputy Minister Choi Byeong-am speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times at his office in Daejeon. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min YEONGJU/DAEJEON For more than a century, concrete and steel have replaced wood as primary building materials, especially for tall structures. But thanks to increasing demand for "greener construction" and technological advances, timber is back in style. The Hangreen, a 19.1-meter wooden building in Yeongju, symbolizes the new trend in Korea. The five-story structure, mainly made of Korean larch, a common tree species here, marks only the beginning of a new era of architecture, according to Choi Byeong-am, deputy minister of the Korea Forest Service (KFS). "Imagine a wooden skyscraper in the heart of Seoul," Choi said. "You may see it in the near future. Wooden buildings are more eco-friendly, sustainable and aesthetic than concrete ones. Increasingly, people are rediscovering the value of the old material." The interior of the Hangreen / Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min The biggest development in timber construction of the past few decades is "mass timber," which refers to composite-wood systems that combine multiple layers of planks into larger structural elements; cross-laminated timber (CLT), its most common form, makes it possible to build tall buildings by offering high strength. So, in theory, architects and engineers today can build a modern town or an entire city mostly out of wood. This is one of the plans Choi has in mind. "In collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we are planning to select a few towns or cities (most likely three) next year and will transform them into sort of like wooden towns or cities as part of the government's urban renewal projects," he said. "To make it possible, we should ease regulations on wooden structures, including the height limit of 18 meters (the Hangreen was an exception), which the ministry has been considering positively. Besides, we need to improve our technology, which, at the current level, enables us only to construct a 12-story building (about 36 meters)." The world's tallest timber building is the 18-story Mjostarnet tower in Brumunddal, Norway. Completed last year, it is 85.4 meters high and includes a hotel, offices and private homes. HoHo in Seestadt Aspern, near Vienna, Austria, is the second tallest at 84 meters. But Japan, another country known for its advanced wood construction technology, is planning to build a 350-meter tower in Tokyo a project expected to be finished in 2041 to challenge them. According to the KFS, only 17 percent of wood used in Korea is domestic timber. But this is projected to increase to 30 percent by 2035, given that the country started a massive tree planting campaign about 50 years ago. "Many trees will be mature enough to be used in the coming decade or so," Choi said. "This means Korea will soon enter a new era of opportunity." The 85.4-meter Mjostarnet tower in Norway is the world's tallest timber building. Courtesy of Vjus Mass timber is sturdy as concrete and just as fireproof One of the most popular misconceptions about wooden buildings is that they are a lot more hazardous than ones made of concrete and steel in the event of a fire. But mass timber is not like dry sticks. It is difficult to ignite in the first place and, if a fire occurs, it takes quite a long time to burn completely. For instance, the Hangreen has a fire-resistance rating of two hours the duration that a material can withstand exposure to fire. In addition, when the wood burns, it does so in a predictable way, unlike buildings made of concrete, steel, glass and other materials, which can suddenly explode or snap. It is difficult to ignite mass timber. If a fire occurs, the wood burns slowly and predictably. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min The bottom line is that there is no such thing as a "perfectly fireproof" building. All materials are combustible, albeit to varying degrees, and can pose a hazard to life and property. "Concerns about wooden buildings' fire safety are overblown," Choi said. "Such worries will disappear as more people get to see and learn about modern wooden buildings." Designed and built correctly, wooden buildings are also very durable. Across the world, there are many examples that have survived for hundreds of years with proper care. Mass timber has proved to perform well in earthquakes. If damaged, the material can be repaired relatively easily; concrete buildings with extensive cracks are more difficult to fix. In addition, wood is lighter and less time is required to build a structure from it. "It would take twice as much time to build something like the Hangreen with concrete," Choi said. "Wood is more expensive about five to 10 percent higher. But lower labor costs for reduced construction time can help offset the material cost." A dense forest in Yeongju / Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. I believe camping bans are unconstitutional and I think the city should do away with it. I think the the city should look at developing a managed camp like Deltas. I think it disincentivizes efforts to find real solutions to the homeless problem. I think the ban needs to be coupled with greater efforts to expand shelter space and access to services. I think its unfortunate but necessary. It provides incentive for people to get the help they need. I think its a good thing. Urban camping strains resources and hurts local businesses and tourism. Im conflicted. I dont know what the right answer is. Vote View Results WInchester, Virginia, April 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at VIPC, and a coalition of public and private sector leaders from DroneUp, ATA, Ecodyne, and the City of Winchester conducted a demonstration Fly-In during the 95th annual Apple Blossom Festival. Featured in the demonstration was the Commonwealths Virginia Flight Information Exchange platform (VA FIX) which integrates environmental sensors, weather sensors, data feeds, operations platforms, and surveillance technologies through a public platform for safe, effective simultaneous operations of UAS systems from public safety agencies, commercial operators, and hobbyists. This demonstration marks the first time this type of simultaneous integration and operation of UAS systems has happened in the United States. The Apple Blossom Fly-In is a demonstration of the Virginia Department of Aviation's commitment to both affordable and accessible public services that support Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and the UAS industry, said Greg Campbell, Director of the Virginia Department of Aviation. By conducting high density, multi-operator operations safely in proximity using public information sharing, the team is leveraging a public event to foster public dialogue, awareness, and support for a growing industry that is creating 21st-century economic development, jobs and opportunities in Virginia. As a result of this exercise, the community of Winchester has gained a leave behind infrastructure making it one of the first Drone Ready communities in America. The participants in the event included: The City of Winchester provided the configuration of the ground, weather, and environmental sensor data and Winchester Regional Airport provided data on the locations of manned aircraft. Echodyne provided radar data on drone positions and Aloft provided integration into B4UFLY for public and private operator awareness. DroneUp lead the commercial food delivery effort while ATA, the technology partner to DOAV for VA-FIX, is serving as the integrator while multiple private and public operators provided other flight services during the event. "The Apple Blossom Fly-In is another example of what is possible through public, private partnerships", said Tracy Tynan, Director of Virginias Unmanned Systems Center at VIPC. The unmanned systems industry is growing. Winchesters success helps us better understand what a Drone Ready Community needs to be successful as communities across the Commonwealth prepare for the future." About Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) Connecting innovators with opportunities. The nonprofit operations arm of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA), VIPC is the commercialization and seed stage economic development driver in the Commonwealth that leads funding, infrastructure, and policy initiatives to support Virginia's innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and market development strategies. VIPC collaborates with local, regional, state, and federal partners to support the expansion and diversification of Virginias economy. Programs include: Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) | Virginia Founders Fund (VFF) |Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) | Smart Communities | Unmanned Systems | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) | Federal Funding Assistance Program (FFAP) for SBIR & STTR | University Partnerships | Startup Company Mentoring & Engagement. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaIPC.org. Follow VIPC on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Attachments Korea Forest Service Minister Choi Byeong-am speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the organization's headquarters in Daejeon, April 25. Courtesy of Korea Forest Service Officials from 144 countries to attend World Forestry Congress 2022 in Seoul By Lee Kyung-min Korea will lead the global initiative in preventing deforestation by 2030, an agenda that will take center stage at the 15th World Forestry Congress to be held this week in Seoul, according to the country's top forestry policymaker. The extremely challenging yet tangible goal requires action- and commitment-oriented leadership, anchored by extensive experience in forestry development, a responsibility Korea is happy and confident to undertake, Korea Forest Service (KFS) Minister Choi Byeong-am said in an interview with The Korea Times at KFS headquarters in Daejeon, April 25. Korea's role, he said, will not be limited to mediating the varying interests of countries around the world, but will instead be about elevating the discussion to build a global consensus on the need to outline and uphold long-term, sustainable development goals. Few consider environmental issues an immediate, high-stake priority, he acknowledged. However, the consequences of neglecting the importance of the green drive will be immense, a reason why the often-underappreciated noble efforts of forestry experts around the world have been and will continue to be vital and relevant, in his view. The five-day event will be held from May 2 to 6 at COEX in southern Seoul. The theme of the 15th World Forestry Congress will be "Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient Future with Forests" and the events will be held in four languages English, French, Spanish and Korean. Korea is the third country in Asia to hold the international event, which is held every six years. A screen in New York's Times Square promotes the 15th World Forestry Congress to be held in Seoul from May 2 to 6. Courtesy of Korea Forest Service Korea model for global peers "Korea has long been recognized as a global leader in forestry policymaking, planning and development, underpinned by the country's success in forestry management from within the country and abroad over the past few decades," Choi said during the interview. Tax professional standards statement This content supports Grant Thornton LLPs marketing of professional services and is not written tax advice directed at the particular facts and circumstances of any person. If you are interested in the topics presented herein, we encourage you to contact us or an independent tax professional to discuss their potential application to your particular situation. Nothing herein shall be construed as imposing a limitation on any person from disclosing the tax treatment or tax structure of any matter addressed herein. To the extent this content may be considered to contain written tax advice, any written advice contained in, forwarded with or attached to this content is not intended by Grant Thornton LLP to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. The information contained herein is general in nature and is based on authorities that are subject to change. It is not, and should not be construed as, accounting, legal or tax advice provided by Grant Thornton LLP to the reader. This material may not be applicable to, or suitable for, the readers specific circumstances or needs and may require consideration of tax and nontax factors not described herein. Contact Grant Thornton LLP or other tax professionals prior to taking any action based upon this information. Changes in tax laws or other factors could affect, on a prospective or retroactive basis, the information contained herein; Grant Thornton LLP assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any such changes. All references to Section, Sec., or refer to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Representatives of the Brazilian Internal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil) met with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on April 12, 2022, to present new transfer pricing rules. The proposed rules could help Brazil join the OECD and make certain Brazilian taxes creditable in the U.S. under the newBrazils inclusion as a member of the OECD has been discussed since 2018. One of the fundamental criteria for inclusion is the implementation of a new transfer pricing system. The intent is to improve trade agreements between Brazil and countries located abroad, and between linked or interdependent companies, avoiding double taxation or double non-taxation, and simplifying the legislation.The adoption of the new transfer pricing system is expected to be performed between the years 2022 and 2023. The new rules would still need to be submitted to the Brazilian National Congress and approved to become effective.Should these rules become effective, aligning the transfer pricing system to the international rules of the OECD could have significant effects on the current interaction of Brazils tax system with other jurisdictions. For example, the changes to Brazils transfer pricing system may alleviate some issues relating to the creditability of certain Brazilian taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.PartnerWashington National Tax Office+1 202 521 1509 BMWs iFACTORY production strategy defines the future orientation of plants and production technologies at the BMW Group and meets the challenges of the transformation to e-mobility. Automotive manufacturing of the future requires a new, holistic way of thinking. With our BMW iFACTORY, we are leading the way and setting new standards in flexibility, efficiency, sustainability and digitalization. Milan Nedeljkovic, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production The strategic vision of the global production network is the BMW iFACTORY. LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL., with an integrative, global approach. The BMW iFACTORY is not a one-off showpiece but an approach we will implement at all our plants in the future from our 100-year-old home plant in Munich to our forthcoming plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Milan Nedeljkovic BMW Group Production Network: 31 production sites in 15 countries. The BMW iFACTORY focuses the BMW Groups production expertise on three key topic areas: LEAN, which stands for efficiency, precision and extreme flexibility; GREEN, for sustainability, resource-efficiency and circularity; and DIGITAL, for the active use of digitalisation in data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtualization. The holistic approach of the BMW iFACTORY is underpinned by the flexibility, launch expertise and integration capability in the companys production system. LEAN: Based on highly flexible, efficient production. The BMW Groups production network is on the cusp of a fundamental transformation: the Neue Klasse, due for production launch in 2025, is based on a completely new vehicle architecture. With its clear focus on the all-electric drive, it sets the conditions for future vehicle generations to be manufactured efficiently and in line with the companys profitability and quality goals. The BMW iFACTORY is now set to strengthen the proven success factors of the global production network. LEAN is about highly flexible, efficient production through streamlined processes in competitive structures. A single BMW production line can produce different drive types and vehicle models. They also set the standard in terms of rapid responsiveness and adaptability, absorbing supply bottlenecks and shortages comparatively spontaneously and reacting quickly to fluctuations in demand. For customers, this flexibility means they can change certain elements of their vehicle configuration up to six days before the production date. The aim of the BMW iFACTORY is to use even more meaningful real-time data from throughout the production process to control global manufacturing more closely and transparently achieve the fastest possible response times. This will enhance not only volume and market planning but also supply chain and inventory management and support targeted work on quality as well. GREEN: Sustainability along the entire value chain. With BMW iFACTORY, the focus on sustainable production is stronger than ever. Environmental, economic and social responsibility are inseparable, and we strive to achieve all three not only in the product itself but along the entire value chain. By 2030 we aim to reduce CO2 emissions from production by 80 percent compared to 2019, Milan Nedeljkovic With its new plant in Debrecen, Hungarywhere production of the all-electric Neue Klasse will launch in 2025the BMW Group is entering a new era in sustainable automotive production. Our plans are for Plant Debrecen to be the first automotive plant in the world to dispense completely with fossil energy sources in its production processes. Debrecen will be our first CO 2 -free vehicle plant and puts us clearly at the vanguard of developments in this regard. Milan Nedeljkovic A significant share of the plants electricity will be generated directly on site. The remainder will be covered by 100% renewables, the vast majority of which will come from regional sources. Another element of sustainable production is consistent circularity. Wherever possible, production materials and resources will be reused. Metal offcuts and filings from milling, for example, will be recycled and reused, while waste heat from cooling will be fed into a circuit to heat indoor spaces and water. Saving resources significantly benefits the company economically. Examples include the resource-saving wet-in-wet painting process (IPP) and the use of direct current in car body construction for the first time. The energy that powers the BMW Groups plants around the world is sourced purely from renewables. As Plant Leipzig develops into a center of excellence for hydrogen, the companys facilities worldwide are becoming increasingly independent of third-party energy suppliers or other external influences. This is enabled by a combination of self-generated and stored energy with flexible load profiles throughout production. Here, the latest digital methods and comprehensive systems ensure maximum transparency and support the consistent reduction of energy consumption as well as the needs-based use of renewables on the basis of accurate forecasts. A further key issue in the field of climate protection is biodiversity. The variety of flora and fauna at BMW Group sites worldwide is being promoted through targeted, region-specific measures, from beehives and falcons to meadow orchards. Meanwhile, to support GREEN logistics both within and outside the plants, the BMW iFACTORY adopts an open-minded approach to technologies, focusing on environmentally sustainable concepts. Within the next few years, for example, increased use of rail transport and electric trucks will mean zero local emissions from transport logistics at Plant Munich. DIGITAL: From innovations to effective use cases. Production at the BMW Group uses the latest technologies to link all the relevant product, process, quality and cost data between development, planning and production processes. The main focus here is on applications from the fields of virtualization, data science and artificial intelligence. Virtualization plays an important role within the BMW iFACTORY strategy model. In a first step, every detail of all the BMW Groups production sites is being recorded in a 3D scan. In this way, planning work can be carried out virtually at any time and from anywhere. In the next logical step, a virtual representationor digital twinis created of each factory in its entirety. This can then be used by planning specialists in real-time collaborations across different locations and time zones. This approach allows virtual products to be integrated into the factory early on, for example, and significantly reduces planning work further down the line. It also allows investments to be optimized and enhances process efficiency and the stability of product launches. Data science provides the foundations for fact-, figure- and (real-time) data-based decision-making. Consistent, transparent data allows the root causes to be identified quickly and proactively so that processes can be optimized. BMW Group production already uses more than 200 AI-based applications. The technology allows various logistics and production processes to be automated for better quality assurance. In addition, standardized platforms and self-services mean solutions can be scaled rapidly for application across all technologies and locations. The key factors behind the transformation of BMW Group production are the developments in the automotive market and specifications around climate change. The BMW Group is already doubling its production of electric vehicles in 2022, having delivered more than 35,000 fully electric cars to customers in the first quarter alone. At the same time, the latest technical innovations are supporting the company as it contributes significantly to climate protection and sustainability. Russia-based Nornickel, the worlds largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper, has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom). The parties agreed to cooperate in several areas. First, the parties intend to deliver strategic projects in the Russian Arctic in a bid to develop the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route, Arctic shipping, including the implementation of shipbuilding projects and the development of the nuclear icebreaker fleet. The nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir and the port icebreaker Dudinka. Atomflots icebreakers help Nornickel expand the transport corridor to the Taimyr Peninsula, allowing it to support its investment program in the Norilsk Industrial District. For example, since 2022, the Sibir nuclear-powered icebreaker has been providing year-round navigation on the Murmansk-Dudinka line and is operating in the Yenisey Bay, ensuring commercial speed of piloting. Joint projects may also include the development of the Kolmozerskoye lithium deposit in the Murmansk region and further deep processing of lithium raw materials. Kolmozerskoye is the largest (18.9% of Russian reserves) and most promising untapped Russian lithium ore deposit and is currently unallocated. The parties will consider setting up a joint venture with stakes and parity principles of corporate governance. Such JV would combine the assets and competencies of the partners and participate in the Kolmozerskoye licence auction. This would give Russia the opportunity to start its own lithium industry and production of lithium-ion batteries. The country does not currently mine lithium. Nornickels products have long played an important role in energy storage. By expanding our range of metals with such an important and sought-after raw material as lithium, we intend to strengthen our position as a key supplier to the battery industry. And cooperation between Rosatom and Nornickel will allow the Russian industry to take a step forward in developing its own production of efficient modern batteries. Nornickel President Vladimir Potanin Lithium mining would help set up the first domestic production of lithium-containing products, as well as the production of lithium-ion traction batteries. Thus, by complementing each others capabilities and assets, cooperation between Rosatom and Nornickel will accelerate the construction of a full-cycle energy storage industry. An auction for the rights to the Kolmozerskoye lithium deposit in Russias Murmansk region is due to take place in Q3 2022, with a starting price of tentatively 310 million rubles (US$4.26 million), Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov told Interfax. The deposit contains niobium, tantalum and beryllium besides lithium. The Natural Resources Ministry has put it up for auction but no interested parties could be found due to the hefty starting price, the ministry said this year. Rosatoms Atomredmetzoloto or ARMZ, which mines uranium, said at the start of this year that it was choosing a pilot field to launch a lithium project in 2022. Under the Nornickel-Rosatom cooperation agreement, Rosatom plans to involve FSUE Atomflot, ARMZ Uranium Holding, JSC TechSnabExport and JSC RENERA in the projects. Restoring trust key to future-oriented partnership South Koreans are paying keen attention to whether Seoul can improve soured relations with Tokyo after a new conservative president takes office May 10. Recent developments are raising cautious optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's delegation to Japan said April 26 that its delegates and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed on the need for future-oriented relations. "We have shared the view that both South Korea and Japan, which now stand on a new starting line, should make efforts for the future-oriented development of relations and for shared interests," Rep. Chung Jin-suk, head of the delegation, said after meeting with the Japanese leader. The delegation delivered Yoon's letter to Kishida. Chung said the letter contained a proposal to revive the spirit of a 1998 declaration between then Korean President Kim Dae-jung and then Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. The proposal reflected Yoon's hope that Seoul and Tokyo will forge a forward-looking partnership while facing up to their shared history. Bringing up the declaration is meaningful as it opened the way for improved bilateral ties. At the time, Obuchi expressed "keen remorse" and apologized for the "great damage and pain" Japan inflicted on the Korean people during its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Chung said Kishida also shared the understanding on the idea of inheriting and furthering the Kim-Obuchi declaration. He also said the Japanese prime minister shared the delegation's view on the need to revitalize personnel exchanges that have come to a standstill amid diplomat rows and COVID-19. It is fortunate that both sides have felt the need to mend bilateral ties which have plunged to the lowest level since the 1965 diplomatic normalization treaty. Seoul and Tokyo need to take advantage of Korea's change of government to narrow their differences over Japan's wartime atrocities and move toward reconciliation. Bilateral ties began to deteriorate in 2017 when President Moon Jae-in scrapped a 2015 deal on Japan's wartime sex slavery issue. They worsened further in 2018 when Seoul's top court ruled that Japanese companies should pay compensation to surviving South Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor. The next year, Tokyo imposed export restrictions on key materials needed by Korean firms to make semiconductors and display panels in apparent retaliation to the ruling. Against this backdrop, it is necessary for Korea and Japan to resolve their disputes over the historical issues to put their relations back on track. Kishida was quoted as saying that the two counties can no longer delay efforts for improved relations as it is urgent to develop not only a bilateral strategic partnership but also trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. We could not agree more with what Kishida said. But it is disappointing to see him sticking to a previous Japanese position that Korea should first solve the problem by dropping its compensation demand. Japan should change such a stance and face up to history squarely if it really wants to mend ties with Korea. Most of all, both sides need to restore mutual trust to move toward a better future. Umicore and Automotive Cells Company (ACC)a joint company between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies together with its subsidiary Safthave signed a long-term strategic supply agreement for EV cathode materials in Europe. Umicore will supply ACCs future large-scale European battery plants with next-generation high-nickel cathode materials out of its greenfield production plant in Nysa, Poland. Umicore commissioned its greenfield plant in Nysathe first cathode materials plant in Europein 2021. The plant will start commercial production in the second quarter of 2022 and will employ 400 people. ACC is constructing Gigafactories in France and Germany and recently announced plans for a third Gigafactory in Italy. (Earlier post.) The long-term agreement will start with an annual offtake commitment of 13 GWh to a major platform of a European car manufacturer with first commercial volumes expected in early 2024. Umicore and ACC share the ambition to further develop their partnership with the potential to grow annually supplied volumes to reach at least 46 GWh by 2030, equivalent to powering at least 500,000 EVs per year. The partnership supports ACCs growth and sustainability ambitions by providing ACC access to critical, high-performing and ethically sourced battery materials for the ramp-up of its European cell production. In turn, it will provide Umicore secured access to substantial demand for its cathode materials and further diversify its exposure to major and diverse players in the EV value chain. With this important agreement, which secures the supply of a key component for the battery industry, ACC confirms its ambition to become a European leader for car batteries that allow clean and efficient mobility for all. Yann Vincent, CEO of ACC This long-term supply agreement is a major milestone for Umicores Rechargeable Battery Materials business and complements Umicores recent agreement with ACC on battery recycling (earlier post), whereby Umicore will be recycling the battery production waste at ACCs testing facilities in France. The last week of April was a big one, announcements-wise. Oppo unveiled the K10 5G and K10 Pro in China. The K10 5G has a 6.59-inch IPS LCD of 120Hz refresh rate, Dimensity 8000 Max chipset, 64MP main camera, and a 5,000mAh battery. The K10 Pro has a 6.62-inch 120Hz AMOLED, a Snapdragon 888 chip, a 50MP main camera, and a 5,000mAh battery. The two handsets are offered in Black and Blue colors, but they are slightly different from one another. The standard K10 5G starts at CNY 1,999 (~$310), while the Pro option sells for CNY 2,499 (~$385) Motorola brought the Edge 30 with a Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, a 6.5-inch 144Hz OLED, high-quality stereo speakers, dual 50MP cameras, and mostly clean Android. It has a starting price of 450 and is coming soon to select markets in Europe, Asia, Australia, India, Latin America, and the Middle East. The Vivo X80 and X80 Pro arrived in China, but the X80 Pro+ was kept under wraps until sometime in Q3 this year. The X80 Pro comes in two versions - a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered one and a Dimensity 9000 one. It has a 6.78-inch E5 LTPO2 AMOLED with QHD+ resolution and granular refresh rate adjustments ranging between 1Hz and 120Hz. For the main camera, the X80 Pro uses a custom 50MP 1/1.3" Samsung-made ISOCELL GNV imager. The phone draws power from the 4,700 mAh battery that supports vivo's brand new 80W wired fast charging, and 50W wireless charging. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 option will be offered with either 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB memory while the Dimensity 9000 variant will come equipped only with the last two configurations. As far as pricing goes, the X80 Pro asks CNY 5,499 ($840), CNY 5,999 ($915) and CNY 6,699 ($1,020), respectively. The vivo X80 still packs a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC but there's no Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 option. The display is a 6.78-inch Samsung E5 AMOLED, which isn't LTPO2 but is 120Hz. The main shooter uses a 50MP Sony IMX866 RGBW 1/1.49" sensor and an f/1.75 lens with OIS. The X80 draws from a slightly smaller 4,500mAh battery and misses on the wireless charging, but retains the fast 80W fast wired charging. The available memory options are 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB, which cost CNY 3,699 ($565), CNY 3,999 ($610), CNY 4,399 ($670) and CNY 4,899 ($745), respectively. The Poco F4 GT was unveiled with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a 120Hz display, and 120W charging. We already have the review. Finally, Twitter and its biggest shareholder Elon Musk agreed terms for a complete buyout. Mr. Musk will become the sole owner in a deal worth approximately $44 billion. That's it for this week. See you next one! Oppo announces the Oppo K10 5G and the K10 Pro The K10 5G is largely different from the standard K10 introduced earlier. Motorola Edge 30 goes official with 6.5" 144Hz OLED display, SD778G+ And a dual 50MP camera on the back, similar to the one in the Edge 30 Pro. The phone costs about half as much as the Pro, however. Poco F4 GT unveiled with SD8 Gen1, 120Hz display and 120W charging Like the previous GT, this one has shoulder triggers for gaming and an advanced cooling solution. Oppo Reno7 5G in for review We got a shimmering Startrails Blue variant with 256GB of storage. Samsung Galaxy A04s renders show a tweaked design There is no camera bump on the back anymore, only the lenses stick out. Alleged OnePlus 10R Lite, surfaces with Dimensity 8100 chipset This should sit below the regular 10R/Ace, but above the OnePlus Nord 2 CE Lite. Android 13 Beta 1 is now available for supported Pixels Installation is much less of a hassle than it was with the Developer Previews. From gorgeous skylines to cobblestone streets and marvelous architecture, Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass are two areas you must explore on a day trip! The first order of business in the morning would be to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. There will be souvenirs you can purchase at the Manhattan side entrance for a low price. I bought a Chinatown license plate, several Vogue and The New Yorker covers, as well as pictures related to the Big Apple to collect and hang in my room. With a brisk pace, you can reach the end of the Brooklyn Bridge in 20 to 25 minutes. Take a stroll to Clarks in Brooklyn Heights for breakfast afterward. The restaurant, on the corner of Clark Street and Henry Street, has been open since 1986. I ordered the Banana-Chocolate Chip Pancakes for breakfast while taking in the restaurants Greek and American interior design. Once youve finished your meal, take a 6-minute walk to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to see the stunning views of downtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. Many locals jog or run in the park daily while enjoying the river breeze. There are also benches spread out across the 1,826-feet platform, so it is the perfect place to catch up with a friend on the weekends. As you go downhill, stop by at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory to enjoy a treat as you walk by the water heading to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Once you arrive at Brooklyn Bridge Park, dip your toes into the East River at Pebble Beach as you relax under the sun. Next, try out Ignazios for lunch. At my recent stop, I enjoyed a White Pizza and garlic bread while I sat near the window to see the marvelous view of the Brooklyn Bridge. On workdays, I would eat at Fortune House on Henry Street for delicious Chinese food at the cheap price of $10 per meal a great deal in New York City. Then, head to DUMBO afterward to eat ice cream at the Jacques Torres Chocolate store. Established in 2000, it offers a wide variety of flavors that are mixed into filled chocolates, like Earl Grey tea-infused in a dark creamy chocolate square. On the corner of Washington Street and Front Street, you can see the iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge. As you go down Washington Street, you will soon encounter the Manhattan Bridge. Walk a little bit more, and you will see a beautiful view of the Empire State Building positioned in the archway of the Manhattan Bridge. After taking your Instagram selfies, head to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to experience a sunset worth seeing in your lifetime. As the sun sets, the skyscrapers in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty will be illuminated. From the promenade, walk seven minutes to Iron Chef House for a Japanese dinner. I ordered their Special Combination Box served with miso soup, shumai, house noodles, and green salad with assorted tempura and teriyaki. To end my night, I went to 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge at Furman Street to eat dessert at The Osprey. I ordered the chocolate tart while taking in the view of Manhattans city lights. If you can reserve a seat in Harriets Cocktail Lounge on the top floor of the building, you can see a panoramic view of Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge. After a long day, youll realize how scenic Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO are, both day and night. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The National Association Letter Carrier Guam Branch is bringing back its annual food drive to help families in need. The NALC annual food drive has been the largest all-volunteer one-day food collection effort in the nation for the past 30 years and is held nationally on the second Saturday in May. As part of their community outreach and seeing firsthand what families have gone through for the past two years, the timing of this food drive is crucial, according to Maria Ydil, president of the Guam Branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Before it wasnt much but now everywhere I go, I can see in every intersection, I can see two to three people standing in the corner of the street with a sign asking for food, said Chase Duenas, NALC coordinator and mail carrier. Food banks and pantries receive the majority of their donations during Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, according to information provided by Ydil, who noted that by the spring and summer seasons, many of the food banks and pantries are exhausted with food supplies running low. Additionally, as mail carriers, Ydil and Duenas said they have also seen important items being delayed in delivery such as medications, checks and other essentials. With the COVID-19 restrictions easing, the NALC Guam branch has been excited to get started and do its part to help the annual food drive. We really feel like we need to do this because a lot of people need our help, even if its just in our own little way, collecting nonperishable foods, truly we are making a difference, said Ydil. It may not be a lot, but its an effort that counts. The public can support Guams mail carriers in this annual food drive by donating nonperishable food at drop-off locations throughout the island until May 13. Additionally, if customers have home delivery, they can simply leave the nonperishable food donations by their designated mailboxes on Saturday, May 14. All donations are given to three local food banks: The Salvation Army, Catholic Social Service and Kamalen Karidat. Chinas development an epic story: chairman of Kuhn Foundation 15:06, May 01, 2022 By Li Zhiwei ( People's Daily The epic story of Chinas astonishing development is that of the largest population on earth undergoing the greatest transformation in history, said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, in a recent interview with Peoples Daily. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, who was awarded a China reform friendship medal, after the conclusion of a grand gathering held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up on Dec. 18, 2018. The man, who has long been devoted to telling the world the real China he sees, told Peoples Daily that he has been encouraged by Chinese President Xi Jinping in terms of telling Chinas stories to the world. It was the new ideas and philosophies, as well as the governance practices of the Chinese President that made him see the inside sense of China, he said. During a grand gathering held in December 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up, Kuhn was awarded a China reform friendship medal by Xi. When I was walking past the center of the stage, President Xi reached over and down to shake my hand. During the photo session, he shook hands with me again and encouraged me to tell Chinas stories to the rest of the world, Kuhn recalled. Although I deeply appreciated the personal honor, I recognized immediately that the symbolism of the medal was more significant than my receiving it, Kuhn said. Stressing that China is playing an increasingly essential role in every matter of global importance in todays multifaceted world, he considers it crucial to tell true stories about China and show the countrys dynamism, richness and complexity in these stories. The cover of the book How Chinas Leaders Think, written by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation. According to Kuhn, he met Xi for the first time in 2005, when the latter was still serving as the secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and their second meeting was in New York a year later. Back then, we were helping the preparation of an exchange activity between Zhejiang and New Jersey. I witnessed Xis focus on economic development and entrepreneurship and his engaging with international business, Kuhn recalled. Kuhn is the author of The Inside Story of Chinas 30-Year Reform [Chinese] and How Chinas Leaders Think [English]. In his observation and writing about China, Kuhn came to fully understand the consistency of Xis governance philosophy. The topics and policies President Xi underlines, such as poverty alleviation, common prosperity, innovation and environmental protection, are consistent with those he stressed as the Party chief of Zhejiang, Kuhn noted. In October 2014, Kuhn participated in the launch of the multilingual versions of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the worlds largest trade fair for books. He said this book is a milestone, which demonstrates Xis political philosophy and presents Xis way of thinking to the world. Kuhn was deeply impressed by two of Xis speeches. According to him, the first one is Xis address to U.S. business leaders in Seattle in September 2015. CNN invited me to comment on the speech live. From his speech, I realized just how much he values economic development and innovation, Kuhn said. A portrait of Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation. The second one is Xis speech at a grand rally in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 2019. At that time, I was a commentator for the Chinese and international media at the square. I was struck by the powerful parallel structure with which Xi began his speech: three resonating paragraphs each beginning Over the past 70 years... stressing strong CPC leadership, economic achievements, and peaceful development. It was electrifying to the Chinese crowds to hear Xi expressing his historic appreciation of Chinas past and presenting his confident anticipation of Chinas future, Kuhn said. His resonant remarks struck a chord with the audience, inspiring them, he added. Over the years, Kuhn has been studying Xis thoughts and the policies implemented by the Chinese government. He has written a large number of articles on such subjects as the five development concepts of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing; targeted poverty alleviation, common prosperity, and whole-process peoples democracy. All of these are new ways China rises up to challenges, and compose theoretically founded, policy-based Chinese stories, Kuhn noted. Chinas targeted poverty alleviation is a remarkable story, said Kuhn, explaining that the country has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the past 40 years or so. I was particularly impressed by Xis words: I have always put poverty alleviation at the top of my work agenda and devoted much of my energy to it. I know of no other national leader who has made, or who could make, such an assertion, a fact that Ive repeated over and over again, Kuhn said. In late 2019 and early 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in China. Kuhn expressed full confidence in Chinas victory over the virus. I saw a striking resemblance between Chinas battle against the pandemic and its fight against poverty. With the firm commitment and leadership of President Xi and the strong mobilization, organization and coordination capabilities of the CPC from the central to the local levels, China will definitely defeat the novel coronavirus, Kuhn predicted at the time. To promote regional and global development, President Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which Kuhn believes are vital both for transforming less-developed countries and for contributing to global governance. Countries around the world should work together to turn visions into reality, Kuhn said, adding that he himself will continue to observe China and tell stories about Chinese policies and people. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) By Jason Lim The legend of Elon Musk has only gotten bigger in recent days with his purchase of Twitter for $44 billion. What's really interesting about this purchase is that Musk doesn't do things for the sake of doing the thing. He does things for the sake of doing the vision. What I mean is that he established Tesla not to make electric cars but to use electric cars as a means to "accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy." It says so on Tesla's webpage: "Today, Tesla builds not only all-electric vehicles but also infinitely scalable clean energy generation and storage products. Tesla believes the faster the world stops relying on fossil fuels and moves towards a zero-emission future, the better." Basically, he's built an electric car company to change the ingrained habit of how we use energy. Similarly, SpaceX is not about making reusable rockets to bring down the cost of rocket launches. As Musk is quoted on the webpage, it's about, "You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great and that's what being a spacefaring civilization is all about And I can't think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars." It's nothing less than making human life interplanetary. Reading between the lines, my ultimate takeaway is that he wants to wean humanity's consciousness off of the earth itself and for us to start viewing ourselves as children of the cosmos basically, expand the mental guardrails in which we cage our own sense of existence. When Musk bought Twitter, the first question that came to everyone's mind was, "Why?" One thing that Musk isn't is coy. So, it wasn't difficult to find out what he wanted to do with Twitter. All you have to do is go to his Twitter feed, where he says, "Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated." "I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spambots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it," he added. The functional enhancements, such as end-to-end DM encryption, that he talks about are not mind-bending in and of themselves. I mean, "authenticating all humans," does seem like quite the challenge that I would love to tackle, given my day job, but it's also a means to an end. And that's the interesting question. What's the end for Musk when it comes to Twitter? In other words, if the past is any indication, how does he want to change collective human behavior via Twitter? To do that, you have to have a sense of what he thinks is wrong with the current collective behavior of Twitter. Once again, he is very transparent about how he feels about today's Twitter. "For Twitter to deserve public trust, it must be politically neutral, which effectively means upsetting the far right and the far left equally," he tweets. Basically, Musk doesn't feel that Twitter allows free speech to exist in a non-judgmental or biased fashion. He really wants to see Twitter as that mythical town square where people can come and say what they want to say and debate things that matter, which could affect the future of humankind. He wants a no-holds-barred, attributable but productive discussion among millions of people that can be sustained because he hates the way that both the left and right silence people who don't toe the orthodox line. Once again, he basically wants to change how we behave. All these functional enhancements he talks about really speak to creating the incentives and disincentives to change collective human behavior of mutual engagement online. What he might be overlooking is that not everyone is like him. It's easy to project one's own behavior to others and assume that everyone will behave like oneself. Anyway, all this tells me that Musk must be the biggest optimist and believer in the goodness of human nature in the world, which he confirms when he states on his SpaceX webpage: "It's about believing in the future and thinking that the future will be better than the past." In a sort of Buddhism-speak, he is an anti-karma crusader, in that karma is an amalgam of collective subconscious behavior that drives people to act the way that they do. He wants to train people to behave differently for their own good. He's like a bodhisattva who puts off his own entrance to nirvana to save humanity from suffering by helping them realize their own Buddha nature. Unfortunately, he could also be a bodhisattva in Sisyphus' body, where he's futilely rolling the boulder of collective human karma up a slippery hill. Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. Haiti - Canada : Signing of 4 MoU for more than 20 million Canadian dollars On April 28, 2022, Ministers Ricard Pierre (Planning), Sofia Loreus (Status of Women) Alex Larsen (Health) and Jean Fallieres Bazelai Director General of the Ministry of Justice, representing Minister Berto Dorce, signed 4 memorandums of understanding of a total amount of more than 20 million Canadian dollars (20,417,820.50 $CA) with Sebastien Carriere, the Ambassador of Canada accredited to Haiti, relating to four projects: Project 1: "Improve citizen participation in sexual and reproductive health and rights" (will be implemented in the municipalities of Gressier and Leogane) Project 2: "Support for egalitarian sexual and reproductive health" (will be implemented in Croix-des-Bouquets) Project 3: "Women and girls standing up with dignity for our sexual and reproductive rights" (will be implemented in the South-East Department) Project 4: "Support for a better integration of women in the PNH" (will be implemented nationally) According to Minister Pierre, the first 3 projects in their various components relate to health, sexual and reproductive rights and will affect approximately 200,000 beneficiaries (women and men aged between 15 and 24). The 4th project for better integration of women in the PNH will provide support to 200 women throughout the process leading to their recruitment into the police. The signing of these memorandums of understanding underlines the importance given by the Haitian State and the Government of Canada to the rights to dignity, empowerment and emancipation of Haitian women. Let's remember that these protocols are part of the promise of $50.4 million to finance 9 initiatives, made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Ms. Melanie JOLY and the Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Pacific Canada, Harjit S. SAJJAN at the summit on Haiti held, at the initiative of the Canadian government, on January 21, 2022 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35773-haiti-politic-canada-announces-$504-million-in-aid-for-haiti.html HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Jacmel : Happy birthday to the jacmeliens "On the occasion of May 1st, the patronal feast of Jacmel, Saint Jacques and Saint Philippe, the Town Hall wishes a happy feast day to all Jacmel residents and especially to Catholic Christians in faith, charity and hope. The Town Hall of Jacmel takes this opportunity to announce to the general public and Catholic pilgrims and Christians in particular that the public and private institutions of the city of Jacmel will be unemployed on Monday, May 2, 2022." Turtle Island : 102 Haitians intercepted Friday, April 29 in the evening, the US Coast Guard intercepted near the island of Tortue an overloaded and dangerously unstable sailboat with 102 Haitians on board, winds were 40 km/h and wave troughs of 2, 40m May 1st : Tribute to PM Henry "As part of the day of May 1, 2022, I unite my voice with that of the members of my Government to pay solemn tribute to the hundreds of thousands of land workers who feed millions of Haitian families" Ariel Henry. Fuels : The 2nd boat has arrived Saturday April 30, 2022, the second expected fuel boat arrived in Port-au-Prince with 127,000 barrels of gasoline and 133,000 barrels of diesel https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36551-haiti-news-zapping.html . The "M/T EL MEDIA" docked at the Thor terminal on Saturday afternoon. "The Thor and Varreux terminals will work all day this Sunday, May 1, 2022 to supply as many gas stations as possible in Port-au-Prince and throughout the country," informed the Development Assistance Programs Monetization Office (BMPAD). PoliFront : New Directorate Friday, April 29, 2022, Inspector General Jackson Hilaire the newly promoted Chief of Staff of Director General Frantz Elbe https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36547-icihaiti-pnh-new-director-of-cabinet-of-frantz-elbe.html installed the Chief Commissioner Holden Saintilus as Acting Director of the Land Border Police (PoliFront). post that Jackson Hilaire occupied before his promotion. Tennis Naomi : First victory of the season on clay On Friday April 29, 2022, Japanese of Haitian origin Naomi Osaka (36th in the world) won her first match of the season on clay in the first round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, leaving Russian Anastasia Potapova [6-3, 6- 1)] in 61 minutes, which nevertheless remained on 9 consecutive successes on clay, including the title in Istanbul last week. "I wouldn't say it was an easy match, I feel like I just adapted a bit. It's really good to play on clay again," said the former world number one, who will face Sara Sorribes Tormo (47th in the world) in the next round. HL/ HaitiLibre THE organisers of the Henley Farm & Country Show are back in the black. The annual meeting of the Henley and District Agricultural Association heard that it had made a 14,000 surplus last year. A total of 5,000 from this has been donated to Wyfold Riding for the Disabled and the Ways and Means Trust in Peppard. In 2020, when the show and its other events were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the association incurred a deficit of 1,211. Treasurer Paul Fairweather told the meeting at Hambleden village hall that good weather and people wanting to get out and about following covid lockdowns helped boost the attendance at the show in September. He said: We took the decision to go ahead with the show in late spring or early summer, when there were still many restrictions in place. We were keen to make sure the association had reserves but we were able to take the risk and run the show on an open-air basis. We needed to reduce the cost in case we couldnt go ahead and wouldnt make a massive financial loss so we had much less tentage. This is how we protected ourselves. On the day, the weather was kind and people were desperate to get out to events after covid. The gate receipts were good and we sold a lot of tickets online, which is the way of the younger generation, and we ended up with a show surplus just short of 14,000. The association is a not-for-profit we budget to have a surplus for a rainy day so we dont end up losing a fortune. Mr Fairweather said the association tried its best to keep costs down and thanked show manager Jo Taylor for reducing both costs and its energy footprint by working from home over the winter. Thousands of spectators headed to the showground at Greenlands Farm, off Marlow Road, for the 129th annual event. Trophies were presented for livestock in a range of classes, including cattle, sheep and poultry. Other attractions included a companion dog show, showjumping classes and displays of classic and vintage cars. Alan Pontin, who was president of the association, said he had enjoyed his nine months at the helm. He said: The contributions of people behind the scenes is incredible it is a wonderful show. Thank you all for the privilege of being president, I have enjoyed every minute of it. I would like to ask for a round of applause for this hardworking, dedicated team who put the show together. Mr Pontin was formally succeeded at the meeting by Lady McAlpine, of Fawley Hill, who was already a patron. Her late husband Sir William McAlpine was the associations president in 2010. This years 131st show will take place at the Henley Showground in Hambleden on Saturday, September 10. The associations ploughing match and companion dog show will be held in Ipsden on Sunday, October 2. For more information, visit www.thehenleyshow.co.uk Co-Founder and CEO of the Israeli company "Mine" Gal Ringel shows an app on his phone during an interview at his office in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv, April 26. Three young Israelis formerly serving in military cyber units have figured out how to locate your digital footprint and give you the tools to delete it. AFP-Yonhap Three young Israelis formerly serving in military cyber units have figured out how to locate your digital footprint and give you the tools to delete it. The company Mine, co-founded by Gal Ringel, Gal Golan and Kobi Nissan, says it uses artificial intelligence to show users where their information is being stored like whether an online shoe store kept your data after a sneaker purchase three years ago. Ringel said Mine's technology has already been used by one million people worldwide, with over 10 million "right to be forgotten" requests sent to companies using the firm's platform. Mine launched after the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) now an international reference point set out key rights for users, including the deletion of personal data that was shared with a site for a limited purpose. The company's AI technology scans the subject lines of users' emails and flags where data is being stored. Individuals can then decide which information they want deleted and use Mine's email template to execute their right to be forgotten. It means they can delete their digital footprint "with a click of a button," Ringel said. "We're not telling people to not use Facebook or Google. We say: go ahead, enjoy, use whatever you want," he said. "But as you enjoy using the internet, we'll show you who knows what about you, what they know about you... what is the risk" and how to remove it, he added. Co-Founder and CEO of the Israeli company "Mine," right, Gal Ringel speaks with a colleague at his office in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv, April 26. AFP-Yonhap Last year, hackers broke into the database of Atraf, an Israeli LGBTQ dating website, using the personal information there for extortion. The year before, Shirbit, a major insurance company, was hacked and troves of data stolen. Despite those and smaller breaches, Naama Matarasso Karpel from advocacy group Privacy Israel said the public was relatively indifferent. She also criticized Israel's privacy legislation as inadequate for tackling today's online challenges. "Privacy is a bit like health or air we don't really feel the need for it until we really see how much we lack it," she said. While public awareness on privacy rights has been slow on the uptake, she said many corporations were realizing that better privacy practices made for good business. "Nobody wants to be caught off-guard," Matarasso Karpel said. Companies are starting to see privacy "as a value that has to be maintained in order to establish trust with customers," she added. Mine's co-founder Ringel said companies had contacted his firm for help with the "challenging and cumbersome" process of locating and removing information, in line with the right to be forgotten. "We help companies to automate that process without any human involvement," he said, reducing their efforts and costs. But lawyer Omer Tene, co-founder of the Israel Tech Policy Institute, cautioned that deleting specific individual requests was "a complicated technical exercise." Some companies and organizations cannot legally delete information like block chains or records of financial interactions needed for tax purposes. Even information that can be deleted is often kept in varying degrees of "identifiability," Tene said. "All of this nuance makes it difficult to deliver on a promise from both the consumer side and the corporate side, to enable deletion by pressing a button," Tene warned. (AFP) By Lee Kyung-min American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea) called on President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol to remove regulations so as to make Korea the best business destination for global companies in Asia, Sunday. Thirty-four members of the AMCHAM board of governors sent a letter to the presidential transition committee on behalf of the U.S. business community in Korea detailing a set of policy recommendations for the incoming administration. AMCHAM board members highlighted the need to increase the flexibility of employment conditions, mitigate CEO risks, restore the flat tax rate for foreign residents and improve the regulatory environment to ensure effective communication. Korea's labor market, they added, needs an extension of exemptions from the 52-hour workweek limitation. They called for modifications to the current strict criminal liability placed on CEOs in the event of fatal industrial accidents along with other failings in corporate activities, in line with other advanced economies that treat such issues as a civil matter. Fanning the collective concern is the implementation of the Serious Accident Punishment Act (SAPA) whereby the CEO of a large firm is subject to a minimum prison term of one year or a fine of up to 1 billion won ($843,000), if fatal industrial accidents such as worker deaths occur at smaller partner firms. Also needed is the restoration of the flat tax rate for foreign residents and revision of the inheritance tax on foreign residents, they argued. Public consultations and hearing sessions attended by global firms operating in Korea should precede changes to government regulations in order to reflect these concerns and to provide a forum for making suggestions in advance, they added. "AMCHAM is grateful to have met with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol at a special meeting with AMCHAM member companies last December," AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim said. "We discussed his vision for creating a global investment environment to enhance Korea's competitiveness and boost trade between the U.S. and Korea." People walk at a damaged area inside a burning plant, following Russian shelling of Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 30. Reuters-Yonhap Russia carried out missile strikes across southern and eastern Ukraine, Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, and some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol after sheltering there for over a week. Moscow has turned its focus toward Ukraine's south and east after failing to capture the capital Kyiv in a nine-week assault that has flattened cities, killed thousands of civilians and forced more than 5 million to flee abroad. Its forces have captured the town of Kherson in the south, giving them a foothold just 100 km (62 miles) north of Russian-annexed Crimea, and have mostly occupied Mariupol, a strategic eastern port city on the Azov Sea. Russia declared victory in Mariupol, April 21, even as hundreds of Ukrainian troops and civilians took shelter in the Azovstal steel works. The United Nations has urged an evacuation deal, and a Ukrainian fighter inside said Saturday that some 20 women and children had made it out. "We are getting civilians out of the rubble with ropes it's the elderly, women and children," said the fighter, Sviatoslav Palamar, referring to wreckage within the 4 square-kilometer plant. Palamar said both Russia and Ukraine were respecting a local ceasefire, and that he hoped the evacuated civilians would be transferred to the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia to the northwest. There was no comment from Russia or the United Nations on the evacuations. Hundreds of Ukrainians remain inside, according to local officials. To the west in Odesa, which has so far been relatively unscathed in the war, a Russian missile launched from Crimea destroyed the runway at the main airport, said Maksym Marchenko, Odesa's regional governor. No one was hurt, he added. Ukraine's military said the airport could no longer be used. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, vowed in a late-night video address to rebuild the airport, adding: "Odesa will never forget Russia's behavior towards it." There was no comment on the strike from Moscow, whose forces have sporadically targeted Odesa, Ukraine's third-largest city. Eight people were killed in a Russian strike on the city last week, Ukrainian officials said. Moscow's assault in the south is aimed in part at linking the area with Crimea as it pushes for complete control over Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Parts of Donbas' two provinces, Luhansk and Donetsk, were already controlled by Russian-backed separatists before Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion. In his address, Zelenskyy said Russia was "gathering additional forces for new attacks against our military in the east of the country" and "trying to increase pressure in the Donbas." Moscow calls its actions a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression. WARSAW, Poland (AP) A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. "We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom. You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy "the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegation's trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraines fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance arent going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win," he said. "What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Scores of U.S. lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the wars toll and shore up U.S. troops in the broader region. Pelosis delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosi's stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. "is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won." Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. intelligence support it needs to defeat Russian forces. The delegations visit followed those of several EU officials and European heads of state who have gone to show solidarity with Zelenskyy, starting with the March 15 surprise visit by the leaders of NATO members Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. More recently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. A missile strike rained down on the capital barely an hour after their joint press conference, an attack Kyivs mayor said was Putin giving his middle finger to Guterres. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, Pelosi said. McGovern said Russias war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added: I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world." ___ Winfield reported from Rome, Mascaro from Washington. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, not third. ___ More AP coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas barbecue joints continue to innovate and expand their smoked-meat offerings, with breakfast items being some of the fastest-growing and most-creative menu additions. Because most barbecue joints have staff on site from very early in the morning tending fires and wrapping briskets, its not a stretch to open before lunch and sell breakfast. Statewide and local chains such as Pappas Bar-B-Q, Rudys Bar-B-Q, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, and Harris County Smokehouse have been providing barbecue breakfast items for years. Recently, craft barbecue joints have been getting into the breakfast game. J.C. Reid / J.C. Reid Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin has become almost as well known for its Sundays-only breakfast spread as for its superb craft barbecue. Any Sunday morning trip from Houston to San Antonio should include a stop to sample the excellent huevos rancheros made with crispy tortillas, salsa roja, sunny-side-up fried eggs and pitmaster Ernest Servantes world-class smoked brisket and beef cheeks (barbacoa). In Houston, craft-barbecue pioneer Gatlins BBQ continues to expand and experiment with its extensive breakfast menu. Headed by executive chef Michelle Wallace, the evolving breakfast menu at Gatlins is a master class in combining the best of Texas barbecue with traditional comfort food breakfast items. The Country Breakfast features the classic combination of a pancake, eggs, potatoes or grits, and a meat option like ham or bacon for a well-priced $9.95. Theres a superb chicken-and-waffle dish featuring crispy Southern-fried chicken wings on a Belgian-style waffle served with creamy butter and classic maple syrup. J.C. Reid / J.C. Reid Things get really interesting with Wallaces own estimable version of heuvos rancheros. Crispy corn tortillas and house-made ranchero sauce provide the perfect base for refried beans, fried eggs and a side of bacon. Brisket or smoked pork belly can be swapped for the bacon for an additional charge. The thick, smoky slices of pork belly are one of the best options for upgrading any of the breakfast items here. Pork belly is a protein option for tacos as well, and for the pork belly biscuit sandwich, Wallace said. Indeed, the true magic of the breakfast at Gatlins is found in her house-made biscuits. These are cat head style buttermilk biscuits which feature a lighter, fluffier biscuit with a pillowy inside and a slight crunch on the outside. For biscuit connoisseurs like myself, this is often the preferred biscuit for sandwiches and other breakfast items. Here, there is a basic chicken biscuit sandwich with a crispy fried chicken breast, though you can substitute the aforementioned pork belly or brisket for an additional charge. Ironically, the most popular breakfast item here is an off-menu option that has gained something of a cult following on social media as well as on a recent television episode of The Texas Bucket List. The Brisket Biscuit features Gatlins excellent brisket piled high on Wallaces biscuit, then covered in grilled onions and jalapenos, an oozy fried egg, cheese, and a house-made bacon jam. More Information Gatlin's BBQ 3510 Ella Blvd. Breakfast served 7 to 10 a.m., closed Sunday; 713-869-4227 See More Collapse As an additional sign that Gatlins takes breakfast seriously, the restaurant offers Brenham-based Independence Coffee. Ive always thought quality coffee program should be part of any craft barbecue joints repertoire, and Gatlins gets this one right. If youre looking for a quiet and comfortable breakfast place, head over to Gatlins early and grab a seat in the brightly lit, high-ceilinged dining room with a fresh cup of coffee and a Brisket Biscuit sandwich. jcreid@jcreidtx.com twitter.com/jcreidtx Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a meeting of the Council of Legislators under the Russian Federal Assembly at the Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 27. Putin on Wednesday threatened a "lightning fast" response if there is any direct intervention by outsiders on Kyiv's behalf. EPA-Yonhap In rallying global arms supplies and asking Congress for $33 billion more to support Ukraine, Washington is choosing to ignore Vladimir Putin's threats to use nuclear arms, and instead is openly testing the Russian leader's limits. After the United States brought 40 countries to a U.S. base in Germany last week to discuss aid for Ukraine's war with Russia, Putin on Wednesday threatened a "lightning fast" response if there was any direct intervention by outsiders on Kyiv's behalf. "We have all the tools for this, that no one else can boast of having. We won't boast about it: we'll use them, if needed," Putin said. It was a thinly veiled reference to Russia's tactical nuclear weapons, which Russian military doctrine holds can be used to force an adversary to retreat. Rather than pull back at that threat to unleash Moscow's nuclear bombs, U.S. President Joe Biden doubled down on U.S. support for Ukraine. The $33 billion he requested includes $20 billion for arms and munitions, nearly seven times the amount sent to the country since the Russians invaded Feb. 24. Early in the war Washington worried that aggressively equipping Ukraine's army with anything but "defensive" weaponry risked embroiling the U.S. and NATO in a direct conflict with Russia. Now, the Pentagon has shed those earlier inhibitions and is shipping offensive weapons such as heavy artillery, helicopters and attack drones. Rather than hiding it, the Pentagon also began openly talking this week about how it is training Ukrainian troops, including inside Germany, to use the weapons they are receiving. And instead of saying, as it did in February, that it wants only to help Ukraine survive, Washington now says its goal in the war is to debilitate Russia for the long term. "We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said after a visit to Kyiv last week. An exhibition called The Curious Case of Critical Race Theory doesnt sound like a place to find balance and understanding, does it? Thats the surprise of Round 53 at Project Row Houses, which presents seven of the most elegant installations I can recall at the venerable Third Ward institution. Curated by Danielle Burns Wilson, a veteran Houston arts professional who joined the Project Row staff last year, the whole exhibition feels carefully considered and thoughtful. Its as if all the participating artists summoned Martin Luther King Jr.s idea that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The Education House display provides a simple crash course in the origins and purpose of critical race theory, a scholarly concept thats been wildly distorted and weaponized to limit what students learn about racism in school. The six artist spaces aim powerfully for the heart as well as the mind, making a compelling case for empathy toward bodies of color and Black lived experience. The focus of Leah Gipsons space is a piano where a family might gather to sing, flanked by altars full of memorabilia. David-Jeremiahs vividly colored installation is a cartoon dream of confused-looking sculptures black stick bodies with watermelon heads and wide-mouthed expressions borrowed from The Scream. Tammie Rubin considers her familys Mississippi roots with crisply painted ceramics made from common, cone-shaped objects that read as pointed hoods; shes also painted her houses walls black and hung up grids of small red, white and blue flags. Bradley Wards librarylike space honors Black cultural icons and institutions. The members of the ROUX collective (Rabea Ballin, Ann Johnson, Delita Martin and Lovie Olivia) each fill a room in the largest house, immersing visitors in a dynamic environment of exquisite painting, printmaking, design and sculpture that celebrates Black womanhood. Shelter in Place, the installation by Adam W. McKinney and collaborators from his organization DNAWORKS, uniquely employs an actual body as its primary medium. McKinney, who lives in Fort Worth, is a dancer-choreographer with a layered personal identity: Hes Black, Jewish and gay, and all of those things inform his art. His pristine, daylight-filled installation looks poetically spare at first glance. Its anchored by a series of large-ish, black-and-white environmental portraits that depict the same man in five settings. This is McKinney in early 20th-century garb, posing as an historical figure whose story was largely forgotten until McKinney unearthed it a few years ago. Fred Rouse was killed in a racial terror lynching in Fort Worth that began on Dec. 6, 1921, as he left work. Crossing a white, union picket line at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant near what is now the Stockyards area, he was shoved and stabbed before he shot two white men in defense (not fatally); then he was bludgeoned with a streetcar guardrail and left for dead. The police took Rouse to a hospital, but five days later a mob kidnapped him, hanged him on a hackberry known as the death tree and riddled his body with bullets. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. McKinney posed for photographer Will Wilson at each of the sites where the lynching unfolded and the cemetery where Rouse is buried. The images at Project Row are printed on paper to better embed them in the houses DNA, McKinney says but Wilson created them on metal as tintypes, to conflate the past and present. He also videotaped McKinney dancing at each site to add a 21st-century-style surprise: When visitors upload Wilsons Talking TinType app and point their smart phones at the prints, the figure of Rouse comes to life. McKinney, a potent mover in his mid-40s, performed earlier in his career with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bejart Ballet Lausanne, Alonzo King LINES Ballet and other leading companies. (He now teaches at Texas Christian University.) His dance evokes a body being pummeled by unseen forces, bowed but not broken. Watching him move, I came to think of him as a human smudge stick, dancing to purge not just his story or Rouses but everyones. Movement as a physical act is automatically a subversion of the ways in which our bodies have been stifled, McKinney says. He used his body as a canvas partly because he couldnt find pictures of Rouse. (He even adopts a stern expression common to portraits of Rouses era.) I was not channeling Mr. Fred Rouse, he explains, but I was connecting to some of the emotions I think he might have been feeling in those locations. Molly Glentzer Spaces hold trauma, too, McKinney notes. While his dance vocabulary doesnt change from one location to the next, its tone does. I did a lot of listening, a lot of internal awareness work, he says. He moves slower and more mournfully at the cemetery, hoping to conjure more than one mans history: Its about sharing the story as part of the fabric that is Texas Black history to insure that we dont forget. McKinney isnt out to rekindle or sensationalize trauma. These are dances to bring awareness and dances to bring healing, he says. His installations title implies an emergency situation but also references Sukkot, a joyful, seven-day Jewish holiday that honors the journey of Israelites who escaped slavery in Egypt a story McKinney has known since he was a child. Sculptural-looking tree branches positioned evocatively around the space provide a link: They could be vestiges of trees from which tortured bodies hung or the latticed roofs of sukkahs, open-air huts the Israelites built in the desert, where they were also surrounded by protective clouds of glory that kept them hydrated, cleaned and fed. McKinney appears as his contemporary self in a tightly-framed video dance he calls Glorious Clouds thats projected as a vertical sliver on one wall, as if it were a ray of sunlight filtering into a sukkah. Here, his intense, spiraling moves explore the unending circularity of his own experience. A plaintive soundtrack of yearning Najeeb Sabours music for cello and voice permeates the room. McKinney speaks with a calm, measured cadence in a precise Midwestern accent, enunciating each word as if its glass. He calls Shelter in Place a work of memorial activism. That sounds like a newish phrase, but hes the son of artists who married in 1965. My mother is an Ashkenazi white Jewish woman, and my father was a Black and Native man; so the notion of social justice was embedded in my being from the beginning, he says. Project Row Houses McKinney and choreographer-director Daniel Banks co-founded DNAWORKS more than a decade ago to produce art-centric healing projects around the world. Lately, theyve made Rouses story more than a theoretical exercise. DNAWORKS has partnered with eight other groups to buy two of the Sheltering in Place sites. They plan to turn a decrepit former KKK hall into the Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing and build a park at the empty lot that once held the death tree, where theyve already erected a memorial plaque. Theres a Jewish value called Pikuach nefesh, based on the idea that if you save one soul its as if you save an entire universe, McKinney says. The way Im thinking about that is, if you remember one soul, its as if you remember and entire universe. His work to remember Fred Rouse has also brought Rouses descendants forward, including some who didnt know how their grandfather died. Art in and of itself is powerful, McKinney says. And as artists we get to trust its power to make the connections it needs to make in the world. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dr. Walter Wilkerson, who served as the Montgomery County Republican Party chairman for 56 years, died Friday night. He was 91. Dr. Wally as he was known to many during his decades as a physician in Montgomery County, died at his home following complications from a recent surgery. What a great man, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said. He finished strong and what a life well-lived. He was known across the state as a giant in the Republican Party. On YourConroeNews.com: Dr. Wally reflects on 56 years at the helm of the Republican Party Wilkerson was born in Marlin, near Waco, in 1930. He received his bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M in 1951. He attended medical school in Dallas at the University of Texas Medical School. He graduated in 1955 and did his internship at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston. Wilkerson served several years in military service until 1958 when he began to explore where to set up his medical practice. He traveled all over the state. By that time, his father, Walter Wilkerson Sr., was the superintendent of Conroe schools. He met Conroes Dr. Dean Sadler and his future was set. Wilkerson joined Sadlers practice in 1958. Wilkerson was chosen as Republican Party chairman for the county in 1964. At the time, there were only a handful of Republicans in the county. It was amazing the immediate change that took place in Montgomery County then, Keough said. Now, the countys elected office holders are dominated by Republicans. The party got a boost when in 1976, President Gerald Ford visited Conroe. Wilkerson rode with the president in his limo from the rally in downtown Conroe to a reception at a nearby hotel. After five decades of building the Republican Party in Montgomery County and becoming an icon in political circles across the state, Wilkerson gave his farewell address in August 2020. Bryan Christ then became the new Montgomery County Republican Party Chairman. On YourConroeNews.com: Dr. Wilkerson shares fateful twist that lead to car ride with Gerald Ford He moved us in the right direction and I thank God for him, he said. Keough was able to spend some time with Wilkerson while he was in the hospital last week. Wilkersons wife, Neddie Jane, died in March 2020. Please join me in prayer for the Wilkerson family and all of Wallys extended family and many friends and colleagues across this great state who join me in mourning the loss of a great man and beloved friend, Keough posted in a social media statement Saturday morning. Keough contacted state officials Saturday morning to make arrangements to have the flags flown at half staff in Montgomery County in tribute to Wilkerson. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. shernandez@hcnonline.com Cinco De Mayo Street Dance: Discover Downtown Rosenberg presents a Cinco De Mayo Street Dance from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, May 5, in Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Come out and dance the night away to the sounds of a live Mariachi Band. This event is free and open to the public. Downtown restaurants and food trucks will be open and on-site for evening dinner and drinks. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/yckrfnz6. Sing-A-Long Karaoke: Sugar Land Sing-A-Long Karaoke is set for 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, at Sugar Land Town Square at 15958 City Walk. Grab your singin family and friends and come hang out with us for a fun and interactive evening. Microphone will be sanitized between each performance. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/49c8ea37. May 7 Corvette Owners Club show: Corvette Owners Club of Houston Spring Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Sugar Land Town Square at 15958 City Walk. Are you a car enthusiast? Fulfill your need for speed and come check out the Corvettes on display along Plaza Drive and in the surface lot along Town Center Boulevard. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/28d7zrtz. Cinco De Mayo Party: Cinco De Mayo Party in the Plaza with Groupo Batacha is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Sugar Land Town Square at 15958 City Walk. The word Batacha is Afro-Cuban slang for fun times, and thats exactly what happens when Grupo Batacha performs, evoking the flavor of the Caribbean with their hot mix of fiery salsa, sweet boleros, fast merengues and traditional cumbias. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/57vdzj6k. Election Day: Many area municipalities and school districts are holding elections. For more information in Harris County go to https://harrisvotes.com or in Fort Bend County go to https://tinyurl.com/yc3pyhh7. May 14 Outdoor Skills Day: Texas A&M Agrilife Extension presents a program open to all youth in grades third thru 12th from 7:45 a.m. to 4, with activates including first aid, fishing, wildlife IS and much more at Jones Creek Ranch Park, 7714 FM 359 Road in Richmond. Cost is $25 per family of two with an additional $5 for each additional youth, and is limited to 30 youth participants. Adults/volunteers are encouraged to stay and assist. Registration closes May 6 at 11:59 p.m. can be found at https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/beyond-the-project/workshops-clinics-camps. May 16 Richmond City Commission: The city of Richmond will hold its regular commission meeting on Monday, May 16, at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex located at 600 Morton St. in Richmond. For questions, contact City Manager Terri Vela at tvela@richmondtx.gov or 281-342-5456. Missouri City City Council: The regular meeting of the Missouri City City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, in the City Hall, Council Chamber at 1522 Texas Parkway. For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov. May 17 Sugar Land City Council: The Sugar Land City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. N. For more information go to www.sugarlandtx.gov. Rosenberg City Council: The Rosenberg City Council is scheduled to meet for its regular session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Rosenberg City Hall, 2110 4th St. Council meetings may be viewed live on YouTube, the city of Rosenberg website, or by Rosenberg Comcast customers on channel 16. For more information go to www.rosenbergtx.gov. May 18 Fulshear High graduation: The graduation ceremony for Fulshear High School is scheduled 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at Traylor Stadium, at 1000 E. Stadium Drive in Rosenberg. Tickets are required to attend. All 2022 Lamar CISD Graduation Ceremonies will be streamed live on the district's homepage at www.lcisd.org or on the districts YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/4zdmnhcr. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/3278uexn. May 19 Foster High graduation: The graduation ceremony for Foster High School is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Traylor Stadium, at 1000 E. Stadium Drive in Rosenberg. Tickets are required to attend. All 2022 Lamar CISD Graduation Ceremonies will be streamed live on the district's homepage at www.lcisd.org or on the districts YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/4zdmnhcr. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/3278uexn. May 20 Lamar Consolidated graduation: The graduation ceremony for Lamar Consolidated High School is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Traylor Stadium, at 1000 E. Stadium Drive in Rosenberg. Tickets are required to attend. All 2022 Lamar CISD Graduation Ceremonies will be streamed live on the district's homepage at www.lcisd.org or on the districts YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/4zdmnhcr. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/3278uexn. May 21 Terry High graduation: The graduation ceremony for Terry High School is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Traylor Stadium, at 1000 E. Stadium Drive in Rosenberg. Tickets are required to attend. All 2022 Lamar CISD Graduation Ceremonies will be streamed live on the district's homepage at www.lcisd.org or on the districts YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/4zdmnhcr. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/3278uexn. May 22 George Ranch High graduation: The graduation ceremony for George Ranch High School is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Traylor Stadium, at 1000 E. Stadium Drive in Rosenberg. Tickets are required to attend. All 2022 Lamar CISD Graduation Ceremonies will be streamed live on the district's homepage at www.lcisd.org or on the districts YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/4zdmnhcr. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/3278uexn. Farmers market: The Farmers Market at La Centerra is presented the second and fourth Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. There will be local vendors and artisans at Heritage Square selling honey, cheese, fresh eggs, seasonal vegetables and more. To become a vendor email customer@yourneighborhoodfarmersmarket.com. Strike Out Autism: Together with Presenting Sponsor Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation, Hope For Three will host their 2022 Grand Slam Event of the year, Strike Out Autism on May 22 at Constellation Field. The Family Fun Day is an afternoon full of autism awareness, smiles, laughter and acceptance for more than 100 local families living with autism. Parents, siblings and children on the autism spectrum will feel like MVPs for the day and must register now because of limited availability. Reserved stadium seat tickets are available at www.hopeforthree.org/events. Team players (volunteers) wanted, and All-Star Sponsors and Underwriters needed to give help and hope to local families and children. Call 281-245-0640 or email contact@hopeforthree.org to learn more. May 27 Clements graduation: The graduation ceremony for Clements High School is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, May 27, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Hightower graduation: The graduation ceremony for Hightower High School is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 27, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Austin graduation: The graduation ceremony for Austin High School is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Travis graduation: The graduation ceremony for Travis High School is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Kempner graduation: The graduation ceremony for Kempner High School is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. May 28 Ridge Point graduation: The graduation ceremony for Ridgepoint High School is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Willowridge graduation: The graduation ceremony for Willowridge High School is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Dulles graduation: The graduation ceremony for Dulles High School is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Elkins graduation: The graduation ceremony for Elkins High School is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Marshall graduation: The graduation ceremony for Marshall High School is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. Bush graduation: The graduation ceremony for Bush High School is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Center located at 1510 Polk St. in Houston. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. For more information go to www.fortbendisd.com/graduation. June 14 Maker Station Summer Camps: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension presents the Maker Station Camps focusing on creating something from nothing. Campers will create, plan, and build and much more. The camp is open to third- through eighth-grade students from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, at the Fort Bend County Education Center at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg. The cost $75 per camp which includes daily snacks. Campers should bring a packed lunch daily. For more information and to register visit https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/beyond-the-project/workshops-clinics-camps. June 30 Maker Station Summer Camps: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension presents the Maker Station Camps focusing on creating something from nothing. Campers will create, plan, and build and much more. The camp is open to third- through eighth-grade students from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Fort Bend County Education Center at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg. The cost $75 per camp which includes daily snacks. Campers should bring a packed lunch daily. For more information and to register visit https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/beyond-the-project/workshops-clinics-camps. July 12 Maker Station Summer Camps: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension presents the Maker Station Camps focusing on creating something from nothing. Campers will create, plan, and build and much more. The camp is open to third- through eighth-grade students from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at the Fort Bend County Education Center at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg. The cost $75 per camp which includes daily snacks. Campers should bring a packed lunch daily. For more information and to register visit https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/beyond-the-project/workshops-clinics-camps. July 18-22 Earth Kids Kind Kamp: Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for Earth Kids Kind Kamp. They will be exploring entomology, wildlife, nature and more July 18-22. The camp is open to third- through fifth-grade students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. The cost $80 which includes daily snacks and camp T-shirt. Campers should bring a packed lunch daily. For more information contact Angela Romans at angela.bosier@ag.tamu.edu or 281-342-3034. July 28 Maker Station Summer Camps: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension presents the Maker Station Camps focusing on creating something from nothing. Campers will create, plan, and build and much more. The camp is open to third- through eighth-grade students from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Fort Bend County Education Center at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg. The cost $75 per camp which includes daily snacks. Campers should bring a packed lunch daily. For more information and to register visit https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/beyond-the-project/workshops-clinics-camps. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The New Hampshire Senate has blocked an attempt to eliminate a registration system created to prevent widespread hepatitis C outbreak years ago. New Hampshire created the Board of Registration for Medical Technicians in response to David Kwiatkowski, who is serving 39 years in prison for replacing painkillers with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood. OnScene TV A teenage boy was shot while trying to rob someone Saturday in Sharpstown, police said. The boy, 16, and another young male got out of a maroon-colored vehicle, pulled out guns and tried to rob a man as he walked to his apartment about 11:15 p.m. in the 8300 block of Bellaire Boulevard, according to Houston Police Commander Reece Hardy. @USCGHeartland Twitter The U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday it recovered the body of a 17-year-old who went missing Saturday night while fishing near Freeport. One of its helicopter crews spotted the body in the middle of San Luis Pass shortly after 5 p.m. and sent a boat crew to retrieve it, the Coast Guard said in a news release. The discovery ended a day-long search for the boy who disappeared during a family fishing trip near the San Louis Pass Bridge. Regarding Biden taking 'hard look' at student loan forgiveness, (April 28): At least 40,000 borrowers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program will see immediate debt cancellation, as part of recent changes announced by the Department of Education. President Biden is now looking at potentially canceling additional students loans. This is an attempt to buy votes for the Democrats. A recent survey tells why so many student loans are in default. According to Intelligent.com, 25 percent of college graduates earn less than $30,000 a year. It is safe to assume that very few of these poorly compensated graduates have degrees in engineering, math or chemistry and that most of the poorly paid graduates have degrees in the humanities. If anyone is going to buy a home or new car, their lender will not loan them more than they can be expected to pay back and student loans should not be given to people majoring in subjects where they cannot be expected to earn enough to repay the loan. Colleges and universities often maintain and publish records showing the average salaries of their graduates in each of the majors they offer, one and five years after graduation. These salaries should be used to determine the amount a student can borrow to go to school. David Reynolds Sr., Porter How about looking into canceling the interest on federal student loans instead if he doesn't want to cancel the loans entirely? A $20,000 loan at 6 percent interest that accumulates will only dig a student deeper in debt. The government should not be in the business of making money off of the students. They'll get their "interest" in the form of taxes when the students get jobs after they graduate. Lillian Shaver, Sugar Land If debt is forgiven for borrowers, why shouldn't those who paid the full freight get an equal tax credit? Jack Gaarder, Spring Hidalgos aides Regarding Harris County leaders approve outside firm to provide security for Judge Lina Hidalgo, (April 26): We need more from the county judge as she continues to employ two aides facing felony charges of bid rigging on a contract where the judge was a political ally of the winning bidder. Of course the aides are presumed innocent, yet to have them continue in their sensitive jobs while their felony cases are pending may not be advisable. The people of Harris County must have confidence in the administration of other county business. The judge presumes her aides are innocent and claims her view is mostly because of the partisan politics in the criminal investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers and requested by the Harris County District Attorney. For the aides to continue in their positions in the administration with probable future involvement in other bidding matters requires more persuasive detail by the county judge in support of her unusual charge of what could also be called an unlawful investigation. What partisan office does she believe is behind the sinister plot against her aides? Is it District Attorney Kim Ogg who has been her frequent adversary in Ogg's losing battles on budget issues in commissioners court? Or is it her more public political opponent Gov. Abbott, who appoints the leadership of the Texas Department of Public Safety with authority over the Texas Rangers? And who could doubt the governor's preference that a Republican be elected county judge in November 2022? These are the two obvious targets for the judge's charge that her aides are the victims of a prosecution by a partisan actor. The charge, if true, makes the investigation itself a potentially illegal and malicious effort to smear innocent people as criminals. To keep her aides on the job, the county judge needs to lead public opinion with the full disclosure of where the partisanship lies and how it informs her of their innocence. David Jones, Houston Wild for flowers Regarding This time of year, nothing else matters but wildflowers in Texas, (April 22): Thank you to Brandi Keller for the interesting, informative article on Texas wildflowers. I like them all, but the only one I can grow is the evening primrose, so I wish you had said more about it. Usually my front yard is full of them, but this year they are a little sparse. I love the way they almost glow in the dusk. In particular, I would like to know more about the fabulous pink evening primrose moth, which I have been hoping to attract, but never been lucky enough to see. Dianne Wells, Houston Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awards U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the 'Order of Princess Olga' medal after their meeting, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday. Reuters-Yonhap U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a Congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's president before heading to Poland for talks with officials there. Pelosi, a California Democrat and second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. "Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine," Pelosi said in a statement released Sunday. Footage released by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office showed Pelosi and other U.S. legislators in Kyiv. In video later released by Pelosi's office, the speaker and Zelenskyy both thanked each other for their support in the war. "We'll win and we'll win together," Zelenskyy said. Pelosi added: "We are here until victory is won." The full Congressional delegation included Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Schiff, of California who chairs the House Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the House Rules Committee; Jason Crow of Colorado; Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts. "You all are welcome," Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told Zelenskyy: "We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom." "We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," Pelosi added. The visit wasn't previously announced. (AP) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Mainly clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Recent images of a stealth fighter jet at a naval airbase suggest China has begun pilot training preparations for a fourth aircraft carrier, defense experts say. Recent images of a stealth fighter jet at a naval airbase suggest China has begun pilot training preparations for a fourth aircraft carrier, defense experts say. China is known to be developing its third and largest carrier, the Type 003, with sea trials expected soon. Whether work has started on a Type 004 is not yet clear. Satellites in March spotted two FC-31 Gyrfalcon stealth fighters lined up alongside several J-15 carrier-based fighter jets at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) flight training facility in Liaoning province, offering a comparative view of the two models for the first time. The two FC-31s fifth-generation stealth aircraft appeared to be slightly shorter than the J-15s, with their dark grey livery identifying them as stealth warplanes. Their appearance side by side hinted that the FC-31 might also become a ship-borne fighter jet after the J-15, the "Flying Shark" strike fighter flown by China's existing aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong. The joint appearance of the FC-31 and J-15s could also be a sign that China was making operational preparations for a fourth aircraft carrier, defense experts and sources said. Sea trials for the Type 003 later this year are expected to serve as reference points for future Chinese aircraft carriers. China plans to build at least four aircraft carrier strike groups by 2030 to become the world's second-biggest modern blue water navy after the United States. Like the Liaoning and Shandong, the Type 003 aircraft carrier is still a conventional diesel-powered platform, while its successor is likely to be equipped with nuclear reactors. The PLA Naval Aviation Testing and Training Complex where the jets were photographed has been dubbed China's own "Nitka" after the Soviet-era training range in the Crimea that was the model for the Chinese base. Satellite images showed the PLA naval pilot training site to be equipped with Soviet-designed ski-jump simulating ramps and catapult systems suited to the flat-top flight decks seen on American aircraft carriers. Mainland social media buzzed with speculation over whether the FC-31 would be the carrier-based fighter jet for the Type 003. But a source close to the navy said the J-15 would remain the sole active ship-borne fighter jet for the Type 003, as well as the Liaoning and Shandong. "The FC-31 is still a test aircraft that is yet to be reserved by the PLA Air Force or Navy under their formal development programs," the source said. Developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) over more than a decade, the FC-31 took off on its first test flight in 2012, two years before making its public debut at the 2014 biannual international air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. China's latest stealth fighter prototype may have been on a test flight The J-15 Flying Shark, also developed by the SAC, is just a copycat version of the Russian Sukhoi-33 developed in the 1970s, according to Andrei Chang, editor-in-chief of the Canada-based Kanwa Asian Defense monthly. "Even the FC-31 imitates the shape and design of the American F-35 [stealth fighter]," he said. "Russian aircraft designer Mikhail Pogosyan, who designed the Su-33 and other new generation aircraft, told me that there is a rule that the performance of copycats would never surpass the original designs," Chang added. "How can the SAC convince the PLA Navy to trust them?" Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said flight safety was another key concern. "It's too risky to fly new aircraft on a totally newly designed aircraft carrier." Last month, a Florida Dollar General store manager named Mary Gundel created a six-part TikTok series called "Retail Store Manager Life" in which she described her working conditions at the store she ran. Employee hours were severely limited by the company, she said, leading to her or another employee often working alone in the store. Shipments arrived unexpectedly, and with no staff to unpack them, she was forced by company policy to leave boxes stacked up in the aisles, blocking the store shelves and leading to customer complaints. The TikTok videos went viral, and Dollar General fired her, even though it had informed her a couple of months earlier that she was in the top-performing 5 percent of store managers. That was just one of a series of mistakes that has led the company down what must be a very uncomfortable path. Gundel became the focus of a New York Times feature that brought an even higher profile to both her videos and the hashtag she created, #PutInATicket, a reference to what she says is the company's standard response when informed of untenable working conditions. Other store managers and Dollar General employees have come forward, corroborating what Gundel has to say about life at Dollar General. She is reportedly in talks with attorneys, exploring the possibility of a class action suit. The event may have revived efforts to unionize some Dollar General locations, and at least some store employees are reportedly planning a walkout on Monday. Dollar General probably didn't want any of these things to happen. And maybe it could have prevented them, if only it had done a few things differently. Here are some lessons every leader can learn. 1. Don't punish employees who point out problems. "Don't shoot the messenger" may sound like leadership 101, but it's human nature to react to bad news by silencing or attempting to silence the person spreading that news. Dollar General was most likely legally within its rights to fire Gundel, particularly after she recorded video inside the store and posted it to social media. But was it a smart thing to do? The firing led directly to a huge New York Times feature story, increased attention for her TikTok videos, and widespread use of her #PutInATicket hashtag, which has had more than 23 million views on TikTok so far. If Dollar General's goal was to bring wider attention to the problems at its stores, then mission accomplished. If it wanted to discourage public discussion of these issues, its approach seems to have backfired. (Dollar General did not reply to a request for comment.) 2. Don't make the mistake of assuming employees have no recourse. Dollar General tends to put its stores in underserved communities, where its low prices help bring in customers with limited financial resources. These communities may offer little in the way of attractive employment, especially for those without a college degree. A union official told The Washington Post that he believes the chain places a high premium on having an "at-will" workforce so it can fire employees any time for any reason other than those protected by federal law, such as race or religion. In 2017, Dollar General actually closed a Connecticut store that had voted to unionize, citing an "assessment of the store's future profitability." But those policies and procedures were devised in a time when unemployment was higher than it is today, and in the pre-pandemic time when most people gave little thought to the working conditions of frontline employees who interact with the public. Now that those workers have helped the rest of us get through the pandemic at a heightened risk to their own health, society views those jobs differently than it once did. Meanwhile, TikTok, Reddit, and an infinite number of other social media platforms means that overworked employees in stores stacked with items they're too exhausted to put on shelves are no longer laboring in obscurity. In this new world, the unionization of an Amazon warehouse, which once seemed impossible, is now reality. Dollar General may be next, or maybe not. Either way, the chain, like every other employer, needs to adapt to this new world or face the consequences. 3. Don't put managers in an impossible situation. One of the things that's most striking about this story is that before her TikTok videos, Gundel was in the top 5 percent of the company's most valued store managers. Although the chain's business model depends on keeping all its costs as low as possible, it was paying her about $51,000 a year, well above the median income in Tampa. The company should ask itself what turned an enthusiastic, highly valued employee into a TikTok whistleblower. Gundel is apparently not the only Dollar General store manager to feel like she's in an impossible position. Someone posted a picture of a handwritten note to Reddit that they said had been attached to a Dollar General door. It read: "This location will be closed Sunday (4-24-22) due to management not having any days off for over 40 days." That's extreme, but it's part of a larger pattern. Even before the pandemic, research showed that middle managers were the most overworked and stressed and unhappiest employees in America, squeezed between upper management's desire to cut costs and increase efficiency and employees' need for decently paying jobs with sufficient resources and time off. Bad as things were, the pandemic and the Great Resignation have made them worse, and, like Gundel, middle managers across the country feel pushed to the breaking point. Television | TV Channels Zee Biskope bats for growth with new verticals, innovations Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd's (Zeel) Bhojpuri film channel Zee Biskope, which launched back in December 2019, has made strides in the genre. Zeel chief channel officer Bhojpuri cluster Amarpreet Singh Saini is happy with the leadership position, but he is also aware that there is a lot of growth potential. Read More... Television | TV Channels Travelxp to launch 'The Gypsies' Season 2 in association with Maharashtra Tourism The leading travel channel Travelxp has announced the launch of The Gypsies season 2 in association with Maharashtra Tourism. Produced by Travelxp, the exclusive twelve episode show, divided into nine episodes and four mini-episodes will be telecast from 30 April. Read More... iWorld | OTT Kaushik Izardar takes over as CEO of Sarrva Productions Sarrva Productions Studio and a new kids-centric OTT service by Sarrva Studio has announced the onboarding of Dr Kaushik Izardar as it's new chief executive officer. Read More... Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Saturday said the state government will take care of the medical treatment cost of a 24-year-old woman who was attacked with acid by her spurned lover earlier this week, and assured that the culprit wont be spared. The minister visited the victim, who is being treated in the ICU at St. Johns Hospital here, and spoke to her and expressed solidarity with her family. Treatment costs are to be borne by the government The government will not spare the culprit who is responsible for such a heinous actthe government stands with them (victim and her family) and the treatment of the woman will be taken care of by the government," Sudhakar said. Condemning the acid attack, he said, This is an inhuman incident which is shameful and unbecoming for a civilised society, and cases like these must be trialed in fast-track courts and the culprits must be punished quickly. Only then, we can send a stern message to such anti-social elements and create a deterrent." Representational Image A jilted man identified as 27-year-old Nagesh threw acid on a woman in Bengaluru on Thursday. Police have registered a case and according to them, he was apparently dismayed when the victim turned down his proposal. Stating that the health department will extend all support for the treatment of the victim, Sudhakar said the woman has suffered 35 per cent burns and is being treated in the ICU. Skin graft necessary for treatment will be sourced from the skin bank at BMCRI (Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute). I have decided to personally give Rs 5 lakh to the victim. Our government will ensure all support to the victim and her family, be it treatment, rehabilitation, and securing the future of the girl," he said. Society needs to collectively think and act to ensure that such incidents are not repeated and work towards building a safe environment for women, the minister added. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant, who also met the victim, said an investigation is on and seven teams have gone to various places, including other states, to gather information about the culprit and will be successful in the efforts to nab him very soon. iStock Acid attacks in India In India, acid attacks are at an all-time high and increasing every year, with 250300 reported incidents every year, while the "actual number could exceed 1,000, according to Acid Survivors Trust International". Although acid attacks occur all over the world, this type of violence is most common in South Asia. According to a study on acid attacks in India, 78 per cent of the acid attack incidents are for refusal to marry, rejection of love, or any personal causes. According to a UNICEF study, most of the victims of acid attacks are girls, many below the age of 18, who have rejected sexual advances or marriage proposals. For more on news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. With the entire India currently undergoing the worst electricity shortage including Kashmir, the demand for the restoration of a 100-year-old defunct power project in the valley has gone shriller. Despite the passage of 30-years, the government is yet to make the decades-old 9 MW hydroelectric power project-Mohra power project in Uri functional. Located on the strategic Srinagar-Muzaffarabad national highway in north Kashmir along the banks of river Jhelum in Mohra area of Uri, the south Asias oldest power project turned defunct in 1992 floods in Kashmir and since then nothing has been done from the government side to restore it. Idrees Bukhtiyar While speaking to Indiatimes, a retired power department employee Mohd Younis from Uri said that it was the high time that the government should restore it on priority basis. This project would surely ease down the load of the electricity and it may help to run the supply smoothly across Kashmir up to some extent, he said. Mudasir Ahmad, a local of Uri said they have been witnessing the unscheduled power cuts from the last one month. I hope this project will bring relief to our lives and we will get to see the electricity for the future too, he said. A senior professor of Earth Science Department, University of Kashmir who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, First of all, the concerned authorities should amplify the capacity of this project and install new machinery so as to cope up with the new electricity scenario. This project can go a long way to light up the lives of Kashmiri people if restored. Machinery brought by Maharaja Ranbir Singh The project was established during Maharaja Ranbir Singh regime while machinery was brought from Rawalpindi, which is now in Pakistan, on horse carts. Idrees Bukhtiyar Abdul Raheem Bhat, 70, a resident of Uri said the project suffered damage in 1959 floods. But Europeans worked on the project again and expanded its capacity to 9 MW from 4 MW, he said. Built in 1905, the project was handed over to the J&K government in 1962. But it again got a hit in 1992 and since then the restoration of the project is hanging fire, he said. He said that the project was very beneficial for the locals in Uri. Around 500 people were connected to this project and all of them have lost their jobs, he said, adding that the project was supplying the electricity to many parts of the valley even Uri town at a time when there was no power project available in Kashmir. Talks of restoration In 2017, then managing director J&K State power development Corporation (JKSPDC) Dr Shah Faesal had said that a Detailed Project Report was being Prepared (DPR) and they were approaching the heritage conservationist. Faesal had then said they too received the NOC from National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) to use their water supply to restore the project. It was also said that the project is likely to go into tender stage by April in 2018 and cost of the project was decided as approximate Rs 120 crore. The funding of the project was to be done under the Prime Ministers Development Package. In the same year, a local news wire reported quoting sources that the machinery and tools were being stolen to the Ganderbal power project from Mohra. The former J&K Minister Taj Mohiuddin had also said that restoring the prestigious project was not possible as it has been completely damaged by the NHPC. Meeting demand In order to meet the increasing electricity demand in Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Government has allocated 207 MW additional Power to the Union Territory, the government said in a statement. Idrees Bukhtiyar Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor & PDD Nitishwar Kumar said that the order issued by the Union Ministry of Power will substantially increase the availability of power in J&K. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole has directed the PDD to divert commercial and industrial power for domestic use during peak hours and auspicious days owing to unprecedented shortage of power supply. Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) in a press brief recently has informed that load served during April has been around 900 to 1100MW against a demand of 1600MW thereby creating a deficit. It said that this deficit has forced corporation to go for unscheduled cuts. KPDCL added that early arrival of summer in rest of the country lead to highest ever power demand and reduced thermal power generation coupled with sub-optimal generation of hydro power due to reduced discharge because of less rains has resulted in deficient power availability leading to unscheduled and prolonged power cuts, said the official press brief. However, the power department in a statement also said that they are taking steps to provide the adequate supply. What do officials say? A senior official of the power development corporation had in 2020 said on the condition of anonymity that restoration was held up due to the uncertainty caused in the valley after abrogation of Article 370 and coronavirus outbreak. Idrees Bukhtiyar Then Principal Secretary PDD, Rohit Kansal had announced that a historically significant Mohra hydroelectric power project with a capacity of 10.5 MW will come up at Mohra in Baramulla where the first ever hydroelectric project of J&K was constructed in 1905. However, no official of JKSPDC was available for the comments. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Hollywood actor and UN humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, the Lviv regional governor said on Telegram. Video now viral She popped into a bakery and also visited the railway station to meet some of the people displaced by the war with Russia. A video that has gone viral online shows her signing autographs and greeting people at the coffee shop in Lviv. Jolie, 46, is a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, but it is not clear if she is visiting the country in an official capacity. Actress and filmmaker Angelina Jolie was spotted at a cafe in western Ukrainian city of Lviv on April 30. Jolie is a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Video: Maya Pidhoretska via Facebook. pic.twitter.com/CBtR4HBMNR The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 30, 2022 Lviv governor Kozytski shared news on Telegram For all of us, this visit has been a surprise," said Lviv regional governor Maxim Kozytski on Telegram. She was very moved by [the childrens] stories, Kozytskiy wrote. One girl was even able to privately tell Ms Jolie about a dream shed had. He said Jolie also visited a boarding school, talked to students and took photos with them, adding she promised she would come again. Thank you Angelina Jolie for coming to Ukraine and visiting some of the incredible WCK chefs who cook every single day! We cannot forget the people of Ukraine The world must keep doing everything we can to help! Hope you enjoyed the bograch soup! #ChefsForUkraine pic.twitter.com/5eWOq5ALKk Jose Andres (@chefjoseandres) April 30, 2022 Angelina's conversation with volunteers According to Kozytskiy, Jolie also met Ukrainian volunteers providing the new arrivals with medical help and counselling at Lvivs central railway station. They told her that each of the psychiatrists on duty spoke to about 15 people a day. Many of those in the station are children aged from two to 10, according to volunteers. "They must be in shock ... I know how trauma affects children, I know just having somebody show how much they matter, how much their voices matter, I know how healing that is for them," she said in reply. U.N. refugee agency special envoy Angelina Jolie visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv to meet people displaced by the war with Russia https://t.co/madvRht6f9 pic.twitter.com/8vOX8DemD2 Reuters (@Reuters) May 1, 2022 Since being shared just 20 hours ago, the video has racked up more than 1.3 million views on Facebook, along with hundreds of comments. Last month, in her role as special envoy, Jolie visited Yemen, where millions of people have been displaced by war. Current situation Meanwhile, Russia has carried out missile attacks across southern and eastern Ukraine, including one that destroyed the runway at Odesa airport. A group of 20 civilians have left the Azovstal steelworks, where the last Ukrainian troops are holed up in Mariupol, according to the Azov Regiment. A Russian reconnaissance plane briefly violated Swedens airspace, Swedish defence officials said. A Russian official told state media that the risks of nuclear war should be kept to a minimum amid the conflict in Ukraine. AFP Also, fourteen Ukrainians including a pregnant soldier have been freed in the latest prisoner exchange with Russian forces, Ukraine says, without revealing the number of Russians returned to Moscow. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Cover Image Attribute: Shah Deniz natural gas field, Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan sector/ Source: Caspian News Azerbaijan is to increase its natural gas exports to Europe by 30% this year, pumping 10.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, according to the country's national oil corporation SOCAR. "Getting direct access to the European market has ensured the diversification of Azerbaijan's export capacity. This adds value to Azerbaijan's economy, at the same time cementing the country's standing as Europe's reliable gas supplier," Xinhua news agency quoted SOCAR as saying in a statement. Since December 31, 2020, the European Union has imported natural gas from Azerbaijan via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the final phase of the 3,500-kilometer-long Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) mega pipeline. The pipeline completes SGC, transporting gas from Azerbaijan's massive Shah Deniz II field in the Caspian Sea. The three-segmented SGC connects 11 various investors and initially supplies 12 diverse gas purchasers, mainly in Europe. Map Attribute: Southern Gas Corridor map, bp Images/flickr.com Since TAP's commissioning, more than 11 billion cubic meters of gas have been transferred to European markets. In the first quarter of 2022, Azerbaijan exported 2.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe. In 2021, Azerbaijan exported 19 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkiye and Europe, with Turkiye purchasing 8.5 billion cubic meters via the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), Italy procuring seven billion cubic meters, and Georgia, Greece, and Bulgaria procuring the remainder. According to official data, Azerbaijan has proven gas reserves of 2.6 trillion cubic meters trapped beneath the Caspian Sea, one trillion of which is earmarked for the largest Shah Deniz field. However, the number is expected to increase as more discoveries are made. Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue. Feedback policy If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). Those wanting to respond to editorials can also submit a letter to the editor through the Iowa State Daily website or by emailing the letter to Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or Editor-in-Chief Sage Smith (sage.smith@iowastatedaily.com). Column Policy Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions. Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020 Ukraine's shelling killed and wounded its own civilians in the southern region of Kherson, Russia said on Sunday, while some civilians managed to leave a steel plant in besieged Mariupol. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, became the latest Western official to visit Kyiv in a show of support for Ukraine. "We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom ... Your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," Pelosi said in a video shared by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Twitter. @SpeakerPelosi . . , ! pic.twitter.com/QXSBPFoGQh (@ZelenskyyUa) May 1, 2022 Pelosi, who was accompanied by several U.S. lawmakers, said on Friday she hoped to pass a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine that President Joe Biden has requested "as soon as possible" Russia's defence ministry accused Ukraine's forces of shelling a school, kindergarten and cemetery in the villages of Kyselivka and Shyroka Balka in the Kherson region, the Russian RIA news agency said on Sunday. The ministry gave no further details. There was no immediate response from Ukraine and Reuters could not independently verify the report. Russian forces have captured the town of Kherson, giving them a foothold just 100 km (60 miles) north of Russian-annexed Crimea, and have mostly occupied Mariupol, a strategic eastern port city on the Azov Sea. Ukraine's military said in a bulletin on Sunday that Russian forces were fighting to break beyond Kherson's administrative borders and prepare the way for attacks on the cities of Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih. In Mariupol, Russia declared victory on April 21 even as hundreds of holdout Ukrainian troops and civilians took shelter in the Azovstal steel works. On Saturday, a Ukrainian fighter inside said that 20 women and children had made it out. "We are getting civilians out of the rubble with ropes - it's the elderly, women and children," said the fighter, Sviatoslav Palamar, referring to wreckage within the sprawling plant. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows heavy damage to residential apartment buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 29, 2022. (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP) Palamar said Russia and Ukraine were respecting a local ceasefire and he hoped the evacuated civilians would be taken to the city of Zaporizhzhia to the northwest. Neither Russia nor the United Nations, which has urged an evacuation deal, commented on the evacuations. Moscow has turned its focus to Ukraine's south and east after failing to capture Kyiv in the early weeks of the invasion it launched on Feb. 24. The war has flattened cities, killed thousands of civilians and forced more than 5 million to flee the country. Moscow calls its actions a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression. A Russian missile launched from Crimea on Saturday destroyed the runway at the main airport in the southwestern city of Odesa, said regional governor Maksym Marchenko, but no one was hurt. Ukraine's military said the airport could no longer be used and President Zelenskyy vowed to rebuild it, saying in a late-night video speech that "Odesa will never forget Russia's behaviour towards it". Moscow did not comment on the strike. Russian forces have targeted Odesa, Ukraine's third-largest city, sporadically during the conflict. Eight people were killed in a strike there a week ago, Ukrainian officials said. In the east, Moscow is pushing for complete control of the Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists already controlled parts of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces before the invasion. Zelenskyy said in his speech that Russia was "gathering additional forces for new attacks against our military in the east of the country" and "trying to increase pressure in the Donbas". Despite weeks of peace talks, both sides looked to be as far apart as ever on Saturday. Ukraine accuses Russian troops of carrying out atrocities in areas near Kyiv in early April, a claim denied by Moscow. Negotiators last met face-to-face on March 29 and have since spoken by video link. In the town of Dobropillia in Donetsk the shockwave from a strike on Saturday blew in the windows of an apartment building and left a large crater in the yard. Standing in his living room, a resident who gave only his first name, Andriy, said his partner was knocked unconscious. "Thank God the four children were in the kitchen," he said. People sifted through belongings to salvage what they could. At least one person died as a result of Russias strikes in Luhansk, regional governor Serhiy Gaidai, wrote in a social media post. He said Russia launched 19 attacks on residential areas in its cities and towns on Saturday. Australias tech sector is increasingly looking overseas for talent, according to a new survey by Australia's peak body for innovative technology, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA). The 2022 results of the AIIAs annual survey, indicate that over 75 per cent of companies surveyed said they are actively recruiting staff - however, with the known talent shortage in Australia in the tech sector, the AIIA says the drop in businesses intention to hire from Australia is deeply concerning - with the industry reporting a 20% decline in acquiring talent locally (65% in 2022 compared to 85% in 2021). Following the AIIAs call to reform the Australian Curriculum to prioritise the digital economy and industry 5.0 capabilities for primary and secondary school students, just 5% of respondents thought the education system produces job-ready graduates. Nearly half (49%) of respondents reported further training is needed by graduates to be effective employees - with these results highlighting the concerns the says it has AIIA with Australias current ICT training pathways. Recognising the skills shortage Australia faces in the tech sector, 73% of respondents nominated the skills deficit and investing in the education system as an area of IT policy that government must focus on in 2022 - while supporting a digitised society and economy was the second most nominated by respondents. AIIA CEO, Ron Gauci said: Our members have spoken clearly. Their concerns with Australias specialist tech talent are significant and are holding back the sector from greater growth. We are calling for immediate government action to support increased and improved training for Australias rapidly growing ICT sector now. Innovative businesses and products are being held back, or worse still, sold overseas, because Australia doesnt have the talent available to meet the demand. Reforming the Australian Curriculum to support greater development of ICT skills will grow the Australian economy and support building a workforce for Australias fast growing digital economy. If Australia is to be a leading digital economy by 2030, the Government must prioritise serious education reform. Tech is the way of the future and given it affects every other industry, Australia must prioritise and protect our local IP. According to the AIIA the clear signs of businesses looking overseas to hire staff is a further reminder to government that action is needed now. More than a third (35%) of our respondents said they will be hiring staff from overseas, this is talent and capability that Australia could be and should be delivering - our governments must act now to boost the talent available for businesses, the AIIA said. No one measure will fix this, but a concerted push to upskill Australians will provide our nation with the capabilities to be a leading digital nation. With a vast array of respondents to our survey representing the small, medium and multinational members, the AIIA is proud to represent such an engaged membership base. With over 200 members actively engaged with our Policy Advisory Networks and a strong response from our members to the survey, it is clear what Australias tech sector is seeking. The AIIA will continue to work with all governments to grow skills in Australias tech sector and support the continued economic growth this delivers. The AIIA has recently released its Federal Government Pre-Budget and Pre-Election Policy Submission 2022, detailing 24 key recommendations to support Australias tech sector to grow and support the Australian economy. Selected recommendations include: Australias Skills Agenda: including recommending reforming the Australian Curriculum to prioritise the Digital Economy and Industry 5.0 capabilities for primary and secondary school students. Emerging Critical Technologies: Includes a Quantum Strategy to be executed within 12 months, which notes additional funding and establishes a National AI Commercialisation Hub. Domestic Capability: Establish a Made in Australia Office within the DPM&C. Commercialisation Agenda: Undertake urgent work to support globally-viable commercialisation off the back of government-assisted research. Create a separate R&D software tax incentive and expand the limited scope of the proposed patent box. The AIIA had over 100 businesses complete their member survey in March 2022 and respondents included multinational corporations, SMEs, sole operators and the public sector. WEBINAR INVITE: Enghouse Interactive shows how easily you can enable and use Microsoft Teams in your contact centre in this free webinar on May 11 at 12pm AEST, 2pm NZT, 10am SGT. If you use Microsoft Teams - and if you have Office 365 then it's a good chance you are - and you have a contact centre, here's a webinar for you. In fact, this webinar is customer-centric, featuring panellists from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in Australia and Whangarei District Council in New Zealand talking about their own real and recent projects to enable Microsoft Teams in their contact centres. They will talk about things they'd recommend as most critical for IT and CX professionals planning a Teams contact centre migration. Speakers include Whangarei District Council IT project manager Roxanne Manlangit, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers service delivery manager Jasmine Lim, and Microsoft customer success manager David Ollason. The session will be facilitated by Enghouse Interactive head of channel sales Richard Winterburn. Sign up for free, and find out more information, here. Enghouse Interactive is a subsidiary of the Canadian-listed Enghouse Systems which has over 35 years of experience in customer interaction, customer experience, and contact centres with thousands of customers globally. It is in the top 1% of the Microsoft partner ecosystem and provides a tightly integrated - and Microsoft certified - contact centre solution for Microsoft Teams. Join the webinar to learn how you can leverage Microsoft Teams to move your contact centre to the cloud, using the software you're already comfortable with, and remove your risky, aging, on-premises PABX platforms - and to hear from real organisations and real customers how they've achieved it. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Children of slain Elvis Nyathi are failing to go to school due to financial challenges and the death of their father could make the situation worse, a top artist has revealed. Nyathi (43) was stoned and burnt to death on April 6, in Johannesburg, South Africa by a mob after he was found with no passport. Vigilante groups in neighbouring South Africa have been targeting Zimbabwean immigrants accusing them of stealing jobs reserved for locals there. In an SOS on social media, poet Albert Nyathi painted a gloomy picture of Nyathis family future. l visited Elvis Nyathis family where l had a long chat with Elvis wife and children in the presence of the deceaseds brother Godknows. Mrs Nyathis parents are deceased, she has no siblings but her children were taken care of by her uncle, brother to her late father while she was living with her husband in South Africa, Nyathi posted. The children Melusi (18) wrote his ordinary level and could not get his results because school fees was not paid. Khumbulani (16) was stopped from going to School to herd cattle by the uncle Sindisiwe (14) is now doing grade 7, delayed school because she had no school fees and Mike is in Grade 6. Nyathi said the children do not want to go back to the rural areas to live with their grandfather. Their wish is to live with their mother from now on. They do not have birth certificates. We need to help them get documents. Elvis also acquired a stand in Ntabazinduna and his wish was to build a home for his family, he said. We just have to fulfill his wishes by building a house for his family as they start a new life without their father. I know we can get together as we did in bringing his remains from SA to Zimbabwe for burial and help this family. Nyathis remains were interred at Umvutsha cemetery in Bulawayo. Elvis Ndlovu, the uncle of the deceased, also sent an SOS. The government gave us the money for my nephew to have a dignified send-off, Ndlovu said. We still appeal to well-wishers for help as the children are young. They need to go to school and have the necessary requirements like stationery, fees and other basics. Human rights activist Effie Ncube said the government including citizens had a role to play to support Nyathis children and other orphans. Standard China turns sea waters into "barns" with marine ranching complexes 15:15, May 01, 2022 By Yin Shuanghong ( People's Daily Many ports in China have recently entered the peak season of fishery production. Purse nets are being unloaded from a ship at a marine ranching complex owned by a marine farming technology company in Yuhuan, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept. 7, 2021. The purse nets will be used around large yellow croaker farms. (People's Daily Online/Wu Dafu) In Rongcheng, east China's Shandong province, fishermen are putting out to sea and inshore aquatic farms getting busy. In Yuhuan of east China's Zhejiang province, fishermen are loading ice onto their boats for refrigeration and patching fishing nets. In Hainan province, fish harvests are always seen at terminals. The ocean, breeding lives and containing huge resources, plays a vital role. As a major maritime country, China boasts a long coastline, vast sea areas under national jurisdiction and abundant marine resources. Since the ancient times, the Chinese people living in coastal areas have taken the sea as a source of fishing and salt making, as well as a means of transport. However, uncontrolled exploitation of resources would lead to overfishing, marine pollution and other problems. Tourists are on a trip to a self-elevating marine ranching complex in Yantai, east China's Shandong province, April 19, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke) To make a change, China has been constantly promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional fishing businesses in recent years. As the Chinese people gain deeper and deeper understanding of the sea, they have gradually reached a consensus that marine resources must be exploited in a reasonable manner. Therefore, they built a batch of marine ranching complexes that aim at restoring resources and developing eco-friendly mariculture with high quality and efficiency. Aspiring to achieve harmony between humanity and the sea, these complexes not only conserve typical marine ecosystems, but also promote a transition of the fishery industry from a quantity-oriented model to a quality-oriented one. They have become a new area of growth for marine economy with their ability to drive the development of the fishery, leisure, tourism and culture sectors. To develop marine ranching complexes is an important measure promoting the transformation and upgrading of the fishery industry. The complexes have embraced sustainable development thanks to sci-tech progress which enables fishermen to employ deep-sea net cages, aquaculture platforms and other techniques. Staff members pull a net at the Genghai-1 marine ranching complex in Yantai, east China's Shandong province, Oct. 26, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke) Huangwo village in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu province once fell into poverty due to shrinking fishery resources. By establishing a mariculture cooperative and building a nori processing plant that turned fishermen into farmers, the village has embarked on a new path to prosperity. Be it launching well-planned free-range farming of fish and crustaceans, or conducting deep-sea aquaculture, or developing leisure and tourism sub-industries, modern fishery not only brings more types of seafood to consumers, but also fosters more areas of growth for the marine economy. The gradually maturing model of marine ranching complexes has not only broadened the space for fishery production, but also optimized the marine ecology in a subtle manner. For instance, the reduced frequency of inshore fishing nurtures fishery resources, and the decreasing stocking density in aquaculture is also helping the restoration of environment. Practices prove that building a fish farming environment that benefits the breeding and growth of aquatic organisms will help promote the natural propagation and increase of aquatic biological resources and facilitate the improvement and restoration of the marine ecosystem. It is like building an "ecological bank" for the sea. Advancing ecological conservation while developing the fishery industry, these marine ranching complexes will help the fishery sector achieve both economic and ecological benefits. As the only major fishery country in the world where aquaculture production exceeds the marine wild catch, China enjoys huge development potential in the fishery industry. It has an aquaculture sea area of over 1.2 million square kilometers. The marine ranching complexes are taken as an important part of the construction of a modern marine industry system in China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through Year 2035. In the future, the marine economy will embrace more important periods of development. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) ZANU PF Filabusi district chairperson Arthur Nhliziyo from Lobela village has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for hijacking at gunpoint two Zambia-registered haulage trucks carrying copper. Nhliziyo appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga charged with armed robbery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, of which two were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. Prosecutor Naison Chivayo told the court that sometime in October 2021 at night, Kelvin Simpasa and Talent Mako were driving Zambia-registered trucks from Lusaka headed for Durban in South Africa along the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo Road. The two were in a convoy of other Zambian trucks from Galco Transport and Logistics Limited loaded with 30 tonnes each of copper cathodes worth US$40 080. Along the journey, Mako parked at a junction waiting for other trucks to catch up. While Mako was waiting, a silver Honda Fit parked in front of his truck and four men came out, two of them armed with guns. They held Mako at gunpoint and took his cellphone worth US$100, passport, gas tank and US$200. They then hijacked the truck. They noticed another truck, which was being driven by Simpasa was following, they stopped. Assuming it was Mako, Simpasa stopped and the hijackers pounced. They covered his head with a sack, tied him up, and hijacked his truck after robbing him of his belongings. Mako and Simpasa were tied and abandoned in one of the trucks at Kuravi business centre in Mashava and the armed robbers drove off with two trailers of copper concentrates. The matter was reported to the Criminal Investigations Department at Mandamabwe Police Station in Mashava and was referred to Bulawayo. Newsday At least 20 civilians including several children were able to leave a badly battered steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday in what could be the start of a long-awaited, larger evacuation of the last holdout in the Russian-held city. Earlier efforts at evacuations from the Azovstal steel plant where local fighters say they and hundreds of civilians are still sheltering in brutal conditions had been futile. Ukrainian fighters of the Azov regiment, which has been defending the site, said 20 civilians had left, possibly for the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, about 225 kilometres (140 miles) to the northwest. Russias Tass news agency carried a similar report, though putting the number of evacuees at 25. A United Nations-planned evacuation had been planned, though it was unclear whether Saturdays evacuation was UN-led and whether further evacuations were imminent. There were no immediate details on the condition of the evacuees. Ukraines President Zelensky said in a video Saturday evening said Kyiv was doing everything to ensure that the evacuation mission from Mariupol is carried out. Fresh satellite imagery by private US firm Maxar taken on Friday showed a devastated Mariupol, with almost all of Azovstal destroyed. The apparent ceasefire in Mariupol took place as Russian attacks continued unabated across Ukraine, most heavily in the fiercely disputed eastern regions, but with attacks as far west as Odessa, on the Black Sea coast. Odessas regional governor Maxim Marchenko said a Russian missile strike had destroyed the airport runway, as Moscow continues targeting infrastructure and supply lines deep in the west of the country. There were no victims from the airport strike near the historic city of one million people. Near Bucha, the town near Kyiv that has become synonymous with allegations of Russian war crimes, Ukrainian police on Saturday reported finding three bodies shot in the head with their hands tied. The three bodies found in a pit were brutally killed by Russian soldiers each shot in the head, the police said in a statement. The victims hands were tied, cloths were covering their eyes and some were gagged. There are traces of torture on the corpses, it said. Clearing debris In Mariupol, the Azov regiment said Saturday that it had been clearing the debris of overnight shelling by Russia to rescue trapped civilians. From the citys badly damaged port zone, AFP on Friday heard heavy shelling coming from Azovstal during a media trip organised by the Russian army, with explosions only seconds apart. Twenty civilians, women and children have been transferred to a suitable place and we hope that they will be evacuated to Zaporizhzhia, on territory controlled by Ukraine, said Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov regiment. But Denis Pushilin, leader of the breakaway eastern region of Donetsk, accused Ukrainian forces of acting like outright terrorists and holding civilians hostage in the steel plant. On the front line in the east, Russian troops have advanced slowly but steadily in some areas helped by massive use of artillery but Ukrainian forces have also recaptured some territory in recent days, particularly around the city of Kharkiv. One of the areas taken back from Russian control was the village of Ruska Lozova, which evacuees said had been occupied for two months. It was two months of terrible fear. Nothing else, a terrible and relentless fear, Natalia, a 28-year-old evacuee from Ruska Lozova, told AFP after reaching Kharkiv. We were in the basements without food for two months, we were eating what we had, said Svyatoslav, 40, who did not want to give his full name, his eyes red with fatigue. Putins depravity Thousands of people have been killed and more than 13 million have been forced to flee their homes since the Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbour began on February 24, according to the United Nations. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on Friday briefly choked with emotion as he described the destruction in Ukraine and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of depravity. Ukrainian prosecutors say they have pinpointed more than 8,000 war crimes carried out by Moscows troops and are investigating 10 Russian soldiers for suspected atrocities in Bucha. Russia has denied any involvement in civilian deaths in Bucha. Moscow officials confirmed on Friday that their forces carried out an air strike on Kyiv a day earlier during a visit by UN chief Antonio Guterres, the first such attack on the capital city in nearly two weeks. A journalist died in the attack. Russia will not go unpunished Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk meanwhile reported that 14 Ukrainians including a pregnant soldier had been freed in the latest prisoner exchange with Russian forces. She did not say how many Russians had been returned. Kyiv has admitted that Russian forces have captured a string of villages in the Donbas region. Even if there has been some advance by Russian troops on the ground, it is not very fast, Russian military expert Alexander Khramchikhin told AFP. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the special military operation is proceeding strictly according to plan, Chinas official Xinhua news agency reported. Russia has warned Western countries against sending more military aid. If the US and NATO are really interested in resolving the Ukraine crisis, then first of all, they should wake up and stop supplying the Kyiv regime with arms and ammunition, Lavrov said. But more Western armaments are due to arrive in Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden on Thursday seeking billions of dollars from Congress to boost supplies. And a top Ukrainian military official Saturday said he had held talks with chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley on the difficult situation in the east of our country, particularly in the Izium and Sieverodonetsk areas, where the enemy has concentrated its maximum efforts and the most combat-ready groups. Despite the complexity of the situation, we provide defense, keep occupied boundaries and positions, general Valery Zaluzhny said on Facebook. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that his country would also intensify military and humanitarian support. And Ukraines President Zelensky said he spoke with Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on defense support for Ukraine and other efforts necessary to end the war. I informed Boris about the current situation on the battlefield in the areas of active clashes and in detail about the situation in our east, in Mariupol, in the south of the country, he said. All the leaders of the free world know what Russia has done to Mariupol. And Russia will not go unpunished for this. Zelensky was also reported Saturday to have met with a spokesman for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is trying to pave the way for an Istanbul summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. And with Sweden pondering a bid for NATO membership, defence officials there said Saturday that a Russian reconnaissance plane had briefly violated the northern countrys airspace a day earlier. Dozens of civilians have left a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Russia said on Sunday, as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised to support Ukraine against Russian bullies after visiting Kyiv. Russias defence ministry said a total of 46 civilians had left in two groups on Saturday from the area around the Azovstal plant the last holdout of Ukrainian forces in the city. The UN confirmed that a safe passage operation is ongoing at Azovstal in coordination between the Red Cross and Russian and Ukrainian forces but declined to give details because of safety concerns. The development has raised hopes of a long-awaited evacuation from the plant, where Ukrainian fighters say they and hundreds of civilians have been sheltering from relentless Russian bombardment. Their fate has drawn worldwide condemnation. Pope Francis on Sunday used his weekly Angelus prayer to renew his appeal for humanitarian corridors from Mariupol, saying that the city had been bombed and destroyed in a barbaric manner. Thousands have been killed and millions displaced by Russias invasion, which began on February 24. Western powers have rushed to send military aid to Ukraine and imposed heavy sanctions on Russia. Do not be bullied by bullies, Pelosi told reporters at a press conference in Rzeszow in southern Poland after returning from Ukraine. If they are making threats, you cannot back down. Thats my view of it. We are here for the fight and you cannot fold to a bully, she said. Pelosi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday, becoming the most senior US figure to visit since the war began. We are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, she told him. Pelosi also promised to enact the $33-billion (31-billion-euro) arms and support package announced by US President Joe Biden last week. Radio silence The conflict is concentrated in the east and south of Ukraine, although there have been Russian missile strikes across the country, mainly targeting infrastructure and supply lines. Mariupol is an important strategic hub connecting the Russian-held southern and eastern parts of Ukraine. On April 30, following the implementation of a ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor, two groups of civilians have left the residential buildings adjacent to the site of the Azovstal steel plant, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram on Sunday. One group of 21 people was taken to Bezimenne, a village on the Azov Sea near Mariupol that is controlled by Russian forces, the ministry said, without specifying what happened to the others. All of the civilians were given accommodation, food and necessary medical help, the ministry said. A ministry video showed a convoy of cars and buses travelling in the dark, marked with a Z, the letter used by the Russian forces in the conflict. Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, said on Telegram called for radio silence on the evacuation pending official information. On Saturday, the Ukrainian forces guarding the Azovstal site had said that 20 civilians, including children, had left the area and voiced hope that they would be allowed to reach the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is under Ukrainian control. Russian ruble introduced Russias defence ministry also on Sunday said it had used high-precision Onyx missiles to strike a hangar at a military aerodrome housing weapons and ammunition from the United States and European countries and destroyed the runway. Ukrainian authorities had reported the strike on Saturday but said only that it destroyed the runway. Near Bucha, the town near Kyiv that has become synonymous with allegations of Russian war crimes, Ukrainian police also on Saturday reported finding three bodies shot in the head with their hands tied. The victims were found in a pit and had been brutally killed by Russian soldiers, the police said in a statement. The victims hands were tied, cloths were covering their eyes and some were gagged. There are traces of torture on the corpses, the statement said. Ukrainian prosecutors say they have pinpointed more than 8,000 war crimes carried out by Moscows troops and are investigating 10 Russian soldiers for suspected atrocities in Bucha. Russia has denied any involvement in civilian deaths in Bucha. Meanwhile, Russia has moved to solidify its grip on areas it controls and from Sunday introduced the Russian ruble in the region of Kherson initially to be used alongside the Ukrainian hryvnia. Beginning May 1, we will move to the ruble zone, Kirill Stremousov, a civilian and military administrator of Kherson, was cited as saying earlier by Russias state news agency RIA Novosti. He said there would be a period of four months in which the hryvnia could be used, but then we will completely switch to settlements in rubles. Guard the line On the front line in the east, Russian troops have advanced slowly but steadily in some areas helped by massive use of artillery but Ukrainian forces have also recaptured some territory in recent days, particularly around the city of Kharkiv. One of the areas taken back from Russian control was the village of Ruska Lozova, which evacuees said had been occupied for two months. It was two months of terrible fear. Nothing else, a terrible and relentless fear, Natalia, a 28-year-old evacuee from Ruska Lozova, told AFP after reaching Kharkiv. Kyiv has admitted that Russian forces have captured a string of villages in the Donbas region and has asked Western powers to deliver more heavy weapons to bolster its defences there. Everyone understands that we must guard the line here, lieutenant Yevgen Samoylov of the 81st brigade told AFP as his unit rotated away from the front line near the town of Sviatogirsk. We cannot let the enemy move closer, we try to hold it with all our force, he said. A new month has come, and a new roster of K-dramas will premiere this May. From "The Sound of Magic" to "Woori the Virgin" and more, these shows are more than ready to make the viewers enjoy another month of exciting binge and intriguing storylines! Check out these upcoming K-dramas to occupy your May. 'Bloody Heart' Starting the week right, Lee Joon, Kang Han Na, and Jang Hyuk are to take over your screens with their historical romance "Bloody Heart." Premiering this May 2 at KBS, it will run every Monday and Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. (KST). Set in the Joseon Dynasty, it follows the story of Lee Tae, a king who abandoned his beloved woman to survive. He plans to restore his power in the palace and return to being king. Yoo Jung, a smart and beautiful lady who works hard to live in a cruel society, goes through the upheaval of her life and gets involved in a royal power struggle after meeting Lee Tae. 'The Sound of Magic' Fantasy drama "The Sound of Magic," starring Ji Chang Wook, Choi Sung Eun, and Hwang In Yeop, is scheduled to premiere on May 6 on one of the giant streaming platforms, Netflix. Giving viewers thrills and tricks, Ji Chang Wook will transform into a mysterious magician named Lee El, who will share the beauty of magic with Yoon A Yi. Are you ready to believe in magic? Don't miss the exciting premiere of this new music-fantasy K-drama! 'Woori the Virgin' The Korean adaptation of the famous American series "Jane the Virgin" is set to premiere on May 9 on SBS and will occupy the Monday-Tuesday slots at 10 p.m. (KST). Follows the story of Oh Woo Ri (Im Soo Hyang), a woman who kept her virginity but ends up getting pregnant with a child of Raphael (Sung Hoon), the charismatic CEO of a cosmetic group, due to the doctor's mistake during her regular check-up. 'Eve' tvN introduces its newest revenge drama that will make viewers hooked with its complicated yet thrilling story. Starring Seo Ye Ji, Lee Sang Yeob, Park Byung Eun, and Yoo Sun, the story centers around Lee La El, a lady from a chaebol family who is entangled in a 2 trillion divorce lawsuit that shocks the entire nation. Watch out for Seo Ye Ji's transformation in the upcoming series, which is about to meet the viewers this coming May 25 and will air every Wednesday-Thursday at 10:30 p.m. (KST). 'Kiss Sixth Sense' Based on a webtoon series with the same name, "Kiss Sixth Sense'' tells the romance story between Hong Ye Sul, a workaholic in an advertising firm who has the ability to see someone's future when she kisses a person, and her boss, Cha Min Ho. One day Ye Sul and Min Ho accidentally kiss each other, since then, she sees the future of her boss, which bothers her the most. Starring "CLOY" actress Seo Ji Hye and actor Yoon Kye Sang, this fantasy-romance series can be streamed starting May 25 at Disney+ Korea. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Shooting Stars' Episode 4: Lee Sung Kyung Surprises Kim Young Dae at Work Which among these K-dramas are you most excited to watch? Tell us in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, follow and subscribe to KDramastars. KDramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Ronald Reagan once said the nine most terrifying words in the English Language are I'm from the government, and I'm here to help. And it appears regulators at the Securities and Exchange Commission are fully embracing their role as directors of the horror show. Recently regulators at the SEC announced a series of onerous regulations targeting hedge funds. While most of us have been conditioned by cable news to think hedge funds are shady investments, the reality is that hedge funds are a very common investment tool that many of the investments we all depend on are a part of. In fact, hedge funds are often used to balance the investment portfolios of things like university endowments, charitable foundations, and public and private pensions. Pensions in Wisconsin invest in hedge funds. The State of Wisconsin Investment Board which funds public retiree pensions has $6 billion invested in hedge funds. Additionally, in our own backyard, the private pension fund of Snap-on tools Investment Trust has $212 million invested in hedge funds. This is real money, impacting real people, right here in our neighborhoods. Hedge funds are already regulated, and I worry that the SEC actions are more driven by politics than need and could negatively impact these import investment tools. Lets hope the SEC takes a step back and realizes the help they are offering will cost many of us a lot of pain. Erin Decker, Silver Lake Kenosha County Supervisor Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 756 Shares Share It feels different down here, she said. I had just approached a young woman in our ED waiting room to apologize for the seven-hour wait to be seen. She looked at me with bloodshot, dark brown eyes and continued, It feels like the lower decks Do you know what I mean? I placed my hand on her shoulder, acknowledging her analogy with a shudder of complete understanding. She was a few days postpartum with a baby in our neonatal ICU. The labor and delivery nurses had given discharge instructions if you have any problems, please let us know. While visiting her baby early that morning, she began bleeding vaginally and went over to labor and delivery to let them know. They responded, Well, youre not pregnant now, so we cant do anything for you, as they sent her to the ED in a wheelchair to wait seven hours. At 1 p.m. in our ED, 30 to 40 people were already waiting to be seen, likely spreading COVID to each other, sitting in close proximity in our waiting room with their simple masks. On this day, like many others, several patients enduring the long waiting were yelling disruptively due to pain or emotional distress; one, who had already waited five hours, became increasingly agitated and violent, requiring a physical takedown by security. To my patient, it felt like she had gone from the upper decks of the nice, clean, under-populated floor of L and D to the lower decks of a ship, a place commonly referred to as steerage. When I went into emergency medicine over 30 years ago, we were proud to work in an environment that could occasionally be chaotic and unpredictable. We choose emergency medicine to serve the disenfranchised and often desperate human beings who need us. We felt support from the rest of the hospital, and they admitted our patients quickly so we could move on to care for others. If our patients waited for a while in the waiting room, it wasnt because of anything that the hospital was doing wrong it was just a busy night. All of that has changed. The reason that our waiting room is now chaotic and frightening most of the time is not that our patient volume is overwhelming, it is low to average, and we could take care of all these patients quickly if the majority of our ED beds were not continuously occupied with inpatients. These boarding patients have been admitted to the hospital already but remain in the ED for many hours or even days, waiting for the overcrowded hospital space to be vacated for them. Why would a hospital allow patients and providers to suffer in such an unworkable situation? A useful analogy to explain this situation can be found by looking at the airline industry and the practice of bumping passengers from oversold flights. As a grade school-aged child, I remember being afraid that our family would get bumped on trips to visit my grandparents in Florida, and we would have to spend hours in the airport waiting for the next flight, or worse, stay home in Cleveland for winter break. This actually did happen once in the 1970s. Like the airlines, hospitals make more money when they oversell beds allowing the extra patients to spill over into the ED space that should be used for evaluation and treatment of ED patients. Patients admitted from the ED also bring in less revenue and are more likely to have public insurance than planned admissions or transfers from other hospitals to the ICU. The bottom line is the reason hospitals continue to board admitted patients in the ED is because they make more money this way. Im happy to report that I havent been bumped from an airplane flight since the 1970s. The reason I havent been bumped is that the federal government (FAA) stepped up to protect passengers and regulated airlines with legislation making this practice less financially attractive. Airlines now ask for volunteers for oversold flights in exchange for money or vouchers. Suppose no one volunteers and someone is bumped. In that case, airlines must place them on an alternate flight to their destination and pay them handsomely a minimum of $675 for more than a one-hour delay to destination and $1,350 for two hours with no upper limit on the passenger-negotiated compensation. Hospitals, on the other hand, have to do nothing for the displaced ED patients in the waiting room who suffer not only long waits but increased morbidity and mortality from the process of hospital boarding. Though the issues causing boarding are multifactorial, and most administrations address the boarding situation daily, the weakly implemented measures have been largely ineffective. Real solutions require hospitals to share the pain of a dysfunctional system in new ways. Emergency departments have already endured several decades of the burden, and it is increasingly unsafe and unfair to our patients, patients who are more likely to have already suffered racial health inequities and often have nowhere else to go. There are many viable options that are barely explored because there are no financial ramifications. It seems to just be easier to turn a blind eye to a patient suffering in the ED, pretend it doesnt exist, and keep the rest of the hospital neat and orderly at the expense of the emergency department. In this crisis, we need the federal and state governments to protect our disenfranchised ED patients and financially penalize hospitals proportionately to their inpatient ED boarding hours. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. It is unfair to our patients, unfair to us and we are together drowning in the lower decks, watching those in the upper decks board the inadequate supply of life rafts without even looking back down at us. Carolyn Joy Sachs is an emergency physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Daffodil Day returned to the streets of Kilkenny on Friday, March 25, after a two-year hiatus - and once again the people of Kilkenny were not found wanting when it came to supporting the Irish Cancer Societys annual flagship fundraising event. A team of 16 transition year students from CBS Secondary School donned the yellow bibs and took to the streets of Kilkenny city in support of the Irish Cancer Society. Along with an additional team of volunteers in MacDonagh Junction, they helped raise an impressive 6,700 on the day which was presented to the Irish Cancer Society at Kilkenny Volunteer Centres premises last Friday. Kilkenny Volunteer Centre, who supported the coordination of the fundraiser in Kilkenny City and MacDonagh Junction, said they are overwhelmed with the response to the collection. Transition year students from CBS Secondary School, Kilkenny with Emma Hayden, Community fundraiser, Paula Harte, Volunteering and Development Officer at Kilkenny Volunteer Centre, Salena Grace, Manager, Kilkenny Volunteer Centre and Deidre power, Shop Manager, Irish Cancer Society, Kilkenny, PICTURES: Vicky Comerford We are so thankful to all the volunteers who joined us to bring Daffodil Day back to Kilkenny with a bang! We were thrilled to have students from CBS Secondary School support the event and we received so much positive feedback from the public about their enthusiasm and their wonderful attitude throughout the day," said Salena Grace, Kilkenny Volunteer Centre manager. "They were an absolute credit to their school, their parents and themselves and it is so wonderful to see young people step up and make such a positive contribution. We are also incredibly grateful to the team of dedicated volunteers who supported the collection in MacDonagh Junction shopping centre. Emma Hayden, community fundraiser for South Leinster, expressed her gratitude to the people of Kilkenny for their generosity. "We are so thankful for all the help we received throughout Daffodil Day in Kilkenny, and we are thrilled to announced that over 6700 was raised. That is a remarkable contribution, and we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the team in Kilkenny Volunteer Centre along with the CBS school and all the volunteers who contributed to the days success," she said. "We would also like to thank everyone who gave so generously to the campaign. We cannot stress enough how important Daffodil Day is for the Irish Cancer Society and how many key services this annual event funds each year. The students thoroughly enjoyed their involvement with the Daffodil Day campaign." Ruairi Galwey TY student in Kilkenny CBS, said: I thought it was interesting talking to new people, people obviously bought the daffodil for a good cause, but they wanted to stay for the chat too. Some people talked about how important the Irish Cancer Society is, where the money is going, for example, cancer research. "They shared some of their own stories with us and that was interesting to hear. Every year between 43,000 and 44,000 people in Ireland get a diagnosis of cancer. Funds raised during Daffodil Day play a vital role in providing patient counselling programs and night nursing and care to people affected by cancer while also helping to develop ground-breaking cancer research and provide an array of supports for both the patient and the family. A small group gathered at Troyswood Water Treatment Plant last Friday morning to witness at first hand the progress being made on the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme. The works will see the decommissioning of ageing assets and deliver a 21st century water supply for the city which will benefit 28,000 people. Steven Seymour, Irish Waters Capital Portfolio Delivery Manager, is hugely excited by the progress. "This is a really exciting and important project for Kilkenny City and its environs," he said. "The city is already a brilliant place to work, live and holiday in but we need to ensure that the water supply is robust and geared toward future social and economic development. "This project will also ensure that the water supply is removed from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL) and that the communities and businesses who will benefit from the works will enjoy a more robust and secure water supply into the future. In addition, Irish Water is committed to playing its part in the national drive to provide homes to people who need them by developing and prioritising the delivery of key water service infrastructure. Irish Water continues to make progress in the delivery of water infrastructure to support housing and economic growth with 32,404 housing connections offered in 2021. Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Fidelis Doherty said 'we need to continue with developments like this to build for the future'. "With that expansion in mind, this project is exceptionally important," she said. "We welcome Irish Waters investment, their collaboration with Kilkenny County Council and Glan Aguas delivery of the project. It will increase water capacity and ensure high quality water supply for future growth of housing and businesses over the next 40 years. This will include current planned housing developments in the Breagagh Valley (West) and Loughmacask (North) of the City, the re-development of the former Brewery site the Abbey Quarter in the City Centre and business parks adjacent to the Kilkenny Ring Road. The 33million investment will take 2 years to complete. The upgrading and increase in capacity at the treatment plant at Troyswood will equip the plant to then become the primary water treatment plant facility for Kilkenny City. A new 2.9 km watermain from Troyswood to the Radestown site will connect to the existing service reservoirs and enable the Radestown plant to be decommissioned. Homes and businesses need not worry however, as the works are being carried out, water supply will continue to flow. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 87F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Workers stand near a pipe at a construction site on the extension of Russia's TurkStream gas pipeline in Letnitsa, Bulgaria, June 1, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap Mountainous and remote, the Greek-Bulgarian border once formed the southern corner of the Iron Curtain. Today, it's where the European Union is redrawing the region's energy map to ease its heavy reliance on Russian natural gas. A new pipeline built during the COVID-19 pandemic, tested and due to start commercial operation in June would ensure that large volumes of gas flow between the two countries in both directions to generate electricity, fuel industry and heat homes. The energy link takes on greater importance following Moscow's decision this week to cut off natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria over a demand for payments in rubles stemming from Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. The 180-kilometer pipeline project is the first of several planned gas interconnectors that would give eastern European Union members and countries hoping to join the 27-nation bloc access to the global gas market. In the short term, it's Bulgaria's backup. The new pipeline connection, called the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) Pipeline, will give the country access to ports in neighboring Greece that are importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and also will bring gas from Azerbaijan through a new pipeline system that ends in Italy. It's one of many efforts as EU members scramble to edit their energy mixes, with some reverting back to emissions-heavy coal while also planning expanded output from renewables. Germany, the world's biggest buyer of Russian energy, is looking to build LNG import terminals that would take years. Italy, another top Russian gas importer, has reached deals with Algeria, Azerbaijan, Angola and Congo for gas supplies. The European Union wants to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas by two-thirds this year and to eliminate it completely over five years through alternative sources, the use of wind and solar power and conservation. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is likely to accelerate changes in the EU's long-term strategy as the bloc adapts to energy that is more expensive but also more integrated among member nations, said Simone Tagliapietra, an energy expert at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel. "It's a new world," he said. "And in this new world, it's clear that Russia doesn't want to be part of an international order as we think of it." Tagliapietra added: "The strategy particularly by Germany over the last 50 years was always one of engaging with Russia on energy. ... But given what we are seeing in Ukraine and given Russia's view of international relations, it's not the kind of country with which we would like to do business." EU policymakers argue that while Eastern European members are among the most dependent on Russian gas, the size of their markets makes the problem manageable. Bulgaria imported 90 percent of its gas from Russia but only consumes 3 billion cubic meters annually 30 times less than lead consumer Germany, according to 2020 data from EU statistics agency Eurostat. The Greece-Bulgaria pipeline will complement the existing European network, much of which dates to the Soviet era, when Moscow sought badly needed funds for its faltering economy and Western suppliers to help build its pipelines. The link will run between the northeastern Greek city of Komotini and Stara Zagora in central Bulgaria, and will give Bulgaria and neighbors with new grid connections access to the expanding global gas market. That includes a connection with the newly built Trans Adriatic Pipeline, which carries gas from Azerbaijan, and suppliers of LNG that arrives by ship, likely to include Qatar, Algeria and the United States. As many as eight additional interconnectors could be built in Eastern Europe, reaching as far as Ukraine and Austria. The 240 million euro ($250 million) pipeline will carry 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year, with an option to be expanded to 5 billion. It received funding from Bulgaria, Greece and the EU, and has strong political support from Brussels and the United States. On the ground, the project faced multiple holdups because of supply chain snags during the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving specialized parts and moving personnel after construction got underway in early 2020 soon became increasingly difficult, said Antonis Mitzalis, executive director of Greek contractor AVAX, which oversaw the project. Construction of the pipeline finished in early April, he said, while work and testing are in the final stages at two metering stations and software installation. "We had a sequence in mind. But the fact that some materials did not arrive made us rework that sequence, sometimes with a cost effect," Mitzalis said. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis missed a tour of the site last month after contracting COVID-19. He spoke Wednesday with his Bulgarian counterpart Kiril Petkov to provide assurances of Greek support. "Bulgaria and Greece will continue to work together for energy security and diversification of strategic importance for both countries and the region," Petkov later tweeted. "We both are confident for the successful completion of the IGB on time." President Moon Jae-in on Sunday stressed the government's efforts in enhancing labor rights as he thanked workers for their dedication in the fight against the novel coronavirus. In his message marking the 132nd Labor Day, Moon said his government worked hard on guaranteeing fundamental labor rights in the past five years. "We ratified key International Labor Organization conventions, raised minimum wage and exercised the 52-hour work week system ... and made progress in work-life balance," Moon wrote on his Facebook page and Twitter account. "Labor must be protected by the employment safety net." Moon, whose five-year terms ends on May 9, also said he expects the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to drastically reduce workplace disasters. The Serious Accidents Punishment Act went into effect in the country in January, under which owners and CEOs of companies with five or more employees can face a minimum one-year prison sentence or up to a fine of 1 billion won (US$791,700) in the event of serious workplace disasters. "While overcoming the novel coronavirus, we have learned how thankful to be for essential workers' devotion," he said. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol also released a Labor Day message, saying he will work hard to make a society where the value of labor can be respected and the rights and interests of workers can be realized. "Workers' sweat and effort were decisive for South Korea's economy to achieve today's prosperity," Yoon wrote on his Facebook page. "A society that does not properly recognize the value of labor and guarantee safety at work will have difficulty pursuing sustainable development." Meanwhile, labor groups held various events and rallies in major cities to commemorate Labor Day, but no clashes were reported. Some 14,000 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more militant of the country's two major umbrella unions, staged a rally in Seoul, demanding the government guarantee good, quality jobs for workers and basic labor rights without discrimination. (Yonhap) Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae examines a tidal power plant at Shihwa Lake in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, that is covered with building-integrated photovoltaic panels, December 2021. Newsis By Ko Dong-hwan The Seoul Metropolitan Government has started accepting applicants for a subsidy for installing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPVs) panels a type of solar panel the city is promoting to increase the public's usage of renewable energy resources instead of fossil fuels. Considered the next level of PV panels, BIPVs can be integrated like large tiles covering a building's external surfaces. Unlike conventional PV panels that physically stand out, BIPVs can be installed in various spots along a building's surface, such as windows, exterior walls or rooftops. They also come in different colors and can add a sleek glass facade to older structures. The city government will accept applicants until June 10 and subsidize a total of 1.5 billion won ($1.2 million) to selected applicants. The subsidy is available for two types of BIPVs. For those installing "design-type" BIPVs (designed to look less conspicuous), the city will cover up to 70 percent of the installation costs. This particular subsidy, however, comes with the condition that installation costs are calculated at 6 million won per kilowatt for replacing old PVs with BIPVs, and 4 million won per kilowatt for installing new BIPVs. For those installing "new technology-type" BIPVs (made with new materials or new technologies developed domestically), the city will cover up to 80 percent of the installation costs. Those who own private buildings in Seoul can apply for the subsidy with a firm that will install the panels. The Green Energy Division in the city government's Climate and Environment Headquarters will evaluate candidate firms based on their qualifications such as their licenses and performance in the area and then select pairs consisting of the building owner applicant and an installation firm. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has run various programs to subsidize solar panels for residents, beginning with a program for apartment dwelling households, since 2011. It started subsidizing building owners installing BIPVs in 2020. The city government subsidized a total of 2.2 billion won since that year for four buildings (including a church) in the districts of Gangseo, Yangcheon and Seocho. Lim Mi-kyung, the head of the Green Energy Division, said that the government started subsidizing BIPVs to provide the newest type of PV panels available in Korea and to reduce the usage of conventional panels that have been limited to installation on apartment balconies or outside veranda spaces, or to building rooftops. "It is our goal to propagate the use of BIPVs, which can expand the city's usage of eco-friendly energy resources and also improve the appearance of existing buildings," said Lim. "The project will contribute to the city transitioning its energy structure to an eco-friendly one and reduce greenhouse gases." Since a national standard that assesses the performance of a BIPV module was certified in 2016, observers said that the BIPV market in the country is expected to grow by 20 percent annually until 2028. As the country's BIPV technologies have been growing, there is a rising demand for revising the country's existing standards for BIPV modules and systems. Some of the observers mentioned that the national policies for BIPVs of European nations like Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands are worth researching and citing. IONIQ 5 / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest carmaker, said Sunday it received more than 1,500 orders for its all-electric IONIQ 5 in Indonesia, less than a week after releasing the prices. Hyundai Motor received 1,587 orders for the IONIQ 5 in Indonesia from April 22-27, more than doubling overall electric vehicle sales in the Southeast Asian country last year, the company said in a statement. For all of 2021, carmakers operating in Indonesia sold a total of 693 EVs in the country, with Hyundai's IONIQ Electric and Kona Electric models accounting for 87 percent, or 605 units, Hyundai said, citing data from Indonesia's automotive industry association. The company unveiled the IONIQ 5 at the Indonesia International Motor Show held from March 31 to April 10 before receiving the orders. The pure electric crossover is available for between 718 million and 829 million rupiah ($49,600-57,300) in Indonesia. The Indonesian automobile market has long been dominated by Japanese carmakers which currently claim a whopping 95 percent stake in the market. To change the market landscape, Hyundai has focused on promoting its all-electric models. Last month, Hyundai said it will produce the IONIQ 5 in Indonesia. It completed a 150,000 unit-a-year plant in the Deltamas industrial complex near Cikarang, 40 kilometers east of Jakarta, in December. IONIQ 5 is equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's EV-only electric-global modular platform (E-GMP) at its Indonesian plant for local sales. Hyundai's other E-GMP models include the IONIQ 6 sedan and IONIQ 7 SUV set to be released this year and in 2024, respectively. The Indonesian plant is already producing the compact Creta SUV, a strategic model for the region, and is expected to churn out the Santa Fe SUV in the first half and a small multi-purpose vehicle in the second half, Hyundai said. Most of the vehicles to be produced in the plant will be sold in Indonesia and exported to Association of Southeast Asian Nations markets, it said. Hyundai said it plans to invest 1.92 trillion won in the plant and increase its output capacity to 250,000 units. The maker of the Sonata sedan and the Santa Fe SUV said it will help the Indonesian government in its plans to convert 130,000 units of public vehicles to electric ones by 2030. "I hope that this IONIQ 5 from Hyundai will become an important milestone in the development of Indonesia's electric vehicle ecosystem, and further accelerate the electric car ecosystem that is more advanced," Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in the plant's inauguration ceremony in Cikarang on March 16. Hyundai is also working with LG Energy Solution Ltd., South Korea's leading car battery maker, to build a battery cell factory in Karawang, Indonesia, with a target to start production in 2024. It has seven domestic plants five in Ulsan, one in Asan and one in Jeonju and 11 overseas plants four in China and one each in the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India, Brazil and Indonesia. Their combined capacity reaches 5.65 million vehicles. (Yonhap) A child wearing a face mask looks on at the check-in counters of the Hong Kong International Airport amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, March 21. Reuters-Yonhap Tom Wellingham is planning his first business trip to Hong Kong in seven months as the city reopens its doors to non-residents May 1. Tom Wellingham is planning his first business trip to Hong Kong in seven months as the city reopens its doors to non-residents May 1. The 39-year-old Briton living in Singapore works in operations for a food and beverage company throughout the Asia-Pacific region and used to visit Hong Kong monthly before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. Since then, he has visited only once, spending 14 days in compulsory quarantine. From May 1, all non-resident visitors must spend seven days in compulsory quarantine in a government-approved hotel, the same as returning residents. "It's the easiest it's been to get to Hong Kong for some time, so I am going to try and get back in May and see the team," Wellingham said. "The food and beverage industry is a people business. It doesn't work via a Zoom call indefinitely, and having face time with people in the market is super important." Although Hong Kong has reopened for the first time for most visitors in more than two years, business leaders were not expecting many arrivals. They said the mandatory quarantine and the risk of flight routes being banned when travelers test positive for COVID-19 remained too off-putting. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce CEO George Leung Siu-kay warned that the city risked falling behind rivals that were opening up and moving forward swiftly. "When every global business hub was shut down due to COVID-19, the cost of the disruption was borne by all, so we were all in the same boat," he told the Post. "Now that the whole world is opening up and moving forward, Hong Kong risks losing out." He said expatriates or professionals working with multinational firms who could afford to stay for at least a month would come to Hong Kong, but they were the minority. Most business travelers, including those taking part in exhibitions or meeting clients, came for a shorter period and preferred quarantine-free travel, he added. Peter Burnett, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, agreed, saying: "Most people on a business trip to Hong Kong want to spend perhaps a week. If they've got to spend a week in quarantine, and then a week out meeting people, it becomes altogether too time-consuming." At the same time, he added, travelers had to be mindful that their trips might be affected if Hong Kong banned flight routes because arriving passengers tested positive for COVID-19. He said business trips were usually scheduled carefully with visits to multiple locations in the region, and a flight suspension could disrupt the whole program. "This becomes a huge disincentive to schedule a trip to include Hong Kong," he said. A foreign businessman based in Hong Kong said he would not recommend that his business partners visited any time soon. "Quarantine is one issue, but the risk of being sent to a compulsory isolation facility is another," he said, referring to the government-run facilities with minimum amenities where patients with mild symptoms were isolated. Businesses have called for quarantine-free travel with mainland China and overseas, but Hong Kong has stuck with its "dynamic-zero" COVID-19 approach to tackling the pandemic with strict quarantine, isolation and social-distancing restrictions. Patients lie on hospital beds as they wait at a temporary makeshift treatment area outside Caritas Medical Centre in Hong Kong, Feb. 18. The city has recorded more than 1.2 million infections and over 9,300 related deaths. AP-Yonhap By Jacek Rostowski VIENNA Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine is so savage precisely because he believes Russians and Ukrainians are one people. To understand his decision to invade, we should listen to how he himself explains it and we should listen even more intently when the rationale that he offers seems so absurd. Two of Putin's justifications are particularly striking. The first that Ukraine is an "anti-Russia" is patently bizarre. The second that "Russians and Ukrainians are one people" seems incongruous in the context of the first, and even more so given Russia's murderous behavior in Ukraine. Yet, in politics, it is often the absurd that is most revealing. Both statements have deep historical roots and a psychological logic that connects and explains them. The history concerns the rise of the princes of Muscovy, first to preeminence, and then mastery among the principalities of medieval Rus. Muscovy initially established its power by acting as a tax collector for the Mongol khan. After learning ruthless despotism from their Mongol masters, and then expanding their domain with Mongol help, the Muscovy princes turned against the Mongols, expelled them, and consolidated "the lands of Rus" under the grand dukes of Muscovy and their successors, the "czars of all the Russias." But autocracy was not the only form of government in the Russian lands as Muscovy rose in power. The commercial Republic of Novgorod in the country's northwest is the best-known example of medieval Russian constitutionalism, but far from the only one. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which despite its name incorporated present-day Belarus and Ukraine, had well-developed representative institutions by the standards of medieval Europe. The Lithuanian Seimas and the provincial assemblies of the gentry had more power than their Iberian and British counterparts in the sixteenth century. Critically, Lithuania was largely a Slavic state. Its official language was Old Belarusian, not Lithuanian, and much of its aristocracy was Orthodox and ethnically Rus. Finally, there is the political tradition of the Dnipro Cossacks. Originally comprising mainly peasants who fled slavery and decamped to the empty borderlands "at the edge" (u kraina) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Cossacks justly considered themselves "a knightly people," winning their freedom through military exploits against the Crimean Tatars, Ottoman Turks, Muscovites, and Poles. They elected their hetman, or head of state, and a ruling council for almost 200 years until Catherine the Great suppressed these institutions in 1764. The blood-soaked destruction of Novgorod by Ivan the Terrible is well-known, as are the partitions of Poland. Less often mentioned is the 1775 destruction of the Cossack Sich, or state, and the massacre of 20,000 people. Each of these episodes contributed to the establishment of autocracy throughout the lands of Rus (the so-called Russkiy mir). The Russian czarist ideology that emerged during these bloody struggles to justify despotic rule is central to understanding today's conflict in Ukraine. Such an ideology was essential, because limits on arbitrary executive power were just as attractive to the nobility of Muscovy as they were to Lithuanian nobles, residents of Novgorod, Cossacks, English barons, or American colonists. The czarist narrative wove together two main themes: The czar is "the little father of all the people," protecting an enslaved peasantry against their noble masters, and the Russian people are particularly unsuited to exercising constitutional freedom. Constitutionalism would supposedly benefit only a selfish nobility, who could use their resulting power to exploit the peasantry even more. Moreover, since Russians unlike Westerners were intrinsically unable to govern themselves effectively but rather needed a "strong hand," factional conflicts would weaken the state, expose it to foreign threats, and possibly lead to its disintegration. We can now see why Putin is right when he says that Ukraine is "anti-Russia." If Russian statehood is defined by despotism, and if Russians and Ukrainians are one people, then by successfully governing themselves, Ukrainians have proved that the founding myth of Muscovite Russia has been a huge historical error. Just like other Europeans, Russians also can have both personal freedom and an effective state. And since an effective Russian state will most likely be militarily powerful, they may not need autocracy even to ensure geopolitical influence. That is why, as a Russian television commentator recently put it, "the very idea [of being Ukrainian] needs to be totally eradicated." For Putin and the elite around him, the war against Ukraine is a civil war, a struggle for the very idea of Russia and for the rightness of its history as they define it. As in all civil wars, it is the closeness of the antagonists that fuels the savagery now being perpetrated upon Ukraine's people. Those Russians who embrace this inverted Manichaeism, in which dictatorship is good and freedom is evil, also accept an insidious psychological bargain. They give up personal freedom for submission to, but membership of, a powerful state that others fear. "I fear my state, but it is my state," many Russians say to foreigners and to themselves. "You fear my state, but it is not your state." But what happens to this bargain if foreigners lose their fear? That is why defeat by Ukraine, if it occurs, would be an epochal event for Russia. Even the West's victory in the Cold War did not spell the end of Russia's authoritarian ideology. Western democracy may have proved itself to be more powerful than Soviet despotism, but that did not mean a democratic Russia could be well governed, much less powerful. But defeat at the hands of Ukraine would be another matter entirely. Jacek Rostowski is a former minister of finance and deputy prime minister of Poland. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Gloria Yoder lives in Flat Rock, Illinois. She likes to cook, bake, garden and being a mom! Readers can send her mail at P.O. Box 157, Middletown, Ohio 45042. For more recipes and information about the Amish lifestyle go to amish365.com. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Mostly cloudy. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. From IVE Jang Wonyoung to BLACKPINK Jennie and more, these ten K-pop idols have totally different vibes on and off-stage! 1. IVE Jang Wonyoung Jang Wonyoung gained fame on "Produce 48" and debuted as the center of IZ*ONE in 2018. After the group's disbandment, Jang Wonyoung re-debuted in IVE, and her popularity skyrocketed. Though only 17 years old, Jang Wonyoung is known for her stunning beauty and enviable figure. People often praise her cat-like face and eye-catching expressions. Though she looks chic onstage, Jang Wonyoung is known for being sweet and cute off-stage. After all, she is still a 17-year-old girl at heart! 2. (G)I-DLE Shuhua When Shuhua debuted with (G)I-DLE, she immediately attracted attention thanks to her dazzling appearance. At first, people believed she would be quiet and cold, as her image on stage in serious and haughty. However, after getting to know Shuhua more, people realized she is the opposite! Shuhua often holds solo live streams to interact with fans and has gone viral several times for her funny and blunt replies. Her words either make her fans laugh or cry! Some even joked that Shuhua's debut as an idol was a significant loss to the comedy world. 3. SEVENTEEN Hoshi When Hoshi is on stage, the idol attracts attention for his handsome appearance. As the leader of the Performance Unit, Hoshi is sharp, charismatic, and impressive whenever he performs. However, in private, Hoshi is full of warmth and adorableness! SEVENTEEN has even voted him and Seungkwan as the member who cries the most. When SEVENTEEN earned their first-ever win with "Pretty U," Hoshi was seen shedding tears as he tried to sing his parts. How soft-hearted! 4. BTS Jimin BTS member Jimin is not only known for his unique, high-pitched voice but also his dance lines. Thanks to his background in modern dance, Jimin's dance lines are graceful and have spurred several legendary performances. In addition, his sultry expressions on stage and rock-hard abs have attracted several fans worldwide! However, off-stage, Jimin is a cute boy with a warm personality. He is the type of person who takes care of others. Due to his excellent character, many ARMYs have expressed their hopes of having a friend like Jimin! 5. BLACKPINK Jennie "Human Chanel" Jennie has a strong aura on stage. She looks like a confident queen who wants to dominate the scene! Her fox-like eyes often enchant audiences watching her performance. In pictorial shots, BLINKs drown just staring at her eyes. In private, however, Jennie is a sweet girl! Her way of speaking is soft and lovely, and she exudes brightness with every gesture. 6. Red Velvet Irene Irene, the leader of Red Velvet, is known for her fairy-like beauty. Due to her ethereal image, people call her "Ice Queen." This is because her expressions on stage are often serious and chic. However, as the oldest member of Red Velvet, she is warm-hearted. This is especially true with her members. She often treats her members to meals and even cooks for them. When Irene laughs, she sounds like she uses her whole body to exude warmth. 7. HyunA HyunA is known as one of the sexy queens in the industry. When she is on stage, her seductive aura causes people to fall in love with her sexy charms. HyunA has a rebellious image that people love. When she is off-stage, however, HyunA is lovely. Though she looks rebellious, she is a fillial child with a strong relationship with her mother. She is cute in all her manners, especially with her fiance, DAWN! 8. Chungha Chungha, known for her intense dance and vocal skills, has a cool appearance. Some say she has the image of a powerful, spoiled queen who demands people's attention when she is on stage. However, off-stage, Chungha is a homebody who would rather be alone than in a big crowd! She likes to lie down at home and rest when she has no schedule. Even when friends ask her to go shopping, Chungha would rather stay cuddled in her bed! 9. 2PM Junho Junho, who is known as a famous idol-actor, is known for his sexy aura. Junho is known for his seductive image and his "strong guy" image with his strong muscles, being one of the "beast" idols that he is. However, he is actually a total softie! Though he has massive muscles, the idol is soft-hearted and loves to play with his four cats. Junho is totally a sexy cutie! 10. TXT Yeonjun Yeonjun has a sharp appearance and is known for his expression management. With a towering height of 182cm and perfect proportions, Yeonjun can look intimidating. Due to his abilities and appearance, MOAs have stated that he was a natural-born idol. However, he is actually cute and loud off-stage! His cheeks are always full when he eats delicious food, and his eyes become large. He becomes a cute bear, and MOAs love him for it! Though he is the oldest member, he often talks cutely to his members. How can you not love Yeonjun? Who is your favorite K-pop idol? Tell us in the comments below! For more K-Pop news, follow and subscribe to KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Reported by Alexa Lewis New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Various chief ministers opposed the idea of the judiciary to have a national body to create court infrastructure in states and wanted such a panel to be set up at the state level with representation of the political executive, sources said on Sunday. On Friday, the conference of chief justices of the high courts had passed a resolution to create a national judicial infrastructure development authority of India. Also Read | Section 144 CrPC Imposed in Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Budh Nagar Due to Rising COVID-19 Cases. But on Saturday, at the joint conference of chief ministers and chief justices, several chief ministers did not agree with the proposed set up. They said the panels should be set up at the state level and not at the national level because the implementation of the projects would happen in states. Also Read | Eid ul-Fitr 2022: Mehbooba Mufti Lauds Fortitude and Patience of Muslims This Ramzan. Sources aware of the deliberations at the conference said there was intense discussion on creating the body at the national level. During the course of discussion there were arguments on the issue between Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and some other chief ministers, the sources said. The Union Law Minister and some other chief ministers later ensured near unanimity to have a body at state level to ensure speedier execution of judicial infrastructure. The proposed body could be in the form of a special purpose vehicle. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana had mooted judicial infrastructure authorities both at the state and the national levels. "After discussion, there was near unanimity among the chief ministers... state-level infrastructure body to be established and not a national-level one. "However, there was a suggestion to include the chief minister or his nominee in the body at the state level. Most of the states have agreed to adopt this model," he said at a press conference on Saturday. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], May 1 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday assured that the situation in Patiala is 'peaceful' after violence broke out in the district on April 29. Chief Minister further claimed that "it was a matter between two political parties which is being portrayed as an issue between two communities." Also Read | Northeast Frontier Railway Makes Record Recovery of Over Rs 23 Crores Fines from Ticketless Travellers. "There's peace in Patiala as of now. Shiv Sena, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal were there and they were their workers who clashed with each other," said Mann. Meanwhile, Inspector-general of police MS Chhina on Saturday said that as many as six FIRs were registered and three accused were arrested in connection with violence in Patiala. Also Read | Maharashtra: Postman Booked for Misplacing Over 200 EPIC Voter Cards in Thane District. "A law and order issue was created in Patiala, in connection with which the Patiala Police has registered 6 FIRs and 3 accused have been arrested, including Harish Singla. The main accused and the mastermind Barjinder Singh Parwana will be arrested shortly," said Chhina. Tension had gripped Patiala after two groups clashed outside the Kali Mata temple on April 29, brandishing swords and pelting stones at each other, at a rally in which four people, including two policemen, were injured. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, May 1 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday paid tributes here to 105 martyrs of the Samyukta (unified) Maharashtra movement on the occasion of the state's foundation day. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Severe Heatwave to Persist Till May 2; Heavy Rains to Lash Northeast. Maharashtra was formed on this day in 1960 following the movement. Also Read | Samyukta Kisan Morcha To Visit Lakhimpur Kheri on May 5. Governor B S Koshyari attended an event at Shivaji Park in Dadar area here on Sunday to celebrate the state's foundation day. The CM along with his wife Rashmi Thackeray and minister-son Aaditya Thackeray visited the Hutatma Chowk (martyrs' memorial) in south Mumbai to pay homage to the martyrs. Later, the chief minister in a tweet said, "Paid floral tributes to martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement on the occasion of the Maharashtra Day." For the last two years, the Maharashtra Day was celebrated under the grim shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. The curbs, however, have been lifted now due to a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, May 1: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath on Sunday said the old pension scheme for government employees will be brought back if his party is elected to power in the state in the 2023 Assembly polls. The old pension scheme for government employees was discontinued nationwide from April 1, 2004 and was replaced by the new National Pension Scheme (NPS). He was speaking at an event of the Madhya Pradesh Shikshak Congress. "If a Congress government is formed in Madhya Pradesh in 2023, the old pension scheme for government employees will be implemented like how other states ruled by our party have done," Nath said. Hitting back, MP Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel told PTI the Congress was now non-existent and people were never going to vote for it again. "The Congress cheated people and farmers by failing to fulfill promises of loan waiver, regularization of jobs of daily wagers, providing unemployment allowance etc. Now people know the truth about the Congress and are never going to vote for it again," Patel said. Madhya Pradesh Reports 31 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, Zero Daily Deaths. In February, the Congress government under Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan had announced in the annual budget about the resumption of the old pension scheme for over three lakh government employees who were appointed on or after January 1, 2004. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amritsar (Punjab) [India], May 1 (ANI): Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Sunday apprehended a farmer with two packets of suspected narcotics weighing approximately 1.020 kg near the international border in Punjab's Amritsar. Alert BSF troops apprehended the farmer, while he was trying to conceal suspicious narcotic packets when he had gone ahead of the fence for farming, BSF, in a statement, said. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Stabs Aunt Multiple Times to Death in Darbhanga After Tiff Over Papaya Sapling. Troops were deployed on the Kissan security duty, while working ahead of Border Security Fence, when they noticed some suspicious activity of a farmer namely Dilbag Singh, a resident of Hardo Rattan village in the area of Amritsar sector. The farmer, who owns three Kanal land ahead of Border Security Fence, had gone ahead of Border Fence with a tractor and two trolleys. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Upholds Idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Says India Does Not Dream of Its Own Rise at Cost of Others. At about 11.40 hours, he was seen hiding something in his clothes, said BSF. On searching, a BSF Kissan guard recovered one packet hidden in brown colour cloth from his possession. On searching further in the nearby area ahead of the border fence, the BSF official recovered another packet concealed in a brown coloured cloth lying in the farming field near the international border. The BSF said that the two packets are suspected to be of heroin. The farmer has been taken in custody of BSF and legal formalities have been initiated with local Police and concerned sister agencies. BSF said that it is ever committed to fighting against the drug menace. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kasaragod, May 1: A 16-year-old girl died and 18 others were hospitalised on Sunday due to suspected food poisoning after they ate Shawarma at an eatery here. Devananda, a resident of Karivallor near here, died at the Kanhangad district hospital, while undergoing treatment, police said. A case has been registered against the juice shop, which has been sealed following investigations. District Medical Officer A V Ramdas said 18 students have been admitted to the district hospital after they fell sick, but none of them are in a serious condition. "We are expecting more cases and have asked doctors and staff from other nearby medical institutions to be present at the Cheruvathur PHC and Neeleswaram Taluk hospitals. We plan to treat people with mild issues there and those with serious conditions will be shifted to the district hospital," Ramdas told the media. Real Zaika Food Poisoning Case: 13 Fall Ill After Consuming Chicken Garlic Bread at Mumbai Eatery, Owner Detained. Meanwhile, Minister M V Govindan visited the students undergoing treatment at the hospital and said the government will ensure that quality food is served in hotels across the state. "The government will conduct inspections across the state to ensure that the food served at restaurants is of good quality," the minister said. According to sources, the juice shop was situated near a Tuition centre. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India] May 1 (ANI): India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 189.17 crore (1,89,17,69,346) as per provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This has been achieved through 2,33,70,192 sessions, said the ministry. Also Read | Yogi Adityanath Government To Provide One Job to Every Farmer Family in Uttar Pradesh. According to the ministry, COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on March 16, 2022. So far, more than 2.90 Cr (2,90,98,946) adolescents have been administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for the age group 18-59 years also started from April 10, 2022, onwards, it stated. Also Read | Telangana Shocker: Mentally Challenged Woman Gang-Raped by 4 Auto Drivers in Dundigal; Accused Arrested. As per the ministry, India's active caseload currently stands at 19,092. Active cases now constitute 0.04 per cent of the country's total positive cases. "Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.74 per cent. 2,876 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) is now at 4,25,36,253," it said. With 3,324 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the country saw a total of 4,71,087 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 83.79 crore (83,79,13,110) cumulative tests. According to the Ministry, the weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 0.68 per cent and the daily positivity rate is also reported to be 0.71 per cent. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) Facing production issues due to supply chain challenges, leading carmakers Maruti Suzuki (MSI) and Hyundai Motor reported a dip in vehicle dispatches from factories to dealers in April this year. Tata Motors, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Skoda Auto on the other hand witnessed a robust growth in vehicle dispatches last month. Also Read | Maharashtra LoP & Former CM Devendra Fadnavis, Along with Other BJP Leaders, Attends a Latest Tweet by ANI. The country's largest carmaker MSI said its domestic sales slipped 7 per cent to 1,32,248 units as against 1,42,454 units in April 2021. Sales of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, fell 32 per cent to 17,137 units compared to 25,041 in the same month last year. Also Read | Section 144 CrPC Imposed in Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Budh Nagar Due to Rising COVID-19 Cases. In the compact car segment, sales of models such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire slumped 18 per cent to 59,184 units against 72,318 in April 2021. However, utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, rose 33 per cent to 33,941 units compared to 25,484 vehicles in the year-ago month, MSI said. "The shortage of electronic components had a minor impact on the production of vehicles, mainly domestic models," the auto major stated. Rival Hyundai Motor India reported a 10 per cent dip in wholesales last month at 44,001 units last month, as against 49,002 units in April 2021. Similarly, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) reported a 13 per cent year-on-year decline in domestic wholesales to 7,874 units for April. "The customer sentiment continues to show improvement and positivity, which is reflected in strong demand. However, the supply chain issues remain a challenge for the industry, which is impacting the ability to meet the growing demand," HCIL Director (Marketing and Sales) Yuichi Murata said. The automaker is hopeful that the situation improves sooner than later so that the demand-supply equation can be more balanced, he added. MG Motor India said its retail sales declined 22 per cent to 2,008 units last month compared to 2,565 in April 2021. The production remained volatile and immensely impacted by the global supply chain constraints due to the sudden and new COVID-19 lockdowns in different parts of the world, the automaker stated. The brand is closely monitoring the situation caused by the new COVID waves and is aligning its efforts to address it, the company added. Home-grown auto major Tata Motors on the other hand reported a 66 per cent increase in dispatches to dealers at 41,587 units last month as against 25,095 units in April 2021. Also, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said its wholesales rose by 57 per cent in April to 15,085 units from 9,600 in the same month last year. "Demand continues to peak in the new financial year, as we close the month of April with an overall growth of 57 per cent over wholesales in April 2021. Along with the Crysta, Fortuner and the Legender, the Camry Hybrid has received very encouraging booking orders," TKM Associate Vice President, Sales, and Strategic Marketing, Atul Sood said. Skoda Auto India said its sales surged by over five-fold in April at 5,152 units as compared to 961 units in April 2021. "It is heartening to see that a sedan is helping us climb peak after peak in sales. The Slavia is a resounding success, while the Kushaq SUV continues finding newer homes," Skoda Auto India Brand Director Zac Hollis noted. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna (Bihar) [India], May 1 (ANI): Amid the loudspeaker row in parts of the country, a temple and a mosque in Patna co-exist, exhibiting communal harmony, while respecting each other's prayers and ceremonies. The temple and mosque are just 50-meter apart. Also Read | Labour Day 2022: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Launches E-Portal for Pensioners in the State. While the temple turns off its loudspeakers during Azaan, the mosque equally takes care of the temple devotees as a mark of mutual reverence towards each other. Speaking to ANI, Patna Mosque Chairman Faisal Imam said that the temple turns off the loudspeakers during Azaan as a mark of respect. Also Read | India Reports 3,324 New COVID-19 Cases, 40 Deaths in Past 24 Hours. He also said that the mosque offered Sharbat to the devotees visiting the temple on the occasion of Ram Navami. "We offered Sharbat to devotees coming to the temple on Ram Navami as they queued in front of the mosque. Loudspeakers in the temple play Bhajan-Kirtan throughout the day but are turned off during Azaan as a mark of respect. There's a sense of amity," Imam said. Likewise, the Chairman of Patna's Mahavir Mandir Kishor Kunal told ANI that they (people at the temple and mosque) often help each other and maintain brotherhood. "Neither we have a problem with Azaan nor do they have an issue with Bhajan-Kirtan. We maintain brotherhood among us and often help each other," Kunal said. Throughout the loudspeaker row, the Chief Minister of the state, Nitish Kumar has maintained a clear stand on the issue and has reiterated time and again that his government will "never indulge in such politics" or interfere in any religion. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, as many as 53,942 loudspeakers have been uninstalled from various religious places till 7.00 am on Sunday, following the direction of the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government. Prior to this announcement, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directions for restricting the volume of loudspeakers at religious places, earlier this month. While in Maharashtra, on April 13, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray gave an ultimatum to the state government and reiterated his demand that loudspeakers from mosques be removed. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], May 1 (ANI): The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Punjab Police on Sunday arrested three close aides of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar from Bathinda. The arrested accused persons have been identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Sachin of village Charewaan in Muktsar Sahib, Himmatveer Singh Gill of village Jhorar in Muktsar Sahib and Balkaran alias Vicky of village Chak Dukhe Wala in Muktsar Sahib. The police have also recovered two .30-caliber pistols, two .32-caliber pistols along with 20 cartridges and a white i20 car from their possession. Also Read | #IPL2022: #LucknowSuperGiants Post 195/3 in 20 Overs Latest Tweet by IANS India. Punjab government recently constituted an AGTF headed by ADGP Promod Ban under the supervision of DGP Punjab VK Bhawra to intensify action against gangsters. DIG AGTF Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, "An AGTF team from Bathinda has managed to arrest the trio accused persons, who were planning to attack a prominent businessman of Malwa region to extort money from him. "With the arrest of these accused persons, a sensational crime has been averted," he said. Also Read | Indian Education Sector Biggest Target of Cyber Threats, Remote Learning Among Key Triggers: Report. DIG Bhullar said that while all the three accused persons have a criminal background, Sachin and Himmatveer indulged in drug smuggling and illegal weapon trafficking in the neighbouring state of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. He said that they procured weapons for the gang from other states and used to deliver them to their associates for target killings. On the directions of Canadian-based gangster Goldy Brar and Anmol Bishnoi, younger brother of Lawrance Bishnoi, they were providing hideouts to absconding gangsters of the National Capital Region (NCR), the DIG said. "Recently the Counter Intelligence unit of special cell Delhi has arrested a wanted gangster Sharukh, who was provided hideout in Punjab by Sachin and his associates," he added. Meanwhile, an FIR on May 1 has been registered under sections 25 (7) and (8) of the Arms Act at Police Station Civil Line Bathinda and further investigations are on. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, May 1: Senior Kerala politician P C George was taken into custody by police on Sunday for his alleged controversial remarks against Muslims. Police said cops from the Fort police station here took George into custody from his residence in Erattupetta in Kottayam district in the early hours on Sunday. Police on Saturday had registered a case against George alleging that his speech at a conclave here promoted religious hatred. Police at the Fort police station took suo motu action against the former legislator on the directions of the state police chief Anil Kant. Kerala Nun Rape Case: PC George Apologises For 'Prostitute' Remark, But Stands by Other Allegations. George, who was booked under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code, is being brought to Thiruvananthapuram, police said. The former Congress politician had sparked off a controversy by asking non-Muslims in Kerala to avoid restaurants run by the community. Addressing a programme organised as part of the ongoing Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan here on Friday, he had alleged that tea laced with drops causing impotence were sold in Muslim-run restaurants to turn people infertile in a bid to seize control of the country. The 70-year-old politician, who represented the Poonjar constituency in the state Assembly for 33 years, had also urged non-Muslims to boycott businesses run by Muslims. The ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress had condemned his remarks. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) The government on Sunday said the country has sufficient stock of edible oils and it is keeping a close watch on the price as well as supply situation. "India has optimum stock of all edible oils. As per the industry sources, the present stock of all edible oils in the country is 21 lakh tonnes approx and 12 lakh tonnes approx. is in transit arriving in May, 2022," the food and consumer affairs ministry said in a statement. Also Read | Kerala: 16-Year-Old Girl Dies of Food Poisoning in Kanhangad, 18 Hospitalised. Therefore, the country has sufficient stock to cover the lean period due to ban on export by Indonesia, it added. On the oilseeds front, the agriculture ministry's second advance estimate released in February 2022 showed a very positive picture of soyabean production for the year 2021-22 at 126.10 lakh tonnes, which is higher than last year's production of 112 lakh tonnes. Also Read | Section 144 CrPC Imposed in Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Budh Nagar Due to Rising COVID-19 Cases. As a result of higher sowing of mustard seeds by 37 per cent in all major producing states, including Rajasthan, in comparison with last year, the production may rise to 114 lakh tonnes in the 2021-22 season. "The Department of Food and Public Distribution is monitoring the price and availability situation and meetings are held regularly with major edible oil processing associations to discuss further reduction in the domestic edible oil prices and MRP to give relief to consumers," the statement said. The food ministry noted that palm oil (crude and refined) constitutes around 62 per cent of the total imported edible oils. They are imported mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia. Soyabean oil (22 per cent) is imported from Argentina and Brazil, while sunflower oil (15 per cent) is imported mainly from Ukraine and Russia. "International prices of edible oils are under pressure due to shortfall in global production and increase in export tax/levies by the exporting countries," the statement said. India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world. This sector occupies an important position in the agricultural economy, accounting for the estimated production of 37.14 million tonnes of nine cultivated oilseeds during the year 2021-22. "A close watch is being kept on day to day basis on prices of edible oils so that appropriate measures can be taken to keep a check on the prices...," it added. The Inter-Ministerial Committee meetings held weekly on agri-commodities chaired by the food secretary closely monitor the prices and availability of agricultural commodities including edible oil, keeping in view the interest of the farmers, industry and consumers. The committee reviews price situation on a weekly basis, considers relevant measures in relation to edible oils and other food items depending on the domestic production, demand, domestic and international prices and international trade volumes. Special teams have also been constituted by both Central and state governments to prevent hoarding and profiteering under the Essential Commodities Act. "These surprise checks shall continue to check unscrupulous elements," the statement added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bokaro/ Ranchi, May 1 (PTI) Two full-grown sloth bears were on Sunday rescued by forest officials from a village in Jharkhand following the intervention of politician-cum-animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, officials said. Sloth bears are protected under Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This Schedule covers endangered species. Schedule-1 and part 2 of Schedule 2 provide absolute protection- offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties. Also Read | Indian Education Sector Biggest Target of Cyber Threats, Remote Learning Among Key Triggers: Report. A team of People for Animals (PFA), an animal welfare organisation founded by Maneka Gandhi, got a tip-off that some Madaris' were roaming with two sloth bears in the villages of Nawadih block in Bokaro on Saturday morning. Nomadic community members, popularly known as madaris', earn a living by performing street acts with animals. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: 17-Year-Old Dies After Fight Over Wrist Bands Denoting Caste in Tirunelveli District. According to the information, we approached the forest department and local police station. Then, we reached Parasbani village in the evening to rescue the animals. The Madaris, who might have already got information about us, escaped from the spot. We found that the sloth bears were tied to trees in the village, PFA member Nischit Kumar, who was active in the operation, told PTI. However, the forest department had to struggle a lot to rescue the animals. Neither the department has any trained team of experts nor has arrangements for cages in Bokaro district. The animals were tied to trees overnight in absence of rescue arrangements, which angered Gandhi, a senior official, who did not wish to be quoted, told PTI. She reportedly called senior forest and district administration officials to rescue the animals at the earliest. Divisional forest officer (DFO), Bokaro, AK Singh told PTI, We contacted our senior bosses in Ranchi for the arrangement of cages from Ranchi's Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park and send a team of experts. Then, the cages were sent from the zoo along with a team and the rescue operation was successfully done by Sunday afternoon. Keeping in mind the scorching heat, watermelons, and other foods had been arranged for the animals, the DFO said. Maneka-ji was not pleased with the operation initially. Later, she congratulated forest officials for their efforts and the successful rescue, he said. Singh said the sloth bears were transported to an animal rescue centre at Barwe in Ranchi. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 1: The accused in the Gorakhnath Temple attack case was in touch with the fighters and sympathisers of the proscribed terror outfit Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), said Prashant Kumar, Additional director general of police (Law and Order), Uttar Pradesh Police. Kumar on Sunday was sharing the snippets from the investigation by UP Anti-Terror Squad (UP ATS) in connection with the Gorakhnath Temple case where accused Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi on April 3 forcibly tried to enter the temple premises and attacked the on-duty police personnel with a sharp weapon. Also Read | Northeast Frontier Railway Makes Record Recovery of Over Rs 23 Crores Fines from Ticketless Travellers. Kumar informed that the accused had the intention to carry out a big operation after snatching the weapon. "He conducted a lone wolf fatal attack at the southern gate of Gorakhnath temple and attempted to snatch the rifle of security officials on duty. His intention was to conduct a big operation after snatching the weapon," he said. Also Read | Maharashtra: Postman Booked for Misplacing Over 200 EPIC Voter Cards in Thane District. The Anti-Terror Squad during the course of its investigation analysed various devices and social media handles possessed by the accused. "After investigating accused Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi by UP ATS, data analysis of many of his e-devices, his various social media accounts like Gmail, Twitter, Facebook and E-wallets was conducted," said the police officer. "The accused, via his bank accounts, sent around 8.5 lakh Indian Rupees to support ISIS terror activities via organisations related to ISIS supporters in different countries in Europe and America. He sent various arms - AK47, M4 carbine and other missile technology, via internet," he added. Sharing the criminal history of the accused, ADG said, "He was arrested by Bengaluru Police in 2014 for being in connection with ISIS propaganda activist Mehdi Masroor Biswas. He was influenced by terror organisations, radical preachers and ISIS-terrorism promoters." The accused was interrogated in detail by ATS during seven days' custody remand since Tuesday morning. He was shifted to Lucknow after a special ATS court in the state capital granted seven days' custody remand for further interrogation. The accused was earlier lodged in Gorakhpur jail after being remanded in judicial custody for 14 days after his police custody remand ended on April 16. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Cairo [Egypt], May 1 (ANI/Xinhua): At least eight children were killed on Saturday as a passenger tricycle overturned and sank in an irrigation channel in Egypt's Nile Delta province of Beheira, said the country's public prosecution in a statement. The eight were among 12 passengers riding the tricycle on their way home from work at a factory in a town in Beheira, north of the capital Cairo, according to the statement. Also Read | COVID-19 in China: Beijing Residents Must Test COVID-19 Negative To Enter Public Spaces. The other four survived the accident. The prosecution detained and interrogated the 19-year-old tricycle driver on charges of involuntary manslaughter and driving an unqualified and unlicensed vehicle in a poor condition. He was also suspected of involvement in human trafficking and using child labour. (ANI/Xinhua) Also Read | Pakistan: Reham Khan Was Paid To Write Book Against Me in 2018, Says Former PM Imran Khan. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lviv [Ukraine], May 1 (ANI): Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, who is on a visit to the country as a special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was seen meeting children and visiting a cafe in Lviv. Jolie, who has spent almost two decades working with the UNHCR met Ukrainian medical volunteers and visited orphans and injured children evacuated from the Donetsk region of the country. Also Read | COVID-19 in China: Beijing Residents Must Test COVID-19 Negative To Enter Public Spaces. "Jolie visited injured children evacuated from Donetsk Oblast and orphans. She also met volunteers who provide medical and psychological help to Ukrainian evacuees," Kyiv Independent reported in a tweet. The actress was also filmed by locals inside a cafe in Lviv. She was seen greeting the person filming her and smiling at the people present in the cafe. She also signed a few photographs, CNN reported. Also Read | Pakistan: Reham Khan Was Paid To Write Book Against Me in 2018, Says Former PM Imran Khan. Recently, Jolie had expressed concern and support for Ukraine when she visited a hospital in Rome that had welcomed dozens of refugee children. As part of her work with UNHCR, the actress has visited several conflict zones to help in providing humanitarian assistance. In March this year, amid the civil war in Yemen, Jolie visited the country in the Middle East to provide aid to the refugees there. The war in Ukraine which has entered its third month now has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with more than 5 million Ukrainian fleeing to neighbouring Western countries, according to the UNHCR data. The war has also resulted in almost 3000 civilian casualties as of April 28. The casualty figures include as many as 70 children, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNOHCR). (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], May 1 (ANI): China held an internal conference with foreign and domestic bank representatives to discuss ways of protecting overseas assets from potential US sanctions, media reports said on Sunday. The emergency meeting between officials from China's central bank and finance ministry, as well as foreign and domestic bank executives, was held on April 22. Also Read | Tornado Rips Through Kansas; 3 Students Killed in Crash. "If China attacks Taiwan, decoupling of the Chinese and western economies will be far more severe than [decoupling with] Russia, because China's economic footprint touches every part of the world," one of the people briefed on the meeting told The Financial Times on Sunday. Beijing had been put on alert by the ability of Washington and its allies to freeze the Russian central bank's dollar assets, the newspaper report said. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainians Plead for Mariupol Rescue; Russian Advance Crawls. According to the report, Chinese officials were worried that such measures could be taken against China in the event of a regional military conflict or other crisis. The newspaper specified that a possible trigger for US sanctions against China could be a potential invasion of Taiwan. China has repeatedly criticized the US for maintaining official contacts with Taiwan, saying that such actions infringe on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and provoke instability in the region. Beijing has also threatened to take the self-governed island with force. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Johannesburg [South Africa], May 1 (ANI): In one of the latest reports issued by the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, the three Gupta brothers have been held responsible for capturing the parastatal electricity supplier, Eskom and provoking South African natives against their former President Jacob Zuma. The Commission of Inquiry also reported that Zuma helped the three brothers namely, Ajay, Atul and Tony in capturing Eskom, headed by former Minister Lynn Brown where billions were looted. The looting led to bankruptcy affecting the finances, especially the infrastructure. This in turn caused load shedding in many parts of the country. Also Read | New Zealand Reports First Omicron BA.4 Variant Case of COVID-19. The four volumes of the report also mentioned that the Guptas targeted Zuma because they were confident that if they were able to use the people of South Africa, the country, and Zuma's own government against him, their mission of advancing their businesses will be accomplished. Apart from using Zuma for their own benefit, the Gupta brothers had installed their own lackeys at key institutions as well. Following the order of Guptas, the former South African President even dismissed senior officials and competent Ministers at parastatal organisations as well. Also Read | US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Unannounced Visit to Kyiv. This resulted in Zuma's ouster by his own party, the African National Congress even before he could complete his second 5-year tenure as the President of South Africa owing to public demand. "The evidence proves a scheme by the Guptas to capture Eskom, install the Guptas' selected officials in strategic positions within Eskom as members of the board, the committees of the board and the executives and then divert Eskom's assets to the Guptas' financial advantage" the report read. Presently, Zuma is fighting off criminal charges that have been pressed against him and serving a 15-month long jail term, since he refused to testify at the Commission. "President Zuma readily opened the doors for the Guptas to go into the State-Owned Enterprises and help themselves to the money and assets of the people of South Africa," reads the report. It also mentioned that the former South African President, "would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them." Further, the report also stated, "When one has regard to all the evidence heard by the commission, it is quite clear that the Guptas were in control of the Eskom board. The president of the country, Mr Jacob Zuma, and Minister Brown were manipulating the situation at Eskom to advance the business interests of the Guptas," Meanwhile, the Guptas are supposedly in a self-imposed exile in Dubai. Criminal charges against them are still pending while the three brothers from India's Saharanpur are forbidden from entering the US and the UK. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], May 1 (ANI): About 30 oil tankers were gutted in a massive fire that broke out at an oil depot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local media reported. A police official told Dawn that one person was injured in the blaze. Also Read | Tornado Rips Through Kansas; 3 Students Killed in Crash. The blaze started around 3pm at the Tarujaba oil depot in Nowshera district on Saturday and was brought under control late at night, according to fire and rescue officials, reported Dawn. At least 20 firefighting vehicles took part in a taxing effort to put out the flames. Also Read | COVID-19 in China: Beijing Residents Must Test COVID-19 Negative To Enter Public Spaces. According to a statement issued earlier about 150 tankers were parked in the yard and about 20 were gutted in the blaze. Lookint at the intensity of the fire, fire brigades from Mardan and Peshawar were also called for the dousing operations. The cause of the fire has not been ascertained yet. Over 100 oil containers have been removed from the burning oil depot, ARY News reported citing rescue sources. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], May 1(ANI): Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan avoided condemning the hooliganism and sloganeering by the pilgrims at Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque against newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation, terming the whole incident as a "public reaction". Worshippers present at the Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque in Madina raised slogans against Sharif and his delegation. Although Imran Khan refrained from commenting on the issue, he broke his silence on Friday, reported the News International. Also Read | COVID-19 in China: Beijing Residents Must Test COVID-19 Negative To Enter Public Spaces. "We are not asking the people to come out. It's the public themselves coming out to protest as they are in pain and anger, however, I can challenge they [the rulers] won't be able to show their faces in any public place," he said. Further, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan said that his government was thwarted wrongfully by a foreign conspiracy and that the present government was also involved in the matter, reported the News International. He even added that the sloganeering at the mosque was a "result of their deeds". Also Read | Pakistan: Reham Khan Was Paid To Write Book Against Me in 2018, Says Former PM Imran Khan. "A bunch of crooks has been imposed on Pakistan and NRO-II is given through foreign conspiracy, therefore, what happened at Masjid-e-Nabavi was a result of their deeds," Khan said. Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI), refused to take on the blame for the misbehaviour. The PTI chairman stated that all the party members were busy in Shab-e-Dua when the incident took place, reported the News International. Meanwhile, Anil Musarat, a London-based Pakistani PTI leader, denied that he was neither responsible for organizing the protest nor did he provoke anyone to do so. Sahibzada Jehangir, another PTI leader, asserted that he visited Saudi Arabia just to perform Umra and had no connection with the pilgrim protest. Earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister went on a three-day official visit to Saudia Arabia with his delegation, seeking an additional package of USD 3.2 billion from the Arab country. Sharif's decision is to avert further depletion of Pakistan's foreign currency reserves. During his visit to the Masjid-e-Nabwi mosque, a group of pilgrims chanted slogans, calling them "chor". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lahore, May 1 (PTI) Pakistan's Punjab police have booked ousted prime minister Imran Khan and 150 others, including some members of his former cabinet, in connection with the hounding of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi in Saudi Arabia, officials said. Video clips circulating on social media showed some pilgrims -- apparently supporters of Khan shouting chor' (thief) and 'gaddar' (traitor) as soon as Sharif and other members of his delegation arrived at the Prophet's Mosque in Madina last Thursday. Also Read | COVID-19 in China: Beijing Residents Must Test COVID-19 Negative To Enter Public Spaces. The Pakistani pilgrims also used abusive language against the delegation members. Madina police claim to have arrested five Pakistanis involved in the sloganeering. Punjab police on Saturday night registered an FIR against Khan, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and 150 others, including former federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Sheikh Rasheed, former adviser to the prime minister Shahbaz Gul, former deputy speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Soori, and Khan's close aides in London, Anil Musarrat and Sahibzada Jehangir, officials said. Also Read | Pakistan: Reham Khan Was Paid To Write Book Against Me in 2018, Says Former PM Imran Khan. The case has been registered in a police station in Faisalabad, around 180 km from Lahore, on the complaint of local resident Naeem Bhatti on the charges of desecration of the Prophet's mosque in Madina, hooliganism and hurting the sentiments of Muslims, they said. The FIR has been registered under different sections, including 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the FIR, over 100 supporters of Khan were sent to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan and the UK to carry out the mission of targeting Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi in Madina. Khan and other nominated leaders of the PTI had given directions to party workers in this regard, it said. Meanwhile, Faisalabad police said action against those named in the FIR would be taken in accordance with law. Khan in a TV interview on Saturday had distanced himself from the pilgrims who hounded and chanted slogans against Sharif, saying he could "not even imagine of asking anyone to carry out sloganeering at the sacred place." There has been widespread condemnation of the incident. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), May 1 (AP) The United Nations laboured on Sunday to get civilians out of the bombed-out ruins of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, while US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed she visited Ukraine's president to show American support for the country's defence against Russian aggression. Russia's high-stakes offensive in coastal southern Ukraine and the country's eastern industrial heartland has Ukrainian forces fighting village by village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling as the war draws near their doorsteps. Also Read | New Zealand Reports First Omicron BA.4 Variant Case of COVID-19. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Maripol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath a sprawling Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Pelosi, who is second in line to succeed the president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since the war erupted. Also Read | US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Unannounced Visit to Kyiv. Her Saturday trip with a congressional delegation was a sign of unflinching US support and came just days after Russia launched rockets at the capital during a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. During a Sunday news conference in the Polish city of Rzeszow, Pelosi said she and other members of the delegation met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine's capital Kyiv for three hours on Saturday and brought him a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture Kyiv. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a major target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. Details about the scope of Saturday's evacuations and the possibility of more to come Sunday were unclear given the number of parties involved in the negotiations and the volatile situation on the ground. The Russian Defence Ministry said a total of 46 people, a group of 25 and another numbering 21, were evacuated from areas near the Azovstal steel plant, the last defence holdout in Mariupol. A top official with the Azov Regiment, the Ukrainian unit defending the Azovstal steel works, said on Saturday that 20 civilians were evacuated from the steelworks. In a video posted on the regiment's Telegram channel, regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. We don't know why they are not taken away and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed," he said. The UN has not confirmed that people were able to leave Mariupol on Saturday. An Associated Press journalist saw women and children arriving in Bezimenne, a village which is under the control of Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Elsewhere in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, about 20 older adults and children clutching bags along with their dogs and cats boarded a minivan on Saturday in the town of Lyman, where at least half the population has fled Russian shelling, The van, marked with a sign reading evacuation of children in Ukrainian, sped off toward the city of Dnipro as explosions were heard in the distance. The liberators have come and have freed us from what? Our lives? said Nina Mihaylenko, a professor of Russian language and literature, referring to the Russian forces. Undeterred by air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home, people in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia visited cemeteries on Sunday, when Ukrainians observed the Orthodox Christian day of the dead. "If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, It's not possible, they're worse than the Germans', Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said while marking the day with his family at a picnic table among the graves. All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks. In his nightly video address late on Saturday, Zelenskyy warned that Russia was gathering additional forces for new attacks against our military in the east of the country." He urged Russian troops not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expect that thousands more of them will die. But why do the Russian soldiers need this? Why do their families need this?" Zelenskyy said in Russian. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine has been difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested that the offensive in the Donbas region, which includes Mariupol, was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and the separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Video and images from inside the Mariupol steel plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands are among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed unidentified men with stained bandages; others had open wounds or amputated limbs. A skeleton medical staff was treating at least 600 wounded people, said the women, who identified their husbands as members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine's National Guard. Some of the wounds were rotting with gangrene, they said. The AP could not independently verify the date and location of the video, which the women said was taken in the last week in the maze of corridors and bunkers beneath the plant. Numerically, Russia's military manpower vastly exceeds Ukraine's. In the days before the war began, Western intelligence estimated Russia had positioned near the border as many as 190,000 troops; Ukraine's standing military totals about 200,000, spread throughout the country. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russia's offensive still could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel. Russia also has a much larger air force and navy. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russia's vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) May 1 is supremely special for the Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat do you know why? It is because the establishment day of both these states is celebrated on May 1. It has been 58 years since the two states were established. At the time of India's independence, these two states were part of Bombay State. In Maharashtra, this day is known as Maharashtra Day, while in Gujarat it is also known as Gujarat Day. Earlier, Maharashtra and Gujarat did not exist separately. Both were part of a state Bombay. At that time, a number of people speaking the Marathi and Gujarati languages lived together in the Bombay region. Later, there was a demand for a separate state based on this language. Gujaratis wanted their own separate state while Marathi also started demanding a separate state. That's when Gujarat was formed which has the vast Arabian Sea as its geographical boundary and is bordered by the Sindh province of Pakistan to the west, Rajasthan to the north, Maharashtra to the south, Union Territories like Daman, Diu and Dadra and Madhya Pradesh to the east. The capital of Gujarat is Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad is one of the main city. Why Is 'Maharashtra Day' and 'Gujarat Day' Celebrated on May 1 Which Also Commemorates May Day? Everything You Need to Know. The idea of the formation of Gujarat was first put before the country in a magazine called Kumar in 1928. Writer and freedom fighter KM Munshi first proposed the idea of the formation of Maha Gujarat. The first proposal for its formation was made at the Gujarat Sahitya Sabha held in Karachi in 1937. The map of Gujarat was also first published in this magazine with a poem by Devashavji Parmar. Gujarat used to be a major commercial centre under British rule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also belongs to Gujarat which has a population of 6.03 crores and an area of 1.96 lakh sq km. Gujarat is also called the "Jewel of the West" and there are many types of museums, forts, sanctuaries, temples and many interesting places which are no less than a feast for tourists. There is a deep historical aspect to this place and for this reason, there are many special places worth visiting, such as Hriday Kunj, the abode of Mahatma Gandhi, Lothal or remnants of Indus Valley Civilization, Kirti Temple or the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the famous Hatkeshwar Temple of Badnagar And Dhaulavariya etc. Gujarat Foundation Day is considered very important for all Gujarati speakers living in Gujarat and many colourful and cultural events are organized to celebrate this day. At the same time, people wish each other a happy Gujarat Day on May 1. You too can wish you Happy Gujarat Day with these great WhatsApp stickers, GIF images, photo SMS, Facebook greetings and wallpapers. Gujarat Day (File Image) Whatsapp Message Reads: Lets Celebrate the Glory, Greatness, and Grace of Gujarat on the Occasion of Gujarat Day. Gujarat Day (File Image) Whatsapp Message Reads: Wishing All My Fellow Gujaratis on the Occasion of Gujarat Day! Gujarat Day (File Image) Whatsapp Message Reads: On Gujarat Day, I Hope and Pray To See the State Attain Greater Success. Happy Gujarat Day. Gujarat Day (File Image) Whatsapp Message Reads: Best Wishes to People of Gujarat. May the State Scale Newer Heights of Development in the Years To Come. Gujarat Day (File Image) Whatsapp Message Reads: Lets Celebrate and Take the Culture, Traditions and Customs of Gujarat Ahead. Wishing You a Happy Gujarat Statehood Day. Both Maharashtra and Gujarat celebrate their founding day with pomp and enthusiasm. Special cultural programs are organized by the state government. Maharashtra government organizes a parade in the historic Shivaji Park. Not only this, the Chief Minister of the state visit 'Hutatnama Chowk' and pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of the state of Maharashtra. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2022 07:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Maharashtra Day or Maharashtra Din is the day of formation of the Indian state of Maharashtra from the division of Bombay State. It is observed every year on May 1. The day also celebrates International Workers' Day (also known as Labour Day or May Day) or Kamgar Din or Antarrashtriya Kamgar Din. As we observe Maharashtra Day 2022 on Sunday, here's a collection of Maharashtra Day images, Kamgar Din status, Happy Maharashtra Day 2022 greetings, Maharashtra Din HD wallpapers, Maharashtra Day 2022 wishes, WhatsApp messages, Facebook quotes and more to share with your near and dear ones. The formation of Maharashtra state from the division of Bombay State took place on 1 May 1960. Every year the government of Maharashtra issues a notification declaring 1 May to be a public holiday to be celebrated as Maharashtra Day. As you celebrate Maharashtra Day 2022, we at LatestLY, have curated messages that you can download and send to one and all to wish them with WhatsApp stickers, GIF Images, HD wallpapers and SMS on this day. Send Messages, HD Images, WhatsApp Stickers, GIFs and Telegram Photos To Celebrate Maharashtra Diwas On this day, a parade is held at Shivaji Park every year where the governor of Maharashtra gives a speech. Also, the Maharashtra state government and private sector inaugurate and launches various new projects and schemes on this day. People across Maharashtra wish each other on this day by sending them Happy Maharashtra Day messages. Here are messages that you can download and send to all your near and dear ones to wish them on this day with WhatsApp stickers, GIF Images, HD wallpapers and SMS. Maharashtra Day Wishes (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Today Is the Day of Pride for Maharashtrian As This Day Reminds Us of Our Resplendent History and Culture. Wishing Everyone a Cheerful Maharashtra Day. Maharashtra Day Wishes (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Justice, Brotherhood and Love, Is the Song in Our Heart. Lets Join Hands on Maharashtra Day. This Land Is Our Inseparable Part! Maharashtra Day Wishes (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Maharashtra Has Been a Prosperous and Inspiring State Which Has Many Successful Stories To Tell to the World. Warm Greetings on Maharashtra Day to All. Maharashtra Day Wishes (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Maharashtra Has Been the Land of Maratha Warriors Who Have Fought Their Enemies With Courage. Let Us Always Follow Their Footsteps. Happy Maharashtra Day to All. Maharashtra Day Wishes (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Maharashtra Is a Tune. It Must Be Sung Together. Long Live Maharashtra! International Labour Day Wishes in Hindi International Labour Day Wishes in Hindi (File Image) International Labour Day Wishes in Hindi (File Image) Happy Maharashtra Day 2022 Messages: Photos, Greetings and Quotes To Celebrate Maharashtra Diwas The Bombay State was formed as a result of the States Reorganisation act 1956. It is composed of different areas where different languages were spoken. The Sanyukta Maharashtra Samiti divided the Bombay State into two states where one comprised of people speaking Gujarati and Kutchi and the other one with people speaking Marathi and Konkani. According to the Bombay Reorganisation Act 1960, the formation of Maharashtra was a result of this movement. Here are messages that you can download and send to all your near and dear ones to wish them with WhatsApp stickers, GIF Images, HD wallpapers and SMS. Wishing everyone Happy Maharashtra Day 2022! (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2022 11:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). A hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT was arrested in #JammuandKashmir's Kulgam, police said.@JmuKmrPolice Photo: IANS (Representational image) pic.twitter.com/lbRVDrF3TU IANS (@ians_india) May 1, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Police & Army (34 RR) have arrested one hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT namely Yamin Yousaf Bhat of Gadihama, Kulgam. Incriminating materials arms & ammunition including a pistol, two grenades & 51 pistol rounds recovered: Jammu & Kashmir Police ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Traditional Salvadoran dishes are a mixture of Spanish cuisine and indigenous foods from native groups such as the Pipil, who migrated to El Salvador from Mexico. According to International Cuisine, Pupusa is the beloved national dish of El Salvador. It is believed to originate with the indigenous Pipil tribe over 2,000 years ago. Pupusa is a thick, handmade corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, beans, or chicharron. The oldest pupusa preparations in the world were found at the 1,400-year-old UNESCO site, Joya de Ceren. On the other hand, beer is the most popular beverage in El Salvador. READ NEXT: El Salvador Gang Crackdown Raises Alarm at U.N. Human Rights Office El Salvador: Traditional Salvadoran Dishes El Salvador's national dish, Pupusa, was first created by Pipil tribes, with their preparation excavated in Joya de Ceren, which is considered El Salvador's "Mayan Pompeii." Pupusa According to Salvadorian Recipes, pupusas were still not widespread across El Salvador as they were mostly localized in the central towns, such as Quezaltepeque, in the late 1940s. As Salvadorans started migrating to other areas in the 1960s, Pupusa also traveled to neighboring countries such as Honduras and Guatemala, which sometimes differs in shape, size, or fillings. Immigrants have also brought the traditional dish to most areas in the U.S. Pupusa is usually served with curtido, a lightly fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies and vinegar, along with watery tomato salsa. Salvadoran Tamale Aside from Pupusa, Salvadoran tamale is also a well-loved dish in the country. It is made using corn dough mixed with spices and filled with chicken, a slice of boiled egg, and tomato-based sauce, according to El Salvador Info. Tamale is the food most people in El Salvador make for special events, such as funerals and weddings. Salvadoran Quesadilla El Salvador also has a different take when it comes to quesadillas. In the country, it is also known to be a cheesecake. It is a sweet dessert cake often found in local bakeries. The cheese in Salvadoran cheesecake is traditionally unsalted Salvadoran queso fresco, which is a fresh farmers-type cheese, according to Whats4eats. Different types of cheese can be used for El Salvador's quesadilla. It can be grated cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even grated feta cheese. Many Salvadoran cooks substitute rice flour for regular wheat flour. The Salvadoran cheesecake is top with sesame seeds and usually served with a hot cup of coffee or chocolate. Pan Con Pavo Pan Con Pavo or Pan Con Chumpe is a traditional El Salvador sandwich, with its name literally translated as "turkey bread," according to 196 Flavors. The sandwich can be done by baking and marinating turkey meat in a tomato sauce garnished with cucumber, radish, and watercress. Marquesote Aside from quesadilla or Salvadoran cheesecake, Marquesote is also a Salvadoran dessert that can be found on the tables of all families in El Salvador. It is a cake that is produced locally without any electric mixer or food processor. However, its origins are unclear. Most families in El Salvador make marquesote by hand. The traditional cake is made from simple graduates such as eggs, sugar, and flour. Some Salvadoran families have marketed and trademarked the Salvadoran cake. The Ministry of Tourism supports local artisans, and a festival of marquesotes is organized once a year, with tourists often buying dozens of the desserts and buying them as gifts. READ MORE: El Salvador Travel: Best Tourist Attractions to Visit as the Central American Country Sees a Tourism Boom This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: El Salvador: What to eat in El Salvador - From Wolters World Guatemala is one of the Latin American countries with a colorful culture emanating from its food, festivals, and tourist destinations. One thing that is alluring about Guatemala is that it has influences from the Mayas and the Spaniards that are evident in this country. According to Travel Experta, Guatemala's traditions are usually from Mayan religions and customs, intertwined with Catholic tendencies when celebrating their holidays. This makes Guatemala an interesting country with festivals culturally rooted in its customs. READ NEXT: Famous Argentina Festivals You Have to Experience During Your Visit Best Guatemala Festivals You Should Experience If you're thinking of going to Guatemala, you might want to time it when the country is set to have a festivity. To help you decide which festival you should go to, here are the celebrations in Guatemala that will make you experience the country on a whole new level. Coffee Harvest Celebration If coffee is part of your daily life, you might want to travel to Guatemala around February. During this month, I Explore reported that the town of Frajianes is holding a festival for the arrival of the harvest. It is known that Guatemala is a world-famed exporter of high-quality coffee. At Coffee Harvest Celebration, you can expect a lot of grand processions through town with food and dancing every 2nd and 4th. Semana Santa "Semana Santa" is being celebrated during the Holy Week in countries dominated by Catholics like Guatemala. Depending on the Christian calendar, the country celebrates Easter holy week in March or April. Travelers will likely see Mayan traditions mixed with Catholicism. According to Co Educ, the cobblestone streets of Antigua are covered in rich carpets of colored sawdust. Also called "alfombras," these carpets are meticulously crafted and feature designs of the Mayan and Christian symbolism. Processions are also being held with clouds of incense from monks and nuns processing through the streets, making it a little more special. Dia de la Independencia (Independence Day) For countries that are previously controlled by other nations, celebrating Independence day is usually observed. If you want to experience how Guatemalans celebrate their Independence day, then you must come in September. According to Landed Travel, the country celebrates Dia de la Independencia every 15th of September, marking the country's freedom from Spain in 1821. During the event, buildings and buses are decorated with the nation's color, blue and white. The country also holds military parades, fiestas, dances, and fireworks. Coban Folkloric Festival One of the most awaited festivals in the country is the Folkloric Festival held in Coban every last week of July. During this time, rodeos, parades, and traditional art exhibitions are held. However, the festival's highlight is the Rabin Ajau or the "daughter of the King" competition. Co Educ reported that Mayan girls from across Guatemala arrive in Coban each year wrapped in their traditional "huipil" and "morga," or blouse and skirt, of their hometown. Like a beauty pageant, the girls will compete with each other for the title of the Mayan princess. Mayan New Year The new year may be usually celebrated in every corner of the world. But Guatemala is also celebrating its Mayan new year, which is a different celebration from what we know. According to I Explore, the Mayan calendar has only 260 days, so the date of this event varies. Experiencing the country's culture from its Mayan roots will be evident during this time, as many of the country's sacred sites celebrate this occasion. READ MORE: Suriname Festivals: Famous Local Celebrations That Every Traveler Should Not Miss This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Preserving Guatemala's Ancient Dance of the Gods - From Great Big Story Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A little Laois Irish Dancer from Stradbally travels to Dail Eireann next week, at the invite of Minister of State for Disabilities. Sophia Farrell, 9, will be speaking to Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte, to raise awareness and acceptance of not only autistic children in Irish dance and sport but of all children with differing abilities nationally. Sophia got a letter of invite directly from Ministe Rabbitte. "Dear Sophia, I am writing to you to invite you to meet with me in Leinster House next week along with your Mum. I have arranged for you to take the guided tour of Leinster House and I would be delighted to meet with you both afterwards and to to hear all about your recent achievements in Irish Dancing," she wrote. Sophia was diagnosed with Autism at the age of four. She suffered social anxiety and barely spoke, finding it hard to make friends and spending a lot of time alone in her room. Since her parents gave in to her desire to start Irish dancing, Sophia's life has flourished, to the level of winning a Leinster title last March, and gaining lots of confidence and friends in her club, the Lynam School of Irish Dance. Boosted by the warm public reaction to our Leinster Express story (read it below), Sophia has been using her voice to encourage children of all abilities to engage in a sport of their choice. Below: Sophia reading our story about her great achievement. Sophia has spoken openly about the importance of an inclusive environment to ensure children can reach their full potential and calls on club owners to really open their hearts to see that children with differing abilities have huge potential that can be unlocked also. Sophia is a pupil of the Lynam School of Irish Dance who have nurtured her to become an Open champion, despite her daily struggles with Autism. Her mother Monica Houlihan is proud of Sophia's mission to help other children achieve their dreams. "Shes so excited to meet the Minister and has started to compile some recommendations that can help the state to support those with disabilities more," she said. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. NYT's biased report on Shanghai's COVID fight betrays its ignorance of China 15:22, May 01, 2022 By Xinhua writer Zhao Wencai ( Xinhua Staff members prepare to conduct nucleic acid test for citizens in Huangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Li He) Perhaps that is because of U.S. media's die-hard habit of smearing China in every possible way. BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Once again, The New York Times (NYT) betrayed its ignorance of China. In a recent report on the COVID-19 fight in Shanghai, the American newspaper jumped to a conclusion that the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is being tested, because residents in Shanghai are volunteering to help each other out during "lockdown" in recent weeks. Such an argument is as ridiculous as it is malicious. In a stunningly far-fetched manner, the article tried to equate natural and warm-hearted mutual assistance with some kind of expression of discontent towards the CPC. Apparently, its authors were hardly touched by the love and care expressed by ordinary Chinese towards one another in their hours of difficulties. Perhaps that is because of U.S. media's die-hard habit of smearing China in every possible way. Indeed, Shanghai has been experiencing its most severe COVID-19 wave in the past two years. Its residents' life and work have been impacted by strict measures to contain the highly contagious Omicron variant. And at the early stage of the outbreak, some people encountered various kinds of inconveniences to get food supply and medical treatments. Du Shun (R), deputy manager of a Hema Fresh store in Wuhan, helps Liu Zengyu, a delivery man from Jiangxi Province, start his electric bicycle to deliver goods in Shanghai, east China, April 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli) After all, meeting the daily needs of more than 25 million residents in China's biggest city in highly restricted conditions with no precedent to follow has posed a strenuous challenge. That is why the local authorities have on many occasions acknowledged their problems, and vowed repeatedly to improve their services. And instead of hurting the CPC's legitimacy, the fact that hundreds of thousands of local citizens volunteer to lend each other help and support testifies to the strength of the Party. In fact, many of the volunteers are either organized by the local authorities or working closely with neighborhood committees. And among those tens of thousands of volunteers the NYT mentioned, a large portion of them are CPC members. "Wherever there is a need, there must be a Party member," the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee said in a recent open letter to CPC members in Shanghai. "Our Party members must go deep into the community and the masses, stand by and work with cadres and the people in the front line." A volunteer waits for COVID-19 close contacts to board a transfer bus in Lianqin Village of Beicai Town, east China's Shanghai, April 28, 2022.(Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Official statistics show that more than 700,000 Party members in Shanghai have registered to join the city's anti-COVID fight, and a large number of CPC members have been working as volunteers in districts, towns and villages. In some communities, 90 percent of community volunteers are Party members. Anyone with some basic knowledge of the CPC's history would know that mobilizing the public to work with the Party in joint efforts to tide through hard times is both a tradition and a strength of the CPC, as the CPC has pledged that "everything is for the people and everything relies on the people." Today, there are more than 95 million Party members from all walks of life across China. They are both members of the big Chinese family and representatives of their fellow countrymen. According to a report by Harvard University, the Chinese people's overall satisfaction toward the central government has been above 90 percent for years. Any attempt to sow discord between the Chinese people and the CPC would be futile. The NYT's attack on China's dynamic zero-COVID policy would be no different. At the moment, the dynamic zero-COVID approach to containing the virus remains the most optimal choice for China. "If we are not firm about the dynamic zero-COVID policy, China may miss the best time to stem the resurgence of cases, which may lead to higher costs and unbearable consequences," said China's leading epidemiologist Liang Wannian. As China's economic center and an important link of the global supply chains, Shanghai can only minimize the impact of the pandemic on China and the global economy by putting the resurgence of COVID-19 cases under control and returning to normal as soon as possible. It is the broadest consensus shared by the general public in China. And from a global perspective, by strictly enforcing the dynamic zero-COVID policy, China is making a huge sacrifice to ensure the long-term economic viability of Shanghai in global trade and commerce, which would inject more certainty into the world economy. Travelers walk through terminals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, April 14, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) What also should be noted is that by citing people's self-reliance as evidence of public frustration, the NYT actually exposed America's monumental failure in battling the pandemic. Over the past more than two years, Washington has largely failed to shoulder its responsibility in leading the anti-COVID-19 fight, and left the American people to fend for themselves. The NYT should quit its biased coverage on China, and try to understand the country and its ruling party better. In 1936, when the prospect of the CPC-led social revolution was still unclear, Edgar Snow, an American journalist, ventured to north of China's Shaanxi Province, where the CPC and its military "the Red Army" were based and surrounded by resourceful and powerful enemies. Through comprehensive interviews and objective analysis, Snow made an accurate and foresighted judgment in his report that the social revolution "would eventually win." In a cave dwelling on the Loess Plateau, Snow asked then 43-year-old Mao Zedong: the enemies' "economic resources many times surpassed ours, and they received material assistance from the outside. Why, then, has the Red Army scored success after success ... and not only survived still today but increased its power?" "The explanation is that the Red Army and the (CPC-established) Soviet Government had created among all people within their areas a rocklike solidarity, because everyone ... was voluntarily and consciously fighting for his own interests and what he believed to be right," Mao replied. Eighty-six years later, Snow's professionalism and Mao's words about the CPC's successes can still offer some clues about how the Western mainstream media, including the NYT, can tell their stories of China and the CPC. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) During the summer months, Ireland welcomes many migratory species that visit and breed on our shores. Over the next few months, you can expect to see Painted Lady butterflies and the swallow bird, both of which are making the long journey from Africa at this time. This week, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre have welcomed back the first migratory species, the house martin (gabhlan binne as gaeilge). Their nests, built from mud, can take up to three weeks to build and are located in the eaves of houses or buildings. They sleep in their nests at night, and as you can imagine, after their long journey they dont like having to build a new nest so regularly return to the same one each year. At this time, we believe the house martins are busy feeding on insects, which they catch in flight, as they build up their energy after their long journey to Ireland in recent weeks. House Martins are similar in size to swallows but they can be distinguished from swallows as house martins have a shallow forked tail compared to the swallow which has a long, forked tailed. The house martins feathers are blue/black on the upper parts and white on the under parts. These birds can have between two and three broods of chicks each year. We were surprised last year when the house martins seemed to be still rearing a brood of chicks in late August, as they usually begin their long return journey to Africa in September. The image of house martin chicks in a nest was taken back in 2017 at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. Please note, you should never disturb nesting birds, their chicks or indeed any wildlife. I am aware the image is not of a high quality, however, to avoid disturbing the chicks at the time I used maximum zoom on my camera! Dont forget, if you come across a wildlife species that you would like help identifying, I would be happy to help. Contact me at bogs@ipcc.ie. Eager to help the people of the Ukraine, but unsure of how to do it, Geraldine Crowther developed a unique fundraising event. Like everybody else, I wanted to do something, but I didnt know how to help. I dabble in a bit of art, Im not very good, Im an amateur but I know there are a lot of really good artists out there that have lots of paintings lying around. I said it to my husband about organising an art auction and he thought it was a great idea, said the Clane resident. Geraldine approached Ger Nevin of Reillys Antiques in Prosperous and he was delighted to come on board to run the auction. The response has been amazing. We have over 100 paintings in and I even had five more phone calls this morning. There has been an amazing response from artists, professional and amateur alike, including renowned Kildare artist June Brilly, who have donated wonderful paintings for the auction, explained Geraldine. The auction takes place next Saturday, May 7 at Clane GAA Hall. Viewing takes place from 2pm to 7pm with the auction, lasting aproximately one hour, starting at 7pm. Geraldine said all the proceeds will go to the Irish Red Cross and the event has been registered with the charity. She pointed out there will be no fees, commission, rent for the hall, or other charges. Anyone who would like more information can email kildareart4ukraine@gmail.com and check out the art on offer at Kildareart4Ukraine on Instagram. Paintings will be auctioned with no reserve price. Absentee bids will be accepted. This will be a fantastic opportunity to acquire a unique and beautiful painting, while supporting a worthy cause, said Geraldine. We have some lovely watercolours on paper which would look brilliant framed. There is a great selection with something for everyone. There is fantastic talent out there. Drake by Ross McHale Bono by Conor Keegan A 20-year mystery surrounding a famous Dublin cake has been solved thanks to a meeting between two granddaughters. The Mary Cake was a staple of Bewleys Cafe in Grafton Street since its introduction in 1956 by a Hungarian refugee but the recipe was lost during extensive renovations two decades ago. The cakes are mini towers consisting of chocolate filling on top of a sponge base, all encased in chocolate and topped with a disc of marzipan. Since the recipe was lost, numerous attempts have been made to recreate its taste from memory, but none succeeded until food detective Hazel Carmichael, granddaughter of Bewleys owner Victor Bewley, traced Carolina Malagon on the internet. Carolinas grandfather Henry Spelter was a confectioner who fled Budapest on foot following the Hungarian uprising in 1956. He was among a number of refugees offered training and employment by Bewleys when they arrived in Ireland. Hazel, who lives in Rickmansworth, north-west of London, and New York-based Carolina, met for the first time in Dublin this weekend to relaunch the Mary Cake. The original cakes will now be sold in aid of the Irish Red Cross, with one euro from every purchase going to support the charity. Hazel had discovered that the Mary Cake was an after-work collaboration between Mr Spelter and her great uncle Alfred, based on a Hungarian Marika Cake recipe but adapted to suit the Irish palate. Anxious to find this recipe, Hazel went in search of Mr Spelter and found that he had emigrated to the US, but had died just a week previously at the age of 95. Hazel left an online message of condolence, while continuing to experiment with recipes to recreate the cake. A month later she was contacted by Carolina, who was also fascinated by the cake, which Mr Spelter had continued to make in the US using local ingredients. The two have become friends, Carolina searching Henrys notes and Hazel working on further trials, without finally cracking a mystery around the use of cream in the cake. However, during a trial workshop day, Hazel discovered a Bewleys bakery cost ledger from the 1970s which listed the ingredients in large quantities. From that, she followed the clues that her uncle Alfred had replaced the original Hungarian cream with butter, and added good quality chocolate, and the Mary Cake was reborn. I feel like I have been treading in the footsteps of my great uncle as I have researched, tested and redeveloped the Mary Cake recipe, said Hazel. I have repeated what Alfred and Henry did 65 years ago taken a Hungarian Marika recipe and adapted it for the Irish palate of the day. This is a story about refugees fleeing war and coming to Ireland, bringing with them their skills and heritage, and what can happen when these skills are recognised and given a chance to flourish. The story of the Mary Cake can teach us a lot about welcome, respect and opportunity for all. We are both thrilled that Bewleys have pledged to support current refugees by donating proceeds from Mary Cake sales to the Red Cross, to help with their work supporting Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. ONCE the date for Team Limerick Clean-Up (TLC) is over it is easy to forget about it for another year. However, the results of the work carried out can be seen for weeks and months and its purpose hopefully imbues a spirit in communities that will last decades. The difference TLC7 made in Boher has to be seen to be believed. And that is replicated across the county and city. Boher is spotless after almost 100 headed off from Boher Community Centre after collecting gloves, pickers, bags and signs. Those not available on Good Friday did their clean-ups on Thursday and Friday. They all collected lots of rubbish, around 200 bags to be exact. There was activity on every road and in every townland. Neighbours working with neighbours, families working together, all filling bags, all happy to be part of this great event. Pat OConnell, Chairman of Boher Community Development Association, said: It was a great occasion for neighbours to meet each other and to work together. To see the bright yellow jackets everywhere was great. Others drove around in pick-up trucks, tractors and jeeps with trailers to load the bags, while bigger equipment was enlisted to remove heavier waste . Everybody returned to Boher Community Centre to hot teas and coffees prepared by the ladies committee. Mr OConnell, on behalf of the development association, thanked Mr Binman for collecting both compactable and non-compactable waste so quickly from Boher Community Centre. He said they were delighted to be associated with JP McManus initiative and most grateful for the packs, which made a very difficult job a little easier. A RETIRED army Corporal from Limerick who served nine tours in conflict-ridden Lebanon has thanked the gift of friendship that the Irish Defence Forces has given him. Coolcappa/Ardagh man Corporal John Lynch was this month presented with a commemorative plaque, highlighting a highly decorated and dedicated forty-three-year career. I always wanted to join the army while in school. I started at the age of 17 and then three years later I got the opportunity to go overseas, Corporal Lynch told the Limerick Leader. After returning home from his first peacekeeping mission to Lebanon in 1981, Corporal Lynch met his endearing wife Mary, who he married two years later. Before tying the knot with his dearly beloved, who he described as a big support throughout his entire career, he was considering coming out of the army. But turning away from the line of duty was not in his nature and the Rathkeale Technical School graduate teamed up with his battalion for eight more tours in Lebanon, each one lasting six months. His last tour to the Asian continent was in 2000. When asked on which one was his favourite, Corporal Lynch said: any trip you go out and return home is considered a good one. Now, following his forced retirement at 60 in 2020, Corporal Lynch is enjoying some down time with his wife Mary, and three daughters Teresa, Ita and Jacqueline. Despite this, he conceded that adjusting to the quiet life of retirement has been a big change, having always liked to be kept busy during his time in the Defence Forces. He also believes that many over the mandatory retirement age of between 50 and 60 could continue with home duties, while the younger men head abroad for peacekeeping duties. The biggest thing the army gave him was great stability and purpose, he said. It also gives you friends for life. I have friends from all over the country, he stated, adding that two years into retirement, he is still enjoying calls and occasional meet-ups with his former servicemen. One of the greatest things about the army was that whenever you had a problem, you could always turn to someone. They would sit you down and help you solve whatever it was, no matter how big. It never mattered what rank you or they were. You were never alone, Corporal Lynch expressed. Following the conflict in Ukraine, he said his heart goes out to the innocent civilians and children trapped in the endless cycle of war. I met some men in Lebanon who were boys at the start of the conflict and 20 years later, they were still there. They will never know what its like to walk down the street safely, even as civilians. PLANS for Limerick to explore a twinning arrangement with a city in Ukraine are to be discussed. The councils high-level protocol committee is to examine proposals to explore building networks with a city in the war-torn state, with a view to potentially finalising a partnership. Labour councillor Conor Sheehan, who is spearheading the initiative, said: This will provide tangible support to the people of Ukraine by fostering greater economic opportunities and express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The City North member has been a regular volunteer at the former St Lelias School in Kileely, which has been converted for use by those who have come to Ireland to escape the violence propagated by Russian forces. If approved, Limerick would follow in the footsteps of Dublin, whose council members have voted to twin with the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Councillor Sheehan foresees Limerick twinning with a smaller-size city in Ukraine. I brought this motion forward because I want to develop a similar arrangement with a smaller city in Ukraine which would be comparable in size to Limerick. Ive spoken to Ukrainian people who have arrived in Limerick, and I feel there is enormous potential to practically help, by doing something to promote economic activity, trade and bring awareness to the conflict, Cllr Sheehan told the Limerick Leader. The Labour man added: In the future, if and when this conflict is resolved, I foresee us having a situation where a delegation from Limerick would be able to visit Ukraine. Obviously, it wouldnt happen overnight. But I feel this is a really important practical thing we can do in terms of helping Ukraine. Councillor Sheehans contribution will go forward to the protocol committee, where as he described it, it will be fleshed out before coming before a full council meeting in the near future where it will be approved or rejected. While Limerick is considered the third city in Ireland, Ukraines tertiary city is Donetsk. This is in the disputed Donbas region, which have been under attack by Russian forces since 2014. STAKEHOLDERS in the Ballyhoura regions tourism industry are looking to the future following the first in-person networking event since the onset of Covid-19. Among the speakers at the Charleville Park Hotel were Fiona Dunne of Failte Ireland, Tina ODwyer, Irelands pre-eminent authority on tourism and Seamus Heaney, who heads up Visit Cork. After a challenging two years for the industry, it was a welcome opportunity for tourism and hospitality providers both new and established to meet face-to-face to foster new relationships and collaborations to improve the tourism offering in the region. Attendees included small accommodation providers, country houses, larger hotels and food providers from accoss the Ballyhoura region which includes parts of Limerick, Cork and Tipperary . They were joined, at the event, by wellness services providers, tour guides, genealogy services and adventure activity providers. The vision of Ballyhoura Failte DAC the driving force behind all of the Visit Ballyhoura tourism marketing and promotion initiatives, including this networking event, is to establish Ballyhoura as a first-class rural holiday destination for independent and special interest visitors from overseas. Independent and leisure visitors from the domestic market are also being targeted with the offering of access to a range of high-quality recreational activities and an integrated rural heritage experience unrivalled in Ireland. Jana Mannion, Tourism Marketing Officer for Ballyhoura Country, says the networking event was a major success. Ballyhoura Country has so many opportunities to take advantage of, and by working together, and collaborating not just between ourselves, but also with other tourism brands, agencies, and neighbouring counties, we can create a very strong offering for visitors from all over Ireland and abroad. The proposition of Ballyhoura Country is what visitors are looking for today, and our strength is enhancing our offering by working together," she stated. A 39-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to one month imprisonment after he was caught drink driving for the fourth time. Patrick OHalloran, aged 39, of Cottage House, Kilross, County Tipperary pleaded guilty, at Kilmallock Court, to drink driving and driving without insurance or a licence. Inspector Sandra Heelan said gardai responded to a road traffic collision in Ballinatona, Galbally at 8.05pm on October 29, 2021. The defendant was involved in a road traffic collision with another vehicle. The garda smelled intoxicating liquor on his breath. He said he drank two pints. He failed a roadside breath test. He was arrested and conveyed to Bruff garda station where a breath specimen was taken on the intoxalyser. He was generally co-operative, said Insp Heelan, who added that Mr OHalloran has eight previous convictions including three for drink driving. Colin Morrissey, solicitor for the defendant, said his client wishes to apologise to the court and to gardai. Regarding the circumstances of the previous convictions, Mr Morrissey said Mr OHalloran turned to alcohol following a tragedy in the family. On the date in question, the solicitor said his client was meeting individuals to pay them for work completed on a house Mr OHalloran was building. Unfortunately he had a couple of pints, said Mr Morrissey. Judge Patricia Harney said: It was a great idea to have a couple of pints. Mr Morrissey said the defendant then took his brothers car to get a chainsaw to carry out work on the following day. He is a 39-year-old plasterer with two employees, said Mr Morrissey. The court heard Mr OHalloran was disqualified from driving at the time. For drink driving, no insurance and driving without a driving licence, Judge Harney imposed a total of 1,500 in fines; put him off the road for six years and imposed a one month prison sentence. He has been around the block, said Judge Harney. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. NEW DELHI : With several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana, passing laws to ban online gaming, it is important to develop a policy framework to regulate the 15,000-crore industry, which is growing at 35% to ensure smooth operations, said Sameer Barde, chief executive officer, E-Gaming Federation, in an interview. The not-for-profit organization was set up to develop and self-regulate the online gaming industry in India. Gaming sites MPL and Games24X7 as well as companies like Paytm are members of the federation. The need of the hour is to have an overarching law to protect industry players from fly-by-night operators, Barde added. Edited excerpts: How much does an average Indian spend on e-gaming annually? We have probably one of the largest user bases for gaming. But most of them are playing for free so they are not really generating revenue. But the potential is vast. The growth rate is over 35% CAGR (compound annual growth rate), the fastest compared to any entertainment business, even OTTs. And while we see OTT growth starting to flatten out, theres a long way to go as far as gaming goes. Which categories are considered problematic? There are largely three categories. Casual games such as Candy Crush, Ludo, and Gardenscapes that can be played by all starting from a three-year old to a 90-year old. This segment is largely free to play or has ad-based revenues or operate on a freemium model. The other end of the spectrum is eSports, which is now Asian Games sport wherein players can win medals. Fantasy games allow players to create make-believe teams of real players of a given sport. Is fantasy sports considered gambling? There is much talk about it being close to gambling. State governments are up in arms. The Supreme Court (SC) has categorized them as games of skill and games of chance. Essentially, any game where gamer skills influence the final outcome of a game far more than an element of luck or chance is called a game of skill. And any game where skills of the gamer have insignificant amount of impact on the outcome is considered a game of chance. That is considered gambling and so is illegal. The SC does, though, recognize that in any game, there is an element of chance. This jurisprudence goes back 70 years and establishes that games of skill are legal, can be played for money, and add protection under Section 19 of the Constitution. Have some states banned these games? Yes. Now, in a few of those cases, where industry has litigated, the high courts in those states, such as in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, clearly said the ban is illegal, and have overturned the bans. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu challenged the high courts decision in the Supreme Court. The matter is yet to be heard. Isnt there a risk of players getting addicted to games of skill, too? Yes, there is. There is a small percentage of players who tend to get carried away and they might be playing for too much money. And of course, these players must have protection so that they can play more responsibly. But can you do that by banning these games? In todays day and age, if a state bans these games, their ability to enforce that ban is zero. Every person knows how to use a VPN. So how are you going to enforce that? Fundamentally, when you ban something what happens is that the legitimate players exit leaving the space open for fly-by-night operators and illegitimate players then occupy that space. With global economic prospects worsening significantly due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasting a decline in global growth, Mint examines its impact on the Indian economy. What does the IMF say? In the World Economic Outlook, April 2022, the IMF slashed global growth projections from 6.1% in 2021 to 3.6% in both 2022 and 2023. Reasons ascribed include the Ukraine war that has resulted in considerable economic damage coupled with worldwide spillovers through commodity markets, trade, and financial channels. Elevated inflation levels are another looming challenge complicating the trade-offs that central banks are faced withbetween containing inflation and boosting economic growth. The war and lockdowns in China have worsened supply disruptions, narrowing the limited fiscal space that countries are wrestling with What will happen to Indias export target? Having achieved the milestone of over $400 billion of merchandise exports in FY22, the country is aiming for an ambitious export target of approximately $800 billion for both goods and services (about $450-480 billion for goods and $350 billion for services) for the next year, nearly 19.5% higher than that achieved in 2021-22. With Indias major market destinations like the US and Europe expected to see slower growth of 2.3% in 2023, it would adversely impact export demand. Export of goods to the US and Europe for the April-February 2022 period clocked $68,450 million and $75,972 million, respectively View Full Image Economic headwinds What is the likely impact on economic growth? Exports, which contribute approximately 20.9% to the gross domestic product (GDP), are a key constituent of Indias growth engine and shrinking demand will have its bearing on economic growth. Also, the import cost of crucial raw materials like crude oil is expected to increase, thereby pushing the economy towards cost-push inflation. What is the broader signal for the economy? Though India is expected to be the fastest growing major economy, the projection underlines the growth rate decelerating as compared to FY22. As per IMFs projections, India is now expected to grow at 8.2% in FY23 and 6.9% in FY24 (lower numbers than its January 2022 projections), which is not hugely disturbing. However, it is also important to bear in mind that with the Indian governments borrowing expected to rise, fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP is bound to widen, resulting in an high interest payments burden. What is the likely opportunity for India? If the US economy decelerates to 2.3% in 2023 (as per IMF), the Federal Reserve might be compelled to re-think the scheduled interest rate hikes (an outcome of high inflation in the US). If that happens, US portfolio investors are likely to be net buyers in the Indian capital markets. Increased net inflows will also strengthen the Indian rupee apart from causing an increase in market capitalization, in turn boosting the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors. Jagadish Shettigar and Pooja Misra are faculty members at BIMTECH. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Click here to read the full article. Bill Murray has offered his first statement on the suspension of production on Being Mortal, which Searchlight Pictures deemed necessary after investigating complaints of inappropriate behavior against the actor. Murray shared his comments during an interview on CNBC Television at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, Neb. on Saturday. Without going into detail about the dynamic between himself and aggrieved parties, Murray explained his perspective on the situation and its aftermath. I had a difference of opinion with a woman Im working with. I did something I thought was funny and it wasnt taken that way, Murray told CNBC. The movie studio wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out and investigate it and so they stopped the production. Murray went on to explain that he has been in contact with the woman he offended, expressing hope that both of them could comfortably work together to continue the films production. As of now were talking and were trying to make peace with each other, Murray continued. Were both professionals. We like each others work we like each other, I think. If we cant get along and trust each other, theres no point in going further working together or making a movie Its been quite an education for me. Ive been doing not much else but thinking about her for the last week or two. When asked whether he had been in conversations with Searchlight Pictures about the complaint, Murray stated that he wasnt: Not with the studio, just with her and the people that are helping her. First things first. On April 20, Searchlight Pictures sent a letter to the Being Mortal cast and crew, informing them filming had been suspended due to an unspecified complaint. Though sources at the time indicated the production halt was not COVID-19 related, it was ambiguous what caused the shutdown. The exact nature of the complaints against Murray remain unconfirmed. It is not clear whether Murray will continue work on Being Mortal or if he will be replaced. The film had reportedly completed about half of its principal photography before production was suspended in mid-April. Being Mortal marks the feature film directorial debut for Aziz Ansari, who also stars in the film alongside Seth Rogen and Murray. The project is an adaptation of Atul Gawandes 2014 nonfiction book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Watch Murrays full comments below: Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Bill Murray discussed the inappropriate behavior allegation against him on the set of Being Mortal for the first time Saturday. Speaking to CNBC at the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting, the actor spoke at length about the situation that suspended production on the film amid an investigation into the incident. I had a difference of opinion of a woman I was working with, Murray said. I did something I thought was funny, and it wasnt taken that way. He continued, The company, the movie studio, wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it, and so they stopped the production. Murray didnt detail what exactly spurred the inappropriate behavior allegation, nor did he reveal which female co-worker levied the complaint. But as of now, were talking, and were trying to make peace with each other. I think thats where the real issue is, between our peace, Murray said. Were both professionals. We like each others work. We like each other, I think, and if you cant really get along and trust each other, theres no point in going further working together or making a movie as well. Murray added that he was very optimistic that he and the woman will make peace that would allow them to resume working together on the Aziz Ansari-directed film. Its been quite an education for me, the contrite Murray said. And I feel like if I dont see that, you know the world is different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was funny as a little kid isnt necessarily the same as whats funny now. Things change, and the times change, so its important for me to figure it out. And I think the most important thing is that its best for the other person. I thought about it, and if its not best for the other person, doesnt matter what happens for me. Lucy Liu previously accused Murray of inexcusable and unacceptable behavior on the set of 2000s Charlies Angels, where she alleged Murray was hurling insults at her, as she revealed in a 2021 interview with the Los Angeles Times. In his interview Saturday, Murray said hes been reflecting on what recently happened as a catalyst to change. I really think its a really sad puppy that cant learn anymore, Murray said. I dont want to be that sad dog, and I have no intention of it. What would make me the happiest would be to put my boots on and for both of us to go back into work and be able to trust each other and work at the work that weve both spent a lot of time developing the skill of, and hopefully do something thats good for more than just the two of us, but for a whole crew of people, a whole crew of moviemakers. and the movie studio as well. He added, I feel like I learned more in the last year or two than I may have learned in a whole decade of my life before. Soon after Being Mortal went into production on March 28, the film which stars Murray, Ansari, Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer informed its crew that work would be halted amid the unspecified inappropriate behavior complaint. Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it, Searchlight Pictures wrote in an email to the production crew. After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time. Click here to read the full article. Three years and one administration later, the White House Correspondents Dinner is back in Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2019. This years event, headlined by The Daily Show host Trevor Noah, will take place on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The program will air live and uninterrupted on C-SPAN, as well as C-SPAN.org and the C-SPAN Now App. Hosted by the White House Correspondents Association, the dinner has been a mainstay of the press corps since its founding in 1914. Presidents have traditionally attended the dinner at least once during their term and President Joe Biden is expected this year but former President Donald Trump was notably absent from the dinners held in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The dinner was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event made a splash in 2018 with host Michelle Wolf, whose raunchy jokes about the Trump administration and others led to both praise and backlash, notably from Trump himself, who swore he wouldnt let a comedian host the dinner again. However, under the Biden administration, that no longer seems to be the case. In addition to Noah, whos fresh off his hosting gig at the Grammy Awards, Variety revealed exclusively that comedians Billy Eichner and James Corden will appear in pre-taped skits, with Corden opening the show. They shot in the Briefing Room, the Oval Office and the Navy Mess, veteran awards show producer Bob Bain, who makes his debut producing the dinner this year, told Variety. Our cold open is James Corden in front of the White House saying, All you journalists out there, I know you walk through these halls every day, seeing all these people that make this place tick. Well, today, Im going to give some of them a break.' Gayle King, Yamiche Alcindor and Cecilia Vega are among the veteran journalists expected to make appearances during the dinner. CBS News Radio White House correspondent and White House Correspondents Association. president Steven Portnoy will also be on hand to deliver remarks. The United States Marine Band will accompany the show, which will reportedly be attended by Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Drew Barrymore and Michael Keaton. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Jan. 6 committee in the next week or two will take next steps on its decision on issuing subpoenas to compel Republican lawmakers to testify about Donald Trump and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, committee member Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said Sunday on Face the Nation. If that takes a subpoena, it takes a subpoena, he added. The committee is planning for public hearings in June that Kinzinger said will lay the whole story out in front of the American people because ultimately, they have to be the judge. One potential witness is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Host Margaret Brennan asked Kinzinger about his thoughts on Greenes alleged Jan. 2021 text to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows where the congresswoman mentioned (and misspelled) martial law as an option to halt Bidens inauguration after his election was certified by Congress. In our private chat with only Members, several are saying the only way to save our Republic is for Trump to call for Marshall [sic] law, Greene texted Meadows on January 17, 2021. In a court filing Thursday, Greenes lawyers claimed she has no recollection of sending the text and are now trying to paint her as a victim of the Jan. 6 attack rather than an instigator. Greene testified Friday at a hearing in a case brought by activists claiming she is ineligible to run for reelection because they allege she participated in the insurrection. In her testimony, she responded, I dont recall, when asked which GOP members wanted Trump to declare martial law. Id love to ask her a few questions, Kinzinger said of Greene. We know some things. I wont confirm or deny the text messages, of course. But let me just say this for Marjorie Taylor Greene to say shes a victim, its amazing how folks like her attack everybody for being a victim. Kinzinger went on to mention when Greene confronted Parkland shooting survivor and anti-gun activist David Hogg and his family in the streets of D.C., as well as the time she yelled into the mail slot in the door to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs (D-N.Y.) congressional office, saying, Stop being a baby Get rid of your diaper! We hear you in there Can you come out and play? a man accompanying Greene said into the slot. I mean, she assaulted, I think, a survivors family from a school shooting at some point in D.C., Kinzinger said. She stood outside a congresswomans office and yelled at her through a mail slot and said she was too scared to come out and confront her. And then when Marjorie Taylor Greene is confronted, shes all of a sudden a victim and a poor, helpless congresswoman thats just trying to do her job. Its insane. We want the information. Look, history is not going to judge her or people like her that are buying the big lie well. I firmly believe that. Kinzinger also told Brennan that he would love for former Vice President Mike Pence to testify voluntarily. But, he said, If he doesnt, then well look at the options we have available to us if theres information we dont already have. Click here to read the full article. Miracle: Letters to the President, directed by Lee Jang-hoon, was Saturday named as the best film winner at the Far East Film Festival in Italys Udine, following an audience poll. The South Korean-made film was described by festival organizers as a sweet-natured hymn to the power of dreams. Second and third places belonged to Chinese-produced pictures, Li Ruijuns Return to Dust and Xing Wenxiongs To Cool to Kill, respectively. The festivals Black Dragon season ticket holders voted for Return to Dust, while users of the MYmovies service championed Koreas Kingmaker by Byun Sung-hyun. The jurors for the best debut film awarded the festivals White Mulberry award to Too Cool to Kill. The Mulberry Award for best screenplay Jojo Hideos Love Nonetheless. If the order of the prizes seemed like a return to pre-COVID normality, so too did the operation of the event, Udines 24th. After a wholly online edition in 2020 and a hybrid event in 2021 the 2022 edition was largely operated as a conventional in-person event, which welcomed over 40,000 human spectators. COVID controls operated inside the two main cinemas, but were no more restrictive than taking an airplane in Europe these days. And at outdoor events participants went mask-free. Stephy Tang and Josie Ho, escaped the far-more disease-restrictive Hong Kong, to appear in person in Udine, show their latest films and meet audience members and media. The iconic Japanese actor-director Kitano Takeshi was presented with a Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement award. But it was a virtual ceremony, where FEFF organizers gamely tried hard to wear their best smiles. Kitano undid two years of preparations with his last-minute change of heart at Tokyos Narita Airport, which he blamed variously on airport lounges, the war in Ukraine, ongoing COVID concerns and his own poor health. Speaking by video link, Kitano said that he was finishing a film and will screen it at Udine in future. Udine also saw the return of in-person pitching sessions, a project market and workshops within the context of its Focus Asia industry sessions, that counted some 250 participants. The Ties That Bind initiative, seeking to link the European and Chinese independent film businesses, was also present. Held some three weeks before the Cannes film festival, and after two years of isolation for many Asian film folk, these were a useful re-introduction for many to in-person meetings, crowds and parties. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Earlier this week, the inaugural I-27 advisory committee meeting for the planned interstate highway occurred in the City of Laredo, as dignitaries from various municipalities and counties gathered to discuss the prospects of the new project and what it would mean for their respective areas and trade in general. I-27 is expected to be an interstate highway connecting West Texas agriculture and energy markets to the port city of Laredo, Mexico and Central America. When constructed, the interstate highway would be the fourth of its type stemming from the city. The meeting centered on a beginning phase for the project where the different city and county entities met for the first time concerning the highway. They discussed what the thoroughfare meant for their individual areas, how the goals could be achieved faster, and what challenges could be faced. During the meeting, some of the major local officials present were Webb County County Judge Tano Tijerina, City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, City of Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope and more. This was the very first meeting of the I-27 Advisory Committee as structured by TxDOT, so now there has been legislative approval to move forward with the I-27 effort, Teclo Garcia, City of Laredo Director of Economic Development, said. We were very, very proud to have it in Laredo instead of somewhere else along the I-27 route. This speaks volumes for Laredo, as we put the attention on the fact that this highway begins in Laredo -- it doesnt end in Laredo but rather it is where it starts. Garcia says the organization Ports-to-Planes has been at the forefront of helping the cities of Laredo, Lubbock, Amarillo and others and their respective counties to be able to make these meetings and the possible construction of the new highway a reality. He says the organization put the legislation together, did the studies of where the highway would go and lobbied to get it done. He says now that the I-27 project has been officially approved, the organization is working with TxDOT to make the highway go forward. He says during this first meeting, not a lot of work was done. It only focused on presenting the key stakeholders involved with the highway and what each player wanted for their city. Nevertheless, Garcia said the event helped set out the mission to what the leaders wanted to get done for their respective areas. We talked about each citys different needs," Garcia said. "Laredo is a port city, San Angelo is in the middle of the state, Midland is an oil city -- so we talked about it in general terms, which is for the content why these committees exist, and laid out the priorities that we will have going forward. It was good to have the elected leaders there to give it that sort of direction, and so we will be working on that going forward. Garcia says the new highway is not just about moving goods but also about economic development, which an official formerly from TxDOT has told him is a big priority. This new interstate is obviously for mobility and transportation, but our very purpose is economic development, Garcia said. We can move goods in and out of Texas to Mexico and from Mexico to Texas, and that would include the energy sectors in the Midland and Odessa area, the agriculture sectors in the Panhandle, the international trade areas in Eagle Pass and Laredo. Moving goods from Mexico to Laredo and the west, this road will be a very good conduit to Laredo, Eagle Pass and the border to Midland-Odessa, to the Panhandle and then to Denver. Garcia said Denver is a major area that has still not been fully explored by the city, and this allows for it to finally connect to that market. He also said the new interstate will help develop faster routes to the El Paso area, which will only help increase the trade between Mexico, Texas and the U.S. Moving goods in a timely, efficient manner is important, but Garcia said the highway will also help increase local investments and create more jobs. Even though construction for the new highway has not started yet, investing in the area has already paid dividends. The produce event Viva Fresh Produce Expo was hosted Friday to showcase several wholesale vendors from Texas, Mexico and other places, as they look to invest and also find ways to transport their goods from Mexico and elsewhere through Laredo. Garcia says more of these expos and events could be possible with the construction of the new highway, as investors will see how this provides a new gateway into the city and elsewhere. This event is aligned with the new highway and places into the strategy of Laredos focus on cold storage, Garcia said. We are trying to draw more traffic into Laredo. After receiving and approving a federal grant focusing on health services, Webb County Precinct 1 is now in the process of moving forward to building a public health center north of Rio Bravo over the span of three years. The $4.6 million grant was said to have been the highest amount awarded and is part of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Community Resiliency program. According to Precinct Commissioner Jesse Gonzalez, this health center will benefit the thousands of residents in the precinct who rely on the countys services including vaccines, checkups, dental services, testing and more. To provide these services, the county will collaborate and ask for feedback from Mercy Ministries and Gateway Health Clinic to build the foundation of what will be a centralized health service facility. We are going to have their feedback in constructing it, because I want to make sure it is built to the specs of a public health facility, the way it is supposed to be built, he said. So we need exam rooms, we need the equipment like dental chairs and all that stuff that goes into the clinics. The facility is slated to be 9,600 square feet and will not only serve as an area to receive health services, but it will also be a general assembly site for public meetings. Additionally, it will serve as more space for the countys Indigent Health Department and have a multipurpose room serving as an evacuation center in cases of emergency. Gonzalez said these grants have to be followed precisely, thus the three-year deadline to complete the facility. The Webb County Health Care Services Department was established to assist low-income county residents with obtaining financial coverage for their medical expenses, their website stated. They added the county has a high rate of uninsured individuals. With a current projected population estimate of 274,794, approximately 31%, around 85,000 residents, do not have any type of public or private health insurance helping to cover costs associated with their health care needs. As a medically undeserved region, Gonzalez said after taking office in 2017 through collaboration with the Army Corp of Engineers, he was able to deliver two weeks of free medical services in El Cenizo for surrounding communities. He said the demand for health services was so great that the Army Corp of Engineers would plan to return three years later. However, this was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant application was started in October prior to the pandemic quarantine, with the county being awarded the grant April 14, according to James Flores, the Director of Community Action Agency and Economic Development. Now we dont have to depend on organizations to be able to come down to Webb County and provide these services, Gonzalez said. As a result of the recent TIRZ agreement between the City of Laredo, Webb County, Laredo College and Killam Development, the county received a four-acre tract of land as a donation. This tract is north of Rio Bravo on the US 83 frontage road. With the county already able to access the tract, the process began on Monday to start the concept, design and build for the next three years. Just because we have three years as a deadline doesnt mean we are going to take the entire year to construct and operate. I am one to make sure that my projects and precinct are going smoothly and efficiently through the process of any type of grant or deadline, Gonzalez said. He added with Laredo College Souths Gateway Clinic, some residents see a travel time from 7-10 miles. Those without personal transportation relying on the public transit services can see that trip take an entire day. The proposed center will be centralized to allow for shorter travel time, and Gonzalez said the county will offer better transportation services for the precinct. Regardless of distance, community centers throughout the precinct will have free public transportation provided from the centers to the public health facility. To quell concerns, Gonzalez clarified the grant would fund the construction of the health facility 100%, with zero cash match by the county. This means the new center will have no impact on taxpayers. To compound the addition of a health facility, Gonzalez said Webb County funds will be used to build a fire station in southern Precinct 1 to provide fire and EMS services to the area. This will also be worked on in tandem to the health center, but the funding has already been procured. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) Authorities say an early morning shooting in Ohio killed one person and wounded four others. Springfield police said officers responded to multiple calls about shots fired on the city's south side shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday. They found three women and two men in their 20s wounded, police said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) Britain's recent decision to send some migrants to Rwanda is questioned by several people resettled in this tiny East African country who say it is not a suitable refuge. One Eritrean refugee who was deported from Israel to Rwanda in 2015 said he found the country too difficult and moved his family to South Sudan, which promised better economic opportunities than Rwanda even though it was gripped by civil war at the time. Berhani, 35, who gave only his first name to avoid possible reprisals, said he knows many other Eritreans resettled in Rwanda who have since left to make new homes in neighboring African countries or in Europe. Questions are swirling around the suitability of Rwanda as a shelter for migrants following Britain's announcement earlier this month that it will send to Rwanda migrants arriving in the U.K. illegally as stowaways on trucks or small boats. Their asylum claims will be processed in Rwanda and, if successful, they will stay there. The new policy is already being challenged in Britain's courts by a rights group that says it is unlawful. Rwanda already is home to more than 130,000 refugees from countries such as Burundi, Congo, Libya and Pakistan, Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta told reporters after signing the agreement with British Home Secretary Priti Patel in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, on April 14. The plan has been criticized by rights groups and others who say it is cruel, expensive and unworkable. The U.N. refugee agency has described it as contrary to the letter and spirit of the Refugee Convention. And the view of some refugees who years ago were resettled in Rwanda against their wishes is often far from rosy. Rwandan authorities in recent years have given asylum to hundreds of people seeking shelter as a result of arrangements with Israel, the African Union, the United Nations and others. Many were from Eritrea and Ethiopia, including a group that had languished for months in detention centers in Libya. Rwanda's agreement to take migrants that Britain deems illegal appears to ignore the country's own challenges. The small country has about 13 million people, making it the most densely populated in Africa. Competition for land and resources contributed to decades of ethnic and political tensions that culminated in the 1994 genocide in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsi and the moderate Hutu who tried to protect them were killed. President Paul Kagame's government has achieved significant economic progress since the genocide, but critics say it has come at the cost of political repression. Obedience to authorities is widely enforced, one reason Rwandan cities and towns are clean and among the most orderly anywhere in Africa. There is little political opposition. Human Rights Watch has accused Rwandan authorities of targeting poor people in the arbitrary arrests of street vendors, sex workers, homeless people, suspected petty criminals and street children. Some migrants who spoke to AP said they were frightened to be jobless in Rwanda and without opportunities to eke out a living. Berhani, the refugee from Eritrea, said he ended up in the streets of Kigali looking for a job, dependent on friends for food and rent. Life is difficult in Rwanda when you dont have a job," he said. Some of my friends have managed to go back to Europe. One of my relatives has settled in Canada, said Berhani. One day, hopefully, I will manage to join them in Canada. In the Gashora camp for refugees in Rwanda's east, one man said he was one of hundreds of migrants sent from Libya who still plan to reach Europe. Many have left for Sweden already, he said on condition of anonymity for his safety. He said he would leave even if it means death, saying refugees in the camp often don't have adequate food and clothing. But some migrants in Kigali appear to have settled in well. Frezghi Alazar, an Eritrean who co-owns a bakery, said he is grateful Rwanda gave him a chance to thrive over the last 10 years. He spoke of the country as a bastion of order. When you have capital and you start a business, nobody will come and take your business," he said. You dont need to bribe people here. There is security. So, there is some benefit in Rwanda. It remains unclear when the first migrants from Britain will arrive in Rwanda following the deal with the British government, which said the plan will discourage people from making dangerous attempts to cross the English Channel. Rwandan authorities said the agreement would initially last for five years, with the British government paying 120 million pounds ($158 million) upfront to pay for housing and integrating the migrants. They have not said how they would deal with a possible influx when the program gets underway. Plans to accommodate some of the migrants in a hostel in Kigali have upset a group of genocide survivors who have lived in the property for years. They spoke of short notice, raising the possibility of conflict with locals. The migrants will cause land conflict with the citizens and we must avoid this situation, Frank Habineza, an opposition figure and lawmaker, told the AP. Other critics raise tough questions, including what becomes of migrants who fail to qualify for refugee status in Rwanda. Will Rwanda transport them to (their) home countries?" said Tom Mulisa, a Kigali-based lawyer and human rights researcher. Resettlement of migrants who fail the refugee status criteria should be (carefully considered). The responsibility lies to the host state in case they fail to pass the threshold of asylum-seeking." ___ Associated Press journalist Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed to this report. In May 2020, John Connell finds himself, like so many others, confined to his local area, the opportunity to freely travel and socialise cut short. His attention turns to the Camlin river an ever-present source of life for his towns inhabitants and, for John, a site of boyhood adventure, first love, family history and local legend. He decides to canoe its course with his friend, Sunday Times journalist Peter Geoghegan, a two-day trip requiring physical exertion and mental resilience. As the world grows still around them, the river continues to teem with life a symphony of buzzing mayfly and jumping trout. During their meander downstream, John reflects on his life: his travels, his past relationships and his battle with depression, as well as on Irish folklore, geopolitics and philosophy. The Stream of Everything is both a reverie and a celebration of close observation; a winding, bucolic account of the summer we discovered home. John Connell is the author of The Running Book and The Cow Book, a number-one bestseller and winner of Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. His work has appeared in Grantas New Irish Writing. He lives on the family farm in County Longford. In many ways a book of resolution, this final instalment in Johns Longford trilogy brings the series to a joyous close, according to author and Irish Times columnist, Michael Harding. The Stream of Everything will be available from May 5 and a local launch will take place at Longford Library on Wednesday, May 4. Food, Wine, & Dining, Local News By Long Island Published: May 01 2022 Less than thirty days since it was announced the location was closing, Bagel Boss is back with new owners and a brand new designed cafe. Carle Place residents and the local business community will no longer be sad as Bagel Boss is back! Less than thirty days since it was announced the location was closing, Bagel Boss is back with new owners and a brand new designed cafe. When it comes to providing award-winning bagels, hand-sliced master smoked fish, gourmet salads, black & white cookies, gourmet coffee and much more, Bagel Boss has perfected the art. Family owned & operated since 1975, Bagel Boss is an iconic New York brand. With 14 locations and growing, Bagel Boss now welcomes Lee Riech to Bagel Boss Carle Place at 43 Old Country Road, Carle Place. Look for the Grand Opening in coming months. Ms. Riech has owned Bagel Boss Lake Success for five years and is a successful operator who pays exquisite attention to detail. I have enjoyed being a part of the Bagel Boss family for five years in Lake Success and am now honored to own a second location, said Lee Riech, owner of Bagel Boss in Lake Success and now Carle Place. We are thrilled that Lee will be re-opening Bagel Boss in Carle Place with our new store design and updated ordering technology, said 5th generation bagel & bialy baker Adam Rosner, Founder & Chairman of Bagel Boss. Lee has been outstanding in Lake Success and the Carle Place community will be quite impressed with her team and freshly made products. For more information about Bagel Boss and its franchise opportunities, visit BagelBoss.com Latest headlines The Russian billionaire can appeal the sentence before the High Court. Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter Dear Savvy Senior, My wife and I planning to travel much more frequently in retirement and are very interested in educational trips and adventures. Can you recommend any groups or firms that specialize in this type of travel geared towards retirees? Love to Learn Dear Love, Educational travel, which combines travel with in-depth learning opportunities has become a very popular way of travel among retirees. Here are a few good places to turn to find these types of trips in the U.S. and abroad. Tour Organizations One of the best places to start is with Road Scholar (RoadScholar.org), which invented the idea of educational travel for older adults in the mid 1970s. The Boston-based organization offers 5,500 learning adventures in all 50 states and 150 countries. You can search for learning adventures by location, interest, activity level and price. Road Scholar also offers Choose Your Pace senior travel tours that allow participants to adjust their level of challenge on a daily basis. And for skip-gen vacations, they offer tours designed specifically for grandparents traveling with their grandkids. Another excellent option is Smithsonian Journeys (SmithsonianJourneys.org), a nonprofit travel group affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum. They lead 350 educational trips a year on every continent that are led by experts from a variety of fields academia, the diplomatic corps, scientists and curators, among others. If youre seeking more adventure, you may want to consider ElderTreks (www.ElderTreks.com), which offers 50-plus travelers small-group adventures by both land and sea in more than 100 countries. Their trips center on adventure, culture and nature, letting you get up close and personal with the locals. Academic Travel Another good source for educational trips is colleges and universities. Some of my favorites include Cornell Universitys Adult University (SCE.Cornell.edu/travel), which offers a half-dozen educational trips and courses in the U.S. and abroad, each lasting a few days to a week or more. And Stanford Travel/Study (Alumni.Stanford.edu) that offers educational travel journeys to more than 80 countries each year. Most college/university trips are led by faculty who share their expertise, along with regional experts and local guides, and you dont need to be an alumnus to participate. Also check out the Traveling Professor (TravelingProfessor.com), a small-group touring company led by Steve Solosky, formerly a professor at the State University of New York. They offer a dozen or so tours abroad each year and take between 8 and 16 people. Cruising Options If you enjoy cruising, consider Grand Circle Travel (GCT.com), which offers educational travel aboard small ships, and Naturalist Journeys (NaturalistJourneys.com), which specializes in nature and birding tours. American Cruise Lines (AmericanCruiseLines.com) also offers more than 35 river and coastal itineraries in the Northeast, Southeast, Pacific Northwest and along the Mississippi River. And it has themed cruises (Lewis and Clark, Mark Twain, Civil War, etc.) for people with specific historical, literary or other interests. And Viking River Cruises (VikingRiverCruises.com), which is geared to older travelers, focuses on European art, history and culture. Each cruise makes one to two port stops a day as the ship winds its way up or down Europes most famous rivers like the Rhine, Seine, Danube and Douro. A free sightseeing tour is included at all stops, and special-interest excursions are available for additional fees. Viking offers tours in the United States too. LVIV, Ukraine (AP) Hollywood actress and U.N. humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, the Lviv regional governor said on Telegram. According to Maksym Kozytskyy, Jolie who has been a UNHCR Special Envoy for Refugees since 2011 had come to speak with displaced people who have found refuge in Lviv, including children undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station in early April. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant that is the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol, a Ukrainian official and Russian state news organizations said, but hundreds are believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. The United Nations was working to broker an evacuation of the up to 1,000 civilians living beneath the sprawling Soviet-era Azovstal plant after numerous previous attempts failed. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city. U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Saviano Abreu said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but he could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation. There is, right now, ongoing, high-level engagements with all the governments, Russia and Ukraine, to make sure that you can save civilians and support the evacuation of civilians from the plant, Abreu told the AP. He would not confirm video posted on social media purportedly showing U.N.-marked vehicles in Mariupol. Ukraine has blamed the failure of numerous previous evacuation attempts on continued Russian shelling. In the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region, where at least half the population has fled Russian shelling, around 20 elderly people and children clutching bags along with their dogs and cats boarded a minivan marked with a sign reading evacuation of children in Ukrainian. It sped off toward the city of Dnipro as explosions were heard in the distance. The liberators have come and have freed us from what? Our lives? said Nina Mihaylenko, a professor of Russian language and literature, referring to the Russian forces. Galina Zuev and her husband Aleksander opted to stay, unwilling to leave the place they'd spent their entire lives. I am living not so well. There is a war here. They are shelling all the time. The windows have been smashed in our house. The missiles are in the yards, said 68-year-old Galina. It is frightening. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, the countrys industrial heartland. Ukrainian forces fought village by village Saturday to hold back the Russian advance. Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said Saturday that 19 adults and six children were brought out from the steelworks, but gave no further details. A top official with the Azov Regiment, the Ukrainian unit defending the plant, said 20 civilians were evacuated during a cease-fire, though it was not clear if he was referring to the same group. There was no confirmation from the U.N. These are women and children, Sviatoslav Palamar said in a video posted on the regiment's Telegram channel. He also called for the evacuation of the wounded: We dont know why they are not taken away and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed. Video and images from inside the plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands are among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed unidentified men with stained bandages; others had open wounds or amputated limbs. A skeleton medical staff was treating at least 600 wounded people, said the women, who identified their husbands as members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraines National Guard. Some of the wounds were rotting with gangrene, they said. In the video the men said that they eat just once daily and share as little as 1.5 liters (50 ounces) of water a day among four people, and that supplies inside the besieged facility are depleted. One shirtless man appeared to be in pain as he described his wounds: two broken ribs, a punctured lung and a dislocated arm that was hanging on the flesh. I want to tell everyone who sees this: If you will not stop this here, in Ukraine, it will go further, to Europe, he said. The AP could not independently verify the date and location of the video, which the women said was taken in the last week in the maze of corridors and bunkers beneath the plant. The women urged that Ukrainian fighters also be evacuated alongside civilians, warning they could be tortured and executed if captured. The lives of soldiers matter, too, Yuliia Fedusiuk told the AP in Rome. In his nightly video address late Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy switched into Russian to urge Russian troops not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expect that thousands more of them will die. The president accused Moscow of recruiting new soldiers with little motivation and little combat experience so that units gutted early in the war can be thrown back into battle. Every Russian soldier can still save his own life, Zelenskyy said. Its better for you to survive in Russia than to perish on our land. In other developments: Ukrainian Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky said in televised remarks that Russian forces have seized hundreds of thousands of tons of grain in territory under their control. Ukraine is a major grain producer, and the invasion has pushed up world prices and raised concerns about shortages. A Russian rocket attack destroyed the airport runway in Odesa, Ukraines third-most populous city and a key Black Sea port, the Ukrainian army said. The bodies of three men were found buried in a forest near the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, the head of the Kyiv region's police force said. The men, whose bodies were found Friday, had been tortured before they were shot in the head, Andriy Nebytov wrote on Facebook. Ukrainian officials have alleged that retreating Russian troops carried out mass killings of civilians in Bucha. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators talk almost every day. However, he told Chinese state news agency Xinhua, progress has not been easy. Two buses sent to evacuate residents from the eastern town of Popasna were fired upon, and contact with the organizers was lost. Mayor Nikolai Khanatov said: We know that (the buses) reached the town and then came under fire from an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine has been difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts suggested that the offensive in the Donbas region, which includes Mariupol, was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and the separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Numerically, Russias military manpower vastly exceeds Ukraines. In the days before the war began, Western intelligence estimated Russia had positioned near the border as many as 190,000 troops; Ukraines standing military totals about 200,000, spread throughout the country. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russias offensive still could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel. Russia also has a much larger air force and navy. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russia's vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. ___ Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Trisha Thompson in Rome and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. The Founder of Internet Safety Magazine and CEO of Onadipe Technologies, Mr. Rotimi Onadipe has advised all parents to make sure their children are well educated about internet safety before giving them access to mobile phone or social media. Onadipe made this known to parents during his organisation's weekly program with the theme "SAY NO TO INTERNET ABUSE, SAY YES TO INTERNET SAFETY" which was held at Ibadan on Saturday April 30th 2022. The internet safety advocate said it is no longer news that online abuse among youths, teenagers and even minors is now a global challenge of today's technology age as evident in several news platforms and social media. According to Onadipe, giving a child access to mobile phone or social media without giving him or her proper education about internet safety is like signing one's own death warrant, as it will cause more harm than good to the lives of both the child and the parents. He said "It is very sad that many of our youths are no longer talking about ethics and moral values because they now spend most of their time on the internet, watching immoral videos. Online child pornography and cybersex are now the other of the day among many youths, teenagers and even minors in our society. It is high time we addressed this social ills before the problems become uncontrollable for all of us." "There is nothing wrong in giving a child access to mobile phone or social media if the child is well informed about online safety, which involves protecting oneself from potential dangers associated with internet usage." "Before you give these innocent children access to mobile phone or internet, are these children aware of the importance of protecting themselves online? are they aware there are sensitive and personal information they should not disclose to strangers? are they aware there are pedophiles looking for victims of their age online? are they aware there are online predators in several social media platforms? are they aware there are some websites that are mainly for adults? are they aware there are hackers searching for vulnerable children on the internet? are they aware about the dangers of being addicted to mobile phone or social media? are they aware of the danger of sharing their nude pictures with anyone online?" "I don't know how these children will know about all these online dangers and how to avoid them if they are not given adequate information about internet safety" he added. In his final statement, Onadipe said "My advice to all parents is this, please don't give these innocent children access to the internet or mobile phone if they are not well informed about internet safety." Political scientist, Prof. Ransford Gyampo says the governing New Patriotic Party will fail with its Breaking the 8 agenda if controversies surrounding its internal elections are not handled properly. Prof. Gyampo is of the opinion that, the disagreements with the NPPs ongoing constituency elections put the party at risk of losing the next general elections. If the party truly wants to break the eight, then these undemocratic practices in the party will not help them. So the earlier they put an end to it to ensure that the people decide, the better for them, he said on Eyewitness News. The NPPs ongoing constituency elections across the country have been characterised by misunderstandings, pockets of chaos and series of injunctions in some constituencies. In some cases, party executives have been accused of preferential treatment, circumventing party procedures among other electoral under-dealings, with members threatening to boycott the elections if due processes are continuously undermined. For example, there was confusion at the Okaikoi South Constituency after some members massed up to prevent the polls from taking off because more than 400 names were removed from the constituency album. The totality of this, Prof. Gyampo believes, If you try to stampede internal democracy within a party, you will shoot yourself in the foot in the future. Nominations have already been opened by the NPP for persons seeking to lead the party at the constituency level. This is part of a number of processes to ready the party for the 2024 polls. But the seeming tensions fuelled by aggrieved NPP members appear to be causing more harm than good for the party seeking to break the eight-year power jinx in the countrys electoral history. This is a party that has made it clear to all Ghanaians that they have an intention of breaking the eight. There are so many acts that undermine internal democracy within the party. I am thinking that, the NPP as a party itself is not learning. These are some of the tensions and machinations which took place in the lead up to the 2020 elections that produced the kind of numbers in parliament they had, and I thought that, they would have ensured that the field was so levelled so much that some of these things wouldn't be happening. The ground should be levelled for the people and those who want to lead the party to allow the will of the people to prevail. But if these machinations do not allow for a fair playing field, then you have threats of people trying to vote against you, Prof. Gyampo added. Re-run polls Touching on what the NPP can do to satisfy its disgruntled members, the political science lecturer suggested, the differences, could all be buried should the elections in the affected constituencies be conducted again. The best way forward is to rerun the elections in those areas. For people who feel cheated, no amount of compensation will assuage their pain. If people feel things have not been done right, and you still go ahead with the process in a manner that favoured some people in an undemocratic manner, the only compensation is to rerun the processes and allow the people to decide, Prof. Gyampo proposed. ---citinewsroom The Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union has appealed to government to provide stimulus packages to distressed businesses to enable them to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Union also charged Small and Medium Enterprises to recapitalize to increase production capacity for increased profitability. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on May Day celebration, Mr Morgan Ayawine, the General Secretary, ICU said protecting jobs and incomes called for hardwork and sacrifices from workers for increased productivity and sustainability of the organisations. The 2022 May Day is on the theme: Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the ERA of COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. He appealed to social partners to play their roles of providing workers with the necessary facilities and motivational remuneration to incentivize workers to give their best to achieve increased productivity and profitability. "An effective and healthy Union-Management relationship is a demonstrable attitude of agreeing to disagree on issues, so as to advance the cause of increased productivity and attainment of the organisational goals," he said. Mr Ayawine urged workers unions and management to build consensus on all matters relating to the survival and sustainability of the business and refrain from any acrimonious relationship. He said the exigencies of the current business environment as imposed by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had thrusted upon both workers and employers the need for mutual sacrifices to sustain businesses and retain workers jobs. Mr Ayawine commended social partners and all stakeholders in the labour fraternity for their support and advice in moving the Union forward. He said it was worrying that since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of businesses had cut down on their operations to half their capacity, while others completely shutdown,with others not fully recovered. "It is instructive to note that, the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic is still having a serious ripple effect on the ability of businesses that were affected by the negative impact of the pandemic to bounce back to business, and on the ability of workers who lost their jobs to make ends meet," he said. GNA Ghana is my country and I know that religion is very important to many Ghanaians, but I dont worship men of God or any pastor because these heads of religious institutions are not God. They are normal human beings and many are responsible for the atrocities and carnage taking place in this world today. There are decent Ghanaian pastors that have respect for humanity and understand the suffering of ordinary Ghanaians. Those pastors keep criticizing the government of Akufo Addo, to make life better for the ordinary people, while others too are promoting the vices and wrongdoings of the NPP government. Intelligent Ghanaians don't have to encourage crime and corruption in the NPP government because the NDC did. That's completely wrong. "I respect pastors but I don't worship them since they are normal human beings, I worship God, He is my inspiration and guide, that's why I am still married to my wedded wife after 29 years, with three handsome boys, together in Belgium." - Joel Savage Politics and religion cant be separated. Thats why the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu engaged in politics to denounce Apartheid and the burdens imposed on South Africans during the era of Apartheid by the white minority government, and it worked. Apartheid bowed to democracy in the early nineties. So, while Ghanaians are suffering under the NPP government, despite all the promises Akufo Addo made that he couldnt fulfill, but rather creating unprecedented hardships amid a high rate of unemployment, I will expect any person who claims to be a pastor to intervene on behalf of the people to see to the plight of the sufferers to discourage the E-Levy. Nobody is saying that paying taxes is an abomination because the development of a country depends on taxes generated by the country, but since for over five years in power, Akufo Addo couldnt create any jobs to employ the youth, he mustnt take any extra tax from them as an E-Levy. Thats my point. Therefore, I see the Rev. Joseph Obiri-Yeboah, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as a bad man of God or pastor for supporting this fraudulent E-Levy, while he refused to caution Akufo Addo when he was spending recklessly on foreign missions which were adversely affecting the country financially. Corruption has increased significantly in this NPP government more than in the era of John Mahama, but as a man of God, Rev. Obiri-Yeboah wasnt interested in warning the government that their unprofessional conduct will harm the economy and affect the livelihood of the common people. Monies have been stolen from the government coffers and some taken from the Central Bank of Ghana to unknown destinations. Even funds to fight COVID-19 in Ghana werent spared; they were stolen too. All of this stolen money can be used to improve production in a variety of ways, thereby improving the lives of ordinary Ghanaians. Yet, Rev Joseph Obiri-Yeboah, who claims he cares for the welfare of ordinary Ghanaians and, therefore, says "Ghanas tax is nothing compared to what those in developed countries pay," is pure hypocrisy and its like condoning corruption while supporting the imposition of burdens on the people. Before Obiri-Yeboah came out to support the E-Levy, he should have tried to demand the NPP government trace the missing funds and bring them. He claims the developed world pays more tax but they use it very well to develop their countries. That's why Europe and America are beautiful for tourist attractions and medical checkups, while in Ghana tax revenues are stolen. For those who think it is wrong for me to criticize Rev. Obiri-Yeboah if Ghanaian politicians were not mismanaging the tax revenues, would Ghana have been in such a deplorable condition for politicians to seek medical attention in foreign countries? Thats why I said I see Rev. Obiri-Yeboah as a very bad man or even a fake man of God supporting the fraudulent E-Levy from which all the proceeds will be once again stolen by the same government that couldnt use the revenues from cocoa, gold, bauxite, timber, oil, etc. to develop the country. I dont write because I want people to like me. I am writing because I want my country to be better, whether the NPP, NDC, or any other political party is in power. However, no one should expect me to promote a bad government because of tribalism. I will not do it, and no matter how I may be attacked or insulted, that will not change my identity or tone of writing. I am that I am. Many Ghanaians are psychologically impacted by religion to the extent that they see pastors as God. I dont worship pastors, but I might have some respect for a pastor because I know there are genuine ones there, and others too, are political prostitutes just to feed their stomachs and families. If there is heaven and hell, then its in this world that is turning around because, what I believe is, whatever evil one sows, the same he shall reap before his death on the surface of this earth, and so it is with the so-called pastors and heads of churches. Government says it is currently receiving and reviewing proposals from potential strategic investors for a possible restructuring of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). The Tema Oil Refinery, which is Ghana's first and only refinery, has not been operational for a while now due to many challenges. Several Civil Society Organisations such as the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers and the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), have been at the forefront of calls on the government to do all it can to get the refinery back on its feet. But speaking to Citi News, the Minister of Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe, says the proposals from these investors will see them provide funding and other technological know-how on how better to manage the refinery. At the moment, the Ministry of Energy is receiving proposals from potential strategic investors for restructuring, and so we are looking at that window where the strategic investors can bring in the necessary funds, technical expertise and technologies for it to operate as expected. At the moment, it is not operating at the level it is expected to operate at, he said. TOR, the only refinery in Ghana, has the capacity of producing 45,000 barrels per stream day but is currently producing about 26,000 barrels. Analysts including the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) have been consistent in their calls for TORs capacity to be built to enable it to operate at full capacity. According to COPEC, when the capacity of TOR is built, it would be able to help cushion Ghanaians when fuel prices on the global market go up. citinewsroom Ghanaian workers have joined many across the world to celebrate this year's May Day. May Day which is also known as International Labour Day is used to commemorate the hard work of workers and to call for better working conditions At 0800 hours on Sunday various worker groups were gathered at the Blackstar Square for the celebration The theme for this year's celebration in Ghana is: 'Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 Pandemic and beyond." The Ghana News Agency will bring you live updates on our various social media platforms More Later Former President John Dramani Mahama has described Ghanaian workers as the heroes and heroines of the country. In a message to celebrate workers on May Day today, Sunday, 1 May 2022, Mr Mahama said workers are the engine that propels the country and keeps it afloat. In periods of great economic strife and hopelessness, it is you who come to the peoples' rescue and provide the needed inspiration and industry to get the state back on the path of recovery. "I have no doubt that your unconquerable spirit of resilience and service will lift us out of our present gloom. And this is why you remain our eternal heroes and heroines, Mr Mahama said in a Facebook post. The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has asked Government to pay workers living wage a minimum income that makes it necessary for workers to meet their basic needs and not minimum wage. It said paying living wage would make workers earn enough income for a satisfactory standard of living. The Party said that would also prevent persistent agitation on the labour front. The call is in commemoration of the 2022 May Day celebration, otherwise known as Labour Day. The Day is commemorated annually to celebrate the achievements of workers. The National Tripartite Committee (NTC) increased the daily minimum wage to GHS12.53 for 2021, and GHS13.53 for 2022. Prior to this, the daily minimum wage was GHS11.82. The PPP's statement, issued by Remy Paa Kow Edmundson, National Secretary, said: We believe that the Ghanaian worker deserves a living wage and not a minimum wage in order to improve on their living conditions. It added that: The Government must endeavour to give the Ghanaian worker adequate compensation and address the inequalities in the pay structure of all workers. The Party, therefore, asked the Government to use the event to focus on addressing issues of unemployment and deal with the difficulties confronting the worker to have a workforce ready to sacrifice for the development of Ghana. We know that providing the worker what they deserve will help government to have the needed cooperation from labour to prosecute the agenda of the State, the Party stated. It said it had observed that the objective of the occasion had not changed, rather: The Government has turned a blind eye to the needs of workers and has not served their interests. The statement also noted that after several years of celebrating the occasion, unemployment rate was still high in Ghana, with the Ghanaian worker yet to receive and benefit from the significance of the event. It said: For instance, to repeat the words of former president John Agyekum Kuffuor: "The government pretends to pay workers and workers pretend to work." It added that: This situation is hurting the country in several ways, including low productivity, nepotism, clientelism, political patronage, corruption, indiscipline, societal impunity within the labour force and low growth of the country's economy. The Party, therefore, called on the Government to institute measures to address the issues affecting Ghanaian workers to enhance productivity and contribute to national development. The establishment of Labour Day is commonly associated with the commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement and used to call for measures to ensure that the rights of workers are enforced. It is also to ensure that the poor conditions of service faced by workers such as low salaries and wages, long hours of work, pension, housing, insurance, and unemployment are addressed. GNA Top American politician Nancy Pelosi paid tribute to the leadership of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the latest show of international unity with the country in its war with Russia. For security reasons, details of Saturday's trip to Kyiv emerged on Sunday and came less than 24 hours after the French president Emmanuel Macron promised to send more arms and humanitarian assistance to Zelensky during an hour-long phone call. Pelosi, who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives the lower house of parliament in the United States is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the conflict on 24 February when the Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his country's armed forces into Ukraine. She was accompanied by a heavyweight team of US politicians specialising in security issues and humanitarian assistance. Following the visit, Pelosi stopped in Poland to thank the government of Mateusz Morawiecki for its swift humanitarian response to thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. She and members of her delegation also fleshed out details of the American pledges for more humanitarian aid as well as help for post-war reconstruction. Pelosi added: "We were proud to convey to President Zelensky a message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage." The delegation's trip came just as around 20 women and children who had been sheltering underneath the Azovstal plant in Mariupol were evacuated from the zone during a brief ceasefire on Saturday night. Civilians and soldiers retreated to the iron and steel works two weeks ago as Russian forces launched airstrikes on the port city. On 21 April, Putin said that his troops would not storm the works but instead blockade it. Remaining forces It is believed around 1,000 Ukrainian troops many of them injured remain in the complex. Sviatoslav Palamar, a commander of the Azov Regiment in the Ukrainian army, said in a video post: "We are getting civilians out of the rubble with ropes - it's the elderly, women and children." Palamar also called for all civilians as well as an unspecified number of wounded soldiers, be allowed to leave. The United Nations has been working to broker evacuation deals to free those trapped in the labyrinth of underground passages. Controlling Mariupol would assist Russia's strategic plan to seize the entire south coast of Ukraine. That would unite pro-Russia separatist regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. It would also increase access to the pro-Russia Transnistria area across Ukraine's western border in Moldova. President Nana Akufo-Addo has appointed Kathleen Addy as the acting Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). She has been elevated from her role as the Commission's Deputy Chairperson in charge of finance and administration to fill the vacancy following the resignation of Madam Josephine Nkrumah, who has departed after serving for a little over five years. A statement made available to the Ghana News Agency said Madam Addy's appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by Nana Asante Bediatuo, Secretary to the President. It said, Pursuant to article 232 of the Constitution and section 4(a) of the National Commission for Civic Education Act, 1993 (Act 452), I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Republic has appointed you to act as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, pending the receipt of the constitutionally required consultation with the Council of State. Madam Addy was first appointed to the NCCE in 2017 as deputy chairperson in charge of finance and administration. Profile Madam Addy is a communication professional with over 20 years experience. She is also an activist with specific interest in women's empowerment and good governance. Her professional experience before joining the NCCE includes stints with CDD-Ghana, the Afrobarometer Project and the Centre for Policy Analysis. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication Studies and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Major) both from the University of Ghana. Madam Addy attended Achimota School for her GCE O-Level certificate and Holy Child College for her GCE A-Level certificate. GNA Author and journalist Shoba Narayan was recently honoured at the Paris Book Festival, where Indian literature was the centre of attention. After more than 20 years in the US, Narayan returned to India to live with her family, publishing The Milk Lady of Bangalore in 2018. She tells RFI why her work resonates with French people. RFI: Can you describe your years in the US before your return to India? Shoba Narayan: I grew up in India and then I went to America as a student. I got married, I had kids and then after about 18 years in the New York area I missed my country so I moved back to India, to Bangalore. India as an adult is a very different experience. When you go to school, you are with your parents, you don't know anything but when you come and live there and you make connections with all the people, the vendors, the flower sellers I know all these people, they are part of my life, I'm part of their life these are the connections that make living in a city very communal, very community oriented. RFI: What is The Milk Lady of Bangalore about? SN: La Laitiere de Bangalore is about a connection between a dairy farmer, a woman, who sells me milk. She comes to ask me for money to buy a cow. And she says I will pay you back by giving you milk every day. And I said: "Ok, if I'm giving you so much money then I'm going to come with you to buy the cow." And then it becomes an adventure, we go to different places and we examine different cows, different breeds. I learn about farming and about the connection people have with animals and the land. So I become transformed. I understood how rural India, much like rural France is a very different world. If you live in Paris you can't imagine what it's like in rural France. It's the same as an Indian city. I live in Bangalore. You can't imagine what it's like to be a farmer so it's about that. RFI: What can you tell us about Bangalore? SN: Bangalore has about 20 million people, in India it's called the technology capital. They call it "Silicon Valley". A lot of big tech firms have their offices in Bangalore. In that context, when you are surrounded by high-rises, technology and computers, for me to find this milk lady was very unusual. So I think there's a contrast between my life, a fast paced city, living in an apartment in a highrise and then dealing with a farmer, getting to know her life. RFI: How can your book reach a French audience? SN: More than anything, my book is about terroir in the French sense. Because they say for example, every state has a different breed of cow. In India, there used to be 108 breeds of cows. Now there are about 80. Some have gone extinct. Each cow gives a different type of milk that is linked to the land where they live. Each cow has a different size. They look different, they act different, they give different milk. This sense of terroir is something that French people have very instinctively, with the wine and the cheese. In fact, one of the quotes in my book is when I interviewed somebody who is trying to sell the milk of a cow that is very expensive and he says: "Madame, you are bargaining with me for this milk but we should market this the way the French market cheese because it is as precious, as good but we don't know how to market this in India." So I said maybe I should pay that money to buy that milk because the quantity is low like the wine in Burgundy that sells for so much money. Certain cows in India give very little milk but the quality is so good, so the price is high. But in India we don't know how to value quality like the French do. RFI: Had you been to France before going to the Paris Book Festival? SN: It's my fourth time in France and first time at the Paris Book Festival. I've been to many countries and I think what makes France different is that it is still a culture that values ideas and intellectual books. The person who brought me here is an "attache for books and ideas". I don't think many consulates who are based in India will have that particular title. I think it's very lovely to be here, I enjoy wine a lot, I write about it. From here [Paris] I'm going to Bourgogne and then Provence for a week to enjoy the gifts of the countryside in France. Find more on Shoba Narayan's website. Read also: India the guest of honour as Paris Book Festival returns India has approved Covid vaccines for children aged between 5 and 12 years of age following calls from experts, schools and parents to speed up the health drive that has seen millions of teens inoculated since January. The national drug regulator in India has approved US-origin Corvevax and Covaxin indigenously developed shots for the renewed inoculation program and says the government will soon give the final clearance to jab the very youngest. India, the second worst-hit nation globally after the United States, turned to the children as it reported nearly 3,000 new infections on Wednesday, the highest single-day jump since 13 March when cases began to rise after an 11-week lull. The official case tally has crossed 43 million, with 523,654 Covid-linked deaths. Some experts suspect the actual numbers could be higher. Modi's call for action On Wednesday, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, met state chief ministers to review preparedness against another wave of Covid-19 infections. Schools have reopened and classes resumed in a situation where cases are rising, concerns among parents are growing. We are also receiving information of infections among children in some schools, Modi said. But it is a matter of satisfaction that more and more children are being vaccinated, he said and referred to Tuesday's green flag to vaccinate 5-12 year-olds. It is our priority to inoculate children without any delay. India has the world's largest adolescent population at 253 million, and every fifth person is between 10 and 19, according to a Unicef data board. On 16 March, the authorities began vaccinating children between 12 and 14-years-old as part of the phased programme of the national health drive that rolled out in January 2021 to inoculate India's 1.4 billion people. Drugmaker's claim Bharat Biotech, Indian manufacturer of Covaxin, separately claimed its indigenous shot was more effective among minors than adults. Covaxin exhibits robust immune responses in children with two doses and six months follow-up, indicating durability of immune responses, the privately-run company said on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the World Health Organisation suspended supply of Covaxin through UN procurement agencies citing deficiencies. Modi also asserted that 96 percent of India's 944 million adults have received at least one dose of an anti-Covid vaccine. He gave no break-down of figures for the number of children protected so far from coronavirus. But the prime minister urged state leaders to scale up their healthcare services. A horrific surge of the Delta variant killed 180,000 people last summer and overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums as India ran short of much-needed medical oxygen supplies. We are in a better situation (now) but we must ensure that these medical services remain functional, Modi added. 'WhatsApp knowledge' The two-year Covid holiday has led to demands to inoculate children back in classrooms but health experts such as Om Srivastava from a Covid task force say vaccine hesitancy in pockets of India was a matter of concern. There is hesitancy and there are apprehensions because once you get your understanding and training from Google then everything becomes ready knowledge, Srivastava told local media on Wednesday. That WhatsApp information is actually harming the total merits of the vaccine program in our country, added the expert from the Maharashtra state task force. "Shouldn't we seek all information before exposing our kids to the needle? asked Reena Sarkar, a Kolkata parent. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over the failure to protect the rights to life, security, and dignity of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, and the failure to secure the safe release of those held captive by the terrorists. Terrorists had on March 28 attacked the AK9 AbujaKaduna train, killing at least nine people, wounding several others, and abducting an unknown number of passengers. The victims have remained with the terrorists for a month, despite repeated appeals for the government to free them from captivity. The suit followed reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) failed to approve funds for surveillance equipment that could have helped to prevent the train attack. In the suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/20/22 filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, SERAP is seeking a declaration that the train attack, abductions and killings of passengers by terrorists amount to a failure by the government to protect Nigerians, and to prevent these grave human rights violations. SERAP is also seeking an order directing the Buhari government to protect, promote, and fulfil the human rights of Nigerians, including travellers across the country, by ensuring adequate security and taking measures to prevent attacks. SERAP is seeking an order directing the Buhari government to urgently find and identify all the passengers, victims and their families, and to pay adequate monetary compensation of N50 million to each of the passengers and victims and their families. In the suit filed together with an application for expedited hearing, SERAP is arguing that, The Buhari government has a legal duty to protect individuals from real and immediate risks to their lives and security caused by actions of third-parties such as terrorists. SERAP is also arguing that, A fundamental notion of contemporary human rights law is that victims of violations such as the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack enjoy an independent right to effective remedies. Rights without remedies are ineffectual, rendering illusory the governments duty to protect such rights. According to SERAP, The Buhari government has failed to protect the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights of the victims of the train attack to life, dignity and security, and their right to an effective remedy. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: The Buhari government is under a legal obligation to protect the life of every citizen in the country. Remedies logically should be proportionate to the gravity of the harm or violations caused by the government and its agents or by terrorists or unknown perpetrators. Human life has a special value and dignity which requires legal protection. It is the principle of international law, and even a general conception of law, that any breach of an engagement involves an obligation to make reparation. The officials of the Buhari government have publicly stated that they knew or had information that an attack on the train was imminent but the government failed and/or neglected to take measures to prevent the train attack. The government will still be held accountable for failing or neglecting to guarantee and protect human rights regardless of whether such violations are directly or indirectly attributable to the government or its officials. The Buhari government has an obligation to promote and protect the rights to life, security and dignity. This obligation means that the government must create an enabling environment that facilitates the enjoyment of these rights by the people. The failure of the Buhari government to protect and guarantee the rights to life, security, liberty and dignity of the passengers and victims of the train attack violates the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. The Buhari government and the Nigeria Railway Corporation had ignored several warnings in the past to take preventive measures to provide adequate security for the train services, and to suspend late rail services to prevent attack by terrorists and to ensure the security and safety of passengers. Few days before the train attack, some terrorists had gained control of and entered the Kaduna airport in a daring attack. The Buhari government failed or refused to take preventive measures to ensure adequate security in the airport and its surrounding, and to prevent the attack on the train. SERAP is also asking the ECOWAS Court for the following reliefs: A DECLARATION that the Abuja-Kaduna train attack amounts to a failure by the government to exercise due diligence to prevent the attacks, abductions and killings, and cannot be justified, and therefore constitutes a serious breach of Nigerias obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to exercise due diligence and to take steps to prevent the train attack, abductions and killings by terrorists is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to conduct prompt, impartial, thorough, transparent and effective investigations into the attacks, and to find and hold those responsible to account, is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to protect, promote and fulfil human rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to provide an effective remedy and reparation for the passengers and victims of the train attack is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil human rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to provide an environment to secure and protect the human rights to life, dignity and security anywhere in Nigeria is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to protect, promote and fulfil human rights. AN ORDER directing the government to promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigate the attacks on the train, and to find and bring perpetrators to justice. AN ORDER directing the government to respect, protect, promote, and fulfil the human rights of Nigerians, including travellers across the country. AN ORDER directing the government to provide effective remedies and reparation, including restitution, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition that the Court may deem fit to grant to the victims of the train attack. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the application for expedited hearing, and the substantive suit. Oliver Barker-Vormawor 01.05.2022 LISTEN Convener for the FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has accused the Ghanaian media of hypocrisy. He said journalists have been silent on the alleged national security operatives attack on Serwaa Broni. In a Facebook post on Sunday, May 1, 2022, the activist makes the claim that the President used the national security operatives to retrieve his naked pictures. President uses National Security to attack a citizen to retrieve his naked pictures. Oliver writes a Facebook post, if the shito on my Waakye this morning is not a lot; I will do the coup myself, a short post on the Facebook page of the FixTheCountry convener reads. It concludes, Media: OH My God; Ghana is about to collapse. This is the country you guys call a democracy? Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has stressed that not even treason, bigamy, or sodomy charges will oppress him from holding Ghanas democracy to account. A Level 400 female student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi has been found dead. The deceased, Bernice Akyeama Baah, a Metallurgical Engineering student was found dead in her bathroom at Ayeduase over the weekend. According to reports, she was found unresponsive and transported to the KNUST Hospital for treatment. She was declared dead on arrival by the facilitys health officials. The victim was electrocuted in an unspecified manner, but police have ordered an autopsy as part of their investigation. The deceased's body has since been deposited at the KNUST hospital morgue depending autopsy. Meanwhile, her colleagues are heartbroken by their classmates' untimely death as they have expressed their condolences over her sudden demise. DGN online President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says reducing taxes on petroleum products will not be in the interest of the nation. He said the suggestion was not a sustainable one because, removing taxes on petroleum products will reduce Government revenues by some four billion cedis (GHc4 billion). Addressing organized labour at this year's May Day celebration at the Independence Square in Accra, the President said At this time, when we are determined to expand Government revenues to increase our capacity to finance our own development, can we afford to reduce tax revenues by four billion cedis (GH4 billion)? The President was responding to a request by the Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, Dr Yaw Baah, for the government to suspend all taxes and levies on petroleum products, to mitigate the current economic hardship facing Ghanaians because of hikes in fuel prices, food commodities, and transport fares. President Akufo-Addo said the Government was currently confronted by very tight financing conditions, in the wake of inadequate domestic revenue mobilization. Indeed, some of the revenues from these same taxes on petroleum products is what is used to pay some of the salaries of some of the 700,000 public sector workers on Government's payroll. The President announced that the government was addressing the issue of fuel price increases by implementing measures that are succeeding in stabilising the exchange rate, which is a key determinant of fuel prices. He said that Government was also working hard to ensure reliable supply and availability of petroleum products to prevent shortages being experienced in some neighboring countries. President Akufo-Addo reminded Ghanaians that even though the nation was a modest producer of crude oil, with a current output 148,000 barrels per day, we are still a net importer of petroleum products. We, therefore, continue to be vulnerable to the price volatilities of the world market for petroleum products. The President however, said intense efforts were underway to rehabilitate the Tema Oil Refinery, to enable it to contribute to stabilising petroleum prices, which he hoped would soon materialize. He also disclosed that the government was encouraging private companies to establish refineries in the country, one of which was 80 per cent complete and expected to be commissioned before the end of the year. GNA Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, has described the determination of government to reverse the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 as a step in the right direction. He said the government was committed to creating more employment opportunities in both the private and public sectors and improve the physical infrastructure for a rebound of the economy. Dr Letsa, speaking during the May Day celebration in Ho, on the theme: Protecting jobs and income in the era of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, noted that government was taking measures to protect and support many businesses. He said the National Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurship policy is the first of its kind in Ghana designed to direct the growth of the sector. The policy, he said, provided clear policy direction and opportunities for all actors and to enable them contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. The policy was put in place by government to help SMEs grow into sustainable businesses capable of competing on the regional, continental and global market, he said. Dr Letsa charged the citizens to work diligently and in truth in order that together we can increase productivity in all aspects of our national life and make our dear nation greater and stronger. He said Government was aware of all the concerns of labour and was not looking unconcerned, but rather had resolute commitment to addressing the concerns. Let me assure you that Government will work assiduously toward protecting the rights and interests of workers to fully utilise your potential to contribute to nation building, Dr Letsa noted. He said Government was also committed to ensuring a suitable pension for all pensioners and would continue to compensate them appropriately for their services to the country. We have and will also continue to ensure prudent management of the tier one contributions of workers to guarantee good investment and returns on the investment of pension funds, he added. GNA This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Inside a cavernous stone fortress in downtown Pittsburgh, attorney Robin Frank defends parents at one of their lowest points when they risk losing their children. The job is never easy, but in the past she knew what she was up against when squaring off against child protective services in family court. Now, she worries shes fighting something she cant see: an opaque algorithm whose statistical calculations help social workers decide which families should be investigated in the first place. A lot of people dont know that its even being used, Frank said. Families should have the right to have all of the information in their file. From Los Angeles to Colorado and throughout Oregon, as child welfare agencies use or consider tools similar to the one in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, an Associated Press review has identified a number of concerns about the technology, including questions about its reliability and its potential to harden racial disparities in the child welfare system. Related issues have already torpedoed some jurisdictions plans to use predictive models, such as the tool notably dropped by the state of Illinois. According to new research from a Carnegie Mellon University team obtained exclusively by AP, Alleghenys algorithm in its first years of operation showed a pattern of flagging a disproportionate number of Black children for a mandatory neglect investigation, when compared with white children. The independent researchers, who received data from the county, also found that social workers disagreed with the risk scores the algorithm produced about one-third of the time. County officials said that social workers can always override the tool, and called the research hypothetical. Child welfare officials in Allegheny County, the cradle of Mister Rogers TV neighborhood and the icons child-centric innovations, say the cutting-edge tool which is capturing attention around the country uses data to support agency workers as they try to protect children from neglect. That nuanced term can include everything from inadequate housing to poor hygiene, but is a different category from physical or sexual abuse, which is investigated separately in Pennsylvania and is not subject to the algorithm. Workers, whoever they are, shouldnt be asked to make, in a given year, 14, 15, 16,000 of these kinds of decisions with incredibly imperfect information, said Erin Dalton, director of the countys Department of Human Services and a pioneer in implementing the predictive child welfare algorithm. ____ This story, supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, is part of an ongoing Associated Press series, Tracked, that investigates the power and consequences of decisions driven by algorithms on peoples everyday lives. ____ Critics say it gives a program powered by data mostly collected about poor people an outsized role in deciding families fates, and they warn against local officials growing reliance on artificial intelligence tools. If the tool had acted on its own to screen in a comparable rate of calls, it would have recommended that two-thirds of Black children be investigated, compared with about half of all other children reported, according to another study published last month and co-authored by a researcher who audited the countys algorithm. Advocates worry that if similar tools are used in other child welfare systems with minimal or no human interventionakin to how algorithms have been used to make decisions in the criminal justice systemthey could reinforce existing racial disparities in the child welfare system. Its not decreasing the impact among Black families, said Logan Stapleton, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University. On the point of accuracy and disparity, (the county is) making strong statements that I think are misleading. Because family court hearings are closed to the public and the records are sealed, AP wasnt able to identify first-hand any families who the algorithm recommended be mandatorily investigated for child neglect, nor any cases that resulted in a child being sent to foster care. Families and their attorneys can never be sure of the algorithms role in their lives either because they arent allowed to know the scores. SAFER, FASTER Incidents of potential neglect are reported to Allegheny Countys child protection hotline. The reports go through a screening process where the algorithm calculates the childs potential risk and assigns a score. Social workers then use their discretion to decide whether to investigate. The Allegheny Family Screening Tool is specifically designed to predict the risk that a child will be placed in foster care in the two years after they are investigated. Using a trove of detailed personal data collected from birth, Medicaid, substance abuse, mental health, jail and probation records, among other government data sets, the algorithm calculates a risk score of 1 to 20: The higher the number, the greater the risk. Given the high stakes skipping a report of neglect could end with a childs death but scrutinizing a familys life could set them up for separation the county and developers have suggested their tool can help course correct and make the agencys work more thorough and efficient by weeding out meritless reports so that social workers can focus on children who truly need protection. The developers have described using such tools as a moral imperative, saying child welfare officials should use whatever they have at their disposal to make sure children arent neglected. There are children in our communities who need protection, said Emily Putnam-Hornstein, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills School of Social Work who helped develop the Allegheny tool, speaking at a virtual panel held by New York University in November. Dalton said algorithms and other predictive technologies also provide a scientific check on call center workers personal biases because they see the risk score when deciding if the case merits an investigation. If the case is escalated, Dalton said the full investigation is carried out by a different social worker who probes in person, decides if the allegations are true and helps determine if the children should be placed in foster care. CMU researchers found that from August 2016 to May 2018, the tool calculated scores that suggested 32.5% of Black children reported as being neglected should be subject to a mandatory investigation, compared with 20.8% of white children. In addition, the county confirmed to the AP that for more than two years, a technical glitch in the tool sometimes presented social workers with the wrong scores, either underestimating or overestimating a childs risk. County officials said the problem has since been fixed. The county didnt challenge the CMU researchers figures, but Dalton said the research paper represented a hypothetical scenario that is so removed from the manner in which this tool has been implemented to support our workforce. The CMU research found no difference in the percentage of Black families investigated after the algorithm was adopted. The study found the workers were able to reduce this disparity produced by the algorithm. The county says that social workers are always in the loop and are ultimately responsible for deciding which families are investigated because they can override the algorithm, even if it flags a case for mandatory investigation. Dalton said the tool would never be used on its own in Allegheny, and doubted any county would allow for completely automated decision-making about families lives. Of course, they could do that, she said. I think that they are less likely to, because it doesnt make any actual sense to do that. Despite what the county describes as safeguards, one child welfare expert who worked for an Allegheny county contractor says there is still cause for concern. When you have technology designed by humans, the bias is going to show up in the algorithms, said NicoLee Biddle, who has worked for nearly a decade in child welfare, including as a family therapist and foster care placement specialist in Allegheny County. If they designed a perfect tool, it really doesnt matter, because its designed from very imperfect data systems. Biddle is a former foster care kid turned therapist, social worker and policy advocate. In 2020, she quit, largely due to her growing frustrations with the child welfare system. She also said officials dismissed her concerns when she asked why families were originally referred for investigation. We could see the report and that decision, but we were never able to see the actual tool, she said. I would be met with What does that have to do with now? In recent years, movements to reshape or dismantle child protective services have grown, as generations of dire foster care outcomes have been shown to be rooted in racism. In a memo last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cited racial disparities at nearly every major decision-making point of the child welfare system, an issue Aysha Schomburg, the associate commissioner of the U.S. Childrens Bureau said leads more than half of all Black children nationwide to be investigated by social workers. Over surveillance leads to mass family separation, Schomburg wrote in a recent blog post. With discussions about race and equity looming large in child welfare circles, Putnam-Hornstein last fall took part in a roundtable of experts convened by the conservative American Enterprise Institute and co-authored a paper that slammed advocates who believe child welfare systems are inherently racist. She said she collaborated with the group that suggested there are racial disparities in the incidence of maltreatment because she sees the need for reforms, and believes that the adoption of algorithmic decision aids can help guard against subjectivity and bias. Some researchers worry that as other government agencies implement similar tools, the algorithms could be allowed to make some decisions on their own. We know there are many other child welfare agencies that are looking into using risk assessment tools and their decisions about how much fully to automate really vary, said Stapleton. Had Allegheny County used it as a fully automated tool, we would have seen a much higher racial disparity in the proportion of kids who are investigated. LAB RATS A decade ago, the developers of Alleghenys tool Putnam-Hornstein and Rhema Vaithianathan, a professor of health economics at New Zealands Auckland University of Technology began collaborating on a project to design a predictive risk model for New Zealands child welfare system. Vaithianathan and colleagues prototyped a new child abuse screening model that proposed using national data to predict the risk that the child protection system would confirm allegations that a child had been mistreated by age 5. The plan was scrapped after documents revealed the Ministry of Social Developments head sharply opposed the project, declaring: These are children, not lab rats. The minister wasnt the only one concerned. Emily Keddell, a professor of social work at Otago University in New Zealand who analyzed the tool in the peer-reviewed Critical Social Policy journal, found that it would likely have resulted in more Maori families being tagged for investigation, reinforcing existing structural inequalities by contributing to the ongoing stigmatisation of this population. In response, Vaithianathan said that she and her collaborators are open to community criticism and committed to showing their work, even if jurisdictions decide against it. She added that she has worked extensively with Indigenous Maori researchers. We encourage agencies to listen to those critical voices and to make leadership decisions themselves, she said. Vaithianathan and Putnam-Hornstein said they have since expanded their work to at least half a dozen cities and counties across the United States and have explored building tools in Chile and Australia. Brian Chor, a clinical psychologist and child welfare researcher at the University of Chicagos Chapin Hall, said the pair are respected for confronting ethical and racial concerns in creating the tool. He also said that Pittsburgh was the perfect place to create a model algorithm for other public welfare agencies. Allegheny County is probably an early adopter where the stars seem to be aligned, where they have the data, Chor said. They have a solid recipe that I think is replicable. In several public presentations and media interviews, Vaithianathan and Putnam-Hornstein said they want to use public data to help families in need. Were researchers and were trying to model what good, good approaches look like in this field, Vaithianathan said in an interview. The developers also noted in a document sent to Pennsylvanias Department of Human Services last year that demand for their tools had increased due to the pandemic, as the state weighed a proposal for a statewide tool that would cost $520,000 to develop and implement. Vaithianathan has said the tool ultimately can help address racial bias, and has pointed to a 2019 Stanford University evaluation commissioned by Allegheny County that suggests it may have had a modest impact on some disparities. Ive always felt that these are tools that have the opportunity to improve the quality of decision making, Vaithianathan said at a November panel. To the extent that they are used with careful guardrails around them, I think they also offer an opportunity for us to try and address some of those systemic biases. But when AP asked county officials to address Carnegie Mellons findings on the tools pattern of flagging a disproportionate number of Black children for a mandatory child neglect investigation, Allegheny County questioned the researchers methodology by saying they relied on old data. The researchers reran the analysis using newer data to address the countys concerns and reached many of the same conclusions. In response to AP, Allegheny County provided research that acknowledges the tool has not helped with combating disparities in the rates at which Black and white child neglect cases are investigated. A recent unpublished analysis written by the developers themselves determined no statistically significant effect of the algorithm on this disparity. We dont frame the entire decision-making process around race, though clearly its an important thing that we think about, Dalton said. Dalton said her team wants to keep improving the tool and is considering new updates, including adding available private insurance data to capture more information about middle class and upper income families, as well as exploring other ways to avoid needless interventions. Dalton also downplayed the algorithms role in neglect investigations. If it goes into court, then theres attorneys on both sides and a judge, Dalton said. They have evidence, right? Chor said Alleghenys tool is applied at the most important point of the child welfare system. The very front end of child protection decision-making is understandably the most impactful decision that you can make on a childs life, because once you come into contact with the hotline, with an investigator, then your chance of being removed, of course, is increased, Chor said. The latest version of the tool excludes information about whether a family has received welfare dollars or food stamps, data that was initially included in calculating risk scores. It also stopped predicting whether a child would be reported again to the county in the two years that followed. However, much of the current algorithms design remains the same, according to American Civil Liberties Union researchers who have studied both versions. The county initially considered including race as a variable in its predictions about a familys relative risk but ultimately decided not to, according to a 2017 document. Critics say even if race is not measured outright, data from government programs used by many communities of color can be a proxy for race. In the document, the developers themselves urged continuing monitoring with regard to racial disparities. If over a million dollars have been spent creating and maintaining this tool, only for call screeners to disagree with it, for racial disparities to stay essentially level, and for screen-ins to continue at unreasonably high rates, is that the best use of Allegheny Countys resources? asked Kath Xu, an attorney at the ACLU. Child welfare agencies in at least 26 states and Washington, D.C., have considered using algorithmic tools, and at least 11 have deployed them, according to a recent ACLU white paper by Xu and colleagues. LITTLE TRANSPARENCY, GROWING INFLUENCE Family law attorney Frank says shes always worried about the lack of due process and secrecy surrounding Allegheny Countys child welfare algorithm. Some of her clients have asked if the system was surveilling them because they used public assistance or community programs, but she cant answer. I just dont understand why its something thats kept in secret, Frank said. Once, Frank recalled, a judge demanded to know a familys score, but the county resisted, claiming it didnt want to influence the legal proceeding with the numbers spat out by the algorithm. Bruce Noel, who oversees call screeners using Alleghenys tool, said that while the risk score advises their decision on whether to launch an investigation, he is torn about sharing that information with families because of the tools complexity. He added that he is cognizant of the racial disparities in the underlying data, and said his team didnt have much input into development. Given that our data is drawn from public records and involvement with public systems, we know that our population is going to garner scores that are higher than other demographics, such as white middle class folks who dont have as much involvement with public systems, Noel said. Dalton said she personally doesnt support giving parents their score because she worries it could discourage people from seeking services when they need them. I do think there are risks and I want the community to also be on board with the risks and benefits of transparency, Dalton said. Other counties using algorithms are taking a different approach. Larimer County, Colorado, home to Fort Collins, is now testing a tool modeled on Alleghenys and plans to share scores with families if it moves forward with the program. Its their life and their history, said Thad Paul, a manager with the countys Child, Youth & Family Services. We want to minimize the power differential that comes with being involved in child welfare we just really think it is unethical not to share the score with families. In the suburbs south of Denver, officials in Douglas County, Colorado, are using a similar tool and say they will share scores with families who request it. Oregon does not share risk score numbers from its statewide screening tool, which was first implemented in 2018 and inspired by Alleghenys algorithm. The Oregon Department of Human Services currently preparing to hire its eighth new child welfare director in six years explored at least four other algorithms while the agency was under scrutiny by a crisis oversight board ordered by the governor. It recently paused a pilot algorithm built to help decide when foster care children can be reunified with their families. Oregon also explored three other tools predictive models to assess a childs risk for death and severe injury, whether children should be placed in foster care and if so, where. For years, California explored data-driven approaches to the statewide child welfare system before abandoning a proposal to use a predictive risk modeling tool Putnam-Hornsteins team developed in 2019. The states Department of Social Services spent $195,273 on a two-year grant to develop the concept. During the project, the state also explored concerns about how the tool may impact racial equity. These findings resulted in the state ceasing exploration, department spokesman Scott Murray said in an email. Putnam-Hornsteins team is currently working with one of the nations largest local child welfare systems in Los Angeles County as it pilots a related tool. The embattled agency is being audited following high-profile child deaths, and is currently seeking a new director after its previous one stepped down late last year. The complex-risk algorithm helps to isolate the highest-risk cases that are being investigated, according to the countys Department of Children and Family Services. So far, the experiment has been limited to the Belvedere, Lancaster, and Santa Fe Springs offices, the agency said. The tool also has allowed the agency to generate and review reports about cases involving Black children and families who were deemed low-risk, but were still investigated and didnt result in any conclusive or substantiated allegations, the county said. In the Mojave Desert city of Lancaster, U.S. Census shows 22% of the citys child population is Black. In the first few months that social workers started using the tool, county data shows that Black children were the subject of nearly half of all the investigations flagged for additional scrutiny. The county did not immediately say why, but said it will decide whether to expand the tool later this year. Back in Pittsburgh, family law attorney Frank is still trying to untangle how, exactly, the countys algorithm is impacting each client she shepherds through the system. To find strength on the brutal days, she keeps a birthday calendar for the children shes helped and sends them handwritten cards to remember times when things went right. Shes still haunted by a case in which she says she heard a social worker discuss a mothers risk score in court around 2018. The case ultimately escalated to foster care, but Frank has never been able to understand how that number influenced the familys outcome. County officials said they could not imagine how a risk score could end up in court. Theres no way to prove it thats the problem, Frank said. ___ Associated Press reporter Camille Fassett contributed to this report. ___ Follow Sally Ho and Garance Burke on Twitter at @_sallyho and @garanceburke. ___ Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/ 9 suspects detained after building collapses in central China Xinhua) 15:24, May 01, 2022 CHANGSHA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Public security authorities detained nine people on Sunday after a self-constructed residential building collapsed Friday in central China's Hunan Province. According to police in the provincial capital of Changsha, the owner of the building surnamed Wu, and three others in charge of building design and construction surnamed Long, Ren and Xue were suspected of the crime of causing a major-liability accident. Investigations also showed that an engineering testing company issued a false house safety appraisal report to the guesthouse in the building on April 13. The legal representative of the company surnamed Tan, and four technicians surnamed Ning, Tang, Liu and Gong were suspected of the crime of providing false documents. So far, five people have been rescued, and 23 others remain trapped. The incident took place at 12:24 p.m. in Wangcheng District in Changsha. Further investigations are underway. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) A nonprofit group plans to restore a Savannah home used by a Black artist to establish her own museum during segregation. The Historic Savannah Foundation bought the former home of Virginia Jackson Kiah to save it from demolition. Neighbors in the surrounding Cuyler-Brownsville neighborhood applauded the move, saying its important to keep Kiahs legacy alive. Ive been saying someone needs to get that building and bring it back alive, neighbor Ronald Bolden told WTOC-TV. Kiah used the home to start her own museum in 1959 because, as a Black woman during segregation, she wasnt allowed to enter other museums as a visitor, much less to exhibit her artwork. She became known as a civil rights activist in Savannah, where the Savannah College of Art and Design now has an art museum named for her. The house deteriorated following Kiahs death in 2001 and faced a risk of being torn down. The Historic Savannah Foundation was able to close on the property recently following a two-year legal battle in probate court. Its a way to preserve Kiahs legacy, said Ryan Arvay, the foundations director of preservation and historic properties. The foundation hopes to restore the building to its 1950s appearance, and plans to get feedback from the community before making any final decisions. Meanwhile, supporters of the project plan to install a historic marker at the home on May 9. 2 people rescued 50 hours after China building collapse View Photo BEIJING (AP) Two people were rescued Sunday from the rubble of a building in central China more than 50 hours after it collapsed, leaving dozens trapped or missing, state media said. Separately, police arrested nine people including the building owner on suspicion of causing a major liability accident, the official Xinhua News Agency said. State broadcaster CCTV showed video of rescuers bringing a woman out on a stretcher about 4:30 p.m. Some could be heard shouting words of encouragement during the operation. She was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, CCTV said. State media reported another person was brought out alive in the evening but provided no details. Seven people have been rescued from the building, which collapsed Friday afternoon in the inland city of Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. About 20 others remained trapped, and another 39 had not been accounted for as of late Saturday. Besides the owner, police said they had arrested three people in charge of design and construction and five others for what they said was a false safety assessment for a guest house on the buildings fourth to sixth floors. In photos the building appeared to have pancaked down to about the second floor, leaving rubble strewn on the sidewalk. It had stood in a row of buildings about six stories tall. Xinhua said the building had eight floors, including a restaurant on the second floor, a cafe on the third floor and residences on the top two floors. Other media reports said it was a six-story building. Tenants had made structural modifications to the building, but the cause of the collapse remained under investigation, Xinhua said. Police said the Hunan Xiangda Engineering Testing Co. issued the false safety report on April 13. The arrested included the legal representative of the company and four technicians suspected of providing the assessment. Following an increase in the number of collapses of self-built buildings in recent years, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that it was necessary to check such structures for any hidden dangers and fix them to prevent major accidents, Xinhua said. Poor adherence to safety standards, including the illegal addition of extra floors and failure to use reinforcing iron bars, is often blamed for such disasters. Evacuations under way in Mariupol; Pelosi visits Ukraine View Photo ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) A long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was under way Sunday, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraines president to show unflinching American support for the countrys defense against Russias invasion. Video posted online by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children bundled in winter clothing being helped as they climbed a steep pile of debris from the sprawling Azovstal steel plants rubble, and then eventually boarded a bus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 100 civilians, primarily women and children, were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday. Today, for the first time in all the days of the war, this vitally needed (humanitarian) corridor has started working, he said in a pre-recorded address published on his Telegram messaging app channel. The Mariupol City Council said on Telegram that the evacuation of civilians from other parts of the city would begin Monday morning. People fleeing Russian-occupied areas in the past have described their vehicles being fired on, and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of shelling evacuation routes on which the two sides had agreed. Later Sunday, one of the plants defenders said Russian forces resumed shelling the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed. Denys Shlega, the commander of the 12th Operational Brigade of Ukraines National Guard, said in a televised interview Sunday night that several hundred civilians remain trapped alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. Several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant, Shlega said. We need one or two more rounds of evacuation. Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the steel plant, told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday that it has been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. We hear voices of people who are still alive inside shattered buildings. As many as 100,000 people may still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a key target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said civilians who have been stranded for nearly two months at the plant would receive immediate humanitarian support, including psychological services, once they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) northwest of Mariupol. Mariupol has seen some of the worst suffering. A maternity hospital was hit with a lethal Russian airstrike in the opening weeks of the war, and about 300 people were reported killed in the bombing of a theater where civilians were taking shelter. A Doctors Without Borders team was at a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, in preparation for the U.N. convoys arrival. Stress, exhaustion and low food supplies have likely weakened civilians trapped underground at the plant. Ukrainian regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar, meanwhile, called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. We dont know why they are not taken away, and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed, he said in a video posted Saturday on the regiments Telegram channel. Video from inside the steel plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands were among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed men with blood-stained bandages, open wounds or amputated limbs, including some that appeared gangrenous. The AP could not independently verify the location and date of the video, which the women said was taken last week. Meanwhile, Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers visited Kyiv on Saturday. She is the most senior American lawmaker to travel to the country since Russias Feb. 24 invasion. Her visit came just days after Russia launched rockets at the capital during a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Rep. Jason Crow, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. In his nightly televised address Sunday, Zelenskyy said more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-agreed with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion. The organization of humanitarian corridors is one of the elements of the negotiation process (with Russia), which is ongoing, he said. Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, saying Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. What could be Russias strategic success in this war? Honestly, I do not know. The ruined lives of people and the burned or stolen property will give nothing to Russia, he said. In Zaporizhzhia, residents ignored air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home to visit cemeteries Sunday, when Ukrainians observe the Orthodox Christian day of the dead. If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, Its not possible, theyre worse than the Germans, Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said while marking the day with his family at a picnic table among the graves. All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture the capital, Kyiv. Russias high-stakes offensive has Ukrainian forces fighting village-by-village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling. Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of seizing medical facilities to treat wounded Russian soldiers in several occupied towns, as well as destroying medical infrastructure, taking away equipment, and leaving the population without medical care. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine is difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested the offensive was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russias vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russias offensive could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel, and a much larger air force and navy. In Russias Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, an explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday, and a criminal investigation has been started, the regions government reported in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. ___ Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine By CARA ANNA and YESICA FISCH Associated Press Pelosi, in surprise Kyiv trip, vows unbending US support View Photo WARSAW, Poland (AP) A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom. You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegations trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraines fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance arent going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win, he said. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Scores of U.S. lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the wars toll and shore up U.S. troops in the broader region. Pelosis delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosis stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won. Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. intelligence support it needs to defeat Russian forces. The delegations visit followed those of several EU officials and European heads of state who have gone to show solidarity with Zelenskyy, starting with the March 15 surprise visit by the leaders of NATO members Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. More recently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. A missile strike rained down on the capital barely an hour after their joint press conference, an attack Kyivs mayor said was Putin giving his middle finger to Guterres. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, Pelosi said. McGovern said Russias war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added: I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world. ___ Winfield reported from Rome, Mascaro from Washington. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, not third. ___ More AP coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine By VANESSA GERA, NICOLE WINFIELD and LISA MASCARO Associated Press Bulldozers, aircraft used to fight fire near New Mexico city View Photo Over 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the U.S. on Saturday after strong winds pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a small city in northern New Mexico. Mapping imagery indicated the fire that has burned at least 166 homes grew in size from 103 square miles (266 square kilometers) Friday to 152 square miles (393 square kilometers) by early Saturday, officials said. The fire was described as 30% contained during a briefing Saturday evening. Ash carried 7 miles (11 kilometers) through the air fell on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the blaze from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson with the fire management team. Calmer winds on Saturday aided the firefighting effort after gusts accelerated the fires advance to a point on Friday when we were watching the fire march about a mile every hour, said Jayson Coil, a fire operations official. But more extreme fire danger was forecast for Sunday for parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Fire managers warned of windy conditions in the coming days and impacts from smoke, and officials urged residents to remain vigilant for further possible evacuation orders. Stewart Turner, a fire behavior analyst with the fire management team, warned of a very serious week ahead with the forecasted winds. Winds in northern New Mexico gusted up to 65 mph (105 kph) Friday before subsiding as nightfall approached. By Saturday, aircraft that dump fire retardant and water could resume flights to aid ground crews and bulldozers. The fires rapid growth Friday forced crews to repeatedly change positions because of threatening conditions but they managed to immediately re-engage without being forced to retreat, Coil said. No injuries were reported. The winds first sent the flames advancing furiously on April 22 across the northern New Mexico landscape. Since then, crews have worked to limit structure damage by installing sprinklers, pumps and hoses and clearing vegetation around buildings, officials said. The fire started April 6 when a prescribed burn set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush that can fuel fires was declared out of control. That fire then merged with another wildfire a week ago. With the fires recent growth, estimates of people forced to evacuate largely rural areas plus a subdivision near Las Vegas doubled from 1,500 to 2,000 people to between 3,000 and 4,000, said Jesus Romero, the assistant manager for San Miguel County. Officials have said the fire has destroyed 277 structures, including at least 166 homes. No updated damage assessments were available on Saturday, Romero said. Wildfires were also burning Saturday elsewhere in New Mexico and in Arizona. The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood. Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the West given changing conditions that include earlier snowmelt and rain coming later in the fall, scientist have said. The problems have been exacerbated by decades of fire suppression and poor management along with a more than 20-year megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. In northern Arizona, firefighters neared full containment of a 30 square-mile (77 square-kilometer) blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national wildfire management team turned oversight of fighting the blaze back to local firefighting forces on Friday. National forests across Arizona announced they would impose fire restrictions starting next Thursday that limit campfires to developed recreation sites and restrict smoking to inside vehicles, other enclosed spaces and to the recreation sites. ___ Davenport reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report. By PAUL DAVENPORT Associated Press EL ARISH, Egypt (AP) Suspected Islamic State militants blew up a natural gas pipeline Saturday in Egypts restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, causing a fire but no casualties, security officials said. The officials said the suspected militants planted explosives under a pipeline in the town of Bir al-Abd. The expulsion sent thick flames of fire shooting into the sky, and authorities stopped the flow of gas to extinguish the fire, according to eyewitnesses. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak to media and the eyewitnesses asked not to be named for fear of reprisal. No group immediately claimed the attack which caused no human casualties. The Islamic State group affiliate, which is centered in Northern Sinai, however, has claimed previous attacks targeted gas pipelines between Egypt and both Jordan and Israel. Egypt is battling an Islamic State-led insurgency in the Sinai that intensified after the military overthrew an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013. The militants have carried out scores of attacks, mainly targeting security forces and Christians. Saturdays attack comes as the militants suffered heavy losses in recent months with Egyptian security forces, aided by armed tribesmen, who intensified their efforts to eliminate the group. By ASHRAF SWEILAM Associated Press Firefighters battling New Mexico blaze brace for wind View Photo Over 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the U.S., after strong winds had pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a small city in northern New Mexico. Calmer winds on Saturday aided the firefighting effort after gusts accelerated the fires advance to a point on Friday when we were watching the fire march about a mile every hour, said Jayson Coil, a fire operations official. Ash carried 7 miles (11 kilometers) through the air had fallen on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the fire from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson with the fire management team. But fire managers warned of windy conditions expected in the coming days, as well as impacts from smoke, and officials urged residents to remain vigilant for further possible evacuation orders. Stewart Turner, a fire behavior analyst with the fire management team, warned Saturday of a very serious week ahead with the forecasted winds. More extreme fire danger was forecast for Sunday for parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Mapping imagery indicated the fire that has burned at least 166 homes grew in size from 103 square miles (266 square kilometers) on Friday to 152 square miles (393 square kilometers) by early Saturday, officials said. The fire was described as 30% contained during a briefing Saturday evening. Winds in northern New Mexico gusted up to 65 mph (105 kph) Friday before subsiding as nightfall approached. By Saturday, aircraft that dump fire retardant and water could resume flights to aid ground crews and bulldozers. The fires rapid growth Friday forced crews to repeatedly change positions because of threatening conditions but they managed to immediately re-engage without being forced to retreat, Coil said. No injuries were reported. The fire started April 6 when a prescribed burn set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush that can fuel fires was declared out of control. That fire then merged with another wildfire a week ago. With the fires recent growth, estimates of people forced to evacuate largely rural areas plus a subdivision near Las Vegas doubled from 1,500 to 2,000 people to between 3,000 and 4,000, said Jesus Romero, the assistant manager for San Miguel County. Officials have said the fire has destroyed 277 structures, including at least 166 homes. No updated damage assessments were available on Saturday, Romero said. Wildfires were also burning elsewhere in New Mexico and in Arizona. The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood. Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the West given changing conditions that include earlier snowmelt and rain coming later in the fall, scientist have said. The problems have been exacerbated by decades of fire suppression and poor management along with a more than 20-year megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. In northern Arizona, firefighters neared full containment of a 30 square-mile (77 square-kilometer) blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national wildfire management team turned oversight of fighting the blaze back to local firefighting forces on Friday. National forests across Arizona announced they would impose fire restrictions starting next Thursday that limit campfires to developed recreation sites and restrict smoking to inside vehicles, other enclosed spaces and to the recreation sites. ___ Davenport reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report. By PAUL DAVENPORT Associated Press GOP Gov Hutchinson says 2024 presidential bid on the table View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday he is weighing a presidential run in 2024 and his decision wont be affected by whether former President Donald Trump decides to join the race. Hutchinson, a two-term Republican governor who is restricted under Arkansas law from seeking a third term, said it was time for the national GOP to move on from Trump in regards to the candidates hes endorsing in the 2022 midterm elections as well as the direction he wants to take our country. Asked on CNNs State of the Union if he was mulling a presidential run, Hutchinson replied: I am. But you have got to get through, of course, this year, but thats an option thats on the table. Making clear he was not aligned with Trump, Hutchinson added: I think he did a lot of good things for our country, but we need to go a different direction. And so thats not a factor in my decision-making process. Currently the chairman of the National Governors Association, Hutchinson in recent months has become a fixture on cable television at times drawing the ire of Trump in defending his veto of legislation targeting transgender youths in the state and warning fellow Republicans about tying their fortunes too closely to the former president. After the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which led to Trumps impeachment by the House, Hutchinson said he wanted Trumps administration to end. Hes made it clear since early 2021 that he would not back a Trump 2024 bid and urged public officials to look ahead rather than focus on Trumps false claims of a stolen 2020 election. Though Trump remains the most popular figure among Republican voters who dominate primary elections, several GOP figures are considering presidential runs on a platform opposing the former president. Beyond Hutchinson, they include Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland and Reps. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Other candidates eyeing possible runs are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, though they have been less clear about their intentions if Trump enters the race. Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador, has said she would stand down on a potential bid if Trump opts to run a second time. By HOPE YEN Associated Press This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy switched into Russian in his nightly video address to urge Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expected that thousands of them would die. He said Russia has been recruiting new troops with little motivation and little combat experience for the units that were gutted during the early weeks of the war so these units can be thrown back into battle. He said Russian commanders fully understand that thousands of them will die and thousands more will be wounded in the coming weeks. The Russian commanders are lying to their soldiers when they tell them they can expect to be held seriously responsible for refusing to fight and then also dont tell them, for example, that the Russian army is preparing additional refrigerator trucks for storing the bodies. They dont tell them about the new losses the generals expect, Zelenskyy said late Saturday. Every Russian soldier can still save his own life. Its better for you to survive in Russia than to perish on our land, he said. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Ukrainian forces fight Russia's grinding advance in eastern Donbas region Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers evacuation from final holdout Some Ukrainians go back across front line toward homes, despite dangers Ukrainian women learn how to clear land mines at course in Kosovo Angelina Jolie makes surprise Ukraine visit, meets children Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: STOCKHOLM Sweden says a Russian military plane has violated Swedish airspace. The incident happened late Friday in the Baltic Sea near the island of Bornholm. In a statement Saturday, the Swedish Armed Forces said a Russian AN-30 propeller plane flew toward Swedish airspace and briefly entered it before leaving the area. The Swedish Air Force scrambled fighter jets which photographed the Russian plane. Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish public radio that the violation was unacceptable and unprofessional. In a similar incident in early March four Russian warplanes violated Swedish airspace over the Baltic Sea. Sweden and neighboring Finland are both considering NATO membership following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has warned that such a move would have consequences, without giving specifics. ___ LONDON Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the progress of the U.N. effort to evacuate people from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol and offered the U.K.s continued economic and humanitarian support during a talk Saturday with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskky. The prime minister reiterated that he is more committed than ever to reinforcing Ukraine and ensuring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin fails, noting how hard the Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom, Johnsons Downing Street office said. He confirmed that the UK will continue to provide additional military aid to give the Ukrainians the equipment they needed to defend themselves, the statement said. The United Nations has been attempting to broker an evacuation in the port city where some 100,000 civilians remain. Up to 1,000 civilians are living beneath a Soviet-era steel plant in Mariupol, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, but the Russians put the number at about 2,000. ___ A Russian rocket attack destroyed an airport runway in Odesa, Ukraines third-largest city and a key Black Sea port, the Ukrainian army said Saturday. In a Telegram post, Ukraines Operational Command South said there was no way that the Odesa runway could be used as a result of the rocket attack. Local authorities urged residents of the area to shelter in place as Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, citing army sources, reported that several explosions were heard in Odesa. Odesas regional governor said that the rocket was fired from Russian-occupied Crimea. Maksym Marchenko said there were no reports of any injuries. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, the countrys industrial heartland, and capture the countrys Black Sea and Sea of Azov coasts. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukraines national grid operator says it has has restored reliable power supply in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, around the site of the 1986 nuclear reactor disaster. In the afternoon, the last necessary 330 kV power transmission line was put into operation, the state-owned Ukrenergo wrote in a Telegram post Saturday. According to the same post, Ukrenergo also restored another 330 kV line in the northern Kyiv region last night, helping stabilize the energy supply in the capital. It said the reconstruction of further transmission lines in and around Kyiv remains underway. ___ KYIV The mayor of the eastern Ukrainian town of Popasna said in a video interview that two buses headed to the town to evacuate residents had been fired upon and that contact with the drivers had been lost. Yesterday we evacuated 31 people from Popasna. Many more people were waiting; for that reason we dispatched two more buses to the evacuation point, Mayor Mykola Khanatov said in an interview posted on the Telegram channel of Serhiy Haidai, the Ukrainian governor of the eastern Luhansk region. We know that (the buses) reached the town and then came under fire from an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group, Khanatov said. There is no contact with people who were inside the vehicles and were organizing the evacuation. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, the country's industrial heartland. ___ KYIV, Ukraine -- Another mass grave has been found in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, the scene of alleged mass executions of civilians before its recapture by Ukrainian forces in early March, the head of Kyivs regional police force said Saturday. On April 29, a pit with the bodies of three men was found in the Bucha district, regional police chief Andriy Nebytov wrote on Facebook. The victims were tortured for a lengthy period of time. Bullet wounds were found on the extremities of their bodies. In the end, each of the men was shot through the ear. This is another mass burial made by the occupiers in the Bucha district, the long-suffering district where more than a thousand civilians have been killed and tortured, Nebytov added. According to Nebytovs post, the burial site was found in the forest near the village of Myrotske, 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of the town of Bucha. Nebytov said the three bodies were being sent for a forensic examination, following a preliminary inspection by the Kyiv regional police. ___ KYIV, Ukraine -- Seven Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians have been released in a prisoner swap Saturday with Russia, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on social media. Were bringing home 14 of our people: seven military personnel and seven civilians,Vereshchuk wrote on Facebook and Telegram. To me, this exchange is special: one of the female soldiers is five months pregnant. As of Saturday afternoon, the swap had not been confirmed by official Russian sources. ___ NEW YORK Prices for Russian credit default swaps insurance contracts that protect an investor against a default plunged sharply overnight after Moscow used its precious foreign currency reserves to make a last-minute debt payment on Friday. The cost for a five-year credit default swap on Russian debt was $5.84 million to protect $10 million in debt. That price was just about half the price on Thursday, which at roughly $11 million for $10 million in debt protection was a signal that investors were certain of a Russian default. Despite the insurance contract plunge, investors remain largely convinced that Russia will eventually default on its debts for the first time since 1917. The major ratings agencies Standard & Poors and Moodys have declared Russia is in selective default on its obligations and earlier this week, the governing body over CDS contracts declared Russia in default. ___ Ukraine evacuated more people Saturday in the eastern town of Lyman in the fiercely fought-over region of Donetsk, where at least half the residents have fled Russian shelling since the start of the war. About 20 mostly elderly people boarded a minivan amid the sounds of outgoing artillery and explosions in the distance. All the shops in the almost-empty town were closed and those who decided to remain rely on aid distributed by groups including the Ukrainian Red Cross. Those who remain say they are either too old, dont know where to go or dont want to leave their homes unattended. They seek shelter in their basements whenever the shelling starts. Meanwhile, in Dobropillya, further to the west, Russian shelling hit the town on Saturday, damaging buildings and slightly injuring seven people including three children, according to authorities. Ukraines deputy agriculture minister says Russian forces are seizing vast amounts of grain in territory they hold, while its president says the war-torn country is facing fuel shortages. Today, there are confirmed facts that several hundred thousand tons of grain in total were taken out of the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, minister Taras Vysotsky told Ukrainian television on Saturday. Ukraine is one of the worlds major grain producers and the Russian invasion has curtailed exports, pushing up world grain prices and raising concerns about severe grain shortages in importing countries. Ukraine is also facing fuel shortages as Russia destroys its fuel infrastructure and blocks its ports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday night. Fuel shortages have been reported in Kyiv, Dnipro and other cities. Vehicles can be seen lining up at gas stations and drivers in most places can purchase only 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of fuel at a time. Zelenskyy promised that officials would find a fuel supply system within a week or two to prevent a deficit but called it a difficult task after the refinery at Kremenchuk was hit by a Russian missile. But, Zelenskyy said, there are no immediate solutions. ___ PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron has conveyed to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy his wish to actively work to re-establish the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine during his second mandate, in coordination with allies, the presidential Elysee Palace says. Macron assured Zelenskyy in their hourlong conversation Saturday that military material and humanitarian assistance would keep flowing to Ukraine, the Elysee said. France has so far sent 615 tons of equipment and aid, including generators for hospitals, ambulances and food. France has been coy about its contribution in defensive weapons, but Macron recently mentioned Milan anti-tank missiles and a delivery of truck-mounted Caesar cannons among consequential equipment. This support will continue to strengthen, the French president told Zelenskyy, according to the Elysee. Macron was re-elected president of France six days ago. During his first term, Macron held numerous conversations with both Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin since Russias invasion Feb. 24. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Russias foreign minister says Moscow has evacuated over 1 million people from Ukraine since the war there began. The comments Saturday by Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua come as Ukraine has accused Moscow of forcefully sending Ukrainians out of the country. Lavrov said that figure included more than 300 Chinese civilians. Lavrov offered no evidence to support his claim in the interview. Lavrov also said that negotiations continue between Russia and Ukraine almost every day. However, he cautioned that progress has not been easy. Lavrov in part blamed the bellicose rhetoric and inflammatory actions of Western supporters of the Kyiv regime for disrupting the talks. However, Russian state TV nightly has had guests who suggest that Moscow use nuclear weapons in the conflict. ___ LVIV, Ukraine The British military believes Russian forces in Ukraine are likely suffering from weakened morale. The British Defense Ministry made that assessment in a tweet Saturday as part of a daily report it provides on Russias war on Kyiv. It says Russia still faces considerable challenges in fighting. The British military believes Russian forces have been forced to merge and redeploy depleted and disparate units from the failed advances in northeast Ukraine. It offered no information on how it arrived at this assessment. However, analysts believe Russian forces that failed to take Kyiv at the start of the war have been redeployed without the time needed to properly rearm and restaff. The British believe Russia hopes to reorganize its effort and shorten supply lines. The ministry added: A lack of unit-level skills and inconsistent air support have left Russia unable to fully leverage its combat mass, despite localized improvements. ___ WASHINGTON A senior U.S. defense official said Friday the Russian offensive is going much slower than planned in part because of the strength of the Ukrainian resistance. We also assess that because of this slow and uneven progress, again, without perfect knowledge of every aspect of the Russian plan, we do believe and assess that they are behind schedule in what they were trying to accomplish in the Donbas, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. militarys assessment. He said the U.S. believes the Russians are at least several days behind where they wanted to be as they try to encircle Ukrainian troops in the east. As the troops try to move north out of Mariupol so they can advance on Ukrainian forces from the south, their progress has been slow and uneven, and certainly not decisive, in any event, the official said. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to destroy the Donbas and all who live there. The constant brutal bombardments, the constant Russian strikes on infrastructure and residential areas show that Russia wants to empty this territory of all people. Therefore, the defense of our land, the defense of our people, is literally a fight for life, he said late Friday in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the cities and towns of the Donbas will survive only if Ukraine remains standing. If the Russian invaders are able to realize their plans even partially, then they have enough artillery and aircraft to turn the entire Donbas into stones. As they did with Mariupol. Zelenskyy said Mariupol, once one of the most developed cities in the region, was now a Russian concentration camp among the ruins. In Kharkiv, a major city to the north, the situation was brutal but Ukrainian troops and intelligence agents have had important tactical successes, he said without elaborating. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said about 20% of the citys residential buildings have been so badly damaged that it will be impossible to restore them. Zelenskyy said rescuers were still going through the rubble in Kyiv after Thursdays missile strikes. He expressed his condolences to the family of Vira Hyrych, who was killed in the bombardment. He said she was the 23rd journalist killed in the war. ___ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appears to have dismissed the need for the United Nations to help secure humanitarian corridors out of Ukraines besieged cities, striking a tough line a day after the U.N. chief toured war-wracked Kyiv with that very aim. As an interviewer at Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV tried to ask Lavrov about U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposals for humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians, Lavrov cut him off. There is no need. I know, I know, an irritated Lavrov said. There is no need for anybody to provide help to open humanitarian corridors. There is only one problem humanitarian corridors are being ignored by Ukrainian ultra-nationals, he said. We appreciate the interest of the secretary-general to be helpful, he added. (We have) explained what is the mechanism for them to monitor how the humanitarian corridors are announced. During the hourlong interview, Lavrov also accused the West of sabotaging Russias peace talks with Ukraine. He claimed that thorny negotiations in Istanbul last month had been progressing on issues of Russian territorial claims and security guarantees until Ukrainian diplomats backtracked at the behest of the West. We are stuck because of their desire to play games all the time, Lavrov said. Because of the instructions they get Washington, from London, from some other capitals, not to accelerate the negotiations. When asked about the risks of war spilling into neighboring Moldova after a series of explosions rattled a breakaway border region within the country, Lavrov struck an ominous tone. Moldova should worry about their own future, he said. Because theyre being pulled into NATO. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Moderna is seeking to be the first to offer COVID-19 vaccine for the youngest American children, as it asked the Food and Drug Administration Thursday to clear low-dose shots for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Frustrated families are waiting impatiently for a chance to protect the nations littlest kids as all around them people shed masks and other public health precautions -- even though highly contagious coronavirus mutants continue to spread. Already about three-quarters of children of all ages show signs they've been infected at some point during the pandemic. Moderna submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration that it hopes will prove two low-dose shots can protect children younger than 6 -- although the effectiveness wasn't nearly as high in kids tested during the omicron surge as earlier in the pandemic. There is an important unmet medical need here with these youngest kids, Dr. Paul Burton, Moderna's chief medical officer, told The Associated Press. Two kid-size shots will safely protect them. I think it is likely that over time they will need additional doses. But we're working on that. Moderna said two kid doses were about 40% to 50% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, not a home run but for many parents, any protection would be better than none. That effectiveness is less than optimal. We were hoping for better efficacy but this is a first step, said Dr. Nimmi Rajagopal of Cook County Health in Chicago. Shes anxiously awaiting vaccinations for her youngest patients and her own 3-year-old son whos ready to enter preschool. It gives me such peace of mind to know that hopefully by fall Ill get him in school and hell be fully vaccinated, she said. Now, only children ages 5 or older can be vaccinated in the U.S., using rival Pfizers vaccine, leaving 18 million younger tots unprotected. Moderna's vaccine isn't the only one in the race. Pfizer is soon expected to announce if three of its even smaller-dose shots work for the littlest kids, months after the disappointing discovery that two doses werent quite strong enough. Whether its one companys shots or both, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said the agency will move quickly without sacrificing our standards in deciding if tot-sized doses are safe and effective. While questions are swirling about what's taking so long, Marks pointedly told lawmakers earlier this week that the FDA can't evaluate a product until a manufacturer completes its application. In a statement Thursday, the FDA said it will schedule a meeting to publicly debate Moderna's evidence with its independent scientific advisers but that the company still must submit some additional data. Moderna expects to do so next week. Its critically important that we have the proper evaluation so that parents will have trust in any vaccines that we authorize, Marks told a Senate committee. If FDA clears vaccinations for the littlest, next the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would have to recommend who needs them -- all tots or just those at higher risk from COVID-19. It's very important to get the youngest children vaccinated but moving quickly doesn't mean moving sloppily, said Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and public health expert at Boston College. FDA must "see if its safe. They need to see if its effective. And they need to do so swiftly. But they wont cut corners. Many parents are desperate for whichever vaccine gets to the scientific finish line first. Weve been kind of left behind as everybody else moves on, said Meagan Dunphy-Daly, a Duke University marine biologist whose 6-year-old daughter is vaccinated -- but whose 3-year-old and 18-month-old sons are part of Pfizers trial. The family continues to mask and take other precautions until its clear if the boys got real vaccine or dummy shots. If it turns out they weren't protected in the Pfizer study and Moderna's shots are cleared first, Dunphy-Daly said she'd seek them for her sons. I will feel such a sense of relief when I know my boys are vaccinated and that the risk of them getting a serious infection is so low, she said. The FDA will face some complex questions. In a study of 6,700 kids ages 6 months through 5 years, two Moderna shots each a quarter of the regular dose triggered high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, the same amount proven to protect young adults, Burton said. There were no serious side effects, and the shots triggered fewer high fevers than other routine vaccinations. But depending on how researchers measured, the vaccine proved at best about 51% effective at preventing COVID-19 cases in babies and toddlers and about 37% effective in the 2- to 5-year-olds. Burton blamed the omicron variant's ability to partially evade vaccine immunity, noting that unboosted adults showed similarly less effectiveness against milder omicron infections. While no children became severely ill during the study, he said high antibody levels are a proxy for protection against more serious illness and the company will test a child booster dose. That's not totally out of the realm of what we would have expected, said Dr. Bill Muller of Northwestern University, who helped with Moderna's child studies. Down the road I would anticipate it's going to be a three-shot series. Another issue: So far in the U.S., Moderna's vaccine is restricted to adults. Other countries have expanded the shot to kids as young as 6. But while Moderna has filed FDA applications for older kids, too, the FDA hasn't ruled on them. Months ago the agency cited concern about a rare side effect, heart inflammation, in teen boys, a concern that hasn't been reported in much younger children. It's not clear if FDA will consider Moderna's vaccine for children of all ages now or focus first on the littlest. But Muller already has had lots of parents ask why shots were being tested in tots before older kids were vaccinated and says pediatricians and pharmacists must be ready with answers. Burton said safety data from millions of older children given Moderna vaccinations abroad should help reassure parents. While COVID-19 generally isnt as dangerous in youngsters as adults, some do become severely ill or even die. About 475 children younger than 5 have died from COVID-19 since the pandemics start, according to the CDC, and child hospitalizations soared at omicron's peak. Yet its not clear how many parents intend to vaccinate the youngest kids. Less than a third of children ages 5 to 11 have had two vaccinations, and 58% of those ages 12 to 17. ___ AP journalists Matthew Perrone and Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report. ___ 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 is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOUSTON (AP) The experiences of panicked concertgoers who couldnt breathe and had no clear path to escape a massive crowd surge at last years deadly Astroworld music festival in Houston are featured in a documentary released Friday. But lawyers for Live Nation, which is being sued for its role as the festivals promoter, say theyre concerned that publicity from the documentary, Concert Crush: The Travis Scott Festival Tragedy, could taint the jury pool. A gag order has been issued in the case, but Live Nations lawyers say an attorney who filed lawsuits related to the tragedy also co-produced the documentary. A spokesperson for Scott, who is also being sued, was also critical. Director Charlie Minn said he believes he has made a balanced and fair film that tries to show the public what happened. My job is to make the most truthful, honest, sincere documentary from the victims point of view. ... We need to know about these stories to prevent it from happening again, Minn told The Associated Press. Around 500 lawsuits have been filed since the Nov. 5 concert headlined by Scott, a popular rapper. Ten people died and hundreds of others were injured during the massive crowd surge. The documentary, showing in 11 Texas cities including Austin, Dallas and Houston, includes interviews with several people who survived. It also features cellphone video from concertgoers in which people can be heard repeatedly screaming for help. Its hard to explain to friends and family what we saw and what we actually went through and I think (the documentary) will give a lot of people the opportunity, if you werent there, to understand, said Frank Alvarez, who attended the concert but does not appear in the film. The film highlights what concertgoers experienced and what led to the tragedy, said Minn, who has also made documentaries about the deadly 2018 shooting at a suburban Houston high school and violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The film suggests Scott could have done more to prevent the conditions that led to the casualties, but Minn said it isnt a hit piece toward Travis Scott. He said it also questions whether others, including Live Nation and Houston police, could have done more to improve safety or respond more quickly. Minn said Scott, Live Nation and Houston police declined to be interviewed for the documentary. Houston police are investigating the disaster. In a report released in April, a task force created by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott uncovered problems with permits for such events and called for clearly outlined triggers for stopping such a show. Attorneys for Live Nation expressed their concerns in an April letter to state District Judge Kristen Hawkins, who is handling all pretrial matters in the lawsuits. The involvement of plaintiffs lawyers in the film, and the publicity the filmmakers and producers are trying to generate for it raise significant issues about efforts to taint the jury pool, Neal Manne and Kevin Yankowsky, two of Live Nations attorneys, wrote in the letter. But the attorneys have not asked Hawkins to take any specific action regarding the documentary. Manne and Yankowsky did not respond to emails seeking comment. Live Nation has said its heartbroken by what happened but has denied responsibility. In a statement, a spokesperson for Scott faulted the documentarys conclusions that falsely blame Mr. Scott for the heartbreaking tragedy that occurred. The statement also criticized the involvement in the film of attorneys who have filed lawsuits over the disaster and said the films goal was swaying future juries and public opinion. The spokesperson did not know if Scott has seen the documentary. Mr. Scott remains focused on his philanthropic work in his hometown of Houston and in lower-income communities of color across the country, both of which are long-standing efforts, the spokesperson said in a statement. Cassandra Burke Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said she would be shocked if the judge took any action regarding the documentary because of First Amendment concerns, even with the gag order. I think the public interest here in exploring what happened and avoiding similar tragedies in the future, thats a really big interest. That is likely to outweigh the interests of the particular outcome of the particular lawsuit, Robertson said. Brent Coon, an attorney representing about 1,500 concertgoers who was interviewed in the documentary, said he doesnt think the film would impact the ability to choose an impartial jury if the case goes to trial, which could be years away. I dont think any lawyer in this case could fan the flames much to change ... what the publics perception of all this is going to be, Coon said. Robertson, who is not involved in the litigation, said the fact that one of the films co-producers, Rick Ramos, is representing concertgoers who have filed lawsuits could raise some ethical concerns. Ramos declined to comment Thursday. Andrea Gomez, a spokeswoman for Ramos, said in an email Friday evening that any profit from the documentary will go to the Texas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a mental health organization that helped people impacted by the concert. I personally would not co-sponsor something like that during pending civil litigation. I dont think theres anything wrong with it. Its just something I wouldnt do, Coon said. Minn said the questions about Ramos participation are valid but he never hid his involvement. People have to watch the film and judge it for what that is, Minn said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Holocaust survivors across the world have united to deliver a message on the dangers of unchecked hate and the importance of remembrance at a time of rising global antisemitism. In a video released Thursday to mark Yom HaShoah -- Israels Holocaust Remembrance Day -- 100 Holocaust survivors asked people to stand with them and remember the Nazi genocide to avoid repeating the horrors of the past. The 100 Words project video was released by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference. The group represents the worlds Jews in negotiating for compensation and restitution for victims of Nazi persecution and their heirs, and provides welfare for Holocaust survivors around the globe. The world is full of strife from the pandemic to the crisis happening in Ukraine on remembrance days like Yom HaShoah, it is so important to stop and reflect, Gideon Taylor, president of the Claims Conference, said in a statement. The call to action these survivors put forth today is not only one of remembrance, but one of action, a reminder that we do not have to be bystanders. We can all stand up in our own way and we can choose to not let our collective history repeat itself. The project is being released as Russia faces widespread revulsion and accusations of war crimes over attacks on civilians in its invasion of Ukraine. It also comes at a time when Holocaust survivors -- now in their 80s and 90s -- are dying, while studies show that younger generations lack even basic knowledge of the Nazi genocide, in which a third of the world's Jews were annihilated. If we do not remember them, we are murdering them twice because we have forgotten them. And we have forgotten the tragic travesty that was visited upon millions of people, said Ginger Lane, a Holocaust survivor who along with her siblings was hidden in a fruit orchard near Berlin by non-Jews. It is important to remember because it is a part of our heritage and our legacy that we pass on to the younger generation, said Lane, whose mother was killed at the Auschwitz death camp, and who has made it her lifelong mission to educate others. Holocaust denial, we know it has always existed, but it seems to be on the upswing and ... a huge number of young people dont even know what the word Holocaust means These young people are eager to move forward with their lives. But their lives today are shaped by the past. And they need to know what happened in the past. In a 50-state study of Millennials and Generation Z-age people in the U.S. in 2020, researchers found that 63% of respondents did not know that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust and 48% could not name a single death camp or concentration camp. The 100 Word Project statement by Holocaust survivors says: Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day We all survived the Holocaust We are here to give voice to the six million Jews who were murdered We are a reminder unchecked hatred can lead to actions, actions to genocide Just over 75 years ago, one-third of the worlds Jews were systematically murdered Among them, over 1.5 million children were killed in the name of indifference, intolerance, hate Hatred for what was feared Hatred for what was different We must remember the past or it will become our future On Holocaust Remembrance Day we ask the world to stand with us and remember. The annual remembrance known as Yom HaShoah is one of the most solemn on Israels calendar, with the nation coming to a standstill during a two-minute siren on Thursday morning. According to the Hebrew calendar, Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising the most significant act of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Although the uprising ultimately failed, it is remembered in Israel as a symbol of strength and the struggle for freedom in the face of annihilation. It means resilience, tenacity, strength. Its the hallmark of being a Holocaust survivor, the very concept of surviving, of everyday problems, of fighting until the end, said Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference. And for some people, unfortunately, the end was the gas chamber. For other people the end was the Warsaw ghetto, where a very small group of people who werent well-equipped held out for nearly a month, Schneider said. "And thats why its such an important day in Israel, and around the world for the Jewish community because it symbolizes the fight of certainly the Jewish people, but of any people facing this type of incredible adversity. The Claims Conference is working with its partners, among them the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, or JDC, to get as many Holocaust survivors out of Ukraine as possible. Thousands of people have been killed and more than five million have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24. Holocaust survivors from Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, the United States and Ukraine were part of the video statement. Survivors from many different countries and languages who have vastly different persecution experiences -- some were in concentration camps, some were in ghettos, some fled, some were in hiding, Schneider said. And yet they come together to speak in one voice of the hope for the future. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is appealing his conviction for murder in the killing of George Floyd, arguing that jurors were intimidated by the protests that followed and prejudiced by heavy pretrial publicity. Chauvin asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals in a court filing Monday to reverse his conviction, reverse and remand for a new trial in a new venue, or order a resentencing. Last June, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pinned the Black man to the ground with his knee on his neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds. Floyd had been accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Three other fired officers face state trial this summer after being convicted in federal court earlier this year of violating Floyd's civil rights. Chauvins attorney, William Mohrman, laid out a number of challenges to his conviction, including that the trial should not have been held in Hennepin County, where Floyd was killed. The overwhelming media coverage exposed the jurors literally every day to news demonizing Chauvin and glorifying Floyd which was more than sufficient to presume prejudice, the brief said. In the months that followed Floyd's killing, protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis and around the country to protest police brutality and racism. Some of that unrest was violent. Mohrman said several potential jurors expressed concerns during jury selection that if Chauvin was acquitted they would fear for their personal safety and worried about more violence. He said several of them said they were intimidated by the security measures implemented at the courthouse to protect trial participants from protesters. The filing also cited the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer in nearby Brooklyn Center that sparked mor protests during Chauvin's trial. It says jurors should have been sequestered after selection to avoid being prejudiced by reports of that slaying. It also cited a $27 million settlement reached between the city and Floyd's family that was announced during jury selection, saying the timing of that prejudiced jurors in the case. Mohrman cited several instances of alleged prosecutorial misconduct, claiming untimely sharing of evidence, failure to disclose and document dumping by the government. The filing also says the judge did not apply the sentencing guidelines correctly and should not have included abuse of a position of authority as an aggravating sentencing factor for the former police officer. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has 45 days to respond to Chauvins brief. The appeal came as the Minnesota Department of Human Rights released the results of a nearly two-year investigation launched after Floyd's slaying. It found the Minneapolis Police Department has engaged in a pattern of race discrimination for at least a decade, including stopping and arresting Black people at a higher rate than white people, using force more often on people of color and maintaining a culture where racist language is tolerated. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. government on Thursday released its long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the toll on Black smokers and young people. The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit, said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement. He added that the ban would also be an important step to advance health equity by reducing disparities in tobacco-related diseases. The Food and Drug Administration said eliminating menthol cigarettes could prevent between 300,000 and 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years. Menthol accounts for more than a third of cigarettes sold in the U.S, and the mint flavor is favored by Black smokers and young people. Menthols cooling effect has been shown to mask the throat harshness of smoking, making it easier to start and harder to quit. The FDA said it will also seek to ban menthol and dozens of other flavors like grape and strawberry from cigars, which are increasingly popular with young people, especially Black teens. The agencys proposals on both cigarettes and cigars are only initial drafts and are unlikely to be finalized before next year. Companies would then have one additional year to phase out their products. Tobacco industry lawsuits could delay the prohibition for several more years, according to experts. For now, FDA leaders said they will take comments for two months and then proceed as expeditiously as possible. Altria, which sells menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, said it disagreed with the ban. Taking these products out of the legal marketplace will push them into unregulated, criminal markets, the company said in a statement. We will continue to engage in this long-term regulatory process. The FDA has attempted several times to get rid of menthol but faced pushback from Big Tobacco, members of Congress and competing political interests under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Regulators have been under legal pressure to issue a decision after anti-smoking and civil rights groups sued the FDA for unreasonably delaying action on earlier requests to ban menthol. Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that was not prohibited under the 2009 law that gave the FDA authority over tobacco products, an exemption negotiated by industry lobbyists. The act did, though, instruct the agency to continue to weigh a ban. To date, the FDA has yet to eliminate any traditional tobacco product, though it has had that authority for over a decade. Last April, the Biden administration pledged to try to ban menthol within the year, responding in part to African American groups who say menthol has led to lower quit rates and higher rates of death among Black people. Menthols are used by 85% of Black smokers. Black folks die disproportionately of heart disease, lung cancer and stroke, said Phillip Gardiner of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. Menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars are the main vectors of those diseases in the Black and brown communities, and have been for a long time. In 2020, Gardiners group and several others sued to compel the FDA to make a decision on a ban. More than 12% of Americans smoke cigarettes, with rates roughly even between white and Black populations. In 2019, more than 18 million Americans smoked menthol cigarettes, with higher rates among young people, African Americans and other racial groups, according to the FDA. Menthol smoking declined among white teenagers between 2011 and 2018, but not among Black and Hispanic youth, the agency noted. Thursday's proposals would not apply to electronic cigarettes, including leading brands like Juul and Vuse, which come in menthol. The FDA has been conducting a separate review of vaping products and has so far authorized a handful of tobacco-flavored products from smaller manufacturers. The FDA made several efforts to begin eliminating menthol cigarettes under both the Obama and Trump administrations, but had never previously released a formal roadmap of how to accomplish the ban. This is the first time theres been support from an administration, said Mitch Zeller, who recently retired after nine years leading FDAs tobacco center. If these rules are finalized they become the law of the land and it becomes illegal for menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to be sold. In recent weeks, dozens of interest groups for and against the ban met with Biden administration officials to try and influence the proposed rules, which would wipe out billions in tobacco sales. Conservative and civil rights groups that accept tobacco funding warned officials that banning could menthol could result in increased policing in Black communities. While acknowledging those concerns, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf stressed that the agency's rules would target companies, not smokers. These measures and related enforcement would be on the tobacco industry, not individuals who possess or use these products, Califf told reporters. For decades, tobacco companies focused menthol advertising and promotions in Black communities, sponsoring music festivals and neighborhood events. Industry documents released via litigation show companies viewed menthol cigarettes as a good starter product because they were more palatable to teens. Menthols elimination would be a huge blow to tobacco companies, including Reynolds American, which sells the leading menthol brands, Newport and Kool. With the slow decline of smoking, tobacco companies have been diversifying into alternative products, including electronic cigarettes and tobacco pouches. But those ventures still account for a tiny slice of industry sales. ___ Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter ___ 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) Mexican authorities say the problem of foul-smelling seaweed-like algae on the country's Caribbean coast beaches is alarming. The arrival of heaps of brown sargassum on the coast's normally pristine white sand beaches comes just as tourism is recovering to pre-pandemic levels, though job recovery in the country's top tourist destination has been slower. With more algae spotted floating out at sea, experts fear that 2022 could be as bad or worse than the catastrophic year of 2018, the biggest sargassum wave to date. We can say the current situation is alarming, said Navy Secretary Jose Ojeda, who has been entrusted with the apparently hopeless task of trying to gather sargassum at sea, before it hits the beaches. The Navy currently has 11 sargassum-collecting boats operating in the area. But the Navy's own figures show that the portion they have been able to collect before it hits the beach has been falling. In 2020, the Navy collected 4% of sargassum at sea, while 96% was raked off beaches. But that figure fell to 3% in 2021 and about 1% so far in 2022. Allowing the algae to reach the beaches creates not only a problem for tourists, but for the environment, said Rosa Rodriguez Martinez, a biologist in the beachside town of Puerto Morelos who studies reefs and coastal ecosystems for Mexicos National Autonomous University. So much algae is reaching the beaches that hotels and local authorities are using bulldozers and backhoes, because the normal teams of rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows are no longer enough. The heavy machinery, when it picks it (sargassum) up, takes a large amount of sand with it, contributing to beach erosion, Rodriguez Martinez said. There is so much sargassum that you can't use small-scale equipment anymore, you have to use the heavy stuff, and when the excavators come in, they remove more sand. Rodriguez Martinez worries that 2022 could be worse than the previous peak year. In the last few days there have been amounts washing up, and in places, that I didn't see even in 2018, she said. However, the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab said in a report that 2022 is likely going to be another moderate or major sargassum year, with observable amounts in all waters lower than in 2018 and 2021. But given the vagaries of ocean currents, it may just be a very bad year for Mexico. Rodriguez Martinez is already suffering the effects herself, at her beachside offices. Where I am, I'm about 50 meters (yards) from the beach and the smell is very unpleasant, she said. Right now my head is hurting and another friend said her head hurts, and I said it must be the (hydrogen) sulfide gas from the sargassum, no? The problem comes just as resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulm are recovering from the brutal two-year drop in tourism caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Not all beaches have been hit equally; many in Cancun and Isla Mujeres are often free of much sargassum, but much of the Riveria Maya has been hit hard. Carlos Joaquin, governor of the coastal state of Quintana Roo, said the number of tourists arriving by air so far this year some 3.54 million travelers is 1.27% above 2019 levels, before the pandemic. But Joaquin said that only about 83% of the 98,000 jobs lost during the pandemic have returned. Sergio Leon, the former head of the state's employers' federation, said the seaweed invasion has definitely affected us, it has affected our image on the domestic and international level. Obviously, not just visually, but in term of environmental damage and pain. The Navy is making an effort, but it needs more, it isn't enough, said Leon. The ideal thing would be to gather it before it gets to our beaches. Rodriguez Martinez said that, given the limited number of Navy boats and funds, the best solution might be to hang floating offshore barriers and collect the sargassum in waters closer to the shore. But she notes another problem: what to do with the thousands of tons of stinking algae collected each year, mainly by private hotel owners. Some have simply been tossing the mounds collected from the beach into disused limestone quarries, where the salt and minerals collected in the ocean can leech into groundwater. Other simply toss into woodlands or mangrove swamps, which is equally as bad. The algae has a lot of salt ... so that is not good, even for palm trees, which are pretty salt resistant, she noted. While some have tried to use sargassum to create bricks or fertilizer, the lack of official policies and long term plans make it hard to obtain big investments for such plans. Initial reports in the 2010s suggested the masses of seaweed came from an area of the Atlantic off the northern coast of Brazil, near the mouth of the Amazon River. Increased nutrient flows from deforestation or fertilizer runoff could be feeding the algae bloom. But other causes may contribute, like nutrient flows from the Congo River, increased upwelling of nutrient-laden deeper ocean water in the tropical Atlantic and dust blowing in from Africa. Researchers regularly survey coasts for creatures like sea turtles, marine mammals and endangered bird species. And while they often come across debris while combing the Texas shoreline, lately, creepy dolls seem to be their most popular find. Mission-Aransas Reserve researchers say that for years now, they've been mysteriously encountering dolls washing ashore on Texas beaches. The reserve documents the most interesting ones on their Facebook page. The creepy castaways are usually in horrific condition, covered in barnacles or missing their limbs, hair and eyes. One of the group's most recently shared dolls, which had barnacles growing out of its eyes, was on Monday. "Oh boy, a creepy doll. I know a bunch of you weirdos out there like this," says Jace Tunnell, director of the Mission-Aransas Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Institute, in a beachcombing video. "This is some stuff that comes up all the time." With each social media post, users appear to be more and more intrigued. "Creepy and why are there so many dolls in the ocean? Am I missing something?" one user commented on an April 22 post. "This one looks happy to be found! ... not like some of the others!" another wrote. Tunnell told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he and his colleagues regularly find the dolls while surveying a 40-mile stretch of beach from north Padre Island to Matagorda Island. "Every day is something new," Tunnell said. "Just when you've found everything that could possibly wash up on shore, something else comes up." So far, Tunnell told the Star-Telegram that he's collected 30 of the disturbing dolls since he began keeping count. "The creepiest are the ones that have lost all their hair," he said. The first doll they found was the head of a sex doll. "I posted a picture of it and I didn't realize that's what it was," Tunnel said. "We got a lot of followers on the page after that." Someone later bought the sex doll's head for $35 and the proceeds were donated to a sea turtle rescue program, Tunnell told the Star-Telegram. But how did the dolls even get there, one might ask? The UT Marine Science Institute found the Texas Coastal Bend region is a "junk magnet." "Texas coastal bend beaches get 10 times the amount of trash ... than any other beach in the Gulf of Mexico," Tunnel told the Star-Telegram. This is because of a "loop current" that extends from the Yucatan Peninsula to Florida and pushes debris toward the Texas Gulf. The group also gets a surprising number of people requesting to purchase or take the dolls. Tunnell told the Star-Telegram that he doesn't keep any of the toys out of fear that they could be haunted but he sells them at a yearly fundraising auction. "There's a lot of nightmares out there," he said. (Natural News) It is obvious to sane, rational, thinking Americans by now that Hunter Biden is not a moral man, and if we had an honest media, many more Americans would realize that. To that point, Peter Schweizer, author of the book Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win, recently told The Epoch Times that there is a very simple way that people can look at Hunter Bidens business activities. During the Cold War, he explained, it would have definitely raised alarm bells if the families of Presidents Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan were found to have gotten millions of dollars from then-Soviet businessmen with connections to the KGB. Thats what happened here. All were doing is replacing the KGB with the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). Its the exact same story and it ought to be setting off the exact alarm bells, he said, referring to the Chinese Communist governments top intelligence agency. The Epoch Times further explains: Recent attention has been on a damaged laptop that was dropped off at a repair shop in Wilmington, Delaware in April 2019. The owner of the shop, who said the customer of the laptop never came back to retrieve it, made a copy of the hard drive for former New York Mayor Rudy Guilianos lawyer Robert Costello. Ahead of the November 2020 presidential election, the New York Post and Senate committees were among the first to obtain and review emails on the hard drive, revealing how Joe Biden, his brother James, and his son Hunter Biden, were involved in various foreign business ventures, in countries such as Ukraine, Russia, and China. At the time, many media outlets discredited the revelations as Russian disinformation and the news was blocked by social media platforms. At the time, the mainstream media ignored The Posts reporting because as propaganda outlets for the Democrat Party, their role was to assist the deep state in stealing the election for Joe Biden. But because hes becoming a liability with his increasing dementia, in recent weeks no less than The New York Times and the Washington Post, as well as CNN, CBS News and others, have all verified that the contents of Hunter Bidens laptop are genuine. Were very clear that the Bidens got some $31 million, based on the laptop, from a series of deals that happened beginning when Joe Biden was vice president of the United States. And those deals happened courtesy of four Chinese businessmen, Schweizer told The Epoch Times, adding that the quartet of businessmen were all linked to the highest levels of the ChiCom government. Schweizer also said that it was odd for the Chinese to want to talk to Hunter Biden in the first place, since he didnt bring anything to the table like a normal investment firm would. When you look at the cluster of who provided the funds to the Bidens, and the fact that the Bidens did not really provide anything tangible in return, this has all the markings of elite capture and of a Chinese intelligence operation, he added. In his book, the author reveals that one Chinese businessman, a tycoon named Che Feng, assisted Hunter Biden and his associates with a deal involving a Chinese investment fund called Bohai Harvest RST, or BHR, which netted the first son around $20 million. Rosemont Seneca Partners, a U.S. investment and advisory firm Hunter Biden co-founded, became one of the shareholders of BHR, which was incorporated in Shanghai in 2013, The Epoch Times reported. Hunter gained an unpaid board seat on BHR as a result. In October 2019, George Mesires, Hunter Bidens attorney, issued a statement saying that the younger Biden had decided to resign from his seat on the BHR board of directors, the outlet explained further. The Bidens are corrupt, Hunter Biden is believed to be a major pervert, and both he and his dad have become national security liabilities for every single American, regardless of political affiliation. Joe Biden must be impeached and convicted and his son arrested. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com En-Volve.com (Natural News) The head of the Biden administrations new Disinformation Governance Board, Nina Jankowicz, isnt just a huge fan of Christopher Steele, architect of the infamous Clinton-funded Dossier which underpinned the Trump-Russia hoax and who joined the chorus of disinformation agents that downplayed the Hunter Biden laptop bombshell (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) If you spent the weeks before the 2020 election spreading and ratifying the CIA lie that the Biden family emails were Russian disinformation, and then never apologized or retracted it, you have *zero* credibility to lament disinformation. You are a disinformation agent. Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 29, 2022 she also sings Disney-themed songs in a fake British accent on TikTok about disinformation. Meet your new arbiter of truth: ?? Bidens head of the new Disinformation Governance Board pic.twitter.com/RZqILqT18c Clown World Today ?? (@cwt_news) April 29, 2022 Jankowicz previously served as a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center, and advised the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry as part of the Fulbright-Clinton Public Policy Fellowship. She also oversaw the Russia and Belarus programs at the National Democratic Institute. She also sings erotic Harry Potter songs. And again NEW: Nina Jankowicz, who will head DHSs new Disinfo Governance Board, is a fan of discredited dossier author Chris Steeles thoughts on disinfo & helped dismiss the Hunter Biden laptop in 2020 by saying we should view it as a Trump campaign product. https://t.co/DE107BbFX6 Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) April 28, 2022 She was also dead wrong about the origins and use of the infamous Steele dossier. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted Dec. 8, 2017, Was there collusion between DOJ and Fusion GPS to use Democratic funded dossier for political and legal purposes? Jankowicz replied that your party funded the dossier first and tweeted April 22, 2020, that youre probably aware that [the Steele dossier] began as a Republican opposition research project. But Steele created his discredited anti-Trump dossier after being hired in early 2016 by the opposition firm Fusion GPS, which was itself hired by the Perkins Coie law firm and Marc Elias, the general counsel for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign. Jankowicz also said in April 2020 that the inclusion of the Steele dossier didnt influence the conclusions of the [intelligence community assessment]. However, FBI Director James Comey and FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe fought to include information from Steeles dossier in the January 2017 ICA on Russian election interference. Although the CIA and NSA ultimately overruled their efforts, the dossier was still summarized in a classified annex attached to the report. -Washington Examiner Jankowicz also pushed for economy-killing lockdowns in 2020. And as PJ Media noted the other day: Jankowicz has written two books, How to Lose the Information War and How to Be A Woman Online. In a pinned tweet pimping her newly released second book, Jankowiz lets her inner misandry loose and writes, Men burst violently into your mentions and your life like the Kool-aid man, demanding your attention, hawking opinions that they believe are unarguably, manifestly correct and indispensable. The adults are back in charge? Giving Jonathan Turley the last word: It would have been hard to come up with a more Orwellian name short of the Ministry of Truth. However, the DGB needed a true believer to carry out the monitoring of political speech in the United States. It found that person in Jankowicz, who has long been an outspoken anti-free speech advocate. Indeed, Jankowicz put her extreme views to music and posted it on TikTok in a rendition of Mary Poppins Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. What is clear is that Jankowicz has a far better hold on the musical scale than constitutional values. With what is a remarkably impressive singing voice, Jankowicz croons that You can just call me the Mary Poppins of disinformation . Read more at: ZeroHedge.com (Natural News) Corporations typically focus on profits and not politics, but that isnt the case for American Express. The 172-year-old credit card company is focused on pushing a political agenda while ignoring its dubious corporate track record. (Article by CONSUMERS RESEARCH (SPONSORED) republished from Breitbart.com) The company has adopted an Anti-Racism Initiative designed to have privileged employees defer to marginalized groups. In training sessions, white employees were told to identify the privileges or advantages you have. Amex brought in Khalil Muhammad, who told Amex employees during training sessions that they should charge black customers lower premiums than white customers. Multiple Amex employees have also alleged that the company has engaged in reverse discrimination and consistently wouldnt promote white employees because they werent minorities. One employee was even told by a supervisor, It would be advantageous and important for me to note that I am a minority when I apply for internal promotions. CEO Stephen Squeri has been behind many of these initiatives, launching a 2020 effort that includes spending $1 billion to promote Racial, Ethnic and Gender Equity. Squeri has also spoken against climate change and participated in the corporate pile-on against Georgias election integrity legislation. Amexs very public progressive agenda belies a pattern of corporate misconduct records indicate. Multiple federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Department, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, have investigated Amex for certain sales practices, including issuing phantom credit cards. Additionally, Amex had to pay $112 million in fines because it deceptively strong-armed its customers into paying illegal late fees. In a repudiation of Amexs supposed commitment to diversity, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that Amex discriminated against consumers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories by providing them with less-favorable financial products and services. Amex was forced to pay these customers $96 million. There have also been serious questions about Amexs lax business practices, which have enabled criminals to move their money through the company. In one case, an Amex subsidiary provided an engineer who was allegedly part of a black market nuclear network with credit cards. In another instance, the Department of Justice fined Amex $65 million because its money laundering detection program had serious and systemic deficiencies. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) A noted ballot integrity organization is preparing to release a wealth of documented video evidence showing that there was an organized crime effort to steal the 2020 election for Joe Biden because the hatred for President Trumps American First policies enraged the countercultural deep state. Catherine Engelbrecht of True the Vote and fellow researcher Gregg Phillips have been involved in uncovering vote fraud and fighting for better election integrity for more than a decade, and the day after the highly contentious and suspicious November 2020 election, they made an agreement. Catherine looked at me and said, What are we going to do? Phillips recounted during a recent in-depth video interview with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. I said, Lets go, Phillips recalled. She said, Lets go all in. In February, the organization produced a small sample of what they say is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of evidence: Video of what appears to be a man engaged in ballot box stuffing. The video clearly shows a man producing several ballots, fanning them out in his hand and then taking a photo of them before placing them in a ballot drop box. Engelbrecht and Phillips say thats how ballot mules got paid: They would then send the photos of ballots to paymasters because they were given a fee per ballot placed into drop boxes. BREAKING! GEORGIA!? Video appears to show illegal ballot harvester in Gwinnett County on Oct 12, 2020! He fans out ballots, takes a photo, & places them in the dropbox. Its been reported that illegal ballot harvesters were paid $10 per ballot, & had to show proof. @RealAmVoice pic.twitter.com/dEejRiSrX7 Heather Mullins Real Americas Voice (RAV-TV) (@TalkMullins) January 29, 2022 In the interview, Philips said he and Engelbrecht noted that the acts of stuffing ballot boxes in various parts of the country mostly swing states followed a consistent pattern, with every operation featuring a set of collectors, a collection point or stash house for all the ballots, the bundling of those ballots, and then the casting of those ballots [in the drop boxes] by, what we were calling, mules. And as we began putting the pieces and parts together, it really did dawn on us: Well, this sounds like whats happening in Atlanta or in San Luis, Arizona This was a conspiracy, this was organized crime, he explained. At one point, Engelbrecht discussed the fateful moment when she turned to Philips and asked, How do we take down a cartel? Thats when we began to use the terms like stash houses, and drop points, and mules, and trafficking, and voter abuse because thats what were looking at, she said terms used by federal prosecutors when they are pursuing organized crime investigations under existing RICO statutes. A press release put out by the organization noted: True the Vote spent $2 million to buy publicly available cell phone data that can pinpoint an individuals location to within a few inches. They then narrowed their search to targets that began visiting drop boxes and NGO offices during the early voting weeks leading up to November 3rd, activity that was contrary to their prior pattern of life. In Georgia, the threshold was at least two dozen trips to drop boxes and five visits to a non-profit. This is how money laundering works, Philips observed. This is not just a one-off thing, this is not some Democrat activist that really wanted Trump gone and might have had a couple friends do this. This was a machine. Kirk asked which state saw the most trafficking activity. Pennsylvania. The worst in every way: 1,155 people met our criteria in Philadelphia, Phillips responded. Whats even more insane is watching the data, watching the pings come across the bridge in New Jersey and into Philly, Englebrecht added, indicating that the traffickers crossed state lines in order to allegedly commit ballot fraud. Anyone who still believes that Joe Biden actually got 81 million votes without leaving his basement much while Trump generated spontaneous boat and car parades and regularly packed venues is kidding themselves. And True the Vote is about to blow the lid off the entire operation to steal an election and install the most feeble president in our history. Sources include: CharlieKirk.com LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) Wait But Why blog website founder Tim Urban retweeted a meme graph shared by Tesla CEO Elon Musk illustrating the current political divide in the country. The graph showed that as liberals pushed farther left, traditional liberals were left behind and now considered right-wing. (Article by Joseph Vasquez republished from NewsBusters.org) Urban said in part that the left is in a sense being held hostage by their extreme wing, making a lot of people who enthusiastically voted for Obama feel politically homeless today. Musk, in response, went for the jugular: I strongly supported Obama for President, but todays Democratic Party has been hijacked by extremists. Musk proclaimed in a separate tweet the next day: The far left hates everyone, themselves included! The far left hates everyone, themselves included! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2022 The left went apoplectic over Musks graph. Roambotics CEO Scott Menor, who ironically had #AbolishThePolice and the pronouns he/they in his Twitter profile, cried out: What a fucking load of horseshit. Talk about a lack of self-awareness. New York Democratic congressional candidate Melanie DArrigo, who also had the pronouns she/her in her Twitter profile, tried to wokescold Musk, also proving his point: If you consider equity, equality, saving our planet, ensuring people dont die because they cant afford healthcare and protecting our kids from being taught white supremacist propaganda in school radical, than you are so far right that you cant see the center. I strongly supported Obama for President, but todays Democratic Party has been hijacked by extremists Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2022 Leftist journalist Seth Abramson who once stupidly praised disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomos (D) sordid handling of COVID-19 in his state as incredibly comforting tweeted another graph at Musk showing a rightward shift for Republicans in Congress. He somehow argued that a graph representing 535 members of Congress disproved Musks argument about the broader political spectrum: your Big Feelings =/= facts. Musks political sentiments come days after his successful $44 billion bid to buy Twitter to promote online freedom of speech. He is clearly becoming more disillusioned with the woke left and their radical agenda. Musk recently dropped the proverbial hammer on leftist Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for whining over Time magazine naming him Person of the Year. Warren spewed Dec. 13, Lets change the rigged tax code so The Person of the Year will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else. Musk clapped back: [I]f you opened your eyes for 2 seconds, you would realize I will pay more taxes than any American in history this year. Then Musk dropped the truth bomb: Dont spend it all at once oh wait you did already. The billionaire even trolled Warren: You remind me of when I was a kid and my friends angry Mom would just randomly yell at everyone for no reason. But Warren is not the only left-wing figurehead that Musk has poked fun at for their wokeism in recent months. Musk ripped Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for whining about the rich paying their fair share on Twitter Nov. 13. Musk responded to Sanders: I keep forgetting that youre still alive. Musk also went after The Atlantics David Frum. Frum whined over Musk comparing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler following the formers tyrannical crackdown on the Freedom Convoy protesters. But Frum is on record for comparing former President Donald Trumps supporters to Nazis for years. Musk had a one-liner for Frums double standard: Hypocritical megadouche! Read more at: NewsBusters.org (Natural News) An Amish organic farmer is facing a hefty fine and a prison term for the simple crime of producing clean meat. Amos Miller runs a holistically managed farm in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where he breeds cows, chickens and pigs. The animals in his century-old farm are bred without the use of chemicals and medications mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to Miller, he raises his animals in the way he believes God intended them to be raised in accordance with nature. However, a federal judge ordered the Amish farmer to cease and desist all sales of his organic meat. This same magistrate also ordered Miller to pay $250,000 for contempt of court last summer. He added that the farmer needs to pay an initial $50,000 as a good faith payment to avoid jail. To make matters worse, armed U.S. marshals raided his property, farm store and freezers at the behest of the federal judge. They took an inventory of all his meat to ensure he will no longer be able to sell or slaughter any more animals. (Related: Small town business owner spent 7 years building up organic meat company, only to be shut down by village board.) Miller, who runs a private members-only food distribution network, alleged that the federal government is prosecuting him for practicing his religious freedom in the way he raises and prepares food. Our members dont want any of that. They want fresh, raw meat with no additives. Our members want it straight from the farm with no preservatives on it. The members of Millers private food club agree, saying they do not like their grass-fed meat laced with chemical preservatives mandated by the USDA. Numbering around 400, they have also signed contracts that state their awareness of the meat not being processed in USDA-inspected plants or treated with preservatives. USDA prefers people eat chemicals instead of clean foods According to Miller, all USDA-licensed processing plants are required to treat all meat regardless of whether they are organic or grass-fed with synthetic preservatives. Often, they use citric acid, which youd think comes from oranges or lemons. But its a modified substance made from corn, and they dont even have to label it on the meat, he explained. A customer who handles the Amish farmers website and other modern communications concurred with him, saying: The USDA processing plants require the meat to be treated with a chemical cocktail of citric acid, lactic acid and peracetic acid. The peracetic acid is toxic, and the citric and lactic [acids] are GMO. Anke, another customer of Miller, pointed out that the lactic acid used to preserve meat is not a natural version. Its not lactic acid coming from the fermentation of sauerkraut. Its all created in a dish in a lab, she said. Its a synthetic sterilizer that causes many health problems. According to Miller, he and other small farmers would still be nearly impossible to make a profit thanks to giant meat companies acting as middlemen. Furthermore, the exorbitant costs of obtaining a USDA meat processing license make matters worse. The Amish farmer lamented: The rules and regulations are such that you have to get into [a] $100,000 debt before you ever sell your first pound of meat and the markets not guaranteed. Theres no option for farmers to start small, and add on and buy equipment as they can. [We have to] either get a license or go out of business. Our position is wed rather go out of business because their rules and regulations are too hard to follow. We have many small farmers in our area that would love to be farmers, but the business has gotten so monopolized. Anke agreed with Miller, saying that ultimately, its all about profit and money. She added: They want a monopoly on beef, pork and poultry. They are basically saying Unless you go through federal inspection, you are making people sick.' CleanFoodWatch.com has more stories about Miller and other small farmers being prosecuted for offering clean, chemical-free meat. Watch this video explaining what the USDAs certified organic label really means. This video is from the Corruption Exposure channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Americas poultry giants have sold tens of thousands of meat products contaminated with DEADLY BACTERIA. BOMBSHELL: USDA turns a blind eye to meat supply contaminated with banned pharmaceutical drugs. Organic Trade Association sues the USDA for refusing to enforce its own organic livestock standards. Factory-farmed meat more likely to be contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria study. Trade group warns government against meddling in the meat industry. Sources include: OurOrganicWellness.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Oh great. Bill Gates has another idea. We thought he had gone into hiding since his divorce or that hed been advised to keep a low profile. He hasnt said much since that squirmy interview last summer when he admitted to several dinners with his pedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein. (Article by Celeste McGovern republished from LifeSiteNews.com) Well, hes dead, Gates said glibly of the child trafficker who died in a prison cell awaiting trial. He was only talking to Epstein (reportedly on Epsteins private plane, the Lolita Express) to get billions for philanthropy, he explained. Oh yeah, and for advice about his toxic marriage to Melinda. Maybe shes lucky to have made it out alive and with $60 billion but youve got to wonder how long ago she figured out hes not what she thought he was. But Bill is back. And unapologetic as ever. He told a TED audience in Vancouver this month that he had been thinking about Emperor Augustus and how he established the first permanent fire brigade, a team to be ready to put out fires as they happened. Just so, the world needs a permanent, tax-funded $1-billion-a-year global pandemic fire brigade, said Gates, to stomp out viruses as they emerge. He called it a Global Epidemic Response and Mobilization team (GERM for short) and described how its members would be stationed at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offices throughout the globe and parachute into hot zones, just like in the movies. In fact, Bill showed a clip from a 1990s-type outbreak film with men in orange hazmat suits jumping out of a helicopter somewhere to investigate dead bodies. Although, obviously, there are the CDC, the World Health Organization, and a massive global network of agencies and offices that already exist to do this job and which executed the COVID lockdowns and extended COVID theater globally, Gates said we dont have this kind of drama team yet, and we should have it. Bills GERM people sound more like a permanent pandemic police force. He even referenced Australia, which became a draconian island prison of mandates, forced quarantines and police brutality, as his model of COVID success. Its not, as this video comparing COVID deaths in the lockdown capital of the world before Shanghai to unvaccinated Niger illustrates. Never mind. Since GERM is his idea or at least he is taking credit for it Gates seemed to be likening himself to Emperor Augustus. Its not the first time hes revealed his emperor complex. For a non-scientist with no medical degree a college dropout, in fact he sure does have a lot of interest in running everything. Hes spent a lot of his money (and ours, via channeling tax funds to his ideas like GERM) buying influence in every arena he takes a fancy to controlling from agriculture and education, to family planning and how many children people in Africa should have, to fake food, weather control, tropical disease, technology, media, public health, and many more, not least of all, vaccines. Still, not everything has gone precisely to plan. Remember how Gates was pushing COVID vaccines before they were even invented? He said they were our ticket back to normal, and we would all have digital passports when we got them. And remember how the media howled when anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists objected to being tracked and traced and said that warp speed COVID vaccines wouldnt stop infections or work against variants? Well, Gates conceded to the TED crowd that the COVID shots dont really work that well. We need vaccines that actually block infections, he said. (That would have been a good idea.) In this case, there were lots of breakthrough infections. Lots and lots of them. As in, prepare to get COVID even if you were vaccinated four times. We need vaccines that are broad spectrum, so they work against most of the emerging variants, which we did not have this time, he added. Nope. We didnt. Which is why people who listen to Bill Gates are taking their fifth booster dose now, even though that doesnt work any better than the original shots. Never mind. When you are a woke genius as Gates is, you dont apologize when you push ideas that fail. You simply dont mention the 27,000 reported deaths from your COVID shots and the hundreds of thousands of other people afflicted with disease and disability as side-effects. You just repeat the original preposterous claim without any scientific basis and add a modifier. Like this: When we look at vaccines, they were the miracle of this epidemic. They saved millions of lives, Gates said, but they can be far better. Its like the people who say, I have COVID and Im really, really, sick Im so sick I can hardly breathe. Thank God I got the shots! Trust the science. Like Pfizers big trial that reported that 15 vaccinated people in a group of 11,000 vaccinated subjects died, versus 14 deaths in a group of 11,000 who got the placebo. It works! Then the trial was unblinded, and everyone who wanted them (and didnt) was given the shots. Science! But you dont need hard evidence when you are Bill Gates. Or humility. He told the TED crowd that he predicted a pandemic at a TED2015 event but that 90% of the views on his talk came after it was too late. If only we had listened to him then, everything would be so much better. Notwithstanding the mainstream medias fawning interviews (listen to the lady at TED gush), everything Gates touches does not turn to gold. In fact, hes a sort of anti-Midas everything he touches becomes fly-covered sludge. One philanthropy disaster after another The Los Angeles Times wrote in 2007 about the dark cloud over Gatess good deeds, cast by the conflicts of his massive investments in big corporations whose practices were killing and maiming people, including children, in the poorest countries where he was profiting from his philanthropy. Later, he had big ideas about transforming Americas public schools (though he and his kids went to private schools, of course.) He told a Harvard University interviewer in 2013 that he wouldnt know for probably a decade if his education stuff worked. It took only three years before it was obvious his stuff was a dismal failure. School boards were left footing the bill for his big ideas, and Bill walked out on the payments when the program capsized. Oops. Never mind. Same with his agricultural reforms. When he and Melinda partnered?with the Rockefeller Foundation in the?$424 million Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa?(AGRA) to increase food productivity and incomes, they forced local farmers to abandon their traditional techniques, and instead use?imported commercial seeds,?petroleum fertilizers?and?pesticides while Gates?pressured African governments?to massively fund his whims and penalize farmers who wouldnt comply. The results: nutrition and production plummeted. A 2020 report documented how extreme hunger increased 30% in the countries Gates targeted for his farming fancy. Never mind. Big business er, philanthropy goes that way. Just like the Gates-funded initiatives to test contraceptives on women and to reduce fertility in poor nations while reaping profits from drug companies who make birth control all under the language of improving womens options, of course. Polio is not gone There is a big virus in Bills polio eradication program, too. He boasts about it in one of his recent blogs. Thanks to investments made by governments, the private sector, and philanthropy, wild polio cases are at a historic low, and the disease is endemic in just two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan. Notice he said wild polio is just about gone. Thats because something called circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDP) has flourished in place of wild polio. Thats right its a disease that looks and paralyzes just like the original polio but its called vaccine-derived because it comes from the oral polio vaccine that was cancelled by the West for causing the disease it is meant to prevent, but is proffered all over poor nations by technocrats like Bill Gates (and Pope Francis). Its flourishing. There were outbreaks of cVDP in 25 countries last year, including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Malawi and Israel last month. They occur in vaccinated and unvaccinated children, caused by the virus in the vial that sheds from inoculated children. The answer of technocrats to the failure of their polio vaccines: vaccinate more. Sound familiar? It also happens that in India, where Bill Gates claims polio has been wiped out because of his interventions, there are tens of thousands of cases of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (NPAFP) which doctors describe as clinically indistinguishable from polio paralysis but twice as deadly and which they report the incidence of is directly proportional to doses of oral polio received. When vaccination stops, the non-polio polio incidence drops. Thanks Bill. Never mind his kooky ideas of blocking out the sun to cool global warming or his inhalable vaccines. Do you see the pattern of Emperor Bill here? So enamored with his own genius, so surrounded by sycophants, so psychopathic that he doesnt see the stupidity of his big ideas or the tidal wave of injury in their wake. Unless, of course, he intends it. Bill said he hasnt got someone to put forward his big GERM idea yet at the WHO. You can bet hes lying, and all his toadies are in line to secure the global consensus for his GERM police force and its funding by the rich countries (which means you and me), too. Will we have to suffer through this next stupid idea from this unelected self-declared genius with an emperor complex, too? And not just pay for it with our tax dollars but, as always, with lives, with health, with freedom, and with human dignity? How long before you break his teeth, Lord? How long? Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, this publication has provided ample documentation and evidence that the globalist elites are using to fundamentally alter Western democracies in ways they never could legislatively. One way has been to use the virus as a means of curbing civil liberties and constitutionally protected freedoms to limit individualist activity and force conformity, as evidenced by vaccine mandates, forced business lockdowns and closures, masking requirements, and other measures. But another way the globalist elite are changing our societies using the virus as their impetus is through the employment of propaganda and censorship, as evidenced by a recent incident involving a researcher who was attempting to document adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. The Epoch Times reports: Jessica Rose didnt ask for any of this. She started to analyze data on adverse reactions after COVID-19 vaccines simply as an exercise to master a new piece of software. But she couldnt ignore what she saw and decided to publish the results of her analysis. The next thing she knew, she was in a bizzarro world, she told The Epoch Times. A paper she co-authored based on her analysis was withdrawn by the academic journal Elsevier under circumstances that raised eyebrows among her colleagues. The journal declined to comment on the matter. Mind you, Rose isnt an amateur or a conspiracy theorist; she received a Ph.D. in computational biology from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and upon completion of her post-doctoral studies on molecular dynamics of certain proteins, she wanted to take on something new. To that end, she switched to a new statistical computing software in a bid to discover a new and interesting data set she could use to hone her skills, settling on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in the U.S., which is a database containing reports of problems that have occurred with certain vaccines that may or may not have been caused by the jab. She went into the project with a clear mind, not a predetermined outcome, saying, I dont go in with questions. But what she discovered disturbed her, she said. The reporting system has been around since 1990 and was actually established to be an early warning apparatus for problematic vaccines. Anyone can submit reports, but they are then checked for duplicates and accuracy. Mostly though, the reports are filed by health professionals; most commonly, there are roughly 40,000 reports per year and several hundred deaths involving vaccines. However, after COVID vaccines were introduced, reports skyrocketed. By Jan. 7, there were more than 1 million reports including around 21,000 deaths. Other notable conditions and reactions reported include: 11,000 heart attacks; almost 13,000 Bells palsy cases; and more than 25,000 instances of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle itself) or pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart). In discovering the data, Rose said it was alarming to her, but worse, she found, some experts were essentially dismissing the alarming findings. Clearly, theres no concern [among these authorities and experts] for people who are suffering adverse events, she said, according to The Epoch Times. The most common pushback on the VAERS data regarding COVID-19 vaccines is that the reports are unreliable and unverified, but Rose said those arguments miss the point since VAERS was never set up to provide definitive answers about problems regarding vaccines only to provide officials and policymakers with an early warning system. And thats whats happening with the COVID-19 vaccines, she says. Its emitting so many safety signals and theyre being ignored, she said. She decided to team up with Dr. Peter McCullough, an internist, cardiologist and epidemiologist, to write a paper on VAERS reports of myocarditis occurring in youth, an issue with COVID vaccines that has already been acknowledged but only as a rare occurrence (it isnt). As of July 9, 2021, the researchers discovered 559 VAERS reports of myocarditis, 97 of which involved children ages 12-15, and while its not clear how many of those are directly related to the vaccine, it was obvious to the researchers that the COVID jabs cannot be discounted. Within 8 weeks of the public offering of COVID-19 products to the 1215-year-old age group, we found 19 times the expected number of myocarditis cases in the vaccination volunteers over background myocarditis rates for this age group, the paper said. However, after two weeks, on Oct. 15, the paper disappeared from the Elsevier website, replaced by a notice of Temporary Removal. Not only werent the authors told why, they werent informed at all, according to Rose, The Epoch Times reports. Its unprecedented in the eyes of all of my colleagues, she said. Its obvious why the paper was pulled: The global elite has decided it is heresy because it reveals truths about the COVID vaccines they dont want the public to know. Our Western democracies are being subverted by Marxist counter-revolutionaries bent on enslaving the planet. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) When our founders created the First Amendments free press guarantee, very few of them would have believed that just a couple of centuries later, American media outlets would voluntarily become nothing more than propaganda outlets for central government elements. Yet, thats what the so-called mainstream media has become: One massive propaganda machine pushing groupthink and like-minded narratives while punishing all who dare to question the left-wing, anti-democratic messaging. Case in point: Former Thomson Reuters data scientist Zac Kriegman, 44, who, as reported by City Journal, was tailor-made to be in the position he once held. He had a bachelors in economics from Michigan and a J.D. from Harvard and years of experience with high-tech startups, a white-shoe law firm, and an econometrics research consultancy, the outlet reported. He then spent six years at Thomson Reuters Corporation, the international media conglomerate, spearheading the companys efforts on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced software engineering. By the beginning of 2020, Kriegman had assumed the title of Director of Data Science and was leading a team tasked with implementing deep learning throughout the organization, the outlet added. But then it all fell apart. A chain of events that began with the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 that culminated with a statistical analysis of claims made by Black Lives Matter activists would lead to his professional demise. By June of the following year, the data manager was locked out of Reuters servers, blasted by his colleagues, and fired by email. Kriegman had committed an unpardonable offense: he directly criticized the Black Lives Matter movement in the companys internal communications forum, debunked Reuterss own biased reporting, and violated a corporate taboo, City Journal reported. Citing a moral obligation to speak up, he would not embrace without question BLMs narratives or Reuters diversity and inclusion propaganda. In fact, just the opposite: He argued that the media conglomerate was exhibiting a distinct leftist bias in its newsrooms and that the continuing BLM riots and violence, along with defund the police calls, would negatively impact minority communities the most (and that has happened). For months following Floyds death, Kreigman became increasingly disillusioned with the corporate narratives when, during the first week of May 2021, he posted a lengthy, data-heavy critique of the hypocrisies espoused by Reuters and BLM. That led to him being sent to Human Resources and Diversity & Inclusion (which is misnamed, of course, because these companies dont want diversity and inclusion, they want groupthink and rigid conformity) to reform his views. He didnt and Reuters booted him. A subsequent analysis of Reuters reporting from the spring and summer of 2020 and beyond bears out Kriegmans assessment, City Journal reported, adding that it became clear the newswire was simply echoing BLM messaging and far-left narratives about systemic racism and racial injustice, even as cities burned, businesses were looted, and police officers were regularly assaulted. In all, around $2 billion in damages were caused by post-Floyd rioting. I believe the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement arose out of a passionate desire to protect black people from racism and to move our whole society towards healing from a legacy of centuries of brutal oppression, he wrote in the introduction of a 12,000-word essay, titled BLM is Anti-Black Systemic Racism, a statistical investigation comparing BLMs claims on race, violence, and policing with the hard evidence from a range of academic and governmental sources, City Journal noted. Unfortunately, over the past few years I have grown more and more concerned about the damage that the movement is doing to many low-income black communities. I have avidly followed the research on the movement and its impacts, which has led me, inexorably, to the conclusion that the claim at the heart of the movement, that police more readily shoot black people, is false and likely responsible for thousands of black people being murdered in the most disadvantaged communities in the country, he wrote. In particular, Thomson Reuters, Kriegman added, has a media obligation to resist simplistic narratives that are not based in facts and evidence, especially when those narratives are having such a profoundly negative impact on minority or marginalized groups. After being fired for refusing to toe the line, Kriegman says he believes what he did was worth it, but he is upset that it literally had zero impact at Reuters, which is supposed to be a media organization reporting factually and truthfully. And he said most of the friends he made at the company have abandoned him like cowards. Its absolutely clear that in our major news organizations, people are not discussing these issues openly. They cant afford to. Theyll be fired, he said. Sources include: City-Journal.org Kriegman.Substack.com (Natural News) You will be hard-pressed to find what you are about to read anywhere in the establishment Western media, but Russias invasion of Ukraine had to be done in order to stop the worlds bioterrorists from continuing to wage war on humanity from proxy locations throughout the Eastern European country, point out analysts from State of the Nation. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly had no choice, morally speaking, other than to engage Operation Azovstal, a special military operation that aims to protect not only Russia but the innocent people of Ukraine, not to mention all other sovereign countries, from the clutches of the global biowar against humanity that was being pursued in illegal Ukrainian labs. And leading this biowar, perhaps unsurprisingly, are the United States and NATO. Russia was forced to launch its special military operation in Ukraine to terminate the raging biowar waged by the US-UK-NATO-UKRAINE bioterrorist group from its secret underground operational headquarters located at the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine against the people of Donbass and western Russia, reports State of the Nation. In other words, the bad guy in all this is not Russia, as the Western media and government structures claim. It is the United States and the Pentagon, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These bioterrorist monsters have been cooking up bioweapons under the cover of darkness throughout Ukraine, and are now being exposed by Russias military operations. To date, the Russian military has shut down 30 plus bioweapon laboratories across the Ukraine, State of the Nation adds. However, the main bioweapon lab being systematically used to carry out future bioterrorist operations in Donbass and western Russia is strategically located in Mariupol at the massive Azovstal complex. Ukraine is exploiting innocent citizens as human shields Mariupol, it just so happens, is located about 40 miles from the Russian border. This is why Azovstal was selected to house one of the largest bioweapons laboratories in the world: because not only is it located right in Donbass, but Azovstal is also the closest biolab from which to launch bio-attacks against Russia. (Related: We now have proof showing that the Pentagon was, in fact, planning to use Ukrainian biolabs to attack Russia.) Russia has reportedly been trying to protect the innocent human life that Ukraine and its Western allies are now using a human shields to try to stop Russia from putting an end to the biolabs operations. This is why Russia is so determined not to blow up Avozstal or even neutralize the 1000 plus Azov Nazis holed up there behind human shields innocent Ukrainian citizens, State of the Nation further explains. The women and children, in particular, were likely forced into the sprawling Azovstal plant as a defensive stratagem against an all-out Russian attack. But its the US and NATO military leaders, Western intel agents, AFU officers and Ukraine soldiers skulked in Azovstal that Russia really wants and is willing to protect, especially those who are privy to the bioterrorist operations. Putin has known for a while now exactly what these Azovstal biolabs were doing under the cover of darkness. He has been trying to preserve as much evidence as possible so that when the time is right, he can present it to the world to show everyone that the true culprits in global bioterrorism are the US, the UK, the EU, and NATO. This is precisely why the Azov Nazis were given such free rein to terrorize the citizens of Mariupol. They were acting on orders from their NATO command, Pentagon masters and CIA overlords to exert absolute control over the Azovstal bioterror crime scene. Isnt that why these hardcore Neo-Nazis are called the Azov Regiment and Azov Battalion (as in Azovstal)? These battle-hardened mercenaries were put there to provide brutal defensive and protective services for the Zio-Anglo-American bioterrorist operations. Russia decided it had no choice other than to put a stop to this slow-motion genocide, which would have eventually spread beyond Donbass into Russia. He had to nip this thing in the bud before a global genocide ensued, which appears to have been what was attempted with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic. The powers that be in the West clearly have future plandemics already lined up and waiting to be executed, though Putins invasion could be the thing that stops them before they get the chance to launch. The bottom line is that according to analysts, Putin reportedly had a moral obligation to intervene, and that is exactly what he did. Ukraine is right on the doorstep of western Russia and most of Russias most populous cities, so at the very least Putin is doing what is necessary to protect his own people, which is far more than Americas leadership would ever bother to do for Americans. More of the latest news about the conflict between Russia and the US / NATO can be found at WWIII.news. Sources include: StateOfTheNation.co NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The link between the Democrats and pedophilia is becoming increasingly apparent. (Article by Jay Greenberg republished from NeonNettle.com) The Left has a worrying connection to child sex abuse as growing numbers of progressives are being exposed as pedophiles. From CNN producers to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station chiefs and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field agents; from the woke Disney corporation to Democrat donors; from Hollywood to the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA); from Facebook/Meta to the Lincoln Project to Americas public school system the woke Left has a demonstrated prurient interest in underage children. This is not guilt by association, innuendo, or conjecture; it is a firmly established fact pattern. And this is not to suggest that no Republicans have ever espoused or committed similar atrocities against children. Extremely rare countervailing exceptions like Republican Dennis Hastert (who, unlike Democrats, was actually imprisoned in part for his crimes of child molestation) prove the rule that many Democrats have a strong affinity for pedophilia and the normalization of the same. Empirically and factually, an overwhelming majority of public figures who are confirmed and aspiring pedophiles (along with pedo-friendly corporations like Disney) are progressive Democrats in terms of political orientation, as American Thinker notes. All of this is hushed up by our progressive media, and thanks to progressive privilege, virtually nobody is ever prosecuted or punished. Why is it never a national scandal when Democrats routinely prey on young children? Simple because the progressive media protect Democrats far better than Romes Praetorian guard ever protected any of the Caesars. If Jeffrey Epsteins client roster had been chock-full of identifiable Republicans (instead of Democrats from Bill Clinton to Bill Gates to Bill Richardson we knew nothing!), or if FOX News producers were outed as skeevy pedo perverts, the earsplitting cacophony from the media would be maximally amped with hysterical shrieks of sustained, collective outrage. Moreover, if the progressive Epstein had instead been a prominent conservative donor and activist, he wouldve been rightly imprisoned decades ago. Perhaps he would even be alive today rather than conveniently dead. Instead of truth and exposure, we have media silence. A favorite media tactic is the lie by omission. If a station chief or agent from John Brennans beloved and woke CIA sexually abuses a two-year-old baby, but CNN producers and the media decide it is not a scandal, then poof, it all goes away. Like the tree falling in the forest with nobody to see or hear it, perhaps it simply never happened at all. The one time the media did make a national scandal of child molestation was when they saw it as an opportunity to take down the Catholic Church in the wake of the Churchs scandals and cover-ups. But even there, the medias motive was strictly to discredit and destroy the Church itself, not to condemn the practice of predatory homosexual pedophilia. If the mental health professionals of the progressive American Psychiatric Association (APA) werent themselves so deeply mentally and emotionally disturbed, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) would do a deep dive on why the denizens of the left seem vastly more predisposed to acts of pedophilia than traditionalists and people on the Right. Instead, the official position of the APA and most psychiatrists is that conservatives are mentally ill because, well, theyre conservative. Pick a deep blue state at random say, Oregon. A former longtime mayor of Beaverton, Dennis Denny Doyle, was recently charged with possession of child pornography. But that was nothing new in the Beaver state. There was also popular Portland mayor Sam Adams, who relished pederasty with underage boys. Oh, there was also Democrat governor Neil Goldschmidt, who committed statutory rape against a 13-year-old girl and went on sexually abusing her for many years afterward. Goldschmidts victims life was destroyed, and she died decades later at age 49, with drugs, alcohol, and mental illness as contributing factors. Unlike Dennis Hastert, none of these progressive figures went to prison for his crimes of molesting children. They all got a free pass. And most voters and politicians living near Oregons deep blue I-5 corridor between Portland and Eugene didnt (and dont) care. As long as progressive pedophiles and their institutional cheerleaders and enablers have a (D) next to their name, pedophilia does not necessarily conflict with the values of Democrat voters or progressive Supreme Court appointees like Ketanji Brown Jackson. This is the same political party that always screams without irony that its for the children. Democrats, their corporate affiliates, and their voters are likewise indifferent to the widespread sexual trafficking of children near Americas porous border with Mexico, even as they wildly celebrate Joe Bidens recent endorsement of sex reassignment surgery and hormone-blockers for children. To rephrase a couple of modern figures of speech: Democrats gonna Democrat. And yes, that is who they are. Read more at: NeonNettle.com (Natural News) There has never been a time in America where failure or refusal to take a treatment for a virus was considered grounds for workplace discrimination, but weve seen so much irrational and insane behavior stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic that nothing surprises us anymore. Pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS have become the latest companies to adopt a highly discriminatory policy of cutting sick time benefits for staffers who are not vaccinated and who test positive for COVID-19, according to The Epoch Times. In reality, companies should be providing additional sick time for COVID-positive employees, especially if they risked their health and lives to get a vaccine since there is literally nothing else they can do to prevent themselves from contracting the virus. Late last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their guidelines to recommend that people who test positive should only quarantine for five days instead of 10 while donning a mask for an additional five days, even if theyve been vaccinated. Also, the CDC cut the amount of quarantine time for people who came in close contact with someone who tested positive. Federal officials explained that the change in guidance came from scientific evidence that suggests most viral transmissions occur very early on, within a day or two of the onset of symptoms and three days after those symptoms are present. But since the CDC changed their recommendations, several companies including Delta Air Lines, Amazon, Ikea, Kroger, Walmart and others said they were cutting benefits for unvaccinated workers to get more employees to take the suspect, experimental jabs, which they say is in line with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandate that has been challenged successfully in lawsuits and has been argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. In an interview with Fortune, CVS officials confirmed that only employees who have been vaccinated will get paid time off for illness, unless they have been preapproved for a waiver or are otherwise covered by local statutes. In line with changes to CDC guidance, we are currently providing five days of paid leave for eligible full- and part-time colleagues, except where state or city paid leave laws provide for more, a company spokeswoman said. Either way she explains it, what CVS and the other companies who have adopted this horrendous policy are doing is engaging in outright worker discrimination so much for being woke and tolerant. The Epoch Times adds: Walgreens said it will be providing COVID-19 paid sick leave benefits to both vaccinated and unvaccinated workers for five days through Feb. 23, after which it will only provide those pay benefits to employees who are fully vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious exemption. Prior to the latest announcement, both CVS and Walgreens had offered workers up to two weeks of paid leave. The Biden regimes vaccine mandate for private businesses with more than 100 employees (because, apparently, companies with fewer employees wont spread the virus, right?) went into effect last week nationwide, though again, the rule has been challenged legally and is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. As of Jan. 10, businesses that qualify must require all employees to get the jab or be subjected to weekly testing. Businesses must also provide paid leave for employees to get a vaccine and are also required to keep track of workers vaccination status while ensuring that unvaccinated employees wear a mask while they are indoors. The rule affects some 84 million workers; businesses that refuse to comply face fines up to $14,000 per violation. Companies arent sure what to do at this point. In November, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a nationwide injunction against enforcement of the mandate, but in December, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it. Its not clear when the Supreme Court will rule. Either way, this pandemic has led to some of the most bizarre and discriminatory treatment of Americans in the history of the country. Sources include: NaturalNews.com TheEpochTimes.com A new frog species called Philoria knowlesi was discovered and its only known natural habitat is the Gondwana rainforests, located southeast of Queensland, Australia. However, the population of the new mountain frog is already on the decline following the massive wildfires in Australia over recent years. Philoria Knowlesi The name Philoria knowlesi was derived after the Sydney-based environmentalist Ross Knowles, who discovered the new amphibian species due to genetic testing. The environment department of Queensland is already taking measures to protect the frog's habitat in Gondwana. The discovery of the new mountain frog species was part of a joint effort between ecologists from the Queensland state government, the University of Newcastle, South Cross University, the South Australian Museum, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). Since 2006, scientists have been collecting and analyzing the DNA of the mountain frogs in the rainforest, as part of updating a taxonomy database which led to the confirmation that there are a total of seven other distinct species of mountain frogs. Distinct yet related from its frog kins, Philoria knowlesi has a brown color and its skin is also slimy. These frogs breed during Australia's spring season from September to November and early summer which starts from December. The breeding ground involves the deployment of small bogs or a small breeding chamber on the banks of mountain streams. These breeding sites are where tadpoles develop and emerge. Also Read: Scientists Discover Eight New Frog Species In One Mountain Forest Conservation Efforts Rangers have already employed various methods to support the recovery of areas impacted by the widespread bushfires that ravaged Australia, according to Harry Hines, a senior conservation officer, as cited by The Guardian. The greatest threat against the newly discovered creature is habitat loss. With this, local rangers are implementing measures to fend off stray cattle, manage feral pigs, and employ mitigation efforts against future bushfires. A portion of Australia's national bushfire recovery fund is equivalent to $3.85 million worth of projects for the Gondwana rainforests, as per The Guardian. Mountain Frogs Mountain frogs are known for their survival ability in the cold or freezing temperatures in high-altitude areas. However, various modern threats have led to the extinction of these amphibians in over 93% of their old mountain homes, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, a US-based non-profit organization. Aside from Australia, the yellow-legged mountain frogs can also be found in other parts of the world, including in the Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges of Southern California, where the so-called "mountain gnomes" once thrived. Still, the frogs are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 2000. Meanwhile, the mountain frogs in Australia are also protected by the Biodiversity Conservation Act of 2016, which prohibits taking the amphibians and their tadpoles from the wild or even one's own backyard, according to the Environment and Heritage Group, a part of the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment Black Summer Bushfires The Philoria knowlesi and other mountain frogs were only among the 3 billion animals reported killed or displaced during the wildfires in Australia between late 2019 and early 2020, known as the black summer bushfires, as per ABC News. The wildfires also reportedly killed dozens of people, including firefighters, cost more than $100 billion worth of damage, and destroyed thousands of infrastructures, including buildings. Related Article: In South American Highlands, Disease is Killing Frogs While Climate Change Threats Loom Jeffrey Eric Jenkins is a professor at the University of Illinois and president of the International Association of Theatre Critics. Email him at jej@illinois.edu or reach out to him on Twitter @Crrritic. 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). Azaan Qureshi is an upcoming graduate studying history at the University of Illinois. His primary interests lie in ancient Near Eastern history, but through his internship at the Champaign County History Museum, he has become very interested in the world of public history and museum curation. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Submit Robert C. Robbins, MD, president of the University of Arizona, and Kayse Shrum, DO, president of Oklahoma State University, today announced the two institutions academic medical centers have joined forces to combat the opioid crisis and chronic pain through research, treatment and education. The partnership will share institutional resources from three research centers the University of Arizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center (CPAC), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded Center for Excellence in Addiction Studies (CEAS) at UArizona Health Sciences, and the OSU Center for Health Sciences National Center for Wellness & Recovery (NCWR) to advance pain and addiction research and accelerate positive health outcomes in Arizona, Oklahoma and across the country. The NCWR has access to approximately 18,000 novel research molecules from Purdue Pharma that were designed to target neuronal mechanisms associated with chronic pain and addiction. In addition, there are 40,000-50,000 human biosamples from consenting patients enrolled in more than 20 Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials involving opioids and non-opioids. Recently, the NCWR has begun collecting additional biosamples from patients suffering from addiction or who are in recovery and undergoing treatment at NCWR treatment centers in Oklahoma. These unique assets, collected over more than two decades, enable research into risk factors, causes and potential treatments for addiction and chronic pain. The CPAC is composed of a group of world class scientists with expertise in the overlapping neurobiology of chronic pain and addiction whose work will be strengthened by the availability of novel chemical matter from the NCWR. The CEAS will provide expertise in genetic targeting, the use of neuroanalytical methods, large data analysis and advanced behavioral assessment of these drug-like substances, providing the critical data that can lead to advancement to clinical trials. Additionally, both the CPAC and the CEAS are committed to training paraprofessionals in substance use disorder for the work force and educating students as well as creating a Southwestern Region Addiction Network with collaborations with university investigators in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The most important beneficiaries of this partnership will be millions of people who suffer from pain or are at risk of addiction and their families. Given the extreme need to address the opioid crisis, its a strategic priority. Funds from the strategic plan have helped support the Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center. In addition, the New Economy Initiative [funds] from the state legislature and the governor have been used to grow the center and will be a key in strengthening this OSU partnership. This is one of those true rare win-win situations. We believe that by tackling chronic pain and opioid use disorder together, the University of Arizona and OSU will lead us to discovery of novel non-addictive treatments for those with chronic pain while discovering new ways to treat substance use disorder. Dr. Robert C. Robbins, MD, President, University of Arizona The goals of the three research centers are aligned with the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health's Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative. They are focused on combating the opioid crisis, ameliorating the suffering of chronic pain while decreasing opioid use, finding alternatives to opioids for treating acute and chronic pain, promoting recovery and prevention of relapse from opioid use disorder, as well as development of rapidly acting medications for opioid overdose through advancement of novel chemistry, biology, therapies, clinical trials and education. This partnership has the potential to significantly advance the fields of pain and addiction research on a national level, said Michael D. Dake, MD, senior vice president for the University of Arizona Health Sciences. Our faculty have decades of experience and expertise researching the mechanisms of pain and addiction, but we recognize the need for more research to help those who are affected by chronic pain and substance use disorder. In addition to their general populations, Arizona and Oklahoma are home to Indigenous populations affected by drug addiction. The two universities share a common commitment to addressing the impact of substance use disorders and chronic pain in these populations. The partnership will accelerate our ability to discover novel medications, devices and therapies to help those who suffer from substance use disorder and chronic pain, said Todd Vanderah, PhD, director of the UArizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center and professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology in the UArizona College of Medicine Tucson. This relationship will leverage each institutions research strengths, their dedication to clinical care and their passion to make a change. The partnership involves sharing research assets and knowledge, as well as the preclinical and clinical expertise gleaned from years of research and treatment by scientists and clinicians at both academic medical centers. The University of Arizona Health Sciences CPAC and CEAS bring together world-class laboratory spaces along with preclinical and clinical expertise that can promote development of novel, non-opioid therapies based on existing chemical entities from NCWR as well as new chemistry and biology that can be jointly pursued by the three groups. This partnership provides an unprecedented opportunity to address the unmet medical need of chronic pain that affects about 1 in 3 Americans while diminishing opioid use and associated risks of addiction and overdose deaths, said Frank Porreca, PhD, Cosden Professor of Pain and Addiction Studies in the Department of Pharmacology at the UArizona College of Medicine Tucson and principal investigator on the Center of Excellence for Addiction Studies grant. The partnership also will provide unique educational opportunities for young people in Arizona and in Oklahoma that will enhance innovative research in chronic pain and addiction. (Newser) In 2008, Akihiko Kondo spiraled into a deep depression after being bullied at work and rebuffed by several women. That is when he discovered Miku, a blue-haired, software-based virtual pop star. He soon fell in love, according to New York Times reporters Ben Dooley and Hisako Ueno, who explore Japans burgeoning fictosexual subculture. Kondo and Mikus relationship evolved in 2017 with the development of Gatebox, a tabletop device that allows users to interact with one of a variety of fictional characters represented by a small hologram. In 2018, after a 10-year relationship, Kondo and Miku were (unofficially) married. He knows shes not real, but when were together, she makes me smile, the 38-year-old tells the Times. In that sense, shes real. Gatebox is marketed primarily to men, but "fictosexualism" is also popular with women. Tokyo has two shopping districts that serve as meccas for fulfilling character-based dreams. On social media, fans express devotion and share experiences like birthday celebrations and marriage proposals. Researcher Agnes Giard of Berlins Freie Universitat says some young people see a chance to break free from Japans traditional breadwinner-housewife social structure. To the general public, it seems indeed foolish, says Giard, but for character lovers, this practice is seen as essential. It makes them feel alive, happy, useful, and part of a movement with higher goals in life. Kondo has found a new purpose thanks to conversations with fellow character lovers; he is now attending law school to study minority rights. Read more here. (Read more anime stories.) (Newser) There's a problem with Russia's tanksone born out of a design decision that was intended to make them better. As Forbes explains in detail, Russia's T-72 series and subsequent tanks trade the traditional four-man set-up for a design that only requires three crewmembers by automating the role of the loader. That means less manpower is needed to operate the tank, and it reduces the size of the turret. That makes the tank shorter and, among other things, a bit harder to hit. But as CNN reports, when they are hit, things can go very wrong because of that very design. It relates to the way ammunition is stored; to facilitate the automatic loading, there are multiple shells in the turret. "Even an indirect hit can start a chain reaction that explodes their entire ammunition store of up to 40 shells," CNN explains. The blast can pack enough force to send the tank's turret up to two stories into the air, turning the crew into easy targets. As a defense industry analyst puts it, "If you don't get out within the first second, you're toast." But the crux of CNN's report isn't that the design exists: It's that it has existed for so longthe West has been aware of it since the Gulf Warand so Moscow should have known it would once again prove problematic; it's believed between 300 and nearly 600 of Russia's tanks have been destroyed in Ukraine. How many lives have been lost is unclear, but the manpower isn't easy to replace: Training tank crews is a time-consuming task that typically takes months at a minimum. The T-72 tanks may not just be an issue for Russia, though. Defense News reports Poland's prime minister confirmed this week that it has delivered some of its Soviet-designed T-72 tanks to Ukraine; the Financial Times reports the Czech Republic has supplied the country with T-72 tanks as well. Though as Forbes previously noted, much of the Ukraine's own "combat power currently seems to be in the form of light infantry teams armed with anti-tank weapons." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Ukrainian forces fought village by village Saturday to hold back a Russian advance through the country's east, while the UN worked to broker a civilian evacuation from the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city, and up to 1,000 are living beneath a sprawling Soviet-era steel plant, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000, the AP reports. Russian state media outlets reported Saturday that 25 civilians had been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks, though there was no confirmation from the UN. Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said 19 adults and six children were brought out but gave no further details. An official with the Azov Regiment, the Ukrainian unit defending the plant, said 20 civilians were evacuated during a cease-fire; it was not clear if he was referring to the same group as the Russian news reports. "These are women and children," Sviatoslav Palamar said in a video posted on the regiment's Telegram channel. He called for the evacuation of the wounded: We dont know why they are not taken away, and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed." Video and images from inside the plant, shared with the AP by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands are among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed unidentified men with stained bandages; others had open wounds or amputated limbs. A skeleton medical staff was treating at least 600 wounded people, said the women, who identified their husbands as members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine's National Guard. Some of the wounds were rotting with gangrene, they said. In the video the men said that they eat once daily and share as little as 50 ounces of water a day among four people. One shirtless man appeared to be in pain from multiple wounds said, "I want to tell everyone who sees this: If you will not stop this here, in Ukraine, it will go further, to Europe." AP could not independently verify the date and location of the video. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) The New York Times has given Tucker Carlson plenty to vent about on his Fox show. The newspaper is out with a three-part deep dive into Carlson's life and career. As you might expect, it is not exactly flattering, and the main headline gets to the point: "How Tucker Carlson Stoked White Fear to Conquer Cable." The gist of it, as written by Nicholas Confessore: "Carlson has constructed what may be the most racist show in the history of cable newsand also, by some measures, the most successful. Though he frequently declares himself an enemy of prejudice ... his show teaches loathing and fear. Night after night, hour by hour, Mr. Carlson warns his viewers that they inhabit a civilization under siegeby violent Black Lives Matter protesters in American cities, by diseased migrants from south of the border, by refugees importing alien cultures, and by tech companies and cultural elites who will silence them, or label them racist, if they complain." The story tracks Carlson's career path, noting that while he always has worked for conservative outletsor began his own, as with the Daily Callerformer colleagues now regularly accuse him of embracing the fringe. The stories explore that pointwhether Carlson's Fox show is "merely lucrative theater or an expression of his true values." Confessore's conclusion: A "close reading of Mr. Carlsons decades in television and journalism, and interviews with dozens of friends and former colleagues, show that Tucker Carlson Tonight is both." Here is the first part, the second part, and the third part. One key takeaway: Carlson has embraced Trumpism while keeping a careful distance from Donald Trump himself. (Read more Tucker Carlson stories.) (Newser) Meteorology students at the University of Oklahoma are mourning three of their own who were killed in a highway accident while returning from a storm-chasing trip. The three were identified as Nicholas Nair, 20; Gavin Short, 19; and Drake Brooks, 22, reports the Oklahoman. The men were on their way home from a trip to Kansas when their vehicle hydroplaned on Interstate 35, left the roadway, then returned to the highway and stalled, says the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. A tractor-trailer struck their Volkswagen Tiguan, and all three were pronounced dead at the scene, per KOCO. The truck driver was not seriously injured. The accident happened about 11:30pm Friday in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, near the Kansas border. It was raining very heavy at the time, says a lieutenant with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The three were part of a larger group of university students who had gone to Kansas to track storms, reports the New York Times. In fact, Nair and Short posted videoshere and hereof a tornado they spotted just hours before their deaths. Students in other vehicles on the trip became worried when they noticed the men's vehicle had not moved from GPS coordinates and began calling police and hospitals for news of a possible accident, reports CNN. Their passion for weather and just the safety for everybody and love for the whole worldthey were just loved so much, fellow student Sara Raffel, who had formed a storm-chasing group called Metcrew Chasers with the trio, tells the Times. The university's College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences said in a statement it was "deeply saddened" by the deaths, adding that its meteorology community is "very much a family." (Read more storm chasers stories.) (Newser) Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday. Joliea UN Special Envoy for Refugees since 2011came to speak with displaced people who have found refuge in Lviv, including children undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station in early April, said regional governor Maksym Kozytskyy. She was very moved by (the childrens) stories, Kozytskyy wrote on Telegram, per the AP. One girl was even able to privately tell Ms. Jolie about a dream shed had. Jolie, affiliated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees agency, did not address the media herself. The actor also visited a boarding school, talked with students and took photos with them, and "promised she would come again," said the governor. According to Kozytskyy, Jolie also met with evacuees arriving at Lvivs central railway station, as well as with Ukrainian volunteers providing the new arrivals with medical help and counseling. The visit was a surprise to us all, he wrote. Plenty of people who saw Ms. Jolie in the Lviv region could not believe that it was really her. But since Feb. 24, Ukraine has shown the entire world that there are plenty of incredible things here. (Sean Penn was helping refugees who made it to Poland.) (Read more Angelina Jolie stories.) (Newser) Long lines of cars form at gas stations in Ukraineif they have any fuel to sell. Many flash a zero on their signs next to each fuel type, meaning there's no supply. At most stations with gas, drivers are allowed to only to buy about 2 gallons at a time. So Kyiv officials are asking residents to take public transportation more often and otherwise drive their cars less, the Washington Post reports, to save what gas there is for the troops fighting the Russian invasion. "Remember the needs of the army," city officials posted. Russia's Black Sea blockade and strikes on Ukrainian fuel depots are contributing to the shortage, per NBC News. President Volodymyr Zelensky brought up the issue in his address to Ukrainians on Friday night. "Queues and rising prices at gas stations are seen in many regions of our country," he said, adding that said Ukraine should take all the fuel it can get from EU nations without elaborating. While Ukraine supplies run dry, Russia has been bringing in billions from its oil and natural gas exports. Sales of fossil fuels to non-EU nations have brought Russia $20 billion since the war began; those buyers include nations that have denounced the invasion, such as South Korea, Japan, and Turkey. EU countries have bought oil, natural gas, and coal totaling about $46 billion from Russia during the war. Zelensky's office said he's begun discussions with Polish officials about selling fuel in Ukraine, and quoted the president as saying, "They really want to enter our market of gas station business." Zelensky said his government will come up with a supply system within two weeks to ease the shortages but conceded, per the AP, that "there are no immediate solutions." In the meantime, Kyiv is putting more buses, trams, and trolley buses in service. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an unannounced trip to Ukraine on Saturday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and demonstrate that he had the support of the US Congress, per the AP. Pelosi is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia's war began more than two months ago. Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, Pelosi said in a statement released Sunday. In video released by Pelosis office, the speaker and Zelensky both thanked each other for their support in the war. Well win and well win together, Zelensky said. Pelosi added: We are here until victory is won. The full congressional delegation included Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York, Adam Schiff of California, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Jason Crow of Colorado, Barbara Lee of California, and Bill Keating of Massachusetts. You all are welcome, Zelensky told the delegation. The US lawmakers continued their trip in southeast Poland, and Pelosi said they would later visit the capital, Warsaw, to meet with President Andrzej Duda. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. In a news conference in Poland, Pelosi said she and others in the delegation applauded the courage of the Ukrainian people. She added that the delegation brought Zelensky a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership. Schiff said the US lawmakers had a three-hour meeting with Zelensky and his administration, talking about sanctions, weapons, and aid assistance. Schiff promised that intelligence sharing would continue between Ukraine and the US. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, Schiff said. And in that struggle, Ukraine is on the front lines. (Also visiting Ukraine on Saturday: Angelina Jolie.) (Read more Nancy Pelosi stories.) (Newser) Italy and Greece relaxed certain COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal before Europe's peak summer tourist season. Greece's civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights, except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports, the AP reports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test, or a recent recovery from the disease. Under a decree by Italy's health ministry, the country did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms, and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus, or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. Some indoor mask mandates also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces, and stores in Italy, which was the epicenter of Europe's outbreak when it recorded the first locally transmitted case on Feb. 21, 2020. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas and in all health care and eldercare facilities. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with similarly maskless friends at a bar near the Trevi Fountain in Rome. "It's much better, Bichler said. "Let's say it's a return to life, a free life." Public health officials say masks are still highly recommended for indoor activities, and private companies can require them. As of Sunday, visitors to Italy no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a user-unfriendly online form required at airport check-in. Officials still urge prudence and stressed that the pandemic is not over. Italy is reporting 699 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and more than 100 deaths per day, with a total confirmed death toll of 163,500. But hospital capacity remains stable and under the critical threshold. (Read more pandemic stories.) Col. Eli Lozano, Medical Department Activity Alaska commander, presents Cpl. Joseph Talty and Spc. William Ack II with Army Commendation Medals at an award ceremony at Bassett Army Community Hospital in April. Talty and Ack demonstrated personal courage after witnessing inappropriate behavior in their section. (Courtesy photo) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Economic Recovery Plan launched by Bahrain focuses on generating promising job opportunities for the citizens and making them the first choice in the labour market, said Jameel Humaidan, the Labour and Social Development Minister. The minister said this marked the International Workers Day observed worldwide on May 1. On behalf of all workers, the minister congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Humaidan also affirmed HM the Kings unwavering support for workers rights and gains, hailing the royal directives for creating promising job opportunities. The plan aims to create 20,000 jobs for Bahrainis and train 10,000 Bahrainis annually until 2024. It includes a long-term National Labour Market Strategy, a review of labour fees and a new Tamkeen Strategy (the public authority that supports the development of the private sector) to continue upskilling the Bahraini workforce. The total number of Bahrainis employed in the private sector reached 7,740 in the first quarter of 2022, which constitutes 39% of the total target number and an increase of 32% compared to the same period in 2021, said the minister. The minister also said that the ministry, in partnership with Tamkeen and Labour Market Regulatory Authority, is working on projects to support workers, ensure their rights and job stability, and wage support programmes. The minister further said that Bahraini law prohibits any form of discrimination between men and women, especially concerning wages. The percentage of Bahraini women participation in the total workforce in 2021 was 43%, and 32% in 2012. Owners of active commercial registration increased from 39% in 2012 to 41% in the third quarter of 2021. Separately, the Council of Representatives extended congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, marking the Workers Day 2022. The Council also lauded the landmark accomplishments attained by Bahraini workers under HM the Kings comprehensive development march. Pillars of any success In a statement, Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh praised the dedicated efforts of the national competencies in supporting the development march and sustainable economic growth in Bahrain. The Shura Council Chairman commended the governments programmes for the citizens, lauding the direct follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Marking the International Labour Day, the Shura Council Chairman expressed appreciation of the remarkable role of the Bahraini workers, describing them as one of the pillars of any success achieved by Bahrain. He added that the Kingdom of Bahrain has a developed legislative system that underlines the protection of labour rights. He also stressed the keenness of the Shura Council on passing and upgrading laws aimed at keeping abreast of continuous development in the labour sector. Preserve jobs Separately, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainal, expressed pride in the pivotal role played by Bahraini workers in enriching national achievements. The speaker praised Bahraini workers contributions to supporting the national efforts exerted by Team Bahrain, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. She further called on production parties to coordinate their efforts to preserve jobs and ensure their stability. Agencies | New DelhiManama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed four separate cases to investigate heinous crimes, including three murders committed by Indians in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The bilateral agreements India has with Bahrain, and other GCC countries, allow India to prosecute a person locally if the act committed by a person is considered an offence under the laws of both contracting states. CBI investigation follows requests for action from Bahrain and other countries against people who flee the countries after committing crimes there. Bahrain has requested actions against a person charged with medical negligence and another sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia on murder charges. According to an FIR registered by CBI on Thursday, a resident of the South Indian state Kerala, Prem Ravivarma Puthia, is wanted in a case for causing the death of a Bahrain citizen Abdullah Mahmoud Al-Ahmadi, on March 21, 2016. Jailed in-absentia CBI has also filed a murder case against Subhash Chanar Mahla of Sikar, Rajasthan, for killing a Bahrain national Mohammad Sultan Al-Motawa, on January 31, 2011. Mahla was sentenced to life imprisonment by the high court of appeal in Bahrain in absentia, after which the Kingdom sought action from India. To locally prosecute these persons, we will trace them and file charge sheets against them, after which they will face trial and punishment in an Indian prison, a CBI officer said. Cases in Saudi, UAE Similarly, CBI is also probing the murder charges against Mohammad Dilshad, a resident of Bijnaur (Uttar Pradesh), who was allegedly murdered in the Alsali district in Saudi Arabia in November 12, 1999. According to the CBI's first information report, Aziziah police station in Saudi Arabia received information from a security patrol that Abdullah Muhammad Saleh, a Saudi national, reported an unpleasant odour from the water tank of the warehouse of his establishment in the Alsali district. The body of an unidentified Asian male in his 30s was found in the tank. Investigators found that Dilshad, who had escaped from the country, was involved. An in-absentia arrest warrant was issued against him by Saudi authorities. Based on a request, the CBI has invoked section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code in its case. The agency is also providing a murder case on the request of the UAE against one Sattar Khan, who holds a UAE passport, for killing a woman on November 14, 2013, and fleeing to India. UAE had sent an extradition request against Sattar Khan in 2018-2019 and 14 other extradition requests. India later decided to prosecute them locally. In January 2022, the CBI registered three cases against Indians who committed crimes, including fraud in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKIC) announced its consolidated financial results for the three months ended 31st March 2022. The results presented a net profit attributable to the shareholders of BD 1.181 million compared to BD 0.950 m for the same period last year, representing an increase of 24.3%. The increase in the net profit was mainly due to the improvement in investment income as well as some improvement in underwriting income. Earnings per share were 8 fils compared to 6 fils for the same period last year. The total comprehensive income attributable to the shareholders reached BD 0.857 m in Q1-2022 compared to BD 1.039 m in Q1-2021, registering a decrease of 17.5%. The decrease was mainly due to reduced fair value gains recorded in the 1st quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The company achieved a 10.6% growth in gross premium revenue from BD 24.625 m in the first quarter of last year to BD 27.232 m in the 1st quarter of the current year. The underwriting profits increased by 2.8%, from BD 0.784 m in the 1st quarter of last year to BD 0.806 m in the 1st quarter of the current year. The net investment income increased by 39%, from BD 0.563 m in the 1st quarter of last year to BD 0.783 m in the 1st quarter of the current year. Total shareholders equity at end of March 2022 is BD 39.326 m compared to BD 41.457 m at end of last year, representing a decrease of 5.1% mainly due to allocation towards proposed dividends. The net technical reserves increased from BD 41.455 m at the end of the last year to BD 46.571 million at the end of the current period. Upon concluding their review of the companys results and achievements, the Board of Directors expressed their satisfaction stating: Later through 2022, the Board intends to review the performance of the company within the current 3-year strategy ending 2022. Henceforward, a new strategy for the years 2023-2025 will be contemplated with the usual highest scrutiny during the year. It will be approved under the conviction and the Boards strong belief that the company is well equipped to continue achieving an attractive ROE in the coming periods. Echoing the sentiment of the Board, BKICs CEO Dr Abdulla Sultan reiterated that the company's consolidated results in the 1st quarter of 2022 are surely gratifying. Achieving both top and bottom-line growth in unprecedented global conditions is a worthy accomplishment. While witnessing improved Net Profits in all core streams of income: BKIC Bahrain, BKIC Kuwait and the Takaful International subsidiary. Dr Sultan also commended the improved Investment income in Q1-2022 and advocated the belief that this particular stream of income would further improve in the coming periods. Japan has decided to require listed companies to disclose in their annual securities reports the ratio of women in management positions, in a bid to increase female leaders in the country's male-dominated corporate world. The Financial Services Agency's move to oblige about 4,000 firms, mostly listed, comes as investors are paying more attention to how women are promoted and help their companies perform better. The agency aims to make the disclosure mandatory possibly in fiscal 2023, starting in April next year, through a Cabinet Office ordinance revision. Under the Japanese financial watchdog's plan, the listed companies must now also disclose details such as the average pay by gender and the ratio of male workers who took child care leave. Currently, the securities reports require stating information such as the number of employees and their average age. Under law, companies are penalized for making any false statements. ...continue reading Tokyo's Minato Ward has expanded a multi-language information service on its website to 108 languages from previous four. Around 17,000 people from about 130 countries live in the ward. The municipal government conducted a survey last year on their multilingual services. Officials say many answered that they rely on the ward's webpage. The officials began enhancing the language services of the website so that more foreign residents can get information on things such as vaccination programs, childcare support and garbage collection in their native language. The service expanded in scope from four languages, namely Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese and Korean, to 108. Those languages include Ukrainian and Arabic. It makes use of advanced AI translation and recognizes the language settings of a smartphone or a computer to automatically change the language of the website. Officials say most of the native languages of residents of the ward are covered. BROOKFIELD The towns blight panel is taking more aggressive action under the leadership of First Selectwoman Tara Carr, who says the effort to maintain property values is a priority for the town. Its time to do something about it, said Carr on Thursday. Theres a lot of blight, she added. At a Mountainview Drive property, there is a septic tank issue, at a Old New Milford Drive property there are boarded up windows, and at a Ashleigh Lane property a camper is now parked on a paved parking area, according to minutes from the Brookfield Blight Committee meeting on March 23. In recent months, the enforcement of blight rules has been ramped up under Carrs direction. She said a lot of the enforcement work is focused on properties around the towns center district the work is an important aspect of showing new developers the local officials are serious about protecting their investment but is not meant to pressure anyone. We are not out to get anybody. Its just a matter of keeping space tidy, said Carr. The blight regulations have been seen in municipalities across Connecticut, with the local effort focused on protecting property values, she said. Francis W. Lollie is the Brookfields Zoning Commission enforcer and spoke to the added focus on enforcing local blight rules. Its a problem everywhere, Lollie said this week. Tara has a little more aggressiveness to her, which is good. We want to get some of these properties clean. Its in our best interest not to penalize everyone but to work with them, he added. We are not looking for profit. Its not a money-maker for us. Its just a matter of making the properties not.in a deplorable a condition or not where to we are having an impact on abutting properties. Lollie explained how his inspections go, saying he can go as far as the mailman can go, up to the front door. But the work is only part of the blight job. In many cases, the empty, vacant, or foreclosed properties he is tasked with inspecting require cooperation from the local property owners. Its a hard progress when they live so far away, said Lollie. But, again, we are making progress with them. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Rioters who smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, succeeded at least temporarily in delaying the certification of Joe Bidens election to the White House. Hours before, Rep. Jim Jordan had been trying to achieve the same thing. Texting with then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, a close ally and friend, at nearly midnight on Jan. 5, Jordan offered a legal rationale for what President Donald Trump was publicly demanding that Vice President Mike Pence, in his ceremonial role presiding over the electoral count, somehow assert the authority to reject electors from Biden-won states. Pence should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all, Jordan wrote. "I have pushed for this," Meadows replied. Not sure it is going to happen. The text exchange, in an April 22 court filing from the congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6 riot, is in a batch of startling evidence that shows the deep involvement of some House Republicans in Trumps desperate attempt to stay in power. A review of the evidence finds new details about how, long before the attack on the Capitol unfolded, several GOP lawmakers were participating directly in Trump's campaign to reverse the results of a free and fair election. It's a connection that members of the House Jan. 6 committee are making explicit as they prepare to launch public hearings in June. The Republicans plotting with Trump and the rioters who attacked the Capitol were aligned in their goals, if not the mob's violent tactics, creating a convergence that nearly upended the nation's peaceful transfer of power. It appears that a significant number of House members and a few senators had more than just a passing role in what went on," Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, told The Associated Press last week. Since launching its investigation last summer, the Jan. 6 panel has been slowly gaining new details about what lawmakers said and did in the weeks before the insurrection. Members have asked three GOP lawmakers Jordan of Ohio, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California to testify voluntarily. All have refused. Other lawmakers could be called in the coming days. So far, the Jan. 6 committee has refrained from issuing subpoenas to lawmakers, fearing the repercussions of such an extraordinary step. But the lack of cooperation from lawmakers hasn't prevented the panel from obtaining new information about their actions. The latest court document, submitted in response to a lawsuit from Meadows, contained excerpts from just a handful of the more than 930 interviews the Jan. 6 panel has conducted. It includes information on several high-level meetings nearly a dozen House Republicans attended where Trump's allies flirted with ways to give him another term. Among the ideas: naming fake slates of electors in seven swing states, declaring martial law and seizing voting machines. The efforts started in the weeks after The Associated Press declared Biden president-elect. In early December 2020, several lawmakers attended a meeting in the White House counsel's office where attorneys for the president advised them that a plan to put up an alternate slate of electors declaring Trump the winner was not legally sound. One lawmaker, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, pushed back on that position. So did GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Louie Gohmert of Texas, according to testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former special assistant in the Trump White House. Despite the warning from the counsel's office, Trump's allies moved forward. On Dec. 14, 2020, as rightly chosen Democratic electors in seven states Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin met at their seat of state government to cast their votes, the fake electors gathered as well. They declared themselves the rightful electors and submitted false Electoral College certificates declaring Trump the true winner of the presidential election in their states. Those certificates from the alternate electors were then sent to Congress, where they were ignored. The majority of the lawmakers have since denied their involvement in these efforts. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia testified in a hearing in April that she does not recall conversations she had with the White House or the texts she sent to Meadows about Trump invoking martial law. Gohmert told AP he also does not recall being involved and that he is not sure he could be helpful to the committees investigation. Rep. Jody Hice of Georgia played down his actions, saying it is routine for members of the presidents party to be going in and out of the White House to speak about a number of topics. Hice is now running for secretary of state in Georgia, a position responsible for the state's elections. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona didnt deny his public efforts to challenge the election results but called recent reports about his deep involvement untrue. In a statement Saturday, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona reiterated his serious concerns about the 2020 election. Discussions about the Electoral Count Act were appropriate, necessary and warranted, he added. Requests for comment from the other lawmakers were not immediately returned. Less than a week later after the early December meeting at the White House, another plan emerged. In a meeting with House Freedom Caucus members and Trump White House officials, the discussion turned to the decisive action they believed that Pence could take on Jan. 6. Those in attendance virtually and in-person, according to committee testimony, were Hice, Biggs, Gosar, Reps. Perry, Gaetz, Jordan, Gohmert, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, and Greene, then a congresswoman-elect. "What was the conversation like? the committee asked Hutchinson, who was a frequent presence in the meetings that took place in December 2020 and January 2021. They felt that he had the authority to, pardon me if my phrasing isnt correct on this, but send votes back to the States or the electors back to the states," Hutchinson said, referring to Pence. When asked if any of the lawmakers disagreed with the idea that the vice president had such authority, Hutchinson said there was no objection from any of the Republican lawmakers. In another meeting about Pence's potential role, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis were joined again by Perry and Jordan as well as Greene and Lauren Boebert, a Republican who had also just been elected to the House from Colorado. Communication between lawmakers and the White House didn't let up as Jan. 6 drew closer. The day after Christmas, Perry texted Meadows with a countdown. 11 days to 1/6 and 25 days to inauguration," the text read. "We gotta get going! Perry urged Meadows to call Jeffrey Clark, an assistant attorney general who championed Trump's efforts to challenge the election results. Perry has acknowledged introducing Clark to Trump. Clark clashed with Justice Department superiors over his plan to send a letter to Georgia and other battleground states questioning the election results and urging their state legislatures to investigate. It all culminated in a dramatic White House meeting at which Trump considered elevating Clark to attorney general, only to back down after top Justice Department officials made clear they would resign. Pressure from lawmakers and the White House on the Justice Department is among several areas of inquiry in the Jan. 6 investigation. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the panel from Maryland, has hinted there are more revelations to come. As the mob smashed our windows, bloodied our police and stormed the Capitol, Trump and his accomplices plotted to destroy Bidens majority in the electoral college and overthrow our constitutional order, Raskin tweeted last week. When the results of the panel's investigation come out, Raskin predicted, America will see how the coup and insurrection converged. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PARIS (AP) Tens of thousands of people marched Sunday in cities around Europe for May Day protests to honor workers and shame governments into doing more for their citizens. In France, protesters shouted slogans against newly elected President Emmanuel Macron, a development that may set the tone for his second term. Tensions erupted in Paris, as some demonstrators smashed windows at some banks, a fast-food restaurant and a real estate agency, apparently partially the work of masked men dressed in black. French police moved in, firing rounds of tear gas. That failed to stop a woman from attacking a firefighter trying to douse a street fire. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 45 people had been detained so far, including the young woman. Eight police officers were injured, he said, calling the perpetrators of the violence thugs who were trying to stop the right to demonstrate." May Day is often a time of high emotions for workers in Europe, and protests in the last two years have been limited by pandemic restrictions. Turkish police moved in quickly in Istanbul to encircle protesters near the barred-off Taksim Square where 34 people were killed In 1977 during a May Day event. On Sunday, Turkish police detained 164 people for demonstrating without permits and resisting police at the square, the Istanbul governor's office said. On the Asian side of sprawling Istanbul, a May Day union-organized gathering drew thousands who sang, chanted and waved banners. Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey briefly interrupted her May Day speech at a trade union rally where someone threw an egg at her but missed. Giffey, of the center-left Social Democrats, was met by loud protests during her speech. Giffey called the egg tossing "neither helpful nor politically valuable. In Italy, after a two-year pandemic lull, an outdoor mega-concert was being held in Rome after rallies and protests in cities across the country. Besides improving conditions for workers, peace was an underlying theme, with many calls for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Italys three main labor unions held their main rally in the hilltop town of Assisi, a frequent destination for peace protests. Its a May Day of social and civil commitment for peace and labor, said the head of Italys CISL union, Daniela Fumarola. In Russia, a motorcade organized by the country's trade unions supportive of the invasion of Ukraine finished its cross-country trip in Moscow Sunday to mark May Day. Participating were 70 cars representing all Russian regions from Vladivostok to Astrakhan, as well as the Russia-backed separatist administrations controlling parts of Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions. May Day celebrations in Russia also saw the arrests of antiwar protesters and bystanders across the country, including some who demonstrated in support of the authorities. According to reports by the Russian legal aid group OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests, a man was detained in Moscow after holding up a sign in support of the FSB and President Vladimir Putin. Rising inflation and fears of upcoming food shortages from the war in Ukraine were feeding discontent around the world. Thousands of workers, unemployed people and retirees marched peacefully in North Macedonias capital of Skopje, demanding wage increases and respect for workers rights. Inflation, running at an annual clip of 8.8% in March, is at a 14-year-high. Darko Dimovski, head of the countrys Federation of Trade Unions, told the crowd that workers are demanding an across-the-board wage increase. The economic crisis has eaten up workers salaries, he said. In France, the May Day rallies which came a week after the country's presidential election aimed to show the centrist Macron the opposition that he could face in his second five-year term. Opposition parties, notably from the far-left and the far-right, are looking to break his governments majority in France's parliamentary election in June. The Paris march was dominated by far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who placed third in the first round of the presidential vote and is deep in talks with other leftist parties in France, including the once-dominant Socialists who are struggling to exist. Melenchon appealed to potential partners to ally to keep Macron's centrists from dominating parliament as they do now. Our goal is victory, he said. Some 250 marches and protests were being held around France. All were pressing Macron for policies that put people first and condemning his plan to raise France's retirement age from 62 to 65. Macron says that's the only way the government can continue to provide good retirement benefits. May Day is the time to rally for a reduction in working time. That reduction signifies one key thing that workers should be getting a larger share of the wealth, Melenchon said, condemning the violence at the Paris march, which he said overshadows the concerns of workers. In a first, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was absent from her partys traditional wreath-laying at the foot of a statue of Joan of Arc, replaced by the interim president of her National Rally party. Le Pen was defeated by Macron in the April 24 presidential runoff, and plans to campaign to keep her seat as a lawmaker. Ive come to tell the French that the voting isnt over. There is a third round, the legislative elections, said National Rally's Jordan Bardella. It would be unbelievable to leave full power to Emmanuel Macron. ___ Nicole Winfield in Rome, Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul, Demetris Nellas in Athens, Oleg Cetinic in Paris contributed to this report. A group of former judges and bureaucrats has responded to another group of ex-bureaucrats who voiced worries about "politics of hate" in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing it of attempting to affect public opinion and engaging in "virtue signaling." After a group of 108 former civil officials accused BJP governments of practising hate politics in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of former judges, bureaucrats, and military services veterans drafted a rebuttal response, according to ANI. An open letter to the prime minister was signed by eight former judges, 97 retired officials, and 92 veterans of the military services in response to the Constitutional Conduct Groups message (CCG). A group of former judges and bureaucrats has responded to another group of ex-bureaucrats who voiced worries about politics of hate in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing it of attempting to affect public opinion and engaging in virtue signaling. The signatories, who identify as Concerned Citizens, claim that the Constitutional Conduct Groups letter to PM Modi was motivated by ulterior motives. The letter was the groups way to let out its frustration against the public opinion which remains solidly behind Modi, the signatories said, citing the Bharatiya Janata Partys recent electoral wins in the assembly elections to four of five states. Their anger and anguish is not only empty virtue-signaling, they are actually fueling the politics of hate they seek to combat by attempting to engineer hate against the present government with their patent prejudices and false portrayals, the counter letter read. The Concerned Citizens organisation called attention to the striking resemblance between the phraseology of the CCG missives and comments in the Western media or by Western agencies, calling the CCGs message biassed with evident ideological underpinnings. The 197 signatories also criticized the CCG for its apparent silence on post-election violence in West Bengal. It lays bare their cynical and unprincipled approach to issues, the group alleged. The same attitude shapes their reactions (or rather the lack of any reaction) to the multiple violent incidents in various states ruled by different political parties and targeted violation of human rights adversely affecting the livelihoods of the poor irrespective of their religion, it said. In an open letter, the Consitutional Conduct Group had said, We are witnessing a frenzy of hate filled destruction in the country where at the sacrificial altar are not just Muslims and members of the other minority communities but the Constitution itself. In the counter-letter, the Concerned Citizens group advised the former civil servants against orchestrating a false narrative of colourable use of state power. The counter letter alleged that the other groups real intention is to foster a counter-narrative against the premeditated attacks on peaceful processions during Hindu festivals, be it in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat or New Delhi. Under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized Rs 5551.27 crore from Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the China-based Xiaomi group, in connection with illegal remittances made by the firm in February this year, the agency said on Saturda Under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized Rs 5551.27 crore from Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the China-based Xiaomi group, in connection with illegal remittances made by the firm in February this year, the agency said on Saturday. Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd, which began operations in India in 2014 and began remitting money in 2015, has the seized sum of Rs 5551.27 crore in its bank accounts. According to the ED, the company sent foreign money equivalent to Rs 5551.27 crore to three foreign-based businesses, one of which is a Xiaomi group entity, under the pretence of Royalty. Such massive sums in the name of royalties were transferred on the orders of their Chinese parent group organisations. The money sent to two unconnected businesses in the United States was likewise for the Xiaomi groups benefit, according to the ED. Under the brand name MI, Xiaomi India is a trader and distributor of mobile phones in India. Xiaomi India purchases fully assembled mobile phones and other products from Indian manufacturers. Xiaomi India has not received any services from the three foreign-based organisations to whom these funds were sent. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stressed the importance of implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state on Saturday, saying that the legislation is required to provide justice to all Muslim women Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stressed the importance of implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state on Saturday, saying that the legislation is required to provide justice to all Muslim women. During his visit to New Delhi, Sarma interacted with media and stated, Everyone wants to go to UCC. No Muslim lady wants her husband to have three wives at home. Any Muslim woman will tell you that. UCC isnt just a problem for me; its a problem for all Muslim women. UCC will have to be brought if they are to be awarded justice following the repeal of Triple Talaq. The Chief Minister distinguished between indigenous Muslims and migrant Muslims in Assam, saying that the former do not want to be merged with the latter. Explaining further he said, In Assam, the Muslim community has one faith, but two distinct cultures and origins. One of them is native to Assam and has not migrated in the last 200 years. This group demands that they not be mixed in with migrant Muslims and that they be allowed their own identity. The Chief Minister further stated that the state government will decide on the identity of Assamese Muslims, both indigenous and migrant. When asked about his earlier meeting with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to resolve the state border problem, Sarma said a district committee would be constituted. Earlier on Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government would appoint a committee to implement the Uniform Civil Code. The Uniform Civil Code is an Indian proposal to draught and execute personal laws that apply to all people equally regardless of religion, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. Currently, diverse societies personal laws are governed by their religious scriptures. The law is based on Article 44 of the Constitution, which states that the state must work to ensure that citizens throughout India have access to a uniform civil code. Notably, in its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, the BJP stated that if elected, it would implement UCC. Tesla CEO Elon Musk told US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to quit flirting with him after she criticized him as a "billionaire with an ego problem Tesla CEO Elon Musk told US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to quit flirting with him after she criticized him as a billionaire with an ego problem. Since the time Elon Musk came on board of Twitter, a constant struggle and criticism is being seen on Twitter as the users call the decision threat to the democracy. As the chaos went further on Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez on Friday stated Tired of having to collectively stress about what explosion of hate crimes is happening because some billionaire with an ego problem unilaterally controls a massive communication platform and skews it because Tucker Carlson or Peter Thiel took him to dinner and made him feel special. Despite the fact that the US congressman did not identify anyone, Musk must have assumed the jab was aimed at him, as he responded, Stop hitting on me, Im pretty shy. However, later Ocasio-Cortez responded to Musks remark saying that she was talking about (Mark) Zuckerberg, but ok. like I said, ego problems https://t.co/IpyCkMadP8 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 30, 2022 Musk is well-known for spouting out ideas, often jokingly, on his Twitter timeline. His tweets frequently elicit heated disputes on a variety of topics, including free speech, which polarizes the Twitterati. Hes also been outspoken about his political views, expressing his opposition to Left-wing philosophy on Friday. Elon Musks entry has caused struggle in the path of Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal as the companys employees have turned against the settlement, asking why he took this sudden decision. According to the reports, Musk may take some strict actions by making some job cuts in the companys policy department. On Monday, Twitter revealed the companys sale to Tesla CEO Elon Musk for USD 44 billion. Over an invitation to an Iftar celebration in Haidgaon Union in Chattogram's Patia Upazila, Jitendra Kanti Guha, Vice-President of Bangladesh's Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad in Chittagong South, was assaulted and tied to a tree by supporters of a local Union Parishad chairman Over an invitation to an Iftar celebration in Haidgaon Union in Chattograms Patia Upazila, Jitendra Kanti Guha, Vice-President of Bangladeshs Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad in Chittagong South, was assaulted and tied to a tree by supporters of a local Union Parishad chairman. The event happened this afternoon in Brahmanghata, Haidgaon at the Gauchia Community Centre where the Haidgaon Union Awami League conducted an Iftar mahfil and discussion meeting, but Union Parishad (UP) chairman BM Jasim was not invited. It is being said that Jasim not being invited became the reason for the conflict. Meanwhile, Shahidul Islam Zulu, the joint convener of the Haidgaon Union Awami League, claimed that BM Jasim was not invited to the Iftar celebration because the current chairman was chosen as the ruling Awami Leagues dissident candidate. As a result, Jasim became upset and arrived at the location with a group of 30-40 people, insulting numerous people, including Mahmudul Haque Hafez, the convener of the Union Awami League. The violence turned massive as Indeijit Leo, a former member punched Jitendra Guha. Later, Jitendra Guha was dragged out, shackled to a tree, and beaten mercilessly by the rest of the people there at the time. However, when approached for response, BM Jasim said that Guha defrauded people by promising government apartments, tube wells, and work during his presidency. The men beat him up and demanded the money. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WARSAW, Poland (AP) A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. "We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom. You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy "the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegation's trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraines fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance arent going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win," he said. "What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Scores of U.S. lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the wars toll and shore up U.S. troops in the broader region. Pelosis delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosi's stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. "is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won." Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. intelligence support it needs to defeat Russian forces. The delegations visit followed those of several EU officials and European heads of state who have gone to show solidarity with Zelenskyy, starting with the March 15 surprise visit by the leaders of NATO members Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. More recently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. A missile strike rained down on the capital barely an hour after their joint press conference, an attack Kyivs mayor said was Putin giving his middle finger to Guterres. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, Pelosi said. McGovern said Russias war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added: I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world." ___ Winfield reported from Rome, Mascaro from Washington. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, not third. ___ More AP coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Tesla CEO Elon Musk has laid out some bold, if still vague, plans for transforming Twitter into a place of maximum fun once he buys the social media platform for $44 billion and takes it private. But enacting what at the moment are little more than a mix of vague principles and technical details could be considerably more complicated than he suggests. Here's what might happen if Musk follows through on his ideas about free speech, fighting spam and opening up the black box of artificial intelligence tools that amplify social media trends. FREE SPEECH TOWN SQUARE Musk's feistiest priority but also the one with the vaguest roadmap is to make Twitter a politically neutral digital town square for the world's discourse that allows as much free speech as each country's laws allow. He's acknowledged that his plans to reshape Twitter could anger the political left and mostly please the right. He hasn't specified exactly what he'll do about former President Donald Trump's permanently banned account or other right-wing leaders whose tweets have run afoul of the company's restrictions against hate speech, violent threats or harmful misinformation. Should Musk go this direction, it could mean bringing back not only Trump, but "many, many others that were removed as a result of QAnon conspiracies, targeted harassment of journalists and activists, and of course all of the accounts that were removed after Jan. 6, said Joan Donovan, who studies misinformation at Harvard University. "That could potentially be hundreds of thousands of people." Musk hasn't ruled out suspending some accounts, but says such bans should be temporary. His latest criticism has centered around what he described as Twitters incredibly inappropriate 2020 blocking of a New York Post article on Hunter Biden, which the company has said was a mistake and corrected within 24 hours. OPEN-SOURCED ALGORITHMS Musk's longstanding interest in AI is reflected in one of the most specific proposals he outlined in his merger announcement the promise of "making the algorithms open source to increase trust. He's talking about the systems that rank content to decide what shows up on users feeds. Partly driving the distrust, at least for Musk supporters, is lore among U.S. political conservatives about shadow banning on social media. This is a supposed invisible feature for reducing the reach of badly behaving users without disabling their accounts. There has been no evidence that Twitter's platform is biased against conservatives; studies have found the opposite when it comes to conservative media in particular. Musk has called for posting the underlying computer code powering Twitter's news feed for public inspection on the coder hangout GitHub. But such code-level transparency gives users little insight into how Twitter is working for them without the data the algorithms are processing, said Nick Diakopoulos, a Northwestern University computer scientist. Diakopoulos said there are good intentions in Musk's broader goal to help people find out why their tweets get promoted or demoted and whether human moderators or automated systems are making those choices. But that's no easy task. Too much transparency about how individual tweets are ranked, for instance, can make it easier for disingenuous people to game the system and manipulate an algorithm to get maximum exposure for their cause, Diakopoulos said. DEFEATING THE SPAM BOTS Spam bots that mimic real people have been a personal nuisance to Musk, whose popularity on Twitter has inspired countless impersonator accounts that use his image and name often to promote cryptocurrency scams that look as if they're coming from the Tesla CEO. Sure, Twitter users, among them Musk, dont want spam, said David Greene, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. But who defines what counts as a spam bot? Do you mean all bots like, you know, if I follow a Twitter bot that just pulls up historic photos of fruits? I choose to follow that. Is that not allowed to exist? he said. There are also plenty of spam-filled Twitter accounts at least partially run by real people that run the gamut from ones that hawk products to those promoting polarizing political content to meddle in other countries' elections. AUTHENTICATE ALL HUMANS' Musk has repeatedly said he wants Twitter to authenticate all humans, an ambiguous proposal that could be related to his desire to rid the website of spam accounts. Ramping up mundane identity checks such as two-factor authentication or popups that ask which of six photos shows a school bus could discourage anyone from trying to amass an army of bogus accounts. Musk might also be considering offering more people a blue check the verification checkmark sported on notable Twitter accounts like Musk's to show they're who they say they are. Musk has suggested users could buy the checkmarks as part of a premium service. But some digital rights activists are concerned these measures could lead to a real-name policy resembling Facebook's approach of forcing people to validate their full names and use them in their profiles. That would seem to contradict Musk's free speech focus by muzzling anonymous whistleblowers or people living under authoritarian regimes where it can be dangerous if a dissident message is attributable to a particular person. AD-FREE TWITTER? Musk has floated the idea of an ad-free Twitter, though it wasn't one of the priorities outlined in the official merger announcement. That may be because cutting off the company's chief way of making money would be a tall order, even for the world's richest person. Advertisements accounted for more than 92% of Twitter's revenue in the January-March fiscal quarter. The company did last year launch a premium subscription service known as Twitter Blue but doesn't appear to have made much headway in getting people to pay for it. Musk has made clear he favors a stronger subscription-based model for Twitter that gives more people an ad-free option. That would also fit into his push to relax Twitter's content restrictions which brands largely favor because they don't want their ads surrounded by offensive and hate-filled tweets. WHAT ELSE? Musk has tweeted and voiced so many proposals for Twitter that it can be hard to know which ones he takes seriously. He's joined the popular call for an edit button" which Twitter says it's already working on that would enable people to fix a tweet shortly after posting it. A less serious proposal from Musk suggested converting Twitter's downtown San Francisco headquarters to a homeless shelter since no one shows up anyway" a comment taken more as a dig on Twitter's pandemic-era workforce than an altruistic vision for the building. Musk didnt return an emailed request to clarify his plans. - AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this report. BEIJING,April 30 -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) expressed firm will to maintain the absolute superiority of the DPRK armed forces, the state media Korean Central News Agency reported on Saturday. Kim made the remarks when meeting the commanding officers of the Korean People's Army, who directed the military parade and other events commemorating the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, at the office building of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee. "In the present world, where a force clashes with another fiercely and one can preserve one's dignity, rights and interests only when one gets stronger, the tremendous offensive power, the overwhelming military muscle that no force in the world can provoke, is the lifeline guaranteeing the security of our country and people and the future of posterity," said Kim. He also called for constantly develop the army to "preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, including ever-escalating nuclear threats from hostile forces." Hoang Minh/AP HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed the war in Ukraine with Vietnamese leaders on Sunday and said they agreed on the respect for international law and rejection of the use of force. Japan has condemned Russia's invasion and joined Western nations in imposing sanctions against Moscow. Vietnam, like most other Southeast Asian nations, has avoided directly criticizing Russia and has called for restraint, the respect of the U.N. charter and dialogue to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict. MILFORD One person was killed Saturday night in a crash involving a motorcycle, police said. Officers were called to the crash in the area of Boston Post Road and Cedarhurst Lane at 7:20 p.m. Police said that a BMW motorcycle collided with a Lexus SUV as it was leaving a driveway on Boston Post Road. The driver of the motorcycle, 20-year-old Austin Micha, was killed in the crash. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Officer Dan Hemperly at 203-783-4792. Sober houses save lives, providing a drug-free home for someone in recovery from addiction, say supporters. Those who own the homes and those who have found sobriety in them also will say there are both good and bad houses, and that if someone wants to find drugs, theres little to stop them. Sober houses are not regulated by the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, but many are voluntarily certified by the Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences, known as CTARR, an affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, whose members meet the national organizations standards. Those standards include providing a safe and healthy environment in which alcohol and other drugs are not allowed, operating as a legal and ethical business or nonprofit, following building codes, having naloxone on site and helping residents follow their recovery plan. There is no requirement for medical staff on site. The state contracts with sober houses to provide beds for clients on Husky (Medicaid) when they come out of treatment, at a daily rate of $25 per bed, according to DMHAS spokesman Art Mongillo. The state has a contract with Advanced Behavioral Health to ensure the houses meet state standards. Each sober house is run independently, said Carleen Zambetti, behavioral health clinical manager at DMHAS. There is no one regulation that everybody is under. In general, I think theyre really helpful to people by providing a substance-free living environment as people are coming out of their treatment and learning how to reinforce what theyve learned in treatment. But I think because theyre all independent that there are good ones and bad ones. Zambetti said she and an ABH staff member visit each sober house once annually. We pull charts and we have certain documentation requirements, and so one of them is a treatment plan, she said. We verify that they meet with the person and they document their sessions with the person and what theyre working on. Generally, its a simple plan. And it usually revolves around employment and housing. Zambetti said if there were more formal regulation of sober houses, I think that that would limit access for people right now, because of the way its structured, she said. Theres a lot of places that people can go and if they were regulated, I think a lot of those places would not be able to operate, and so that would limit peoples ability to move through their recovery and have a safe environment to live in. Karen Ablondi, vice president of CTARR, said there are gaps in the states system and that Connecticut is the only state in New England that doesnt financially support its NARR affiliate. We want DMHAS to fund CTARR so we can hire an executive director, so we can inspect and certify recovery homes, provide training and collect data, she said. She said a third party should inspect the houses, rather than Advanced Behavioral Health. Not all of the state-contracted houses are on CTARRs list. Mongillo said the state agencys requirements are stricter than CTARRs. A death sentence The lack of oversight creates a potential risk if a resident is not being given medical treatment, according to Dr. Gail DOnofrio, former chairwoman of emergency medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and an expert in addiction treatment. Medication-assisted treatment with methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone is critical, she said. People who come out of detox or prison who were not given medication are at risk if they relapse, DOnofrio said. She said that could be a death sentence because all you have to do is use once and you could die because of the potency of fentanyl thats on the street. The risk is not just the drug itself. Going substance-free without medication is the highest-risk time to die because youre no longer tolerant from a physical point of view, but the addiction in your brain is still there, DOnofrio said. So you go out, you use once and you die. Withdrawal doesnt change the connections in the brain that are incredibly powerful towards craving and reward system, she said. We dont know how many years, if ever, they go back. DOnofrio said such medication should be available in sober houses. For recovering addicts, Its important that they be in environments in which they feel safe meaning that there arent other people there using drugs with drug paraphernalia or drinking that could trigger their addiction, she said. The problem is, is that theyre not regulated. Anybody who has a couple of rooms can open it up and some can be very bad, and some can be excellent. Another issue is what happens if someone fails a drug test, which many sober houses require. Putting an addict back on the street also is dangerous, DOnofrio said. Somethings not going right. So I need to work with the patient and say, what else do you need? Whats going on? How can I help you, as opposed to kicking them out, she said. CTARR inspects, trains Dan Smith of Canaan, CTARRs president, said the group has 65 member houses with 500 beds in Connecticut. We inspect and certify recovery homes, we provide trainings to administrators at homes as well as to the general public, he said. We have a monthly forum so every month were providing trainings that are open to the public. There also is a grievance committee. I think its a common misperception of what the public sees, Smith said. They usually hear about more of the sad stories rather than all the positive ones. Theres lots and lots of people that are passing away that have not had the opportunity to be in a sober house a place that is safe, supportive, that does do drug testing, that does do breathalyzing, that does have accountability to best support those that are in recovery living there. Death in a sober house Teddy Gagnon was 24 when he died on June 9, 2017, in a sober house on Sylvan Avenue in New Haven, one of five run by Rick DelValle under the name A New Beginning. It was the same year my husband passed away from cancer, said his mother, Tracey Gagnon. Teddy Gagnon had been helping himself to my husbands medication so Tracey Gagnon threw him out of the house, she said. She said she was grateful when Teddy found a sober house, because I had told Teddy I could not have you come home. Youre going to have to work this and fix your life. The harder it is for you to do the work, it might stick to you. When she saw the house, however, Gagnon said she was upset at its condition and the neighborhoods. He was paying almost $200 a week to live in this sober living house and it was just a bed, she said. Teddy Gagnon did get a job and stayed clean. He planned to take his mother to lunch, one day after he passed a drug test. But she got a call from DelValle telling her Gagnon had overdosed. After medical technicians tried to revive him, Teddy was taken to the hospital. My cousin and I went back and as soon as I opened the door they pronounced him as I stood there, she said. She said owners of sober houses have no accountability. Theres very, very little if any oversight whatsoever. Zero, she said. They get this certification and they get this little document and that paves the way. DelValle confirmed Teddy Gagnon died in his house. The kid came home from work. He was doing well, he said. He went into the bathroom and did carfentanil. DelValle said he and his wife Jess have six houses with 86 beds. We opened up our first sober house and we fell in love with it, he said. Were all about helping guys rebuild their lives. He said he charges $175 per week. He also owned Redemption House, a landing spot for them to go until they figure out what their next step was. It was financed with donations, but he said he had to close it for lack of funds. We saved 486 people and got them off the street and got them to soberhood or got them into treatment, he said. While he had six fatal overdoses in two years in his houses, DelValle said, We havent had any overdoses probably in two, three years. I thank God for people in recovery like myself who want to help, he said. I agree there needs to be more oversight. Lets open some Redemption Houses. Lets get every house in the state of Connecticut certified. Were out here trying to save lives. Hes bought a house on State Street in Hamden that he hopes to turn into another Redemption House. Community navigators Tony Morrissey of New Milford, who lost his son, Brian Cody Waldron, in August 2019, set up Brian Codys Brothers & Sisters Foundation to create outreach programs and reduce barriers to recovery. He and his wife, Tracey, helped get a bill passed in 2021 to create a pilot program for community navigators in towns across the state to work with families to help get those in addiction into treatment. Morrissey praised DelValles Redemption House, which included peer counselors. My organization placed numerous people there and weve seen pretty much nothing but miraculous results, he said. However, Morrissey said, there are sober houses that operate without any oversight. Some of them really are not good at all, he said. In fact, some would argue that the worst thing you do is send somebody whos trying to recover to a place like that, and there are many of them. Kayti Meehan, owner of Park Place, a coed sober house in Bridgeport, said there needs to be criteria, but to be totally honest, it works for me. We have our own rules that we abide by, that the residents have to abide by, she said. Theres no tolerance for drug and alcohol use and we test them weekly. We are always on top of what theyre into. Tony Kiniry, executive director of Recovery Community Development, which runs Noble House in Bridgeport and Norwalk Harbor House, said CTARR has pretty high standards. They come and inspect the house to make sure that its up to code, that you have Narcan in the house, that you have enough room for people. He charges $750 per month, including utilities but not food. Theres three kitchens in the house, Kiniry said. Guys will eat together as a family. I know the people that are with us, they can tell you how it saved their life. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Dwelling on the past has earned University of Arizona researcher Jessica Tierney a prestigious, $1 million award from the National Science Foundation. The Alan T. Waterman Award is the nations highest honor for early-career scientists and engineers, and it recognizes outstanding individual achievements in foundation-supported research. Tierney was singled out for her efforts to use prehistoric climate signals to reconstruct ancient conditions and help predict the future. Studying the past is important because it can narrow our projections for what climate will look like at the end of the century, and what sort of impacts humans will face, Tierney said in a statement. The associate professor in the Department of Geosciences is the first researcher from the UA and the first climatologist anywhere to receive the Waterman prize since Congress established it in 1975. Receiving this award signals that one of the nations top research funders recognizes the urgency of understanding the Earth system as humans drive climate change, Tierney said. It makes me feel like my research is important and really making a difference. She earned her bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in geology from Brown before joining the UA in 2015. Dr. Tierney has quickly made a name for herself in the climate sciences, and we couldnt be more proud that she has won this prestigious award, said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. This is a tremendous honor, and were lucky to have her incredibly valuable expertise at our university. Tierney recently served as a lead author on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment report, which was released in three parts last year and earlier this year. She specializes in teasing organic climate clues from fossil molecules known as biomarkers preserved in sediments and rocks. By combining such data with novel modeling techniques, she can chart past conditions and the system dynamics that produced them, redefining in the process how scientists understand the influence of carbon dioxide levels on prehistoric changes in climate. For a 2020 paper published in the journal Nature, for example, Tierney and her team spent four years compiling and analyzing as many ancient climate signals as possible from the last ice age, with a particular focus on ocean temperatures. The resulting cache of about 1,800 data points was then plugged into cutting-edge computer models at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, to produce a unique look back Tierney called a hindcast. Her pioneering work in molecular paleoclimatology previously earned her national recognition as a Packard Foundation Fellow in 2014 and an American Geophysical Union Fellow in 2015. The Packard award came with $875,000 in research money over five years. Tierney is one of just three scientists nationwide selected for the 2022 Waterman Award, which was named for the National Science Foundations first director. This years prize will be presented on May 5 during a ceremony at the National Science Board meeting in Washington, D.C. In addition to a medal, each recipient gets $1 million in research funding over five years. Tierney said the money will help support her students, post-doctoral researchers and her lab manager as they pursue new areas of research. In particular, this award will allow us to explore high-risk, high-reward ideas that have the potential to transform our understanding of past and future climate change, she said. Mr Omoyele Sowore, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), on Saturday appealed to Nigerians to vote... Mr Omoyele Sowore, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), on Saturday appealed to Nigerians to vote for his party in the 2023 general elections. Sowore, the publisher of the SaharaReporters, made the plea in Akure while speaking with newsmen, amid a resounding welcome by party faithful. According to him, Nigerians, most especially the youths, need to challenge those seeking political office ahead of 2023 general elections. This is the right time to challenge those in power and bring those with fresh blood, ideas and initiatives that can change the narratives for Nigeria. The time for the nation to work for Nigerians has also arrived. Other political parties are even going into extinction and we would help to consign them into the dustbin of history as soon as possible. For the people of Ondo State, and those who have not heard, I, Omoyele Sowore is going to be the next President of Nigeria, he said. The AAC presidential aspirant expressed happiness that he was received by supporters and mammoth crowd from his country home, Kiribo, in Ese-Odo Local Government area of the state. He also described his incarceration by the Department of State Services (DSS) as a complete waste of time. Sowore said he was stronger and bolder, now that he has been released to move around the country. The AAC presidential aspirant said he would continue to speak against injustice. General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for the containment of malaria saying it was more d... General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for the containment of malaria saying it was more deadly than COVID-19. According to him, based on a newspaper report, no less than 200,000 people were reported dead as a result of malaria, adding that despite the disruption caused by COVID-19 the causality was less than 200,000. He spoke while delivering a sermon, titled, Supernatural Elevation, during the monthly Thanksgiving Service at the National Headquarters of the church at Ebute Meta, Lagos. Adeboye explained that he had just returned from the Europe Convention of the RCCG, involving members from European countries, adding that those with face masks might not have been up to two. He said, I just returned from our European convention, Im not sure I saw up to two people wearing masks. I read in the newspaper that 200,00 people died from malaria; Coronavirus is less than 200,000. Which one is more deadly, is it Coro or Malaria? He lamented the increase of persons who took delight in staying away from church with coronavirus as an excuse, saying that he had prophesied that it would subside and not go away. Any young person staying away from church is disobeying God. Anyone older than I, is old and anyone younger than I, is young. If you want to wear a facemask, fine. God told me coronavirus will subside but it will not go away. Safety is of the lord, stop fearing the devil, Adeboye said. Adeboye who delivered the message, Supernatural Elevation, cited the examples of Joseph and David as some of the individuals that were, reaching a height that cant be reached by natural means. Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has declared M... Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has declared Monday (May 2, 2022) as the first day of Shawwal 1443AH in Nigeria. Abubakar announced this in a statement on Saturday signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto. The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee did not receive any report from various Moon sighting committees across the country. This, confirms the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal 1443AH, on Saturday, April 30, 2022, which was the 29th day of Ramadan 1443AH. Therefore, Sunday, May 1, 2022, is the 30th day of the month of Ramadan 1443AH. The Sultan has accepted the report and accordingly declared Monday, May 2, 2022, as the first day of Shawwal 1443AH, Day of Eid-el-Fitr, he said. The Sultan felicitated Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wished them Allahs guidance and blessings. He urged the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress and development of the country while wishing all Nigerians happy Eid-el-Fitr. Reports have it that Shawwal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, which comes after the fasting month of Ramadan. Sighting of the new moon signified the first day of Shawwal in which the Muslim Ummah celebrate Sallah and end the compulsory fasting of Ramadan. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government of Nigeria under President M... The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buharis administration over the failure to protect the rights to life, security, and dignity of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the failure to secure the safe release of those held captive by the terrorists. On March 28, terrorists attacked the AK9 AbujaKaduna train, killing at least nine persons, injuring many others, and kidnapping an unknown number of passengers. The victims are still with the terrorists for over four weeks, despite repeated appeals for the federal government to free them from captivity. In the suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/20/22 and filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja last week, SERAP is seeking a declaration that the train attack, abductions and killings of passengers by terrorists amount to a failure by the government to protect Nigerians, and to prevent these grave human rights violations. The suit was filed by SERAPs lawyers, Opeyemi Owolabi and Kolawole Oluwadare. The organization is also seeking an order directing the Buhari government to urgently find and identify all the passengers, victims and their families, and to pay adequate monetary compensation of N50million to each of the passengers and victims and their families. SERAP is arguing that the Buhari administration has a legal duty to protect individuals from immediate and real risks to their lives and security caused by actions of third parties, such as terrorists. Yobe State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has called for the harmonization and upward review of pension in the State. It sai... Yobe State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has called for the harmonization and upward review of pension in the State. It said some pensioners were still collecting N4,000 monthly. Chairman of the Council, Comrade Muktar Musa Tarbutu made the call while briefing newsman on this years May Day celebration in Damaturu. While commending the Yobe State government for its prompt payment of pension and gratuity in the State despite economic challenges, the Chairman described as inadequate the monthly disbursement of N100 million for the payment of pension and gratuity of retirees. He warned that the narrative if not changed could lead to spill over on monthly basis. The Congress enjoined government to implement the harmonized 33 percent pension increase in the State, as well as upward review of hazard allowances for fire fighters in the State, Tarbutu appealed. On housing, the Chairman frowned at the way the government workers were ending up homeless after retirement, hence called for the narrative to be changed for effective service delivery. Let me appreciate the State Government for its efforts in the housing issue in the State, however, government needs to device another way of the distribution process so that civil servants in the state can benefit more. We urge the government to look at the plights of its workers by providing at least 80 percent of the houses built across the State, he said. According to Comrade Tarbutu the gesture will not only enhance productivity and commitment in service, but will go a long way in reducing corruption in the system. The Acting Head of Civil Service in the State, Alhaji Garba Bilal who graced the occasion, assured the Union that all vital issued raised would be forwarded to the State Governor for necessary action. He commended the leadership of NLC in the State for maintaining harmonious working relationship between members of the Union and State Government, hence urged them to sustain the tempo for improved productivity. The Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for a lady seen boasting about making love with a dog in a viral TikTok video. Force Public ... The Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for a lady seen boasting about making love with a dog in a viral TikTok video. Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said posting bestial-natured videos online wont be tolerated. Adejobi also vowed that the police would apprehend the lady in the viral video. In a terse statement to journalists on Sunday night, the FPRO said, I really want us to take necessary action on these ladies that are involved in unnatural offences (including bestiality) and post same online. We want to urge you to give us any useful information on how to get these ladies. We need to fish them out please. Thanks. Commenting specifically on action of the lady setting the Internet ablaze, Adejobi said, We will get her. NE recalls that a light-skinned lady in a trending video claimed she was paid a lump sum to sleep with the dog. According to lawyers, the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act criminalise sleeping with an animal and that the act attracts up to 14 years imprisonment in Nigeria. Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma, has awarded the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian of Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, with an honor... Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma, has awarded the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian of Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, with an honorary doctorate degree. In a video shared on his Instgram page, Adeboye was awarded Doctor of Divinity for his distinguish service in spiritual leadership. Adeboye said he never expected that he would receive such an award from a prestigious university. Sharing a clip from the ceremony on his Instagram page, Adeboye wrote, I recall that day in 1979 when I accompanied my father: Pa Josiah Akindayomi to Tulsa Oklahoma to attend Kenneth Haggins camp meeting and how the power of God moved mightily. If anyone had told me then that I would be awarded an Honorary degree from one of the most prestigious Universities there: Oral Roberts University, I would have said the person was joking. But looking back and seeing what God as done so far, I cant but just say thank you Jesus. My sincere appreciation to the Leadership of the University, God bless you. Paris Saint-Germain manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has explained the reasons why forward Lionel Messi has struggled so badly during his first... Paris Saint-Germain manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has explained the reasons why forward Lionel Messi has struggled so badly during his first season at the Ligue 1 champions. Messi completed a shock free transfer move to PSG from his boyhood club Barcelona last summer. The Argentine captain has been slammed by PSG fans and the media following a disappointing first season at the Parc des Princes. The seven-time Ballon d Or winner has scored just four Ligue 1 goals this season and then performed poorly as PSG were eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid in the last-16. But Pochettino has now defended Messi, explaining the reasons why his countryman has not replicated his Barcelona heroics in PSG. We are not talking about an ordinary player, Messi is on the same level as Diego Maradona, Pochettino has told RMC Sport. It is clear that his move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain was a big change, in which an adaptation process was necessary. Certain circumstances didnt allow him to feel as comfortable as he did at Barcelona where hed spent 20 years. Where he had been the standard-bearer of the club. To judge Messi in this way is unfair. I have no doubts about his quality Next season will be a completely different season for him. This has been a year of learning, and not only at the professional level in coming to Paris, in a new league and with new team-mates, but also at the level of family. This must be taken into account. Its a major upheaval that can affect a player. Mr Joe Anatune, image manager of Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, and leader of his media team during last years election, has... Mr Joe Anatune, image manager of Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, and leader of his media team during last years election, has been announced dead. Anatune reportedly died on Saturday, few days after his 62nd birthday, and a little over a week after he bagged a government appointment, after tirelessly working for Soludos victory last year. He was recently appointed on April 19, 2022, as the MD/CEO of Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. Meanwhile, Prof Soludo has confirmed the death of Anatune, while also expressing shock and disbelief over the news. Mr Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Soludo, in a press release, said the Governor received the news of Mr Joe Anatunes sudden death with deep pains and shock. He said: Soludo described Joe Anatune as one of the foremost Apostles of the Soludo project with an uncommon strength and courage to deliver on any given assignment. He stated further that Joes personal sacrifices during his electioneering campaign were not only exceptional but highly commendable. He spearheaded the Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF) and for two years used the platform to engage the professionals into mainstream politics. The government and the good people of Anambra State will sorely miss Joe Anatune, Aburime said. He added that Governor Soludo had since commiserated with Anatunes wife, Mrs Ify Anatune and children, the Anatune family and Awa community over the sudden loss of their illustrious son. Unknown gunmen numbering about eight Friday evening at about 7. 30 pm invaded a popular beer parlour in Obiofia Village, Osumenyi, in Nnew... Unknown gunmen numbering about eight Friday evening at about 7. 30 pm invaded a popular beer parlour in Obiofia Village, Osumenyi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing four men mainly youths, and a lady said to be the owner of the drinking joint. No fewer than ten people sustained various degrees of injuries from the gunmen and those who sustained theirs while running for their lives. It was gathered that the yet to be unidentified gunmen who invaded the restaurant drove to the area and immediately opened fire on customers who were drinking and having fun. The popular beer drinking spot known as Uto Ndu Beer Parlour (Swiftness of Life) is owned by the lady victim from Amichi, a nearby town to Osumenyi, also in the same council area. An indigene of Osumenyi, who pleaded anonymity revealed that the number of the victims, including the dead and the injured, could not be ascertained until Saturday morning because of the time of the incident, adding that people were afraid to come out following the sporadic and persistent gunshot, adding that some of the dead victims may have died due to no assistance offered them to hospital. I have spoken with about four victims who are close to me, and they told me that they sustained serious injuries from the invading gunmen, just like others numbering over eight. We are in fear here because we do not know the grouse of the invading gunmen, in fact, we are confused, as we do not know the reason this could happen in our town, we do have cult members here. Our youths are dont involve in cult activities. It was a pure unknown gunmen activity but we do not know where they are coming from. While I cannot speak for anybody, o doubt if an Igbo man will just go yo a drinking place where people are relaxing and enjoying themselves and open fire on them without exchanging words with them. What I know some hoodlums do is surrender them and collect their money and phones. But the gun men came in their cars, stopped, alighted and opened fire on people without taking anything away from them. We are so afraid here and we are in deep mourning because they are vibrant and responsible youths of Osumenyi, who were cooling off after the days of toiling. Is really painful my brother. We are in deep mourning and fears. The joint is in a very strategic place as you enter Osumenyi from Amichi, which is opposite the compound where youths from the community gather to conduct some development activities in our town. A trending video on social media from the scene of the incident, shows the lifeless body of four of the male victims, with that of the female, said to be the owner of the drinking spot lying lifeless in their blood. Sympathizers, friends and relatives of the victims were also seen mourning and lamenting as the corpses were being loaded in the Sienna bus suspected to be an ambulance, for evacuation to the mortuary. A weeping feminine voice was also heard in the background lamenting in Igbo language, What have we done oooo? Who have we offended? What did we do to deserve all this kind of attack and killing? The Osumenyi attack is coming barely one month after gunmen invaded the Nnewi South Local Government Headquarters in Ukpor and set some buildings and offices ablaze, after which they also killed a security man guarding the premises. It will also be recalled that the unknown gunmen after burning the council headquarter which attracted the state governor to the scene, the next day set three Police stations in Ezinifte, Amichi and Osumenyi on fire. It will also be recalled that gunmen, on Easter day, attacked another beer parlour and fast food joint, known as the Sophia Fast Food, located close to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba South Local Government Area of the State, where they also attacked and robbed customers who were having a fun-filled Easter bash at the restaurant. The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, is yet to confirm the Osumenyi Friday night attack, when he was contacted according to him, enquires are still ongoing and I will revert back to you when I get clear information on the incident. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sits in the courtroom, April 22 in Atlanta. Greene is appearing at the hearing Friday in Atlanta in a challenge filed by voters who say she shouldnt be allowed to seek reelection because she helped facilitate the attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted certification of Joe Bides presidential victory. John Bazemore/Pool/Getty Images/TNS This is a Jazz Fest story that is not about music, or food, or fine crafts, or any of that stuff. Its about a parking lot and a rescue dinosaur. Robert Buras' family owns a parcel of land down near the mouth of the Mississippi in Venice, Louisiana. Buras said the property floods during hurricanes, but probably isnt going to be washed away into the Gulf anytime soon, so he drives down there from time to time to check things out. On one of those trips, about three years back, he spied a small dinosaur on the edge of Highway 23 in Plaquemines Parish. Reptiles arent all that unusual in those parts, but a snake-necked, four-legged, long-tailed dinosaur about as big as an old Volkswagen Beetle is an attention-getter anywhere. It wasnt a real dinosaur, of course, it was a sort of vehicle. Buras said it looked like a mini Mardi Gras-style float, with wheels at the ends of its legs, a long handle on the tail to push it along, and a small seat on its back. Somebody probably built it for their kid to ride on, he said. One might assume that when the kid grew up, the mighty dinosaur was put out to pasture. Cue up Puff the Magic Dragon. Buras believed the creature still had a future. He and a buddy somehow got the thing into the back of his pickup, its head and neck sticking out to the side, and brought it home to New Orleans. Along the way, other motorists clicked photos of the Jurassic contraption. Buras' family also owns an unimproved lot on Gentilly Boulevard, adjacent to the racetrack parking lots, just a stones throw from the Jazz Fest entrance. During the racing season, some jockeys and track workers park trailers there. During the Fest, Buras rents parking spots to music-lovers for $60 a day. He said he ordinarily hires somebody to stand on the curb and flag down potential parkers. But, he reasoned, a 10-foot dinosaur might turn heads even better. Plus, he joked, you don't have to pay a dinosaur, or feed it. Then the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Jazz Fest to slip into a cocoon for almost three years. So there was no need for parking, or flagmen, or a dinosaur. So Buras just left the dinosaur in the lot, where it became a playground for the cats that live there. They nested in the creatures ribs and clawed the foam plastic that formed its feet. Somehow its eyes got poked out. But the great reptile, which was apparently built to last, avoided extinction. Buras' sister made fun of him for adopting the ostensibly useless relic. Somewhere along the line, a friend named the dinosaur Boris. To which Buras replied, How do you know its not a girl? Male or female, the name stuck. When Jazz Fest traffic finally returned on Friday morning, the dinosaur was there waiting, catching the eyes of Gentilly Boulevard drivers and pedestrians. Did it increase business? Maybe. However, on Saturday, an energetic young human with a parking lot sign aided Boris in attracting motorists. Guice Offshore adds three support vessels to fleet Guice Offshore, which operates mini supply and medium-sized multipurpose vessels, has added three ships to its fleet. The GO Crusader and GO Adventurer are 205-fool long platform supply vessels, while the GO Explorer is a 170-foot multipurpose vessel. All three vessels are fitted to address clients in the growing U.S. offshore wind energy industry, along with those in aerospace, renewable energy, oil and gas, government and military, environmental, disaster response and recovery, inspection, maintenance and repair, science research, salvage, geotechnical surveying and documentary and film markets. Madisonville-based Guice Offshore has 10 vessels in its fleet. Access to business capital luncheon set for Wednesday A lunch seminar that will discuss how small businesses can get access to business capital will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the ExxonMobil Community Center, 5955 Scenic Highway, in Baton Rouge. Will Campbell, of the b1Foundation, will be the guest speaker. The event is sponsored by the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District and the Capital Region Planning Commission. To register for the event, go to brnedd.com. LSU professor develops superwood for infrastructure Hai Thomas Lin, an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is developing superwood, timber with high stiffness and strength that is durable, cost-effective and can be used in place of steel and concrete piles in civil infrastructure. Timber piles are a renewable and low-cost foundation system, but they have low stiffness and strength, limiting their use to light structures. Superwood is a densified wood material produced through hot pressing. Lin said the strength and elasticity of superwood could exceed that of concrete. Lin is researching how to optimize processing superwood piles, investigate the interaction between the piles and the soil, develop models to predict the responses of superwood under different soil and weight conditions and assess the cost and environmental impacts of superwood. Baton Rouge fitness studio Pilates Plus acquires TreadBR, plans to rebrand Lauren Temple, owner and operator of Pilates Plus, has acquired TreadBR, a fitness studio in the Southdowns Shopping Center on Perkins Road. Temple plans to expand services provided at Pilates Plus Southdowns location. Before the deal, only Lagree pilates classes were offered at the location. Now, she will offer treadmill classes, resistance training, yoga and cardio classes in the former TreadBR space. Before the acquisition, Pilates Plus members had to go to the location at 18303 Perkins Road for the full range of services. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We couldnt be more excited to welcome TreadBR members into the Pilates Plus family, said Temple. As Pilates Plus has grown over the years, weve also expanded our breadth of services, so this acquisition creates a perfect opportunity to grow the brand itself, too. To learn about Pilates Plus or to inquire about a membership, visit www.pilatesplusbatonrouge.com or either of their two locations. Woman's Hospital earns research accreditation Womans Hospital has been awarded full accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs for its dedication to improving the health of patients and the community through research. Research at Womans helps doctors learn new ways to promote healthy living, improve health during pregnancy, prevent and treat illnesses. A few recent studies include: looking at ways to prevent women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy from becoming pre-diabetic; a pandemic pregnancy study that looks at how COVID-19 affected pregnancy outcomes for women and babies; and a study that aims to find a blood test that can predict pregnancy complications. Baton Rouge-based small business to serve as subcontractor on $2.5 billion NASA contract Baton Rouge-based EMCO Technologies has joined Leidos as a strategic small-business subcontracting partner on a 10-year, $2.5 billion IT and telecommunications services contract supporting NASA. EMCO Technologies will provide technology services to multiple NASA Space Flight Centers throughout the U.S., including Johnson Space Center in Texas and Langley Research Center in Virginia. The contract is part of an ongoing mission to increase productivity, improve operations security and modernize NASAs network infrastructure. Senior living facility rebranded, renovated The Blake at The Grove has been been purchased and rebranded as to The Claiborne at Baton Rouge. In addition to the name change, The Claiborne has undergone a $2 million renovation including enhancements to dementia care and other physical plant amenities. The Claiborne offers independent, assisted living and dementia care services. It is part of Claiborne Senior Living, which is headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and serves older adults throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia. Leasing underway at 120-unit Denham Springs senior housing development The leasing offices are open at Morningside at Juban Lakes, a new apartment development in Denham Springs for seniors. The 120-unit affordable housing development at 26989 Village Lane is partially open. It contains one- and two-bedroom apartments that lease for between $817 to $974. The maximum allowed income restrictions range from $33,360 up to $47,580, depending on household size. CST Land Developers developed the $20 million complex. It's near four other apartment complexes CST has developed since it acquired the 70-acre site in 2006: The Palms at Juban Lakes, The Crossing Apartments, The Village at Juban Lakes and The Reserve at Juban Lakes. The killing happened in 1941 at a sawmill in Nacogdoches, a sleepy East Texas city two hours north of Houston where Black men labored and white men supervised. Jimmie Hutson, a Black man, swatted at a young white boy, the lumberyard owners son, whod repeatedly kicked him off the platform where he worked. The owner called the sheriff for help. And the sheriff shot Hutson five times. Hutsons body wasnt brought home for hours. As the officers stood around smoking, debating what to do with the dead man, they extinguished their hand-rolled cigarettes on his corpse. Thats the story Ceola Hutson, Jimmie Hutsons son and Susan Hutsons father, told the Orleans Parish sheriff-elect when she asked, some years ago, for the details of her grandfathers killing. Eighty-one years after her grandfather was slain by a law enforcement officer in the Jim Crow era, Susan Hutson will become the first Black female sheriff in Louisianas history. I do believe were led, that our steps are ordered, Hutson said in the days before her Monday inauguration, musing about the unique historical connection. You dont know what the steps are going to be, but God does. Hutson has spent most of her adult life working in the criminal justice system, first as a private attorney and prosecutor, then later as an independent monitor of troubled police departments in three cities, including New Orleans. She was drawn to the idea of righting wrongs, but did so on individual cases, or through oversight, without the power to remake an institution herself. Hutson points to a series of racist, and often deadly, encounters across the country in recent years, which echoed the death of her grandfather, as pushing her toward the sheriffs race and the chance to accelerate reforms at a once-notorious jail. Black men dying at the hands of white law enforcement officers Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, and George Floyd sparked criminal-justice reforms in many police departments and sheriffs offices. As sheriff, Hutson wants to ensure the movement continues. Their effect, it starts to wane, she said of the killings, but I will hold the line. Hutson will helm a Sheriffs Office shackled to federal consent decree enforced after years of unchecked violence and death at its jail, and a commitment to expand the Orleans Justice Center in a way that Hutson vehemently opposes. She will be tied to a contract with a jail healthcare provider she had vowed to depose, and faced with a staffing shortage that threatens to stifle the growth she promised to inspire in the department along the campaign trail last year. Hutson ran on a progressive platform buoyed by reformers, such as District Attorney Jason Williams and several Orleans Parish judges, who were elected before her. Some have rolled back their pledges amid a surge in violent crime. Theyve faced scrutiny for their choices. And as she takes over from Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Hutson will face critics, too, including supporters if she fails to fulfill her promises. A new hope Brandin Campbell extends his iPhone toward Hutson. She squints toward the screen, taking in a two-dimensional mockup of a green-and-gold coin with a bird, wings spread, rising up into the air what Star Wars aficionados such as Hutson recognize as the symbol of the Jedi. Whoa, she laughs, what is that? Campbell, a media consultant, has played a trick on the soon-to-be sheriff, who has tapped him to create a commemorative coin that she will distribute to the public at her inauguration. The actual design bears Hutsons visage, her braids swept into a high bun, her lips hinting at a smile. The swap is an apropos prank: Hutson loves Star Wars so much that the inscription on the coin references its fourth episode. It reads, A new hope, a new beginning. Sheriff Susan Hutson. Hutsons hope is that her administration will successfully move past the federal consent decree and what it represents: a failure to ensure a high level of health and safety for its approximately 900 inmates. In its most recent report issued in October, federal monitors documented some improvements at the Orleans Justice Center, but noted declines in several areas crucial to escaping the decree. For example, the jail averaged 28 inmate-on-inmate and 13 inmate-on-staff assaults each month, an increase from the monitors last report, despite a decrease in the jails population. Hutson said she is eager to take on the challenge of the decree, to have her name on the documents binding her to the jails future to have some measure of control over the institution's fate. She served for more than a decade as the independent police monitor of the New Orleans Police Department, which has been under its own federal consent decree since 2012, following a spate of violence and accusations of racial profiling. But while she saw value in the oversight and data collection, she also became frustrated by the limits of her position. Hutson could document the problems, she explained, but couldn't force change. At one point, Hutson fought those limitations, filing a lawsuit that would have given the police monitor greater jurisdiction, according to Simone Levine, who served as deputy police monitor for years alongside Hutson. She lost the bid and so had to honor her post's limits. Hutson colors within the lines, Levine said. I think we are in for a ship that is both tighter and has a level of integrity that we have not seen in a long time. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Lives in her hands Born in Philadelphia to an Air Force senior master sergeant who frequently moved his family for work, Hutson, who arrived in New Orleans in 2010, has come to see the city as her community one she wants to protect and help, inside and outside of the jail. Near the end of a recent hour-long stroll through Hutsons Gentilly neighborhood spent greeting neighbors with a pause at every corner to give her rescue beagle Albie a treat Hutson is asked what keeps her up at night. She thinks for a moment. Lives being in my hands, she says. Three men died in the Orleans Justice Center in 2020, according to Incarceration Transparency, a project created by Loyola University New Orleans professor Andrea Armstrong, who serves on Hutsons 100-plus person transition team. At least one man died in the jail in 2021. Hutson recognizes deaths inside the jail are often because of health or mental health problems: One man hung himself. Another died of a blood clot. Two more died of drug overdoses, but at least one of the men tested positive for Covid-19 when he died, according to a coroners report. One of the most hotly contested issues during the campaign was the jails Phase III expansion, a promise made by Gusman as part of the federal consent decree to build a $51 million, 89-bed facility to house inmates with medical and mental health issues. Gusman campaigned on the idea that Phase III was the only way to deliver quality healthcare to inmates, while Hutson campaigned against it. And why she doesnt want to build it is personal. Hutson is one of six tight-knit children. Her youngest brother, like their father, served in the military, but he came home traumatized. His mental-health diagnosis rendered him unable to work, and the family struggled to find him the intensive mental-health care that he needed. Its not easy, when youre trying to do it on your own, she said. I always think, what if we had not gotten to him what if something had happened? Hutson favors feeding money not into a jail expansion but into the community. Its a moral issue for me, she said, that we would spend precious taxpayer dollars on locking people up when our general community does not have the mental health care it needs. However, Hutson may not have a choice. A federal judge has said the facility must be built. Full circle Hutson stands near the front door of The Maison, a Frenchmen Street venue pumping bluesy jazz over its sound system. Its only the third time Hutson has been on the musical stretch since she moved to New Orleans. Hutson is here to welcome supporters to a fundraiser to help sustain her team until its folded into the official sheriffs office budget. She hugs each of the 75 guests as they walk in. Several female attendees say they voted for Hutson because they were energized by the idea of voting for the first Black female sheriff in the states 210-year history. But while so many women throughout the parish saw her as an icon, Hutson says she hadnt considered the historical significance of her victory until after she had won the sheriffs seat. Ive never thought of myself as a trailblazer, Hutson says. Lexi Peterson-Burge, the interim executive director of the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the jails conditions, isnt surprised. I would venture to guess that she hadnt thought about it until after the election because being a Black woman is what Susan has done every single day of her life, she said. Black women are the change makers. They are the leaders of our movements. They are the people who step up in progressive roles, and stand on the front lines and create change for our systems. Her election, however, represents something more for the Hutson family than her ability to be a change maker. Its a full-circle moment, according to Hutson's sister, Alaine Hutson, as she takes the same job in law enforcement as the man who killed their grandfather so many years ago. Thinking of his daughter taking that role, Ceola Hutson just laughs. He explains that Hutson was supposed to be a judge. Thats what I had decided she would be, he said. When she told me she was going to run for sheriff, I said, what? But I think shes got this. I think shes really going to change things. Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name Ceola Huston. A shooting Saturday evening in the Bywater that left two people injured is now being investigated as a homicide, New Orleans police say. Police were called to the 700 block of Poland Avenue just after 8:15 p.m. They later determined that the shooting happened in the 4400 block of Dauphine Street. A man and a woman were wounded and taken by EMS to the hospital. The New Orleans Police Department then said at 9:15 that the woman had died and the shooting is now being investigated as a homicide. No other information has been released by police at this time. For the last eight weeks, teams of high schoolers around New Orleans have dreamed big, working on solutions to some of the city's most pressing issues, from mental health problems to crime and climate change. The teams were part of the Aspen Challenge, a joint initiative from the Aspen Institute and Bezos Family Foundation that asks teenagers to design and implement solutions to the problems facing their communities. New Schools for New Orleans has partnered with the Aspen Challenge to bring the program to New Orleans this year and next. On Thursday, groups from 18 New Orleans public schools presented their ideas to a panel of judges at Studio Be in the Bywater, detailing projects that ran the gamut from a pothole filling robot to an accessible cookbook and a student lounge to address mental health. Each group gave a five-minute presentation about their project, then took questions from the judges. Weighing the pitches In the end, judges selected teams from NET Charter High School Central City, Frederick A. Douglass High School and Benjamin Franklin High School to present their ideas at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado in June. The Aspen Challenge is what happens when you take a problem, take a conversation and put it on the side of young people, put it on their terms, said David McKinney, executive director of Youth Leadership Programs at the Aspen Institute. The teams chose from a list of challenges that New Orleans residents face, including mental health, transportation and mobility, crime, climate change and nutrition. Many teams chose to tackle mental health, with some noting the challenges they faced after multiple years of life during a pandemic. Others looked for solutions that rested on the intersection of several issues, like gun violence and mental health. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Teams were given eight weeks and $500 to design and implement their projects. On Thursday all 18 teams received $500 more to continue their work. The solutions NET Central City students formed a group called Love in Action to start a mentorship program for students at the Bridge School, an alternative middle school. They also created a kindness challenge and letter campaign and produced a documentary to empower young people to see themselves in a better light and showcase the beauty of New Orleans. "We are deeply driven about helping change the narrative about New Orleans marginalized youth because we are New Orleans marginalized youth," one student said during the NET's presentation. "...Kindness helped change our lives and we felt that amplifying kindness around the city could help change others lives also." Students at Benjamin Franklin High School designed a climate change and sea level rise awareness campaign, marking post-Hurricane Katrina water levels around the city with blue tape and a QR code so people in the community can learn more about the climate crisis, and pledge to take action like using a reusable water bottle or bike to school or contact politicians. They also hosted an Earth Day panel at Ben Franklin and planted cypress trees along the Lafitte Greenway. The team from Frederick Douglass High School started Operation: Hope4nola, which seeks to counter the negative perception of violence in New Orleans by amplifying teens talents. This month they hosted a pop-up shop to highlight local businesses. "We understand the dangers of a single story and we believe that we can amplify the existing strengths and beauty of New Orleans through community opportunity and exposure," a team member said. The Aspen Ideas Festival will be held June 27-July 1. North shore District Attorney Warren Montgomery failed to get a new revenue stream to support his office Saturday, as St. Tammany Parish voters shot down a proposed 10-year, 1/7th cent sales tax. Complete but unofficial returns showed 54% voted against the tax, with 8,641 rejecting the proposal and only 7,397 voting in its favor. Turnout was 8.6%. The 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office includes St. Tammany and Washington parishes, but this new tax was only to be levied and used in St. Tammany. It would have brought in a projected $7.9 million annually. Saturday's referendum was a fifth attempt to persuade St. Tammany voters to approve a tax that would fund some of expenses of the District Attorney's office. Montgomery, who is in his second term, put the measure on the ballot after St. Tammany voters rejected a different sales tax late last year that would have covered some of his office's expenses, as well as some costs for the St. Tammany Parish Jail and court system. That defeat last November marked parish government's fourth attempt to find a way to cover those costs, which it is required to do by law. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The original pair of quarter-cent sales taxes, one for the courthouse and the other for the jail, expired in 2018. In the years since, the parish has drained reserve funds to pay for the 22nd Judicial District Court, the DA and other mandated costs. Montgomery's new proposition was narrowly tailored, with the $7.9 million dedicated only to his office and criminal prosecutions. Of the money, $7 million would cover staffing costs. In another effort to convince tax-averse voters to say yes, Montgomery also stressed that his office not parish government would be the steward of the money. Facing a budget that was slashed by more than half by the St. Tammany Parish Council from the $6.4 that Montgomery had requested to $3.1 million that his office will actually receive Montgomery told voters the end result would be fewer prosecutions and more criminals left on the streets. The loss of revenue, he said, was a "defunding" of the DA's office. Noting that it is actually the parish government's responsibility to cover much of the budget, Montgomery also warned that he would be forced to sue the parish government to adequately fund his office if the tax failed. No organized opposition materialized during the campaign, and the tax had the support of the Bureau of Governmental Research, which said its main concern a lack of public oversight for the tax had been addressed by Montgomery's promise to publish quarterly revenue and expenditure statements and provide parish government with an annual budget to be reviewed at a public meeting. This story was altered on May 2, 2022 to correct the amount of the sales tax. Jefferson Parish residents voted Saturday to approve a 7-mill property tax increase that will generate an additional $28 million for the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Joe Lopinto had pitched the tax increase as a way to bring in enough new money to cover the costs of pay raises for employees. Lopinto said he plans to give staffers a 20% salary increase. Voters approved the tax by 74% with 10% voter turnout, according to complete but unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State's website. Lopinto has said the money is needed to keep pace with the salaries of some neighboring law enforcement agencies. Higher pay is crucial, he said, to attract new employees and retain the departments experienced staffers who could be lured away to other departments or private sector jobs. The starting salary of a Jefferson Parish sheriffs deputy is $38,745 a year. An officer with the Gretna Police Department starts at $42,854. A New Orleans Police Department recruit starts at $40,391, and the salary rises to $56,566 after one year. The starting pay for a Louisiana State Police trooper is $49,448. In campaigning for the property tax increase, Lopinto said starting deputy pay in Jefferson Parish would increase to about $45,000 per year. Correctional officer pay would go from $35,500 to $39,000, and communications employees' salaries would go from $32,000 to $36,000. The Sheriff's Office's current 8.28-mill property tax generates about $32 million annually, about a quarter of the departments $126 million budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The additional 7 mills will add about $87.50 a year to the tax bill of a home valued at $200,000. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The last tax increase for the Sheriff's Office was a quarter-cent sales tax in 1993. "Policing's different 30 years later," Lopinto said in a recent interview. "The personnel that I have handling IT work, DNA, they cost money. That didn't exist 30 years ago." The Sheriff's Office has about 200 open positions, Lopinto said. The tax increase recently drew the support of the Bureau of Governmental Research, a New Orleans-based research group. The group agreed that better salaries would help the Sheriff's Office retain quality employees by providing "a stable revenue stream to address growing problems with retention and hiring that could pose a risk to public safety." In its endorsement, BGR noted that the raises were expected to cost around $20 million annually. But Lopinto said if he is able to fill the 200 open positions, the raises would cost around $33 million annually. Lopinto made the rounds of the parish's civic associations and business groups to push for the tax increase. Heading into Saturday's referendum, he and other parish officials said they had not heard of any widespread or organized opposition to the tax. "I'm competing in two difference places: with other law enforcement agencies and the private sector," Lopinto said during the campaign. "Everybody's hiring." Review summary Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+: One of the best Android tablets available leaves room for improvement Samsung's latest Apple iPad Pro 12.9 competitor is the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is a solid evolution of last year's Tab S7 Plus, and it comes with some of its predecessor's shortcomings. Samsung will have to address these with the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, after all Samsung is no longer the only player offering a premium tablet. Marcus Herbrich ( translated by Finn D. Boerne), 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! - German-English-Translator (English native speakers preferred) Details here Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team!- German-English-Translator (English native speakers preferred) Our review of the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus showed that the tablet is a minor evolution of last years premium tablet rather than a true revolution that would have eliminated its predecessors shortcomings. Instead, we find the same comparatively dim display panel we already criticized in the Tab S7 Plus as well as the same battery life, courtesy of the identically sized battery combined with Qualcomms comparatively inefficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1 SoC. We are also having serious doubts about Samsungs RAM policy and cannot fathom why one would equip a multitasking powerhouse with just 8 GB of RAM while Samsungs smartphones already offer a 12 GB option. We find this particularly distressing in light of Samsung DeX, which enables multi-window use running several applications simultaneously. Consider running several demanding apps at the same time, particularly considering Samsungs LumaFusion cooperation, and you will see why 8 GB of RAM might turn out to be a major hindrance in the near future. In other aspects Samsung imitates their own highend smartphones, for example by reducing the size of the Tab S8 Plus's packaging material by reducing the number of included accessories. For example, the fast charger is no longer included in the box and needs to be purchased separately. Considering the tablets high price of $900 or more we find this, too, difficult to understand. Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ offers powerful hardware with great stylus input packed in a high-quality case. If you are looking for a powerful Android tablet the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ might be well worth a closer look. Find out more in our extensive review. Survey Join our Support Satisfaction Survey 2022: We want to hear about your experiences! Participate here Join our Support Satisfaction Survey 2022: We want to hear about your experiences! Editor of the original article: - 303 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2016 Marcus Herbrich - Senior Tech Writersince 2016 I have always been very passionately interested in mobile technologies, especially smartphones. Being a tech enthusiast means the half-life of my devices isnt exactly long, and being the latest hardware is not enough to suffice as the manufacturer and operating system play a minor role the most important aspect for me is that the device is state-of-the-art. After posting for Mobi Test I joined Notebookcheck in 2016, where I have been pursuing my enthusiasm for technology by reviewing the latest smartphone, tablet, and accessory trends. contact me via: @Marcus_Herbrich Translator: - 450 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2017 Finn D. Boerne - Translatorsince 2017 Born in the United States and raised in Germany I became acquainted with both languages from an early age and turned this into my profession later in life. Computers have always played an important role in my life, and my love for all things digital is a huge part of my daily routine. Virtual Reality has captured my imagination and interest in particular, and I cannot wait to see what the (near) future will bring. Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - As countries worldwide celebrate workers rights on Sunday, International Workers Day, Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on governments to recognise peoples rights to safety and dignity in the world of work by ratifying the International Labour Organization (ILO) Violence and Harassment Convention (C190) Peoples Bank plans to close two branches this year. The Munster-based bank will close a branch in Merrillville and another on Chicago's South Side. "As part of our overall bank strategy, we are looking to create efficiencies and reinvesting in our communities whenever possible," Peoples Bank Marketing Coordinator Christina Wagner said. "In line with that strategy, we are consolidating our Merrillville banking centers and closing our Taft Street location, as well as closing our 47th Street location in Chicago." The Peoples Bank branch at 1823 W. 47th St. in the Back of the Yards neighborhood was acquired as part of Peoples Bank's merger with Royal Financial Bank. In Merrillville, the Peoples Bank branch at 7915 W. Taft St., just north of U.S. 30, will be closed. Peoples Bank also has a location at 8600 Broadway. "The Peoples Bank on Taft Street in Merrillville will be closing in July. There will be no layoffs, as the employees will be reassigned to other banking centers within our network," Wagner said. "Our banking center on Broadway in Merrillville is only two miles from the Taft Street location, and the team at that location is ready to help customers in any way they can to ensure there is no disruption in service." Peoples Bank has been working to "optimize the banking center footprint," which banks across the country have been doing as customers handle more routine banking transactions online and on their phones, reducing the need for tellers and brick-and-mortar spaces. It also closed another branch and donated and leased back a branch in Hammond last year. The bank will go from having 30 branches across Lake and Porter counties, Chicago and the south suburbs to 28 locations following the latest round of closures. Joseph S. Pete Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHICAGO In America's third largest city, it's possible to get a crash course in the world's religions in a journey of just a few miles from the University of Chicago's majestic, ecumenical Christian Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on Chicago's South Side to the humble Masjid Al-Taqwa, which meets in a converted stable, still under renovation a 15-minute ride to the south. On April 24, which was Orthodox Christian Easter, 70 or so passengers took that ride on the Interfaith Trolley, a tour of sacred spaces inspired by this month's convergence of Ramadan, Passover, Easter, Vaisakhi (celebrated by Sikhs), Ridvan (observed by Baha'is) and Ram Navami (a Hindu holiday). Perhaps more reminiscent of speed-dating than a comparative religion course, the tour made brief stops at five religious sites across southeast Chicago, hearing from a series of faith leaders and lay people from different religious groups. Sponsored by local faith institutions such as American Islamic College, the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary, the Parliament of the World's Religions and the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, the trolley was intended to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation. "This was a beautiful event, far more beautiful than I expected," said Kim Schultz, coordinator of creative initiatives at the InterReligious Institute, part of Chicago Theological Seminary. "The words shared and the community shared really struck my heart." "This is an incredible opportunity to come together to educate our communities and shape the public narrative about what it means to live well together amidst our religious and cultural diversity and difference," organizers said in announcing the event. At the Rockefeller Chapel, Mayher Kaur, the leader of the Sikh Student Association, gave an overview of Sikh practices and explained that Sikh gurus worked to overcome India's caste system. A Hindu student told participants about Ram Navami, a Hindu holiday that fell on April 10 that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, whose story is told in Ramayana. Shradha Jain, a Jain student spoke of her faith's beliefs and the April 14 festival of Mahavir Jayanti, marking the birth of Jainism's founder. At Ebenezer Baptist Church, Patricia Butts, the church's clerk, recounted the congregation's musical history Thomas Dorsey, composer of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," founded an early gospel choir there in the early 1930s before moving to Pilgrim Baptist Church, where the former bluesman was music director for half a century. Meeting in a former synagogue, Ebenezer remains known for its gospel music and its annual performance of Handel's "Messiah." Butts also told visitors about the church's Easter observances, including the seven last words of Jesus, and about its vibrant and dedicated congregation. "Our senior deacon is 102 years old and still going strong," she said. At the Claret Center, which offers "resources for the human journey," passengers learned about the center's offerings of spiritual direction, meditation and acupuncture, then heard a brief meditation from Heiwa no Bushi, a BodhiChristo teacher from North Carolina, whose spiritual teaching merges Buddhism and Christianity. Bushi encouraged his listeners to "love wastefully" rather than filling their minds with worry. "If you love wastefully, you are living fully," he said. At KAM Isaiah Israel, a Reform Jewish congregation whose Hyde Park neighbors include President Barack Obama, Rabbi Frederick Reeves explained how the congregation was formed over decades as several Jewish synagogues one of them the oldest in the state of Illinois merged, gathering in their current building in the 1920s. He also told visitors about the Jewish observance of Passover, noting that one of its key elements is that it is celebrated at home, meaning every family makes Passover their own. "If you go to two Seders at two different houses, you'll have two different experiences," he said. The tour ended up at the Masjid Al-Taqwa, a predominantly Black mosque whose members are renovating their own building after worshipping in rented space for years. Most of the renovation is being done by members of the community. "You've got to dig deep. And then you have to roll up your sleeves," Imam Tariq El-Amin told his guests. On the ride back to the Chicago Theological Seminary for an interfaith iftar, Saba Ayman-Nolley, a retired professor and president of the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, gave an overview of the Baha'i celebration of Ridvan and of the interfaith council's charitable work. That work includes food pantries, assistance to the homeless and resettling of refugees. In a talk interrupted by a sidewalk hip-hop group that began singing about "divine prophecy" while the trolley was stopped at a red light, Ayman-Nolley said that Ridvan celebrated the "springtime awakening of humans," where people can lay down their weapons and embrace a message of love and brotherhood. Back at the seminary, Timothy Gianotti, president of American Islamic College, gave a brief meditation on the meaning of Ramadan before an interfaith iftar dinner, where he and other Muslims broke their fast as they gathered with those of other faiths. Ramadan is a time of revelation and a time of disruption, he said, in which Muslims draw near to God by breaking away from the distractions of the world. "We fast from all the things that are getting in our way," he said. "We fast from our own sense of egocentric centrality in the universe. We fast from the habits of mind and habits of being that get in our way or in other people's way in terms of the spiritual life." Among the passengers on the trolley were Emily Heitzmann, a Lutheran pastor on Chicago's North Side, and her mom, Barbara Heitzmann, who was visiting from Dubuque, Iowa. Emily Heitzmann said the event was a reminder of our common humanity and that people of different faiths still had much in common. Her mom agreed. "We're all striving for peace, being centered, and holiness," said Barbara Heitzmann, who said she only wished that the visit to each religious site had been longer. 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 VALPARAISO Police are met with a myriad of tense situations and unpredictable occurrences that are seemingly impossible to prepare for, however, Hammond police Sgt. Aubrey Thomas does just that. Thomas has been with the Hammond Police Department for 26 years, where he is in charge of internal affairs. He volunteers as a part-time instructor for courses at the Multi-Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC) in Valparaiso, including use of force and de-escalation classes. In the courses, police act out incidents and use the VirTra Simulator, which takes training into the realm of virtual reality. The scenarios are designed to be intense and make officers sweat in order to prepare them for the very real situations they will encounter throughout the Region. "I have been an instructor for the last 20 years," Thomas said. "I instructed at Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and I have instructed all of the Hammond police officers. It is awesome to see the difference in the way they train in different tactics. At the MAAC, you get to see everyone come together and see the way everyone is training." This episode of the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" series gives viewers an inside look at how Region police train to ensure the safety of officers and civilians even in the most tense of situations. Q: How did you get involved in deescalation training? A: The Hammond Police Department two years ago decided they wanted to train de-escalation, before the mandate came out. They asked me and I have been teaching it to our officers on the police department for the last two years. That and procedural justice, I think we hit home with the officers. One of the things that sparked my interest in the de-escalation class was having another tool in our tool belt to help us on calls, and if an officer has more tools it will lessen his chance of getting hurt or someone else getting hurt. Q: How would you describe de-escalation? De-escalation is aimed at calming communication, so when you get to a call you have contact the moment you arrive or resolve. Your resolve is going to be taking the person to jail, writing a ticket or sending them on their way. What happens in between is de-escalation. Q: What kind of different scenarios are used for training? A: Mostly you get domestic-related calls, which is probably 70 to 80 percent of calls youd answer on the street. We would much rather for our police officers to make a mistake here in training than to do it on the streets and it cost someone injury or civil liability to an agency or officer. The Hammond police officers are recreating calls they have actually been through before. In one of them, a baby was involved and the guy had a gun in his waistband. The ultimate task was to ask the guy to put the baby down. A lot of times you focus on the gun, which is legal to have in your house, as opposed to getting the baby out of the equation. Q: What were the scenarios you used in the training classes we watched? A: The first scenario we went through was two brothers arguing inside of a house. He wanted one to leave the house. They both had a legal right to be there. They were both heated. How do you solve that problem? We had to make them de-escalate and separate the two parties involved and go from there. We had another where a baby was involved. The brother-in-law came and got into an argument with the dad, and the dad was holding the baby with a gun in his waistband. A police officer had to come and assess the situation and go through whats more needed and not needed. Getting the baby out of the equation was what was needed to first be done and then take the gun. The other we had was an argument between two roommates and de-escalate that call and separate the parties involved. It was pretty heated. Q: What are some things you were looking for officers to do in the scenario? A: In that particular scenario with the baby, the first thing we want to do is separate the two parties involved, which is policing 101, but the baby causes a problem in this scenario. And we can get focused on other things instead of focusing on getting him to put the baby down, so we can focus on talking the situation down. Or taking the gun out of the equation. Its okay for a guy to have a gun in his house, in his waistband. Dont escalate from that point on. Try to de-escalate from that point on. The scenarios you see are the calls the TV doesnt show you. So these are calls police officers are responding to every day. So we just recreate our calls from the street here and the officers in the scenario have to do the same thing theyd do on the street to be successful on a call. Q: I was surprised how heated these scenarios get. How far do you guys take it when it comes to playing the part of a destressed or angry person during a police call? A: Heres the thing, and I noticed this with civilians watching these scenarios play out, theyre thinking these guys are doing it extra. And theres no extra in there, these are actual calls police go to every day. Its just people dont see that part of police work. So theyre doing the same calls they were on probably twice last week and theyre just building off that and seeing what your reaction is and comfort level. If every time I walk toward you, you grab your gun, I am going to build off that in training. And we see that. The level of concern grows and then the door of opportunity shuts and closes during these training scenarios, and we build on that. We push it a little bit and then come back. So its awesome watching the different agencies or those with different backgrounds in law enforcement and how they react. I actually thought the younger guys were going to do not as good as the older senior guys. But to my dismay, the younger guys did a great job. They killed it. Brand new out of the academy and it could be because they are fresh out of the academy, but they did a really good job. Q: What are different virtual scenarios that are on the VirTra simulator? A: The virtual scenarios are set up to have different choices on the computer screen. If you act a certain way or you dont act a certain way, we can escalate that call or de-escalate the call. For example: The guy in the garage, the one with the shotgun, he comes out and I could talk that guy down. If I see the police officer thats on the virtual training and if he is not de-escalating the call, would I escalate the call? When I start to see his de-escalation process, I would pick the choosing on that computer screen to de-escalate the call and it would finish just like that. Q: How many different combinations of actions can there be in the virtual training scenarios? A: With the scenario of the guy in the garage, I noticed a lot of police officers in general get tunnel vision. On that one, there was a neighbor watching it in his driveway the whole time. And a lot of police officers never saw him. And we dont know if that neighbor is friend or foe, (or) if hes part of his group. So it gets police officers to not have tunnel vision on that particular person on a call. Q: Are there times when you are de-escalating several people in one situation? A: Remember, you got contact, when you come to a call or resolve. Sometimes you go on a call and resolve right away. A person is pushed along, taken to jail or given a ticket. A lot of times you have to still de-escalate people or family members left aside on the street or in the house. So de-escalation just doesnt stop when the police officer is dealing with a particular suspect, you may have to de-escalate the people around you. Q: Have you found theres more demand for de-escalation training? A: The state has mandated police departments for de-escalation training, but I will tell you this: Every day, police officers use de-escalation. We use it on calls, we use it in our home we use it on our kids all day. Its the one day you dont use it and a call goes bad, is the time you should have used it. That one time. But we constantly use it so much, a lot of times we dont know we are using it because its drilled in us how to calm a situation. Q: Have you seen a big pull as making de-escalation a focus in police work? A: I think police departments right now are more professional than we have ever been. I think that comes along with training. We are using different tools to help us do our jobs. Q: What are examples you saw firsthand where things got heated and police were able to diffuse a situation? A: I was on SWAT for 20 years as the team leader of the SWAT team. I constantly saw our negotiators talking people down. People whose job is to communicate, de-escalate, to remove that person from that situation so the police officers dont get hurt or that person doesnt get hurt. So Ive watched them over the years and theyre great at it. Talking a person out of a house thats been barricaded. Those guys do a great job in de-escalation. Q: What are some things you took away from those experiences? A: Over the years in SWAT, with the negotiators, the biggest thing I have taken is that there is no time limit on de-escalation. A lot of times we want to get in there and we want to hurry a call up. But sometimes people want to vent. Its a process. Let them vent, and then begin de-escalation. Q: When it comes to negotiating with someone, how much is it training and how much is connecting with them? A: Finding a commonality on a call is an easier way to de-escalate. I had an officer tell me one time that every call he went on, he had that same problem. If he was on a domestic call where someone is fighting with their girlfriend, and hed go to the call and hed say, Me too. You got a problem with your kids and he comes to a call, and says, Well, me too. Or the dog died, and hed say, My dog died as well. So hed find a commonality with the calls and hed get a rapport going with the caller, and its easier to bring things down because that person sees you being in the same situation that he or she is in. Q: Why do you volunteer as an instructor at the MAAC Center? A: Ive been with the MAAC for years training here. I got started with the SWAT team. The facility here is just great for SWAT team training and it branches out to other departments. At the Hammond police department, they let us use this facility because its such a great training tool any time we want to come to Valparaiso to train here. I enjoy training my guys in Hammond or other officers throughout the county. Because you learn different people and different training. I have picked up a lot of good training tips from other departments. Without this facility, I wouldnt be able to train with state police or lets just say Portage. Every week here, if I wanted to train with Portage or state police, or the Northwest Regional SWAT team, I can come here and train with any one of those agencies. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT The Democratic primary ballot for Lake County clerk features five names and one riddle. Voters will be choosing from Andrew Sylwestrowicz, of Merrillville; Mike Brown, of Gary; Alex Garza, of Hobart; Jesse Gomez, of East Chicago; and the incumbent, Clerk Lorenzo Arredondo, of Crown Point. Hanging over the contest are questions about whether Arredondo is really in it. The 80-year-old former judge hasnt been seen publicly since he suffered multiple skull fractures in a Jan. 15 fall at his Crown Point apartment. Brown, a Gary councilman and former county clerk, who continues to work as an administrator in the office, had supported Arredondos reelection before the accident. Now Brown is one of the four Democrats seeking to replace Arredondo. Brown said that he has no information on Arredondos medical status but that he is running in case Arredondo cannot sufficiently recover to continue as clerk. Former Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub said last week he believes Arredondo is recovering and may return to work in the near future. Scheub said he saw Arredondo more than a month ago at Franciscan Health Crown Point sometime after Arredondo's accident. "I give Communion to Catholics at the hospital. He couldn't receive Communion because he had this big neck brace on from his fall, but after they got that off him he looked good. "He was responsive. He knew who I was. We shook hands," Scheub said. Scheub said he could only offer a layman's assessment of Arredondo's future condition but is reasonably confident Arredondo will fully recover after he completes rehabilitation and will be able to return to work. James Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said almost all party leaders have been supporting Browns candidacy in the absence of Arredondo, who they previously backed. Sylwestrowicz said he has been actively campaigning in Merrillville and Hammond but hasn't seen Lorenzo Arredondo out there. Gomez said he has known Arredondo all his life and believes Arredondo wouldnt want to have his name on the ballot if he were incapacitated. Lawyers for the Arredondo family briefly asked the court to declare Arredondo incapacitated but withdrew their petition a week later. Gomez said the Indiana General Assembly should empower the county election board to remove from the ballot any candidate who is obviously no longer campaigning. Arredondo didnt return calls seeking comment. The clerks office keeps records for 17 Lake Circuit and Superior courts, employs more than 100 deputies and handles millions of dollars annually in child support, criminal defendants' cash bonds and a variety of court-imposed fees and penalties. Sylwestrowicz said that if elected clerk, he would use his 12 years of experience as a former Merrillville councilman to eliminate poor money handling practices cited by a 2018 Indiana State Board of Accounts audit. Brown said he has the most on-the-job experience of any of the candidates, having served nine years as county clerk between 2009 and 2018 and five years prior as county recorder. He currently is an elected member of the Gary Common Council. Gomez, an industrial safety specialist who served more than three years on the East Chicago Common Council and seven years on the East Chicago school board, said Browns past administration as clerk was repeatedly cited by the State Board of Accounts audits. Gomez said Browns administration was cited for numerous errors and omissions that resulted in multimillion-dollar discrepancies in the amount of money the clerk's office has received and disbursed. Browns office said at the time that those were clerical errors by new bookkeepers and that no money was missing. Gomez was also critical of Browns job as transition manager for the Odyssey court records system, noting it has been in place for more than three years. Whats left to transition? If elected, I would eliminate that job day one, Gomez said. Garza, who worked 25 years in the Lake County Sheriffs Department before retirement, said he is running for public office for the first time and believes he could do a better job than the other professional politicians. Lake Superior Court records in February disclosed that Arredondo was so severely injured in the Jan. 15 fall that he was placed in a medically induced coma before recovering enough to be moved to a nursing home. Less than a week after a Feb. 26 Times story about Arredondos medical issues, attorneys seeking guardianship over his daily affairs abandoned their attempt claims of Arredondo's incapacity, arguing he was sufficiently recovered now. Arredondo has been prominent in Lake County for six decades, particularly as a Superior and Circuit Court judge from the 1970s until 2010. He conducted a statewide campaign for Indiana attorney general in 2016 and was first elected county clerk in 2018, receiving 115,535 votes. He was among the first candidates to file for reelection on Jan. 5. Since then, Arredondo has been absent from recent meetings of the Lake County elections board, of which he is a member. His campaign was a no-show at Democratic Party endorsement meetings in Gary and Hammond. His campaigns Facebook page hasnt been updated since he held a political fundraiser in December. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three of the four Democrats running for Lake County sheriff agree: The department needs a strong leader. Incumbent Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said he's proven during his more than four years in office that he's committed to making Lake County safer. "I'm the only candidate with a verified track record of keeping a balanced sheriff's budget, while providing officers with the highest level of technology and training to fight crime and respond to emergencies safely and effectively," he said. But two of Martinez's opponents, former Gary Police Chief Richard D. Ligon and sheriff's Officer Maria D. Trajkovich, said morale at the Sheriff's Department is low because of a lack of leadership. Trajkovich directly addressed an indictment returned in January by a Lake Criminal Court grand jury against Martinez. "As sheriff, I promise to solve the problem, not be the problem," she said. "Twenty-four years ago, I took the oath to serve, protect and defend the community, not for the community to serve, protect and defend me." Trajkovich said she would use the office to promote "a positive relationship between the police and the community we serve." Ligon said the people of Lake County need a sheriff they can trust. "Law enforcement and the community need to work together," he said. "It's not all about arresting people as much as prevention and building relationships." A fourth candidate, Anthony Williams, did not return a call seeking comment for this story. Martinez has pleaded not guilty to one felony count of resisting law enforcement and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving. He's accused of driving at speeds of up to 50 mph over the speed limit in September as two Crown Point police officers chased his unmarked Jeep TrackHawk with their lights and sirens activated. Martinez denied the allegations and characterized the indictment as a "political witch hunt" by a "rival politician." Ligon said he's heard from police and correctional officers that morale is low at the Sheriff's Department. "They don't feel like they can do anything without being punished or judged," he said. Martinez disagreed. "Morale is higher than ever before," he said. "Our brave men and women have been given the best training, equipment and resources to do their job. It is why we have seen a large number of certified police officers applying for our department." He wants to maintain his "aggressive policing policies, including overnight enforcements targeting crimes like carjackings," he said. Martinez also would continue increased patrols in rural and unincorporated areas of the county, which let "would-be criminals know crime cannot hide here," he said. Martinez said he's also shown compassion for families by creating the Police Assisted Recovery Initiative, which helps people with substance abuse and mental health issues find pathways to recovery that don't involve arrest. Two full-time mental health professionals help with the initiative. Body-worn cameras already were in use when Martinez was elected by a caucus in fall 2017 to replace former Sheriff John Buncich following Buncich's conviction in federal court for taking bribes. Martinez said he took the department's use of cameras a step further by purchasing Watch Guard, an in-car camera system. The sheriff also oversaw the installation of a license plate reader system, which helps investigators from participating agencies locate vehicles and people linked to crimes. Martinez said he also recently implemented the VirTra virtual training system, a simulation that takes officers through de-escalation, mental illness, use of force and active shooter scenarios. Trajkovich, who grew up in East Chicago's Harbor section and Hammond's Hessville neighborhood, said she raised four kids as a single mother for 20 years. She unsuccessfully ran for sheriff during the 2017 caucus and again in the 2018 primary election. If elected, Trajkovich is committed to ensuring equal opportunity to advance within the department and wants to build "a renewed trust" between the Sheriff's Department and the community, she said. Her first priority would be "eliminating corruption within the office of sheriff," she said. "No one is above the law," Trajkovich said. "I've never been involved in criminal activity. I've never been investigated, nor should any official holding an office." Trajkovich said she wants to ensure equal distribution of equipment to officers. "Each officer is treated different," she said. "It's because of nepotism or favoritism. All officers are not treated equally or given the same opportunities. Officers and correctional officers." Officers are stressed about "getting their stats," because they could lose vehicles or specialty jobs, such as SWAT or K-9, she said. "The officers are calling me. They're upset. They're stressed," she said. "They're working 12-hour shifts. They're under a lot of stress." The Lake County Jail is understaffed by about 50 officers, so correctional officers also are working 12-hour shifts, she said. She'd like to see more diversity and inclusion at the department, including among the command staff, she said. She's like to add training that addresses alcohol and substance abuse and mental health, including for officers themselves. Trajkovich said the Sheriff's Department recently lost an officer to suicide, so she would ensure supervisors are trained to recognize red flags. Ligon said his top issue, if elected, would be improving morale. "If you're a leader, you lead by example," he said. "If you're out doing bad things, or you're not doing what you say you're going to be doing, then the moral is low and you lose respect." Morale is also connected to the community, Ligon said. "We need to work together, law enforcement and the community," he said. If community members trust police, they will help solve crimes. "You have to have a good prevention program, or you're just going to be making arrests forever," said Ligon, who served in the U.S. Army and Indiana National Guard for 36 years, worked as a law enforcement official for the U.S. Postal Service from 1981 to 2004 and was Gary's police chief from January to June 2020. Ligon, a graduate of Gary's Froebel High School, unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 2010, 2014 and 2018. Ligon said he would be committed to transparency. It's the Lake County commissioners' duty to question Sheriff's Department spending, he said. Ligon would ensure the department had good, safe equipment, but he also would spend money wisely, he said. "You just can't keep spending money, because that's the taxpayers' money," he said. "You should be accountable to every penny you spend." Ligon said he, too, is concerned about staffing at the Lake County Jail. Low staffing levels can be unsafe for correctional officers and inmates, he said. Ligon's six months as Gary police chief helped him to understand how officers on the street feel, he said. "I got a real feel for what they go through and how bad they need a wellness program," he said. "I cherish the relationship that was built and the respect I have for the people on patrol." Ligon, a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, would implement the organization's The Law and Your Community Program, he said. The program was created to address tension between police and young black men and address shootings and disrespect for police, he said. "Whenever someone puts on a uniform, the become a mentor," he said. "I want to do a youth law enforcement camp." Ligon said he's already working with schools and churches to present the program and has found parents and students to be receptive. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here MICHIGAN CITY The city is now 147 acres larger with City Council approval of an annexation to allow a Fortune 500 company to locate there soon. Now that the annexation is in place, plans for developing the property can go through. The council voted unanimously to annex the property. In fact, at its meeting earlier this month, the council had tried to rush through the process but was advised by the council attorney that it had to wait for another meeting to follow state law. Dont give one penny of tax abatement to this mystery company, resident Tommy Kulavik advised the council, echoing Councilman Paul Przybylinski, D-2nd, from the earlier meeting this month. Despite earlier reports about the annexation, resident Anthony Lewis told the council he was surprised to find out the property near his home would be annexed. Lewis, who is running for precinct chairman in Coolspring 4, wanted to know if it would be part of his precinct. Yes, council President Angie Deuitch, D-at-large, told him. Its the area near Family Express by Johnson Road on U.S. 20. The property goes as far south as Pahs Road. In other business, the council talked at length about whether to hire a grant writer for the city. The grant writer would handle grant administration as well as seek funding for the city. The grant writer position was included in a package of salary increases under council consideration. The ordinance was held over for third reading at the next council meeting. Deutch said she doesnt agree with hiring a grant writer. Some of the best grant writers want contract work, she said, and arent looking to be full-time employees. Those people are out there, and they are in LaPorte County. Councilman Michael Mack, D-3rd, disagreed. I know other cities have that (grant writer on the payroll), he said. I think its an old, 1980s version of economics where its cheaper to farm things out. If we had our own grant writer, that $80,000 could be 100 times over, Mack said. If Im looking at it wrong, Ill eat it. I think a grant writer is very important, and I think one day well get one, he added. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO The Porter County Redevelopment Commission has agreed to pay the $1,000 application and closing fees for any business in unincorporated Porter County to seek funding from a COVID relief loan program. The commissions offer is limited to 10 businesses. Initially, the commission was focused on assisting businesses in South Haven, where the county has a new tax increment financing district, but consultant Stu Summers said that with $138,000 left to loan, the county wanted to expand eligibility. Any money not distributed is returned to the federal treasury. Anyone who had to shut down during the pandemic likely qualifies for the loan. The $530,000 Recover NWI Revolving Loan Fund, through the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission, is designed to assist businesses and organizations in alleviating sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the pandemic. The loan program doesnt cover construction or renovation costs. However, it does cover working capital, operations, marketing, staffing, fixed assets and inventory, building purchase and land purchase. In other business, the Redevelopment Commission approved grant programs for facade improvements and sign modernization in South Haven. Businesses can apply for reimbursement for improvements to either the front or rear facades or both. Grants cover half the cost, up to $25,000 each. The sign modernization is up to $15,000 per sign. The county now requires monument signs, although existing signs mounted on a pole are grandfathered in. We cant condemn a nonconforming sign, so we offer a carrot, Summers said. The sign modernization program includes up to $10,000 for landscaping. The facade and sign grant programs are like ones that have been used in Valparaiso. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO In the aftermath of a blaze that continued through Saturday morning, a Valparaiso University building has been destroyed. Valparaiso Fire Department Lt. Robert Schulte said firefighters were still on scene until around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. He said the Art and Psychology building at 1003 Campus Drive South is a total loss. While the brick facade still stands, 80% of the roof collapsed and the interior of the building is destroyed, he said. The building was boarded up with a gate around it as Valparaiso Fire Department and the Indiana State Fire Marshal investigate into next week to determine the cause. "No cause has been determined yet, but we are fairly certain the origin was the northeast corner of the building, due to fire conditions we encountered there," Schulte said. Schulte thanked all of the departments and personnel who aided in the fire, in addition to the Valparaiso Water Department, for their "invaluable" help. Around 4:30 p.m. Friday someone inside the building reported they smelled smoke but did not see any fire. Firefighters arrived to find flames coming from the broken windows along the northeast corner. Crews confirmed nobody was inside and began to attack the fire, finding flames throughout the length of the building in the attic. Due to dangerous conditions, the firefighters were evacuated to douse the fire from the exterior. Schulte said the problem was compounded by chemicals such as acetylene, acetone, paints, paint thinner and other chemicals inside the building. The windows had been breached so plenty of oxygen was getting in and there were plenty of things for the fire to feed off of, he said. The fire had everything it needed to burn down the building unfortunately. The fire was contained and did not spread to any surrounding structures. Instructors and students watched the blaze Friday night, some of whom had works of art and equipment inside. Jane Lohmeyer, an adjunct instructor in the Department of Communication and Visual Arts, said no art classes were scheduled in the building Friday. However, the painting studio the room with the broken windows contained students art works, she said. Schulte said there were no injuries. Multiple cages were found inside psychology sections of the building but no animals were inside them. Valparaiso Fire Department was aided by firefighters from Chesterton, Morgan Township, Washington Township, Union Township, in addition to Valparaiso Police Department and Valparaiso University police. Times Staff Writer Sarah Reese contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) A long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol began Sunday, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraine's president to show unflinching American support for the country's defense against Russia's invasion. Video posted online by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children bundled in winter clothing being helped as they climbed a steep pile of debris from the sprawling Azovstal steel plants rubble, and then eventually boarded a bus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 100 civilians, primarily women and children, were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday. Today, for the first time in all the days of the war, this vitally needed (humanitarian) corridor has started working, he said in a pre-recorded address published on his Telegram messaging app channel. The Mariupol City Council said on Telegram that the evacuation of civilians from other parts of the city would begin Monday morning. People fleeing Russian-occupied areas in the past have described their vehicles being fired on, and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of shelling evacuation routes on which the two sides had agreed. Later Sunday, one of the plants defenders said Russian forces resumed shelling the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed. Denys Shlega, the commander of the 12th Operational Brigade of Ukraines National Guard, said in a televised interview Sunday night that several hundred civilians remain trapped alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. Several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant, Shlega said. We need one or two more rounds of evacuation. An aide to Mariupols mayor also reported renewed shelling. The cannonade is such that even (on the opposite side of the river) the houses are shaking," Petro Andryushenko wrote in a Telegram post. As many as 100,000 people may still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a key target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said civilians who have been stranded for nearly two months would receive immediate humanitarian support, including psychological services, once they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) northwest of Mariupol. Mariupol has seen some of the worst suffering. A maternity hospital was hit with a lethal Russian airstrike in the opening weeks of the war, and about 300 people were reported killed in the bombing of a theater where civilians were taking shelter. A Doctors Without Borders team was at a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, in preparation for the U.N. convoys arrival. Stress, exhaustion and low food supplies have likely weakened civilians trapped underground at the plant. Ukrainian regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar, meanwhile, called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. We dont know why they are not taken away, and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed, he said in a video posted Saturday on the regiments Telegram channel. Video from inside the steel plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands were among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed men with blood-stained bandages, open wounds or amputated limbs, including some that appeared gangrenous. The AP could not independently verify the location and date of the video, which the women said was taken last week. Meanwhile, Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers visited Kyiv on Saturday. She is the most senior American lawmaker to travel to the country since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. Her visit came just days after Russia launched rockets at the capital during a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Rep. Jason Crow, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. In his nightly televised address Sunday, Zelenskyy said more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-agreed with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion. The organization of humanitarian corridors is one of the elements of the negotiation process (with Russia), which is ongoing, he said. Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, saying Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. What could be Russias strategic success in this war? Honestly, I do not know. The ruined lives of people and the burned or stolen property will give nothing to Russia, he said. In Zaporizhzhia, residents ignored air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home to visit cemeteries Sunday, when Ukrainians observe the Orthodox Christian day of the dead. If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, Its not possible, theyre worse than the Germans, Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said while marking the day with his family at a picnic table among the graves. All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture the capital, Kyiv. Russias high-stakes offensive has Ukrainian forces fighting village-by-village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling. Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of seizing medical facilities to treat wounded Russian soldiers in several occupied towns, as well as destroying medical infrastructure, taking away equipment, and leaving the population without medical care. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine is difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested the offensive was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russias vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russias offensive could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel, and a much larger air force and navy. In Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, an explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday, and a criminal investigation has been started, the regions government reported in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 INDIANAPOLIS Are you losing sleep at night as Russian despot Vladimir Putin continues to rattle his nuclear saber? It's a question I've been posing to Hoosier Members of Congress these past few weeks. "You need to know I am receiving fairly frequent classified briefings these days," U.S. Sen. Todd Young told me on April 13. "You need to know that and know there are certain classified things I cannot discuss." When a senator begins his answer with that scary preface, we should take serious note. "What we also need to know is that we could invite the use of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons by showing weakness, just as we could by showing too much strength," Young continued. "The President is trying to get that balance right and he needs to because we have Vladimir Putin with nuclear capabilities. Its not clear we have the sort of protocols in place that we did during the Soviet era as you indicated." What I had "indicated" was that in 1962 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and in 1973 when his predecessor Leonid Brezhnev held power at the Kremlin, they had a governing structure in place. They had to answer to the Politburo, which two years after Khrushchev attempted to put Soviet nukes 90 miles off the Key West beachline, sacked him. Vladimir Putin has no such structure. He's a solitary strongman losing a war. "Its also not clear how stable (Putin) is; the extent to which he is prepared to escalate when push comes to shove," Young said. "There are so many known unknowns that what we have right now, its a very tense and dangerous time." This past week, Putin was at it again. They must know that our response to counterstrikes will be lightning fast. Fast," he said just days after Russia tested its new intercontinental Sarmat (or Satan) nuclear missiles. "We have all the weapons we need for this," he said. "No one can brag about these weapons and we wont brag about them. But we will use them." U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, returning from her native Ukraine after seeing the atrocities at Bucha, described a dire gathering threat. We cannot be naive and not acknowledge that a major world conflict has already started, she said. China and Russia are using a hybrid and multimodal strategy around the world to destabilize and control. The Noblesville Republican called for continued pressure on the despot Putin to get to the table and negotiate. Earlier this month following the embarrassing sinking of its Black Sea flag ship Moskva, Russian state TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva implored Rossiya 1 viewers to recognize that the country was now fighting against NATO infrastructure, if not NATO itself. One can safely call what it has escalated into World War III. In 2007 at the American ambassador's Spaso House residence in Moscow, I watched then Ambassador William Burns join U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and Sam Nunn of the Nuclear Threat Initiative meet for the 200th anniversary of U.S. and Russian diplomatic relations. This past week, we watched Nunn question now CIA Director Burns on Putin's current state of mind. Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that theyve faced so far, militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons, Burns responded. I have watched over the years as Putin has stewed in a combustible combination of grievance and ambition and insecurity. According to Foreign Policy Magazine, in a 2014 speech, Putin referred explicitly to Russias strategic weapons when he declared that other states should understand its best not to mess with us. That was the year that an amended Russian military doctrine stated this: "The Russian Federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened. When Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin III returned from Kyiv after meeting with President Zelenskyy on Sunday, he explained, "We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it cant do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine. At a Russian military base in Geodeziya, I watched Nunn, Lugar and Burns push a button in 2007 that incinerated a Soviet SS-25 missile motor that had once been aimed at the U.S. The Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program had secured Soviet nukes after the USSR had collapsed. Twenty percent of our electricity is fueled by nuclear power, Nunn said of U.S. energy needs. Fifty percent of that fuel comes from the highly enriched uranium that has been blended down into energy producing fuel that was once on the end of a warhead that was aimed at America. So, by definition, 10 percent of the electricity in America comes from warheads that have been deactivated. Nunn would add, The Old Testament talks of converting swords to ploughshares and thats what were doing. Today, we are facing a vastly different biblical scenario of truly frightening dimensions. Brian Howey is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana. Follow him on Twitter @hwypol. The opinions are the writer's. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Northwest Indiana is the nations steel production leader. Any policy related to steel will have an outsized impact whether positive or negative on the Region. This is particularly true of climate policy. Nations like China and India produce and sell steel at a lower cost than American manufacturers, but we do it in a much more carbon efficient way. The answer to this environmental and economic challenge is found in a border carbon adjustment a policy being advocated for by our very own Region-based State Sen. Rick Niemeyer. In his recent op-ed in this paper, Sen. Rick Niemeyer discussed a resolution he introduced in the Indiana State Senate encouraging the support of Indianas federal delegation for the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan. Our country needs a sensible climate policy that promotes environmental stewardship and protects our economy. And Indiana needs a climate policy that maintains our position as the nations steel leader. Putting American-made steel on a level playing field with foreign competitors is critical to economic stability in Northwest Indiana. Steel is a part of our life and our heritage. Sen. Niemeyer understands this and he has identified the precise policy that will preserve that heritage and our way of life here in the Region. I support his efforts and the Baker-Shultz Plan. Noel Suarez, chair, University of Indianapolis College Republicans Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 But by then I had these two young girls who wanted a puppy. I finally decided we were ready, and we went to a shelter where there were two sisters, Georgia and Jett, and one daughter wanted one and one daughter wanted the other, so I took them both. It felt like a nice way not to have to compare them to Nina. Animals life cycles are much shorter, so they teach you awareness of death and of whats really important. Just waking up and walking them or walking them before I go to bed in all kinds of weather, in all situations the monotonys nice. They dont care how stressed you are. And its a great way to learn lines. They often hear me talking to myself. I can see when I capture their attention when they think Im really talking to them, and when it sounds like Im just reciting. This interview has been edited and condensed. Production: Pony Projects. Hair: Tomo Jidai using R+Co. Grooming: Dan Duran using Dr. Barbara Sturm at Frank Reps. Tailor: Carol Ai. Photo assistant: Brian Karlsson. Stylists assistant: Minji Kim The Arkansas state attorney general is suing the value-store chain Family Dollar, claiming the company knew of a massive and long-lasting rodent infestation at a West Memphis distribution center but still continued to sell potentially contaminated products that were stored there. The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, came after the company temporarily shut down more than 400 stores in February following a Food and Drug Administration inspection that found a history of infestation at the facility. A fumigation completed in January revealed the presence of more than 1,100 dead rodents. Internal company records indicated that more than 2,300 rodents had been collected between March and September of 2021, according to an F.D.A. report. Federal inspectors said the company was aware of an increased presence of rodents in the facility since at least January 2020. Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students died in a car crash in Oklahoma on Friday night on a return trip from Kansas, where they had been storm chasing, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The students were identified as Nicholas Nair, 20; Gavin Short, 19; and Drake Brooks, 22. The three were traveling southbound on Interstate 35 in Tonkawa, Okla., near the Kansas border, when their Volkswagen Tiguan hydroplaned and became disabled, blocking the outside lane, according to the department of public safety. A truck struck the students car, pinning it for over five hours before their bodies were extricated by emergency responders. The students were pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was treated at a nearby hospital and released. Just hours earlier, two of the students, Mr. Nair and Mr. Short, had posted videos on Twitter from Herington, Kan., about 150 miles north, of a tornado passing over the highway. The students were part of a larger group of University of Oklahoma students who had traveled to Kansas to chase the storms, according to Phillip Ludwyck, a lieutenant with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol who helped recover the students from the vehicle. As the other carloads of students made their way back to Norman, Okla., they saw that Mr. Nair, Mr. Short and Mr. Brookss GPS location had frozen and called the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to report a possible accident, Mr. Ludwyck said. Four Canadian military cadets who were weeks away from graduating died early on Friday morning after their car plunged into the St. Lawrence River in Kingston, Ontario, the authorities said. The fourth-year cadets in the Royal Military College ran a dark green car at around 2 a.m. into the river that surrounds the Point Frederick peninsula, Canadas National Defense said in a statement. CBC News captured footage of the vehicle being lifted out of the water on Friday, its doors opened and windshield damaged. Canadas National Defense identified those in the car as: Jack Hogarth, Andrei Honciu, Broden Murphy and Andres Salek. Jackson is so excited to be competing with the best of the best at Nationals! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT Congratulations to Jackson on being accepted to SPiN (Society Performers in Nationals) July 2022 in Hollywood, CA. Jackson, age 11, hails from San Antonio, TX, and started with Society Performers in February 2022. He/ She has since trained, showcased, attended workshops, and continues to work hard... and it shows! Well done Jackson, keep it up. GOOD LUCK IN HOLLYWOOD!! Russia is calling in troops based in its far east to join the battle in Ukraine, the Ukrainian military high command said on Saturday, as Moscow seeks to reinforce its war-fighting force amid heavy losses and signs that its drive to seize eastern Ukraine has stalled. Adding to the sense that both sides appeared to be girding for a war of attrition, Ukrainians on Saturday lined up at gas stations across the country as the government struggled to deal with a fuel shortage caused by Russian attacks on oil infrastructure. Queues and rising prices at gas stations are seen in many regions of our country, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said Friday in his nightly address. The occupiers are deliberately destroying the infrastructure for the production, supply and storage of fuel. He said a Russian blockade of Ukrainian seaports meant that replacement stocks could not come in by tanker. The war has also paralyzed grain harvests in Ukraine, known as Europes breadbasket, disrupting global food supplies and worsening a food crisis in East Africa. The actor Bill Murray said that a movie in which he was set to star was suspended because an attempt at humor had been taken amiss by a female co-star, addressing publicly for the first time an episode that has gotten widespread attention. I did something I thought was funny, and it wasnt taken that way, Murray said in an interview on Saturday with CNBCs Becky Quick, during coverage of Berkshire Hathaways annual shareholders meeting. Murray, who is 71, labeled the episode a difference of opinion and did not apologize. While limiting his discussion of what happened to generalities and without going into detail, he spoke contritely about unwittingly insensitive behavior. Ive been doing not much else but thinking about it for the last week or two, he said. The worlds different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was funny as a little kid isnt necessarily the same as whats funny now. To title a work Not About [Insert Subject] Dance is a pointed bit of rhetoric. The denial suggests a double taboo: the subject that the work isnt (but really is) about, and the idea, shunned in certain dance circles, that a dance could be about something. That was true of Neil Greenbergs 1994 work Not-About-AIDS-Dance, and its true of Gerald Casels recent Not About Race Dance, which was presented in the middle of the three-week La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival. I saw three of the seven programs featured in the festival (it runs through May 5), and in each the tension between subject matter and the abstraction of dance was at issue. The tension was foregrounded in the work of Casel, who was born in the Philippines. Not About Race Dance begins with him dancing in front of projected text, a technique borrowed from Greenbergs piece. I am a brown body dancing in a big white cube, part of the text asserts. The rest identifies Casels movement strategies as derived from those of the choreographer Trisha Brown, a lineage to which he has a special claim, having spent many years in the company of her disciple Stephen Petronio. BOSTON In the summer of 2020, looking over a checklist of images and the installation plan for the upcoming Philip Guston show at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Kaywin Feldman, who was in her second year as the museums director, felt uneasy. How would the cartoonish, hooded Ku Klux Klan figures painted by Guston who explored racism in his enigmatic, politically charged work look to visitors amid the pain and the push for racial justice that had just exploded after the killing of George Floyd? There were no Black curators on the museums staff at the time. Feldman consulted employees from across the museum, including educators and security guards, to hear their thoughts. She expressed her misgivings to her counterparts at the three other museums collaborating on the Guston show, who voiced their own doubts. When she told her board that all four directors had concluded the show should be postponed, she mentioned a comment from a Black colleague that had made a particularly strong impression on her: Looking at more Klan imagery is like cutting another wound in my arm and pouring salt in it. Im willing to do that, but it needs to be for a bigger reason. The museums collaborating on the Guston exhibition the National Gallery, Tate Modern in London, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston announced that September that they would postpone the show until 2024 to rethink it, setting off a firestorm as hundreds of prominent artists signed an open letter saying the institutions fear controversy and lack faith in the intelligence of their audience. Liudmyla Monastyrska, the Ukrainian soprano, sang the title role in Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday night in place of the Russian diva Anna Netrebko, whom the company dropped over her past support of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. When the performance ended, Ms. Monastyrska sent a pointed message during the curtain calls: she emerged, to applause, wrapped in the Ukrainian flag. I wanted to help however I could, Ms. Monastyrska said in a recent interview as she prepared for Saturday nights performance. She said that her parents, her son and her brother were still in Ukraine. I think about them every minute and every second, she said. Ms. Netrebko, one of operas biggest stars, saw her international engagements dry up after Russia invaded Ukraine because of her past support for Mr. Putin. In 2014, she was photographed holding a flag used by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android. Coming out as bisexual in high school had been relatively easy: Maia Kobabe lived in the liberal San Francisco Bay Area and had supportive classmates and parents. But coming out as nonbinary years later, in 2016, was far more complicated, Kobabe said. The words available failed to describe the experience. There wasnt this language for it, said Kobabe, 33, who now uses gender-neutral pronouns and doesnt identify as male or female. I just thought, I am wanting to come out as nonbinary, and I am struggling with how to bring this up in conversation with people. And even when I am able to start a conversation about it, I feel like I am never fully able to get my point across. So Kobabe, an illustrator who still lives in the Bay Area, started drawing black-and-white comics about wrestling with gender identity, and posting them on Instagram. People started responding with things like, I had no idea anyone else felt this way, I didnt even know that there were words for this, Kobabe said. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. The first thing you notice when you walk into the office of Gerhard Schroder is the striking abundance of pictures of Gerhard Schroder. A large painting of a younger Schroder behind the desk. An even larger painting of an even younger Schroder next to the door. A black-and-white photo portrait. A stylized art print. A smattering of colorful cartoons featuring him as the fist-banging, swaggering, basta-shouting chancellor he once was. I was writing an article about how Germany got hooked on Russian gas over the past two decades and wanted to speak to Mr. Schroder, the man who popped up nearly every step of the way: as German chancellor from 1998-2005, as a lobbyist for Russian-controlled energy companies since then and as the personal friend of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia throughout. Mr. Schroder had not talked to any media outlet since the war in Ukraine started and with it, the almost universal outrage at his refusal to distance himself from Mr. Putin and resign from his lucrative positions for the gas pipeline operator Nord Stream and the Russian oil company Rosneft. But after weeks of back and forth, I was invited to meet him in his home city, Hanover, for our first conversation on April 11. Image Behind the Counter Dear Diary: I was in the city for my high school reunion, and I was looking for a shoe repair shop. A doorman on West 57th Street directed me to one down the subway. Going down a flight of stairs into the station, I saw a tiny coffee shop. Do you know where the shoe repair guy is? I asked the man behind the counter. He smiled. Its me! he said. I held up my shoes, broken strap dangling. He looked around and made a gesture that indicated he was alone in the store. Oh, come on, I said. Ill work behind the counter for you if youll fix my shoes. I was only kidding, but he nodded, took off his apron, held it out to me and waved me behind the counter. The change may be politically expedient, but it will have grave costs. Conservatives once understood that free markets are an engine that produces widespread prosperity and that government meddling is too often a wrench in the works. Choosing winners and losers, and otherwise substituting the preferences of lawmakers and bureaucrats for the logic of supply and demand, interferes with the economys ability to meet peoples material needs. If Republicans continue down this path, the result will be fewer jobs, higher prices, less consumer choice and a hampering of the unforeseen innovations that make our lives better all the time. But conservatives are turning on more than markets; they may be turning on the rule of law itself. The First Amendment prohibits the government from abridging peoples ability to speak, publish, broadcast and petition for a redress of grievances, precisely because the American founders saw criticizing ones rulers as a God-given right. Drawing attention to errors and advocating a better path forward are some of the core mechanisms by which we, the people, hold our government to account. The use of state power to punish someone for disfavored political speech is a gross violation of that ideal. The American economy is rife with cronyism, like subsidies or regulatory exemptions, that gives some businesses advantages not available to all. This, too, makes a mockery of free markets and rule of law, transferring wealth from taxpayers and consumers to politically connected elites. But while ending cronyism is a worthy goal, selectively revoking privileges from companies that fall out of favor with the party in power is not good-government reform. One might doubt the retaliatory nature of Republicans corporate speech reversal, but for their inability to quit stepping in front of cameras and stating the quiet part aloud. In the very act of signing the law that does away with Disneys special-purpose district and several others, Mr. DeSantis said this: Youre a corporation based in Burbank, Calif., and youre going to marshal your economic might to attack the parents of my state. We view that as a provocation, and were going to fight back against that. If government power can be used for brazen attacks on American companies and nonprofits, what cant it be used for? If it is legitimate for politicians to retaliate against groups for political speech, is it also legitimate to retaliate against individuals? (As Senator Mitt Romney once said, Corporations are people, my friend.) And if even the right to speak out is not held sacred, what chance do the people have to resist an authoritarian turn? Conservatives, confronting these questions, once championed free markets and limited government as essential bulwarks against tyranny. Discarding those commitments is not a small concession to changing times but an abject desecration, for cheap political gain, of everything they long claimed to believe. For decades, the fusionist governing philosophy which, in bringing together the values of individual freedom and traditional morality, charges government with protecting liberty so that the people will be free to pursue virtuous lives bound conservatives together and gave the Republican Party a coherent animating force. That philosophy would reject the idea that political officials should have discretion over the positions that companies are allowed to take or the views that people are allowed to express. WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, OHIO Its a chilly, drizzly evening, but Donald Trump Jr. is putting on a red-hot show at Loris Roadhouse, a bar and music joint in a strip mall on the outskirts of Cincinnati. Pretending to be a befuddled, senile President Biden, Don Jr. staggers around the low stage, eyes unfocused, making confused gestures and blundering into the giant red-white-and-blue backdrop. The crowd, a couple of hundred MAGA fans and local Republican players, laps up the wickedness. This is Don Jr.s last public appearance of the day on behalf of J.D. Vance, whose Senate candidacy was recently endorsed by Trump Sr. As at earlier stops, the audience whoops and laughs and hollers Amen! as Trump the Younger slashes at a series of targets: Democrats, the media, RINOs (Senator Mitt Romney is taking a serious beating), Big Tech, Americas stupid military leaders and so on. Don Jr. clearly inherited the family flair for showmanship. (Democrats would do well to keep an eye on his political development. In particular, the ladies here are gaga over him.) He deploys funny voices and goofy faces, his comic timing is spot on, and he has a vicious streak untempered by decency or accuracy. The other side has literally taken the stance that its OK to be a groomer, he charges, promoting the MAGAworld calumny that Democrats are pro-pedophile. Even on this dark topic he draws laughs by marveling that, in his younger days, being antipedophile was something that we could all agree on! Off to the side, chuckling awkwardly, hands jammed into his jeans pockets, stands Mr. Vance. Tall and burly, with carefully manicured facial hair, the candidate has already done his quick opening act and faded into the background like a good sidekick. He gazes attentively at the former presidents son, nodding appreciatively, clapping and grinning at all the appropriate (or, rather, inappropriate) moments. He takes out his phone to snap the occasional photo. Once or twice, he shoots a glance at the audience, as if to see how this show is playing. (Answer: very well.) Distinctly overshadowed, Mr. Vance is aware that, while his name may be on the yard signs and stickers spread around the bar, he is not who most folks have come to see. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East The White House Correspondents Association Dinner, that much-maligned evening of political and media schmoozing formerly known as the nerd prom, returned Saturday night after a two-year Covid-19 hiatus. It may not be the most obvious place for an obsessively followed, newish celebrity couple to make their red carpet debut. But if that obsessively followed, newish celebrity couple were trying to, say, be taken seriously as thoughtful people in their own right, beyond their gossip-page fame; if they were trying to suggest engagement with real issues rather than with reality TV; if they were trying to convey the idea that their relationship was not just about leveraging two kinds of fame for viral attention but also about a meaningful connection well, the White House Correspondents Dinner might then be the smartest choice around for such an unveiling. Enter Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson: Couple of Substance. If not just like us, then just like all the other attendees! The two gamely posed as a pair on the evenings step-and-repeat, just as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, as well as Jake Tapper of CNN and his wife, did. Unlike Drew Barrymore, who wore a Lanvin dress with floor-sweeping sleeves, Ms. Kardashian and Mr. Davidson didnt vamp for the photographers, or get caught taking giggly selfies with fellow attendees like Gayle King and Norah ODonnell. Mr. Davidson didnt even pull any silly faces, as his Saturday Night Live characters often do. Mr. Schwope also urged residents to be on alert for more evacuation announcements, and on Sunday afternoon, residents in two areas of Mora County were ordered to leave immediately. According to Mr. Johnson, about 6,000 people from 32 communities in the vicinity of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, some in rural mountain areas, were already under orders to leave. Monica Aragon left her house in Ledoux, a small community northeast of Santa Fe, on April 22 and has returned just once. She and her two children have been staying with her parents in Chimayo, about 60 miles from her home. On Friday, she said, she received a call from a volunteer firefighter describing the situation. He said he did not want her to panic, but that the fire had reached the road in front of her house. Firefighters were keeping it away from your home, she recalled him saying. Because of the ongoing danger, county officials have been unable to provide a full accounting of how many structures have been destroyed or damaged. But Joy Ansley, the county manager for San Miguel County, said that before the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire expanded on Friday, it had destroyed 200 structures. Roger Montoya, a New Mexico state representative whose district includes three counties currently being affected by fires, spent time last week with a team delivering food and other supplies to residents who had not yet left. Some were without electricity, he said. Theres a reluctance for individuals to leave their homes, he said. Samuel Coca, the general manager of a bar in the Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, N.M., said he had three vehicles packed with belongings in case he and his family needed to leave. As the fire grew Friday, along with the number of people leaving their homes, his bar began providing free buffet dinners for firefighters and evacuees. Many people left home with the clothes they were wearing and not much else, he added. No trial date has been set as Colonel Acosta considers challenges to the evidence that prosecutors want to use. The hearings are set to continue on Monday with testimony from James E. Mitchell, a psychologist who as a C.I.A. contractor waterboarded war on terrorism detainees, including Mr. Nashiri. Defense lawyers called him as a witness to describe what was on a video that the C.I.A. made and then destroyed of Mr. Nashiris interrogations at a black site in Thailand in 2002. Mr. Corsetti testified remotely, appearing in a video feed from a secret annex near the Pentagon that was built for the Guantanamo courtroom. He said his unit assigned him the role of menacing Mr. Darbi using what the Army Field Manual called fear-up, harsh techniques for about six weeks in the summer of 2002 for interrogations that would take place in the same building, not just by the military but also the F.B.I. and other intelligence agencies. To keep Mr. Darbi awake, Mr. Corsetti said, he forced him to stand shackled at the wrists with his arms lashed above his head. Mr. Corsetti said that for a time, he also had Mr. Darbi kneel in front of him while he smoked and used the prisoners uniform breast pocket as his ashtray. But Mr. Corsetti said the abuse that ultimately broke Mr. Darbi came when the Army private ordered him to scoop up a mixture of prisoners feces and urine, and fuel that had spilled from the prisoners toilet, a sliced-open 55-gallon drum. His hands were covered in waste by the end of it, Mr. Corsetti said. As a Saudi, it was very effective to make him do physical labor. She came to power pledging to relax some of the worlds steepest restrictions on womens reproductive rights. But months into her term, rights groups say, Hondurass first female president, Xiomara Castro, is struggling to fulfill promises, as attempts to empower women rekindle the countrys bitter ideological divisions. Ms. Castro, 62, became the countrys first ever leftist candidate to win elections in November by promising to bring social equality after more than a century of nearly uninterrupted conservative and military rule. She built a broad coalition of urban intelligentsia, small businessmen, landless farmers, Indigenous and Black groups, L.G.B.T.Q. people and women that propelled her to a landslide victory against the opponent of the incumbent party. In her campaign manifesto, Ms. Castro said she would advance sexual education, fight gender violence, bring more women into the economy, legalize abortion in limited circumstances and overturn a ban on emergency contraception pills. The political agenda of women and feminists will be my priority, she said during her campaign in August. With new cases of the coronavirus continuing to accumulate in Beijing, officials over the weekend introduced sweeping new restrictions while stopping short of a full lockdown, a sign of the political and economic challenges that controlling an outbreak in Chinas capital poses. As the five-day May Day holiday began on Saturday, local officials announced a ban on dining in restaurants until Wednesday. They also said that as of Thursday, proof of a negative test within the last week would be required to enter public spaces, including public transportation. And they ordered the closure of Universal Beijing Resort, one of the citys major tourist attractions. Those new restrictions followed three rounds of mandatory testing for nearly all of the citys 22 million residents, and a decision on Thursday to close Beijings schools, without specifying when they would reopen. Beijing has recorded more than 300 cases since April 22, including 59 on Saturday, the most so far in one day. But unlike other Chinese cities, including the southern economic hub of Shenzhen, that have locked down after detecting just a few cases, Beijing has continued to seal off only certain buildings or neighborhoods. Many residents are still free to move around the city. Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, waved at crowds of giddily cheering students. He held meetings with Olympic Games officials, economic policymakers and European leaders. He toured a tropical island. But there was a revealing gap in Mr. Xis busy itinerary last month, exposing the predicament that Covid is creating in a politically crucial year when he hopes to extend his hold on power. He stayed behind the scenes when it came to Chinas biggest, most contentious lockdown since the pandemic began. Throughout April, Mr. Xi gave no public speeches focused on outbreaks in China as its biggest city, Shanghai, shut down to try to stifle infections, and then Beijing went on alert after a burst of cases. Nor did Mr. Xi directly address the 25 million residents of Shanghai who have been ordered to stay at home for weeks, despite their complaints of scarce food, overwhelmed hospitals and confusing zigzags in mass quarantine rules. VALENZUELA CITY, Philippines John Benvir Serag knocked on doors in the working-class neighborhood, wearing his pink Youth Vote for Leni T-shirt and holding a stack of fliers. He has spent nearly every day in the past month trying to explain to strangers why Leni Robredo is the best person to lead the Philippines. What are you looking for in a president? Mr. Serag asked an older woman, ahead of the countrys presidential election in May. Of course, someone who does not steal, she responded. Right! Leni has no trace of corruption, Mr. Serag said. Also, she is not a thief. Anyone who made eye contact with the 26-year-old Mr. Serag in this neighborhood was an opening. Questions about her proposal for clean government? Needed more information about her plans for farmers and businesses? KABUL, Afghanistan The first blast ripped through a school in Kabul, the Afghan capital, killing high school students. Days later, explosions destroyed two mosques and a minibus in the north of the country. The following week, three more explosions targeted Shiite and Sufi Muslims. The attacks of the past two weeks have left at least 100 people dead, figures from hospitals suggest, and stoked fears that Afghanistan is heading into a violent spring, as the Islamic States affiliate in the country tries to undermine the Taliban government and assert its newfound reach. The sudden spate of attacks across the country has upended the relative calm that followed the Talibans seizing of power last August, which ended 20 years of war. And by targeting civilians the Hazara Shiite, an ethnic minority, and Sufis, who practice a mystical form of Islam, in recent weeks they have stirred dread that the country may not be able to escape a long cycle of violence. The armed forces pay tribute to the sacrifice of the foreign heroes who have come to protect the Ukrainian people from this barbarous invasion but also to defend freedom and democracy everywhere, the legion said in a statement. Malcolm Nance, a Navy intelligence veteran and former TV commentator who is now the public face of the legion, called the volunteers who died protecting angels, along with all those people who lost their lives in this senseless Russian invasion. In an interview before the foreign fighters were killed, Mr. Nance said many would-be volunteers arriving in the country underestimated the danger from Russian forces. He said the war was unlike what American veterans may have experienced in the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. Youre the hunted now, he said. And it is a full combined arms army with an enormous artillery machine that is there to chew you up. Ukraine and Russia have each had steep military losses, though their governments have not given specific figures. In mid-April, U.S. intelligence agencies estimated that 5,500 to 11,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed, and more than 18,000 wounded. Western intelligence agencies estimate that Russian military losses range from 7,000 to 10,000 killed and 20,000 to 30,000 wounded. He shot down numerous Russian planes, survived enemy attacks and became a symbol of Ukraines surprisingly effective air defenses, earning a bold wartime moniker: The Ghost of Kyiv. He is also, it turns out, a myth. The ghost of Kyiv is a superhero-legend, whose character was created by Ukrainians! Ukraines Air Force Command wrote on Facebook on Saturday, dispelling a monthslong rumor fueled by Ukrainian authorities themselves that had invigorated the resistance to Russias invasion. The Ukrainian statement came after some news outlets, including the Times of London, identified the Ghost of Kyiv as Major Stepan Tarabalka, an actual 29-year-old who died in an air battle in March. The claim echoed across social media and tabloid publications in Ukraine and the West, seeming to confirm that the story of the heroic fighter was real. Instead, it has turned out to be one of the more successful pieces of propaganda in an information war that, at times, Ukraine has fought as fiercely as it has on the battlefield. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. An evacuation of civilians from Mariupol was underway on Sunday as women and children confined to bunkers beneath a sprawling steel plant started to make their way to safety, according to Ukrainian officials and the United Nations. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that about 100 civilians were being evacuated from the Azovstal factory and are heading to a controlled area. Tomorrow well meet them in Zaporizhzhia, he wrote on Twitter. He said that they were working with the United Nations and other international groups to evacuate more people. The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that it was assisting in a safe passage operation in coordination with the United Nations as well as Ukrainian and Russian authorities. Oleg Y. Tinkov was worth more than $9 billion in November, renowned as one of Russias few self-made business tycoons after building his fortune outside the energy and minerals industries that were the playgrounds of Russian kleptocracy. Then, last month, Mr. Tinkov, the founder of one of Russias biggest banks, criticized the war in Ukraine in a post on Instagram. The next day, he said, President Vladimir V. Putins administration contacted his executives and threatened to nationalize his bank if it did not cut ties with him. Last week, he sold his 35 percent stake to a Russian mining billionaire in what he describes as a desperate sale, a fire sale that was forced on him by the Kremlin. I couldnt discuss the price, Mr. Tinkov said. It was like a hostage you take what you are offered. I couldnt negotiate. Mr. Tinkov, 54, spoke to The New York Times by phone on Sunday, from a location he would not disclose, in his first interview since Mr. Putin invaded Ukraine. He said he had hired bodyguards after friends with contacts in the Russian security services told him he should fear for his life, and quipped that while he had survived leukemia, perhaps the Kremlin will kill me. After a secret visit to Kyiv and a three-hour meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday pledged broad economic, military and humanitarian support for Ukraines government, saying the United States would stand with its ally until Russia was defeated. Drawing parallels with the American Revolution, the comments by Ms. Pelosi who led a small delegation of Democratic lawmakers to Kyiv, Ukraines capital, on Saturday reflected the remarkable evolution of American policy toward Ukraines struggle against Russian aggression, as the war shows signs of turning into a prolonged conflict. America stands with Ukraine until victory is won, Ms. Pelosi said Sunday at a news conference in Rzeszow, Poland, using a phrase that the other lawmakers in the delegation echoed. The House speaker insisted that the United States would not be deterred by threats from the Kremlin Do not be bullied by bullies, Ms. Pelosi said as the Biden administration increasingly casts aside fears expressed by some early in the war that too much American assistance to Ukraine risked a direct conflict with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine The chief of the general staff of the Russian military, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the countrys highest ranking uniformed officer, made a visit to dangerous front-line positions in eastern Ukraine late last week in an effort to change the course of Russias flagging offensive there, according to a senior Ukrainian official. Two U.S. officials with knowledge of the visit also backed that assessment. Ukrainian officials learned of the visit, the Ukrainian official said, but not in time to catch General Gerasimov. When Ukrainian forces launched an attack on one position visited by General Gerasimov, at School No. 12 in the Russian-controlled city of Izium on Saturday evening, he had already departed for Russia. Still, some 200 soldiers, including at least one general, were killed, the Ukrainian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military operation. Two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential intelligence assessments, confirmed that General Gerasimov had been in eastern Ukraine for the past couple days, but had no information about the attack on the Russian base. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Our working assumption is that he was there because theres a recognition they havent worked out all their problems yet, said one of the officials. But that grinding effort is going slowly, with fierce artillery battles and high casualties on both sides. It is not just Ukraines military that is being starved of supplies. There is now a shortage of gasoline and diesel, at least for civilian use, stemming from Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports and attacks on refineries and fuel depots. Long lines for gasoline have been seen even in cities like Lviv, and there are concerns about the impact of the shortages on agriculture, even in fields untouched by the war. A report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said that only a fifth of almost 1,300 large agribusinesses surveyed by the government in mid-March had enough fuel to operate the farm equipment needed to plant corn, barley and other crops this spring, which is already causing rising food prices in countries far from Ukraine. In a possible indication of flagging Russian morale, the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces, Gen. Valery V. Gerasimov, the countrys top uniformed officer, made a visit to a dangerous frontline position in eastern Ukraine this weekend in an effort to change the course of Russias offensive there, according to a senior Ukrainian official with knowledge of the visit. Ukrainian forces launched an attack on a Russian headquarters in Izium on Saturday evening, but General Gerasimov had already left to return to Russia, the official said. Still, some 200 soldiers, including at least one general, were killed, the Ukrainian official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military operation. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that General Gerasimov had been in eastern Ukraine but did not confirm the rest of the Ukrainian account. Fighting has intensified around the large eastern city of Kharkiv in recent days as Ukrainian forces have attempted to push away Russian units. Though the gains have been small, they are emblematic of both the Ukrainian and Russian forces strategy as the war drags into its third month, one that focuses on a village at a time and leverages concentrated artillery fire to dislodge one another. The bodies of three men were found in a pit near Bucha, a few miles west of Kyiv, Ukraines capital, with signs that the civilians had been tortured to death by Russian troops, the regional police chief said on Saturday. The police chief, Andriy Nebytov, said in a YouTube video that the victims bodies were discovered on Friday in a forest in the village of Myrotske and that their bodies showed signs of mutilation. We can tell just by looking that the people were tortured. They were simply shot, Mr. Nebytov said in the video, which appeared to show the mens graves and their bodies blurred out. The Times could not independently verify the details. Since the Russian invasion began in late February, Bucha has become the site of some of the wars worst atrocities, with civilians bearing the brunt of the assault there. New York Times reporters and photographers documented the bodies of dozens of people killed in their homes and in the woods, and even set on fire in a vacant parking lot. A mother and daughter from the Midlands have turned their lives around by losing nine and a half stone between them in just eight months with Slimming World. Laura Monaghan, 45, and her daughter Jessica, 19, both from Longford Town, joined their local Slimming World group in July 2021 and they say that supporting one another on their weight-loss journeys has been key to their success. Laura, who has lost 4 stone, explained, When we first joined Slimming World, we couldnt believe how much food we could eat and still lose weight. Making small changes to the way we cooked our meals meant we could still enjoy all of our favourites like Spaghetti Bolognese, and they taste so much better. We also enjoy the Slimming World meals from Iceland if we are short of time. We never have to miss out and dont have to worry about weighing and measuring everything we eat or counting calories. Before we started, we worried eating healthily might limit us, but we try more new recipes now than we ever did before and have found Food Optimising fits around our lives, rather than the other way around. Laura added, As weve lost weight weve enjoyed being more active as well, which means we do more together like getting out and about enjoying long walks, like the canal walk in Longford town. Daughter Jessica, who is 5st 7lbs lighter since joining Slimming World, says: Were lucky because as well as the support we had from each other, the rest of the group have also been there for us. We look forward to seeing everyone from our group each week, and we swap recipes and strategies for staying on track. If we've ever struggled there has always been someone ready to suggest a new idea or remind us why we started this journey. Its listening to others and talking about our own motivations and challenges that has, week by week, helped us to understand ourselves as slimmers better so we can make changes that were confident we can keep up for life. I dont think we could have achieved all we have without the support of our Consultant Tona and the rest of the Longford town group. Local lady Tona Daly, who runs Slimming World groups in the Temperance Hall, says, Laura and Jessica are proof that slimmers are more successful when they lose weight together and get support and motivation from others. This past couple of years have been incredibly difficult for so many of us, but Laura and Jessicas determination to reach their goals has never faded. Theyre always the first ones to offer support and encouragement to others in the group too theyre a real inspiration and I couldnt be more proud of them! Seeing Laura and Jessicas weight come down week after week has been a joy. I really hope their weight loss can inspire people to get started on their own journey and show them that theres a whole group of people waiting to support them every step of the way and absolutely no judgement. Tonas Slimming World groups are held in the Temperance Hall Longford town every Wednesday at 8.30am & 10am or every Thursday at 5.30pm & 7pm. To join or to find out more contact Tona on 087 3400600 or click on www.slimmingworld.co.uk RTHK: Pelosi backs Zelenskyy in 'fight for freedom' in Kyiv US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi voiced support for Ukraine's "fight for freedom" at a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a visit to Kyiv, US and Ukrainian officials said on Sunday. "We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom... Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," Pelosi told Zelenskyy, according to a video from the Ukrainian presidency. Zelenskyy tweeted: "Thank you to the United States for helping protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state". "The US is leading strong support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression," he said. The trip by a Congressional delegation had not been previously announced. "Our delegation proudly delivered the message that additional American support is on the way, as we work to transform President Biden's strong funding request into a legislative package," Pelosi's office said in a statement. US President Joe Biden last week proposed a huge US$33-billion (31-billion euro) package for arming and supporting Ukraine. Biden also outlined proposed new laws to allow using luxury assets stripped from Russian oligarchs to compensate Ukraine for the destruction wreaked by the attacking Russians. "When we return to the United States, we will do so further informed, deeply inspired and ready to do what is needed to help the Ukrainian people as they defend democracy for their nation and for the world," Pelosi's statement continued. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv last month. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-05-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Xin Ping Mixed messages Illustration: Liu Rui/GT The Yongsan US military base in Seoul, the ROK, was surrounded by ROK citizens shouting "Shut down the bio-labs!" It was not the first time that such protests took place in a country in which US troops are based. But the date of this campaign made it different. It was April 10, 2022, the 50th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). From the GG-21 Program in Georgia to the JUPITR Biochemical Experimentation Program in the ROK, biochemical experimental programs controlled by Washington have been exposed one after another. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The US, a self-proclaimed "beacon of democracy," stands out in conducting dangerous biological experiments and expanding its bio-military empire to the whole world. Recently, a total of 5,629 contracts about US overseas biological laboratories were revealed. And the documents have so much to disclose. The discrepancy in the number of overseas bio-labs would be an interesting start to a journey of discovery . The US openly admitted that it runs 336 biological laboratories in 30 countries around the world, including 26 in Ukraine. However, the contracts suggest that the US has signed contracts with 49 countries, way more than it had admitted. According to Igor Kirillov, Chief of Russia's radiation, chemical and biological protection force, the US has formed a network of more than 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine, which is also more than the US version of the tally. In one instance of contract with Ukraine, there is a paragraph that goes, "preventing the proliferation of technology, pathogens and expertise that are located at facilities in Ukraine and that could be used in the development of biological weapons." The wording sounds neutral indeed. But considering the shadowy lab operations and curious coincidences, this admonishment is more like an admission of a standard laboratory practice. It is particularly so when the media outlets all over the world have covered crises in places where US bio-labs are located. The Time of Israel reported that the secret human body experiments in Georgia's Lugar Research Center had caused a number of deaths. In BBC's report, the US troops in the ROK conducted tests on a variety of highly toxic substances, including live anthrax, without informing the ROK government and local citizens. Reuters reported that, on the day the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out, the US-controlled biological laboratory in Ukraine urgently destroyed deadly pathogens, including anthrax and rat plague. If what the US funds and runs in Ukraine and elsewhere are truly "biological research facilities," as US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland claimed during a Senate hearing, why would the names of US arms dealers appear on the contracts ordered by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency? The leopard cannot change its spots, people say, neither can Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, General Dynamics and Metabiota. Within international fora, the US is afraid of bringing the Pentagon-controlled biological laboratories to light. For a long time, it stands alone in opposing the establishment of a verification mechanism for the BWC. Despite international public pressure, the US has never released the specifics of its experiments in biological labs around the world but brushed them off as "defensive." As Turkish medical biology genetics expert Korkut Ulucan says, "the US should make actually biological laboratories public and set up ethics committees, with oversight by an independent body composed of multiple parties. If research conducted in secret gets out of hand, the results could be catastrophic." When commitments do not square with facts, fatal accidents keep occurring, and blood-thirsty military-industrial complexes are involved in ought-to-be biological research. Only candor, transparency and supervision can help dissipate the public suspicion, address international concern and prevent catastrophic results. The US can no longer pretend that the world cannot see or does not care. The international community, the countries where US overseas bio-labs are based in particular, is keen to get an explanation. The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Global Times, China Daily, etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. Playing in red and blue, the Knights joined the top tier competition in 1988, 79 years after the previous Newcastle based team, the Newcastle Rebels had departed the Sydney competition with the formation of a separate league competition based in the Newcastle region. Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera that was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. Seven commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap Sons and Daughters. Although successful in Melbourne, Neighbours underperformed in the Sydney market and was cancelled by Seven four months after it began airing. It was immediately commissioned by rival network Ten for a second production season, which began screening on 20 January 1986. Neighbours has since become the longest-running drama series in Australian television history. In 2005, it was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. As Russia concentrates its attack on the east and south of the country, residents of the Kyiv region are returning to assess the war's toll on their communities. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Around 100 Ukrainian civilians were being evacuated from a ruined steelworks in the city of Mariupol on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Angelina Jolie went to Ukraine to see the devastation for herself ... and she's getting major props from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The New York senator said she admires Angie for heading over to the city of Lviv this weekend, where she was Ros Atkins looks at why the Chinese government remains committed to its policy of eliminating all outbreaks of coronavirus. Fred Parry has called for better access to recovery services in Scotland after his son died aged 32. The principles of the Charter of the United Nations cannot be applied selectively. The Member States have accepted them all and they must apply them all. by Anwar A. Khan Look at the following Brobdingnagian formal expression of meetings set about by the UN from the start of Russian war against Ukraine till 25 April last i.e. for the last two months. Anyones thought-process will be startled to have read such a bountiful words expressed for only words for words by so many UNs divisions against the war, and look at the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who remains unmoved till two months of war, whereas he should have gone to both Russia and Ukraine a long time back to talk to Putin and Zelenskyy to stop this annihilative war which has been continuing on. He is such a callous guy indifference to indescribable torments of people! On the night of 23 to 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine. The United Nations considers this attack to be a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. It is contrary to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The principles of the Charter of the United Nations cannot be applied selectively. The Member States have accepted them all and they must apply them all. On Thursday 24 March, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded civilian protection and humanitarian access in Ukraine, while also criticizing Russia for creating a dire humanitarian situation. During its 11th Emergency Special Session, 193 Member States adopted a resolution drafted by Ukraine and 90 co-sponsors entitled Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine with 140 votes in favour, five against and 38 others abstaining. The United Nations General Assembly adopted on Wednesday 2 March a resolution deploring the aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine (141 votes in favour, 5 against and 35 abstentions). The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity. The UN Human Rights Council decided on 5 March to urgently establish an independent international commission of inquiry following Russias aggression against Ukraine. The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on 4 March calling for the swift and verifiable withdrawal of Russian troops and Russian-backed armed groups from the entire territory of Ukraine. On 16 March the International Court of Justice ordered Russia to immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine. The UN Secretary-General announced on 28 March that he was instructing the UN Humanitarian Chief to immediately explore with the parties concerned possible agreements and arrangements for a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine. On 30 March the United Nations appointed three human rights experts to investigate possible violations of international law committed during the conflict in Ukraine. In a statement on Monday, 4 April, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she was horrified by the images of people lying dead on the streets and in improvised graves in the town of Bucha. It is vital that all efforts are made to ensure independent and effective investigations into what happened in Bucha. On 5 April, Secretary-General in his remarks at the UN Security Council Meeting on Ukraine, said that the war in Ukraine is one of the greatest challenges ever to the international order and the global peace architecture, founded on the United Nations Charter. He urged the Council to do everything in its power to end the war and to mitigate its impact, both on the suffering people of Ukraine, and on vulnerable people and developing countries around the world. In an address to the Security Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described in stark detail what he said was the deliberate slaughter of civilians in Bucha by Russian forces, laying out an existential choice for its members, over the whole future of the worlds security architecture, founded in 1945. Ukraines President called on Security Council to act for peace, or dissolve itself. On 7 April, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for Russia to be suspended from the Human Rights Council. The resolution received a two-thirds majority of those voting, minus abstentions, in the 193-member Assembly, with 93 nations voting in favour and 24 against. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Moscow on 26 April. He said he came to Moscow as a messenger of peace, and had had frank discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Protection of civilians is a priority The United Nations is making the protection of civilians its priority and will intensify its humanitarian operations in and around Ukraine. The United Nations needs safe and unhindered access to all areas affected by the Russian military offensive. There is an urgent need to establish a safe passage for life-saving medical supplies and health personnel. Addressing the Security Council from Geneva, emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said on Tuesday (April 5th) that more than a quarter of Ukraines population had fled. Perilous conditions are hampering our efforts to gain access to civilians or for them to gain access to us, he said. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned acts of violence against health centres, which are violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. WHO has authenticated 160 attacks on health care since the war began. The UNs head of political affairs warned the Security Council on Friday (11 March) that direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes. On 11 March, UNICEF, UNFPA (the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency) and WHO called for an immediate halt to all attacks on health services in Ukraine. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has denounced the use in Ukraine of Russian cluster munitions that have killed civilians. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 5840 civilian casualties were recorded, including 2729 deaths. The actual figure could be significantly higher as reported victims are confirmed. Tens of millions of people are in potential danger of death. On 1 March, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners launched coordinated emergency appeals totalling $1.7 billion to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighbouring countries. As of 25 April, this appeal was 70% funded. Individual donations from 140 countries have raised more than $3 million to date. On 25 February, the Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed Amin Awad of Sudan as Assistant Secretary-General to serve as United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. Europe facing its biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has estimated that more than 5 million people have fled Ukraine and more than 7.7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced. This is the fastest forced population movement since the Second World War. According to UNICEF, every second that passes, a Ukrainian child becomes a refugee. It is important that solidarity with the victims of this war be extended without any discrimination. All people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or culture, must enjoy the same treatment and protection. As of 8 March, UN agencies were present in each of the countrys 24 oblasts and had provided life-saving humanitarian assistance to 2.1 million people in Ukraine. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on 4 March welcomed the European Unions unprecedented decision to offer temporary protection to refugees fleeing Ukraine. UNICEF is stepping up its efforts to help the hundreds of thousands of children on both sides of the line of contact who suffer daily from the consequences of armed conflict. The World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling up its operations to reach up to 3.1 million civilians through cash transfers and in-kind food distributions if needed. WFP staff in Kiev say food supplies are running out, with grocery store shelves almost empty. The agency plans to provide assistance in the form of in-kind food distributions, multi-purpose cash and food vouchers that can be used in select stores. As of 7 April, WHO has delivered more than 185 tonnes of medical supplies to the hardest-hit areas of the country, providing half a million people with trauma, surgical and primary health care equipment. An additional 125 tonnes of basic necessities are also being delivered. A conflict with disastrous humanitarian consequences The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has indicated that the fighting, which was already intense in several localities, particularly in eastern Ukraine, has intensified further in recent days, with disastrous humanitarian consequences in the most affected areas. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that Ukraine could freefall into poverty. OCHA has warned that the humanitarian situation has become appalling in the regions hardest hit by the conflict in Ukraine. Nuclear facilities Nuclear power plants should never be targeted by military operations. Military operations around nuclear sites and other critical civilian infrastructure are unacceptable, highly irresponsible and contrary to international humanitarian law. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is closely monitoring the situation. Military operations around nuclear sites and other critical civilian infrastructure are not only unacceptable but also highly irresponsible, Rosemary DiCarlo, the UNs chief of political affairs, told the fifteen-member Council. Food security According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the war in Ukraine is jeopardizing global grain supplies and food security. FAO has warned that disruptions to production, supply and delivery chains for grains and oilseeds, and restrictions on Exports from Russia, will have a significant impact on food security. An additional 8 to 13 million people could suffer from undernutrition worldwide if food exports from Ukraine and Russia were permanently prevented by the war. The UN Secretary-General has warned of a hurricane of famine and a collapse of the global food system. In short, the U.N. Secretary-General today is best described as a sickly patient awaiting a blood transfusion. -The End The writer is an independent political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs Sydney Morning Herald 04 May 2022 The prime minister will today promise to help 400,000 small businesses set up shop over the next five years, Anthony Albanese says.. The family of a former hotel manager who was portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood film about the 1994 Rwandan genocide has filed a $400m lawsuit over his alleged abduction and torture. Joe Biden has mocked his own low approval ratings and had a dig at the "horrible plague" of predecessor Donald Trump at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking US leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war. What's clear ... is that the free press matters more than you ever did in the last century, US President Joe Biden said while addressing the first White House Correspondents' Association dinner in years. Turkish police prevent demonstrations and detain dozens of protesters in Istanbul on International Workers Day, also known as May Day. More than 4,000 children from Ukrainian orphanages and care homes have been evacuated to Poland to escape the war. Separated from their parents or abandoned, they're coming to terms with trauma. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in France on Sunday to mark May Day in a fraught political atmosphere following the presidential election. US Senator Rand Paul pledged to launch an inquiry into the beginnings of the COVID-19 virus if Republicans reclaim the majority of the Senate Seasoned diplomat Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday took charge as India's new foreign secretary at a time New Delhi is dealing with various geopolitical developments including the crisis in Ukraine. A 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Kwatra succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla who retired from service on Saturday. 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The Ministry of Health is to release the latest numbers regarding the outbreak at 1pm. It comes... Education Minister Chris Hipkins has announced a $40 million package to tackle school attendance issues. Hipkins said the funding, to be part of Budget 2022, would focus on supporting initiatives that work for local communities... Many voters in England, Wales and Scotland will head to the polls on 5 May to elect their new local representatives. After more than two long years, international tourists are once again allowed into New Zealand. From this morning visitors from around 60 visa-waiver countries, like Australians already, can now travel here without isolation if... Sydney (AFP) April 30, 2022 Beijing's security deal with the Solomon Islands has transformed Australia's closely-fought election campaign into a foreign policy battle over Canberra's complicated relationship with the Pacific. Australia's Liberal government lobbied hard against the Solomons signing the pact, alongside ally the United States, but neither was successful in dissuading Honiara. The final text is not pub Here's the latest for Sunday May 1: Tear gas used to disperse May Day protesters in Paris; US Congressional Delegation met with Ukraine President; Pope renews call peace, humanitarian corridors in Ukraine; White House press corp gala returns. A Russian MP has labelled Great Britain "more evil" than the United States in an impassioned tirade on state TV, where the UK was also accused of stealing the "Russian" invention of fish and chips.Andrei Isayev, a pro-Kremlin politician,... New Zealand Herald 01 May 2022 A long-awaited effort to evacuate people from a steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was underway, the United Nations.. E! Online 09 May 2022 Wynonna Judd is honoring her late mom's memory. Following the news that Naomi Judd passed away in late April at the age of 76, her.. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8376a6e30)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838ec0de0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8376a6e30)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838ec0de0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e838449ed8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838ec0de0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838ec0de0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e8375dcf50)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e838c6ab40)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e838c6ab40)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Prep Roundup: Creek baseball sweeps No. 3 Hemlock Bullock Creek came up with a huge sweep on Monday, beating Hemlock the third-ranked team in... Chargers blank Chemics to keep title hopes alive Dow High girls soccer coach Spencer Sandow is viewing the end of the regular season as a sort of... Photo: (Photo : Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images) Texas high school sophomore Lauren Juma was shot dead by her mother's gun-toting boyfriend early Friday morning while being held captive at home, authorities said. The 16-year-old student was pronounced dead at the scene in the Houston suburb of Humble. Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff's Office have arrested the suspected shooter, with 60-year-old Van Brisbon booked into jail on a charge of murder. According to a report by ABC13, a sergeant quoted Brisbon as telling police, "You do what you have to do," at the time of his arrest. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez issued a statement regarding Brisbon's arrest, saying he was not cooperative with investigators, and a motive for the murder is unknown at this time. The sheriff said that the tragic incident began unfolding just after 1 a.m. on Friday, April 29, when Lauren's sister called 911 to report that Brisbon, their mother's live-in boyfriend, held the teenager at gunpoint. Multiple gunshots kill Lauren Juma Deputies rushed to the scene, but tragedy struck as they were approaching the front door of the family's home in the 20400 block of Canton Trace Lane in Humble, with officers hearing multiple gunshots. Brisbon exited the house after the shooting and was detained. According to the New York Post, deputies found Juma dead inside the home, with police saying she had been shot multiple times. Juma's older sister was not inside the house at the time of the shooting. She was standing outside. On the other hand, their mother was out of town when the incident transpired. The slain girl's father said that Juma was a sophomore at Nimitz High School. According to him, Juma's dream was to become a police officer or join the military when she grew up. She had just made the cheerleading team in her high school and dreamed of joining her sister in the U.S. Air Force after graduation. The heartbroken father described his daughter as hardworking and sweet. Juma is survived by her brother and three sisters. Read Also: LaDonna Williams Found Buried in Florida Backyard 7 Years After Escaping Domestic Abuse Stabbing Lauren Juma's mother and sister emotional after her death Click2Houston reported that the tragic series of events started early Friday morning when the victim Facetimed with one of her older sisters and her mother. According to Juma's sister Keryca Harmon, Lauren told her at around 1 a.m. that Brisbon was being weird. Juma then asked her sister to come pick her up. Unfortunately for Harmon, she never got to see her sister alive again. Harmon was emotional when recalling the shooting, saying, "By the time I got there, the police were already out there searching around the house. I was there about three minutes before I heard two gunshots go off, and I ran toward the house." Laurie Young did not mince any words when talking about her boyfriend, saying, "He can rot in jail. He had no reason for taking my baby's life. Sixteen years old." Related Article: Pet Duck Helps Crack Nellie Sullivan Case; Angela Wamsley and Mark Barnes Charged With Murder A new Colorado Section Manager begins July 1 ARRL Colorado Section Manager Robert Wareham, N0ESQ, has resigned from the position, effective June 30, 2022. ''I appreciate all the hard work that you have put in and wish you the best for the future,'' responded ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY. Wareham has a long history of leadership within ARRL, serving as State Government Liaison, Public Information Coordinator, Section Emergency Coordinator, Division Vice Director, and finally, Section Manager since 2006. Wareham told Walters he was stepping down because he didn't feel he could devote the time necessary to the Section Manager role for the remainder of his term. On the recommendation of Wareham and Rocky Mountain Division Director Jeff Ryan, K0RM, Walters has asked Amanda Alden, K1DDN, to serve the remainder of Wareham's term, which ends September 30, 2023. Alden has served as an Assistant Section Manager, and Region Emergency Coordinator for the south and southeast All-Hazards Regions of Colorado. Photo: (Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) A woman who allegedly confessed to putting her baby's body in the trash after claiming the two-month-old boy died while he was sleeping was murdered. According to a news release by the Metropolitan Police Department, LaDonia Boggs, was allegedly stabbed to death on Wednesday, April 27, inside a Washington, D.C., apartment on the 1500 block of Benning Road. Fifth District detectives responded to alerts of an incident in the area just before 3 a.m. They found Boggs "suffering from an apparent stab wound inside the apartment." The 39-year-old was declared dead at the scene and taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. According to the news release, officers from the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force found and arrested Carl Jones later on Wednesday, charging the 44-year-old with second-degree murder while armed. Cops added that "this offense was domestic in nature." Carl Jones charged with second-degree murder The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to People magazine that Jones is the father of Boggs' missing child. It is not clear who Jones has retained as a lawyer to comment on his behalf. The death of Boggs comes almost a year after she was originally charged with felony murder in the presumed death of her two-month-old child, Kyon Jones. Boggs allegedly was recorded saying the young boy died in his sleep before she threw his body in the trash. According to a statement from D.C. Police, Jones was last seen alive on May 5 of last year, but the kid was not reported missing until two days later. The Charles City County Sheriff's Office announced last May that authorities were searching a Virginia landfill for the newborn. Baby Kyon's remains have not yet been found. Read Also: South Carolina Mom Kyleen Waltman Won't Be Able to Get Prosthetic Limbs Due to Severity of Pit Bull Attack Boggs revealed how she threw the baby's body in the video A video of Boggs talking about how her baby had died while sleeping in the bed with her was then shared by a local missing-persons advocate. Boggs revealed in the video, which was obtained by WRC-TV, that the last thing she remembered was that she had rolled over, and the baby was on her chest. Boggs said, "After that when I was 'sleep, rolled over, noticed he was unresponsive - breathing - and I panicked." Boggs then went on to detail how she disposed of the baby's lifeless body in the video, saying she wrapped Kyon in a blanket before throwing it in the trash. Boggs was later arrested without bond. Court documents also stated Boggs told police that she had taken PCP before accidentally rolling over on the baby. Surveillance video showed the mother taking a car seat, a cardboard box, and a plastic bag to a dumpster at her apartment complex. Prosecutors decided not to pursue murder charges against Boggs, charging her instead with tampering with evidence. Boggs was awaiting trial when she was murdered. Related Article: Toddler Ruby Ann Cervantes Survives Dog Mauling After Mom Jamie Morales Stabs Pit Bull to Death Photo: (Photo : ABDULAZIZ KETAZ/AFP via Getty Images) A premature newborn baby, fed with a contaminated Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) fluid, died at just nine days old. Yousef Al-Kharboush suffered sepsis or blood poisoning due to the tainted feeding supply. Yousef was one of 19 newborn babies poisoned by the TPN across nine hospitals in the U.K. between May 27 to June 2 in 2014. According to the Daily Mirror, the baby was also one of three youngest babies who became severely ill from the feed that ITH Pharma supplied. The pharmaceutical company has been locked in a legal battle for years due to the babies' deaths. ITH Pharma has pleaded guilty to its failure to conduct a proper risk assessment test before distributing supplies of Total Parental Nutrition. Judge Deborah Taylor fined ITH Pharma more than $1.5 million for their product's "significant shortfall from the required standard." Read Also: Parents Sue Guida's Dairy Over Contaminated Milk With Sanitizer in Camden Preschools ITH Pharma has been fined over 1.2m after supplying contaminated feed for premature babies, three of whom later died. Some 19 infants were infected with Bacillus Cereus bacteraemia at nine hospitals after receiving a contaminated batch of their total parenteral nutrition (TPN). pic.twitter.com/cErGJK4dMz London Live (@LondonLive) April 29, 2022 The Other Newborns who Died from the Tainted TPN Yousef was born via emergency C-section at 32 weeks gestation with his twin, Abdulilah, at St. Thomas' Hospital in May 2014. Both babies were unable to feed adequately due to their condition and thus were given Total Parental Nutrition fluids while in the neonatal intensive care unit. Abdulilah, however, was not affected by the tainted TPN. Around the same period at the Rosie Maternity Hospital, newborn twins Tameria and Tia Aldrich were also given TPN. Tameria died a few days after Yousef. Another infant born at the same hospital, Oscar Barker, also didn't survive. Raaid Sakkijha, Yousef's father, said that his family is still haunted by what happened to their son. His wife, Sakkijha, still bears the weight of losing Yousef, especially when she sees his twin brother. The family has accused the pharmaceutical company of prioritizing profit over the safety of the babies, per The Guardian. During the sentencing of ITH Pharma, Vicki Golden, the mother of Tameria, and Holly Baker, Oscar's mother, cried in the gallery. Golden said she has always believed that the TPN contributed to her baby's health deterioration. The parents' lawyer, Arti Shah, said that the families have been living in hell for the last eight years. However, the judge ruled that, while the company was liable for putting the babies at risk, the prosecutor failed to prove that it placed profit before safety. ITH Pharma Issues Public Apology Karen Hamling, the managing director of ITH Pharma, was in the gallery during the sentencing. She said she had "desperate anxiety" for the babies who died and felt "anger and sadness" at the same time as her firm was persecuted in public. Hamling said that she was "genuinely sorry" that the feed supplies made by the company brought risks. A spokesperson for ITH Pharma also issued the company's official statement after the judge's decision. The spokesperson extended its "deepest sympathies to the families" affected by the events that took place eight years ago, per the Evening Standard. Related Article: New Jersey Issues Camden Milk Contamination Recall After 40 Preschool Kids Drank Sanitizer Photo: (Photo : Greg Doherty/Getty Images) Hollywood actress and director Olivia Wilde was on stage when an unknown woman served the child custody papers from her ex-partner Jason Sudeikis, who claimed he did not know about the incident. Wilde was speaking to a full audience at the CinemaCon about her upcoming film, "Don't Worry Darling," when the woman slipped a Manila envelope marked "Personal and Confidential." Thinking that this was a script, Wilde blurted out that she would open the envelope right away. However, upon seeing what was inside, Wilde thanked the woman, a process server, and gathered her bearings before proceeding with her presentation. Sources from Deadline confirmed that the contents of the documents were child custody papers from Sudeikis. Read Also: Mapson Sisters from Oklahoma to go to Prison For Plotting to Kill Child's Dad Jason Sudeikis' Lawyers Speak Out Lawyers of the "Ted Lasso" actor said, in a statement through Variety, that they drew the child custody papers for their client. However, Sudeikis had no hand in the delivery of the documents as this was up to the servicing company. Nonetheless, the actor's lawyers said that he would personally find the manner of delivery inappropriate. CinemaCon, on the other hand, said that they would review the protocols of their event as they had no idea how the woman was able to slip past the security. Reports cited that the woman had CinemaCon credentials. Wilde and Sudeikis were never married, but they were in a relationship for ten years until 2020. The former couple has two kids, Otis, eight years old, and Daisy, five years old. According to USA Today, Wilde and Sudeikis never had any troubling child custody issues, unlike other Hollywood ex-couples, such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Legal expert Leslie Barbara agreed that serving the child custody papers in this manner was "terrible optics" and the "worse way to handle service." However, the expert said it's not a surprising move as many people have had the same surprising, if not embarrassing, experience as Wilde. Barbara noted that if Sudeikis did not know this would happen, then there was likely a breakdown in communication between the actor and his lawyers. The lawyer also said that perhaps this manner of serving was necessary as celebrities are notoriously resistant to getting legal documents, especially when the law states it should be handed in person to the persons involved. Jillina Kwiatkowski of the National Association of Professional Process Servers wagered that the process server for Sudeikis' child custody papers likely tried to get closer to the actress before. When that failed, she found another way to get to her. Olivia Wilde Reeling with Confusion Sources close to Wilde told Hollywood Life that she is still reeling from the mortifying incident. The friend said it took Wilde a moment to process what happened, but she has beau, Harry Styles, to lean on. The insider further stated that Wilde and Styles are not rushing into their relationship. In the beginning, Wilde didn't think that Styles would be able to deal with the fact that she has two children, but he's showing her that he's in it for the long haul. Related Article: Jesse Williams Wants to Reduce His Child Support Payments After 'Grey's Anatomy Exit Photo: (Photo : VIRGINIE LEFOUR/Belga/AFP via Getty Images) On a tight budget for Mother's Day? Just because you don't have a lot of money to spend on mom, it doesn't mean that your gift will not be valuable to her. Mothers are mostly low maintenance and won't need a flashy gift to be appreciated. These days, a celebration to honor mothers does not have to cost an arm and a leg because, as they say, it's always the thought that counts. Here are some heartfelt Mother's Day gifts to show how much you love your mother without breaking your budget: 1. Join her for a walk. Becky Wright from Tennessee is looking forward to going on a short hike with her adult sons on Mother's Day. For this 66-year-old mother, the walk is her private time with her kids, who both have busy lives. Speaking with the American Association of Retired Persons, Becky said she expects her boys to tell her about the interesting things currently happening in their lives because they don't get to spend a lot of bonding time together anymore. The mom is looking for experience instead of a tangible gift that she might forget about later. Read Also: Scientists Unlock Secret to Why Parents Have a Favorite Child 2. Give busy moms a chance to sleep. Parenting expert Eirene Heidelberger suggested via NBC News for husbands or children not to book a spa schedule for mom. Instead, give her a chance to sleep at home without people disrupting her. Heidelberger said it might be better to send the children to their grandparents for Mother's Day weekend and let dad take care of the house while mom is resting uninterrupted in the bedroom. The expert said that "sleep is a holy grail" for busy mothers running a household with young children. Then, as a bonus, the husband could prepare breakfast in bed for Mother's Day itself, which takes place on Sunday, May 8. 3. Plan to Follow a YouTube tutorial together. There are millions of skills you can learn just by watching tutorial videos on YouTube, such as learning how to say "Hello!" in 50 languages, making a simple bouquet of flowers, or changing a flat tire. So, take this educational adventure with your mom and unlock a new skill together. You're likely going to treasure this experience. 4. Help her organize old photos. If your mom has loads of family photos kept in a box, organizing and transferring these to a digital format would be the ultimate family project. There's a good chance you'll both enjoy rediscovering plenty of classic moments as you pick out and group the photos. If you need some ideas on digital storage, you can explore services like Apple iPhoto, Flickr, Google Drive, Dropbox, or even social media sites like Instagram. Ohio photographer Larry Hamill also suggested via Family Tree to invest in an external drive. With digital copies, you can have as many backup photos as you want. 5. Give her a call! If you live miles away from mom, calling her would be the best suggestion since the invention of the telephone. Because of digital technology, you can video call mom, and it won't cost a penny because there are plenty of free platforms for this. Related Article: Mom Whose Daughter Lived for 3 Hours Only Gives Birthday Cake to One Special Girl Every April 30 The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls What does the discovery of these scrolls reveal about first century Judaism and the roots of Christianity? L. Michael White: Professor of Classics and Director of the Religious Studies Program University of Texas at Austin PAGANISM IN THE ANCIENT WORLD As you leave Jerusalem and go to the south and to the east, toward the Dead Sea, the terrain changes rapidly and starkly. You move off gradually from [the] ... rolling hillside, through the ravines, and it becomes stark and desolate. It's dry. It's arid. It's rocky, and it's rough. And all of a sudden, within a span of only about thirteen miles, the entire terrain drops out in front of you as you go from roughly 3400 feet above sea level at Jerusalem, to nearly 1400 feet below sea level at the surface of the Dead Sea. It is in that rugged cliff face, on the banks of the Dead Sea, in this arid, desolate climate, that the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at the site known as Khirbet Qumran. The Scrolls were discovered, according to the story that, now, many people know, of a shepherd boy wandering along with his flocks and, as boys tend to do, throwing rocks in a cave. So the story goes that he heard a crack in one, went in to investigate and found a ceramic pot with what appeared to be pages inside. Those were then taken out and eventually found their way onto the market, and were only later rediscovered and deciphered as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Subsequent to that first discovery, eleven different caves have been found at Qumran. And new discoveries are expected even now. Among the caves were found, then, thousand of fragments of manuscripts and quite a number of whole, or mostly complete, manuscripts in scrolls stored in these jars. Among the cache of scrolls that we now call the Dead Sea Scrolls, are three distinct types of material. First, we have a collection of copies of the actual books of the Hebrew Scriptures. These people were copyists. They were preserving the texts of the Bible itself. Secondly, there were commentaries on these biblical texts. But these commentaries also show their own interpretation of what would happen. This is where we begin to get some of the insights into the way the Essenes at Qumran believed, because of the way they interpret the prophecies of Isaiah, or the prophesies of Habakkuk as well as the way they read the Torah, itself. So among the scrolls, then, we have a complete set of almost all the biblical books, and commentaries on many of them. "The Isaiah Scroll" is one of the most famous of the biblical manuscripts. And the commentaries on Isaiah is also very important for our understanding of Jewish interpretation of Scripture in this period. The third major type of material found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, though, in some ways is the most interesting insight into the life of the community that lived there, because this material includes their own sectarian writings, that is, their rules of life ... their prayer book. Included then, is the book of the rule of the community or sometimes called "The Manual of Discipline", which talks about how one goes about getting into the community. The rules for someone who wants to be pure and a part of the elect community. We also have something called "The War Scroll" and the War Scroll seems to be their own battle plan for the war that will occur at the end of the present evil age. And so this is something that really is real in their mind ... that this coming end of the age will be a cataclysmic event in their view. Also was found something called "The Copper Scroll". Quite literally, with the letters incised, in Hebrew, into soft, burnished copper. And the contents of the Copper Scroll are still a source of great interest among many people, because people think it may be a treasure map of their own holdings. Who were the Essenes? The Dead Sea Scrolls are usually thought to have been produced by a group known as the Essenes. And the Essenes are a group that literally abandoned Jerusalem, it seems, in protest... against the way the Temple was being run. So here's a group that went out in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord, following the commands, as they saw it, of the prophet Isaiah. And they go to the desert to get away from what they see to be the worldliness of Jerusalem and the worldliness of the Temple. Now the Essenes aren't a new group in Jesus' day. They too, had been around for a hundred years at that point in time. But it would appear that the reign of Herod, and probably even more so, the reign of his sons and the Roman Procurators, probably stimulated a new phase of life of the Essene community, rising as a growing protest against Roman rule and worldliness. You said they were preparing the way for the Lord. What exactly were the Essenes preparing for in their mind? The Essenes are what we might best call an apocalyptic sect of Judaism. An apocalyptic sect is one that thinks of itself as, first of all, the true form of their religion. In fact, that's part of their terminology. Again, using the prophet Isaiah, they think of themselves as the righteous remnant ... the chosen ones ... the elect. But they're also standing over against the mainstream ... most of Jewish life, and especially everything going on at Jerusalem. So they're sectarian. They're separatists. They're people who move away. The basis for that understanding is their reading of Scripture. They interpret Scripture, especially the prophets, Isaiah, the Torah itself, to suggest that the course of Judaism is going through a profound change. "Far too many people are becoming worldly," they would have said. The end, as they understood it, of the present evil age is moving upon them inexorably. And they want to be on the right side when it comes. In their understanding, there will come a day when the Lord revisits the Earth with power. And in the process establishes a new kingdom for Judaism. It will be like the kingdom of David and Solomon. A return to the golden age mentality. And this is part of that apocalyptic mind set. ...The Dead Sea Scrolls show us a lot about the beliefs of the Essenes. Now, we typically think of this language of the coming kingdom as reflecting a belief in the end of the world ... as somehow coming upon them or us soon. But in fact, that's not exactly what they thought. They use language like "the end" or "the last things" or "the last days", but what they mean is the present evil age is coming to an end. Now this "end time" language is what we typically call "the eschaton" or "eschatology" ... thinking about the end. But in Jewish eschatology of this period, what they usually seem to be talking about is an end of a present evil age and a coming new glorious age ... a new kingdom. The Essenes had an apocalyptic point of view, and they believed in a new kingdom of some kind coming; would this necessarily bring a new Messiah with it? The idea that the coming kingdom is always to be accompanied by a Messianic figure is not entirely accurate for Judaism in this period. We hear of some groups, for example, who expect the coming change, but never mention a Messiah, or a Messianic figure at all, either as a deliverer figure, or as some sort of heavenly agent. So some forms of Judaism in this period don't ever talk about a Messiah. At Qumran, on the other hand, among the Dead Sea Scrolls, we hear not of just one Messiah, but at least two Messiahs. Some of their writings talk about a Messiah of David that is a kind of kingly figure who will come to lead the war. But there's also a Messiah of Aaron, a priestly figure, who will come to restore the Temple at Jerusalem to its proper purity and worship of God. In addition to these two major Messianic figures, we also hear of a prophet figure. And in terms of the quest for the historical Jesus, what does the story of the Essenes tell us? What light does it cast on his life and times? The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and our growing knowledge of the Essene community that produced them, gives us one of the most important pieces of evidence for the diversity of Jewish life and thought in the time of Jesus. Now, it has sometimes been suggested that Jesus, himself, or maybe even John the Baptist, were members of this group. And that can't be proven at all. But what the Essenes and the Qumran scrolls do show us is the kind of challenges that could be brought against some of the traditional lines of Jewish thought, and even the operation of the Temple itself. So if one of our perspectives is that there is this growing tension in Jerusalem, the Essenes are probably the best example of how radical that questioning of Temple life might become. Shaye I.D. Cohen: Samuel Ungerleider Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of Religious Studies Brown University Who were the Essenes? A good example of a group which separated itself from society at large and defined itself against the Temple in Jerusalem are the Essenes, or perhaps you might say, the people of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Dead Sea community, whom most scholars regard as Essenes. Here is a group of people who left Jerusalem, went to live in the wilderness, to live by themselves, totally isolated from other Jews, from the rest of the community, and as their Scrolls reveal, saw themselves as the new sacred community, waiting for the time, when ... they imagine that the Temple would be reconstituted and reconstructed and rebuilt.... and a new and better priestly group would take over the Temple in Jerusalem. And, in the meantime, while the wicked priests are still off in Jerusalem, following the wrong calendar, following the wrong purity rules and officiating improperly before the Lord, in the meantime, pure purity and true holiness resided only among themselves, in their own community, off near the Dead Sea.... The community itself was a surrogate temple.... The manuscripts that we call the Dead Sea Scrolls are a wide variety of texts. Some of these texts are hardly sectarian texts. These are texts that all Jews would have had, all Jews would have read. For example, the largest single category of Dead Sea text or Qumran Scrolls are text you and I call Biblical. No one is going to say the Book of Genesis was a Qumran document because fragments of the Book of Genesis were found in the Qumran scrolls.... We have to realize then that the Qumran scrolls contain a wide variety of text and we are not always able to distinguish clearly those texts which they simply read from those texts, which they actually wrote. WAR SCROLL What was their expectation of what would happen? The Qumran Scrolls reveal a variety of scenarios for the end of days. The most conspicuous one or the best known one perhaps, is the scroll called the War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness. Where the Sons of Light, of course, is short-[hand]... for themselves. The group itself clearly consists of the Sons of Light... the Sons of Darkness are everybody else, apparently - Jews, gentiles, priests, plain people, all alike, lumped together, under the category of the Sons of Darkness, and at some point there will be a major battle, a cataclysmic struggle, not just between people, not just between the bad guys and the good guys, as we would say in America, but also between cosmic forces, the cosmic forces of evil and the cosmic forces of good. And, in this gigantic struggle, the angels will fight along side the Sons of Light, against the Sons of Darkness and the forces of evil. And, needless to say, this will end with a victory for the Sons of Light.... What will happen after the victory, the Scroll does not clearly spell out as carefully as or clearly as we might have liked. Other scrolls have different scenarios or different pictures, which downplay or minimize this battle aspect and play up instead other aspects. COMMUNITY RULE What does the book or scroll of Community Rules tell us about the way that people of this community actually lived their lives? The Manual of Discipline is a text that envisions a community living in almost total isolation, a community that is self-contained, that is governed very strictly by a Board of Governors, or a series of overlapping authorities, governing community in which everybody owes obedience to their superiors. There's an oath of entry; it is a very much monastic community, for want of the better word, a community with little or no private property. That point is debated in the text but it seems at least that you surrendered if not all, then at least some of your property to the kind of community pot; in turn, then, the community would look out for you and look after you. So, it is very much a community where the individual has somehow been merged into a communal group.... Like a monastic community, there is no private property and, most striking of all, there are no women, and as a result, there are few children. It is a group almost exclusively consisting of adult males, who are to spend their life following the rules of the group and acting out the theological principles and beliefs of the group.... SIGNIFICANCE OF SCROLLS [What is the significance of the Qumran Scrolls?] Even before the Qumran Scrolls were discovered, we knew that Judaism in the time of Jesus was a very diverse phenomena. After all, the Jewish historian Josephus gives us the names of Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. We know from the New Testament of a group called Herodians - what they are exactly, we don't know, but there they are. Rabbinic texts add the names of yet other groups and then once the war comes around, in the year 66, we have the names of a whole slew of other groups.... Plus, we have a very wide ranging rich literature from this period which is impossible to imagine all coming from a single source, or all coming from a single school or a single class. The result was, even before the Qumran Scrolls were discovered, we knew or sensed that Judaism in the 1st century of our era was a very rich and varied phenomena. What the Qumran Scrolls do is to demonstrate clearly and unambiguously the truth of that which we always somehow felt or intuited.... The Qumran Scrolls show us the existence of a sect, a group that has separated itself from society at large, a group that defines itself against the Temple, the single central institution of Judaism..., and sees itself as the repository of everything that is sacred and true and sees all other Jews out there, including the priests, as wrong at best and at worst, irredeemably wicked. That is something which we had never previously seen.... The Qumran Scrolls also reveal a whole range of new books which we previously had not known, or had known about only in fragments or only in quotations, or perhaps in corrupted versions. We now have the original text. We have now a rich library of text showing that diversity was even greater than we had ever imagined and the range of possibilities for 1st century Judaism was far bigger than any of us had ever suspected. More about the Dead Sea Scrolls: an excerpt from Hershel Shanks' forthcoming book The Mystery and Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls; translations of the Community Rule and the War Scroll, with commentary by Michael Wise; and Scrolls from the Dead Sea, an on-line exibit of the scrolls from the Library of Congress. The Japanese government says it is exploring various areas of cooperation to support Ghanas post-COVID-19 economic recovery and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) preparedness. Miyashita Tadayuki, Deputy Director-General of the Department of African Affairs, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that new collaborations and partnerships were necessary in addressing economic and security challenges that confront the world. Addressing a virtual meeting on March 16, he said the support would be tailor-made to enable Ghana to lead and own her development process. The meeting forms part of events in preparation for this years Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), a summit-level conference on Africas development initiated by Japan in 1993. He stated that Agriculture, infrastructure development and COVID vaccine support were some of the priority areas that would be given the needed attention to enhance the countrys growth. Scheduled for August 27 and 28 and expected to be held in Tunisia, this years event would be the eighth edition of TICAD. Prior to the TICAD 8, the TICAD Ministerial Meeting would be held online on March 26 and 27. Mr Tadayuki stated that owing to the considerable socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa, Japan was of the view that now was the time to work together internationally. Through the TICAD8, Japan will strongly support African-led development and aims at setting out a pathway for African development looking ahead to the post-COVID-19 era, he added. Presently, Japan, he said, was providing support to Ghana and other African countries through three thematic areas such as economy, society and peace and stability. On the economy, Mr Tadayuki noted that Japan rolled out the African Business Education initiative that aimed at developing 3,000 industrial human resources over six years and promoting the maritime and shipping industries through port infrastructure and provision of shipping equipment. In the area of society, he said Japan was promoting access to universal health coverage and providing quality education while strengthening governance for peace and stability. Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Kato Ryuichi highlighted the significant achievements of initiatives undertaken to help Ghana and other African countries bounce back from the effects of COVID-19. Key among them, he noted, was the support for vaccination to help fight COVID-19 through the provision of cold chain and medical equipment to establish an effective and safe vaccination system. He further recounted the impact of the Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) project, which provided support to start-ups that produce innovative business models and innovation that respond to changes in social structure and economic activities. Mr Ryuichi said deliberations from TICAD 8 would inform JICAs support to Ghana and other countries in building a resilient, inclusive and prosperous continent. Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh 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 Elon Musk told banks that agreed to help fund his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) that he could crack down on executive and board pay at the social media company in a push to slash costs, and would develop new ways to monetize tweets, three people familiar with the matter said. Musk made the pitch to the lenders as he tried to secure debt for the buyout days after submitting his offer to Twitter on April 14, the sources said. His submission of bank commitments on April 21 were key to Twitter's board accepting his "best and final" offer. Musk had to convince the banks that Twitter produced enough cash flow to service the debt he sought. In the end, he clinched $13 billion in loans secured against Twitter and a $12.5 billion margin loan tied to his Tesla (TSLA.O) stock. He agreed to pay for the remainder of the consideration with his own cash. Musk's pitch to the banks constituted his vision rather than firm commitments, the sources said, and the exact cost cuts he will pursue once he owns Twitter remain unclear. The plan he outlined to banks was thin on detail, the sources added. Musk has tweeted about eliminating the salaries of Twitter's board directors, which he said could result in about $3 million in cost savings. Twitter's stock-based compensation for the 12 months ending Dec. 31, 2021 was $630 million, a 33% increase from 2020, corporate filings show. In his pitch to the banks, Musk also pointed to Twitter's gross margin, which is much lower than peers such as Meta Platform Inc's (FB.O) Facebook and Pinterest (PINS.N), arguing this leaves plenty of space to run the company in a more cost-efficient way. The sources requested anonymity because the matter is confidential. A Musk representative declined to comment. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Thursday that Musk specifically mentioned job cuts as part of his pitch to the banks. One of the sources said that Musk will not make decisions on job cuts until he assumes ownership of the company later this year. He went ahead with the acquisition without having access to confidential details on the company's financial performance and headcount. Musk told the banks he also plans to develop features to grow business revenue, including new ways to make money out of tweets that contain important information or go viral, the sources said. Ideas he brought up included charging a fee when a third-party website wants to quote or embed a tweet from verified individuals or organizations. In a tweet earlier this month he subsequently deleted, Musk suggested a raft of changes to the social media giant's Twitter Blue premium subscription service, including slashing its price, banning advertising and giving an option to pay in the cryptocurrency dogecoin. Twitter's premium Blue service now costs $2.99 a month. In another tweet he deleted, Musk said he wants to reduced Twitter's dependence on advertising for much of its revenue. Musk, whose net worth is pegged by Forbes at $246 billion, has indicated he will support the banks in marketing the syndicated debt to investors, and that he may unveil more details of his business plan for Twitter then, the sources said. Musk has also lined a up a new chief executive for Twitter, one of the sources added, declining to name the identity of that person. The Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) chief executive also told the banks he will seek moderation policies on the social media platform that are as free as possible within the legal constraints of each jurisdiction Twitter operates, the sources said, a position that Musk has repeated publicly. The $13 billion Twitter loan is equivalent to seven times Twitter's 2022 projected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. This was too risky for some banks who decided to participate only in the margin loan, the sources said. Another reason some banks opted out is because they feared Musk's unpredictability could result in an exodus of talent from Twitter, harming its business, according to the sources. A Twitter spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Source: REUTERS 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 Honorary President, Board, Fellows and Management of SOLIDAIRE GOVERNANCE FORUM congratulates our Honorary Fellow, Mrs. Dr. Nana Ama Browne Klutse on her elevation as an Associate Professor. We have learnt with great joy of your sterling performance leading up to you being elevated to such a pinnacle rank in Academia. We are proud of you and look forward to deepening our partnership with you, as you apply your acquired knowledge to the benefit our dear nation Ghana. BACKGROUND On the 28th of April 2022, the University of Ghana announced the promotion of Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse to the rank of Associate Professor. Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Ghana. She is also a Lead Author in Working Group 1 and a Member of the Task Group on Data Support for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report. She is a member of the Scientific Board of the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO. She is an AIMS-Canada Researcher in Climate Change Science with AIMS Rwanda. 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 Some personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) are demanding, from their management, immediate release of all funds deducted from their salaries for a pension policy at the defunct CDH Asset Management Company Limited. For seven years spanning 2012 to 2019, the deductions were made to the company, until it was declared insolvent by the Bank of Ghana three years ago and placed under liquidation. The personnel alleged that the GNFS management had received a full refund of the deductions from GCB capital, liquidators of CDH, but had decided to pay half to the contributors and withhold the rest until they retire. However, the Service, when contacted, parried the allegation, explaining that out of over GH8 million which was validated by GCB capital as deductions from 2012 to 2019, about GH4.3 million, representing half, had been paid to the management and the same disbursed to the 9,143 contributors. It said as of Tuesday, the liquidator owed the GNFS about GH4.3 million as the outstanding amount due contributors, therefore it was untrue that management had clandestinely invested that same money for profit. One of the affected officers (name withheld), on behalf of some colleagues, told the Ghanaian Times last Friday that the management did not seek their consent before the deduction started neither did they fill out any form. They gave out our names and other details to CDH just like that without consulting us, the personnel. We do not know how much profit we are yielding or the terms of the agreement made between CDH and the GNFS. If any of the personnel die, his or her monies also die, the personnel said. The officer also alleged that the management announced the decision to withhold half of their contributions at a meeting convened on June 28, last year. Describing the decision as unfair and provocative, the firefighter said, they wanted their money in full and immediately else they would be compelled to take matters into their own hands. Other allegations were that 80 per cent of fire tenders were broken down; fire hydrants were faulty and the personnel lacked tools for effective firefighting, but the GNFS management had allegedly not taken steps to address them. Responding to the allegations on behalf of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Timothy Osafo-Affum, the Head of Public Relations of the Service, recalled that in 2011, CDH introduced to the National Welfare Association of the Service a policy intended to enhance the pensions of personnel. He said the Welfare Executives, agreeing that it was a good policy sought permission from the then management of the service to solicit the views of personnel nationwide. Personnel agreed to the CDH policy, however, there was no agreement on the amount to be deducted. While some personnel opted for GH20, others opted for GH50, he said. ACFO Osafo-Affum said GH20 was accepted across board and deductions started from the Controller and Accountant Generals Department in 2012. This was however not compulsory as some personnel from the Ashanti Region decided not to be part and were left out, he said. Over the period, between 2012 and 2019, ACFO Osafo-Affum said the deductions continued and some personnel benefited from partial withdrawal from the policy. He said in October 2019, GNFS management ordered deductions to cease after the Bank of Ghana declared CDH insolvent and formed a task force to follow up with the liquidators to retrieve locked-up funds. Relating to fire appliances and hydrants, ACFO Osafo-Affum said it was not true that 80 per cent of fire appliances had broken down, adding that although some of them were very old, those that broke down were periodically fixed. He said a process was underway to retool the service and assured all personnel that management would ensure a safe working environment, by providing the tools needed for effective service delivery to the public. Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh 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 There was fire at a property of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, (SCOAN), in Ikotun, Lagos State. Confirming the incident, the Head, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Margaret Adeseye, said the fire affected a section. She said, It is an open place, so, it was the shelter that caught fire. But we were able to curtail it and it did not spread beyond where it started. We have yet to identify the cause of the fire. The Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, who also confirmed the incident, told newsmen that the fire had been put out. He said, The incident happened at a building belonging to the late pastor. The late pastor usually went there to relax and meditate. Federal fire service officials moved in to put out the fire. Reacting, The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) yesterday said it had yet to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak on Wednesday, at its old site Agodo, Egbe; two kilometres from SCOAN headquarters cathedral. It said the fire had since been put out and assured the public that a review was ongoing, stating that there was no need for panic or unnecessary speculations. In a statement, SCOAN said the fire affected a general-purpose store while there were no injuries or lives lost. Source: Vanguardngr 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 Thankfully, all those young people in Galle Face have been behaving in a responsible way. They have been setting a good example not only for our country but also for the entire world. by A patriotic Lankan in the UK Horrific stories of poverty, hardship and desperation are emerging from every part of Sri Lanka these days. It is heart-breaking to read and listen to some of these pathetic stories of innocent people. They no longer can bear the burden of price hikes and shortages of essential food items. Some Sri Lankan people are introverts and they do not want to come out and beg people in the streets. Some people do not do this to protect their familys dignity and respect. Imagine mothers with young children who do not have anything to feed their children, imagine feeble elderly people without food to eat and imagine the fathers who can not feed their families, how will their emotional, phycological minds setups be right now in Sri Lanka. Thousands of Sri Lankans are struggling to meet their everyday needs and necessities. Some families with foreign remittances could survive, yet they too cannot bear the price hikes. Consider, the pathetic situation of government officers today. A teacher or any government officer gets around 30-40 thousand rupees a month. How could their families live with these salaries? They may need double this salary to survive in these difficult situations. What about the dare situation of thousands of labourers who do the odd job to survive? Many stories of dare hardship and difficulties are going viral on social media. Even some suicidal attempts were reported in recent times in Sri Lanka. Yet, this government and the Rajapaksa family are not willing to give up their grip on power. Why is it? Is it power adduction? Is it to do something good for this country? is it for fear of repercussion? Why do not they see all that takes place around the country? some people come up with hypothetical answers to these questions. The Rajapaksa family think that they have done nothing wrong. In fact, they are still living in the nostalgia and euphoria of the war victory that took place almost 13 years ago. Every Sri Lankan knows that a great deal of sacrifice was done by the Sri Lankan army and its leadership to safeguard the country from LTTE and yet, the Rajapaksa family has been claiming the monopoly over the war victory and for that reason, it has been jolly riding over Sri Lanka for the last 13 years. It has been exploiting all perks and apparatus of the government to accumulate wealth without any accountability and transparency. The Rajapaksa family has been abusing and misusing its political power freely with impunity in the shade of executive power enshrined in our constitutions. They have been using all loopholes and legal stratagems to amend the Sri Lankan constitutions as they like. The Rajapaksa family member, friends, relatives, and cohort all have greatly benefited from this executive political system. Some local politicians and top ministers exploited this system and looted public money. As anonymous Hackers have revealed they have looted billions of dollars from Sri Lanka. They have emptied the treasury and the government coffers without any remorse or guilt. Yet, they are not ready to accept any wrongdoing and yet, they claim that they have done nothing wrong. I think that they are now in a catch 22 situation. They cannot hang on to power and at the same time, they can not leave it without any accountability for what they have done. As former President, CKB has already said they cannot give up their power grip because they fear that they will end up in jail. That psychological fear holds them on to power and yet, how long they could do this? What kind of damage this power greed could do to this country? How many are more people going to lose their lives in this struggle? In fact, the country is suffering immensely due to this power greed and political deadlock. Gota and Mahinda are stubborn and argue that they would not leave. Yet, the country is suffering due to this careless and lackadaisical mindset. How long people will tolerate them? I think that the more they are digging into this problem the more the Rajapaksa family get into trouble. This is a precarious situation as Ranil reminds us about the gloomy days ahead. So, the Rajapaksa family must make up its mind and have no point in sitting idle doing nothing. All their supporters and cohort in government could turn their back on them. They will do what some MPs did in Pakistan for Imran Khan. In politics, anything could happen in a couple of minutes or seconds. So, they must do something about it now. They have been following a wait and see policy and they think that they could overcome all these problems in a couple of months. It would be unrealistic to expect people to vote for them once again. People know all the dirty tricks of the Rajapaksa family and people are not stupid in this digital world. All the secrets of the Rajapaksa family have been exposed to the public. The public knows how many houses they have and how much money they hide and where they hide and how they accumulate all this wealth. They cannot hide anything from the public eyes in this virtual world. in fact, the Rajapaksa family is caught red-handily in this money laundering and public looting. The ineptitude and incompetency of the Rajapaksa family are exposed on many occasions. Local, regional, and international politicians know about it well. That is why China managed to fool them for years now. That is why some geopolitical powers are keen on Sri Lankan politics and they all know that the Rajapaksa family is politically not smart enough and clever enough to rule this island in this digital age. Moreover, Mahinda made some terrible mistakes. He failed to differentiate between his professional and personal life. All former Sri Lankan presidents were clever enough not to take extended family members into politics. JR did not bring his extended family into politics. They were careful enough when they appointed people to their governments. They did not give posts to their relatives, and friends as they like but they choose the best candidates for all civil service posts and positions. Yet, when the Rajapaksa came to power, they appointed some unqualified people for some high-level posts and positions. As a result of this, the government continuously suffered financially and economically. The productivity went down drastically. These unqualified MPs, local politicians, and civil servants could not take the right decision at the right times. For instance, they appointed some unqualified people to foreign missions as high commissioners, and they did not have the experience and skills to direct our missions and attract investments to this country. Likewise, they gave nominations to some of their cohort and friends who did not have enough skills and experience in politics. There are some groups of MPs without some basic academic qualifications. They robbed the public money in millions through commissions. People know all these frauds and corruption. Even the Rajapaksa family know all this. Mahinda did accede to this many times and yet, he could not do anything about it. Because his family was leading all these fraud and corrupt activities and could not teach any lessons to others on corruption. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to know all about this. Some of their robberies are exposed by political opponents. JVP has done a great job in exposing their robberies and public fund looting. Will the people of this country forgive and forget this Rajapaksa family for all that they have done to this country? They have almost brought this country into bankruptcy. You do not need to have scientific evidence to say that they have damaged the economy of this country. Now it is very much imminent that they will be sent home soon. It could be some weeks or some months. Even if they stay in power for some time, they will never be able to win any election and they will never be able to escape from any legal pursuit. Last time, Maithri protected them, and I do not think that any politicians would dare to protect them once again after all this harm they have inflicted on this country. I do not think people will vote for many of the MPs who are with them now. I think that a new generation of Sri Lankan politicians will emerge out of this problem. Now people want to clean the Sri Lankan politics and they want to create a new political culture in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan people are highly educated and yet, they have been fooled by politicians for a long time and I do not think that new generations can be conned as their parents were fooled. After every calamity, there is a relief and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sri Lankan people are suffering today due to this political incorrectness. What is more important today is to learn some lessons from this. The Rajapaksa family not only looted public money and damaged the lives of the future generation with their wrong policies. They must be brought to court for their political negligence and political incorrectness. They destroyed this country with their wrong and unsustainable mega projects. Most of their megaprojects are utter failures. Billions of dollars are lost in all those mega unsustainable projects. All these projects are done against the advice of our Sri Lankan experts. They did it to get commissions and earn money from those projects. A lot of our dedicated engineers and economists advised them not to do many of these projects and yet, they did it. This is nothing but utter abuse of their executive power. They must be punished for all this wrongdoing. Suppose if they had invested all those money in human development and enrichment of our education system, we would have been far ahead of Bangladesh today. Why do our parents send their children to Bangladesh to study medicine? Why do we need to send our students abroad for many subjects? We have some of the best medical faculties in Asia and yet, our university admission system is still in the stone age and our government does not allocate enough money for education. Your population is your nations wealth now in this modern age. Skills development projects are needed to update our skills, talents, and knowledge. India is planning to open a medical college in each district to update its medical education. India has been sending more than 10 thousand students to read medicine in Ukraine and yet when the war broke out in Ukraine, PM Modi directed his higher education minister to open medical colleges across India. We have been wasting the skills, talents, and abilities of our student community for a long time. Thousands of our students are dropping out of school and university education each year. How many brilliant Sri Lankan students are dropped out of medical education because of some outdated system of selection for our medical faculties. Some students are being dropped out on one or two marks. How long do you keep wasting the talent and skills of our next generation? If only this corrupt Rajapaksa family had invested all the money they have wasted in some stupid mega projects on education in Sri Lanka, we would have produced thousands of health professionals, doctors, engineers, IT professionals and other professionals. We would have sent our high skilled professionals abroad instead of sending housemaids and drivers to the Middle Eastern countries. So, what crimes has this Rajapaksa family done to this country? They have messed up our economy, they have messed up our ecology and environment. They have messed up our education system instead of investing in education they allocated money for some unsuitable mega projects. They have messed up our civil service. Sri Lanka inherited one of the best civil service examination systems to elect and select the best candidate for the public offices through some best examinations such as SLOS, SLAS, SLES and other public exams and yet, the Rajapaksa family appointed some of their friends and relative for many civil service posts without qualifications. All these wrongdoings are committed against the national interest of this country. All of these are done by misusing the power vested on them by the public, So, they must be questioned for all these wrongdoings. So that no future PM or MPs dare to do these crimes once again in Sri Lanka. So, I think that the publics want to punish them for all this. I think that the incoming government must take some steps to question them and punish them in accordance with the laws of the land. This will send a clear message to all other politicians. We have some of the best legal systems and judiciary. Some of our judges and lawyers are very much clever and smart enough to do this. Yet, they must have the freedom and leverage to do this without any political influence. The former AG Srimani Bandaranayake and many others are academically and professionally highly qualified people to put the law and order in this country. Such loyal and honest professionals should be given the leadership of this country. Some honest and loyal leaders must come forward to take this country forward. These reforms are urgently needed to bring this county out of this mess 1) There must be some changes in our constitution. This abusive executive presidency must be replaced with the Parliamentary system to monitor the accountability and transparency of the PM and MPs. 2) Free the judiciary from all political subjugation and the judiciary of the country must be supreme and above all. That is why western countries succeeded in maintaining law and order. Politicians fear the judiciary in western countries. 3) We must put some conditions for all who contest the election. They must have some qualifications, experience, skills, and age limits. 4) Do check on their finance and make them declare their incomes before they seek nominations 5) Getting rid of all religious politics on communal and religious lines. It is not good at all for this country. 6) Introduce some strict rules and regulations on fraud and corruption for politicians. they must be dismissed if they found in any fraud activities 7) Reform the economic policies of this country and introduce some new laws for unused lands in this country. Put some point penalty if anyone does not use their land heedlessly. 8) Introduce some new immigration rules to attract foreign investment from the Sri Lankan nationals who live abroad. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have got some good systems. 9) Introduce modern technologies in our agriculture sectors 10) Update our education system as soon as possible. All Sri Lankan agree that this Rajapaksa family must be accountable for all the mistakes they have done, and they must take the lions share of responsibility for this mess up. The national wealth and money looted from the public must be accounted for and returned. All legal actions and pursuits must be taken to bring back all money. No excuse should be given to all those who looted public money. This will send a good signal for all local politicians not to steal the public money any longer. Thus, creating a clean and green politics is imperative for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan youths are talented and highly skilled people. Let them lead this country for a prosperous future. We are one of the best countries in Asia with rich natural and human resources. We could get rid of this crisis if we are united and if we are truly loyal to this country. if we work hard with dedication and sincerity, we could develop this country in this globalised world. We must have some dedicated teams of intellectuals, academics, and honest politicians to take this country out of this mess and develop it. We should not be pessimistic about the future of this country because we are blessed with all rich resources to develop. We must be optimistic and confident. For instance, Japan was bombed and destroyed in the world war and yet, they come out of their destruction and calamity with their hard-working ethics and dedication. We should instil this hard-working ethics and dedication in the minds of the next generations. For that, our politicians must be role models and they must set some examples and yet, today even a five-year-old schoolchild knows that the Rajapaksa family looted the public money. All trials and calamities are temporary ones, and they will go away soon. Time will heal all these and yet, it does not go away naturally. We must act swiftly and diligently to overcome this crisis. We may have different political and ideological differences and yet, these differences should not be an obstacle to taking this country out of this crisis. We should not emotionally react to this crisis. We must act rationally, logically, and wisely at this crucial time in modern Sri Lankan history. This calamity should unite us to work out some short- and long-term strategies to come out of this mess. Thankfully, all those young people in Galle Face have been behaving in a responsible way. They have been setting a good example not only for our country but also for the entire world. They are teaching the world how to demonstrate, how to protest, and how to ask for political rights. They are creating the Sri Lankan type of Megna Carta chart with these demonstrations and protests. They are creating a new political culture and tradition in Sri Lanka. The most important thing in politics is to have honest and dedicated political leadership. All these political slogans and ideas must be honestly put into practice in the coming days to secure a bright and prosperous future for Sri Lanka. We write as solicitors for and on behalf of BC INTERNATIONAL DMCC GHANA LIMITED pursuant to whose instructions we write this letter. We refer to the above "headlined" publication, which denigrates the reputation of BGC International MCC Ghana Limited as a body corporate and its Directors. Our candid opinion is that there was a clear misrepresentation of facts in news bulletins as inaccuracies were captured in the various publications. BGC INTERNATIONAL DMCC GHANA LTD has always conducted its affairs within the ambit of the laws of Ghana and has consistently been guided by statute in its operations and reporting to the Ghana Revenue Authority to Date We are happy to state that our Client is up-to-date with its tax obligations. As you will observe, the Chamber of Bullion Traders Ghana (CBTG), the association to which our Client is a member, is seeking legal redress in court regarding withholding tax payments for Mineral exporters. It is the association's view that the position of GRA does not conform to the then operational framework. Therefore, our Client is working with the GRA through its Association, CBTD to remedy this anomaly swiftly. We encourage all media houses to give accurate information to the Public. The Directors of BGC INTERNATIONAL DMCC GHANA LTD always have and will always administer their Roles and act as required by Standards. BGC INTERNATION DMCC GH LTD has created a Good Reputation in the mineral exporting Business and will maintain the same always. We want to assure all stakeholders, partners, and hard-working employees of our Client's commitment to working with all stakeholders to bring finality to the current issues. 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 Media, Brands and Culture Specialist, King Kwasi Kyei Darkwah has stated that if any Ghanaian leader cannot honour their own, they are fools. He made this statement on the GTVs Breakfast Show. Kwame Nkrumah was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957. In remembering him 50 years since he died in 1952 at Romania after a short illness, King Kwasi Kyei Darkwah stated that Kwame Nkrumah was a shepherd who chose not to be a shepherd for a small country like Ghana but for black people all around the world which is why he made a conscious effort to create synergies with great thinkers of the time. He added that nobody has done everything legitimately correctly but having two bombs directed at you will lead you to protect yourself from harm. He indicated that Kwame Nkrumah is studied all around the world so much so that Europe formed a union based on the principles that he had envisioned for Africa. He concluded by reiterating that Kwame Nkrumah is the greatest that ever lived and it saddens me to see people in leadership in Ghana travel around the world and go and say somebody else in the world elsewhere was the greater that ever lived. Source: gbc 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 A Surete du Quebec police car is seen in Montreal on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Quebec provincial police are warning people in the town of Madeleine-Centre to stay in their homes after a report that a polar bear was spotted in the area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Day 3 of the 2022 PokerStars European Poker Tour presented by Monte-Carlo Casino has ended and the final six players are set for Mondays finale of the 1,100 French Poker Series (FPS) Main Event. The final six outlasted the 62 returning players on Day 3 to guarantee themselves 54,020, while the top prize of 290,910 waits up top for the winner from a total prize pool of 1,841,280. Jacob Amsellem is the chip leader going into the finale after starting the day with one of the short stacks. He is followed by Lucas Scafini in second and Fabio Peluso in third. Tibor Nagygyorgy, Florian Guimond, and Francois Vincenti round out the top six. 1,100 FPS Main Event Final Table Chip Counts Rank Name Country Chip Count Final Table Big Blinds 1 Jacob Amsellem Israel 21,500,000 106 2 Lucas Scafini Brazil 15,450,000 77 3 Fabio Peluso Italy 10,625,000 53 4 Tibor Nagygyorgy Hungary 3,850,000 19 5 Florian Guimond France 3,550,000 18 6 Francois Vincenti France 2,525,000 13 Day 3 Highlights Amsellem came into Day 3 with one of the shorter stacks but he was one of the chip leaders within the first two levels after the double knockout of Jaime Cervantes and Raymond Attal. Amsellem stayed active all day and played a role in several knockouts. He entered the final table with over 18 million in chips and finished off the day above 20 million. Scafini, previously the Day 1d chip leader, remains in the hunt and will return on Monday with a big stack after eliminating Tahar Said to end the night. Earlier in the day, Gregory Teboul was out in the fourth level of the afternoon after being eliminated by Nagygyorgy in a three-way pot. Teboul came into Day 3 as the chip leader, but he couldnt make a run at the final table. Eugenio Peralta was among those that got off to a fast start, thanks in part to the rare double cooler against Alexandre Sette and Xavier Rouayroux. Sette picked up queens and Rouayroux picked up kings, but they both ran into the aces of Peralta. Peralta was one of the early pacesetters on Day 3 and he ultimately parlayed that into an 11th place finish. Other players falling short of the finale include the up-and-coming Moroccan Mehdi Chaoui, WSOP bracelet winner Motoyoshi Okamura, and 100,000 Mystery Bounty winner Imad Derwiche. Remaining Payouts Place Prize 1 290,910 2 176,430 3 124,250 4 94,130 5 71,310 6 54,020 Day 4 Plans After a player conference to discuss starting later, the Day 4 finale will kick off at 1 p.m. local time at the Monte Carlo Sporting complex on the shores of the French Riviera. Play will resume in Level 32 with 10:30 left and blinds at 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante, and the final six runners will play until a winner is declared. Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews team for updates from the finale of the 1,100 FPS Main Event live from the 2022 PokerStars European Poker Tour presented by Monte-Carlo Casino. SEA OF TRANQUILITY. By Emily St. John Mandel. Alfred A. Knopf. 272 pages. $25. Is it possible to be entertained by existential questions? As I put down Emily St. John Mandels new novel, I was struck by the answer: a resounding yes. Sea of Tranquility is many things at once. The book is a post-apocalyptic vision, a philosophical query, and a page-turning mystery. The story is beautifully written in prose worth reading aloud for its lyrical descriptions of this, and other, worlds. The characters are sympathetically drawn and relatable. The narratives, which move from the past to the future and back again, are skillfully woven together. Yet what remains long after the story is finished are its questions. Perhaps it shouldnt come as a surprise that it is possible to be entertained by existential questions. After all, this is what Shakespeare did. He wrote in ways that engaged the crowd and then left them to consider questions of fate and agency, what it meant to be human, and what they made of their own experience in light of what theyd just seen. Mandel draws heavily on Shakespeare in her work. In her debut novel, 2014s Station Eleven, the play King Lear figured prominently, along with a traveling group of actors trying to preserve Western culture by performing plays in a dystopian future. Here again in Sea of Tranquility, Lear makes an appearance. Is this the promised end? the book asks, quoting Kent, Lears closest friend, who is overcome by desolation in a final scene. Its a question that Mandel takes up throughout the book as she tells the stories of several characters whose worlds suddenly seem to come unraveled. The book begins in 1912 with a character named Edwin, an Englishman immigrating to Canada. He feels exiled from his family and has set out to start anew. The story then moves to Mirella, a woman in New York on the eve of the pandemic in 2020. She is trying to get to the bottom of an unsettling question. We then jump to Olive, an author on a book tour in the year 2203. She has written a post-apocalyptic bestseller which will soon prove to be strangely prescient. Olive is a stand-in for Mandel herself, whose Station Eleven garnered more than a few second glances for its descriptions of a worldwide pandemic flu. Other characters are introduced, but to say much more might spoil the mystery that Mandel lays out. Before the story ends, her readers will understand how all of the characters, or at least their questions, are interconnected. Paradoxically, the idea that holds the stories together is that things fall apart. Mandel writes, Its shocking to wake up in one world and find yourself in another by nightfall, but the situation isnt actually all that unusual. She explains that our lives are altered by the events of ordinary days. A spouse dies, a war begins, a virus spreads, and the world is changed. We may be given to wonder, as Kent did, if this is the promised end. Yet Mandel wonders if the promised end isnt always coming. Her intention mirrors Shakespeares as she entertains us for a time before leaving us with questions that we cant quite shake. Why do we spend so much time imagining the end? What do we really know of fate and agency? Where do we fit in the vast, interconnected world of stories over time? How do we live meaningfully and well within the context of our limitations? The questions are weighty, but the novel itself is not. The story moves quickly, almost effortlessly, leaving readers to wonder, as I did, how we were so entertained. The truth is that I would no sooner have put the book down than walk out of King Lear in the middle of a scene, and for the same reason: I wanted to know what happened to the characters. I wanted to know what happens to all of us. With Sea of Tranquility, Mandel has established herself as one of our finest writers. If there is an obvious flaw in the book, it may be that it leaves readers wanting more. In the meantime, we can always reread our Shakespeare. 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. Law enforcement officials love to complain about crimes being committed by people who either were released from jail too soon or were never put there to start with, despite serious criminal charges. They implicitly, if not directly, blame judges for making our communities more dangerous, as we hear regularly from Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds and, more recently, from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. On the other side, activists complain that were too quick to put people in jail who havent been convicted of anything and to keep them in jail for months or even years without bringing them to trial where they can be either convicted or exonerated; some suggest that police and prosecutors are happy for people to rot in jail without trial. Theres some truth to both complaints, and a lot thats simply off base. There are in fact limits to a judges ability to keep people in jail before theyre convicted and too often those limits are caused by police who dont provide those judges with the evidence they need to determine that the accused are dangerous or flight risks. And there are legitimate reasons to keep people in jail before they are convicted for instance when they are clearly dangerous, or when their own defense attorneys keep pushing back the date for trial. Last month, The Post and Couriers Steve Garrison reported on yet another problem contributing to the long wait for justice by victims and accused alike: a decade-long tug-of-war over our state court schedule. That struggle was the result of a 2012 S.C. Supreme Court order that said it was unconstitutional for solicitors rather than judges to decide when defendants appear in court and before which judges. The court was right; its difficult for even the most honest solicitor to avoid using such power to punish or reward defendants, and not all S.C. solicitors recognize that their job is to seek justice rather than compiling a winning record. The problem, as Mr. Garrison explains, is that the court didnt spell out a way to fix the problem. Solicitors know which cases theyre ready to try and which they arent, and judges often cant guess how long cases might take. So a decade later, we still dont have a fix that works, because solicitors, defense attorneys and judges havent found a way to work together to make that happen, and neither the court nor the Legislature has ordered a solution. Solicitors, public defenders and trial lawyers reached an agreement on how to proceed in 2019, but Sen. Gerald Malloy killed a bill that would have implemented their proposal. He implied that he thought the Supreme Court rather than the Legislature needed to take action an idea we might buy if the court hadnt failed to act for nearly a decade. But when Mr. Garrison questioned Mr. Malloy, he refused to offer a substantive answer, instead making the breathtaking charge that it was inappropriate for anyone to question his motives. (He was referring to a Senate rule that prohibits senators from imputing any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator during Senate debate a rule that does not and could not in any way restrict the public's right to ask senators what their motives are, or even the right of other senators to do so outside the formal debate.) To the extent that prosecutors, public defenders and judges arent working together to make the most efficient use of the courts time, that certainly is contributing to the backlog; Chief Justice Don Beatty says in some places, it's reducing a productive court week from five days to three, which is not insignificant and should not be tolerated. Whoevers refusing to cooperate needs to be disciplined if possible and replaced if theres nobody in the position to mete out discipline. But when prosecutors and defense attorneys provide judges the information they need to make the most efficient use of the courts time, letting judges control the docket does not create additional work for the court. It merely changes the order in which cases are heard. The main reason we have such a serious backlog is that we dont have enough judges and assistant solicitors and public defenders to deliver the speedy justice that the U.S. Constitution guarantees to people accused of crimes. Thats something our legislators can and should address for a cost, but a far smaller cost than, say, the cost of throwing money at taxpayers in our low-tax state in order to be able to brag in campaign ads that they did. (The $1.5 million that Justice Beatty asked lawmakers to provide to hire liaisons to help coordinate court time in each of the states 16 judicial circuits comes to less than two-tenths of 1% of the permanent income tax cut the House and Senate want to give taxpayers.) The Legislature also can and should impose a docket management solution, since the court still hasnt done so. Equally important, the Legislature shouldnt allow a single lawmaker to block an agreement between solicitors and defense attorneys to speed up case resolution. And legislators certainly shouldnt allow a colleague to get away with holding up legislation and not explaining his actions, in a very public way. Condoning such behavior is unworthy and unbecoming of elected officials. There have been 11 abortions performed in Guam from January through March of this year, all induced via medicine, according to data obtained by The Guam Daily Post. The listed facility is the Queen's University Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Hawaii. The data doesn't explicitly state that the abortions were administered via telemedicine but the only women's health providers with the Queen's University Medical Group who hold valid licenses to practice in Guam, are Dr. Shandhini Raidoo and Dr. Bliss Kaneshiro. These are the same doctors who challenged Guam's "in-person" abortion consultation mandate at the District Court of Guam in order to provide services through telemedicine, and the Post confirmed the doctors are now providing medication abortion services in Guam via telemedicine. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The data indicates that not only is there a want for these services on island, but that a recently introduced measure to severely limit abortions here is far from moot legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Raidoo and Kaneshiro last year. Guam's informed consent law imposes a 24-hour waiting period on abortions and requires that a woman must be provided certain information "in-person." This makes it impossible to administer medication abortion through telemedicine, according to the suit, which also challenged a clinic requirement, but that matter was settled. At the time the suit was filed, Guam had been without an "abortion doctor" for a few years and the plaintiffs argued that people were being forced to travel to Hawaii or the U.S. mainland for a procedure that became more expensive the longer it took to raise funding a particular concern with Guam's high poverty rate. The COVID-19 pandemic also made travel difficult or impossible for some. Current U.S. Supreme Court precedent establishes abortion as a right prior to viability of the fetus outside of the womb. While states can regulate abortions even in the early stages of pregnancy, they cannot impose an undue burden on exercising the right. The Office of the Attorney General, in defending Guam law, argued that the "in-person" requirement is not a substantial obstacle for women seeking abortions. But in September 2021, the District Court of Guam ordered that local officials be temporarily enjoined from enforcing the "in-person" mandate as the case proceeded. Heartbeat Act While this granted an initial victory for the plaintiffs and residents seeking services, there have been myriad challenges launched nationally to curb the exercise of abortion rights in the U.S. In early April, Guam became the latest jurisdiction to introduce a "heartbeat" measure following the successful implementation of similar legislation in Texas. The Guam Heartbeat Act of 2022, or Bill 291-36, would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected about six weeks into a pregnancy. The only exception is medical necessity and there is no exception for rape or incest in the introduced version of the bill. The measure was met with celebration by anti-abortion groups and condemnation by others. Bureau of Women's Affairs Director Jayne Flores criticized the measure when it was introduced but also called it "moot" at the time, as the bureau was not aware of anyone who can perform or induce abortions on Guam. Not only is six weeks earlier than when most women realize they are pregnant, as opponents to the legislation argue, it is also far earlier than fetal viability and goes against precedent established by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the Guam legislation utilizes the same unique enforcement method as the Texas law, which has so far allowed the law to evade judicial review. Instead of empowering government officials, the measures authorize private citizens to file civil lawsuits against anyone who may have violated its provision, except for the woman who proceeded with the abortion. Otherwise, the measures cast a wide net, including anyone aiding or abetting an illegal abortion. Created to evade judicial review A challenge was lodged against the Texas law but the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block its implementation, stating that petitioners failed to make their case in light of "complex and novel antecedent procedural questions." "For example, federal courts enjoy the power to enjoin individuals tasked with enforcing laws, not the laws themselves," the court decision stated. Texas lawmakers fashioned their abortion law's enforcement scheme in its unique way because federal constitutional challenges to state law are normally brought against officers charged with enforcement, according to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the four dissenting justices. She criticized the majority for burying "their heads in the sand" in light of a "flagrantly unconstitutional law" created to evade judicial scrutiny and prevent women from exercising their right to abortion. A few months later, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a small window of opportunity by stating a challenge could be brought against certain licensing officials who may have to take enforcement action if the Texas abortion law is violated. But the Texas Supreme Court determined the officials were not authorized to enforce the stricter regulations, effectively ending that challenge to the law. On April 26, after receiving the Texas Supreme Court determination, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals officially ended the challenge by remanding the case back to district court with instructions to dismiss all challenges to the private enforcement provisions of the Texas statute. The Guam Daily Post requested clarification from the office of Sen. Telena Nelson, who introduced the Guam Heartbeat Act, on how it would apply to telemedicine while Guam is enjoined from enforcing its "in-person" mandate, and if a civil lawsuit can be brought under its provisions against a person living off island but licensed to practice here. No response was provided. 'Considering all possible options' Attorney Vanessa Williams, co-counsel in the ACLU lawsuit, stated they are still assessing the impact of Bill 291 on their ability to provide telemedicine, but added that even if a patient could obtain care before the six-week cutoff, the bill's ultrasound requirements "make it difficult, if not impossible," to use telemedicine to provide safe access to abortion services. "We're considering all possible options, including litigation, if it becomes law. However, no one should let it get to that point; we cannot allow politicians to play games with our lives, and hope that courts will clean up the mess. Instead of playing politics, lawmakers should be focusing on the real issues that affect our community, such as infant and maternal mortality," said Williams, who is also a member of Guam People for Choice, a group of women opposed to legislation restricting reproductive rights. Despite its decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet weighed the constitutionality of the Texas law on which the Guam Heartbeat Act is based. Supreme Court weighs abortion In its September 2021 decision, the court stated the order "is not based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of Texas's law, and in no way limits other procedurally proper challenges to the Texas law." And in its decision a few months later, the U.S. Supreme Court specifically stated "the ultimate merits question" whether the Texas law is consistent with the Constitution was "not before the court" at that time. New legal challenges to the Texas law have been lodged, according to the Texas Tribune. That includes a federal suit by former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, claiming that the Texas law violates free speech and due process rights. But these legal battles play out as a challenge to the right to abortion also looms in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Guam OAG appealed the preliminary injunction on the "in-person" mandate ordered by the District Court of Guam. The appeal now sits in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where it is on hold as it awaits the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This is the case that may end up overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that has established abortion as a right in the United States for the last five decades. Arguments were heard in December and the court is expected to issue its decision in the summer. The 2022 Guam abortion data was provided to the Post by Sharon O'Mallan, co-chair of Guam Catholic Pro-Life, who was issued the data by the Department of Public Health and Social Services. After obtaining the data, the Post requested the latest official abortion statistical report from DPHSS. Reports for 2018 through 2021 were provided. There were 41 abortions recorded in 2018, but this was the last year Guam had a known abortion provider on island. No abortions were reported in 2019 and 2020. One abortion complication was reported in 2021 along with five other abortions, but the abortion procedure types were redacted due to HIPAA concerns. There have been contradictions about our local government's strategy on COVID-19 testing and limitations for those who have come in close cont Read more STRIKES: Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko stands in front of a damaged building following Russian strikes in Kyiv on April 29 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian strikes slammed into Kyiv on the evening of April 28 as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was visiting. Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images/Tribune News Service Currently there is somewhere around $1.6 trillion outstanding in unpaid student loans. That is approximately twice the amount of all credit card debt. And many thousands of college graduates and dropouts find themselves unable or unwilling to repay their student loans. How did we get into this mess? It goes back to the Higher Education Act of 1965, but, as with so many government programs, the senators and representatives who voted for it never imagined how it would transform higher education, in part by driving costs relentlessly higher. Now the Biden administration is trying to buy votes in the midterm elections by promising to cancel the entire $1.6 trillion outstanding debt. The Wall Street Journal comments: Remember how Democrats sold their student loan takeover as a money-saver? Now millions of borrowers cant or dont want to repay their loans, so President Biden says he may cancel their debt. The taxpayers who repaid their loans or didnt go to college will pay instead. *** Federal student loans were established as part of the Great Society to help low-income students. Yet step by step, Democrats have turned student loans into an entitlement for academia and the affluent. As the loan limit increased over timenow $57,500 a year for independent undergrads and $31,000 for those dependent on their parentscolleges raised their prices to sop up more federal largesse. It doesnt matter to the schools if their philosophy grads work as baristas. As a philosophy major, I object to that last comment. There is more at the link on the corrupt history of the federal student loan takeover. But I want to focus on a question that has perplexed me: how can the president possibly have the legal authority to cancel $1.6 trillion in debt obligations? Progressives claim that the Higher Education Act of 1965 grants the President sweeping authority to compromisei.e., modifystudent loans. Since Congress granted the Education Department the power to create student debt, they argue, the Biden Administration also has the power to cancel it. This strikes me as a terrible legal argument. The reference apparently is to Sec. 432, Subdivisions (a)(5) and (6). That section describes the legal powers of the Commissioner. It gives him the power to sue and be sued. Subdivisions 5 and 6 empower the Commissioner to: (5) enforce, pay, or compromise, any claim on, or arising because of, any such insurance; and (6) enforce, pay, compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand, however acquired, including any equity or any right or redemption. Here, compromise is obviously used to mean settle, as a lawsuit. So the Commissioner can sue to recover unpaid loans, he can enforce liens, andof coursehe can compromise or settle such claims and lawsuits. The idea that this entitles the Commissioner (or the president) to simply cancel all outstanding loan obligations is ridiculous. Maybe there is some other provision Biden could rely on, but I seriously doubt that anywhere in the federal statutes is a provision that allows him to totally negate repayment obligations under the student loan program. The Journals cynicism is justified: In December 2020, Mr. Biden said it was pretty questionable whether he had the authority to cancel debt across the board. But now he may figure that the courts are unlikely to stop him, at least before the November election. Taxpayers and those who repaid their loans wont have legal standing to sue. Congress might, but Democrats wont sue. In short, Biden threatens (or promises) to take patently illegal action in order to buy votes, in the expectation that his wrongdoing wont be checked until after Novemberand perhaps not at all. We live under a scofflaw government. It is 301 days to the next Nigerian presidential election, and a month to the deadline for the nomination of candidates, but the most animated discussion in the country in the last few weeks has been whether the only president to lose reelection in the country can try again on the ticket of the party that defeated him! Adding to the curiosity is the small matter that former President Goodluck Jonathan is not even a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Jonathan was elected President in 2011 but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari of APC in 2015. Rumours had been flying for months that the faceless Aso Rock cabal had asked Mr Jonathan to run for the APC flag. The rumour seemed far-fetched, until penultimate Friday when the former president received a group in his Abuja office, there to demand that he runs. Members of the group had arrived in five large buses with placards bearing messages such as Jonathan, Please Run, Jonathan, do the needful, Jonathan for 2023, Jonathan Declare Now and Goodluck Please Come Back, We Love You. Mayor Samuel, who spoke for the group, said, We were deceived and brainwashed by those who claimed they could do it in 2015. Now, we know better, under Jonathan the minimum wage could buy one or two bags of rice. What do we have today? We are begging President Jonathan to forgive us, we have realised our mistakes; we want him back to complete what he started. Addressing the group after a private meeting, Mr Jonathan said: Yes you are calling me to come and declare for the next election, I cannot tell if Im declaring. The political process is ongoing, just watch out. Other groups later sprang up in some northern cities, one of them giving the former president one week to declare. But not everyone in the ruling party finds the prospect of awarding Mr Jonathan their partys presidential ticket appealing. On Monday, a group, Arewa Peoples Forum (APF), accused Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State of leading the plot to impose Mr Jonathan on the APC. In a statement issued in Kaduna by its leader, Ishaku Ahmed, the group said: Abusing his access to President Muhammadu Buhari and influence within the party, Governor Bagudu has acted without care for the sensitivity of the north and other Nigerians with his obsession with the idea that Mr. Goodluck Jonathan should waltz into the party and claim the biggest prize. Other sources claimed Mr Bagudu and Yobe Governor, Mala Buni, who until March 26 was the interim chairman of the party, were working with the alleged cabal in mounting pressure on Mr Buhari to anoint Mr Jonathan as his preferred candidate, with Mr Buni, a first term governor, as his running mate. Giving an update on the development on April 23, the day after the drama at Mr Jonathans office, The Punch newspaper reported that Mr Jonathan was waiting for assurances from President Buhari before taking the bait. No, Jonathan cannot run Even if any shenanigan should hand Mr Jonathan the ruling partys ticket, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, warned that he is disqualified by the constitution from being president again. Mr Falana said: It has been confirmed that former president Goodluck Jonathan has decided to join the APC for the purpose of contesting the 2023 presidential election. However, the former president is disqualified from contesting the election by virtue of 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, which provides as follows: A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term. Some people have said that the amendment is not retrospective and therefore cannot apply to Dr. Jonathan. Assuming without conceding that the amendment is not retrospective it is submitted that under the current Constitution a President or Governor cannot spend more than two terms of eight years. In other words, the Constitution will not allow anyone to be in office for more than a cumulative period of 8 years. In Marwa v. Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt.1296) 199 at 387 the Supreme Court stated that Section 180 (1) and (2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has prescribed a single term of 4 years and if a second term, another period of 4 years and not a day longer. In the case of Governor Ladoja v INEC (2008)40 WRN 1 the Supreme Court rejected the prayer of Governor Ladoja for 11 months extension to cover the period he was kept out of office through illegal impeachment. The Supreme Court rejected the prayer on the ground that a Governor is entitled to spend a maximum period of eight years or less and not more than eight years. It is not in dispute that Dr. Jonathan became the President of Nigeria in 2010 following the sudden death of President Umoru YarAdua. He later contested and won the 2011 presidential election. Having spent five years in office as President, Dr. Jonathan is disqualified from contesting the 2023 presidential election. The reason is that if he wins the election, he will spend an additional term of four years. It means that he would spend a cumulative period of 9 years as President of Nigeria in utter breach of Section 137 of the Constitution which provides for a maximum two terms of eight years. Yes, he can But an organisation, the Law and Order Group, challenged Mr Falanas assertion. In a statement by its coordinator, Aliyu Mohammed, the group said: We wish to categorically state that the said statement is erroneous and misconceived. In the first place, the 4th Alteration to the Constitution which introduced Section 137(3) was signed into law as part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 7, 2018. The said Section 137 (3) contains a commencement date which is the date it was signed into law. Thus, the provisions of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (4th Alteration) became operative on June 7, 2018, and not any time before that date. The law is settled beyond controversy or dispute that a law does not take effect retroactively. Again, it is the law that, where a piece of legislation sets out a specific commencement date, as in the case of Section 137 (3), all rights, duties, obligations and interests created or intended to be created or imposed by that law will not be applicable to rights, events or duties which accrued or occurred before then. The case of Modu vs. FRN (2015) LPELR 4047 is very apt. Again, it is not in dispute that Jonathan contested the presidential election in 2015 on the basis of the right which accrued to him. It follows, therefore, Jonathan has the right to contest the forthcoming presidential election on the platform of any of the registered political parties in Nigeria. As we all know, Jonathan left office since 2015. The oaths of office which he took were taken prior to the enactment of Section 137(3). In a case decided by the Court of Appeal in 2015, the court rightly held that the oath of office sworn to by Jonathan on May 6, 2010, cannot be taken into account in the interpretation of Section 137(1) of the Constitution. It follows, therefore, that the only oath of office sworn by Jonathan is the one he took on May 29, 2011. Advertisements Again, it is not in dispute that Jonathan contested the presidential election in 2015 on the basis of the right which accrued to him. It follows, therefore, Jonathan has the right to contest the forthcoming presidential election on the platform of any of the registered political parties in Nigeria. Any contrary position will be manifestly inconsistent with the provision of the Constitution which grants him the right to contest for any elective office in Nigeria. Why Jonathan? Many will be wondering what those behind the plot find enticing about a Jonathan candidature. The former president has not been active in partisan politics since he left office at the end of May 2015. He has not been attending the events of the PDP, the party on which platform he was deputy governor, governor, vice president and acting president before his 2011 election as president. His public activities since he left office consist of international assignments attracted to him by his status as a president who lost an election conducted by his government and handed over peacefully, a rare feat in Africa. Perhaps also because of his aloofness, Mr Jonathan is not influential in the politics of his home Bayelsa State. In 2019, the PDP lost the governorship election until the Supreme Court awarded the party the diadem over an infraction committed by the running mate to the candidate of the victorious APC. However, it remains unclear whether an alleged disrespect to him by the governor at the time, Seriake Dickson, had a bearing on the surprise loss of the PDP in that election. The APC is also weak in Mr Jonathans South-South zone, where it runs only one state. The most prominent leader of the party in the zone is the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. He has not been Mr Jonathans friend since 2014 when the then president refused to recognise the election of Mr Amaechi, the then Rivers State governor as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum. Mr Amaechi was later in the train of PDP governors and lawmakers who defected to the newly formed APC, a big factor in the partys unprecedented defeat at the general elections the following year. To complicate the plot, Mr Amaechi is also running for president and is said to fancy himself as the potential winner of the coveted title of President Buharis preferred candidate. To participate in the partys primary, Mr Jonathan has until Friday to pick the expression of interest and nomination forms at a price of N100 million. But first, he has to join the party that came to power by demonising him and his government in 2014-15; and then obtain a waiver as a new member to run for election in the party. PDP Screening The PDP seems to have gone furthest in the processes for the nomination of candidates for the general elections. On Friday, a committee headed by a former Senate President, David Mark, conducted screening for the 17 presidential aspirants who bought the partys N40 million expression of interest and nomination forms. At the end of the exercise, Mr Mark said the committee disqualified two of the aspirants. However, he did not name who they are and how they fell short of requirements. The aspirants who presented themselves for the screening at the PDP headquarters in Abuja are the partys candidate at the 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, two former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki and Pius Anyim; former governor of Anambra State and Mr Abubakars running mate in 2019, Peter Obi, as well as Bauchi and Sokoto State governors, Bala Mohammed and Aminu Tambuwal. Also screened were River State Governor Nyesom Wike; newspaper publisher, Dele Momodu; former banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist, Sam Ohabunwa; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom and the only woman among them, Olivia Tariela. The others are former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; a lawyer, Charles Okwudili; Chikwendu Kalu and Cosmos Ndukwe. APC N100 million forms The APC began selling its own forms during the week. On Friday, associates of one of the aspirants, Bola Tinubu, picked the forms for the former Lagos State governor who was away in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. A former Imo State governor and senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha; Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, are among the aspirants who have also picked the APC forms. Those who have declared their interest and are expected to pick their forms in the coming days include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Amaechi; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; former Abia State Governor and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu; and a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani. Mr Nnamani announced his bid in Abuja on Friday. Except Mr Bello of Kogi, all the aspirants are from southern zones. What does Oshiomhole want? A former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, caused a stir during the week when it was reported that he would be declaring to run for president in Abuja on Friday. Prior to that, it had been reported that he was running for the Senate. However, moments before the upgrade event began, Mr Oshiomholes media aide, Victor Oshioke, said it was postponed indefinitely. We are deeply sorry for the inconveniences this unavoidable postponement may have caused numerous supporters of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole across the country, he said. The former Edo State governor would further add to the drama when he told Vanguard newspapers that the news of his presidential declaration had been a mistake. Mr Oshiomholes sudden upgrade to the presidential race had raised speculations of brinkmanship, given his close association with Mr Tinubu who had declared his own intention in January. Zoning The prickly issue of power shift to the southern part of Nigeria through zoning is off the front burner of the two major parties. While southern politicians and groups have been clamouring for the shift, counter voices are getting louder in the North. The APC seemed to have accepted it, with Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in February saying leaders of the party had agreed the two regions to swap national party offices they were holding at the time. The emergence of Abdullahi Adamu in March as National Chairman in an all-northern field of aspirants corroborated Mr El-Rufais claim. The current composition of the partys field of presidential aspirants mostly all southerners, further strengthened it. That was until Friday when Mr Adamu said the party was yet to take a decision on zoning for the elections. The PDP, which set up a committee to advise it on the issue, has since locked up the report of the committee in a drawer. Instead, it has sold its presidential forms to aspirants from every zone and screened all of them. Eight of the 17 aspirants screened on Friday are from the South East, three from the South South and one from the South West. The others are three from the North East and one each from the North West and North Central. Lobbying continues In the past week, top PDP aspirants like Messrs Abubakar, Saraki and Anyim met with members and leaders of the party to sell their candidature. Mr Abubakar met with the National Working Committee at the partys secretariat to sell his candidature to the members. He assured party leaders of securing 11 million votes at the 2023 general election if given the ticket at the primary. He describes himself as the unifier and pledged to unify the country, revive the economy, devolve powers and tackle insecurity in the country. Recall that supporters of Mr Tinubu of the APC had also boasted that they would secure 14 million votes for the presidential hopeful in the South west alone. In a similar message, Pius Anyim said he is the most qualified to get the partys presidential ticket and rule the country. On his part, Mr Saraki visited delegates in Kwara and Delta states to preach similar messages of hope and ability to heal the ills in the country. The only female presidential candidate, Diana Tariela, however wants the party to zone the ticket to the women, because men have been ruling the country for over 60 years. Additional Reporting By QueenEsther Iroanusi The religious police in Jigawa, Hisbah, has threatened to deal with residents who dance, party or engage in immoral activities during the Islamic eid festival. The Hisbah Commander in the state, Ibrahim Dahiru, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Sunday. Were using this opportunity to warn residents that our men will go after anyone that engages in immoral activities and other social vices such as Dj dance, Gala, as well as sale and use of fireworks, popularly known as knock out, NAN quotes the commander as warning the residents. Jigawa, in North-west Nigeria, is a predominantly Muslim state. While the Nigerian constitution allows for freedom of religion and beliefs, many Northern states have established Hisbah boards to enforce strict Islamic beliefs. The Hisbah officials go after traders and consumers of alcohol, sex workers and others whom they believe are in violation of Islamic law. Most of their victims are poor and middle-class Nigerians as they hardly go after the elites. Their activities have been condemned by many Nigerians, especially those in the southern part of the country as violations of peoples constitutionally given rights. Apart from Jigawa, other Northern states that have Hisbah agencies include Kano, Katsina and Bauchi. In his Sunday interview, Mr Dahiru also said the Hisbah board in Jigawa has deployed no fewer than 1,223 of its operatives for the forthcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebration in the state. He said the operatives would synergise with other security agencies in the state to provide adequate security during the festive period. He explained that the operatives were also expected to assist in crowd and traffic control during the period. The commander added that the personnel had been advised to act professionally in the discharge of their duties. Also, residents are advised to be law-abiding and behave in an orderly manner so as to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free celebration, he said. Mr Dahiru, therefore, advised parents and guardians to monitor the movements of their wards during the festivity in order not to be involved in acts capable of disturbing public peace. Muslims in Nigeria will join their counterparts across the world to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri on Monday. The celebration is held to mark the 30 days of the Ramadan fast. The killings carried out by non-state actors across Nigeria declined last week (April 24-30) as at least only 15 persons were killed. This signifies a decline when compared to previous weeks where at least 29 persons were killed and over 200 killed in another week. One of the victims was a soldier, seven were members of a local vigilante group while the remaining seven persons were civilians. A drop in the killings was also observed as only two incidents in three geopolitical zones were recorded during the week. No incident of killing was recorded in the South-west, South-south and the North-east. PREMIUM TIMES compiled the incidents from media reports. Thus, unreported cases are not included. Below are the recorded incidents: North-west Residents of Mada community in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday deserted their homes for fear of more attacks from bandits after the killing of seven vigilante members, in what some residents say was a reprisal attack. Confirming the incident, the police authorities in the state told this newspaper on Monday that officers had been sent to ensure that residents of the community are safe. North-central The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) maintaining peace in Plateau and environs, said gunmen killed two locals and a soldier at Rikwe-Chongu village of Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau. The media officer of the formation, Ishaku Takwa, confirmed the incident to journalists on Friday in Jos. Mr Takwa said the incident occurred on Thursday night, adding that OPSH deployed its troops to the community. South-east Five people were feared killed on Friday when gunmen invaded Osumenyi Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The incident reportedly occurred at about 8:30 p.m. Ikechukwu Enyi, a resident of the area, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen opened fire on some persons drinking in a beer parlour. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to disrupt the planned primaries by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unless the Nigerian universities currently under lock and keys are reopened. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, political activities are already heightened in Nigeria as political parties plan to hold their party primaries in May to select their preferred candidates for various elective posts. But in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its president, Sunday Asefon, NANS condemned the rush for party tickets by politicians while the universities have been shut for almost three months. Confirming the threat in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Asefon described Nigerian politicians as callous, wicked, selfish and irresponsible. He said it is unfortunate that while the Nigerian university students have been condemned home for almost three months, those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring their academic wellbeing and sound education have the effrontery to obtain N100 million nomination forms. But the spokesperson for the APC, Felix Morka, said he could not comment on the threat since he was yet to see the unions statement. Threat In a statement titled; End ASUU Strike or Forget Political Activities in Abuja, NANS said the development became necessary following failed peaceful attempts to ensure that the concerned authorities heed its earlier calls. The statement read in part: I am compelled to write this morning being the beginning of a new month to address the unending ASUU Strike. We have given mediators time to prevail on the Federal Government to resolve issues with ASUU and ensure our students resume to their different campuses but it seems all mediation failed or failing as the case maybe. We have also in the past weeks seen those saddled with great responsibility in the education sector and those saddled with responsibilities of resolving labour crises declaring interests to contest for the seat of the President come 2023. We are surprised by their effrontery and total disrespect to the Nigeria people for having the courage to even moot the idea of contesting talkless of picking up the N100 million naira presidential form while students languish at home because of their collective failures. NANS said politicians have clearly shown by their conduct that they are not bothered by the plight of Nigerian students. The union said they are only busy in their selfish and inordinate ambitions to become the next President. The statement added: Let me say without mincing words, the two major political parties should forget any political gathering in Abuja or elsewhere except there is a solution to the lingering ASUU strike. We will frustrate all the activities leading to selection of party candidates if we remain on strike. We also want to advise the government and the politicians who are busy campaigning to be President to either resolve the ASUU crises or give direct orders to the security operative to shoot us at sight during party conventions to select presidential candidates. If we remain on strike, they should just forget it. Allegation NANS alleged that some student leaders have been compromised by politicians to frustrate its plans. It said it has uncovered the plot and threatened to expose those within its ranks that are allegedly planning to sabotage the struggle. Because they know our plans and how fearless we are while pursuing the interest of the students, we are aware they have bought some acclaimed student leaders with no conscience and no honour to divide us. Our advice is very simple, no matter how much any acclaimed student leaders are paid by their paymaster, they should return it immediately because the wrath of the students wont spare them, NANS threatened. It said whoever betrays the union would be fished out and treated like a saboteur. It said the only way to achieve peace in the country would be the immediate reopening of the universities. If the politicians holding the trust of the country are only concerned about the next election, we are more concerned about the next generation and if there is no next generation, the election will soon go into extinction. In short, end ASUU strike now or forget about party primaries, the statement further said. On ASUP strike Mr Asefon said it was unfortunate that the lecturers at the polytechnics are also set to down tools. He advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to quickly ensure the reopening of the universities or forget about the election. You can imagine all the workers unions in the universities are on strike and those at the polytechnics are also warming up. Yet, these politicians are only interested in the election. This is not only condemnable but also unacceptable, Mr Asefon told PREMIUM TIMES. APC speaks In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES reporter, the APC spokesman, Felix Morka, said he could not react to the development. So I cannot react to such a claim because I am not aware of the statement by NANS, he said on the phone. Advertisements Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the PDP were unsuccessful as the telephone line of its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, was not reachable and the message sent to the number was not replied as of the time of filing this report. Background Nigerias university workers union had embarked on strike over various issues including the non-implementation of agreements signed with the government as far back as 2009, and the alleged imposition of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS), a platform designed by the government for the payment of workers salaries and allowances. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced its strike on February 14, and has continued to roll it over till date. The non-academic staff under the umbrella of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and other Allied Educational Institutions (NASU) also later announced its strike, which has entered its sixth week. The unions have alleged the government of not responding to their demands, and have vowed to continue staying off their duty posts until the demands are met. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, will this week declare his intention to run for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), barring a last-minute change of plans. Sources close to Mr Lawan said he had been testing the waters for months and eventually decided to make the declaration after Sallah at the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan. The APC will close the sale of its expression of interest and nomination forms on Friday and Mr Lawan is expected to announce his interest before picking the forms. When he does, he would become the second person from the Northern part of the country to seek the APC presidential nomination after Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello. It was implied that the APC had zoned the ticket to the southern zones after early this year agreeing that North and South would swap the national party offices they were holding before the March 26 National Convention of the party. The convention saw the emergence of Abdullahi Adamu as the first National Chairman of the party from a northern zone. With President Muhammadu Buhari rounding up his second term, it was assumed that his successor would come from the other side of the Rivers Niger and Benue. However, on Friday, Mr Adamu said the APC was yet to take a decision on zoning, and by implication on where its presidential candidate will come from. Mr Lawan has been at the National Assembly since 1999, serving two terms in the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate in 2007. He made a failed bid to be Senate President in 2015 when Bukola Saraki won the seat despite the APC, the new ruling party at the time with a sizeable majority in the Chamber, nominating Mr Lawan for the position. He eventually became the Senate (Majority) Leader, a position he held until his election in 2019 as Senate President. Last week, two businessmen in Abia State, Ukaegbu James and Nnanna Kalu, said they would issue cheques of N200 million to Mr Lawan and the Chief Whip of the Senate and former governor of Abia, Orji Kalu, to buy the APC presidential expression of interest and nomination forms. Before then last year, posters of Mr Lawan had appeared in Damaturu, the capital of his home Yobe State, and some other northern cities, signed by groups of northern youths begging Allah to provide guidance for Mr Lawan in his decision on the 2023 elections. Although he has never spoken in public about a presidential ambition, sources close to him said he has the support of prominent leaders from the north and a businessman with a deep pocket. I dont know on what day he will pick his forms, but he will definitely declare this week, an associate of Mr Lawan who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the development to journalists, said. He had been under pressure to run for president and I am aware that he has spoken with many of our leaders on this issue, the associate said. However, when asked for his comment on the development on Sunday, Mr Lawans special adviser on media, Ola Awoniyi, said he had no information on it. The Oyo State Government has assured the people of Oyo Town that new a Alaafin of Oyo would emerge soon, urging them to be patient. Governor Seyi Makinde gave the assurance at the eighth day fidau/interdenominational prayer held in honour of the late Alaafin Adeyemi at the palace arcade in Oyo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the late Alaafin Adeyemi died on April 22, at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. Mr Makinde, represented by Bayo Lawal, the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, said he was aware that people were anxious to have new king. People are eager to see the next king, but we have to follow due process. We promise not to compromise and another Alaafin will come in due time, the governor said. Earlier, in their separate sermons, Imam Masud Ajokidero and Reverend Eyitayo Sulola urged the people to always embrace orderliness as observed by the late Alaafin when he was alive. They called on the kingmakers Oyo Mesi to follow the path of peace and not moneybags in the selection process of the new king. In her remarks, Alaba Lawson, the Iyalode of Yorubaland, described the late monarch as father of Yorubas, who always fought for the right of his people. Mrs Lawson said, He always listen to the cry of Yorubas and was great historian. I wish the incoming king will sustain the legacies he left behind. In his remarks, AbdulRashid Anikulapo, the Onibode of Igboholand, said that something bad had happened to the Yorubas with the death of Alaafin. Mr Anikulapo said the traditional ruler had enthroned many kings across the South-West, including Oke-Ogun, who were not beaded crown wearing kings before he was enthroned in 1970. (NAN) The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over the failure to protect the rights to life, security, and dignity of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, and the failure to secure the safe release of those held captive by the terrorists. Terrorists had on March 28 attacked the AK9 AbujaKaduna train, killing at least nine people, wounding several others, and abducting an unknown number of passengers. The victims have remained with the terrorists for a month, despite repeated appeals for the government to free them from captivity. The suit followed reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) failed to approve funds for surveillance equipment that could have helped to prevent the train attack. In the suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/20/22 filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, SERAP is seeking a declaration that the train attack, abductions and killings of passengers by terrorists amount to a failure by the government to protect Nigerians, and to prevent these grave human rights violations. SERAP is also seeking an order directing the Buhari government to protect, promote, and fulfil the human rights of Nigerians, including travellers across the country, by ensuring adequate security and taking measures to prevent attacks. SERAP is seeking an order directing the Buhari government to urgently find and identify all the passengers, victims and their families, and to pay adequate monetary compensation of N50 million to each of the passengers and victims and their families. In the suit filed together with an application for expedited hearing, SERAP is arguing that, The Buhari government has a legal duty to protect individuals from real and immediate risks to their lives and security caused by actions of third-parties such as terrorists. SERAP is also arguing that, A fundamental notion of contemporary human rights law is that victims of violations such as the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack enjoy an independent right to effective remedies. Rights without remedies are ineffectual, rendering illusory the governments duty to protect such rights. According to SERAP, The Buhari government has failed to protect the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights of the victims of the train attack to life, dignity and security, and their right to an effective remedy. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: The Buhari government is under a legal obligation to protect the life of every citizen in the country. Remedies logically should be proportionate to the gravity of the harm or violations caused by the government and its agents or by terrorists or unknown perpetrators. Human life has a special value and dignity which requires legal protection. It is the principle of international law, and even a general conception of law, that any breach of an engagement involves an obligation to make reparation. The officials of the Buhari government have publicly stated that they knew or had information that an attack on the train was imminent but the government failed and/or neglected to take measures to prevent the train attack. The government will still be held accountable for failing or neglecting to guarantee and protect human rights regardless of whether such violations are directly or indirectly attributable to the government or its officials. The Buhari government has an obligation to promote and protect the rights to life, security and dignity. This obligation means that the government must create an enabling environment that facilitates the enjoyment of these rights by the people. The failure of the Buhari government to protect and guarantee the rights to life, security, liberty and dignity of the passengers and victims of the train attack violates the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. The Buhari government and the Nigeria Railway Corporation had ignored several warnings in the past to take preventive measures to provide adequate security for the train services, and to suspend late rail services to prevent attack by terrorists and to ensure the security and safety of passengers. Few days before the train attack, some terrorists had gained control of and entered the Kaduna airport in a daring attack. The Buhari government failed or refused to take preventive measures to ensure adequate security in the airport and its surrounding, and to prevent the attack on the train. SERAP is also asking the ECOWAS Court for the following reliefs: A DECLARATION that the Abuja-Kaduna train attack amounts to a failure by the government to exercise due diligence to prevent the attacks, abductions and killings, and cannot be justified, and therefore constitutes a serious breach of Nigerias obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to exercise due diligence and to take steps to prevent the train attack, abductions and killings by terrorists is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to conduct prompt, impartial, thorough, transparent and effective investigations into the attacks, and to find and hold those responsible to account, is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to protect, promote and fulfil human rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to provide an effective remedy and reparation for the passengers and victims of the train attack is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil human rights. A DECLARATION that the failure of the government to provide an environment to secure and protect the human rights to life, dignity and security anywhere in Nigeria is unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to protect, promote and fulfil human rights. AN ORDER directing the government to promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigate the attacks on the train, and to find and bring perpetrators to justice. AN ORDER directing the government to respect, protect, promote, and fulfil the human rights of Nigerians, including travellers across the country. AN ORDER directing the government to provide effective remedies and reparation, including restitution, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition that the Court may deem No date has been fixed for the hearing of the application for expedited hearing, and the substantive suit. Nigeria has signed an agreement with Cuba to implement actions on contract manufacturing, technology transfer, vaccine production and commercialisation of the Cuban biopharmaceutical products in Nigeria. Nigerias Ambassador to Cuba, Benaoyagha Okoyen, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, said the two countries also agreed to partner in other areas. He said both countries expressed interest to implement actions for the development of partnership, particularly in projects for scientific cooperation, academic collaboration, co-development agreements and licensing of innovative products. Mr Okoyen and the President of the Group of Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries (BIOCUBAFARMA), Eduardo Diaz, who represented the Republic of Cuba, signed the Expression of Interest Document. According to the envoy, Nigeria signed the document with Cuba at the just concluded 2022 BIOHAVANA International Conference held from April 25 to 29 in Havana. The Embassy of Nigeria in Havana, through the leadership of the Ambassador played a significant role in taking the Nigerian delegation through the different stages of their participation in the conference, including the coordination of several relevant side meetings. The delegation included participants from the Ministry of Health; National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control; Federal Ministry of Science and Innovation; Sheda Science and Technology Complex; National Biotechnology Development Agency; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). The BIOCUBAFARMA, the organiser of the conference, is the Cuban Government business organisation that produces drugs, equipment, and services through scientific and technical development to improve the health of the population and the production of exportable goods and services and advanced technologies in food production. Delegates from over 50 countries witnessed the signing of 18 agreements by 12 countries, including Nigeria, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea and Turkey. (NAN) The Nigerian Army says members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are using pictures of fake soldiers arrested by Nigerian army troops recently to malign the institution. The Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Nwachukwu, a brigadier general, said that one Solomon Okafor of Radio Biafra London had been peddling malicious disinformation and falsehood on social media, alleging complicity by troops in a fictitious case of the kidnapping of a family of 10 in Kaduna State. He said Mr Okafor also alleged that about 87 per cent of Nigerian soldiers were kidnappers and bandits. Mr Nwachukwu said the said report was a creation of IPOB/ESN social media foot soldiers, with the intent to malign the Nigerian army. He said the picture being circulated on social media was a picture of fake soldiers (impostors) who were arrested recently in the Lagos-Ondo states axis by troops of Operation Checkmate under the 81 Division. According to him, the operation was widely publicised in both the new and traditional media before handing over the suspects to the Nigeria Police. It is also crucial to emphasise that following troops successful exploits in unravelling and unmasking IPOB elements who have been masquerading as unknown gunmen and wreaking carnage against Ndigbo in South-East Nigeria, IPOB/ ESN have severally attempted to use doctored graphic images, video footages and spurious narratives in online and social media campaigns to disparage the Nigerian army and bring her to disrepute. The author and his sponsors should note that no matter the campaign of calumny by IPOB and other fifth columnists, the Nigerian army will be undeterred and remains a cherished national institution that will continue to execute its constitutional mandate of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, toward building a united nation. Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard this mindless and irresponsible propaganda clearly emanating from IPOB, aimed at promoting insecurity in the country, he said. (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted travellers cheques in various foreign currencies of over N1.1 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. This was contained in a statement by Femi Babafemi, director, of Media and Advocacy, of the agency, on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Babafemi said that at least, one suspect, Oguma Uchenna, had been arrested in connection to an attempt to export the cheques. The cheques, he said, were neatly concealed inside four bound hardcover books, disguised as academic project pieces of literature, to the United Kingdom. He said the financial instruments, suspected to be counterfeits, were discovered on April 27 at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of the Lagos airport. He explained that the discovery was made during a cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight. A breakdown of the cheques shows they have monetary values of two hundred and eighty-seven thousand, six hundred and twenty-three dollars, thirty-one cent ($287, 623.31) One million, four hundred and fifty-six thousand, three hundred Canadian dollars ($1,456,300) and One million, two hundred and ninety-seven thousand, eight hundred (1,297,800) euros. This is with a total value of one billion, one hundred and fifty-seven million, six hundred and seventy thousand, four hundred and sixty-nine Naira and ninety-two kobo (N1,157, 670,469.92), he said. In the same vein, operatives of the NDLEA at the airport had foiled an attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle into the country, 10.89 kilograms of cocaine, through a Qatar Airways flight. Mr Babafemi said the illicit drug was hidden in seven childrens duvets, packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil. He quoted the chairman of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men of the MMIA, for the seizures and arrests in the past week. Mr Marwa charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and vigilant in their areas of responsibility. (NAN). A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has joined the debate on the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for president again, saying he is pre-eminently constitutionally, morally and legally qualified to contest the 2023 presidential election. Mr Ozekhome made this assertion in a statement he issued in response to an argument that the former president is disqualified by the constitution. Following speculations that Mr Jonathan was preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and seek the presidential ticket of the party, some Nigerians, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, argued that his candidature will breach the constitution. But other Nigerians have also expressed a different opinion on the issue. Mr Falana had based his position on Section 137 (3) of the Constitution, which provides as follows: A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term. Mr Falana said: Some people have said that the amendment is not retrospective and therefore cannot apply to Dr Jonathan. Assuming without conceding that the amendment is not retrospective it is submitted that under the current Constitution a President or Governor cannot spend more than two terms of eight years. In other words, the Constitution will not allow anyone to be in office for more than a cumulative period of 8 years. In Marwa v. Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt.1296) 199 at 387 the Supreme Court stated that Section 180 (1) and (2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has prescribed a single term of 4 years and if a second term, another period of 4 years and not a day longer. In the case of Governor Ladoja v INEC (2008)40 WRN 1 the Supreme Court rejected the prayer of Governor Ladoja for 11 months extension to cover the period he was kept out of office through illegal impeachment. The Supreme Court rejected the prayer on the ground that a Governor is entitled to spend a maximum period of eight years or less and not more than eight years. It is not in dispute that Dr. Jonathan became the President of Nigeria in 2010 following the sudden death of President Umaru YarAdua. He later contested and won the 2011 presidential election. Having spent five years in office as President, Dr. Jonathan is disqualified from contesting the 2023 presidential election. The reason is that if he wins the election, he will spend an additional term of four years. It means that he would spend a cumulative period of 9 years as President of Nigeria in utter breach of Section 137 of the Constitution which provides for a maximum two terms of eight years. Earlier, an organisation, the Law and Order Group, had faulted Mr Falanas argument as erroneous and misconceived, based on the ground that the amendment to the constitution that he cited cannot take a retroactive effect. The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Aliyu Mohammed, pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution, which introduced Section 137(3), on June 7, 2018. The said Section 137 (3) contains a commencement date which is the date it was signed into law. Thus, the provisions of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (4th Alteration) became operative on June 7, 2018, and not any time before that date. The law is settled beyond controversy or dispute that a law does not take effect retroactively. Again, it is the law that, where a piece of legislation sets out a specific commencement date, as in the case of Section 137 (3), all rights, duties, obligations and interests created or intended to be created or imposed by that law will not be applicable to rights, events or duties which accrued or occurred before then. The case of Modu vs. FRN (2015) LPELR 4047 is very apt. As we all know, Jonathan left office since 2015. The oaths of office which he took were taken prior to the enactment of Section 137(3). In a case decided by the Court of Appeal in 2015, the court rightly held that the oath of office sworn to by Jonathan on May 6, 2010, cannot be taken into account in the interpretation of Section 137(1) of the Constitution. It follows, therefore, that the only oath of office sworn by Jonathan is the one he took on May 29, 2011. Again, it is not in dispute that, Jonathan contested the presidential election in 2015 on the basis of the right which accrued to him. It follows, therefore, Jonathan has the right to contest the forthcoming presidential election on the platform of any of the registered political parties in Nigeria. Expanding the latter position, Mr Ozekhome said the said Court of Appeal ruling of 2015 had settled the issue raised by Mr Falana. He said: In a lead judgement delivered by Justice Abubakar Yahaya, the full panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously held that President Jonathan had only spent one term in office as president, going by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. President Jonathan had been empowered as acting President on February 9, 2010, following a motion for operation of the doctrine of necessity by the Senate, owing to the protracted stay of late President Umaru YarAdua in Saudi Arabia on medical grounds. When President YarAdua eventually died on May 5, 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as president to serve the unexpired residue of office of YarAdua. Jonathan was later elected President in 2011 for the first time, on his own merit. Mr. Njoku had contended that Jonathan had already sworn to the oath of office and allegiance twice and therefore, should be disqualified from contesting the 2015 election, as any victory he secured would amount to being sworn in thrice. However, the court ruled that the oath that Jonathan took in 2010 was merely to complete the unexpired tenure of late YarAdua; adding that by virtue of Section 135 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan only took his first oath in May, 2011. The Court of Appeal further held that disqualification is through election, not oath taking. The court further ruled that: Disqualification is through election and not oath taking. Election is a process of choosing a person to occupy a position by voting. When election is given its literal meaning, it connotes when a voting is employed to choose a person for political office. This did not take place when Jonathan stepped into the shoes of his Principal who went to the great beyond. To say these things were done is to import words not used by the constitution. Section 146(1) of the constitution cannot be deemed an election for a VP to step into the office of a President. Election involves conducting primaries by party, nomination, election and announcement of results. All these processes were not done. Advertisements If a VP succeeds a President that dies, that cannot be challenged. It is a mode of stepping into the vacant office provided for by the constitution. When a President dies, the Vice President automatically becomes President as provided for by S130 (1)(2) of the 1999 constitution Concluding his argument, Mr Ozekhome says It will be grossly unfair, unconstitutional, unconscionable and inequitable to deny Jonathan of the right to contest the 2023 presidential election when our extant laws and appellate court decisions permit him to. The question of whether Jonathan really needs to subject his glittering and internationally acclaimed reputation and credentials to the muddy waters of a fresh competition with persons, some of whom were his personal appointees as president, is another matter altogether. Only him, and not the present state of the laws in Nigeria, can answer that question and decide his own fate. But, as regards his eligibility to contest, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is pre-eminently constitutionally, morally and legally qualified to contest the 2023 presidential election. Read below the full text of Mr Ozekhomes position. GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS CONSTITUTIONALLY QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT BY CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIARB, LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D. INTRODUCTION Nigeria is a country of one major news item per day. The issue in the polity currently generating national ruckus, hoopla and bedlam is the presumed intention of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to run for the 2023 presidency. It does not matter that he has never confirmed to anyone, the rumour of his planned defection from his opposition PDP party under which he was once elected President, to the ruling APC party. They are prepared, as ever, to shave his hair in his absence. I have carefully read the arguments of those who believe that Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is disqualified from contesting the 2023 presidential election, because according to them, he had already done two terms and will thus be ineligible to contest for a third term. They cite the Fourth Alteration (No 16) Act, which was signed into an Act by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 11th of June, 2018. The section they are relying on is section 137(3) of the said Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term. THE ANTAGONISTS ARE DEAD WRONG IN THEIR LEGAL POSTULATIONS The truth of the matter is that the antagonists of Jonathan running in 2022, in their strange line of argument, are mainly relying on the above section 137(3). They have probably not adverted their minds to sections 141 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, and section 285(13) of the same Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which they are relying on. More revealing is that these antagonists are probably not aware of an extant and subsisting Court of Appeal decision where Jonathan was frontallly confronted and challenged before the 2015 presidential election, on the same ground of being ineligible to contest the said 2015 election, having allegedly been elected for two previous terms of office. The section 137(3) being relied upon by the antagonists was signed into law in 2018, three years after Jonathan had left office. Can he be caught in its web retrospectively? We shall see that anon. The case in question is CYRIACUS NJOKU V GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (2015) LPELR-244496 (CA). In that case, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, held that President Goodluck Jonathan had only taken the oath of office once and therefore upheld his eligibility to contest the then Nigerias presidential election slated for March 28, 2015. The intermediate court held that the oath of office President Jonathan took in 2010 was merely to complete the unexpired tenure of late President Umar YarAdua, who died while in office as President. The appeal had been brought before the court by one Cyriacus Njoku, who was challenging the ruling of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which on March 1, 2013, had dismissed the suit he filed to stop President Jonathan from contesting the 2015 polls. In a lead judgement delivered by Justice Abubakar Yahaya, the full panel of the court unanimously held that President Jonathan had only spent one term in office as President, going by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. President Jonathan had been empowered as acting President on February 9, 2010, following a motion for operation of the doctrine of necessity by the Senate, owing to the protracted stay of late President Umaru YarAdua in Saudi Arabia on medical grounds. When President YarAdua eventually died on May 5, 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as president to serve the unexpired residue of office of YarAdua. Jonathan was later elected President in 2011 for the first time, on his own merit. Mr. Njoku had contended that Jonathan had already sworn to the oath of office and allegiance twice and therefore, should be disqualified from contesting the 2015 election, as any victory he secured would amount to being sworn in thrice. However, the court ruled that the oath that Jonathan took in 2010 was merely to complete the unexpired tenure of late YarAdua; adding that by virtue of Section 135 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan only took his first oath in May, 2011. The Court of Appeal further held that disqualification is through election, not oath taking. The intermediate courts judgement read in part: In this appeal, it is not controverted by the appellant that the first oath taken by the first defendant (Jonathan) was the oath he took as the Vice President and not as President But he took the oath in May 2010 to complete unexpired tenure of late Umaru Musa YarAdua. Section 37(1)(b) disqualifies a person from contesting for president if he had been elected twice. Disqualification is through election and not oath taking. Election is a process of choosing a person to occupy a position by voting. When election is given its literal meaning, it connotes when a voting is employed to choose a person for political office. This did not take place when Jonathan stepped into the shoes of his Principal who went to the great beyond. To say these things were done is to import words not used by the constitution. Section 146(1) of the constitution cannot be deemed an election for a VP to step into the office of a President. Election involves conducting primaries by party, nomination, election and announcement of results. All these processes were not done. If a VP succeeds a President that dies, that cannot be challenged. It is a mode of stepping into the vacant office provided for by the constitution. When a President dies, the Vice President automatically becomes President as provided for by S130 (1)(2) of the 1999 constitution It was not election that produced the first respondent in May 2010, the oath he took then was not an oath of elected President as provided for by Section 180 of the constitution. The process of election was followed in 2011. The oath of office taken in 2011 was the first oath taking by the first respondent as an elected President having fulfilled all the process of election. Again, the succession of a Vice-President to the office of a President who died, in accordance with Section 146(1) of the 1999 Constitution, cannot be deemed an election, especially for the purpose of taking away a right that has been vested. As stated earlier, an election under the 1999 Constitution involves primaries, nominations, voting and declaration of results. That is the mode prescribed in electing a President, and once it is so prescribed, it must be followed, and no other method can be employed. All these processes can be challenged in a Court of law and if successful, the election would be annulled. But if a Vice-President succeeds a President who died, that cannot be challenged because it is a Constitutional provision, and the succession cannot be annulled. It is a mode of assumption to the office of the demised President, an appointment by the Constitution, as it were, as no letter of appointment is necessary from anybody. The Vice-President automatically becomes the President, by virtue of his being the Vice-President. An example can be found in Section 130(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. Per ABUBAKAR DATTI YAHAYA, JCA (Pp 40 41 Paras E D) The Court of Appeal further upheld the decision of the lower court which had dismissed Mr. Njokus suit for lack of locus standi. It noted that it is fundamental that where a party lacks locus, the court cannot assume jurisdiction.We agree with the lower court that the appellant has no locus to sue. On the question of the cause of action, the court held that the case of the appellant was speculative and imaginary as none of the reliefs he sought accrued to him any benefit. Indeed, the Court of Appeal had awarded the sum of N50,000 each as cost to the defendant, President Jonathan. RETROSPECTIVITY OF LEGISLATION Aside Jonathan being completely cleansed of the virus of ineligibility to contest the 2023 presidential election by the Court of Appeal decision in Njokus case, as Naaman the leper was, after dipping himself in the River Jordan seven times, Jonathan is also aided by the golden canon of interpretation to the effect that an enactment does not operate retrospectively or retroactively to take away from citizens enured rights. We may now ask the question: What is the effect of Buhari signing into law section 137(3) of the Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution in 2018? The answer is found in section 2 of the Interpretation Act which provides that: 1. An Act is passed when the President assents to the Bill for the Act, whether or not the Act then comes into force; 2. Where no other provision is made as to the time when a particular enactment is to come into force, it shall, subject to the following subsection, came into force a. In the case of an enactment contained in an Act of the National Assembly, on the day when the Act is passed; b.In any other case, on the day when the enactment is made. It is therefore clear that section 137(3) of the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution took effect from 11th June, 2018, when President Muhammadu Buhari assented to it. Section 137(3) is subject to section 318(4) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that, the Interpretation Act shall apply for the purposes of interpreting (its) provisions. Section 137(3) is one piece of legislation that can be termed retrospective or retroactive legislation. On retrospectivity of legislation, the apex court, coram Justice Kekere-Ekun, J.S.C, held in the case of SPDC V. ANARO & ORS (2015) LPELR-24750(SC) at (Pp. 64 paras. B), thus: There is a general presumption against retrospective legislation. It is presumed that the legislature does not intend injustice or absurdity. Courts therefore lean against giving certain statutes retrospective operation. Generally, statutes are construed as operating only in cases or on facts, which come into existence after the statutes were passed unless a retrospective effect is clearly intended. It was held inter alia, in: Ojokolobo Vs Alamu (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt.61) 377 @ 402 F-H that it is a fundamental rule of Nigerian law that no statute shall be construed to have a retrospective operation unless such a construction appears very clearly in the terms of the Act or Law; or arises by necessary and distinct implication. See also: Udoh Vs O.H.M.B. (1993) 7 NWLR (Pt.304) 39 @ 149 F G; Adegbenro Vs Akintola (1963) All NLR 305 @ 308. Similarly, in ALEWA V. SOKOTO STATE INEC (2007) LPELR-8388(CA) (PP. 32 PARAS. A), the Court of Appeal, per Ariwoola JCA ( as he then was), held thus: It is however settled law that, unless the law makers expressly state otherwise, a statute operates prospectively but not retrospectively. It is a cardinal principle of English Law that no statute shall be construed to have retrospective operation unless such a construction appears very clearly in the terms of the Act, or arises by necessary and distinct implications. The position is the same in this Country. In Olaniyi vs. Aroyehun (1991) 5 NWLR (pt 194) 652, the Supreme Court held that:- A construction like other statutes operates prospectively and not retrospectively, unless it is expressly provided to be otherwise. Such legislation affects only rights which came into existence after it has been passed. See also; Chief C. Odumegwu Ojukwu vs. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo & Ors. (2004) 7 SCM 53 at 93, Afolabi & Ors. v. Governor of Oyo State (1985) 2 NWLR (pt 9) 734, Ojokolobo vs. Aremu (supra). Hear my Lord Kekere-Ekun JCA, (as he then was) in ALEWA V. SOKOTO STATE INEC (2007) LPELR-8388(CA) (PP. 21-22 PARAS. D): There is a presumption that the legislature does not intend what is unjust. Thus, although under our legal system, the Legislature is competent to make retrospective laws, the Courts generally lean against giving a statute retrospective effect unless the terms of the statute so state in clear and unequivocal language. In Afolabi v. Governor of Oyo State (1985) 2 NWLR (9) 734 at 752 E, Aniagolu, JSC stated thus, The Courts have always leaned against giving statutes a retrospective effect and usually regard them as applying to facts or matters which came into existence after the statutes were passed, unless it is clearly shown that a retrospective effect was intended by the Legislature. Underlining supplied. See alsoAdesanoye v. Adewole (supra) at 147 B-C & D-E; West v. Gwyne (1911) 2 CH 1; A.G. Federation v. A.N.P.P. (2003) 15 NWLR (844) 600 at 648 G -H; Saad v. Nyame (2004) All FWLR (201)1678. His Lordship Muhammad, J.S.C, in EGUNJOBI V. FRN (2012) LPELR-15537(SC), (PP. 34-35 PARAS. F), held that: It is trite law that the Courts frown at retrospective and retroactive legislations. Ojokolobo v. Alamu (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt.61) 377 at 34 406; Afolabi v. Governor of Oyo State (1985) 2 NWLR (Pt 9) 734. Although under Nigeria Law, there is a presumption against retrospectivity, where a retrospective operation is clearly spelt out, that legislation must not be declared incompetent; Adegbenro v. Akintola (1963) 2 SCNLR 216; Adeshina v. Lemonu (1965) 1 All NLR 233; The Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd v. African Continental Bank Ltd (1971) 1 All NLR 37; Attorney General East Central State v. Ugwuh (1975) 5 SC 13 Indeed, section 4(9) of the Constitution denies the NASS in relation to any criminal offence, the power to make any law which shall have retrospective effect. Though this section specifically deals with criminal offences, judicial decisions clearly show that it operates with equal force to civil matters. Thus, the court held in the case of the ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION V. ALL NIGERIAN PEOPLES PARTY (ANPP) & 2 ORS. (2003) 15 NWLR (Pt. 844) 600 @ pages 648-649, paras. E-B, that: A statute is deemed to be retrospective where it takes away any vested right acquired under existing laws or creates a new obligation or imposes a new duty or attaches a new disability in respect of transactions or considerations already past Based on the presumption that a legislature does not intend what is unjust, the courts have always leaned against giving statutes a retrospective effect and usually regard them as applying to facts or matters which came into existence after the statutes were passed unless it is clearly shown that a retrospective effect was intended by the legislature. In the instant case the constitution came into being on 29th May, 1999 and all rights, liabilities and privileges as contemplated by the circumstance of the arose as of that day. Consequently, its provisions can only be read prospectively. Furthermore, the court held at page 649, paras. C-D; 661-662, paras. F-C; 665, paras. A-B as follows: One of the cardinal principles of interpretation of statutes is that no rule of construction is that a retrospective operation is not to be given to a statute so as to impair an existing right or obligation otherwise that as regards matters of procedure, unless that effect cannot be avoided without doing violence to the language of the enactment. The court nailed it when it held at page 667, paras. C-D that: A constitution, like other statutes, operates prospectively and not retrospectively unless it is expressly provided to be otherwise. Such legislations affect only rights which came into existence after it has been passed. A cursory examination of the various provisions of the constitution and all the appellate court decisions cited above make it crystal clear that the purported disqualification of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is grossly misconceived by the antagonists, as the Constitution must be progressively and not retrogressively construed. More significantly, the Alteration Act itself does not make any express provision that the said inserted sub-section 137(3) would operate retrospectively. The principle of expressio unius est exclusio alterius (the express mention of one thing is the exclusion of others) applies here. See MADUMERE & ANOR V. OKWARA & ANOR (2013) LPELR-20752(SC). CONCLUSION It is clear that those deliberately misinterpreting the clear position of the law may be baying for Jonathans blood, possibly as a potential candidate who may subvert the chances of their preferred candidates. I do not view issues from such a narrow ad homine prism and blurred binoculars. It will be grossly unfair, unconstitutional, unconscionable and inequitable to deny Jonathan of the right to contest the 2023 presidential election when our extant laws and appellate court decisions permit him to. The question of whether Jonathan really needs to subject his glittering and internationally acclaimed reputation and credentials to the muddy waters of a fresh competition with persons, some of whom were his personal appointees as president, is another matter altogether. Only him, and not the present state of the laws in Nigeria, can answer that question and decide his own fate. But, as regards his eligibility to contest, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is pre-eminently constitutionally, morally and legally qualified to contest the 2023 presidential election. A Nigerian politician, Kaokab Ibraheem, has displayed a campaign poster of Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential hopeful, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia. Mr Ibraheem was seen in a picture displaying the campaign poster of Mr Tinubu close to the Kaabah, at Masjid Al-Haram, Meccas Grand Mosque. Considered the most sacred structure in Islam, the Kaabah is a large cubic structure draped in a black cloth embroidered in gold with verses from the Quran. The pictures of Mr Ibraheem holding the poster are believed to have been taken on Thursday when a special Tawaf was held in honour of Mr Tinubu by his Nigerian supporters at the Grand Mosque. Ready to serve, read the caption of the campaign poster with a picture of Mr Tinubu and Mr Ibraheem. The latter is also aspiring to be a member of the House of Representatives. He seeks to represent Alimosho Federal Constituency in 2023. The Tawaf was attended by some Islamic scholars and political leaders from Nigeria, including Mr Tinubu. The former Lagos State governor is one of the leading presidential aspirants of Nigerias ruling party, APC. Since his official declaration in January, Mr Tinubu has travelled across the country seeking support and promising to bring improvements in the areas of security and the economy. In Saudi Arabia, Mr Tinubus supporters said they had faith that Allah would ensure a peaceful electioneering and victory for Mr Tinubu. We have come to seek the favour of Allah and His blessings for Asiwaju in the coming election, said Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, according to a press release by his office. We are not testing Allahs will and power but soliciting His blessings, support and anointing because Allah is sufficient for us. We are doing this in support of Asiwajus presidential ambition, said the Speaker, who was also in Mecca for the prayer. While it is generally acceptable to visit the Holy Mosque to seek the favour of Allah and His blessings, some Islamic scholars believe it is wrong to be carrying political posters around the Grand Mosque. Muslims ultimately perform Umrah, the lesser Hajj, intending to cleanse their souls and revive their relationship with God, said Isa Abdulrahman, a Kano-based cleric. That aim is defeated when worshippers go to the sacred land with campaign posters, he added. The Kaabah is the most important place in Islam. It should never be a ground for political campaigning. Also, a former senator, Shehu Sani, said taking political campaign posters to the premises of Kaabah is morally wrong. The Hajj Commission must take serious action on this before it gets worse, Mr Sani wrote on Facebook. Any culprit should be banned for Ten years from going to Mecca for Hajj and Lesser Hajj. zoning as a policy is a protest against the abuse of power. If things had been fair in this country, there should not have been any demand for zoning. If other areas had been carried along in appointments and the distribution of amenities, the constant call for zoning would have been less. Those in authority in this country, past and present, are guilty of the abuse of power. On my way to the annual Fanti festival, held recently at Igbosere on the Lagos Island, during which Lafiaji boys led by my friend, Muyiwa Adejokun, lost to the Campos boys, I sighted the LAPAL House. The house is now abandoned. LAPAL House is a 12-storey building on Lewis Street, Lagos Island. It is owned by WEMABOD Estate Limited, one of Nigerias most enduring estates limited. On June 3, 2002, the house was razed in a fired incident. In 1977, Hacogen Company Limited, owned by Dr Joseph Wayas (May 21, 1941 November 30, 2021) occupied the sixth floor of the building. Dr Wayas later donated the office to serve as temporary office for the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Dr Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe (1915-1990) from Arondizuogu, then under the Orlu division of present-day Imo State, who in 1978 was a vice presidential aspirant, later donated his house on Jibowu Street near WAEC in Yaba, Lagos to the NPN to serve as the partys headquarters. The house has now been turned to a hotel by Dr Mbadiwes children. To many, LAPAL House means nothing but to me it brought nostalgic memories. It was in that house that the zoning policy was adopted and cemented as part of the unofficial policy in the Nigerian political system. I scooped on the story by accident. On October 5, 1978, my friend, Dr Chuba Okadigbo (December 17, 1941 September 25, 2003) invited me to a dinner at the Federal Palace, Lagos. I honoured the invitation. The relationship between a politician and a reporter is always everlasting. They both need each other. After the dinner, Dr Okadigbo told me to drop him at Igbosere for a meeting. I dropped him only to realise that he forgot the key of his hotel room in my car. I had to wait a while for him to finish the meeting. I took time off to visit Kunbis place, a very popular beer parlour in Igbosere. In Lagos, as it was then and it is now, there is hardly any street on Lagos Island that does not have beer parlours. That is why they say, Lagos never sleeps. At about 12 midnight, I came back to LAPAL House, only to discover that the meeting had not ended. Finally at 12.50 a.m., I saw many prominent NPN leaders departing LAPAL House for their different destinations. It was at this point that I alerted Dr Okadigbo that I was still around. He immediately jumped into my car and expressed shock that I was still around at that time of the day. I explained to him that he forgot the key to his hotel room in my car. We have zoned it and I hope it will work, he uttered to me. At that time, the NPN convention had not been held. I asked him what zoning meant, for it was a strange word in the Nigerian political lexicon then. The zoning that I understand is a method of urban planning, in which a municipality or other tiers of government divides land into areas called zones, each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from those of other zones. Zones may be defined for a single use (e.g. residential, industrial), they may combine several compatible activities by use, or in the case of form-based zoning, differing regulations may govern the density, size and shape of buildings allowed, whatever their use. The planning rules for each zone determine whether planning permission for a given development may be granted. Zoning may specify a variety of outright and conditional uses of land. It may indicate the size and dimensions of lots that land may be subdivided into, or the form and scale of buildings. These guidelines are set in order to guide urban growth and development. When we finally got to his room, Dr Okadigbo then fully explained to me the meaning of zoning or power rotation in Nigerian politics. He said that the presidency would go to the area we now refer to as the North-West, while the vice presidency would go to Imo and Anambra States, which we now refer to as the South-East. He added that the presidency of the Senate would go to Cross Rivers or Rivers, which we now refer to as part of South-South, while the speaker of the House of Representatives will go to the Middle Belt. The chairmanship of the party will go to what we now know as the South-West, while the national secretary will go to what we now regard as the North-East. In a nutshell, Dr Okadigbo explained that the zoning policy was designed to ensure that no part of the country was left out in the political agenda of the party. It was too late for me to go home that day, so I had to sleep on Dr Okadigbos sofa in his room at the Federal Palace Hotel. The meeting was presided over by Aliyu Makama Bida (1905-1980), who was the patron of the NPN at that time. the military practiced what might be termed as zoning too. After the overthrow of General Gowon on July 29, 1975, Brigadier Ramat Murtala Muhammed ( November 8, 1938 February 13, 1976) became Head of State, while Brigadier General Olusegun Obasanjo from Abeokuta, Ogun State became Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. After the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed, a Fulani from Kano, General Obasanjo was made the Head of State, and a Fulani officer, Lt-Colonel Shehu Musa YarAduawas over promoted He was the first northern minister of Education and Social Welfare, and later minister of Finance and Treasurer of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). From teacher to headmaster, to Native Administration councilor and a senior minister with a responsible portfolio in Education, Aliyu Makama became a titan in the affairs of the North and as a member of the NPC. He rose to the position of party treasurer and took charge of the financial aspects of the NPC. He held the position throughout the existence of the party. Although he was older than the Sardauna of Sokoto, he was generally regarded as one of the closest allies and confidants to the Sardauna. It was all due to the ultimate show of trust by the Sardauna of Sokoto to Aliyu Makama Bida. Aliyu frequently acted as premier of Northern Nigeria any time the premier travelled outside and the appointment was by Sardauna himself. The protem secretary of the NPN at that time was Dr Nwakama Okoro from Amuri, Arochukwu in Imo State. He married Eme Ikpeme in 1959. Dr Okoro represented Arochukwu/Ohafia in the Constituent Assembly between 1977 and 1978. He was the national president of the Nigerian Bar Association between 1977 and 1978. He contested and lost to Chief Samuel Mbakwe of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in the Imo State gubernatorial election in 1979. Dr Okoros book, The Rise and Duties of a Lawyer is a good read for any lawyer in Nigeria. Also present at the meeting at LAPAL House that day were protem officers who represented their various states. They were named National Vice Chairmen. They were Chief Christian Chukwumah Onoh (Anambra), Prince Adeleke Adedoyin (Ogun), Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.) (Ondo), Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunbo Fani-Kayode (Oyo), Dr Josiah Onyebuchi Johnson Okezie (Imo), Alhaji Sule Katagun (Bauchi), Dr C. G. Okojie (Bendel), Chief (Dr) Joseph Sarwuan Tarka (Benue), Alhaji Kam Salem (Borno), Dr Joseph Wayas (Cross River), Professor Iya Abubakar (Gongola), Alhaji Nuhu Bamali (Kaduna), Alhaji Inuwa Wada (Kano), Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki (Kwara), Dr J.O.J. Okezie (Imo), Alhaji Yahaya Sabo (Plateau), Alhaji Shehu Shagari (Sokoto) and Chief Melford Obiene Okilo (Rivers). In the afternoon, I went to the office to write the news with the approval of my then news director, Mr Tayo Kehinde and my Editor, Mr Sola Odunfa. The story was on the front page of The PUNCH. Our Editor-in-Chief then, Chief Sam Amuka Pemu, having read the proof, ordered that the story should be in the first and second editions. The following day, The PUNCH printed over five hundred thousand copies. As expected, there were denials of the story by the NPN members but the management of The PUNCH stood by me at that time. I was not bothered by the denials of the story but that my scheduled interview with the chairman of the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN), Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (GCFR; 25 February 1925 28 December 2018) might be cancelled. I cultivated friendships with so many during the Constituent Assembly, including that of the chairman of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki (December 31, 1923 November 14, 2016) who was at the meeting that day. The interview was not cancelled afterall. The zoning policy would have worked in all positions proposed then by NPN, except that of the speaker of the House of Representatives. After the 1979 election, the NPN went into an accord with the NPP, as a result of which Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke (September 8, 1935 August 1, 2011) from Amichi in Nnewi of the NPP became speaker of the House of Representatives. With the NPN accord, Chief Ume Ezeoke defeated Mr Hamza M. Ngadiwa from Biu (North) Constituency in Borno State by 245 to 201 votes in a election held on October 1, 1979. On the same date, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim of the NPN from Niger State defeated Mr Faji Fajobi of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) from Ikere Ekiti by 244 to 201 votes to become the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. After the convention, Alhaji Shehu Shagari picked Chief Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON; October 21, 1932 November 19, 2017) from Oko Town, in present day Anambra State, as his running mate. Dr Joseph Wayas (May 21, 1941 November 30, 2021) from Basang, Obudu, Cross River State became the Senate president with the support of NPP/NPN by defeating Senator F.O.M. Atake from Warri of the UPN by 53 to 42 votes. With the support of the NPN/NPP accord, also on October 9, 1979, Senator John Wash Pam of the NPP from Plateau State defeated Senator Sabo Barkin Zuwo of the PRP from Kano State by 51 to 43 votes, to become the deputy Senate president. Chief Egunjenmi Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye (August 19, 1916 September 18, 2007), popularly known as A.M.A., from Itutaba and Seriki of Ibadanland, became the chairman of the Party. Alhaji Adamu Ciroma (November 20, 1934 July 5, 2018) from Bole family in Potiskum, Yobe State, became the Secretary of the Party. The NPN was formed on September 20, 1978 at the Conference Hall of the Satellite Town in Lagos. I covered the event. The party held its convention on December 8, 1978 at the Casino Cinema, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos which has now been turned into an apartment building. During the civil war in 1967, the Casino Cinema was burnt. At the NPN convention at Casino Cinema, the following officers were elected: National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Suleman Tukuma, assistant Publicity Secretaries Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Mr Okumagba, Mr Mvendaga Jido. National Financial Secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, Assistant Financial Secretaries Mr Donald Etiebet, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu (75), the Sarki Yakin Keffi, now National Chairman of APC, and Mr. I. Sagari Usman. National Treasurer Dr Onibuje, deputy treasurer Alhaji Bello Maitama Yusuf, National Legal Adviser Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, Assistant Legal Adviser Mr Tunji Arosanyi, Auditor Mr Kenton Giadon and assistant auditor Alhaji Magaji Mauzu. Even before then, the military practiced what might be termed as zoning too. After the overthrow of General Gowon on July 29, 1975, Brigadier Ramat Murtala Muhammed ( November 8, 1938 February 13, 1976) became Head of State, while Brigadier General Olusegun Obasanjo from Abeokuta, Ogun State became Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. After the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed, a Fulani from Kano, General Obasanjo was made the Head of State, and a Fulani officer, Lt-Colonel Shehu Musa YarAdua (March 5, 1943 December 8, 1997) was over promoted from the rank of Lt-Colonel to a Brigadier and made Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, to pacify the Fulanis and the North. when we embarked on the democratic system in 1999, zoning became an integral and unofficial policy n Nigeria. Till today it has been so. Now the zoning policy has become like a curse. It is a burden we are all carrying. How come a policy that was designed to unite the country has now divided us? Never have we been so divided as a nation. Even after the overthrow of President Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983 by Major General Muhammadu Buhari, he refused to adopt the NPN zoning policy. He instead appointed Brigadier Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon (September 14, 1943 March 24, 1999) from Ilorin, which is part of North Central zone at the moment, as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, which is the equivalent of vice president. When General Ibrahim Babangida (80) from Minna, Niger State overthrew General Buhari in 1985, he appointed Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (81) from Abiriba in Abia State as Chief of General Staff. His father was a traditional ruler in Abiriba and Head of the Old Bendel Division Local Government Appeal Court. He served from August 1985 to October 1986. He was replaced by Admiral Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu (October 20, 1939 August 17, 2011), from Idumebo-Irrua, Edo State. Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (GCFR; May 9, 1936 January 11) did not have a deputy as such, but with the decree setting up the Interim Government, General Sani Abacha, who was then the Chief of Defence Staff, was presumed to be the most senior military officer. He eventually took over power from Chief Shonekan on November 17, 1993 and named the ailing General Donaldson Oladipo Diya (78) from Odogbolu in Ogun State as the Chief of General Staff, who was the de facto vice president of Nigeria at that time. Had he not been involved in the phantom military coup in 1997, Major General (rtd.) Tajudeen Olanrewaju, from Lagos Island, the favourite of General Sani Abacha, would have succeeded General Diya as the Chief of General Staff. General Olanrewaju, recently pardoned by President Muhammadu Buhari, is one of the descendants of Alhaji Muritala Ajadi Animashaun (1870-1959) from Olowogbowo in Lagos Island. A junior grammar school in Surulere, Lagos, founded on January 1, 1970, was named after Alhaji Ajadi Animashaun, whose family is very famous on the Island. Advertisements General Sani Abacha got so frustrated that he did not name anyone as the Chief of General Staff till he died on June 8, 1998. General Abdusalami Abubakar (79) from Minna, Niger State, picked Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe from Fugar, Aviawu clan in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, to be his Chief of General Staff. All these were military appointments. But when we embarked on the democratic system in 1999, zoning became an integral and unofficial policy n Nigeria. Till today it has been so. Now the zoning policy has become like a curse. It is a burden we are all carrying. How come a policy that was designed to unite the country has now divided us? Never have we been so divided as a nation. To me, zoning as a policy is a protest against the abuse of power. If things had been fair in this country, there should not have been any demand for zoning. If other areas had been carried along in appointments and the distribution of amenities, the constant call for zoning would have been less. Those in authority in this country, past and present, are guilty of the abuse of power. The abuse of power or abuse of authority, in the form of malfeasance in office or official abuse of power, is the commission of unlawful acts, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Eric Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, writes from Lagos. The refusal of two government agencies to synchronise and enable the issuance of my international passport on time was what put paid to my anticipated, and a hitherto-fated trip to the United States, where I was supposed to take residence for the six-week 2022 Mandela Washington fellowship. As a result of negligence and unprofessionalism, I am now traumatised and betrayed by public service workers in Nigeria. Or else how do I explain that after being selected for one of the most prestigious leadership mentoring programmes the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2022 in the world, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) jointly became the clog to my participation in the auspicious fellowship. The refusal of two government agencies to synchronise and enable the issuance of my international passport on time was what put paid to my anticipated, and a hitherto-fated trip to the United States, where I was supposed to take residence for the six-week 2022 Mandela Washington fellowship. Both Washington and the United States Embassy in Nigeria exhibited a great degree of consideration and empathy by extending the deadline for submission of my passport for visa issuance several times and regularly called me up from time to time to get appraised of the latest information about my situation. But repeatedly I missed the deadlines extended because of the two Nigerian public service entities, eventually leading to the revocation of my offer for the fellowship. In fact, after receiving the notification of the award from the U.S. Embassy, I got admission for the programme at the Rutgers University, New Jersey and subsequently received a flight ticket for the pre-departure orientation and other documents pertaining to the fellowship. While I had received the Award of Excellence from the National Association of Information and Media Studies Students, as well as Campus Journalism Award in 2020, I also won a fellowship with the International Center for Journalists, African Academy for Open Source Investigation, before I capped it with the Overall West African Fact-Checker on Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking Research Fellowship. Therefore, the offer by the government of the United States of America was to be the icing on the cake that would further expose me to the global scale of accomplishments. Surprising, I initiated the process of renewing my passport in February, when I was shortlisted for the Fellowship interview. First, a NIS official said that my National Identification Number (NIN) data did not tally with my Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) data and that I had to apply for a re-ordering and harmonisation, which was eventually approved weeks after foot-dragging. It is extremely painful that after excelling in my media and journalism career so far, on the verge of international glory, my country just failed me. I feel so bad and betrayed by workers in these public institutions! I was later told that the approval had to be implemented by their ICT Technical Partners, which I came to understand was a firm run by foreigners IRIS Smart Technologies. The foreigners operating the IRIS system practically run the show in the production of passports for NIS headquarter. In fact, the NIS staff fidget even at the mere mention of their name. These guys appear to be in mortal fear of the IRIS! To cut a long story short, the IRIS kept my file for two weeks and returned it without implementing the applied for change, querying that the available documentation did not match with my NIN data! Surprised, some helpful immigration officials discreetly verified my NIN data in the NIS database and confirmed that it was correct. By the time the file was returned to IRIS with a printout of the evidence, they said the National Identity Management Commission ( NIMC) server was down. This went on for weeks without even a ray of hope for a positive outcome. Eventually, a very top female Immigration officer who got wind of my predicament waded in and intervened and ordered for my file. Boom! The workers claimed they couldnt find my file again and it had gone MISSING. How can my file just disappear like that? It was not only funny but very pathetic, making me feel the weight of the kind of woes that many Nigerians have to undergo, as a result of the sort of system that we run. I wouldnt deny the fact that the female assistant comptroller-general (ACG) and the public relations unit of the Nigerian Immigration Service did their best to intervene, but time was limited and so a simple issue that should not take more that an hour to correct took ages and led to the loss/revocation of a golden opportunity for my career. This is a manifestation of the rot, ineptitude, negligence, inefficiency and total disregard for the value inherent in our countrys public service. This is a flagrant violation and abuse of not only my human rights but my right and privilege as a citizen of Nigeria, which I have laboured tirelessly to serve. This is a fellowship that is highly competitive with participants from all over 49 African countries taking part. It is extremely painful that after excelling in my media and journalism career so far, on the verge of international glory, my country just failed me. I feel so bad and betrayed by workers in these public institutions! Mohammed Dahiru Lawal is a PRNigeria reporter and the author of 101 Fake News on EndSARS which won a SABRE African PR Award 2022 mdlawal001@gmail.com Under the old covenant, priests and prophets were appointed by God to mediate between God and man. You cannot break that order. A priest cannot serve as a prophet and a prophet must not serve the role of a priest. Likewise, a king cannot serve as a prophet or as a priest. Disobedience to that arrangement was sometimes punished by death. That was what finished Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6-6, who touched the Ark of the Covenant when it stumbled on a donkey. That was only the exclusive preserve of the Levites, who God appointed as the only custodian of the ark. This was the same with Saul, who lost his throne because he violated Gods order by offering a sacrifice that only Prophet Samuel was supposed to handle (1 Samuel 13: 8-10). But when Jesus came, he abolished that order and enacted a new order of relationship between God and man. And now according to 1 Timothy 2-5, there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. We need to understand this theological foundation, prior to understanding why prayer is an extremely critical component of the Christian faith. Prayer as the Master Key for Opening Every Door or Any Door? Therefore, it is the cross that established the principles of father-son conversation. The cross of Jesus cancelled the old order of communication through priests and kings, and brought us into direct relationship with God. You and I can therefore go to God through Jesus and pray to him on various issues of life. However, here is the plain truth: There is no where in the scripture where God established prayer as the master key for opening every door or any door. This is purely a product of many false teachings that believers have been fed over time. Prayer is not the master key. Wisdom is the principal thing, and hence, the master key (Proverbs 4-7). You can be very prayerful, and yet be very foolish. But you cannot be very wise and not be very prayerful. Today, we want to look at the four groups of people or places for which prayers must be regularly made. And if you look at 1 Timothy 2-1, there are four types of prayers that we must always pray: Supplication: (And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication), Zechariah 12-12. The Hebrew and Greek words most often translated supplication in the Bible mean literally a request or petition. Prayers: Which is an actual dialogue or a two way communication between God and man in the name of Jesus. Jesus gave us the model of prayers in Matthew 6-9, Our father who is in heaven, hallowed be thy name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Intercession: (this involves taking hold of Gods will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass. Intercession is warfare, the key to Gods battle plan for our lives. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, Romans 8-26. Also in Romans 8-27, the Bible says, Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Also in Hebrews 7-25, the Bible says, Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Giving of thanks: Thanksgiving is another very potent type of prayer. Thanksgiving is a ferocious weapon of prayers giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5-20; And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the deathRev 12-11 Based on this, who then should be the focus of our prayers. First, if you look at 1 Timothy 2-1, the bible says, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and all who are in authority. So, we must always pray for: Political leadership of our nations: This is according to 1 Tim 2-1. You dont know how serious these types of prayers are. God treats the errors of leaders as national errors. When David sinned by conducting census in Israel against Gods warning, God judged the whole nation. See 1 Chronicles 21-1, Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.. Who moved David? Satan. That is what is moving all the evil leaders to cause havocs in the world. If we dont pray for political leaders, we will end up having political dealers, who will trade our peace for money and power. See how Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gomorah in Genesis 18. What about Nehemiah in Nehemiah 1 & 2. Satan is the prince of this world (John 14-30). He doesnt want godly leaders to be in charge of nations. If the church does not pray for political leaders, we will end up with political dealers. Church leadership (local and ecclesia). Paul in Ephesians 1: 15-19, in the Pauline prayers said he never stopped to pray for the Ephesian Church. So we must pray for the churchthe local church and the entire body of Christ. Many of us dont know that we are members of the same body; this statement means nothing to many Christians. Can you mock your feet when your feet Is in pains? Likewise, when a man of God falls into sin and you take up the role to mock him on social media, you are mocking yourself. There is a difference between speaking out in love against evil and mocking people. The bible says, a mocker will seek knowledge and wont find it Proverbs 14-6. When last did you pray for your pastor or for your leader? How many pastors are on your prayer list? Personal prayers: Thirdly, we must pray for ourselves. 1 Thessalonians 5-17 said we must pray without ceasing. You must develop a prayer schedule that is rooted in a specific prayer altar. Not player altar now but a prayer altar. Your prayers must cover supplication, intercession and thanksgiving using Jesus model in Matthew 6. You must pray the will of God on your life. You must pray about your location, career, marriage, decisions. You must pray, prayers of enquiry. You must pray in tongues. In Ephesians 6:10-13, prayer is one of our weapons of warfare. If you dont pray, you will likely be a prey. You can never be greater than your prayer life. The prayer altar is where things are altered. Praying for family: This one is critical. The man who is the priest of the home has a role to spearhead his family to pray for one another on a daily basis. The battles taking place in marriages in this last days are beyond words. Husbands, pray for your wives. Wives, pray for your husbands. Not religious prayers. Take up his or her name and pick up a scripture and begin to pour prayers into his life. Then, do the same for your children. Pray for their marriage; pray for their relationships; their schools; their health; pray the fear of God into their hearts. You will be amazed how the hand of God will be aligning their hearts to his will. They can never go wrong. A man of God died and went to hell when he was much younger.. These groups of prayer focus are critical to survival in these last days. You are not living well because you are either not praying at all or not praying well. Prayer is not one of the options. It is the only option for surviving satanic onslaughts in these last days. Ayo Akerele, a leadership and system development strategist, and minister of the word, writes from Canada and can be reached through ayoakerele2012@gmail.com. The Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have killed about 22 Boko Haram/Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists during an operation in the fringes of Lake Chad. The Chief of Military Public Information of the MNJTF NDjamena, Chad, Kamarudeen Adegoke, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday. Mr Adegoke, a lieutenant colonel, said the terrorists were nutrialised at Tumbun Rabo in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno on April 27. He said: After the operational engagement which was firmly supported by the Air Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai and the MNJTF, a battle damage assessment clearly revealed at least 20 BHT were neutralised, 12 AK 47 rifles, 1X Mortar 60mm and large catches of ammunitions of different calibers were recovered. Likewise, carefully concealed 5x Gun Trucks and a truck laden with supplies meant for the criminals were destroyed. Also an MRAP fighting vehicle was recovered by the troops; it was carted from Nigerian Army position in the past, he said. Mr Adegoke explained that the troops of combined Taskforce Mallam Fatori/Damasak at Forward Operations Base Arege drawn from MNJTF Sectors 3 and 4 (Nigerian and Nigeriene troops) have continued with aggressive patrols to dominate and put pressure on the criminals. With multiple sorties against the terrorists positions, Air Taskforce gave effective close air support and attacked the criminals to enable ground forces to access the hitherto well defended terrorists strongholds in the vicinity of Tumbun Rago. Despite strong resistance by the Boko Haram terrorists , the ground troops charged through several obstacles and cleared the mined routes, which made them to come in contact with elements of the insurgents. Relatedly, troops of Sector 1 Taskforce Wulgo (MNJTF troops from Cameroun) continued aggressive dominance of their assigned areas with a clearance patrol to the general area of Chikingudu. He said the areas were seen to be deserted but troops came in contact with two Boko Haram logisticians who attempted to flee, but were neutralised by the vigilant troops. Two motorcycles were recovered from them. Meanwhile, the Amphibious Taskforce Darak of same Sector 1 have continued their maritime patrols to dominate their areas, the spokesman said. He added that the taskforce cleared the villages of Bourame and Magoume, however nothing of security significance was found with the villagers carrying out their normal routines. According to him, the Task Force continued to the Kirta Wulgo and Tcholl settlements suspected to have Boko Haram terrorists hibernating there, but the terrorists fled before arrival of our troops. Make shift shelters seen there were destroyed by the gallant troops, he stated. Mr Adegoke said that the combined ground and amphibious operations have exerted much pressure on the terrorists denying them freedom of movement and action, and this would be sustained by the highly spirited troops. (NAN) ALLEN is an education powerhouse with an unparalleled track record of success in the world's most competitive college entrance examinations and Olympiads. ALLEN has a pan-India footprint with a growing presence in Middle East through 138 classroom centers in 46 cities, a team of highly dedicated and renowned faculty members, and a pedagogy that has been perfected over three decades. ALLEN's partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems will build further on the test-prep offering and deliver at-scale positive impact for millions of students in test-prep and K12 segments, using technology as the core driver of value. Bodhi Tree Systems is a newly formed platform between Lupa Systems Founder and CEO James Murdoch and Uday Shankar, the former president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and former Chairman of Star and Disney India. Bodhi Tree Systems will leverage its founders' shared track record of building iconic consumer businesses to build ALLEN into a world-class digital education business of the future. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, is an investor in Bodhi Tree Systems. "Education is a critical consumer need, driven by its deeply transformative impact on lives and livelihoods of consumers.", Murdoch and Shankar said. "We believe that education is on the cusp of a technology led renaissance that will fundamentally alter how education is imparted and will increase its efficacy. ALLEN's unrivaled success and scale provide the right foundation to build the digital education company of the future. We are excited to work with the Maheshwari family to build an outcomes-focused digital education company that delivers on the aspirations of millions of learners and parents in India and beyond." Founded by Rajesh Maheshwari in 1988, ALLEN is India's most respected test prep brand that has created a positive transformational impact on over 2.5 million young lives since its inception. Aspirants for engineering and medical college entrance exams have gained tremendously from ALLEN's high-quality pedagogy, resulting in an unparalleled track record of selections in prestigious exams such as IIT JEE Mains & Advanced, NEET-UG, KVPY, and the Olympiads. Senior-most Director of ALLEN, Govind Maheshwari, said, "Our decision to enter into this strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree is founded on shared values, principles and an aligned vision of creating societal impact at scale through education globally." "Since its inception, ALLEN has focused on providing high quality education to students to help them achieve their highest potential and fulfil their career aspirations. In the process, we have helped create hundreds of thousands of doctors and engineers, who contribute to building India and the society of today. Our partnership with Bodhi Tree is an essential ingredient in furthering our mission to significantly increase ALLEN's reach and impact. We are quite pleased and excited that the Bodhi Tree team also sees value in combining their expertise with our experience in Education.", Rajesh Maheshwari said. ALLEN's Director Naveen Maheshwari said, "The journey of ALLEN has been one of always giving back to the society. ALLEN's student-centric caring system has been its highlight. We believe this partnership is only going to take our pedagogy, caring-system and values to a very wide student community which was not able to associate with ALLEN otherwise due to physical constraints." Chairman-designate of the new Board, Brajesh Maheshwari further mentioned, "Most of the edtech products & services in the market are currently not solving for the needs of a student. With ALLEN's time-tested pedagogy and Bodhi Tree's track record in technology, the 2 T's 'Teaching' and 'Technology', will now come together to finally solve the problems of millions of students of outcome-driven learning in a tech-enabled environment." Keshav Maheshwari, from the second generation of the Maheshwari Family, mentioned, "Our partnership with Bodhi Tree will not only help us scale our Indian operations through technology but also fuel our growth journey in the Middle East." The transaction is expected to close within three months and is subject to closing conditions and requisite approvals. EY acted as the exclusive financial advisor. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas provided legal advisory and documentation support to ALLEN. EY provided due diligence services to Bodhi Tree. AZB & Partners were the legal advisors to Bodhi Tree. About ALLEN ALLEN is India's premier coaching institute for the preparation of JEE (Main + Advanced), JEE (Main), Pre-Medical (NEET-UG), Pre-Nurture & Career Foundation (Class VI to X, NTSE & Olympiads). Website: www.allen.ac.in Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1808521/Allen_Career_Institute_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1808522/Bodhi_Tree_Logo.jpg SOURCE ALLEN Career Institute SAN DIEGO, April 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers of C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE: AI): (a) Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the offering documents issued in connection with C3.ai's initial public offering conducted on or about December 9, 2020 (the "IPO"); and/or (b) securities between December 9, 2020 and February 15, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period") have until this Tuesday, May 3, 2022 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff. Commenced on March 4, 2022 in the Northern District of California, the C3.ai class action lawsuit captioned The Reckstin Family Trust v. C3.ai, Inc., No. 22-cv-01413 (N.D. Cal.) charges C3.ai, as well as certain of its top executive officers and directors with violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered significant losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the C3.ai class action lawsuit, please provide your information by clicking here. You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Lead plaintiff motions for the C3.ai class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than this Tuesday, May 3, 2022. CASE ALLEGATIONS: C3.ai operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence ("AI") software company. C3.ai purports to have strategic partnerships with Baker Hughes related to oil and gas markets; FIS related to financial services markets; Raytheon; and AWS, Intel, and Microsoft. Pursuant to the IPO's offering documents, C3.ai issued 15.5 million shares of its Class A common stock to the public at the IPO price of $42.00 per share for approximate proceeds to C3.ai of $610 million after applicable underwriting discounts and commissions. The C3.ai class action lawsuit alleges that the IPO's offering documents were negligently prepared and, as a result, contained untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state other facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading and were not prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations governing their preparation. The C3.ai lawsuit further alleges that the IPO's offering documents and defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) C3.ai's partnership with Baker Hughes was deteriorating; (ii) C3.ai was employing a flawed accounting methodology to conceal the deterioration of its Baker Hughes partnership; (iii) C3.ai faced challenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover; (iv) C3.ai overstated, among other things, the extent of its investment in technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market ("TAM"), the pace of its market growth, and the scale of alliances with its major business partners; and (v) as a result, C3.ai's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On February 16, 2022, Spruce Point Capital Management issued a report and strong sell research opinion regarding C3.ai. Specifically, Spruce Point alleged that it had uncovered, among other things, "[e]vidence of a severely challenged partnership with Baker Hughes, a related-party and C3.ai's largest customer"; "[s]igns of problematic financial reporting and accounting regarding the Baker Hughes joint venture and a revolving door in C3.ai's Chief Financial Officer position"; that "[c]hallenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover make it unlikely that C3.ai will meet aggressive analyst estimates"; "[e]vidence of exaggerated or irreconcilable claims made by C3.ai," including "numerous discrepancies" regarding "the value of and cumulative investment made by C3.ai in its technology, description of its customers, its [TAM], the pace of its market growth and the scale of alliances with companies such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Google Cloud, Intel and Amazon Web Services"; and "[w]orrisome corporate governance practices and insider enrichment." As a result, Spruce Point "conservatively estimate[d] 40% - 50% downside risk to C3.ai's share price." Following publication of the Spruce Point report, C3.ai's stock price fell by nearly 4%. As of the time the C3.ai class action lawsuit was filed, the price of C3.ai Class A common stock continues to trade below the $42.00 per share IPO price, damaging investors. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the offering documents issued in connection with the IPO and/or securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the C3.ai class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery of the class action lawsuit is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm is ranked #1 on the 2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering nearly $2 billion for investors last year alone more than triple the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs' firm. With 200 lawyers in 9 offices, Robbins Geller's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit http://www.rgrdlaw.com for more information. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP 655 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 J.C. Sanchez, 800-449-4900 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/company/rgrdlaw https://twitter.com/rgrdlaw https://www.facebook.com/rgrdlaw SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Oil and Gas Accumulator Procurement report explains key category management objectives that should form the base for sourcing strategy, including: Top-line growth Scalability of inputs Green initiatives Category innovations Supply base rationalization Demand forecasting and governance Minimalization of ad hoc purchases Adherence to regulatory nuances Cost savings Customer retention Reduction of TCO Supply assurance Sign Up for a Sample Oil and Gas Accumulator Procurement Market Report: www.spendedge.com/report/oil-and-gas-accumulator-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report This report evaluates suppliers based on provision for applicable insurance policy, real-time analysis, pipeline software solutions, and conduct pipeline surveys. In addition, suppliers are also shortlisted based on business needs, technical specifications, operational requirements, security compliance, regulatory mandates, legal requirements, quality control, change management procedures, pricing models, penalty clauses, SLA nuances, acceptance criteria, and evaluation criteria. Best Selling Reports: 1. Asset Recovery Services - Forecast and Analysis: The asset recovery services will grow at a CAGR of 9.49% during 2021-2025. Asia Asset Recovery Pte Ltd., TES-Amm Singapore Pte Ltd., and Iron Mountain Inc. are among the prominent suppliers in asset recovery services market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. 2. Vulnerability Management Sourcing and Procurement Report: Vulnerability Management Procurement Market, prices will increase by 4%-6% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a Moderate bargaining power in this market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. 3. Celebrity Talent Management Services - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: This report offers key advisory and intelligence to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their celebrity talent management services requirements. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contact SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 SOURCE SpendEdge BEIJING, May 1 -- The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Defense Officials' Dialogue video conference was held on April 29. China and Cambodia, the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2022, co-hosted the conference. The theme of the conference was Enhancing Solidarity and Cooperation to Achieve Harmony and Security. Representatives from ARF members to attend the conference exchanged opinions on two topics, namely, "the role of defense departments in fighting against COVID-19" and "strengthening practical cooperation between defense departments in the post-pandemic period". Leaders from the Office for International Military Cooperation under China's Central Military Commission and the General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs under Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense both delivered speeches, in which they agreed that to deal with the complicated and intertwined security threats, ARF members should accommodate to the historical trend, stabilize international order, uphold the common values of mankind and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. The national stock market of Kuwait, Boursa Kuwaits first quarter 2022 net profit (attributable to the equity holders of the parent company) has rocketed 60.67% to KD5.25 million ($17.12 million) from KD3.26 million in Q1 2021. Meanwhile, the companys earnings per share recorded an increase of 60.67% from 16.26 fils in the first quarter of 2021 to 26.13 fils in the first quarter of 2022. Total operating revenue for the period increased to KD8.79 million, an increase of 29.76% from KD6.77 million in Q1 2021. Operating profit soared 65.67% from KD3.81 million to KD6.32 million, while total assets amounted to KD121.4 million, up 9.95% from KD110.42 million a year ago. Taking on challenges Despite the challenges stemming from the uncertainties in the global economic scene, Boursa Kuwait recorded an exceptional performance this quarter, building on the tremendous growth in trading value, which increased by 60.31% from around KD2.59 billion to around KD4.15 billion, as well as the 57. 68% increase in Average Daily Traded Value (ADTV) from around KD43.11 million to about KD67.98 million. Additionally, the traded volume increased 0.71% from approximately 16.82 billion shares to around 16.94 billion shares, driven by Boursa Kuwaits continuous efforts and the support of the capital market apparatus to develop and enhance the market and ensure its adherence to the standards and practices of capital markets worldwide. Commenting on the results, Boursa Kuwait Chairman Hamad Mishari Al-Humaidhi said: The outstanding results of the first quarter demonstrate that Boursa Kuwaits strategy and its efforts to develop the market as per international standards are continuing to pay off. These initiatives have helped consolidate its reputation as a leading stock exchange in the Middle East and contributed to the countrys transformation into a global investment destination, in line with the New Kuwait 2035 vision and the States National Development Plan. We are optimistic that the company will deliver superior performance through the remainder of the year on the back of strong momentum in the Kuwaiti capital market as well as the emerging markets in the GCC. Belief in the private sector Guided by a belief in the private sector and its ability to develop a reliable and sound capital market with ever increasing liquidity levels, Boursa Kuwait has developed into a pioneering regional company that adheres to the best-in-class international standards and practices, making it one of the standout companies in the country today, and a leader in the Kuwaiti financial scene over the past few years. The company continues to introduce innovative products and services aimed at encouraging companies to list on the exchange, working with its local, regional and international partners across the investment community. Boursa Kuwaits Chief Executive Officer, Mohammad Saud Al-Osaimi, said: Boursa Kuwaits strategy to enhance the appeal of Kuwaits capital market is yielding tremendous outcomes and attracting investors from all over the world. Thanks to the rise of oil prices and the relative stability compared to Europe and the United States, institutional investors are flocking to this regions markets, with around KD240 million net traded in the first quarter of 2022, which is a testament to the increasing confidence in Kuwaits capital market. Al-Osaimi added: The performance also reflects our commitment to adding value to shareholders, exemplified by the rising dividend growth over the past few years. Looking to the future with confidence, we have laid out a clear strategy to further drive profitability growth during the coming quarters. Market capitalisation The Kuwaiti capital market saw marked increases in its main indices, as the Premier Market index recorded an increase of 18.62% while the Main Market index saw increase of 6.26%. Meanwhile, the BK Main 50 index increased by 7.78% while the All-Share index improved by 15.67%. Furthermore, the market capitalisation of Kuwaits capital market increased from KD41.4 billion at the end of 2021 to KD47.97 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of around 15.88%. Thriving capital market Since its inception in 2014, Boursa Kuwait has worked diligently to create a thriving capital market that attracts local and foreign investors through a broad spectrum of new products and services, infrastructure upgrades, and market reform initiatives, as part of its multi-phase market development plans. The company was fully privatised in 2019, the first government entity in the country to successfully undergo the process, bringing about greater levels of efficiency. Boursa Kuwait also self-listed in September 2020 and has made great strides in sustaining its operations and business continuity in the face of uncertainties and challenges. Over the past six years, the company has rolled out numerous market reforms and new initiatives as part of its comprehensive multi-phase market development (MD) plans. The company also showcases some of the standout listed companies and the investment opportunities that reside in the Kuwaiti capital market through its series of Roadshows and Corporate Days, putting these companies in touch with some of the worlds leading investment firms and financial institutions and highlighting their financial health and business strategies and outlooks, in an effort to help investors gain an in-depth understanding of the benefits and opportunities of investing in Kuwaiti companies.-- TradeArabia News Service "PanCAN PurpleStride is the number one way we raise funds to advance progress against this disease and improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA , president and CEO of PanCAN. "One of the most special parts of today is this incredible community coming together, supporters, volunteers, survivors, researchers, and healthcare professionals. In my 22 years with this organization, I continue to be amazed by the immense outpouring of support for our mission from people and organizations across the country." At PanCAN's flagship PurpleStride event in Los Angeles, a number of notable celebrity figures joined the ranks of striders to support PanCAN's mission, including PanCAN PurpleStride national ambassador, actor and producer Mindy Kaling. Kaling lost her mother to pancreatic cancer in 2012, just eight months after diagnosis. "I was blown away by the passion and drive of those helping to end this disease and touched by the stories I heard from survivors and loved ones," said Kaling. "Thank you PanCAN for hosting such a special event to bring this community together." In addition to Kaling, celebrity guests at PurpleStride Los Angeles included Jean and Nicky Trebek, widow and daughter of the late Alex Trebek, actor Rosario Dawson, striding in honor of her father who is currently battling pancreatic cancer, actor Josh Stamberg, who walked in memory of his father, and "Star Trek" actor Kitty Swink, an 18-year pancreatic cancer survivor. Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., with an overall five-year survival rate of just 11 percent. In 2022, more than 62,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., and nearly 50,000 will die from the disease. PanCAN PurpleStride is generously supported by national sponsors, Ipsen, AbbVie and Immunovia, Inc. For more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its urgent mission to save lives, visit pancan.org or follow PanCAN on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook . About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) leads the way in accelerating critical progress for pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN takes bold action by funding life-saving research, providing personalized patient services and creating a community of supporters and volunteers who will stop at nothing to create a world in which all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive. Media Contacts: Jillian Scholten Senior Public Relations Manager Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Direct: 310-706-3360 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network CLIFTON, N.J., May 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you ever thought about what it takes for clean drinking water to flow from your faucet? Drinking Water Week recognizes the hardworking people performing various roles to ensure tap water is "There When You Need It." Drinking Water Week is May 1-7 this year. Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) and partners throughout North America are observing Drinking Water Week by recognizing the vital role tap water plays in daily life, the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, and the important work of water professionals "behind the scenes." Whether it's a customer service representative assisting a customer with questions, a lab technician ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water or a member of a pipe crew replacing lead line services in our community, PVWC water professionals work around the clock to ensure clean drinking water is there when you need it. "I am proud to be associated with the work performed by our water professionals," said Passaic Valley Water Commission's Executive Director, Jim Mueller. "These professionals continuously perform important work to ensure that our customers receive clean drinking water because clean water is essential to life." To commemorate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools and others throughout North America and beyond are encouraging people to learn more about the importance of water services and water infrastructure. About Drinking Water Week For several decades, American Water Works Association and PVWC have celebrated Drinking Water Week, a unique opportunity to recognize the vital role water plays in daily lives because, clean water is essential to life. Free materials for download and additional information about Drinking Water Week are available at www.pvwc.com/dww2022 Visit www.PVWC.com or follow us on Facebook (@thePVWC), Instagram (@passaic_valley_water) and/or Twitter (@PVWC). MEDIA CONTACT: Bryan Frierson Passaic Valley Water Commission 973-340-4386 [email protected] SOURCE Passaic Valley Water Commission SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with ARVO 2022, Vial announced that they will be hosting an advisory board co-hosted and led by Dr. Raj Maturi, Principal Investigator at Midwest Eye Institute and Associate Clinical Professor at Indiana University. The ad board will bring together the top investigators in ophthalmology, along with the Vial team, to delve deep into the shortcomings and challenges researchers in the field are facing today. The goal of the ad board will be to discuss how Vial can help grow ophthalmology research practices and become a top resource for both PIs and sponsors as Vial expands their end-to-end clinical trial operations into ophthalmology. Earlier this week, Vial announced their plans to launch a next-gen Ophthalmology CRO , following the success of their Dermatology CRO . Their best-in-class CRO services will include tech-enabled trial management, optimized study-startup processes, and an unparalleled approach to patient recruitment, made possible by their sophisticated marketing management and centralized pre-screening call center. The CRO will be powered by Vial's growing network of top investigators across the country, including Dr. Maturi and his clinic in Indianapolis, IN. On hosting the ad board, Dr. Maturi said, "The field of ophthalmology research can greatly benefit from Vial's technology-centric vision and best-in-class trial management resources. I'm looking forward to hosting the advisory board and collaborating with my colleagues to ensure Vial is making the best moves to improve the field of ophthalmic research." The ad board will take place on Monday, May 2, 2022 during the ARVO 2022 conference in Denver, CO. See the full release here . About Vial : Vial's mission is to run clinical trials with faster execution and higher quality in order to bring new therapies to market. Vial has over 90 employees and is based in San Francisco, California. Vial partners with Dermatologists and Ophthalmologists to support their research teams and has created a network of over 35 clinics that have contributed to over 750 trials. The clinic network runs trials from Phase I through Phase IV. SOURCE Vial Baghdad, May 1 : Two Katyusha rockets hit an air base housing the US military experts and agencies in Iraq's western province of Anbar on Saturday, the Iraqi military said. The two rockets landed in the evening in the Ayn al-Asad AirBase near the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the capital Baghdad, causing no casualties, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement released by media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. The rocket attack came, although Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had confirmed on December 29, 2021 the end of the combat mission of the US-led coalition forces in the country. Ahmed al-Dulaimi, a colonel from Anbar Operations Command, told Xinhua that the Iraqi forces found two rocket launchers several km from the air base and the incident is under investigation. Also on Saturday, an Iraqi soldier was killed and another injured in a roadside bomb explosion near their vehicle on the highway near Trebil Border Crossing with Jordan, al-Dulaimi said. In the eastern province of Diyala, six mortar rounds hit a village at 8 p.m. local time, wounding a woman and causing damage to several houses and civilian cars, according to a statement from Diyala Operations Command. Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have carried out deadly attacks against the extremist militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the Islamic State (IS) militant group in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Tehran, May 1 : Iran has said that politicising Syria's chemical weapons issue would jeopardize the authority of the world's chemical weapons watchdog and hinder constructive dialogue with Syria on the issue, Iranian Press TV reported. Iran's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Zahra Ershadi made the remarks at a UN Security Council session on the situation of chemical weapons in Syria on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Press TV. Iran strongly opposes the use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, and under any circumstances, she said. "We reiterate our call for the full, effective, non-political, and non-discriminatory implementation of the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention)," Ershadi was quoted as saying. The Iranian UN envoy also called for preserving the authority of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the intergovernmental implementing body for the CWC. "We welcome Syria's submission of its 100th monthly report to the OPCW on March 16, regarding activities on its territory related to the destruction of its chemical weapons and their production facilities," she said. "It is disappointing that certain states parties have politicized the Syrian chemical weapons issue, preventing the OPCW from confirming Syria's compliance with its obligations, which could have resulted in constructive dialogue and cooperation with Syria," Ershadi noted. Washington, May 1 : Afghanistan's former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country last August as the Taliban continued their swift sweep of the country and were poised to attack Kabul. He allowed the Taliban to retake power after two decades and resume their barbaric reign. What if he had stayed and led a fight back? Like Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky? The former comedian has stayed put at grave personal danger, changed into military fatigues and rallied, or harangued, world leaders and parliaments rebuffing evacuation offers from both the US and UK. With support pouring in from around the world, he has led the country to push back a much larger and better equipped military of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ghani handed US President Joe Biden his worst foreign policy showing yet and Zelensky might give the American leader his most notable foreign policy achievement yet. Ghani's flight from Afghanistan became Biden's failure. In fact, his mis-steps there can be traced back to his decision to pull out of Afghanistan without leaving behind a residual force, disregarding advice from his top military people. That failure was compounded by the chaos that followed - archived for history in images of Afghans chasing a US military plane as it taxied to take off. Dismay and anger were felt and voiced in capitals around the world, including in New Delhi, which has slammed the pullout as a "political expediency". The verdict was clear: Biden had screwed up, once again. Robert Gates, a former Defense Secretary to two American Presidents and fellow member of the Barack Obama administration, wrote in his memoir that Biden has "been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades". The messy Afghan withdrawal was chalked up to the same account. Would the outcomes have been different had Ghani stayed and led the country against the Taliban? Would he have been able to pull together the many disparate factions of the ruling coalition? We will never know. What we do know, however, is that Zelensky is still there, and has foiled Russia's plan to take over the country, capture Kyiv and overthrow the government and replace it with a puppet regime. In fact, Russia has taken a surprisingly high number of casualties in both men and materiel, including the Black Sea fleet flagship Moskva. The mighty Russian war machine stands exposed as a pitiable version of itself. The economy has been hit by an unprecedented level of sanctions that threaten to contract its economy by double-digit figures. Globally, Putin stands isolated -- 141 countries voted in favour of a UN resolution in March to condemn the invasion of Ukraine (four countries voted against and 35, including India, abstained), while the world body also suspended Moscow from the Human Rights Council. The Russian president has united the NATO military alliance that had been showing cracks under unrelenting assault from former US President Donald Trump and, in fact, its membership might grow from current 30 to 32 with Finland and Sweden reportedly ready to file their applications in May. Biden, the man whose mental acuity is routinely questioned by critics in India, is now credited with having pushed Putin, whose bare-chest pictures adorn the office walls of those same critics, into a corner. Biden has rallied allies and partners to launch the most severe economic sanctions against Russia and Putin's oligarchs and sending military hardware to enable Ukrainians to send Russians back to Russia. It will be fair to give credit to Biden for Ukraine's survival under Zelensky, just as he was blamed for Afghanistan slide-back into chaos after Ghani's flight from the country. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Lucknow, May 1 : The Yogi Adityanath government has set a target to provide at least one employment opportunity to every farmer family in the next five years. The government aims to provide training to 2,10,000 entrepreneurs and farmers in the next five years. Apart from focusing on increasing the income of the farmers, the Uttar Pradesh government also plans to establish them as 'entrepreneurs'. This will not only increase their income but also provide more employment opportunities to the youth. According to the spokesman, the government has planned to set up 375 large food processing units. Also, 41,336 food processing units will be established/upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. Under the PMFME scheme, the government provides assistance to start their work in the food industry. Under this, small food processing industries can be started. The government wants the farmers to get a good price for their crops. For this, it will connect the farmers with the food processing industry. After food processing, there will be no possibility of crop damage and a good price of the product will also be available in the market. This will also generate many employment opportunities. Moreover, the government is also making arrangements to train the farmers and entrepreneurs to set up enterprises. New Delhi, May 1 : A 26-year-old man was held in South Delhi's Kalkaji area for allegedly stealing four litres of milk from a shop. The incident happened on Saturday. A senior police official said that the accused was identified as Ram Kumar, a resident of Navjivan Camp. "He stole 4 kg milk, (4 packets of Amul milk) from a shop. The shopkeeper Rajiv Kumar saw him stealing and caught him red-handed. The shopkeeper called the police and handed him over," said the police. The police said that the shopkeeper also gave a written complaint on the basis of which an FIR was lodged with the local police station. The accused will be produced before the Saket Court. According to the police the accused has no previous criminal records. Thiruvananthapuram, May 1 : Senior political leader and former MLA P.C.George was arrested in the early hours of Sunday from his residence at Erattupeta in Kottayam district. The arrest followed the reported hate speech that he had delivered during 'Ananathapuri Hindu Mahasammelan' at Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. The Kerala Congress leader was allowed to come to the state capital in his own vehicle amd was accompanied by a huge police contingent in the wake of several organisations coming out against his speech. The Muslim League and CPI-M had complained against George's hate speech. A heavy police contingent was deployed across the roads through which George was brought to Thiruvananthapuram. George had given a vitriolic speech in which he had lashed out against the Muslim community. BJP state president, K. Surendran flayed the arrest of P.C. George and said that the arrest was part of the policy followed by Pinarayi Vijayan government of curbing the right of free speech. In a statement, the BJP leader said that "the Islamic fundamentalists and Moulavis had got away with making hate speeches that had created a divide in society and Pinarayi Vijayan and his police were on selective 'amnesia'." The 'Ananthapuri Hindu Mahasammelan' had drawn a great interest in Kerala with Hindu speakers from various walks of life attending the programme. Union Minister of state for External Affairs, V.Muraleedharan will address the event on Sunday. San Francisco, May 1 : After the encrypted messaging app Telegram previously gave up on its own token, it now supports crypto payments. According to Protocol, the addition could make crypto payments on messaging platforms more mainstream. The TON Foundation, which manages the toncoin token, has enabled fee-free payments, sending crypto to other users, using toncoin (TON) in the app. It also has added the ability to buy bitcoin within the app. Telegram, which has about 550 million users, previously dropped its plan for its own token after a legal challenge from theAUS Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC sued Telegram in 2019 after it raised $1.7 billion to develop its token, calling it an illegal token offering. Telegram later paid a fine to the SEC and agree to return capital to investors. Since then, Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has endorsed a separate spin-off token Toncoin that is apparently independent from Telegram. That is the coin that is now enabled for payments on Telegram, the report said. The TON Foundation said it has enabled the ability to send Toncoin "without transaction fees to any Telegram user", it announced on Twitter. QatarEnergy has awarded a major engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the North Field Expansion Project. This marks the final major milestone to deliver its North Field East (NFE) LNG Expansion Project to boost Qatars LNG production capacity to 110 million tons per annum (MTPA). A joint venture between Tecnicas Reunidas (TR) and Wison Engineering has been selected as the EPC contractor and was awarded a lump-sum contract for the expansion of the sulfur handling, storage, and loading facilities within Ras Laffan Industrial City. These facilities will support the NFEs four new LNG trains, which are scheduled to start by year-end 2025. The contract will also include an option for further expansion to support sulfur production for the two additional LNG trains of the North Field South (NFS) project, and infrastructure to support future additional LNG trains. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy said: The award of this EPC contract is the culmination of our efforts to implement the NFE project, the largest of its kind in the history of LNG industry, as part of our journey for the sustainable development of our massive natural gas resources, while maintaining our position as the worlds largest, safest and most reliable LNG producer. The contract with the TR-Wison joint venture includes options for the NFS project as well as any future requirements for the handling, storage and loading of sulfur. We look forward to working together to deliver this important project in a safe, timely, and successful manner. In delivering the contract, the TR-Wison joint venture will manage the detailed engineering work from Qatar, leveraging the countrys growing technical capabilities for the development of major projects. Sulfur produced as a by-product of the gas treatment process required prior to the production of LNG is used in the production of fertilizers and as a base material for intermediary chemicals used in the manufacturing of industrial and household products. With the execution of this EPC contract, the only remaining major EPC contract for the delivery of the North Field Expansion Project, comprising the NFE and NFS projects, is the EPC contract for the NFS two onshore processing and liquefaction trains, which is currently planned to be awarded by the end of 2022. When completed, the NFE and NFS projects will increase the State of Qatars LNG production capacity from 77 MTPA today to 126 MTPA by 2027. TradeArabia News Service Kiev, May 1 : At least 20 civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the last stronghold of the Ukrainian troops in the besieged southern city, according to media reports. Taking to social media late Saturday, Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, said: "We have transferred 20 civilians, who were rescued from the rubble, to the agreed location. These are women and children. We hope that these people will go in the agreed direction, namely Zaporizhzhya," Ukrayinska Pravda reported. He also claimed that "both parties are maintaining the ceasefire" in the area. The Deputy Commander informed that the "Azov Regiment is carrying out a special rescue operation in which we are rescuing civilians from under the rubble. We hope that the process will continue and we will be able to evacuate all the civilians". Regarding the injured persons, Palamar acknowledged that there were people who need medical care, "but we do not know why they are not being taken away and there is no question of their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine". "I emphasise that we are asking for a guarantee for the departure not only of civilians, but also our wounded servicemen who need medical care." Speaking to Ukrainian media, a serviceman said that most likely, several wounded personnel may die because the medics have no operating room, equipment and medicines, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. The 20 people evacuated on Saturday are the first group to leave the plant since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the vast industrial area sealed off last week, the BBC reported. Talks are ongoing about freeing the reported 1,000 civilians still trapped inside. Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko told the BBC that people trapped in the plant were "on the borderline between life and death". "(People) are waiting, they are praying for a rescue... It's difficult to say how many days or hours we have to save their lives." Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Seoul, May 1 : South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will unveil his picks for senior secretaries as well as his top security adviser on Sunday, the transition committee said. Chang Je-won, who is serving as Yoon's chief of staff during the transition period, and Kim Dae-ki, who has been tapped as Yoon's first of chief of staff in the incoming office, are expected to announce the list of Yoon's top aides in a press conference scheduled at 2 p.m., reports Yonhap News Agency. For the chief of the national security office, Yoon reportedly selected former Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han, who currently heads the foreign affairs and security subcommittee of the President-elect's transition team. Kim Tae-hyo, who served as presidential secretary on national security strategy between 2008 and 2012, has been reportedly tapped as the first deputy director of the national security office, while Shin In-ho, former risk management officer at the office, has been reportedly named the second deputy director. For the head of the presidential security service, Kim Yong-hyun, former operations director at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been reportedly selected to serve the job. For senior secretaries, Yoon reportedly picked former Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as his senior economic secretary and Ahn Sang-hoon, a professor of social welfare at Seoul National University, as his senior social secretary. Former lawmaker Lee Jin-bok is expected to be named as senior political secretary, while Choi Young-bum, a journalist-turned-vice president at Hyosung Group, is expected to be named as senior communications secretary. For senior civil society secretary, former lawmaker Kang Seung-kyoo is widely considered a candidate. Kang In-sun, a former journalist at South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper who currently works as Yoon's spokesperson for foreign press, has been reportedly tapped as the presidential office's spokesperson. Yoon is expected to have only five senior secretaries during his term following his plan to downsize the presidential office. Outgoing President Moon Jae-in had eight senior secretaries and three offices under him. New Delhi, May 1 : India on Sunday reported 3,324 fresh Covid-19 cases, a marginal decline against the 3,688 infections registered the previous day, the Union Health Ministry said. In the same period, the country also reported 40 Covid fatalities, taking the nationwide death toll to 5,23,843. Meanwhile, the active caseload stood at 19,092 cases, accounting for 0.04 per cent of the country's total positive cases. The recovery of 2,876 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,25,36,253. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.74 per cent. Also in the same period, a total of 4,71,087 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall to 83.79 crore. While, the weekly positivity rate stood at 0.68 per cent, the daily positivity rate reported a marginal rise of 0.71 per cent. As of Sunday morning, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 189.17 crore, achieved via 2,33,70,193 sessions. Over 2.90 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Jaipur, May 1 : Its raining investments in Rajasthan as industrial bigwigs from diverse segments including automotive, agro-processing, textiles, pharma, energy, glass & ceramics, engineering and cement are making a beeline to invest here. A new ceramic hub is on the anvil in Bikaner district while Alwar's Bhiwadi will emerge as the biggest spectacle manufacturing hub. Recently, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced the approval of investment proposals worth Rs 71,486 crore. According to him, "Many big industrial players are now attracted towards Rajasthan due to the state government's favourable industrial policy. These investments will further strengthen the industrial development in the state and will generate more than 26,000 jobs," he said. Senior officials confirmed to IANS that industrial bigwigs are attracted to Rajasthan due to the benefits being offered under the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS)-2019. This policy was launched in December 2019 to provide attractive benefits to the manufacturing and service sectors. The policy has now started paying dividends as companies including Karajaria Bathware, Saint Gobain India, Hero Electric Vehicles, Okaya, Lenskart Solutions, Kajaria Ceramics, Honda Cars and others have shown interest in starting their operations in Alwar district. Jaipur district has also attracted the interest of around 7 companies including JCB, Indo Autotech, Opal Glassware and Borosilicate Glassware, Wipro Hydraulics, Emami Agrotech, and Renew Power among others. Investments are pouring into the sectors such as Automotive, Agro-processing, Textile, Pharma, Energy, Glass & Ceramics, Engineering and Cement, said officials adding that new hubs are coming up in Alwar, Bhilwara and Western Rajasthan. Hero Electric Vehicles will be investing around Rs 1,240 crore in the state, while investment by Honda Cars is around Rs 1,595 crore, Saint Gobain will invest more than 2,160 crore, Borosil Glassware will invest around Rs 250 crore, Okaya will invest over Rs 120 crore in electric vehicles, Krish Pharma shall invest around Rs 336 crore, Lenskart will invest approximately Rs 400 crore, Renew will invest approximately Rs 500 crore and HPCL Mittal Energy Limited will invest Rs 19,000 crore among others. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has also directed the officials to prepare a feasibility report on setting up a Ceramic Hub in Bikaner division as there is ample availability of raw materials for the industry. He has directed the officials to look into the possibility of setting up a Gas Grid in the area. Going further, officials confirmed that Bhiwadi (Alwar) will soon become a hub for manufacturing spectacles, frames, prescription lenses, powered sunglasses, contact lenses and lens solutions as Lenskart Solutions Pvt Ltd will be setting up a manufacturing unit in Kahrani Industrial Area to manufacture around 50,000 spectacles per day. Rajasthan is also shining brighter in the Solar Energy Sector, superseding Karnataka. The state is attracting sizeable investments in the Renewable Energy Sector as Rajasthan ranks first in the country overtaking Karnataka with 8,911 MW installed capacity in solar power projects, said officials. The state is holding a 'Invest Rajasthan' Summit 2022 from October 7-8 this year aimed at fulfilling the vision to make Rajasthan the most preferred investment destination in India with the most conducive ecosystem for inclusive, balanced and sustainable industrial development. Speaking to IANS, state industries minister Shakuntala Rawat said, "We are working on an action plan to bring the investment proposals received in the districts on the ground. Investors have shown wide interest in many districts and we want to create a new growth story in this desert state." New Delhi, May 1 : Portugal welcomes all visitors, regardless of their country of origin or reason for visiting. With its mild climate, 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, and magnificent contrasting landscapes within its seven regions, as well as superb cuisine, fine wines, and hospitable people, Portugal is the ideal year-round vacation destination. Portugal is known for its mild, sunny climate and diverse landscapes, which range from the magnificent coastal beaches to the golden plains of the Alentejo, the verdant mountains of the interior, and the peaceful, lush nature of the Azores and Madeira islands. It is also known for its long history and imposing heritage, for its dynamic culture, for its unique, comforting cuisine full of flavours and aromas, and for its relaxed, simple, and unrivalled setting, with open arms for those who visit and return. Portugal is home to the world's oldest demarcated wine region - the Douro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Port Wine is produced - as well as one of Europe's oldest universities, the magnificent University of Coimbra, which was founded in the 13th century and is also classified by UNESCO. The land of the Discoveries, Fado, and age-old traditions bound together by a vast sea. "India has always been a strong source market for us, and in the pre-covid period, we saw a significant increase in tourists from India. We can't wait to welcome back Indian visitors to Portugal," says Claudia Matias, Director, Visit Portugal India. With over eight centuries of history and a happy mix of cultures and traditions, we are one of Europe's oldest nations. Portugal is a modern, cosmopolitan country with a plethora of leisure activities and places to visit and explore with your family, partner, or on your own. Visitors arriving on the mainland Portugal from India, will be required to present the following documents as mandate & no quarantine will be obligatory upon arrival. The document includes: A negative RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) - 72h before boarding, or a negative Laboratorial Rapid Antigen Test- 24h before boarding (according to the European Commission list) Exception, children under 12 do not need to present certificate or test. Thiruvananthapuram, May 1 : The police prevented Union Minister of state for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan from meeting former legislator P.C. George, who is in police custody at the Kerala Armed Police camp at Thiruvananthapuram. George was arrested in the early hours of Sunday from his residence in Kottayam district. The arrest followed a reported hate speech that he had delivered during 'Ananathapuri Hindu Mahasammelan' on Thursday. The Union Minister told the mediapersons that the Kerala government was letting criminals, who have killed several people, go scot-free, but was arresting a public leader and a former legislator for a speech. Muraleedharan said, "What George said is his opinion. Kerala government under Pinarayi Vijayan is practicing dual justice. Killers are roaming around freely while public workers, who have made a speech, are arrested. Several others have made such speeches but the police did not take any action." The arrest of P.C. George following a speech he made against the Muslim community at the 'Ananthapuram Hindu Maha sammelan' has led to major protests from the Muslim Youth League, Youth Congress, and the DYFI of the CPI-M. The arrest followed complaints by the Youth League and the DYFI. P.C. George's Personal assistant Shan while speaking to mediapersons said, "He was arrested on a Sunday morning and police did not allow him to even go to the Church for prayers. He has made a speech in a closed function and this has been blown out of proportion. Myself and my wife are standing security to him today when he will be presented before a judicial magistrate court." Being Sunday, the court is on a holiday and senior police officers told IANS that George would be produced either online or at the chamber of the judicial first class magistrate. The youth wing of the CPI-M, DYFI held a black flag demonstration in front of the Armed Reserve Police camp when George was taken inside the camp for questioning. Police could not prevent the DYFI workers from reaching near the vehicle in which George was travelling and it was after a lot of force that the youth workers were removed from the scene. The BJP and Sangh Parivar have taken up the issue of the arrest of P.C. George in a big way and the BJP has already commenced a campaign stating that the police under Pinarayi Vijayan was practicing dual justice. Party leaders like state president K. Surendran and former state president Kummanam Rajashekharan have come out strongly against the arrest of P.C. George. The BJP leaders in separate statements said that the Kerala Police were not taking action against those who had earlier indulged in hate speeches and George was arrested only because he had spoken for the Hindu community. Heavy police contingent was manning the state capital Thiruvananthapuram as several organisations have called for protests against George while the BJP and its youth wing Yuva Morcha have extended support to him. Bengaluru, May 1 : The Karnataka Police have arrested 12 candidates in connection with the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scandal, police said on Sunday. The scandal has created ripples in the state political circles. According to police, the sleuths were preparing to arrest 10 more candidates, who had taken their exams and given bribes for their selection to middlemen. The police have arrested more than 30 persons, including BJP leader from Kalaburagi district Divya Hagaragi. The police have also detained senior Congress leaders in connection with the case. The 12 accused candidates were arrested by the Malleshwaram police in Bengaluru following the complaint by the Deputy Superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The police have taken custody of the accused candidates for 10 days. They had given their exams in different exam centers in Bengaluru. Their role was detected during the investigation and anomalies were found in their answer sheets. The Karnataka government has announced reexams for 545 PSI posts following the scandal. The exams were held for these posts on October 3, 2021. The government has also ordered comprehensive analysis of answer sheets of all candidates. As many as 54,041 candidates appeared for exams. The results were announced this January. Later, the allegations surfaced that candidates who gave very poor performance in descriptive writing got maximum marks in Paper 2. However, the police department and the Home Minister denied any irregularities in the PSI exams. One of the candidates filed an RTI application seeking information on OMR sheets of one of the candidates. Though the application was rejected, the OMR sheet of the candidate appeared in public domain. Police sources said that Veeresh, the candidate, had attended only 21 questions in paper 2 but got 100 marks. He was given 7th rank. Congress MLA Priyank Kharge had alleged that more than 300 of the 545 candidates had paid Rs 70 to 80 lakh bribe to officials and ministers to become PSI. Ruling BJP has challenged him to produce evidence before CID. Ranchi, May 1 : An epitome of simplicity, penance and humility, like their "God" Mahatma Gandhi, the Tana Bhagat community of Jharkhand has been leading a humble life untouched by the hi-tech age for over a century. Much like their revered Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, they wear all-white clothes, carry a national flag in their hands, don a Gandhi cap and keep away from non-vegetarian food and liquor. With a population of about 30,000, the Tana Bhagat community is spread out in around seven-eight districts of the state. Since Independence, when they gave a very tough fight to the British till date, their life has been a saga of sacrifice, toil and austerity. Although they have survived the fast-changing world without getting drawn towards the glittering modern life, one aspect they are finding tough to come to terms with is that they have been deprived of their "right", "respect" and acknowledgement for the struggle and sacrifice they made for the country's freedom. Living up to their Gandhian principles of truth and non-violence, the community has been for decades, softly pursuing for the acknowledgement which they rightfully deserve. Sensing their efforts going in vain, they have now resorted to agitation. Understanding their current stand will not be possible without delving into their history which dates back to 1914 when the Tana Bhagat cult was started by one Jatra Oraon. Jatra hailed from Chingari village of Bishunpur block of Gumla district. He launched a campaign against the much-prevalent animal-sacrifice, meat-eating, animal killing, superstitions and alcohol in the tribal society. He set up an example of a simple life in front of the society and succeeding in making a difference. A majority of the people adopted this new lifestyle and gradually he came to be known as Tana Bhagat. During that time, exploitation and atrocities were also at its peak under the British regime. Under his leadership, thousands joined the Tana Bhagat sect and extended support in the fight against the feudal lords, moneylenders and missionaries. When Oraon openly raised his voice against forced labour and refused to pay revenue, and taxes, the British government panicked and arrested him in 1914 and sentenced him to one- and-a-half years jail. After his release from the jail, Oraon passed away suddenly, but the movement started by him continued and due to similar principles like the non-violent policy, the sect merged with the Swadeshi movement of Mahatma Gandhi. Soon, the community adopted the Tricolour with the spinning wheel as its emblem flag and started treating Mahatma Gandhi like a God. According to history, in 1914 there were about 26,000 followers of the Tana sect and even today, the number is around the same. The families of Bhagat are mainly settled in different villages of Lohardaga, Gumla, Khunti, Ranchi, Chatra, Latehar, Simdega districts. Tana Bhagat's participation in the freedom movement has gone into the annals of history. A large number of the community members participated in the Gaya Conference of Congress in 1922 and the Nagpur Satyagraha of 1923. During the Ramgarh Congress session of 1940, the members presented a Rs 400 bag to Mahatma Gandhi. When the Tana Bhagat movement was started, the British government tried to suppress it. Their land was auctioned. The government of Independent India also failed to return their land to them. Demanding back their land, the Tana Bhagat is continuing a non-violent movement. In 1948, the independent government of the country passed the 'Tana Bhagat Rayat Agricultural Land Restoration Act'. Under this act, a provision was made to return their land auctioned by the British government from 1913 to 1942. Once again, the community is agitated. Their demands mainly revolve around the land and traditions. They want that land to be demarcated and they be given its possession. Besides, the traditional self-government system should be restored in tribal dominated areas. The governments did take measures to address some of their demands. Like, former the Raghuvar Das government had completely waived off the rent of their land since 1956. Last year, the incumbent Hemant Soren government also announced a special allowance of Rs 2,000 per annum for purchase of khadi clothes. Tana Bhagat Development Authority was also constituted on the initiative of Raghuvar Das's government. Through this, the land return of many Tana Bhagats was also given on "paper". But Tana Bhagats say that they did not get possession of the land. Last week, hundreds of Tana Bhagats laid a siege to a number of government offices of the district headquarters, including Latehar District Collectorate for four days. They got the offices vacated and sat there day and night, singing hymns and prayers. Tana Bhagats demand that Panchayati Raj elections in the tribal dominated areas be stopped and restoration of the traditional tribal self-government system under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India. On Saturday, Latehar Deputy Commissioner Abu Imran convinced them to end the 'dharna' by assuring them to soon organise a meeting with the Governor, Chief Minister and Minister of Panchayati Raj. Putting forth his community's demand, District President of Tana Bhagat Sangh, Bahadur Tana Bhagat says that tribal society has been living under its traditional self-government system for hundreds of years. Even the fifth schedule of the constitution talks about maintaining the traditional system of tribals. In such a situation, Panchayat elections in the tribal areas is an encroachment of their tradition. In September 2020 too, Tana Bhagats had demanded changes in land laws in the interest of the community. They staged an agitation for three consecutive days at Tori Junction in Latehar. Due to the protest, movement of trains on Tori-Shivpur, Tori-Lohardaga railway sections and Barkakana-Barwadih were affected for 60 hours. Sudhir Pal, a senior journalist who has conducted an in depth deep study on tribal life, says that the sentiments of Tana Bhagats in connection with their their uniquely-sacred traditions needs to be understood and respected. Sadly, the system often treats them like an article exhibited in a museum. Their problems are related to water-forest-land which can be solved with empathy and consideration, he added. Bengaluru, May 1 : Keeping up the industrial growth momentum, the Karnataka government has approved 60 industrial projects worth Rs 2,465.94 crore that would generate jobs for over 8,575 people in the state, an official statement stated on Sunday. The 131st State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting held under the chairmanship of Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries Murugesh R. Nirani on Saturday evening cleared the projects. The committee has considered and approved 10 important large and medium size industrial projects with investment of more than Rs 50 crore. These projects worth Rs 1,522.33 are expected to create employment opportunities for 3,190 people in the state. Also, at the 131st SLSWCC meeting, 49 new projects with investment of more than Rs 15 crore and less than Rs 50 crore were cleared. And these projects worth Rs 938.61 crore would generate jobs for 5,385 people in the state. One more project worth Rs 5 crore investments was also approved. Total 60 projects with investments of Rs 2,465.94 crore with employment potential for 8,575 people were cleared. Minister Murugesh Nirani headed SLSWCC in its 130th meeting on March 5 had cleared 48 industrial projects worth Rs 2,062.21 crore with employment potential for 6,393 people. The state government had also cleared industrial projects worth Rs 11,495.4 crore with the potential of creating over 46,984 jobs during the 58th State High Level Clearance Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and vice chairmanship of Nirani on April 18. Mumbai, May 1 : A On her 34th birthday on Sunday, actress-producer Anushka Sharma spoke about how she is focussing on being a part of the best scripts that the Hindi film industry has to offer which will make it worth her time to stay away from her year-old toddler Vamika. Anushka says, "I will always want to be a part of the best scripts that come my way. I feel blessed that I am in a position today to select the type of films that I want to do, which also justifies the time that I will spend away from my child. "I have always been a seeker of balance in life and my priority now lies there. I want to focus on my work life and my family life in equal measure." The actress says her focus is on the quality of the films that she does. "I'm always looking for these special scripts that fill me up with joy. I will always be open to doing projects that are incredibly interesting, represents women in cinema correctly and is also disruptive and content forward. "As and when those come to me, I will be more than happy to do it. That's how I'm approaching my career right now," she says. Anushka will be next seen in 'Chakda Xpress', a film that traces India's fast bowler Jhulan Goswami's inspirational journey as she moves up the ladder despite hindrances posed by misogynistic politics to fulfil her dream of playing the sport for the country. Qatar Airways has marked the end of Ramadan and the start of the Eid Al Fitr with special celebrations onboard its aircraft and in Al Safwa First and Al Mourjan Business Lounges at Hamad International Airport (HIA). Celebrations will begin onboard, where passengers travelling in our Premium Cabins will be welcomed with a refreshing Jaellab drink, a traditional Levant beverage made with rose water syrup and date molasses, followed by a specially curated a la carte menu inspired by Middle-Eastern flavours, including a charcoal mixed-grill marinated with the regions aromatic spices and a layered cheese Kunafa, topped with crumbled pistachio for dessert. Premium passengers will also be gifted with a box of Mamoul rich butter date cookies, a traditional holiday dessert presented in a specially designed box from Qatars prestigious date brand Qinwan. Passengers travelling in our Economy Cabin will also enjoy a range of festive commemoratives and delicious Arabic flavours when flying during Eid Al Fitr. The in-flight dining menu will include lamb thareed stew with a side of vermicelli rice and a Babsbousa semolina cake, soaked with sweet orange flower and rose water syrup, all presented on a Eid themed tray mat with a cutlery band alongside a Mamoul butter date cookie treat from Qinwan. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: Eid Al Fitr signifies the end of a month of perseverance and rigorous fasting, as well as a time for celebration with friends and family. This Eid, we are happy to see that travel continues to recover and that people are reuniting once again. We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to discover our expansive network of more than 140 destinations. On behalf of Qatar Airways, we wish you a very blessed Eid. Qatar Airways will continue its celebrations at HIAs Al Safwa First and Al Mourjan Business Lounges, where customers will be invited to savour the holidays favourite delicacies; including a selection of refreshing beverages jaellab, tamarhindi, kamardine and rose syrup, in addition to the traditional Arabic coffee and dates service. TradeArabia News Service Islamabad, May 1 : Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide Pakistan a "sizeable package" of around $8 billion to help revive the countrys ailing economy amid the maiden trip of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the kingdom. The package includes doubling of the oil financing facility, additional money either through deposits or Sukuks and rolling over of the existing $4.2 billion facilities, according to a report published in The News. "However, technical details are being worked out and will take a couple of weeks to get all documents ready and signed," top official sources privy to the development informed. Sharif and his official entourage have left Saudi Arabia but Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail is still staying there to finalise the modalities of the increased financial package. Sharing the salient features of the financial package, the official said that Pakistan had proposed doubling of the oil facility from $1.2 billion to $2.4 billion and audi Arabia agreed to it. It was also agreed that the existing deposits of $3 billion would be rolled over for an extended period up to June 2023. "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia discussed an additional package of over $2 billion either through deposits or Sukuk and it is likely that even more money will be provided to Islamabad," the official sources said, adding that the size of the total package would be determined when additional money was finalised. New Delhi, May 1 : Two days after the export ban on palm oil by Indonesia became effective, India on Sunday said it has an optimum stock of all edible oils, sufficient to cover the lean period. On the other hand, trading bodies are optimistic that Indonesia will need to deal with its own continuing production of both crude palm and palm oil and hence will not be able to continue with the export ban for long. The market that was already on the edge since the Ukraine-Russia war broke out in late February, faced a double whammy when Indonesia imposed the export ban from April 28 owing to domestic reasons. Palm oil (Crude + Refined) constitutes roughly around 62 per cent of the total edible oils imported and are imported mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, while Soybean oil (22 per cent) is imported from Argentina and Brazil and Sunflower oil (15 per cent) is imported mainly from Ukraine and Russia. "As per the industry sources, the present stock of all edible oils in the country is 21 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) approximately and 12 LMT approximately is in transit arriving in May 2022. Therefore, the country has sufficient funds to cover the lean period due to the ban on export by Indonesia," Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said. On the oilseeds front, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's (DA&FW) second advance estimate released in February 2022 have shown a very positive picture of Soybean production for the year 20221-22 at 126.10 LMT, which is higher than last year's production of 112 LMT. As a result of higher sowing of Mustard seeds by 37 per cent in all major producing states, including Rajasthan, in comparison with last year, the production may rise to 114 LMT in 2021-22 season. Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA) executive director B.V. Mehta said, "As of now, we have enough stock. Because of the ban, we may face a shortage of roughly 10 per cent but we are hopeful, Indonesia will need to review the ban soon as it will face logistics issues for storing its routine production. We have been asking our members to cooperate with the government directives too for keeping the prices in check." Ministry officials said, "The Department of Food and Public Distribution is monitoring the price and availability situation and meetings are being held regularly with major Edible Oil processing Associations to discuss further reduction in the domestic edible oil prices and MRP to give relief to consumers," officials said. The Inter-Ministerial Committee holds weekly meetings on Agri-Commodities to closely monitor the prices and availability of agricultural commodities including edible oil keeping in view the interest of the farmers, industry, and consumers. The committee reviews the price situation on a weekly basis, considers relevant measures in relation to edible oils and other food items depending on the domestic production, demand, domestic and international prices, and international trade volumes. Seoul, May 1 : South Korean tech giant Samsung is likely planning toAreduce the prices of the upcoming foldable phones by using ATL batteries. According to TheElec, Samsung was reviewing using batteries from Chinese battery maker Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) for its upcoming foldable smartphones. The company is likely considering including ATL as a supplier for its foldable phones to save on costs as analysts expect Samsung to lower the price tags of its latest foldable phones launching later this year. According to the report, batteries account for around 5 per cent of the cost of manufacturing smartphones. If Samsung's MX business, the name of its mobile business, approves of the use, it will be the first time that it is using batteries from ATL for its Galaxy Z series of foldable phones. ATL once lost the South Korean tech giant as a customer in 2017 following the controversy around the Galaxy Note 7 phones catching fire. Samsung had blamed faulty batteries as the cause of the debacle at the time. However, since then, the Chinese battery maker had resumed supplying batteries to the tech giant for the Galaxy A and M series of smartphones. It also started supplying to premium smartphones again with the Galaxy S21 last year. Samsung had so far mostly used affiliate Samsung SDI for the batteries used in the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold series. Thiruvananthapuram, May 1 : Former MLA and Kerala Janapaksham Chairman, P.C.George was given conditional bail by a local court here on Sunday after he was arrested over hate speech charges. Thiruvananthapuram Judicial first class magistrate court(ii), Justice Asha Koshy, granted conditional bail to George conditional. The court said that he should not indulge in hate speech, should not influence the witness, and not create any untoward incidents. Advocate Sasthamangalam Ajith Kumar, who appeared for George, told IANS that this case was bailable. He said that police could not give station bail as George was charged under IPC Sections 153 A and 295 A. George after coming out of the Magistrate's chamber while speaking to the mediapersons said, "The Judiciary in India is for justice and the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, and his police had arrested me as a Ramzan gift to Islamic terror groups." George, who has been a legislator for several terms, had lost in the 2021 Assembly elections from his home constituency Poonjar. He was arrested on Sunday early morning after the Muslim Youth League and the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI-M protested and demanded his arrest. There were several protest marches for and against George while he was being brought from his residence in Kottayam district to Thiruvananthapuram. While the BJP workers shouted slogans in support of George near Thiruvananthapuram, DYFI workers threw eggs at his vehicle. Earlier, the police prevented Union Minister V. Muraleedharan from meeting P.C. George who was at the Armed Reserve camp, Peroorkada. The Union minister while speaking to the mediapersons outside the Armed Reserve camp said, "Kerala Police is having dual stands -- they prevent a Union minister from meeting an accused, but are very quick in taking action on a complaint filed by Youth League." BJP Kerala President K.Surendran while meeting the mediapersons at Wayanad on Sunday said, "If Islamist organisations like the Popular Front of India and the CPI-M youth wing DYFI are trying to physically intimidate P.C. George, we will provide him with all physical support." Congress leader and Kerala Opposition leader, V.D. Satheeshan had said that Kerala Police were providing escort to George and the Sangh Parivar was behind him. Mumbai, May 1 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recovered incriminating documents from the premises of three top realtors -- Shahid Balwa, Avinash Bhonsle and Vinod Goenka -- in Mumbai and Pune during raids in connection with Yes Bank-DHFL scam. The federal probe agency had arrested Sanjay Chabaria of Radius Developers, three days back and raids were conducted following his interrogation. Radius Developers had taken a loan of Rs 3,000 crore from Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) on the pretext of financing a project in Mumbai. "Bhonsle, Goenka and Balwa allegedly used their firms to channel money of the loan. Hence their premises were also raided," the source had said. The source said that they have recovered a few incriminating documents, digital and documentary evidence in the raids conducted on Saturday. A few persons were also quizzed by the CBI. The sources said that more arrests in the case is likely. In March 2020, a case of loan fraud of Rs 3,600 crore was lodged by the CBI against Rana Kapoor, the promoter Director and CEO of Yes Bank for entering into a criminal conspiracy with Kapir Wadhawan, promoter Director of DHFL and others. They extended financial assistance to DHFL by Yes Bank Limited in lieu of substantial undue benefit to himself and his family members through the companies held by them. Between April and June 2018, Yes Bank Limited invested Rs 3,700 crore in the short term debentures of DHFL. Simultaneously, Wadhawan paid a kickback of Rs 600 crore to Kapoor and his family members in the garb of builder loan of Rs 600 crore given by DHFL to DOIT Urban Ventures (lndia) Private l-imited, a wholly owned subsidiary of RAB Enterprises (lndia) Private limited in which Bindu Kapoor, wife of Kapoor is a director and 100 per cent shareholder. Daughters of Kapoor Roshini Kapoor, Radha Kapoor Khanna and Raakhe Kapoor Tandon are 100 per cent shareholders of DOIT Urban Ventures (lndia) Private limited through Morgan Credits Private Limited. It was learnt that loan of Rs 600 crore was sanctioned by DHFL to DOIT Urban Ventures (lndia) Private Limited on the basis of a mortgage of a sub- standard property having very meager value and by considering its future conversion from agricultural land to the residential land. Also, the DHFL had not redeemed the amount of Rs 3700 crore invested by Yes Bank in its debentures till date. In addition to the above, Yes Bank also sanctioned a loan of Rs 750 crore to RKW Developers Private Limited which is a DHFL group company for their Bandra Reclamation Project. And the whole amount was siphoned off by Wadhawan since the entire amount was transferred by RKW Developers Private Limited to DHFL without making investment in Bandra Reclamation Project for which the loan was sanctioned. Thus, Kapoor, obtained undue pecuniary advantage from DHFL through the companies held by his wife and daughters. It was also learnt that Kapoor had obtained illegal kickbacks directly or indirectly through entities controlled by him or his family members. Washington, May 1 : Adenovirus may have caused an outbreak of nine severe hepatitis cases in children in the US state of Alabama, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All the nine kids with severe acute hepatitis tested positive for adenovirus and none of them had a history of Covid-19 infection, Xinhua news agency quoted the CDC as saying. Three of the kids suffered liver failure and two needed liver transplants. They have either recovered or are recovering. The CDC said adenovirus may be the cause of these reported cases, but other potential environmental and situational factors are still being investigated. Adenovirus type 41 typically presents as diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, often accompanied by respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC. While there have been reports of hepatitis cases in immunocompromised children with adenovirus infection, adenovirus type 41 is not known to be a cause of hepatitis in otherwise healthy children, said the CDC. New Delhi, May 1 : The current spike in the number of daily Covid-19 cases in India cannot be termed as the fourth wave of the pandemic, Samiran Panda, Additional Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told IANS on Sunday. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Panda said the surge has been observed at district levels, hence it cannot be said that the country is moving towards a fourth wave. "Some surges have been observed at district levels. This is a called a blip... Blips are confined to certain geographical regions of the country," he said. While arguing why this is not the indication of a fourth wave, Panda gave four reasons in favour of the statement. He said that first of all, the surge has been found at some local levels which is due to the testing ratio. "Secondly, what we see is just a blip and we cannot say that entire states are under the grip of Covid." Thirdly, there is no increase in the hospital admission across the country, he noted. And most importantly, according to Panda, no new variant has been found yet which indicates that there is no fourth wave right now. While talking about the positivity rate, he said that sometimes the rate goes up because of low testing. Mumbai, May 1 : In a major development, a Special PMLA Court here has issued a Proclamation against the absconding TopsGrup Services Ltd. Chairman and his daughter, in an alleged money-laundering case connected with a prominent Shiv Sena legislator. Last Tuesday (April 26), the Special Judge (PMLA Court) M.G. Deshpande had ordered the Proclamation against TopsGrup founder-Chairman Dr. Diwan Rahul Nanda and his daughter Rasshi Nanda, which was published on Sunday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s case concerns a TopsGrup contract of 2014 to provide security guards for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its field projects, allegedly in connivance with Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik through unauthorised means. The ED claimed that the illegal acts were intended to get inadmissible benefits by inflating the number of guards provided on contract duties for the MMRDA for which Sarnaik was allegedly given cash bribes of 50 per cent earnings at the cost of the MMRDA. The illegal profits earned by Sarnaik were occasionally transferred to the account of a third person as part of the alleged money-laundering racket. Sarnaik - raided by the ED in November 2020 and again swooped on by the ED and CBI in May 2021 -- has flayed the central agency's action as "arising out of vendetta politics". Incidentally, Nanda was arrested earlier in 2014 in the PMLA case and later released on bail. However, in the Sarnaik-linked matter, Nanda, 52, and his daughter Rasshi, 27, are absconding since some time, their contact numbers or of other company officials are either switched off / not reachable / does not exist. The ED moved a plea before Special Judge Deshpande for permission to issue a Proclamation against the father-daughter duo under the CrPC Section 82(1), ordering them to appear before the Special Court within 30 days. Special Public Prosecutor Kavita Patil argued during the previous hearing that the Oshiwara Police Station had gone to execute the arrest warrants against the accused duo at Nanda Villa in the Lokhandwala Complex but was locked. The ED had also tried to serve the non-bailable warrants of arrest against them but failed as they were not available at their place of residence. Taking serious note, Special Judge Deshpande noted that neither the accused nor their lawyers were present in the Special Court. "Therefore I am of the opinion that, there is a reason to believe that both accused (Nanda's) against whom warrants have been issued by this (Special Court) have absconded or have been concealing themselves so that such warrants cannot be executed," said Special Judge Deshpande, and permitted the issue of the Proclamation. "Proclamation is hereby made that the above accused in the above case are required to appear in the Court on May 26 to answer the said complaint," Special Judge Deshpande said. A prominent criminal lawyer said that the Proclamation is a strong weapon in the hands of the ED with serious repercussions for the absconding accused. "If they fail to turn up even after the Proclamation, they may face further action by way of being declared as fugitive economic offenders and their properties and other assets can be confiscated," he said. The ED has seized and sealed the Nanda Village, and represented by their legal team of Advocate Ajit Singh and Madhukar Dalvi, but they also remained absent in the previous hearings. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) New Delhi, May 1 : Gujarat is considered not only as BJP's stronghold but also its laboratory. It also holds importance for the party as it is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Although the party has not lost a single election here since 1995, it does not want to take any chance in the upcoming Assembly elections, preparations for which have started on a war-footing. In the run-up to the Assembly polls scheduled for the year end, the most popular faces of the BJP -- former Chief Minister of the state and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who has the details of every locality and booth of Gujarat -- have got into action. Besides, BJP National President J.P. Nadda has also taken over the election command. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened an important meeting with party leaders at his official residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in connection with the polls. All senior leaders, including Home Minister Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, besides state ministers and party veterans attended the meeting, which lasted for about two hours. Gujarat Law Minister Rajendra Trivedi and State Chief Secretary Kailashnathan were also present. Though there has been no official communication in this regard, in view of the political and administrative matters of the state, it is being considered very crucial. The party is attempting to work out strategies to counter Congress like in the 2017 Assembly polls. It aims at getting better results compared to last elections. Actually, BJP has been in power in Gujarat continuously since 1995. After Narendra Modi took over as the Chief Minister in 2001, the BJP became invincible in the state, but after Narendra Modi came to Delhi as the Prime Minister in 2014, the party's performance has witnessed a slight fall. This can be assessed by analysing the poll results since 1995. In the five consecutive Assembly elections -- 1995, 1998, 2002, 2007 and 2012 -- the party has been forming the government by winning between 115 and 127 seats out of the total 182 in the state. But in 2017, after Modi became the prime minister in 2014, the seats have been reduced to less than 100. In 2017, it could bag only 99 seats. Congress had won 77 seats in this election. In terms of voting percentage, the BJP got the support of 49 per cent voters, while the Congress also gave a tough fight to it with 41.5 per cent votes. After suffering a setback, the BJP undertook a complete revamping of the structure and changed not only the government but also the chief minister. Now the biggest challenge is to win more than 115 seats and form the government for the seventh successive term with a thumping majority at the end of 2022. With this objective, Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister and Lok Sabha member Amit Shah and Nadda have started preparations making several trips to the state. The very next day after the results of Assembly polls were announced, the Prime Minister embarked on a two-day visit to the state and addressed a huge roadshow in Ahmedabad and a rally of elected representatives of Panchayat Raj institutions. Home Minister Amit Shah, who along with Prime Minister Modi made the BJP invincible in Gujarat, is also visiting the state continuously and holding meetings with party leaders for working out an election strategy. On Friday, party president Nadda also reached the state office of Gujarat and interacted with the members of the election committee of the state, BJP MPs, MLAs, Mayors of the Municipal Council, Deputy Mayors, Standing Committee Chairmen. He also held an important meeting with the Zilla Parishad Presidents as well as former MPs and MLAs of the party regarding the election strategy. Late in the evening, he met with all the leaders of the State Core Committee and the State Election Committee at the Chief Minister's residence, discussed the political situation and election strategy of the state separately. Nadda, who reached Gujarat, reiterated that Gujarat is a laboratory for the BJP in matters related to governance and organisation. Resignation of the then Chief Minister Rupani and his council of ministers last year and the subsequent formation of a new government under Bhupendra Patel was an experiment done as part of the party's special strategy, he added. Criticising the Aam Aadmi Party, he said: "Let us tell you that for the last several decades, the main contest in the state has been between the BJP and the Congress, but the Aam Aadmi Party, excited by the victory of Punjab, has also started preparations for the state's Legislative Assembly elections in full swing." "Kejriwal, in alliance with the Tribal Party of India, which won three seats in the 2017 Assembly elections, is trying to challenge the BJP in the state, while the Congress, which managed to bring the BJP below 100 in the 2017 Assembly elections, is also in the state. I am engaged in formulating a strategy to end 27 years of exile," he added. The BJP, he said, is facing challenges on many fronts simultaneously to counter the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. At the organisational level, all the leaders of the party have been asked to accept the change and fight the elections unitedly again to form the BJP government in the state. In the coming days, efforts will be made to reach out to all the voters and beneficiaries of all the 182 Assembly seats. Besides, attempts are also being made to woo the Patidar, Dalit and Adivasi voters of the state. Chennai, May 1 : The drones of startup Garuda Aerospace will soon start delivering grocery packages in Bengaluru for food and grocery player Bundl Technologies Pvt Ltd known by its brand Swiggy. The city based Garuda Aerospace is a drone-as-a-service provider. "This is a pilot project started by Swiggy. We plan to start the pilot during the first week of May," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, told IANS. According to him, the drones will carry the grocery packs from the seller-run 'dark stores' and from a store to a common middle point - drone port- where the Swiggy delivery person will pick up the packet and deliver to the end customer. The common middle point is the responsibility of Swiggy and it will give the addresses, Jayaprakash said. Swiggy in a blog post 'Swiggy Bytes' had said the pilot will be done in two tranches, the first one in Bengaluru by Garuda Aerospace and in Delhi-NCR by Skyeair Mobility. The second phase will be done soon after studying the learnings from the pilot by ANRA-TechEagle Consortia and Marut Dronetech Pvt Ltd. However, it is not known who will be liable for any public liability case and whether Swiggy has insisted the drone players take out a public liability insurance policy. In February this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually inaugurated the drone manufacturing facilities of Garuda Aerospace at Manesar in Gurugram and in Chennai. New Delhi, May 1 : A day after Nitish Kumar skipped the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers addressed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, there is talk in political circles that all is not well in the Bihar NDA in view of new bonhomie seen emerging between the Chief Minister and the RJD at Iftar programmes. The BJP is cautious, so is Congress which is in an alliance with the RJD. Congress sources say that the party is watching the situation but will only react something if and after Nitish Kumar takes some decision but also add a rider - that it might be pressure tactics by him. However, sources in Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United say that there is nothing much to read about in Nitish Kumar's absence and his not going the Delhi doesn't mean that they are parting ways and the NDA government is stable and intact. There was some speculation in Patna that Nitish Kumar might be put forth as the Vice President candidate but the JDU leader has rejected this. Since, the BJP is the single largest party in the NDA, there is said to be internal pressure from it to replace the Chief Minister, which has not gone down well with Nitish Kumar. In wake of this, Nitish Kumar attended the iftar party of the RJD and took stand contrary to the BJP on loudspeaker row. Since the, the political distance between Nitish Kumar and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav is seen as reducing as both met three times in last ten days - all at iftar parties in Patna - the RJD's iftar at former CM Rabri Devi's residence on April 22, at the JD-U's own on last Thursday, and then at the residence of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi on Friday. The effect of the three meetings is reflecting on the statements of Tejashwi Yadav and Nitish Kumar. The former, instead of targeting Nitish Kumar directly as earlier, is now blaming the Narendra Modi government, and focussing only those issues where the ideology and stand of Nitish Kumar do not match with the BJP. Ahmedabad, May 1 : Hailing the state's contribution in the pharma sector, Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Sunday said that of the $24 million exports exports achieved by India, Gujarat accounts for nearly 25 per cent. She was inaugurating the national conference on "Soaring Heights of Empowerment in Pharma & Healthcare Industry" here. The minister also launched a knowledge report on "Future impact on Pharma & Healthcare with Diversity & Inclusivity: Vision 2030". Extending her wishes on the state's Formation Day, she highlighted the contribution of Gujarat in the Pharma sector stating that out of 24 million USD exports achieved by India, the state accounts for nearly 25 per cent. She expressed concern over lack of opportunities for women in the pharma and healthcare sectors and hoped that the conference would help to generate dialogue, discussion and drive outcomes towards the goal of more women in these sectors. Deepa Sharma, Conference convener said that focussing on empowering Women entrepreneurship and participation in healthcare and pharma to drive dialogue and action was the goal of the conference. "With a goal to contribute to the national agenda of celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we hope that the conference is instrumental in fuelling the entrepreneurial spirit," she added. Dr Viranchi Shah - National President Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association added that "Business is in in every Gujarati's DNA and with the emphasis on strong participation by women given by the minister, I am confident that more participation from Women entrepreneurs & professionals will happen. The deliberations and outcome from this conference will help the stakeholders to have a look on how to further strengthen diversity and inclusivity in this industry." The conference also stressed on the importance of Diversity and Inclusivity in these sectors and the thrust to Make in India and help bring more women into the mainstream through enterpreneurship. Chennai, May 1 : Actress Mamta Mohan, who is absolutely thrilled with the audiences' response to her just released Malayalam film 'Jana Gana Mana', has thanked audiences for making the film theirs too. Taking to Instagram, the actress wrote: "It's not just our film. Thank you for making it your film too. So proud to be part of 'Jana Gana Mana'- a movie so dense and intense in its core and content at the same time." A film with stellar performances by each and every cast member, great casting too, an astounding script, that took two years in just its making alone. "Here is to team work and now, you too become a part of this film's journey because this one was never meant to be just a piece of work that belonged to the JGM crew. This is every Indian's film. Inquilab Zindabad!" The film, which has been directed by Dijo Jose Antony and written by Sharis Mohammed, has Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Mamta Mohandas and Vincy in important roles. New Delhi, May 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Denmark will provide an opportunity to shape up new components of partnership in the field of skill development, shipping, agricultural technology and mobility, an official said on Sunday. The Prime Minister will travel to Copenhagen on an official visit at the invitation of Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen on May 3, after finishing the first leg of the tour of Germany, newly appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said. Leaders of all five Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, will participate in the summit that will focus on clean technology, climate change, renewables among other issues. The first India-Nordic summit took place in Sweden's capital Stockholm in April of 2018, a format that brings together India along with all the countries in the Nordic or Northern European countries. In a special briefing on Sunday on Modi's Europe visit, Kwatra said this will be the Prime Minister's first visit to Denmark, but his third summit-level interaction with his Danish counterpart. During the meetings in Copenhagen, both leaders will focus on bilateral issues as well as matters related to regional and global interest, and later, they will also interact with the business leaders of both countries under the auspices of the India-Denmark Business forum. The Foreign Secretary also said that Prime Minister Modi will also call on the Danish Queen Margrethe II who would also host an official dinner for the Prime Minister. "Like in Germany, the Prime Minister will interact with the members of the Indian Diaspora during a community event," he added. "There is also a joint action plan for five years, essentially focusing on the specifics of this partnership besides the ongoing co-operation in the field of wind energy, water management, circular economy, shipping, and smart cities," the Foreign Secretary noted. On the sidelines of the Summit in Denmark's capital Copenhagen, Modi will also meet the leaders of the other four Nordic countries and review the progress in India's bilateral relations with them, the Prime Minister said in a statement issued by the PMO before his departure for the three-day tour of Europe on Sunday . Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitisation and innovation. The visit will help in expanding our multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region, the statement said. The discussions between both the leaders will focus on bilateral issues as well as issues of regional and global interest. "Like in Germany, in Denmark too, the Prime Minister will interact with the members of the Indian diaspora during a community event," Kwatra added. Chennai, May 1 : With international flights resuming from Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, and Madurai airports, the gold smuggling activities have increased in Tamil Nadu. The DRI arrested Thangakesavarn and Nandini- Malayasian nationals, from Coimbatore international airport on Friday with 4.2 kg of gold worth Rs 2.26 crore on Friday. The air customs intelligence wing has in a couple of days before arrested a Sri Lankan national with 3.2 kg of gold from the Madurai airport. On interrogation, he has informed the customs officials that the Tamil Nadu airports are being used as a major point for the smuggling of gold to India. Far Eastern countries like Singapore and Malaysia and Sri Lanka which are waging a battle against economic crisis are the main sources of gold. According to Customs officials, smuggling a Kilogram of gold to India fetches anywhere between 5 to 6 lakh rupees and the carriers are generally given up and down tickets and an amount of Rs 30,000 to 40,000. The smuggling rackets operating in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai are sending on a daily basis around 40 to 75 lakhs of gold, according to customs sources into India through airports in Tamil Nadu. Sources in the customs told IANS that some jewellers from Kerala who have showrooms across the country and in the middle eastern countries were using carriers for smuggling in gold. While some Tamil jewellers have also joined hands with these smuggling networks, sources in customs said that their presence was negligible. DRI and Customs Air Intelligence are on a high alert following the regular seizure of gold and other items from the airports in Tamil Nadu. The DRI has also questioned some of the persons responsible for this smuggling to extract whether the money received through gold smuggling is used for anti-national and terror activities. The DRI and customs have deployed an air intelligence squad in all the four airports in Tamil Nadu to prevent the smuggling of gold. Mysuru, : May 1 (IANS) BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh said on Sunday that the party's capacity to change leadership has always been its strength. The statement has created ripples in the state political corridors and assumed importance against the backdrop of upcoming General Assembly elections in 2023. Though, the high command has stated that the next elections would be fought under the leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the statement has again started debate over his leadership, party sources explained. The experiments in this regard have been successful in Punjab and Gujarat states. The strategy of BJP to keep away sitting MLAs and family members of party leaders have given good results, he further said. With the introduction of new faces in several states, BJP has attained power. In New Delhi and Gujarat corporation elections, new faces who contested on BJP tickets have won, he maintained. Tickets were not given to those sitting corporators in the national capital. These experiments are possible only in BJP, he said. Chief Minister Bommai reacting to statements by Santhosh said, his observations are correct and he had spoken in reference to Corporation elections, he said. BJP General Secretary and MLA C.T. Ravi stated that there is only Karnataka model for Karnataka. There is no need of Punjab or Gujarat models for the state. Srinagar, May 1 : A hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam, police said on Sunday. Police said on a specific information, Kulgam police, along with army, arrested the hybrid terrorist, identified as Yamin Yousuf Bhat, resident of Gadihama. "Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested hybrid terrorist was in contact with Pakistan-based terrorists as well as local terrorists of proscribed outfit LeT and was tasked to execute a terror incident. He was also involved in providing shelter, logistics and other support to the terrorists includes transporting of arms/ammunition and explosive material of the terrorists in district Kulgam," police said. "It is pertinent to mention that his arrest is an achievement for police, as the said terrorist was well aware about the topography of the district and it was easy for him to choose soft targets." Arms and ammunition including one pistol, one pistol magazine, 51 rounds of 9mm and two hand grenades were recovered from his possession. Police have registered a case and investigations has been initiated. Bengaluru, May 1 : The ISMC announced an investment of Rs 22,900 crore ($3 billion) investment in a 65 nm Analog Semiconductor Fabrication plant in Karnataka. The ISMC team met Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at his home office, Krishna, on Sunday. E.V. Ramana Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Commerce and Industries, Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science & Technology signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, with Ajay Jalan, director of ISMC. The ISMC has requested 150 acres of land in Mysuru's Kochanahalli Industrial area. This will be one of India's first and largest semiconductor fabrication units under the Central Government's Indian Semiconductor Mission upon project approval by the Government of India. The project is expected to generate more than 1,500 direct and 10,000 indirect employment opportunities and ancillary semiconductor ecosystem industry development in the area with significant multiplier effects. Speaking on the occasion, Bommai said: "This MoU is a significant agreement amid the competition among various states to attract semiconductor fabs. Karnataka understands that it is not just the fiscal incentives that matter but the availability of a conducive eco-system and overall ease in operations are also important. "We have one of the best infrastructures in the country and an abundant skilled talent pool. As a state we are not just trying to bring down the entry barriers for businesses but also make it easier to exit businesses, should it be so required. With robust policies, a committed team, best-in-class infrastructure, and an ever-increasing talent pool of workers, Karnataka is on its way to become a premier investment destination. I invite all of you to be a part of this Growth Story." "It is the nation's pride under the leadership of and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we are becoming Atmanirbhar in semiconductors Fab," he said. Karnataka Science and Technology Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan also expressed his support, saying: "Semiconductor production in Karnataka will provide further impetus to the economy of the state and we are happy to support global firms to set up manufacturing facilities here." Signing the MoU, E.V. Ramana Reddy said: "The uptick in Indian investment in semiconductors coincides with the global demand for semiconductors amid a shortage expected to run through 2025. We have suggested an Electronics and Systems Design cluster in Mysuru as the investment destination for ISMC." Commissioner for Industrial Development, Gunjan Krishna, said: "The present geopolitical circumstances necessitate that India develops the ecosystem for the semiconductor manufacturing in the country and Karnataka is well poised to take advantage of that because of its robust ecosystem in the electronic chip design industry. The manufacturing facilities will only add to the growth of the sector." Patna, May 1 : A mother of three children in Bihar's Rohtas district was tied to an electricity pole and beaten mercilessly by several people, including her husband, for allegedly having an illicit relationship, police said on Sunday. The incident was reported from Sidhpur village under Chenari police station on Friday night. Police managed to arrest five accused, including her husband. According to police, the victim's husband and in-laws suspected that she has a physical relationship with another man. "As soon as we received the information about the incident, we went there and rescued the victim. We have also arrested 5 persons in this connection. The victim is currently admitted in the common health center in Chenari," Chenari SHO Nirmal Kumar said. The accused are identified as Dipak Ram, husband of the victim, Shiv Pujan Ram, alias Chirkut Ram, Kedar Ram, Dhirendra Ram, and Narendra Ram. New Delhi, May 1 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a three day tour of Europe, India on Sunday once again called for cessation of hostility in Ukraine and to resolving the conflict by means of dialogue and diplomacy. In a special briefing on Sunday, newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra underlined India's position on Ukraine. "Our position on Ukraine has been clear. First, there should be a cessation of hostilities; second, a solution must be found out through dialogue and diplomacy," he said, adding India's view has been known clearly to various countries. PM Modi on Sunday began his three day visit to Germany, Denmark and France amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine that entered its 67th day. The Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister's visit is to expand India's bilateral relations with them in the areas of clean energy,trade and investment, digital technology, and defence sector. Responding to a question whether the Ukraine crisis will figure in Modi's talks with the European leaders, Kwatra said: "When the Prime Minister interfaces with the leaders, naturally issues of regional and global importance would also figure in the discussions." He also said that the discussions on energy security will be one of the key areas of discussion during PM Modi's visit as it has assumed greater significance in the current global circumstances. About the changing elements of energy security, and its impact on developing countries like India, he also said: "I am sure this would constitute one of the elements in the overall discussions during PM Modi's visit to the three nations." So far, India has not publicly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been calling for the resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Chennai, May 1 : The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday relieved Madurai Government Medical College's Dean Dr A. Ratnavel over MBBS students of the college taking 'Maharshi Charak Shapath' instead of the traditional Hippocratic oath. Ratnavel has been put on the waiting list. A release from the Medical Education Department on Sunday said that fresh students of Madurai medical college were administered 'Maharshi Charak Shapath' instead of the traditional Hippocratic oath. State Health Minister Ma Subramanian told IANS that the government would conduct a departmental inquiry against the dean to find the reason for administering 'Maharshi Charak Shapath' without consent from the state government. The Charah Shapath is a passage from the Charak Samhitha and the National Medical Commission had recommended that it should replace the Hippocratic oath for fresh MBBS students. However, the Union Health Ministry had said that 'Maharshi Charak Shapath' is optional and cannot be forced on medical students. Tamil Nadu government had directed state-run medical colleges to stick to the Hippocratic oath, which is widely used across the globe. Kolkata, May 1 : The Border Security Force (BSF) claims that it has been successful in doing away with the illegal supply lines for Indian cattle in Bangladesh after a clamp down on the movement of smuggled animals across the International Boundary (IB) between the two countries. The illegal 'haats' or cattle markets that existed across the IB have also been wound up due to the lack of adequate supply from India. This has happened over the last few years and Bangladeshis, used to cheap beef during festivals, without considering how they were actually consuming cattle smuggled from India, are now feeling the pinch. "In Bangladesh, beef is no longer a cheap source of protein. Five years ago, the price of beef was Taka 350 per kg. This year, it has gone up to Taka 650 a kg. The increase in diesel prices is responsible to a certain extent but the biggest factor is the drop in supply from India. Earlier, we would go to the haats and get a few hundred heads of cattle before Eid. Nowadays, all we can procure is about 10-12. This should be a lesson for Bangladesh. It hasn't developed the cattle rearing industry to meet the country's demand for beef. Nearly half of the country's demand was met through cattle smuggled in from India," a trader in Jessore said. "We have succeeded in stopping cattle smuggling along the South Bengal Frontier. However, India and Bangladesh share a nearly 4,000 km long border. There are operational challenges. A few heads of cattle do get across. I would say that the figures have dropped by 98 per cent. Cattle smuggling used to be a lucrative business, even for Indians, till the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took up investigations. Some BSF officers have also been implicated and law will take its own course. So far as the BSF is concerned, we are mandated to stop all kinds of crime along the IB. This includes the smuggling of cattle. I think that we have done a commendable job," a senior BSF official said. Till recently, thousands of cattle heads, including old milch cows and young bulls made their way to the Indo-Bangladesh border from several states across India to be smuggled across. There is a logic that goes around that a milk trader can no longer afford to maintain a cow after she stops lactating. The bulls born are of no use anyway and can land up as prime beef on anybody's plate. There is another school of though though. The milk traders can seek a humane way to end the lives of their cows or bulls by euthanising them. After all, the livelihoods of these traders depended on the cows that they now wish to discard. "They can work out a solution with the government. The discarded cows and bulls roam the streets, waiting to be butchered. There can be set-ups where these animals can be euthanised and pass away with dignity. Their skins can then be used by our leather industry and the remains can be put into furnaces. That is the best way. How can a milkman who has grown rich by selling the milk of a cow want it to end up as a part of beef biriyani, either in India or Bangladesh? There is no religion involved here. It is about respect. We don't even want our old car to be shredded into pieces at a junkyard," the member of an animal rights group said. An official in the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs spoke on how the leather and ceramics industries in Bangladesh had been surviving solely on cattle smuggled from India. "We have information that there has been an impact on these industries in Bangladesh. That is what happens when industries depend on illegal imports," he said. New York, May 1 : Scientists have created the next generation of wearable health sensors that may be able to monitor the body's health by detecting the gases released from a person's skin. Most research on measuring human biomarkers, which are measures of a body's health, rely on electrical signals to sense the chemicals excreted in sweat. But sensors that rely on perspiration often require huge amounts of it just to get a reading. Some wearable devices, like smartwatches or fitness trackers, are already capable of measuring pulse rates or temperatures. But the new method developed by researchers at the Ohio State University in the US would allow the technology to sense biomarkers related to metabolic disorders, like heart disease or diabetes. "It is completely non-invasive, and completely passive on the behalf of the user," said lead author Anthony Annerino, a graduate student in materials science and engineering at the University. "Discerning health issues through the skin is really the ultimate frontier," added study co-author Pelagia-Iren Gouma, Professor of materials science and engineering. According to the research, published in the journal PLOS One, the product would be a small device a person could wear on low-sweat body locations, like behind the ear or on the nails. Scientists have a long history of measuring the concentration of organic compounds in our breath - a type of gas - as indicators of health. One example is breathalyser - a device which can measure the amount of alcohol in a person's blood or be used to detect viruses. But such a gadget requires "active intent" and only provides a "momentary snapshot" of the body, Annerino noted. Compared to the amount of chemicals we release when we breathe, he said, this team's sensors can operate on much smaller amounts of gaseous acetone released from the skin. Acetone is one of the substances secreted from the skin that can tell researchers a lot about the inner workings of the human body. Concentrations of acetone in the breath have also been shown to be related to blood sugar levels and fat-burning rates. To test their sensors, the researchers created a film material made out of derivatives of plant cellulose and electroactive polymers. This film can bend dramatically in response to how much of the acetone is detected in its environment. Annerino's team then placed the film over solutions containing ethanol (alcohol), acetone and water to gauge its sensitivity, selectivity and repeatability. "We found significant bias toward bending more upon exposure to certain chemicals over others," said Annerino. Mumbai, May 1 : On Maharashtra Day, which falls on May 1, residents of the city revealed startling preferences and opinions during a survey conducted by C Voter for IANS in the last week of April. Among the many questions asked about political, social and local issues, one was: Who do you think has been the most influential politician in Mumbai since Maharashtra became a state in 1960? While the media in Delhi seems to think Sharad Pawar, the formidable and veteran chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, should be the pick, residents of Mumbai were of the opinion that the late Balasaheb Thackeray has been the most influential politician. The respondents were divided into two categories: those born in Maharashtra and those born outside the state. Both categories overwhelmingly favoured Balasaheb Thackeray. More than 46 per cent of local Marathis chose Balasaheb Thackeray while more than 50 per cent of non-Marathis picked him as their choice. Sharad Pawar, who could possibly lead the opposition challenge to Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is nowhere close to the founder of Shiv Sena. Just about 8.4 per cent of local Marathis opted for Sharad Pawar while a meagre 4.5 per cent of non-Marathis opted for him. In fact, Pawar was well behind former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis who was the preferred choice of 9.5 per cent of both local Marathis and non-Marathis. Even Union Minister Nitin Gadkari ranked higher than Sharad Pawar with 8 per cent of Mumbaikars voting for him. The current Chief Minister and son of Balasaheb, Uddhav Thackeray managed to get just about 4.5 per cent of the votes. The results of the survey should be food for thought for the MVA that currently rules Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP formed the MVA after the 2019 assembly elections in the state. Hyderabad, May 1 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will go ahead with his plans to visit Osmania University here on May 7 despite the authorities denying permission for the same, a senior party leader said on Sunday. Member of Parliament Uttam Kumar Reddy declared that Rahul Gandhi will visit the campus and interact with students to know their problems. He and several other leaders condemned the denial of permission by the university administration. He also slammed Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government for denying permission for Rahul Gandhi's visit. "When BJP leaders can visit Osmania University and address meetings and when birthdays of KCR and KTR can be celebrated, why can't our leader visit the campus. Is it the property of CM KCR," he asked. He argued that the visit by Rahul Gandhi is not political in nature as he plans to go around the hostels and mess and interact with students to know about the problem of unemployment. State Congress chief Revanth Reddy said since Osmania University played a key role in first and second phase of Telangana movement, Rahul Gandhi is keen to visit the campus to interact with students and gather details. "Why is KCR scared?" he asked. Congress spokesperson Dr Dasoju Sravan also slammed the KCR government for denying permission for Rahul Gandhi's meeting with students in Osmania University campus. "Why is KCR and KTR company fearing Rahul Gandhi so much," he asked. Sravan alleged that the TRS government has been stooping to new lows with arrests of NSUI and Youth Congress members. He challenged TRS Working President and minister K.T. Rama Rao to an open discussion in front of Arts College, on the issue of students and unemployed youth of Telangana. "It is absolutely shameful that the TRS government has denied permission for Rahul Gandhi's visit to Osmania University. KCR, KTR and company should remember that it was because of Congress President Sonia Gandhi that Telangana state was achieved and all the power being enjoyed by KCR and his family is because of her. Forgetting everything, how can they deny permission to Soniaji's son, when he wanted to visit OU to know about students and unemployed youth's problems?" he questioned. Earlier in the day, when NSUI and Youth Congress activists held protests at Osmania University and Ministers Quarters, Banjara Hills, they were arrested. Police even took TPCC Working President T. Jagga Reddy into preventive custody, when he visited Banjara Police Station to inquire about the arrest of NSUI activists. Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Telangana on May 6 and 7. He will attend a public meeting at Warangal on May 6. He is scheduled to hold a meeting with party leaders at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on May 7. He will also meet family members of some Telangana martyrs. Thiruvananthapuram, May 1 : A 16-year-old girl died after eating a chicken item from a hotel in Kerala's Kasargod, while 31 others, who had consumed food from the same restaurant on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, were admitted to various hospitals in the district with food poisoning symptoms, officials said. The girl, identified as Devananda of Karivellur in Kannur district, had eaten a 'chicken shawarma' on Friday from the'Idea Food Point' at Neeleswaram in Kasargod. State Food and Civil Supplies Department, in a statement, said that the hotel, functioning without proper license from the department, has been sealed and the District Collector directed to conduct an investigation. State Health Minister Veena George has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Senior CPI-M leader and Urban Affairs and Excise Minister M.V. Govindan told IANS that the government will conduct an investigation in all food outlets across the state. "... government will not allow such things to happen in the state of Kerala." He said that the government will take steps to ensure that quality food is provided to the consumers at hotels and said that stringent action will be taken against erring hoteliers who are functioning without a license and failing to provide quality and healthy food to consumers. Chennai, May 1 : The heart of a youth, who was declared brain dead at the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, was harvested and transported by road to Appolo hospital, Chennai for transplantation, officials said on Sunday. CMC Vellore officials told IANS that construction worker, R. Dinakaran, 21, of Vanniyar in Tiruppatur town met with a road accident on April 29 while driving a two-wheeler and was admitted to hospital. However, he was declared brain dead on Sunday. His family gave consent for the transplant of his organs including his eyes, kidneys, liver, and heart. A team of doctors from Appolo Hospital arrived at the Vellore hospital and transported the organ by 3 p.m. His kidneys, liver, and eyes (cornea) were used for transplantation at CMC Vellore itself. Patna May 1 : A man in Bihar's Darbhanga district stabbed his aunt multiple times, killing her, on Sunday afternoon after a tiff over a sapling of a papaya plant, police said. Ravi Kumar killed his aunt Vibha Devi following a heated argument between her and his mother on Saturday. The incident was reported from Subhankarpur locality under town police station in the district. As per the statement to the police, Priyanka Kumari, Vibha Devi's daughter, said that her mother Vibha had planted a sapling of papaya plant in a house and she used bricks to fence it so as to protect it from animals. "Ravi's mother objected to the fencing and it led to a quarrel between her and my mother on Saturday. On Sunday, Ravi came into the house and assaulted my mother... he pulled out the knife and stabbed her multiple times. She collapsed and went unconscious," Priyanka said in her statement to the police. After committing the crime, the accused fled from the spot using a motor boat to cross the Bagmati river. Local villager Raj Kumar alleged: "Ravi is involved in several criminal cases. He was also involved in illegal trade of liquor and local police knew about his activities. Actually, Ravi was under the protection of local police. Hence, he is openly selling liquor. He used to threaten anyone in the locality with dire consequences." A police official said: "We have registered an FIR against the accused. He is at large. We are making efforts to arrest him." Pune, May 1 : A change in captaincy and opening partnership brought out the best from Chennai Super Kings as fifties from Ruturaj Gaikwad (99 off 57 balls) and Devon Conway (85 not out off 55 balls) propelled the defending champions to a massive 202/2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at MCA Stadium on Sunday. In a stadium filled with yellow jerseys, Gaikwad and Conway took apart a lethal bowling line-up with an outstanding 182-run opening partnership to put Chennai in the driver's seat at the innings break. The 182-run opening stand between Gaikwad and Conway is also the highest partnership of IPL 2022 and also the highest stand for any wicket for Chennai in the history of the tournament. For Hyderabad, T. Natarajan was the only bowler among the wickets with 2/42 as the side conceded only 49 runs in the last five overs after being blown away by Chennai's left-right opening pair. Chennai was off to a blistering start, thanks to the opening pair of Conway and Gaikwad. After taking 46/0 in power-play, Chennai accelerated superbly, taking 7, 13, 14, 11, 15 and 17 runs in the next six overs. The duo took full advantage of Hyderabad being forced to bowl part-time off-spin of Aiden Markram as main off-spinner Washington Sundar walked off due to an injury to his hand while trying to save a boundary at deep square leg. The main aggressor in the acceleration was Gaikwad, who produced shots of sheer class to complete his fifty in the tenth over. Post that, Gaikwad unleashed carnage on Hyderabad, thumping Markram over long-on for back-to-back sixes. The duo took full advantage of Hyderabad being forced to bowl part-time off-spin of Aiden Markram as main off-spinner Washington Sundar walked off due to an injury to his hand while trying to save a boundary at deep square leg, taking 36 runs off his three overs. He continued to make merry against the raw pace of Umran Malik, with a glorious straight bat chip over mid-off for four followed by cleanly lofting over long-off for a six in the 12th over. Gaikwad was on course to reach his second IPL century but fell short by just a solitary run, slicing a slower, short ball off T. Natarajan to Bhuvneshwar Kumar at a backward point. On the other hand, Conway picked up pace after starting slow. He reached his maiden IPL fifty off 39 balls in the 15th over, getting a top-edge on a pull-off Marco Jansen for six. He then thumped the tall left-arm pacer for another four and six to take 20 runs off the over. Conway further slammed Natarajan for a six and two fours in the last three overs to help Chennai go past the 200-run mark despite M.S Dhoni falling for eight in the final over. Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 202/2 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 99, Devon Conway 85 not out; T. Natarajan 2/42) against Sunrisers Hyderabad Latest updates on IPL 2022 Mumbai, May 1 : As many as nearly 60 per cent of non-Marathi respondents in Mumbai have said that they have never been treated badly by local Marathis. As per an IANS-CVoter survey, the question was posed to only those who were born outside Maharashtra. The question posed was when you are outside your home, have you or any of your family members ever been treated badly by local Marathis? As per the survey, 59.9 per cent said they have never been treated badly while 22.5 per cent said sometimes they have been treated badly, and 10.4 per cent said they have been often treated badly. To another question on whether outsiders are a threat to Marathi language and culture, which was asked only to Marathis, 58.3 per cent said the outsiders are not a threat, while 25 per cent said they are a threat to a great extent, while 8.3 per cent said they are a threat to some extent. On Maharashtra Day which falls every year on May 1, residents of the city revealed startling preferences and opinions during a survey conducted by C Voter for IANS in the last week of April. Among the many questions asked about political, social and local issues, one was: Who do you think has been the most influential politician in Mumbai since Maharashtra became a state in 1960? While the media in Delhi seems to think that Sharad Pawar, the formidable and veteran chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, should be the pick, residents of Mumbai were of the opinion that the late Balasaheb Thackeray has been the most influential politician. The respondents were divided into two categories: those born in Maharashtra and those born outside the state. Both categories overwhelmingly favoured Balasaheb Thackeray. More than 46 per cent of local Marathis chose Balasaheb Thackeray while more than 50 per cent of non-Marathis picked him as their choice. Sharad Pawar, who could possibly lead the opposition challenge to Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is nowhere close to the founder of Shiv Sena. Just about 8.4 per cent of local Marathis opted for Pawar while a meagre 4.5 per cent of non-Marathis opted for him. Aizawl, May 1 : In one of the biggest arms seizure in Mizoram, Assam Rifles on Sunday seized a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, including 24,000 gelatine sticks (weighing 3,000 kg) and detained four people in this connection, officials said. Assam Rifles officials said that acting on a tip-off, a team of the paramilitary force intercepted two vehicles near Kelsih village in Aizawl district and seized the arms and ammunition, which include three pump action shotguns, five 0.22 rifles, 20 boxes of pellets, seven telescopes, 44 kg safety fuse, and 100 kg of gunpowder, apart from the 24,000 gelatine sticks. The two vehicles, which were ferrying the weapons were also seized, the official said, adding that the detainees are being interrogated by the senior officials. An Assam Rifles statement said that use of such war-like stores could have endangered the lives of innocent people and led to various illegal activities. "This recovery has prevented the loss of precious lives. This operation is a huge setback for all anti national activists. The operation's success would go a long way in establishing peace and harmony," the statement said. Intelligence and security officials suspect that the arms and ammunition were smuggled from Myanmar, which shares 1,643 km long unfenced international borders with Mizoram, as well as Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. Besides arms and ammunition, varied harmful drugs, especially heroin, highly-addictive methamphetamine tablets, also commonly known as 'Yaba', poppy seeds, opium, ganja (marijuana), morphine, bottles of cough syrup valued at hundreds of crores, various other contrabands, gold, and foreign cigarette are often smuggled from Myanmar to northeastern states, especially Mizoram and Manipur. Patna, May 1 : Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav has urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and DGP S.K. Singhal to take action against a person who has threatened to rape his wife and daughter in a video uploaded on social media. The accused person, sporting a saffron scarf, threatens to rape Yadav's wife and daughter, amid extreme abusive languages directed at the superstar. "We have urged CM Nitish Kumar and DGP SK Singhal to take immediate action against that person. The accused looks to be mentally ill and poisonous person. He is not only using abusive languages at me but also threatening to rape my wife and daughter," Yadav posted on social media platforms. "I am hopeful of getting justice from the administration and stringent action will be taken against that poisonous person. I leave it to my fan to decide what would I do against him. I live for my fans and always follow their suggestions," he said. He also posted the famous urdu dialogue "Koi Lakh Bura Chahe To Kya Hota Hai, Wahi Hota Hai Jo Manzoor-e-Khuda Hota Hai," he said by signing off his tag line "Thik Hai". Mumbai, May 1 : Delhi Capitals opener Prithvi Shaw has been reprimanded and fined 25 percent of his match fee for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during their team's match against Lucknow Super Giants at Wankhede Stadium, here on Sunday. Shaw, who scored just 5 runs during Delhi's run chase, admitted the offence. "Mr. Shaw admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction," the IPL said in a statement. "For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding," it added. Notably, Level 1 offence pertains to gestures towards umpires or opposition. Brilliant half-centuries by K.L Rahul (77 off 51), Deepak Hooda (52 off 34) and a sensational bowling effort by left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan (4/16) led Lucknow to a six-run win over Delhi in the thrilling 45th match of the IPL 2022. With the win, LSG jumped to second place on the points table with 14 points while DC are slotted in at the sixth spot with 8 points. Latest updates on IPL 2022 New Delhi, May 1 : Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday said that Kashmiri Pandits must get the minority status in Kashmir. Modi said the Central government has filled an affidavit in the Supreme Court that if any state government would like to award minority status to any community in the state, it must be allowed. However, he said, the apex court's decision on the affidavit is still awaited. Citing the demographic population of northeast, Modi said that over 80 per cent population is Christian in the region and Hindu population is only 10 per cent. "In such cases, how Christians can be called minority there, Hindus are in minority there," said Sushil Modi. Modi made the remarks while speaking at an event 'The Kashmir Files in Distant Lands and Now Beyond' held by the Global Kashmiri Pandits Diaspora where four International Chapter Heads of the diaspora shared their thoughts on the film -- 'The Kashmir Files' in their countries. Modi that he will raise this demand of "giving Kashmiri Pandits the minority status in Kashmir and declaring them as victims of genocide". He said that the government must also come with a White Paper to document all those episodes of atrocities that happened with the Kashmiri Pandits. "This diaspora should do the first work of documenting all the atrocities to narrate the stories of genocide to the coming generation. Otherwise, no one will know this incident after 15 to 20 years later. However, film director Vivek Agnihotri has already documented much of that for the film," said Modi. He also said that over a dozen films have been made on Kashmir, but not a single line has been mentioned in those films about the pangs of Kashmiri Pandits. "Instead, they tried to justify the terrorism in Kashmir," he said. "This land has been the origin of India's cultural conscience," Modi said. He also said that the credit of reaching the film "The Kashmir Files" to every household of the country goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "For the first time, he mentioned about this film in the BJP Parliamentary meeting and said it has rattled to the entire ecosystem which claims to be the torchbearer of freedom of expression but does not want truth to be told," said Sushil Modi. Dakshina Kannada, : May 1 (IANS) A youth, who had allegedly misbehaved with women in a mosque in Ullal town of Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district, has been arrested, police said on Sunday. The arrested person is identified as Sujith Shetty, 26, a resident of Nitte near Karkala town. According to police, he had barged inside prayer hall for women and misbehaved with several on April 28. The accused had targeted the women who had come for special prayers organised at the mosque. The accused had held the hand of a woman and dragged her, police said. The complainant had also mentioned that the accused had lowered his trouser and flashed his genitals. Before the women could react the accused had managed to escape. The police had lodged complaint under various sections of the IPC including 448 (tresspass), 354 (assault or criminal force to women with intend to outrage modesty), 509 (gesture or act intending to insult modesty of women) and 295 A (deliberate malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings). Kolkata, May 1 : A passenger aircraft of SpiceJet experienced a massive mid-air turbulence while landing at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal in West Burdwan district of West Bengal on Sunday evening. Around 40 passengers received minor injuries after the overhead cabin luggage fell on them. The flight was coming from Mumbai. SpiceJet authorities have confirmed the event of the Mumbai-Andal flight facing air-turbulence at the time of landing. Andal Airport sources said that the injured passengers were immediately rushed to a local hospital. While some of them were discharged after giving first-aid, others are still under treatment. All of them are said to be out of danger. Sources said the aircraft took from Mumbai at around 5 p.m. and was supposed to land at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal at around 7.30 p.m. However, before landing, the aircraft faced mid-air turbulence. The pilot of the aircraft, however, managed the situation and somehow landed at the airport. But, several passengers were injured. New Delhi, May 1 : Delhi on Sunday recorded 1,485 fresh Covid cases in last 24 hours, recording a marginal decline against 1,520 cases reported the previous day, but there was no new death, the Health Department bulletin said. The number of active cases has also risen to 5,997, while the Covid positivity rate stands at 4.89 per cent. With 1,204 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 18,52,388. The number of Covid patients being treated in home isolation stands at 4,358. With the new cases, the total caseload is now 18,84,560, while the death toll continues at 26,175. The Covid fatality rate in capital city continues at 1.39 per cent, as per the bulletin. The number of Covid containment is currently 920. A total of 30,398 new tests -- 21,329 RT-PCR and 9,069 Rapid Antigen - were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,78,84,978, while 83,131 vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours - 12,112 first doses, 42,226 second doses and 28,793 precaution doses. The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,35,24,502, according to the health bulletin. New Delhi, May 2 : Days after the developed world sought to belittle India for continued oil imports from Russia, COP26 president Alok Sharma's endorsement of a letter by UK's Secretary, Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on Sunday came under severe criticism from all quarters for encouraging fossil fuel going against his role of head of the climate negotiations conference. Sharma has been the COP president since the last climate change conference was held at Glasgow (COP26) in UK in November 2021. Sharma is known for his almost theatrical gestures of weeping when the CO26 concluded with words "phasing down coal" on India's insistence rather than "phasing out". COP negotiations are held annually to decide collective actions to reduce emissions so as to restrict global temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era. "Investment by oil and gas companies in 'new clean energy technology'.... And we need a proper accelerated plan to make this happen. The future of energy has to be clean and green (sic)," Sharma had quote tweeted a tweet by his country's Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng. Kwarteng's tweet had said: "The North Sea is vital to our energy security, so I will launch another licensing round later this year. In return, I want oil and gas companies to reinvest their profits into the UK, so we all feel the benefit -- jobs, growth, new clean energy technology. I think that's fair along with the image of an appeal 'Accelerating investment to protect Britain's energy security." T. Jayaraman, Senior Fellow, Climate Change, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, tweeted: "Shocking tweet by the President of #COP26. Were his dramatics at the closing plenary in Glasgow for real? Here he is, tweeting support to immediate expansion of UK oil and gas. What "new clean energy technology" is he talking about? (sic)." In fact, the COP President endorsing that appeal/letter that said: "I want to also be clear that we will not bend to the will of activists who naively want us to extinguish production in the UK Continental Shelf has drawn widespread criticism from some influential western personalities too. Tejal Kanitkar, Associate Professor at National Institute of Advance Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru tweeted: "#COP26 President tweets support for oil and gas for the UK, for 'decades to come'. Seems like we now have an unequal atmosphere as well. One that can discriminate between CO2 molecules from oil, gas, and coal...or based on which part of the world they emerge from perhaps?" Patna, May 2 : JD-U MP Giridhari Yadav has put a question mark on his own government and has claimed that Bihar only have labourers and not companies. The statement from Banka MP came during the inspection of an under construction road bridge on Ganga river which collapsed at Sultanpur. Around 50 meters of the bridge collapsed amidst a strong wind on Saturday evening. The bridge will connect Bhagalpur district with adjoining Khagaria. "We were expecting that the bridge will be built soon but such an incident will delay the project. It is a matter of investigation; and accountability should be fixed on the company. The contract for the construction of the bridge is given to a company which does not belong to Bihar. Here in Bihar, we have laborers but not companies," Yadav said. The statement came at a time when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Industry Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain are inviting industries to come in Bihar. Recently, a Pepsi plant was inaugurated in Begusarai and an ethanol plant in Purnea on Saturday. The cost of the Sultanganj bridge is Rs 1,710 crore and it is one of the ambitious projects of the Chief Minister. Nitin Navin, Bihar's Road Construction Minister said: "We have initiated thorough inquiry into the matter and culprits will be penalised." "It seems that the balancing of the bridge was not done properly. The experts of IIT Roorkee and IIT Patna will investigate the incident and will report to the government in a time bound manner," he added. LJP (R) president Chirag Paswan said that the Chief Minister should be answerable to such a collapse. "Why are bridges collapsing regularly in Bihar," he asked. "The way the bridge collapsed in a strong wind indicates a massive level of corruption in it. Low cost materials would have been used in it. The construction company completely compromised with the quality of the bridge," Paswan alleged. Kiev, May 2 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that an evacuation is underway inside the Azovstal plant in the besieged city of Mariupol. "The first group of about 100 people is already heading to the controlled area," Zelensky tweeted. He said that the evacuees are set to arrive in southern Ukraine's city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. Petro Andryushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of Mariupol said earlier on Telegram that the evacuation began at 4 p.m. local time. The Ukrainian authorities are working with the United Nations to evacuate other civilians from the plant, Zelensky said. The evacuation from Mariupol was the centerpiece of talks between Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday. Mariupol, a key Azov Sea port city in eastern Ukraine, has seen intense fighting since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started. Jerusalem, May 2 : Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to wish him a happy Eid al-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid heightened regional tensions. Herzog expressed hope for "peace and stability in the region" on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, said a statement issued by Herzog's office, without elaborating on the content of the conversation. He also spoke with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and wished them a happy holiday, Xinhua news agency reported. Herzog's office noted that the President is expected to speak with more leaders in the next few days. It was the first official talk between Herzog and Abbas since the beginning of a wave of fatal violence between Israel and the Palestinians in March. The UAE and Bahrain agreed to normalise their ties with Israel in the US-brokered Abraham Accords which were signed in September 2020. The Israeli Presidency is a largely ceremonial position. San Juan Airport, San Juan, Dominican Republic [ SJM / MDSJ ] If you are planning to travel to San Juan or any other city in Dominican Republic, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the San Juan Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... San Juan Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Dominican Republic. San Juan Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. 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Scroll down to know more about San Juan Airport or San Juan Airport, Dominican Republic. San Juan Airport Map - Location of San Juan Airport Load Map Dominican Republic - General Information Country Code DO Capital Santo Domingo Currency Peso (DOP) 1 DOP = 0.018 USD 1 USD = 55.213 DOP 1 DOP = 0.017 EUR 1 EUR = 58.268 DOP More DOP convertion rates Tel Code +1 Top Level Domain .do This page provides all the information you need to know about San Juan Airport, Dominican Republic. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Dominican Republic or traveling to San Juan Airport. Details about San Juan Airport given here include San Juan Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of San Juan Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of San Juan Airport Location of San Juan Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... San Juan Airport Time Zone and Current time at San Juan Airport Address and contact details of San Juan Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of San Juan Airport on Google Map. General information about Dominican Republic where San Juan Airport is located in the city of San Juan. General information include capital of Dominican Republic, currency and conversion rate of Dominican Republic currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... SJM - San Juan Airport IATA Code and MDSJ - San Juan Airport ICAO code has been expanding the footprint of the doctor-staffed clinics at a breakneck pace, opening a new location nearly every three days. The rapid escalation comes as the retailer looks to grow its Walgreens Health line of business across the U.S. More than half of the co-branded clinics will be in underserved areas. In addition to being, at least conceptually, a good business decision; the growth strategy is also pointed toward the retailers mission of driving a healthier future for American consumers. Walgreens coordinated care model leverages a tech-enabled platform paired with physician-led care teams comprised of both doctors and pharmacists to optimize patient care management. There is a bit of a horse race currently underway between drugstore and pharmacy chains to reinvent, or perhaps evolve, their offerings and store experiences as promoting and better supporting shopper health and wellness. Walgreens competitors like CVS Health and even Walmart have also been committing billions of dollars into innovative and convenient primary care initiatives. Each of the Walgreens VillageMD locations include on average up to eight exam rooms, and they are typically staffed by at least two doctors along with additional healthcare professionals such as pharmacists. As of writing, the company has 102 of its neighborhood health destinations opened and operating, with a current in-progress goal of 200 to be open soon, and some 600 locations open and serving communities by 2025. The practices, many of which are geared toward the needs of underserved communities and neighborhoods, offer a wide range of health services. Low-cost, close-to-home solutions including longitudinal care for patients with chronic health conditions, as well as preventive services and treatment for various illnesses and injuries offer the future of retailer-provided healthcare delivery and wellness consulting. Walgreens Village MD rollout accepts most major insurance providers, and also offers out-of-pocket and sliding scale pricing options for patients. +++ This article originally appeared in the PSFK wellness retail strategy-report, Reframing The Store As A Health & Wellness Experience. In the first chapter of Sascha Rothchilds mesmerizing debut thriller, Blood Sugar, five-year-old Ruby Simon grabs the ankle of a boy struggling in the Atlantic Ocean and holds on until he drowns. Flash forward 25 years to a Miami Beach interrogation room, where a detective confronts Ruby with photos of four murder victims, including the boy. Ruby says she killed him because he had bullied her beloved older sister, and recalls the circumstances of two other killings before the detective gets to the crime shes been arrested for: her husbands murder. In this vividly written page-turner, Rothchild does a terrific job keeping readers wondering about Rubys reliability and pulls off the considerable challenge of engendering sympathy for an unrepentant killer. When I was on a family vacation many years ago, my five-year-old nephew befriended another child at the hotel pool. They began to play pretend, some sort of convoluted superhero scenario, and I heard my nephew say, I want to be the bad guy! He then paused and thought about what he had so excitedly exclaimed. And then he pensively said, Im fucked. I like the bad guys. The shocked parents of the other child quickly pulled their offspring away because the f-word was used, and I sat down and discussed why exactly my nephew likes bad guys. I understood him completely and what we determined is that bad guys are more fun because they have more options. Like Tolstoys famous quote about happy families all being alike, good guys are always good in the same way, bad guys are bad limitlessly. So, we can be entertained by the bad guy, but can we in good conscience root for the bad guy? Not exactly. Enter the antihero. A deeply flawed character whodespite their misdeedswe want to win in the end. And winning can mean anything from getting the girl to escaping the law. I wrote for the Netflix series GLOW and in the second episode, Marc Marons Sam tells Alison Bries antiheroine Ruth, Relax, the devil gets all the best lines. True! The term devil is used loosely there, as is the term antihero in my list of captivating characters. 10. Rodion Raskolnikov: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky In one of the greatest novels of all time, Dostoevsky creates an antihero who himself struggles with being an antihero. Talk about meta! The man commits one little murder in order to better himself and his situation. He is destitute, the victim is an unsavory pawn brokerjustifications abound. This is the saga of a man who cannot live with his decisions, until he admits his guilt to others. 9. Lestat de Lioncourt: The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice Selfish, beautiful, and charming, this alluring and illusive bad boy is timeless. Literally. He is often misunderstood, because how could us mere mortals relate to his depth of experience? Lestat is such a jerk, yet when he loves, he loves completely. So he in turn is easy to love. 8. Joe Goldberg: You by Caroline Kepnes Before I read the first book in this phenomenal series, I couldnt imagine being on the same side as a stalker. But Joe is so intelligent, thoughtful, and capable, its difficult not to side with him in all things. Even things that seem unspeakably evil, like kidnapping and murder. He is deftly written and his victims are cleverly likable when he is obsessed with them, and cloyingly annoying once he is over them. So even when its wrong, I find myself on Team Joe. 7. Emma Woodhouse: Emma by Jane Austen How can an entitled, meddling, and smug lady capture our hearts? She can also be relatable and compassionate and have the inexperience of youth on her side. Emma goes about her life certain she is right about everything, especially others. She makes a mess of things, yet in the end grows without losing any of her special brand of moxie. 6. Carrie White: Carrie by Stephen King The classic tale of a teen bullied to the brink. Carrie is so alone, so misguided, and so abused by her evil mother that when she unleashes her wrath on the entire town, Im proud of my girl! I wish Carrie didnt die, and instead created a special school for others to help harness telekinetic power and anger into something good. 5. Harriet Welsch: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh When I was little and first read this indelible novel, I knew it was supposed to be a cautionary tale. Spying is bad! Writing things down can come back to haunt you! But instead of learning from Harriets mistakes, I was inspired to emulate her. I was always an eavesdropper, but after reading about Harriet I took it up a notch and absorbed information around me, especially information I was not supposed to have, in a more formal manner. I began taking copious notes in my diary and have never stopped. 4. Hannibal Lecter: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris One marker of fantastic antiheroes is extreme intelligence. One can understand why a genius might easily get bored and behave badly, even eat a person every now and again. Hannibal is a supreme antihero because his admiration for Clarice Starling, our heroine, helps us give him a pass. Also, as evil as Hannibal is, there are other, worse monsters lurking, making him seem likable in comparison. 3. Howard Roark: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand I consider Roark an antihero because his biggest flaw is also what also makes him exceptional. He believes his vision and his greatness are far more important than making others happy or comfortable. Buildings and politics and the age-old debate of the one versus the many sit on this characters strong shoulders. 2. Roy Basch: The House of God by Samuel Shem This young doctor is alarming and satirical and despicable. He cheats on his girlfriend, makes fun of his patients, and is disgusted by the look and smell of old peoples flesh. He calls elderly patients gomers, meaning Get Out of My Emergency Room, and by the middle of the book, its easy to understand this disrespectful acronym. Dr. Basch is part hero because he gives us a horrific yet humorous and extremely honest perspective of a doctors experience working in a hospital. Published: 27 April 2022 Australian Climate Change Court Ruling a Setback for Children's Rights Noam Peleg The full bench of the Australian Federal Court ruled, in March 2022, that the Federal Minister for the Environment does not have a duty of care for children and future generations when exercising its authority under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). This decision sets environmental protection and childrens rights back. It enables Australias Minister for the Environment to effectively ignore international human rights standards, as well as local, predominantly procedural, child law standards, when exercising their authority. The case was originally brought by a group of eight teenagers, and a nun who acted on their behalf for legal purposes. They asked the Federal Court for an injunction to prevent the Minister for the Environment from approving a proposal by mining company Whitehaven Coal to expand the Vickery coalmine in northern New South Wales. Last year, the Court ruled that the Minister has a duty of care for children, and that their decision whether to approve further expansion of the mine must consider the impact of climate change on children and future generations. The Court at that time assumed that such a decision will also be based on the best interests of children. The Minister appealed, explicitly arguing that they do not have such duty towards children in Australia. More specifically, the Minister argued that they do not have the duty to avoid causing personal injury or death to persons who were under 18 years of age and ordinarily resident in Australia arising from emissions of carbon dioxide into the Earths atmosphere. In other words, the Minister went to Court to argue that caring for children isnt part of their job description. Climate change and its impact current and future on livelihoods in Australia was not disputed in this litigation, and the full bench has accepted the scientific evidence that unequivocally proves the devastating impact that rising sea levels and rising temperatures will have. But despite the undisputed effect of emissions from the combustion of the coal, for example, the Court, as per Chief Justice Allsop, decided that the Minister does not have an abstract duty of care as their decisions are policy-oriented and broad in nature, and therefore the proper accountability process to oversight its decision is a parliamentary one, and that such decisions should not be adjudicated nor reviewed by the Court. This represents a narrow understanding of accountability, the role of courts and of democracy more generally, and ignores childrens positionality in society. It overlooks the inherent democratic deficit that children experience and suffer from. Children do not have the right to vote, and characterising parliamentary oversight as the only appropriate processes to discuss broad policy questions is paternalistic and anti-children. It also ignores the reality where the politicians that the Court assumes that will scrutinise environment policies are the same politicians who dismissed childrens climate strikes and climate protests to begin with. Politicians might talk about the need to promise children a better future, but this case shows that when it comes to accepting binding duties to act on such promises, politicians are doing everything they can to avoid it. The decision is based on a narrow reading of the term the environment under the Act, which led the Court to rule that when the Minister considers whether to approve an expansion of a mine, it acts with regard to the likely significant impact, not on climate change, the environment more generally, or the foreseeability of risk to health and safety of people in the future, but rather specified matters of national environmental significance as defined by the Act. This gives the Minister a carte blanche to ignore climate change and its impact on children and future generations. This decision leaves children with limited recourse: they cant vote and therefore cant directly engage with the political processes that set the broad policies that the Court focused on; politicians ignore them; and the Court ignores the actual parties of the case, namely children themselves, refusing to scrutinise decisions that primarily affect them. The Court ruled that the Minister is unaccountable to them. This case demonstrates the urgent need for adopting a comprehensive and meaningful human rights mechanism, either as an act of federal or state/territory parliaments, or as an amendment to the Constitution. Such a mechanism must include provisions that acknowledge and protect the rights of children, in accordance with Australias commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The states human rights acts that we already have, for example in Victoria or Queensland, are insufficient in that regards. Children in these states, as well as in the rest of Australia, deserve much more. [This piece was originally published by the UNSW Human Rights Institute: https://www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/commentary/climate-change-court-ruling-setback-childrens-rights] By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/01/2022 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers have revealed when they'd like to expand their family and have a baby.JoJo, 31, and Jordan, 33, got engaged on 's twelfth season in 2016, and they're set to get married in Southern California next month.Since the couple is about to settle down, Jordan admitted to Us Weekly that he and JoJo have been talking about starting a family."It's kind of been [a conversation that's] coming up a little bit more recently," Jordan shared on Tuesday.Jordan said "all of" their friends already have kids, adding, "Everyone that will be my groomsman, except for one, had a child in the last calendar year."Jordan and JoJo's original plan was to "get married and then wait a couple years" to conceive, however, the pair had to postpone their 2020 wedding.JoJo and Jordan, whose engagement aired on ABC in August 2016, initially planned on getting married on June 13, 2020.However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, JoJo and Jordan decided in 2020 to push their wedding back to May 2021. But when that time came, JoJo realized her dream wedding wasn't going to happen that month or even by the end of that year.At the time, there was a 10-person maximum capacity on who could gather at the Santa Barbara vineyard, which the couple had selected as their perfect wedding venue, and so JoJo was "frustrated" over COVID restrictions and didn't want to wed under those circumstances."I think we're at that time in our life where we're like, 'Oh, my gosh, we've got to have a kid tomorrow,' but also... I don't think we'll wait a long time," Jordan said. "But that might not be right away."JoJo added, "We're not as scared of it."JoJo said of potentially getting pregnant, "It's a big deal. [But] I think it's going to be one of those things where... we're just going to wake up one morning and be like, 'I think we're ready. Let's do it."JoJo predicted the couple will be ready to start trying "in the next, like, one [or] two years."JoJo just celebrated her bachelorette party in late March in Cabo San Lucas.She and her sports-analyst fiance reportedly moved to Puerto Rico in 2021, and the couple apparently loves the idea of raising their future children there."It would be the best place to raise a family," JoJo told Us."My brothers live there, so my nephew lives, like, the best life ever. They're active outside all the time. It's in a great community. You just get out and play more [here], which I think is really cool.""A lot of kids, I think, get into technology a lot these days," she continued, "but the kids there, they're always outside and in the ocean. It's just cool."Last year, Jordan told the magazine that JoJo already had "baby fever" and he pictured becoming parents in their Texas home."Obviously, it will be our first house that we're in once we're married next year. And so kids could happen at any point after that, and we definitely have room," Jordan shared at the time.But first comes marriage, and JoJo and Jordan are excited about their nuptials.JoJo and Jordan revealed they'll be doing a first look and intend to write their own vows, and the ceremony will have "an Italian feel" to it and be "classic, timeless and romantic."When the pair's wedding was postponed for the second time in 2021, JoJo told Access, "We know that when it does happen, it will be everything that we want it to be. People will all feel very comfortable and we'll be in a better place.""We'll get to have everyone there that we love, because I don't want to have a wedding with my closest family and friends not being able to be there. So, it's fluid -- it's all fluid!" she added.Prior to starring on , JoJo competed for Ben Higgins ' heart on The Bachelor's 20th season and finished as the runner-up behind Lauren Bushnell Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group With music and the smell of food filling the air, people pop in and out of different booths that dot the land at the outdoor Brattleboro Area Farmers Market that opened for the season on Saturday, May 7, 2022, and will run every Saturday until Oct. 29. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW ORLEANS (AP) The memorial garden at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is about to get a lot more crowded as fellow musicians honor the many musical icons known as Ancestors who have passed since the festival was last held three years ago. Jazz Fest, which began Friday and will conclude on May 8, will feature on-stage tributes, as well as jazz funeral processions that will cross the Fair Grounds and conclude with the unveiling of the honorees likenesses alongside the other Ancestors at the rear of the Congo Square field. Thats Jazz Fest, Quint Davis, the festivals longtime producer/director, told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Like many African cultures, we stay connected to our ancestors. These people are part of us, part of our lives, part of New Orleans. Multiple commemorations, spread across both weekends, are planned for George Wein, Jazz Fests founder. Wein helped found the Newport Jazz and Folk festivals and then replicated his success worldwide. In 1970, New Orleans leaders recruited him to remake the citys two-year-old music festival. Wein added an outdoor Louisiana Heritage Fair, which became the blueprint for the contemporary Jazz Fest. He remained a fixture at Jazz Fest through 2019 and died on Sept. 13, 2021, in New York at the age of 95. The festival will honor Wein with jazz funerals on both weekends, as well as discussions about his legacy and a performance by his band, the Newport Allstars. A jazz funeral also was held Saturday for Malcolm Dr. John Rebennack, who died June 6, 2019, at age 77 after a heart attack. A tribute concert on the main Festival Stage will be held in his honor on May 8. Folk and blues guitarist Spencer Bohren performed one last time at Jazz Fest in 2019, dying six weeks later of prostate cancer on June 8, 2019, at age 69. On Sunday, his fellow members of the Write Brothers songwriters quartet will join his sons and others for a tribute on the Lagniappe Stage. Lafayette zydeco and blues guitarist Paul Lil Buck Sinegal, who recorded and toured with Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco and Rockin Dopsie, died June 10, 2019, at age 75. Fellow musicians will honor him in the Blues Tent on May 6. Dave Bartholomew, the trumpeter who co-wrote and produced most of Fats Dominos hits, died June 23, 2019, at age 100. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Elvis Costello and pianist Al Lil Fats Jackson, will salute Bartholomew on May 5. Jazz piano patriarch Ellis Marsalis Jr. died April 1, 2020 at age 85 of pneumonia brought on by COVID-19. On Sunday, a jazz funeral procession will be held and a tribute concert featuring his youngest son, drummer and vibraphonist Jason Marsalis. Adonis Rose & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra will celebrate Allen Toussaints legacy at the WWOZ Jazz Tent on May 6. He died in 2015. James Jim Boa Olander, an audio engineer who spent decades as the stage manager for the Blues Tent, died on March 1 at age 67. On Thursday, the festival will unveil an Ancestor Photo of Olander inside the Blues Tent. Neville Brothers and Meters keyboardist Art Neville died July 22, 2019, at age 81. Hell be commemorated along with his saxophonist brother Charles Neville, who died April 26, 2018, at age 79. On Friday, their youngest brother, Cyril, will join family members, plus members of the Neville Brothers Band and the Funky Meters, for a tribute on the festivals main stage. A joint jazz funeral will be held the next day. STONEHAM, Mass. (AP) A Massachusetts police officer and his brother have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly paying an employee of a Mass Save vendor company tens of thousands in weekly cash bribes. Joseph Ponzo, 48, a Stoneham police officer, and Christopher Ponzo, 47, of North Reading, an owner of an electrical contracting company, were also accused of using kickbacks and offering other benefits including a John Deere tractor, a computer, home bathroom fixtures and free electrical work in exchange for more than $36 million in Mass Save contracts with the vendor company, according to federal prosecutors. Contributed / Getty WATERBURY Dive crews are checking the area of Lakewood Park after an empty canoe was found floating offshore on Sunday, police said. Waterbury police responded to Lakewood Road around noon to assist the fire department after officials observed an empty canoe floating offshore with no one inside, according to Lieutenant Ryan Bessette. A collage of screenshot of videos on Xinjiang by foreign vloggers promoting China's official account of conditions in Xinjiang. UPDATED at 6:23 P.M. ET on 2022-05-04 China has enlisted some fresh faces in its pushback against charges it is committing genocide against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang: young foreign social media influencers who produce short videos showing happy minorities in the far-western region. Travel videos recorded by video bloggers known as vloggers are carried on platforms such as Twitter that are banned in China and spread by state media and affiliated sites. The echo and amplify Beijings massive propaganda effort to depict Uyghurs as content with and grateful for Chinese rule. The videos show foreign travelers interviewing people in factories in Xinjiang, with captions such as Friends, its a lie that there is a genocide of the Uyghurs. Everything is normal here, and Is there a single piece of evidence that there are more than 1 million people in concentration camps? State-owned media outlets and local governments organize the pro-China campaign, paying vloggers to take trips, according to documents posted online and video producers familiar with the system. What happens is you'll have a state media like CGTN or CRI or iChongqing or any number of organizations which are run by the Chinese government which are the Chinese government and what they will do is they will pay for the flights, pay for the accommodation, organize the trip, and liaise with the content creator and invite them to go on these trips, said YouTuber Winston Sterzel from South Africa, who lived in Shenzhen for 14 years Minders working as translators or fixers are always present to make sure the content creators follow the script, he said. Vloggers, who post short videos on their personal websites or social media account on platforms like YouTube, say that local government officials arrange their travel and logging during trips they are hired for to make videos that put China in a good light. They arrange our travel, and they pay for our lodging and food, said YouTuber Lee Barrett in a video he recorded. Business Insider reported in January that Chinas consulate general in New York signed a U.S. $300 million contract with U.S.-based Vippi Media in New Jersey to create a social media campaign promoting positive messaging about China TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch as a lead-up to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Social media influencers were asked to produce content for their target audiences on Chinese culture, positive diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., and consulate general news. iving happily and joyfully On the YouTube channel Two Brothers, Netherlands-based Tarekk Habib and Anas Habib, both of Egyptian descent, published a video on Dec. 31, 2021, in which they say a Chinese company agreed to pay them U.S. $1,000 to produce and share a video extoling the governments measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus at the Olympics and to ensure the safety of athletes. They said they turned down the request and instead produced a video discussing Chinas oppression of Uyghur Muslims. China's struggle to shape world opinion about Xinjiang will come into sharp focus this month, when U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet makes a long-awaited visit to China, including Xinjiang. Since 2017, about 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples are believed to have been incarcerated a vast network of internment camps in Xinjiang. The U.S. and a handful of European countries have labelled these practices genocide, while China has angrily rejected criticism and maintains the camps are vocational training centers designed to combat religious extremism and terrorism. In fall 2021, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) government began an initiative to mobilize foreign students in China to praise Xinjiang policy. The effort was part of the central governments larger plan to portray ethnic minorities in Xinjiang as happy and content, according to an article in Xinjiang Daily. Under the title The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are living happily and joyfully, the report cited a series of letters written by Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping in which he called on foreign students in July 2021 to increase their understanding of the real China, so that their knowledge would inspire others to understand the country as well. The XUAR government in October 2021 sponsored a trip to Xinjiang for students from 16 countries, including Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Burundi, Uganda, Russia, Pakistan, Korea, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, the U.S. and the U.K. Chinese state media said the students visited Kashgar (Kashi), Hotan (Hetian), and other places, and saw Xinjiangs economic development, social stability, quality of life, culture, ethnic unity and religious harmony. They are not only able to look after the young and old people in their homes, they can also earn a salary. Their work environment is very good, and they are truly happy, an Armenian student was quoted as saying. Such accounts are meant to counter a growing tide of well-researched reports by researchers and foreign media about conditions in Xinjiang. Since the start of 2018, authorities have prevented most international journalists from entering Xinjiang and forced foreigners living in the region to leave. YouTubers from the U.S. and South Africa who lived in the Xinjiang or in mainland China for a decade or more said that while recent vlogs by foreigners traveling to Xinjiang appear to be simple and normal, government fixers are always on the other side of the camera, controlling what is said and recorded. Youre gonna be approached by your agent or your middleman who is a communicator between you and the management company, or as they call themselves, talent agencies, said LeLe Farley, an American comedian and rap artist who lived in China for years and worked as an announcer for Chinese-language programs. Those talent agencies get word directly from the government, like we need foreign bloggers for white-washing Xinjiang; we need them to go there, and heres the trip that weve prepared for them to go on. We'll pay for the whole trip, he said. Josh Summers, who ran a popular blog known as Far West China as well as a YouTube channel, moved to Xinjiangs capital Urumqi (Wulumuqi) in 2006 and lived both there and in Karamay (Kelamayi) until 2018. While in Urumqi (Wulumuqi), he wrote about and produced videos on Uyghur weddings, cuisine and Eid prayers at the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. A lot of these travelers that you're talking about, these people that are doing videos, the reality is they know nothing on Xinjiang, he said. They pretend to, but they know nothing, whereas I lived there. As authorities stepped up their surveillance and monitoring of Uyghurs in 2015, the Chinese government looked increasingly into the work of foreigners living in the region, Summers said. Summers said he was detained and questioned by authorities. While they eventually let him go, they also told him and his family that they could no longer stay in China. In 2018, representatives of the Chinese government deported him and forbade him from returning to Urumqi. He chose not to publish any videos about Xinjiang because he did not want to cause problems for Uyghur contacts. Look at all the Uyghurs dancing American Matthew Tye and South African Winston Sterzel were also forced to leave China over videos they published after having lived in the country for more than 10 years. The pair, who became well known in China under the handles laowhy86 and Serpentza, told RFA that vloggers videos, may appear to have been made freely, but they are fake and have another purpose altogether. The place might seem great to a tourist who knows no Chinese language or culture, but this is very dangerous, said Tye. By going there and smiling and saying, Look at all the Uyghurs dancing, you are helping one of the most disgusting governments in the world, Sterzel said. Tye and Sterzel, who are now both back in their home countries, have continued to post videos about China on their YouTube channels. They said that a Chinese government agent contacted them over email and offered to pay U.S. $2,000 if posted a propaganda video on their channel claiming that the COVID-19 virus was being spread by white-tailed deer in the U.S., Tye said Really, what the video is insinuating was that COVID-19 was found in America before China, he said. We strung them along to try to get as much information as possible, but they eventually found out who we were and they cut ties with us, he added. This has happened previously, and theyve tried to get us to do that with tourism, propaganda and all kinds of stuff. Jerry Goode, a South African living in China whose real name is Gerhard van der Merwe, according to Sterzel, is one of a number of foreigners who have been taken on the government-organized trips to Xinjiang to make vlogs. Goode recorded a YouTube a video of himself walking around the streets, stalls and night market of the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, a main tourist attraction. The video, post online on Jan. 24, has been viewed more than 60,000 times. At the end of the video, Goode declares that it is untrue that genocide is occurring in the region. Goode initially agreed to an interview with RFA about his trip to Xinjiang but never replied to further attempts to talk to him. Not close to normal Tye and Sterzel dismissed the video as state-sponsored propaganda. Xinjiang is massive, and theres no way that some idiot YouTuber who cannot speak Chinese, who cannot speak the Uyghur language, who knows nothing about the culture of China can walk around in this tiny little area and claim that there is no genocide or any bad things happening in China, Sterzel said. As for the tourism videos, if you watch any promotional videos that any other YouTubers made about any specific region of China, it won't just be about tourism, Sterzel said. There will be some government-angle incentives, there will be something about how the government has improved the lives of the people there or how the government has built this infrastructure. LeLe Farley, an American comedian and rap artist who lived in China, said middlemen working for Chinese officials approached him in 2019 to create videos promoting Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Xi Jinpings signature trade and transport infrastructure program. Farley said he was not interested because he has hosted events in Los Angeles for Chinese government entities, which he found to be soul crushing if youre not able to completely numb yourself out to them, or if you're not willfully ignorant. Gene Bunin, the founder the Xinjiang Victims Database, is a Russian-American dual citizen and researcher who first visited Xinjiang in 2008, and lived in Urumqi and Kasghar from 2014 to 2018. He told RFA that Uyghurs were living anything but a normal life, saying that from 2018 onward the number of people given prison sentences of 10 years or more has increased steadily. He also estimated that nearly half a million Uyghurs, mostly men, have been moved from internment camps to prisons. According to Bunin, a large number of them have been made to perform forced labor under the guise of poverty alleviation. About the happy Uyghurs featured on Chinese social media accounts, Bunin said: My friends there disappeared. What the YouTubers are saying in the counterpropaganda videos they make about Uyghurs are lies. Not all vloggers read from the Chinese government hymn sheet when they make videos about Xinjiang. A 20-year-old calling himself Guanguan used a GPS map compiled by BuzzFeed News in 2020 to locate various internment camps believed to hold Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang. That same year, Guanguan traveled to several places in the XUAR, including Urumqi (Wulumuqi), Changji (Sanji), Qomul (Hami), and Korla (Kuerle), and secretly videoed different detention facilities. In October 2021, he posted a 20-minute documentary on YouTube, depicting apparent detention facilities in and around the cities with footage from his trip on his YouTube channel. People like Guanguan have an incredible amount of courage, Sterzel said. As a Chinese citizen, the amount of trouble he could get into by doing this is incredible, but he still did it anyway. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. CORRECTIONS: An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated that Winston Sterzel had lived in Xinjiang and that Gene Bunin said some 300,000 Uyghurs have been moved from internment camps to prisons. When Zhang Ming left his post as Chinas ambassador to the European Union and became secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on January 1, Central and South Asia looked a lot different. The region had already been rocked by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August, but in the span of a few decisive days, the path ahead for the career diplomat took an unexpected turn. Unrest broke out across Kazakhstan in early January, leading to violent clashes sparked by long-simmering, popular grievances and a behind-the-scenes power struggle that culminated in a Russian-led military intervention in the Central Asian country under the guise of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Moscow-dominated security bloc. About seven weeks later, the Kremlin invaded Ukraine, launching the largest-scale conflict in Europe since World War II and triggering a tougher-than-expected Western response that has brought a series of political and economic knock-on effects that continue to reshape both Ukraine's and Russias neighbors. For Beijing, both crises have proved to be revealing tests about the scope and limits of Chinese foreign policy, particularly across Eurasia, where the SCO has been one of Chinas main vehicles for engaging with Central and South Asia. Born from the collapse of the Soviet Union, the multilateral security and economic bloc helmed by China -- which includes India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as members -- must now navigate the fallout across the region from Russias Ukraine invasion, including the risk of a food crisis, the ripple effects of Western sanctions against Russias economy, and growing anxiety over possible Russian political machinations in Central Asia. In general, the war in Ukraine has deeply disappointed the Chinese and also largely derailed their goals for the SCO, Haiyun Ma, a professor at Frostburg State University in Maryland who studies Beijing's relations with countries in Central and South Asia, told RFE/RL. For China, the SCO has long been an umbrella for Chinas more specific interests in the region and has also come to represent a balance of power between Beijing and Moscow, who cemented their deepening ties together in a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in early February. But the Ukraine war has thrown that balance off-kilter and experts believe it may never be reset. China has been trying to promote bilateral ties with Russia, but also multilateral ones, too, and the SCO was set to play a larger role between Beijing and Moscow, said Ma. But Russias invasion and the blowback it has brought with the war mean that the SCO is now entering a period of reevaluation. It will need to find a new identity. A New Face For Eurasia Finding that new face will be the task of the 64-year-old Zhang in his three-year term at the helm of the SCO. During his tenure in Brussels, he earned a reputation as a consensus-maker with an old-school approach to diplomacy, in contrast to the brash and confrontational style seen in a younger generation of Chinese wolf warrior diplomats who have gained headlines in recent years, according to an EU official who dealt with Zhang during his time as ambassador to Brussels. He is a man of compromise and pragmatism, said another EU official who worked with Zhang and asked to remain anonymous. Both those traits will be needed as Zhang steers around the regional wreckage brought by the Ukraine war. In Central Asia, both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have sent aid to Ukraine and said that they respect Kyivs territorial integrity. While not an outright rebuke of the Kremlin, the moves highlight the tightrope the governments in Central Asia are currently walking between their unease and displeasure with Russias invasion and the need to preserve what is traditionally a close working relationship. With brutal fighting under way in Ukraine and nationalism rising inside Russia, countries in the region are eager to avoid getting caught in the Kremlins crosshairs while maintaining room to maneuver. Theyre also looking to cushion themselves from the effects of Russias economic free fall, which has already cut growth estimates across the region. According to Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Moscow Carnegie Center, Russia remains firmly planted within Central Asia, but political fallout from the Ukraine war could lead to Beijing becoming even more appealing as a partner in the region, where it has already invested billions and become its preeminent economic force. On the one hand, you have Russia's reputation being damaged and its brand becoming toxic, Umarov told RFE/RL. On the other hand, all the Russian assets in Central Asia didnt disappear. Its economic and security presence is still there and, in addition to that, Moscow still has a deep understanding for how domestic politics works that China does not. Founded in 1996 as the Shanghai Five by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, the bloc renamed itself the SCO in 2001 with the introduction of Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2018 and Irans membership application was approved in 2021, although the country still needs to pass a technical and legal process before it can formally join. The SCO served as an early format for Beijing to settle lingering territorial disputes with the other members, and China initially had designs for creating a strong economic focus for the bloc. But those efforts were largely pushed aside by Russia, the organizations other hegemon, who has guarded its influence in Central Asia. As a result, the SCO consolidated around what it calls the three evils of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism and has focused on combatting organized crime and narcotics trafficking, as well as enforcing a loosely defined counterterrorism mandate. Since its founding, the SCO has faced criticism of being too diluted by competing ideas from its members and bogged down by a lack of funding and underlying mistrust between governments. In particular, Beijing has been careful about the Kremlin's interests in Central Asia, which it views as within its sphere of influence, although in recent years the two countries have strengthened their cooperation. When Putin and Xi met in Beijing on February 4 and signed a strategic document to hail their no limits partnership, they also vowed to strengthen the role and relevance of the SCO with both Beijing and Moscow at the helm. But now China must navigate the task of embracing many of its members desire for more distance from Russia, while still politically backing Moscow in the war, where it has often echoed the Kremlins narrative of the conflict and refused to condemn alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Due to its size and geography, Chinas role will grow, but the SCO wont have many success stories to point to, said Umarov. Beijing is also now seen as a supporter of Russia and as a country that isn't doing much to restrain Moscow when many [SCO members] are seeing it as a potential threat. China's Western Neighborhood Overcoming these problems will be no small task for Beijing. Zhang and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have floated the prospect of the SCO playing a mediator role in the Ukraine crisis, but such an idea received little reception outside of Chinese circles and has since vanished from official talking points. The SCO did not respond to RFE/RLs requests for comment about how the Ukraine war could affect its future, but Giulia Sciorati, a fellow at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, who studies the bloc, told RFE/RL that she believes the organization will look to find new opportunities by broadening its focus more to the Middle East and South Asia and branching out more into economic initiatives rather than the security focus it has taken on in recent years. This is an opportunity for China to push the SCO in new directions, she said. Beijing will have more on its shoulders than before, but there is still a view from China that the SCO is complementary to other outlets for Chinese power in the region and beyond. Prior to his posting as Chinas ambassador to the EU, Zhang worked in the Middle East and Africa. Three EU officials told RFE/RL that they view him as one of the architects of Beijings policy on that continent, where China has grown into one of Africa's most economically influential actors. The structure and mandate of the SCO make it difficult for an individual to put a personal stamp on the organization, but EU officials who worked with Zhang in Brussels said his new role should be viewed as a promotion and a sign that he is trusted in Beijing. As Ma, the Frostburg State University professor notes, this experience could go a long way as both Beijing and the SCO adapt to changes in the region and search for new relevance. The SCO has lost a lot of attraction right now, he said. But Zhang has a strong [CV] that shows that he could help reform and reframe it as more of an economic mechanism. An Asiatic cheetah gave birth to three cubs in Iran, the head of the environment department said on May 1, calling it a first in captivity for the endangered species. The cheetah -- named Iran -- delivered three "healthy" cubs by cesarean section, Ali Salajegheh told the official government news agency IRNA. "This is the first birth of an Asiatic cheetah in captivity," he said. "By preserving these cubs, we can increase the cheetah population in captivity and then in semi-captivity," Salajegheh added. Iran is one of the last countries in the world where Asiatic cheetahs live in the wild and began a United Nations-supported protection program in 2001. An Iranian official said in January that only a dozen Asiatic cheetahs are left in the wild in the country, describing the situation for the highly endangered species as extremely critical. Environmentalists say the worlds fastest animal has been the victim of drought, hunting, habitat destruction, and scarcity of prey due to hunters in the remote and arid central plateaus. The Iranian Cheetah Society says the only remaining habitats left for the majestic cats is the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge and the Touran Biosphere Reserve in northeast Iran. In 2018, Iran arrested at least seven conservation experts who are members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, a local group focused on biodiversity protection, especially for Asiatic cheetahs. They were accused of spying amid widespread condemnations by rights groups and others who dismissed the allegations as baseless. One of them, well-respected Iranian-Canadian university professor Kavous Seyed Emami, died in prison under disputed circumstances. The others remain in jail. With reporting by AFP Teachers have held protests in several Iranian cities on May Day, which coincided with Teachers Day in Iran. Ahead of the protests, the Iranian Teachers Trade Unions Coordination Council said authorities arrested at least four union activists in Tehran on April 30. Three other activists were reportedly arrested in the western city of Marivan, while a number were reportedly summoned in other cities. Rallies were held on May 1 in more than a dozen cities, including Shiraz, Arak, Kermanshah, and Sanandaj, where teachers demanded better labor conditions and the release of their jailed colleagues. In the southern port of Bushehr, reports said police reportedly used force against protesters and arrested at least six teachers who had joined the protests. Teachers have in recent months taken to the streets on several occasions to protest their conditions and demand higher wages. They have also called on the government to speed up the implementation of reforms that would see their salaries better reflect their experience and performance. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on April 29 that Iranian workers are facing mounting economic and political challenges to realizing their labor rights. The rights group said that, since March, Iranian authorities have increased their harassment of active members of the Iranian Teachers Trade Association, which has been leading nationwide protests for fair wages for the past three years. Iranian labor activists have been at the forefront of the struggle for the rights to free association and assembly in Iran, and they have paid a heavy price from government repression, Tara Sepehri Far, senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on April 29. Iranian authorities should recognize the rights of labor unions and engage in meaningful efforts to address the countrys mounting economic problems, she added. Several people were detained in Almaty on May 1 ahead of a planned rally by a banned political movement -- the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan. It was not clear how police decided whom to arrest because no one was visibly rallying. May 1 is the Day of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan. The last Ukrainian fighters in the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the strategic port of Mariupol vowed on May 8 not to give up as they face a bloody final showdown with Russian invaders after the evacuation of civilians. "We will continue to fight as long as we are alive to repel the Russian occupiers," Captain Svyatoslav Palamar, a deputy commander of Ukraine's Azov Regiment, told an online news conference. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "We don't have much time. We are coming under intense shelling," Palamar said, pleading with the international community to help to evacuate wounded soldiers from the plant. Officials on both sides said the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal had been completed. Eight buses carrying 174 Mariupol civilians, including 40 evacuated from the steelworks, arrived in Ukrainian-controlled Zaporizhzhya on May 8, AFP reported. Azovstal, with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian defenders holed up in its sprawling network of underground tunnels and bunkers, has achieved a symbolic value in the conflict, with the Russian forces seeking a celebratory win ahead of the Victory Day holiday on May 9. The conquering of Mariupol would also give Moscow a land bridge between the Crimean Peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014, and regions run by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told leaders of the Group of 7 (G7) countries on May 8 that 60 civilians died in the bombing of a school on May 7 in the eastern Luhansk region. "They were hiding from shelling in the building of a regular school, which was attacked by a Russian air strike," he said during a virtual meeting. Serhiy Hayday, the governor of the Luhansk region, told reporters earlier that Russian forces had bombed the school in Bilohorivka where about 90 people were sheltering, triggering a fire that engulfed the building. Hayday said 30 people were rescued from under the rubble. Bilohorivka is an urban settlement about 10 kilometers west of Lysychansk, which is under heavy Russian bombardment. Zelenskiy denounced Russia's heavy shelling in the east of the country, saying Russia has "forgotten everything that was important to the victors of World War II" a day before Moscow commemorates the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany. WATCH: In the first stage of the operation to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal steelworks, which is under attack by Russian forces in Mariupol, over 150 people were brought out by bus. Those who got out told harrowing stories on May 3 of bodies strewn around the plant. After Zelenskiy met with the G7 leaders, the group condemned Russias "unprovoked, unjustifiable, and illegal military aggression" against Ukraine and its "attempts to replace democratically elected Ukrainian local authorities with illegitimate ones." The G7 leaders commemorated the anniversary of the end of World War II by pledging to "spare no effort" to hold Putin and the architects "and accomplices of this aggression," including the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Belarus, accountable for their actions. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States said Putin's actions "bring shame on Russia and the historical sacrifices of its people." The United States after the meeting announced sanctions against three Russian television stations and executives from Gazprombank along with a ban on Americans providing accounting and consulting services to Russians. Ahead of the virtual meeting, British officials announced an extra $1.6 billion in military aid for Ukraine. The funding includes 300 million pounds of military equipment promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This includes radar systems to target Russian artillery, GPS jamming equipment, and night-vision devices. Earlier in the day, Zelenskiy met with the president of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, Baerbel Bas, who traveled to Kyiv by train, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced new weapons and equipment for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russian individuals and entities connected with the invasion. He also said the Canadian Embassy would reopen. Zelenskiy said securing the Bundestag's approval of heavy arms deliveries to help Ukraine fend off Russian attacks was one of his country's top priorities. The visit came after a major shift in German policy to send heavy weapons to Ukraine, including self-propelled howitzers and Gepard anti-aircraft systems, also known as the Cheetah system. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has faced increasing criticism over Germany not doing enough to help Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. But Scholz's government reversed course last month and pledged to export heavier weapons to Kyiv. On May 6, Zelenskiy called on Scholz to take a "powerful step" and visit Kyiv on May 9 -- the date that Russia commemorates as the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. There was no immediate word on whether Scholz had agreed. The German chancellor emphasized Germany's historical responsibility in supporting Ukraine against Russia's war in a televised speech he was to deliver to mark the anniversary. "We have learned a central lesson from our country's catastrophic history between 1933 and 1945," Scholz said, according to a transcript of the address quoted by dpa. "Freedom and security will triumph -- just as freedom and security triumphed over violence and dictatorship 77 years ago," he said. On the battlefront, Russia's Defense Ministry said on May 8 that it had destroyed a Ukrainian Navy ship near Odesa in an overnight missile strike. The ministry's statement added that Russian air defenses also shot down two Ukrainian SU-24 bombers and a Mi-24 helicopter over Snake Island in the Black Sea at night. The reports could not be independently verified. The head of Ukraine's regional military administration said Russian troops launched a series of missile strikes in the Odesa region during the day on May 8. According to Maxim Marchenko, the attacks took place beginning early in the day, and Ukrainian air-defense units shot down four missiles, but an apartment house was hit, wounding a young girl, and a substation was destroyed, knocking out power in six neighborhoods. On May 7, the Ukrainian military said it had destroyed a Russian landing ship near Snake Island, hitting it with an armed drone. There was no immediate comment from Russia. Russian forces launched a new offensive last month along most of Ukraine's eastern flank, with some of most intense attacks and shelling taking place recently around Popasna in the Luhansk region. There has also been fierce fighting around Popasna in recent days amid a sustained Russian assault, and Hayday said Ukrainian forces had been pulling back and that the town had been destroyed. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said his troops had taken control of most of the town. With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa Around 100 Ukrainian civilians were being evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on May 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, after the United Nations confirmed a "safe passage operation" was in progress there. "Grateful to our team! Now they, together with [United Nations], are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant," Zelenskiy said on Twitter. The evacuees would reach the city of Zaporizhzhya on May 2, he added. The long-awaited rescue came as the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, pledged continued U.S. support for Ukraine when she met Zelenskiy in an unannounced visit to Kyiv. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Zelenskiy posted videos from the unannounced April 30 visit by Pelosi online on May 1. We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, Pelosi told Zelenskiy. We are on a frontier of freedom, and your fight is for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. Pelosi arrived in the Ukrainian capital with a delegation that included House members Jason Crow (Democrat-Colorado), Jim McGovern (Democrat-Massachusetts), and Adam Shiff (Democrat-California). The trip had not been previously announced and comes when the United States and other countries are ramping up military aid and other support for Ukraine. Pelosi said the delegation delivered the message that additional American support is on the way. U.S. President Joe Biden last week asked Congress for a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine. U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on May 1 that he would add provisions to the Ukraine aid package to allow the United States to seize Russian oligarchs' assets and send money from their sale directly to Ukraine. Zelenskiy posted on Twitter: "The U.S. is leading strong support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression." Pelosi later traveled to Poland for talks with President Andrzej Duda and other officials. Poland has taken in more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since the war began. "Do not be bullied by bullies," Pelosi said in Rzeszow in southern Poland after returning from Ukraine. "If they are making threats, you cannot back down. That's my view of it. We are here for the fight and you cannot fold to a bully," she said. The White House said Biden had spoken with Pelosi on May 1 about her trip, without giving details. Meanwhile, the United Nations confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is under way. UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told AP on May 1 that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. The Red Cross also said it couldn't share any details about the operation. "The ICRC insists on the fact that no details can be shared until the situation allows, as it could seriously jeopardize the safety of the civilians and the convoy. Relevant local authorities are communicating with the civilians about practical details," it said. A plan to evacuate civilians from areas of the devastated city outside the steelworks had been postponed to the morning of May 2, Mariupol's city council said. Russia's Defense Ministry said 80 civilians had been evacuated from the steel plant, adding: "Those who wished to leave for areas controlled by the Kyiv regime were handed over to UN and ICRC representatives." The UN believes about 1,000 civilians are living under the Azovstal steelworks in the city, the only part of Mariupol that is not under Russian occupation. There are believed to be about 100,000 civilians in the city, which has been the scene of intense fighting since the Russian invasion on February 24. WATCH: RFE/RL correspondent Maryan Kushnir met with Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russian forces in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. One of the soldiers called the Russian troops "cannon fodder," describing their tactics as "desperate" and without any coherent strategy. Russias Defense Ministry said on May 1 that two groups of civilians -- about 45 people in all -- had been evacuated from Azovstal the previous day as a result of a cease-fire regime and the opening of a humanitarian corridor. The evacuees were reportedly taken to the settlement of Bezimenne. The Ukrainian defenders in the Azovstal factory posted videos on April 30 saying they were running out of food, water, and other supplies and appealing for help. Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials said that four civilians were killed and 11 injured by Russian shelling in the town of Lyman as Moscow's forces push deeper into the eastern Donetsk region. Moscow claimed on May 1 -- without providing evidence -- that Ukrainian forces in the southern region of Kherson had shelled civilian areas and caused casualties. The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for details. Ukraines military said Russian forces had launched attacks along the Kherson regions borders and seemed intent on pushing toward the cities of Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih. Russia on April 30 launched a rocket attack on an airport runway in Odesa, Ukraines third-largest city and a key Black Sea port. The Ukrainian military said the attack had rendered the airport unusable. Odesas governor said the attack was launched from the Russia-occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. Pope Francis on May 1 used his weekly Angelus prayer to renew his appeal for humanitarian corridors from Mariupol, saying that the city had been "bombed and destroyed in a barbaric manner." With reporting by Reuters, AP, and RIA Novosti Maria Vdovychenko says she'll never forget the conversation she overheard before being screened by Russian soldiers as she and her family were fleeing the siege of Mariupol. "What did you do with people who didn't pass the filtration?" one of the soldiers asked. "Shot 10 and stopped counting -- not interested," came the reply. Traveling with her mother and younger sister, the 17-year-old Vdovychenko and her father were two of an estimated 30,000 Ukrainians so far to undergo "filtration," Moscow's alleged campaign to catch and punish perceived enemies or others deemed somehow unreliable from among the war's refugees. Accusations have followed that Ukrainians ensnared in the occupation forces' vetting are being killed or "disappeared," or forcibly deported to Siberia and other Russian destinations, in the latest indication of possible war crimes by Russia in the 9-week-old offensive. Moscow has denied committing atrocities and routinely blames Ukrainian forces for civilian deaths and other abuses in a war that Russian censorship prohibits from being described as a "war" at all. 'My Legs Started To Tremble' Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of transporting hundreds of thousands of civilians from shattered Ukrainian cities, taking their documents, and putting them in so-called filtration" camps, before moving them to Russia. Vdovychenko told Current Time that her family's experience was not of any kind of filtration "settlement" but a bottleneck to screen families like hers. Her family had waited two days and nights in their car to leave Mariupol, a strategic port city on the Sea of Azov, which local officials now say has been essentially "razed" by weeks of bombardment and its remaining occupants deprived of electricity, gas, and water. "There was a column of hundreds of cars," Vdovychenko said. "You can't even use a toilet. Your legs are swollen. Your whole body hurts." Her mother and her 12-year-old sister were both spared the filtration, even though the Russians had made it known that anyone 14 or over would be screened. She said she had steeled herself for a "very difficult" ordeal but was terrified to find herself alone in a room with five armed men, while her father was undergoing his own interrogation, which included a beating. She was fingerprinted, her documents scanned, and her smartphone scoured for signs of disloyalty to the forces currently occupying wide swaths of her homeland. Then, when it seemed to be nearly over, one of the men appeared to allude to rape, which Human Rights Watch (HRW) and other groups say has become a feature of Europe's biggest military invasion since World War II. "My legs started to tremble when a soldier who was lying on a mattress said: 'Don't you like her? There will be more women later. We'll find something,'" Vdovychenko said. "They didn't like me, and they just kicked me out." She said she wasn't allowed to wait with her father, who was bullied and beaten and at one point asked by an interrogator: "How about we cut off your ear?" He didn't know how the interview ended, Vdovychenko said, since he said he was struck in the head and only regained consciousness on the pavement outside. More than two dozen checkpoints later, with no more "filtration" along the way, she and her family eventually reached territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. "Even the sky was different there. It was clean. There was none of that dust that's kicked up and hangs in the air from the explosions. We started to hope that we can settle our lives. We deserve it, after all those horrors. We really wanted to live." Accusations Of 'Disappeared' Vdovychenko's story and other accounts collected by RFE/RL highlight the emerging pattern of a crude and brutal process by Russian and separatist forces to vet fleeing Ukrainians for people who might have worked as civil servants, soldiers, police, or security officers. Other Ukrainians displaced by the war have talked of weeks awaiting screening at "pre-filtration" sites, perilous escapes on foot to avoid "filtration," and Russian roundups within Mariupol to interrogate civil servants and other local workers. Many observers are increasingly concerned at reports that some of the detainees have been deported to Siberia or Russia's Far East, or simply "disappeared" after being tortured and handed over to Moscow's separatist allies in eastern Ukraine. Moscow has acknowledged relocating more than 1 million Ukrainians since President Vladimir Putin launched the all-out invasion on February 24 -- deportations that critics suggest violate the laws of war. Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of transporting hundreds of thousands of civilians from shattered Ukrainian cities, taking their documents, and putting them in the filtration" camps, before moving them to Russia. Lyudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian parliament's commissioner for human rights, says at least four "filtration" camps are operating near Mariupol. The U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Michael Carpenter, told the OSCE's Permanent Council on April 28 of "harrowing" accounts from the camps. He said local leaders, activists, journalists, and religious leaders were being abducted, tortured, and sometimes killed by Russian forces. Carpenter cited "credible reporting" indicating that Russian soldiers are detaining and "brutally interrogating" them for suspected links to Ukraine's government or independent media. Some of the detainees are then being sent to separatist-held territory in Donetsk and "reportedly disappeared or murdered." He predicted a "wave of abuses" against perceived opponents ahead of "sham" referendums to assert claims to areas under Russian control. One Ukrainian who lost his home and business in a town near Mariupol before fleeing with his wife and two sons one month into the siege told RFE/RL's Donbas.Realities about his screening at the hands of Russian forces encircling the city. The man, who asked RFE/RL not to identify him by name, eventually made his way to Russia, then to Latvia, Poland, and finally to the Czech Republic. He was required to undergo "filtration" in the village of Bezimenne in order to travel across territory held by the Russia-backed separatists in the Donetsk region. His wife and his elderly mother were similarly screened. After waiting for two days, a process he said was accelerated in a special line for cars with children, the Russians confiscated his smartphone and downloaded information from it, and asked him questions about his views on a number of topics. "How do you feel about [those in] power? Where have you been? What do you know?" he said. "Like they used to do in the KGB." Written by Andy Heil, based on reporting by Current Time and Donbas.Realities. Photo taken on April 24, 2022 shows an automatic meteorological station set up at an altitude of about 5,200 meters on Mount Qomolangma.(Xinhua) LHASA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists are mounting efforts to establish a meteorological monitoring station at an altitude of 8,800 meters on Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, on the China-Nepal border. If the station is established successfully, it will replace the one at an altitude of 8,430 meters set up by the British and U.S. scientists on the south side of the mountain in 2019, to be the world's highest of its kind, according to the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. Equipment weighing some 50 kg will be dismantled and distributed to mountaineers, each of whom will carry no more than 7 kg up onto the mountain for the establishment, said Zhao Huabiao, a researcher with the ITP. Currently, the engineers in charge of establishing the station are still waiting for the perfect weather for mountaineering. Including the highest, eight elevation gradient meteorological stations will be set up on Mount Qomolangma, one of the main tasks in China's new comprehensive scientific expedition on the world's highest peak at the height of 8,848.86 meters. Three meteorological stations were established at sea levels of 7,028 meters, 7,790 meters and 8,300 meters, respectively, earlier this year on the north side of the mountain, bringing the total number of operational weather stations between the altitudes between 5,200 meters and 8,300 meters to seven. Last year, four stations at sea levels of 6,500 meters, 5,800 meters, 5,400 meters and 5,200 meters were set up. The new comprehensive scientific expedition on Mount Qomolangma is part of China's second scientific research survey on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which started in 2017. Zhao said the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is facing a warming tendency along with global warming, and the higher the altitude is on the plateau, the more the temperature has risen. Such a conclusion is only based on the data of weather stations at sea levels below 5,000 meters and the estimated calculation in accordance with the remote sensing data, because weather monitoring data from high-altitude stations were missing in the past. The eight stations will collect the wind speed and wind direction data, as well as relative humidity on the north side of Qomolangma, and the elevation gradient meteorological station system is of great significance for monitoring the melting glaciers and mountain snow at the high altitudes, said Zhao. The expedition team will also set up glacier radar and measure the thickness of snow and ice at the summit of the mountain, he said. Aerial photo taken on May 1, 2022 shows a view of the Mount Qomolangma base camp at an altitude of 5,200 meters.(Xinhua) Photo taken on April 24, 2022 shows an automatic meteorological station set up at an altitude of about 5,200 meters on Mount Qomolangma.(Xinhua) Zhao Huabiao, a researcher with the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, is seen on his way to set up an automatic weather station on Mount Qomolangma, April 28, 2022.(Xinhua) Photo taken on April 30, 2022 shows a view of the Mount Qomolangma base camp at an altitude of 5,200 meters.(Xinhua) Igor Kulichik is a well-known expert in the diamond market. He has worked in the diamond industry for 20 years: he was CFO of ALROSA from 2002 to 2017, and a member of the Board of Directors of AGD Diamonds from 2018 to 2022. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of industrial and financial groups in Russia. In his interview with the Rough&Polished agency, Igor Kulichik speaks about what is currently happening in the diamond industry, how the blocking sanctions placed on ALROSA will impact the company and its Western partners, and which market players will receive preferences due to the new situation. Now, a lot is written about the jewellers dismals after the recession, the Covid-19 pandemic and also the sanctions imposed. This is understandable. What is the situation in the diamond market? The diamond market, or the so-called diamond pipeline, includes miners, traders, cutters and polishers, and jewellers. If any segment has problems, they affect every segment as there are failures in the diamond pipeline, and everything slows down, the flows of both goods and cash. Over the past six months, there has been a clear upsurge in the market as everyone began to recover from the pandemic and the restrictions were lifted, so everyone saw a huge shortage of raw materials, so the customers bought everything from everyone, and prices grew by leaps and bounds. In February, some consolidation was seen, but then, the events of February 24 happened ... What is the position of mining companies both in the world and in Russia? Mining companies have drawn the right conclusions from the past crises and have learned how to properly manage their diamond production and stocks. Almost all companies important for the market are in good financial health. Now, it is too early to make predictions about the impact of sanctions regularly imposed and we must wait for the market to digest them and see its response. What is the impact of the blocking sanctions against ALROSA on the diamond industry as a whole and the well-being of the company? After all, this relates to a whole region associated with diamond mining as well as to tens of thousands of people depending on it? ALROSA, as a core region-forming enterprise, can reasonably count on the State support. In 2009, an effective form of such support had already been worked out - the sale of part of rough diamonds to the Gokhran (State Precious Metals and Gems Repository). Now, it is right and wise to do the same. The rough diamond sale for $1-2 bn will allow the company to consistently fulfill all its obligations, maintain the diamond production for six to nine months, and build up a new sales and payment and settlement system during this period. Separately, it is necessary to work on a new logistics for the supply of equipment and spare parts, but parallel imports should help in this respect. However, it is believed in Europe that the sanctions should not be introduced mainly to their own detriment. Will this point of view prevail when deciding on the admission of the Russian rough diamonds to the Antwerp diamond exchanges? It is already clear that common sense in Antwerp has given way to a populist hysteria and self-restraint in fear of public censure and secondary sanctions. The blocking US sanctions against ALROSA were just the final nail as Antwerp began placing the self-imposed restrictions on working with Russias rough diamonds even before the imposition of sanctions, and Antwerp is committing economic suicide in its hysterical impulse. Prior to that, there were a lot of problems because in terms of efficiency and speed of work, the Dubai DMCC has long outperformed Antwerp, so large flows of rough diamonds are smoothly moving there, and it will be a strong and sharp spike now. Belgium was too confident in the benefits of their diamantaires, and the net result was that they were asleep on the switch and missed the global changes in the diamond industry. The total Russias exports to Belgium amounted to $6 bn, $2 bn of which were oil products and $2 bn were rough diamonds. And although Belgian Prime Minister De Croo calls not to fight against themselves, Belgium will lose both Russian oil and Russian rough diamonds under public pressure. Does the US get any economic benefit from the sanctions against the Russian diamond industry? No benefit at all, except for the increase in the diamond jewellery price. In addition to this, the weakening of the Europes trade positions in one more sector. If the US diamond market becomes closed to the Russian gems, where can they be sold? Today, it is quite difficult to trace the true origin of polished diamonds, and I do not really believe in the regulatory authorities zeal in tracking the jewellery market. All diamond traders will confidently talk about the non-Russian origin of their diamonds, not always knowing exactly what rough diamond a particular polished diamond is made of. The US market consumes almost 50% of the polished diamonds sold in the world, but there are also China, India, and Japan with their growing appetites. What restructuring will take place in the diamond market as a result of the European sanctions against Russia? Which market players will benefit from the new market structure (Dubai, India, China, and etc.)? The main preferences will be given to Dubai and India, and their positions in the market will become significantly stronger. De Beers will be able to benefit in the short term due to the temporary problems with ALROSA and the absence of part of ALROSAs production on the market. By autumn, the situation will be more definite when it is clear about the tactics chosen by the segments of the diamond pipeline. India is under pressure to stop cutting and polishing the Russian diamonds. In your opinion, how can this affect Indias cutting and polishing sector? India is not a small European country, so it is impossible to talk to this country using threats. Given the importance of the cutting and polishing sector for India, we can safely assume that of the US pressure in this direction will produce zero outcome. What steps should ALROSA take to minimize the negative impact of the sanctions imposed? I have already spoken about the State support and Gokhran. In the coming months, the company will need to get creative in establishing new customer relationships and payment options. And, of course, it is necessary to look for and establish channels for the supply of critical spare parts right now. Currently, there are publications in the media saying that some initiatives are being launched in the diamond industry aimed at preventing the distribution of rough and polished diamonds of Russian origin. It is proposed, for example, to indicate diamond provenance in payment documents. How serious is this? These are irresponsible populist statements by excessively enthusiastic diamantaires - this is both a difficult and unnecessary step. Having certain creativity, it is relatively easy to hide the origin of the gem stones already at the second or third stage of resales. What are your medium- and long-term expectations for the Russian and global diamond markets? Im not going to jump to any predictions now - it would be irresponsible. We must wait at least for the end of the active special military operations and for the reducing of the sanction-related hysteria. I emphasize once again that we are now in the initial phase of turbulence, and we can only assume the response of individual participants and the consequences. Also, it is quite likely that a major recession will begin in the global economy, and then, some new factors will begin putting pressure on the diamond market. Galina Semyonova for Rough&Polished He was traumatized from his experiences in the brutal war, and used his skills in writing to spread the message of peace and facts on the atrocities of the war to the American people. He was born on 27 January 1949 in Lorain in Ohio in the US. After working as a professor for many years at universities of Arkansas, Old Dominion, and Penn State, he established the William Joiner Institute 30 years ago. This organization is dedicated to familiarizing the Vietnamese literature to the American people. For Bruce Weigl, Vietnam is his second home. He said he would spend half the year in the US and the other half in Vietnam if he was still healthy and fit to travel more often. Bruce Weigl began to be known in the US after he published his first poem on the Vietnam War called the "Song of Napalm" in 1988, which was then nominated for a Pulitzer prize. In this poem which is dedicated to his wife he writes, Still I close my eyes and see the girl/Running from her village, napalm/Stuck to her dress like jelly/Her hands reaching for the no one/Who waits in waves of heat before her. Bruce Weigl is sad about Vietnamese children still suffering from the effects of the Vietnam war. He often introspects on the brutal atrocities of the war. He says that after leaving the battlefield in Vietnam at the end of 1968, he carried the wound and pain of the tremendous sufferings in his heart: Inside me the war had eaten a hole/I could not touch anyone/The wind blew through me to the green place/where they still fell in their blood/I could hear their voices at night. He knew he had made a mistake by fighting in Vietnam, so he was determined to do something for Vietnam just to ease his insecure feelings. He became a translator of the pages written by Vietnamese soldiers who had died, expressing in their poems their love for their homeland, for their parents, and for their loved ones. He cried often when reading these poems and verses. He realized that during the wartime amid all the terrible bombings and killings, he was just an aggressive and arrogant person while the Vietnamese soldiers were kind and gentle people who wrote poetry during the war. Poems dont lie. He began translating Vietnamese poetry to understand Vietnamese culture and the fate of Vietnamese people better. The poems he translated from Vietnamese touched many American readers. These translations helped many Americans understand many untold historical facts of the Vietnam war that the US government had been hiding from the American population. After the Reunification of Vietnam in 1975, Bruce Weigl was among the first US veterans to return to Vietnam. He also adopted a Vietnamese girl who he named Hanh Nguyen Weigl, from an orphanage in 1996. At that time he told the orphanage that he was adopting a Vietnamese child but promised that in the future he would return her as a Vietnamese lady. He would never endeavor to convert her into an American. Indeed, Weigl's family have been trying their best to instill Vietnamese culture in Hanh Nguyen. They mostly speak in Vietnamese with her and prepare and eat Vietnamese food. He also organized many meetings between Hanh Nguyen and Weigl's Vietnamese friends. Weigl's efforts have been highly praised and appreciated by Vietnamese media. When Bruce Weigl adopted his daughter and took her back to the US to raise, he was determined not to raise her in the American way of life. He wanted her to be a good Vietnamese who loves the Vietnamese culture and retains Vietnamese values. He has also written a book titled "The Circle of Hanh". Several translators wanted to translate the book into Vietnamese, but Bruce Weigl had politely declined. He had wanted to wait for his adopted daughter to be good enough in the Vietnamese language and then be able to translate the book by herself. Finally in 2010, his daughter Hanh Nguyen Weigl translated The Circle of Hanh, and the Vietnamese version was published by the Vietnam Women's Publishing House. Bruce Weigl is a renowned contemporary poet with highly influential works in American poetry. In 2010, he also published the poem book Sau mua thoi na an (After the rain stopped pounding) into Vietnamese. However, what he is most interested in is working as a translator and making Vietnamese literature better known to the American people. He has translated more than twenty Vietnamese books into English to be published in the US. His latest translation is of the poetry book by Tran Le Khanh called Su bat au cua nuoc (The Beginning of Water). Being a professor at American universities for years, Bruce Weigl believes that Vietnamese literature has a strong foundation and a long history but has not been made widely known to readers around the world. To successfully reach this goal, Bruce Weigl thinks Vietnam must invest significantly in professional translators who can express their love for Vietnam in English translations for international readers. At the age of 73, Bruce Weigl still attends meetings and talks in Vietnam where participants exchange ideas about Vietnamese literature. When he knew that the Ho Chi Minh City Writers' Association was organizing a writing event last month for writers who were born after 1975, Bruce Weigl came to the event. He said that literature had saved his life from the oppressions of the Vietnam War. Now the generation is being born in peacetime. Now is also the time to make significant efforts to take Vietnamese literature beyond borders to show the beauty of Vietnam, as Vietnam is increasing its global reach. Gia Quan Three NASA engineers huddled around a big plywood box theyd just built in a San Jose driveway. A few feet away, an environmental activist, whose building plans they were all using, installed a solar panel on an identical box, a CLIMATE EMERGENCY tattoo peeking out from his sleeve. Their goal: Turn as many of these DIY structures as possible into roughly 4-by-6-foot mobile huts on wheels, like one with a bright-orange-and-blue paint job already loaded on a trailer. If all went well, it would soon be a micro home for someone on the street in Silicon Valley. Theres a woman Ive been talking to about moving in, said Jay Samson, the engineer behind grassroots emergency housing effort Simply Shelter. Im hoping shell be there tonight. Every other weekend for the past year, Samson has gathered friends, co-workers and volunteers to build the boxes with futuristic slanted walls, small triangular windows, locking doors and solar charging stations. Once complete, the shelters are hand-delivered to homeless neighbors all without asking permission from cities, police or agencies that administer Californias multibillion-dollar homeless-services budget. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle With six micro homes now scattered around San Jose and Santa Cruz, Simply Shelter is part of a wave of homeless aid spearheaded by ordinary residents during the pandemic. Their efforts offer volunteers a crash course in issues that once seemed far removed from life in affluent parts of the Bay Area, and also highlight big questions about a humanitarian crisis decades in the making: What counts as dignified shelter? How do you help people reeling from trauma or addiction? And can a small group of well-intentioned but largely untrained volunteers accomplish some of what their elected representatives have long failed to do? For Alex Londos, the 41-year-old Santa Cruz climate activist who designed the Micro Tiny Homes that inspired Simply Shelter, the aim is even simpler: Reduce the misery of sleeping outside that he knows all too well. Its not a solution for the homeless problem, Londos said. Its a really good solution for people who are suffering. If you build, will they come? After a long day of building, a small band of Simply Shelter volunteers headed to a grassy area near a busy San Jose shopping center. They unfolded a table and chairs a few feet from four micro homes arranged in a small, unpermitted curbside community and started serving up pasta, vegetarian chili and bread. At first, it was awkward. One shelter resident threw some things in a backpack and said she had to go. Another said his anxiety had kicked in and hed prefer to eat alone. The reluctant patriarch of the community, Ron, declared, Im not a people person, but told Samson to tell everyone thank you. Volunteer and NASA biomedical engineer Fernando Espinosa was unfazed. The Sinaloa transplant, who met Samson during a wind-tunnel experiment, said hed been volunteering for about a year. He and his wife, a NASA data engineer, had been looking for ways to help after what seemed like an explosion of street homelessness during the pandemic. In a couple of months you could see how bad things got, Espinosa said. We were making bags to give to a few people here and there. They are far from alone in trying to turn everyday frustration and helplessness into small-scale relief. The most widespread examples are church and community groups that have long handed out food at encampments, sometimes leading to threats of citation for doing so without a permit. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Artists, anarchists and do-gooders have also offered makeshift shelters, food and survival gear to people living outside in San Francisco, Oakland and beyond though they, too, run into backlash and funding constraints that routinely stifle formal service providers. Newer grassroots groups include food-focused efforts that have expanded to health care and other services, like West Oakland Punks With Lunch. Or mutual aid collectives like Watsonvilles Pajaro Rising, which protested pandemic encampment sweeps while doling out donated supplies. Simply Shelter was born after Samson saw an interview with Londos about the first two micro homes he built in Santa Cruz in late 2020. A plan to work together emerged: Build more shelters, canvas cities to find residents in particularly dire need and start moving people in. The hope was that small units in good condition wouldnt attract much attention from police, but wheels mounted on the units provided a way to move quickly if needed. Residents say politicians and law enforcement have stopped to ask questions or even compliment the design, but aside from officers telling one occupant to move a unit out of downtown Santa Cruz, Samson and Londos said theyve mostly been left alone. The bigger issue is deciding whom of the many candidates to offer the $1,000 shelters, funded by donations and the founders own contributions. For Samson, who started visiting encampments to give out cash and food during a personal development course where he was urged to pursue an idea that would help the world, its been a wake-up call to a reality often reduced to stereotypes about drugs, crime and apathy. My relation to the homeless prior to that exercise was something similar to, These people need to stop being lazy and go out there and get jobs, he said. In the last year, Ive changed a lot. Ron has lived in his San Jose shelter for about five months, since Samson and Londos met him on a cold December night when he was sleeping on a piece of cardboard at Diridon Station. After warming up to volunteers on their recent visit, he told Espinosa how painful it is to look back on the business he used to own, or the house he sold years ago in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I wouldve rather never had it, he said. Samson bought him a wheelchair, Ron said, to help with the metal rods holding his leg together after a hit-and-run accident. But aside from trips to the vodka store and doctor visits to deal with other injuries, including a broken arm now in a cast, he has no idea what might come next. Starting small The idea for Simply Shelter dates to fall 2020, when Londos decided to build a chicken coop outside his shared Santa Cruz Mountains home. He was experimenting with slanted angles when the construction project jogged his memory: The enclosure reminded him of a bike locker hed once slept in. In addition to his climate activism, Londos earns a living as a disaster photographer chasing wildfires and hurricanes. Hed struggled to keep up as rents rose in his hometown of Santa Cruz. After leaving home at 18, Londos said he had apartments and a tiny home of his own, but he also couch-surfed, stayed in hotels, slept in his car and was at times forced onto the street. He got back into housing with his girlfriend, but he noticed more people sleeping in doorways and tents along roadways during the pandemic. So Londos made his first micro homes and posted on Facebook about giving them away to a wheelchair-bound veteran and a homeless man whod just survived a car crash. Friends were supportive, and he raised more than $6,000 to expand the project. He didnt expect the backlash, which ranged from heckling by neighbors to a unit stolen and left up Highway 1 to criticism on social media. Why get a job and try to get yourself up from being homeless, one commenter posted on Facebook, when someone will bring you a tiny home for free? Coffin, wrote Santa Cruz housing activist and Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry. McHenry, whose organization has been serving free meals in Santa Cruz since 1992, said his objection was more to the original sterile gray color of the shelter and the broader fad of temporary tiny homes, which he sees as a distraction from the elephant in the room: building more housing. Santa Cruz, like other Bay Area cities, approved more moderate- and high-income homes than required by regulators during its last state-run building cycle through 2014, but the city built just 180 of 263 low-income homes deemed necessary. Several large development proposals are currently being considered as officials stare down much higher state housing mandates. Across the coastal county of around 275,000 people, which was home to some 2,167 homeless residents as of 2019, costly legal battles over encampments and new laws limiting camping and sleeping in vehicles have stirred debate. A 2019 grand jury report titled Big Problem, Little Progress tallied 279 year-round homeless shelter beds and 16 in-patient mental health beds in Santa Cruz County. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Whatever political will that exists to propose housing solutions is often overcome by community resistance, the grand jury found. Despite all the money, effort, activity and planning, it has been extremely challenging to find effective and acceptable solutions. While Londos and others have experimented with guerrilla tactics during the pandemic, groups like Food Not Bombs that have long operated without official permission have faced increased scrutiny. In the past two years, McHenry said Food Not Bombs has been evicted at least eight times from serving meals on vacant lots scheduled for development or otherwise declared off-limits by officials. Hes encouraged by new groups taking action, even if it seems like the solutions reflect an increasingly bleak state of affairs. As a direct action, its a good thing dumping these around without permits, McHenry said. But were the richest country in the world. It saved my life Four months ago, Cory Skilling was struggling to stay dry in a tent along San Joses Guadalupe River Trail when Ron passed by and told him something that sounded too good to be true: Theres housing over there. Skilling, a lanky 27-year-old with a nose ring and bright blue eyes, followed him to an empty box with a slanted roof and a mural of two parrots. He wasnt exactly sure what it was, but he was willing to try it after sleeping outside for most of the past year. It saved my life, Skilling said. After the pandemic hit, Skilling said his hours were cut at a painting job, then a second job at a coffee shop. Unable to keep paying $1,100 a month for a room in a South San Jose house, he said he stayed for a while with family and friends over the mountains near Santa Cruz. By early 2021, Skilling said he was wandering West Cliff Drive with nowhere to go. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Samson hopes a recent manufacturing job offer at a South Bay tech company will soon allow Skilling to save up for a place and make him another success story. A veteran who stayed in a shelter in Santa Cruz also moved on to other housing, Londos said. Often, theres more ambiguity. For months, Samson has been offering a shelter to 57-year-old Susie Beouch, who lives in a tent nestled in the trees behind the San Jose micro homes. It wasnt until Beouch invited Samson into her space that he saw why she might be hesitant to downsize. In addition to a four-person tent neatly arranged with a sleeping pad and a suitcase, she had a craft table and a camping stove to cook group meals. Last week, another tarp structure of hers housed a cat and eight kittens. Beouch said that, after years outside, she needed the bigger space to make the best of the situation. I have to be creative, Beouch said. Its a struggle out here. After the last volunteer build day, three more micro homes were almost ready to go. Samson was still trying to move in the newest resident. Hes working to establish partnerships to help with underlying challenges, like addiction resources and connections to housing, and considering whether to turn Simply Shelter into a nonprofit. Londos still helps build shelters and hopes to add to his two micro homes in Santa Cruz. Skilling is taking things day by day as he waits for the paperwork to clear at his new job. At around 6 feet tall, he often keeps the door to his shelter open and covered with a blanket for more space. He doodles graffiti-style figures and slogans on the walls. As humans we want to make a home wherever we are, he said. Its nice to be able to do that. Lauren Hepler (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hepler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LAHepler WARSAW, Poland (AP) A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. "We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom. You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy "the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegation's trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraines fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance arent going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win," he said. "What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Scores of U.S. lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the wars toll and shore up U.S. troops in the broader region. Pelosis delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosi's stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. "is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won." Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. intelligence support it needs to defeat Russian forces. The delegations visit followed those of several EU officials and European heads of state who have gone to show solidarity with Zelenskyy, starting with the March 15 surprise visit by the leaders of NATO members Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. More recently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. A missile strike rained down on the capital barely an hour after their joint press conference, an attack Kyivs mayor said was Putin giving his middle finger to Guterres. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, Pelosi said. McGovern said Russias war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added: I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world." ___ Winfield reported from Rome, Mascaro from Washington. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, not third. ___ More AP coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A parade on Saturday in support of closing more of San Franciscos streets to through traffic drew community activists from across the city, including kids on tiny bikes, Spandex-clad cyclists astride racing bikes and families riding cargo bikes. Others strolled alongside on foot, including a man on stilts. The Slow Lake Street Parade drew more than 100 participants pushing to make permanent the Slow Street designations created during the pandemic lockdown. Around 30 streets in the city were blocked off to give people safer spaces in their neighborhoods to exercise and gather. Saturdays event on the northern edge of the Richmond District lacked the flash and noise of most such parades, with no marching bands, bullhorns, motorized flats or politicians riding in convertibles. And that was the whole point. The gathering came on the heels of the Board of Supervisors decision Tuesday to back Mayor London Breeds plan to permanently keep cars off of the east end of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park. Motor vehicles are allowed on Slow Streets, but partial barricades are installed at intersections along with signs limiting access to local traffic only. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle What were seeing with JFK and Slow Streets is a shifting of the tide, said Luke Bornheimer, of Community Spaces SF, a group that advocates for giving bike riders and pedestrians safer access to city streets. People are seeing that we can use public spaces streets in a different way. Bornheimer was among a handful of Slow Street supporters who kicked off the Lake Street march and bike ride with a series of brief speeches and a song, written by and performed by songwriter John Elliott, that named all the Slow Streets. Around 20 streets in San Francisco still carry the Slow designation, but most of them are scheduled to lose that status four months after the Board of Supervisors ends the state of emergency declared in February 2020 to fight the pandemic. Late last summer, under pressure to retain some Slow Streets, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency authorized four Golden Gate Avenue in the North Panhandle, Sanchez Street in Noe Valley, Shotwell Street in the Mission and Lake Street to remain Slow Streets after the state of emergency ends. Additionally, Page Street in the Haight, which already had a bikeway and other traffic diversion efforts in the works before the pandemic, will get to keep its Slow Street designation as well. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Though Lake Street has been authorized to stay slow, supporters said they want to make sure it stays that way and that other Slow Streets can also keep that designation, creating a network across the city. While cars are still allowed on Slow Streets, supporters said there are fewer of them and drivers are slower and more alert. Slow Streets, advocates say, not only create safe places for families to ride bikes, neighbors to gather and folks to walk their pets with less fear of being injured by speeding cars, but they also promote community connection that is sometimes missing in San Francisco. The sense of community we have on Sanchez and all of the other Slow Streets is really transforming San Francisco, said Chris Keene, who has helped push to make Sanchez permanently slow. The parade made its way west from Third Avenue and Lake Street, pausing for a few minutes to listen to some jazz and light rock songs from the Lake Street Band, then continued to 22nd Ave, where there were refreshments and chalk available for writing messages of support on the street. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, rallied the attendees with words of encouragement. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle One of the things the pandemic taught us was that we can do things quickly, even in San Francisco, whether thats Slow Streets or JFK. People saw that we can make changes and the sky didnt fall. San Francisco has nearly 1,000 miles of streets and about 45 miles of Slow Streets, according to city records. Lets have a few that are not just for cars, Wiener said. That are for people, too. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Dr. Olivia Gamboa, a hospitalist at Kaiser San Francisco, agreed. She said she uses Slow Streets to take her daughter to pre-school on a cargo bike and to get herself to work. This is long overdue, she said. Im a physician and I see way too many bicyclists and pedestrians who are injured by cars. Along the parade route Saturday, it was tough to find critics of slow Lake Street, but some neighbors said there are downsides. Liam Cohen, 13, stood outside his house as the parade went past, and said he likes having room to gather with friends on the street. But he noted that it has led to more congestion on California Street in the morning when hes getting a ride to school. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle And sometimes, he said, People give us dirty looks when were pulling in in our car. Still, he said, he favors the Slow Street designation. So did Jose Almanza, who lives on Lake Street and was helping a neighbor move and getting a few dirty looks as he loaded bags and boxes into the back of his pickup truck. I think its a good thing, he said of slow Lake Street, but they need some kind of system to let people know we live here a way we can keep everyone happy. Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan When the pandemic closed Disney parks in 2020, the company announced that it would be ending annual passes and wouldnt be reinstating the free FastPasses that allowed guests to skip some longer ride queues throughout their park day. The replacements at Disneyland Magic Keys instead of annual passes and Genie Plus, a paid alternative to FastPasses have been getting mixed reviews. Disneyland offered Magic Keys at the same prices at which the company had previously offered annual passes, which many saw as a positive sign that the offering would be largely the same. The limited availability of park reservations for passholders, though, has been a pain point for many though to offset that contingent, Disneyland has been periodically offering exclusive Magic Key perks like private lounge areas and free gifts like passholder-only art prints and sunglasses. Genie Plus, though, has been another story. It looks like there could be a more expensive option in the pipeline for Disneyland and its coming from Disneyland Paris. Disneylands paid line-skipping alternative charges $20 per person per day to reserve ride times in advance and to enter through expedited Lightning Lanes. Not included are high-demand rides like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which each require a separate charge of up to $20 per person for access to an Individual Lightning Lane. Critics have said that Genie Plus inflates standby queues to higher wait times compared to the pre-pandemic period, when park capacity was higher but many average ride waits were lower. Many have been vocal about the limited application of Genie Plus, which only allows you to hold two FastPasses at once and allows you to rebook every two hours. At Walt Disney World, customers were so disappointed by slots filling up early in the day, the company has changed its language to reflect that guests might only be able to book one or two experiences per day for their $20 Genie Plus pass. At Disneyland, visitors have had more luck riding many rides per day with Genie Plus, but the California resort recently notified guests through the app that they might not be able to utilize Genie Plus as much as they want because of customer demand. The solution, as you may expect, is going to cost more money. Last summer, Disneyland Paris debuted Premier Access, which allows guests to purchase Individual Lightning Lane access from about $8 to $20 per ride. Genie Plus came afterwards, and many saw the Disneyland Paris system as a precursor to what was coming for American parks. Now, Disneyland Paris has announced Premier Access Ultimate, which allows guests to access 12 rides throughout their park day for 90 euros (about $95) per person. Many are speculating that the system means a similar counterpart will be coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, which would guarantee access to high-demand rides for a price. The move would definitely not be unprecedented. Universal Studios parks in Orlando and Hollywood both offer Universal Express, which allows access to shorter lines on the same model as Premier Access Ultimate. A Universal Express ticket in California costs between $189 and $289, depending on demand, while a general admission ticket costs from $109 to $134. In Orlando, an add-on express pass ranges from $79 to $259, on top of a $109 to $144 general admission ticket. An unlimited express option is available in Florida thats even more expensive. Disneyland Paris got Premier Access in the summer of 2021, followed in the early fall by Genie Plus at Walt Disney World and the late fall in Disneyland. If the timeline is the same as it was for that rollout, guests to the American parks would see a stateside version of Premier Access Ultimate in about six months. April wasnt kind to a handful of long-standing restaurants that permanently closed in the Bay Area. The end of Aliotos, a cherished seafood restaurant in San Francisco, left a void in the Fishermans Wharf neighborhood after operating for 97 years. According to The San Francisco Business Times, Aliotos had struck a deal with its landlord to terminate the lease after remaining dark throughout the entire two-year pandemic. The Business Times also reported that a family member, who preferred to stay unnamed, shared that the city could have done more to maintain the neighborhood to keep it clean. "We will never reopen," Aliotos told the Business Times. Across the bay, Oliveto, a 35-year-old Italian restaurant in Oakland, had its final service this month after first announcing last fall that it would close for good. In November 2021, Bob Klein, who co-owned Oliveto with his wife Maggie Blythe Klein, told the East Bay Times that they were tired and looking for retirement. The decision also stemmed from the trials of running a business throughout the pandemic. See the list of some notable Bay Area closures below. For a catalog of March closures, see SFGATEs roundup. Aliotos Aliotos bid farewell to San Francisco after nearly a century, as first reported by The San Francisco Business Times. The cherished Fishermans Wharf restaurant first opened in 1925 under the ownership of Nunzio Alioto and was later taken over by his wife, Rose, following his death in 1933. Aliotos, which remained closed throughout the pandemic, will be remembered for its traditional Sicilian seafood dishes that were prepared charcoal-grilled or griddle-fried, while also serving classic staples like savory clam chowder. Brewed Awakening Brewed Awakening, located in North Berkeley, forever closed on April 22 after a 35-year run. The cafe was within a stones throw from UC Berkeley and attracted hundreds of Cal students through its doors daily before the pandemic hit. Soosh Nassar, manager at Brewed Awakening and son to owners, Samir and Juju Nassar, told SFGATE that the closure resulted in a lease disagreement. Courtesy of Lupulandia Brewery Lupulandia The closure of Lupulandia was brought to light in April when the property was listed for sale, as first reported by The San Francisco Business Times. But the Mexican brewery and restaurant quietly closed in January after co-owner Anthony LaVia and his business partners realized the business couldnt comfortably operate without financial support. Despite receiving two rounds of PPP loans and support from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, LaVia told SFGATE that it had to make the difficult choice to shutter. The asset sale is still on the market for $395,000. Noir Lounge The San Francisco cocktail bar announced it would close on April 16 after nine years in Hayes Valley, as first reported by Tablehopper. Of the closure, owner Brian Cassanego shared a post on Instagram where his general tone was optimistic, and he gave thanks to his customers over the years. This is not a time for sadness but a time for EXTREME CELEBRATION!! We would love to see all your beautiful smiles and hear your joyous laughter as we say goodbye to Noir Lounge... Gambit Lounge will replace the space later this year. Oliveto Last year, Oliveto owners believed their final service date would be in December 2021, but then reopened briefly at the end of January 2022, knowing that it would be a short-lived return. The Mercury News first confirmed that the legendary Italian restaurant in Oakland was permanently closing on April 23. Ultimately, the owners of the 35-year-old business decided that the time was ripe for retirement, as reported by the East Bay Times last year. Washington Bakery & Restaurant From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for allowing us to serve you for 27 years, read the goodbye message shared by Washington Bakery & Restaurant on Instagram on April 13. Three days later, the business owner, Chelsea Hung, posted a lengthier message on Instagram where she shared gratitude for the outpour of customer support and clarified the reasons behind the closure. Our lease was coming to an end and we sold the restaurant to a buyer who really admired and wanted our space, read the message. Hon's Wunton will be taking over our space and we believe that they will utilize our space to its full potential as well as offer delicious food. PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan (AP) The head of the Anglican Church told a gathering of Canadian residential school survivors Saturday he was sorry for the churchs role in the terrible crime that was committed. Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, visited the James Smith Cree Nation and heard stories shared by residential school survivors. TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) An Arizona couple who prompted a nationwide manhunt in 2019 after escaping from custody have both been sentenced in a Tucson murder case. Pima County prosecutors said Blane Barksdale, who turns 59 next month, received a 22-year prison term Friday while his wife got a five-year sentence. Both were credited with almost three years already served. KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) A 14-year-old boy faces a murder charge in the fatal shooting of his 17-year-old brother in central Indiana. The shooting was reported Saturday afternoon in Kokomo, police said. The older teen told officers his brother ran away after shooting him. He had been shot twice and later died at a hospital. The 14-year-old was found about a mile from the shooting scene. He was being held at a youth detention center, police said. GULFPORT, Fla. (AP) Half a century ago, Yvonne Johnson came to Gulfport to build a home with her husband. To her surprise, she ended up helping build a church. This became my home, the 93-year-old said while seated in the foyer of Gulfport Presbyterian Church on Sunday. That morning, there was no trace of the spare Bibles, the crockpots or the unused tins of decaffeinated coffee that littered the hallway earlier that week. The debris of 75 years worth of Sundays had been cleared out just in time. The church was clean and welcoming: the same refreshments coffee, pink and white cookies, granola bars greeting attendees in the back of the chapel, just like always. Except this time, as Johnson approached the lectern, steadied by her walker, about 50 people looked back at her from the pews. Light from the stained-glass windows glinted across their faces. Some had driven from as far as Orlando. If we had this many people every Sunday, we wouldnt be closing, she said with a warm, mischievous smile. Gulfport Presbyterian Churchs last service was underway. One of the oldest religious institutions in the city, its membership had dwindled to just 19 at the time of its closing. The church joins a swath of places of worship across the United States that have shuttered as attendance shrinks and fewer young people participate in organized religion, increasingly identifying as spiritual but not religious. When we lost the youth, we never got them back, said Johnson, the churchs longest-standing member. As older members died, they didnt get replaced. The service moved forward as the Rev. Micki Robinson, 66, the churchs longtime pastor prior to her retirement last year, played a lilting piece on her honey-colored harp. She still remembers the days when shed showcase the harp at downtown Gulfports First Friday Art Walks, trying to invite new members. Id play just so people knew we existed, Robinson said. But the community changed and the world changed. People walked in and they saw old people they didnt realize how young they were in attitude. The church tried other recruitment strategies over the years, including Who Let The Dogs In services that allowed attendees to bring their pets. The Sunflower Private School, an elementary school that rents out a portion of the building and now is attempting to purchase the property, began as a Hail Mary to get more young children back into the congregation, Johnson said. But the families already had their own churches, she said. There is a time for everything, Marsha Rydberg read from the book of Ecclesiastes. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away. Over the years, Gulfport Presbyterian provided disaster relief in hurricanes, aided farmworkers in the fields and put on at least one performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. For Theresa McLean, 71, it was an oasis in the worst moments of adolescence. I wasnt popular in high school, McLean said in an aside to Bob Ponder, 72, the churchs newest member as of December. I was in the youth group here, and that got me through. Church back then, it was a family, Ponder said. In the 60s and 70s, it was amazing, McLeans brother, Jim Johnson, 75, chimed in wistfully. Youth membership began to shrink in the 1970s, Gulfport Presbyterian members recall. As they aged, entering careers and having children of their own, they didnt come back, pursuing the wave of contemporary churches that attracted young adults or abandoning the faith entirely. Overall membership suffered, in a slow drip that finally became untenable last year. You cant have a church without money and people, Johnson said. The church voted to close its doors in September. Still, some members will find a way to remain in community together. Several said they planned to meet up to try Lakeview Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg next week. In a pew toward the back, Kiki Kremer, 58, wiped her eyes throughout the service. I lost four siblings over the last few years, she said. The people in this church they would call me and call me to check in, always. So its been an honor to be part of this congregation. The churchs Sunday school teacher for 30 years, Kremer sat next to her four remaining pupils, a quartet of siblings that attended with their great-grandmother. One of them, a girl with almond eyes and an open face, donned a sparkly silver crown for the occasion. At 12, Nevaeh Wallace is the churchs youngest member. If there were more kids, it would be better, she said. Not a lot of my friends go to church at all. Theres only like three of them that do. Rev. William Cowfer stepped up to the lectern to deliver Gulfport Presbyterian Churchs final sermon. When Jesus descended, the disciples work was not done it was beginning, Cowfer said. Though we have mixed emotions about not being able to continue here as a congregation, the congregation that was here all these years is scattered throughout the world. Theyre teaching in schools. Theyre doctoring. Theyre rearing children and grandchildren, he added. So we can echo the words of Mary: I have seen the Lord. The reverend closed his message. Communion began as the pianist played Here, There and Everywhere by The Beatles. Gulfport Presbyterians flock shuffled through the pews one last time. After, the remaining members lingered staying a little too long, eating one too many refreshments, like any good church service makes you do. Throughout it all, Johnson remained practical, composed, grateful. She hopes the church will be remembered by its mission statement: To live by faith and be known by love. Its still my home, she said. Im ready to come back next Sunday. But this is it. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Harrison Jozefowicz quit his job as a Chicago police officer and headed overseas soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. An Army veteran, he said he couldn't help but join American volunteers seeking to help Ukrainians in their fight. Jozefowicz now heads a group called Task Force Yankee, which he said has placed more than 190 volunteers in combat slots and other roles while delivering nearly 15,000 first aid kits, helping relocate more than 80 families and helping deliver dozens of pallets of food and medical supplies to the southern and eastern fronts of the war. It's difficult, dangerous work. But Jozefowicz said he felt helpless watching from the United States last year during the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, particularly after a close friend, Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, died in a suicide bombing at Kabul. "So, Im just trying to do everything I can to make sure I can help others not go through what I went through, he said Saturday during an interview conducted through a messaging platform. A former U.S. Marine who died last week was believed to be the first American citizen killed while fighting in Ukraine. Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, died Monday while working for a military contracting company that sent him to Ukraine, his mother, Rebecca Cabrera, told CNN. An undetermined number of other Americans many with military backgrounds are thought to be in the country battling Russian forces beside both Ukrainians and volunteers from other countries even though U.S. forces aren't directly involved in fighting aside from sending military materiel, humanitarian aid and money. The U.S. government discourages Americans from fighting in Ukraine, which raises legal and national security issues. Russias invasion has given Ukraine's embassy in Washington the task of fielding inquiries from thousands of Americans who want to help in the fight, and Ukraine is using the internet to recruit volunteers for a foreign force, the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. Anyone who wants to join the defense of security in Europe and the world can come and stand side by side with the Ukrainians against the invaders of the 21st century, President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a recruitment pitch. Texan Anja Osmon, who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army from 2009 through 2015, said she went to Ukraine on her own. A medic, she said she arrived in Ukraine on March 20 and lived in the woods with other members of the International Legion before a new commander sent her away because he didnt want female fighters. Osmon, 30, said her mother wants her home before September. But for now shes anxious to get out of the hotel where she is staying in Lviv and catch on with another fighting force nearer the action. I cant turn away from injustice, she said. No one should be scared. U.S. Marine veteran Eddy Etue said he quit his job in the gig economy, found a friend in Colorado to watch his cat and gave up his home four blocks from the beach in San Diego, California, to help out in Ukraine, where he's been about two weeks. He first worked with an aid organization but now is training with the International Legion. Etue, 36, said he simply couldn't stay home. It's just the right thing to do, said Etue, who financed the journey through an online fundraising campaign. Etue's family history pulled him toward Ukraine. He said his grandparents left Hungary with nothing but their four children and clothes after the 1956 revolution, which was put down by Soviet forces that killed or wounded thousands. Whats happening here will affect not only the people who are experiencing it but their children and grandchildren as well," he said. "I know that from personal experience. Jozefowicz, the former Chicago cop, says there are thousands of American and other volunteers in Ukraine. Multiple organizations are operating in the country, and Jozefowicz said his group alone has placed scores of volunteers in positions all over the country, with about 40 of those being combat jobs. We do not facilitate a civilian going into any direct-action role. We only guide and connect prior military volunteers, he said. But there's plenty of other work to do. Groups of volunteers are getting medical and food supplies to people in the nation of 44 million people, he said, and others are working with refugees and others who've had to flee their homes. The closer I got into Ukraine and the more time I spent in Ukraine, the more voids I found that needed to be filled to maximize my groups volunteer efforts, he said. Osmon, who said she's been in contact with Jozefowicz's group, said she supplied troops with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications after days in the woods. Most everyone had air raid fever from hiding in the trenches in the snow and cold air, she said. Bronchitis was ravaging us. Etue said he got a feel for the country after making a 24-hour round trip with another volunteer to pick up a vehicle in Odessa. He said he's been impressed with the quality of people serving in the International Legion since Ukrainians have done a good job of weeding out the inexperienced and war tourists who don't have much to offer a military unit. I think theyre doing amazingly well given that theyre at war with one of the largest standing armies in the world, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The White House press corps' annual gala returned Saturday night along with the roasting of Washington, the journalists who cover it and the man at the helm: President Joe Biden. The White House Correspondents Association dinner, sidelined by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, featured Biden as the first president in six years to accept an invitation. Donald Trump shunned the event while in office. Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year, Biden told an audience of 2,600, among them journalists, government officials and celebrities. Now that would really have been a real coup. The president took the opportunity to test out his comedic chops, making light of the criticism he has faced in his 15 months in office while taking aim at his predecessor, the Republican Party and the members of the press. Im really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have," Biden said to the Hilton ballroom filled with members of the media. Biden also made light of the Lets Go Brandon slogan, which has become the rights stand-in for swearing at the president. Republicans seem to support one fella, some guy named Brandon," Biden said, causing an uproar of laughter among the crowd. He's having a really good year. I'm happy for him." As far as roasting the GOP, he said, Theres nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasnt already put on tape. He also took a jab at Fox News. I know there are a lot of questions about whether we should gather here tonight because of COVID. Well, were here to show the country that were getting through this pandemic. Plus, everyone has to prove they are fully vaccinated and boosted, Biden said. Just contact your favorite Fox News reporter. Theyre all here. Vaccinated and boosted. In addition to speeches from Biden and comedian Trevor Noah, the hourslong event had taped skits from talk-show host James Corden, comedian Bill Eichner and even Biden himself. Thank you for having me here, Noah said to Biden. And I was a little confused on why me, but then I was told that you get your highest approval ratings when a biracial African guy is standing next to you. While the majority of the speech was filled with cutting jabs, Biden did make note of the important role journalism plays in American democracy, especially in the last decade. I mean this from the bottom of my heart, that you, the free press, matter more than you ever did in the last century, he said. You are the guardians of the truth. The dinner had other serious moments, with tributes to pioneer journalists of color, aspiring student reporters as well as a dedication to the journalists detained, injured or killed during the coverage of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The premier event for news media in Washington, the correspondents dinner mixed Washington journalists like CNNs Jake Tapper and MSNBCs Joy-Ann Reid with celebrities Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Brooke Shields, Caitlyn Jenner, Drew Barrymore and Martha Stewart. Among the large swath of government officials and other prominent figures was Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Accompanied by the first lady, the president came to the event while trying to strike a careful balance with the nation fatigued by the pandemic yet facing an uptick in infections. The ongoing national threat has struck closer to home for the president: Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive this past week and Dr. Anthony Fauci skipped the dinner for health precautions. The U.S. was experiencing a COVID-19 case spike from a highly contagious subvariant of omicron, with confirmed infections rising to about 44,000 per day, up from 26,000 a month ago. Still, virus deaths and hospitalizations were near, or at, pandemic lows, with the BA.2 variant proving less severe than earlier virus strains. After the recent Gridiron Club press dinner in Washington, dozens of attendees, including members of Congress and of Bidens Cabinet and journalists, tested positive for COVID-19. The White House Correspondents Association said it was requiring same-day antigen testing for its dinner attendees even before the Gridiron outbreak, then added a vaccination requirement. Biden, 79, decided to pass up the meal but turn up later for the program. While he planned to be masked when not speaking, a maskless president greeted award winners on the dais and could be seen smiling broadly during the dinner program. The correspondents dinner debuted in 1921. Three years later, Calvin Coolidge became the first president to attend and all have since, except Trump. Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon opted not to attend every year of their presidencies, however, and Reagan, then recovering from an assassination attempt, missed the 1981 installment but called in from Camp David. The thing I think this shows is the restoration to the health of the relationship, Harold Holzer, author of the book The Presidents vs. The Press and the director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College in New York, said ahead of the dinner. Its still barbed, there are still tense moments. But thats OK. ___ Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report. DUNLEITH, Del. (AP) Police in a Delaware county said on Sunday that a mans death involved foul play. New Castle County Police officers responding on Friday to an area of Dunleith about a report of a dead person located the body of 64-year-old Michael Cephas, according to a department news release. Detectives from the departments Division of Police Criminal Investigations Unit have assumed the investigation. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) A man who spent about half of his life behind bars for a murder he said he didnt commit was released from prison after Delaware prosecutors decided to essentially dismiss his case. Mark Purnell walked out of the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center late Thursday, just after a New Castle County prosecutor filed a memo ending a bid to retry him for the 2006 killing of Tamika Giles in a Wilmington neighborhood, The News Journal of Wilmington reported. Friday was the deadline for prosecutors to file legal briefs responding to Purnells arguments for the case to end or let him get out on bail before his scheduled August retrial. It is like a dream, said Purnell, 32, who hadnt been freed since he was 16. It is a dream come true. In overturning his second-degree murder conviction last year, the Delaware Supreme Court last year said that new evidence from attorneys and investigators created a strong inference that Purnell was innocent. New Castle prosecutor Annemarie Puit wrote Thursday that there remains evidence Purnell committed the crime, but added that prosecutors pursue trials only in cases they believe have a reasonable likelihood of conviction. After careful consideration of all the evidence in the case, the state has determined it can no longer ethically proceed, Puit wrote. Prosecutors met with Giles family twice in April and are disappointed that they will not see justice here. A spokesperson for the Delaware Department of Justice declined further comment beyond Thursdays memo. Purnell began his attempts to be freed with a handwritten, 133-page appeal filed without the help of attorneys in 2010. His appeal was rejected and revived by various courts. His efforts were boosted by the involvement of lawyers. The Supreme Court ruling discredited much of the testimony used to convict Purnell. The court also criticized Wilmington police for troubling investigative tactics used during the interrogation of a teenager who would become the states primary witness. Purnell said he may eventually seek compensation for his time behind bars, which could be asked for through a federal lawsuit. For now, Purnell looks forward to spending time with family. I want to be successful and be a positive energy in this world, he said. Ive got to prove right everyone that believed in me. CAIRO (AP) Egyptian authorities freed three journalists early Sunday, the head of a journalists union said, the latest in a string of releases as President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi appears to be reaching out to critics of his administration. Ammer Abdel-Moneim, Hany Greisha and Essam Abdeen walked free from jail after they spent around a year and a half in detention in separate cases. Diaa Rashwan, head of the Journalists Union, posted images showing the three journalists wearing white jail uniforms and embracing their families in the street. They were released pending investigations into initial charges of misuse of social media and joining a terrorist group, in an apparent reference to the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organization since 2013. The three have yet to face trial. Their release came a few days after authorities freed 41 detainees including several prominent writers and activists who had been held for months also without trial. Long pre-trial detentions have been a major concern for rights groups in recent years. El-Sissi also reactivated a presidential pardon committee and appointed new members. The committee, in charge of reviewing cases of prisoners held for political crimes, was created in 2016 and had been mostly ineffective in recent years. On Thursday, authorities released prominent political activist Hossam Monis following a pardon by el-Sissi. Monis was serving a four-year sentence on terror charges that rights advocates deemed baseless. Some independent observers believe the government is trying to reach out to critics in the midst of a grinding economic crisis sparked by the Russian war on Ukraine. Thousands of political prisoners, however, are estimated to remain in Egyptian jails. The Egyptian government has in recent years waged a wide-scale crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands of people, mainly Islamists, but also secular activists involved in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. It has also imprisoned dozens of reporters and occasionally expelled some foreign journalists. It remains among the worlds worst jailers of journalists, along with Turkey and China, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a U.S.-based watchdog. Somewhere in Michigan in the early 1990s, a teenage farm boy clings to a chain-link fence at the edge of the county fairgrounds. He is angling for a distant, and free, glimpse of Naomi and Wynonna Judd. They step into view briefly, gliding on high heels to the edge of the grandstand stage. From this distance, illuminated by a spotlight, they are a blur of sparkling sequins and red hair. Naomi, the mother of the duo and the de facto emcee, says something, but even amplified, her words float away in the hot August night. Soon, though, a gentle strumming and Wynonnas throaty voice carry to him: I would whisper love so loudly, every heart could understand that love and only love can join the tribes of man. Then, his mother calls to him: Jeff, get in the car! Its time to go. Im not sure what it was, but for me and for most people, the chemistry between Naomi and Wynonna and the feelings they stirred inside the listener were almost tangible. My first (and only) sighting of them is forever etched in my mind. After word Saturday of Naomi's death, I'm now realizing how much I've been through with them. When I was a preteen beginning to reckon with my sexuality and dealing with bullies, and the Judds sang Mama Hes Crazy, I understood the narrator's insecurities -- why would anyone want me? After my grandfather died, I listened to Grandpa over and over, crying that he would no longer be able to tell me about the good old days, which he actually used to do. (The song has since lost its luster for me a bit the good old days weren't really that good. But I still always think of my grandpa.) And after my father died, I wanted to be at that breakfast table they sang about in Love Is Alive, soaking up all the love that sat there. Those voices. That hair. Those gowns. For a lonely gay boy in the rural Midwest, they were a calling card, and a lifeline of sorts. Wynonna was clearly the bigger voice of the duo. But without Naomis harmonies and stage presence, I doubt her daughter ever would have become the one-name star she is. And would Ashley have made it in Hollywood without her mothers support? As I grew older, the story of the Judds impressed me, and I saw bits of it in my own life. Naomis single motherhood, a nurse trying to score a recording contract, clicked with my view of my newly widowed mother, another country woman, trying to keep it together while still raising children. If Naomi could do it, so could she. And so could I. When cancer visited one of my leg bones after my senior year in high school, I thought of Naomi and her hepatitis diagnosis. Eventually she triumphed over it. So did I. I went off to college, got married (well, committed -- same-sex marriage wasnt yet legal in those days) and ended up in New York. Like Naomi, I had persevered and made it out. There, I cultivated a new circle of friends, many of them also from Michigan. One night a Judds song came on, I forget which one, and one of my new friends began singing along. It turned out we all loved the Judds. I had to go to all the way to New York City to find my country people. Soon we two couples became inseparable, taking camping trips together several times a summer. When my husband and I moved to Philadelphia and they stayed in New York, we continued our campground reunions, and there was never a camping trip without a Judds singalong around the fire, under the starlit Pennsylvania sky. Both couples have since divorced, and I have remarried making sure to impress an appreciation of the Judds upon my new husband but we all remain close and in touch. The lack of animosity between us reminds me of that line in Love Can Build a Bridge, perhaps Naomis crowning achievement as a songwriter: Love and only love can join the tribes of man. I once sang that song at a piano bar, and a man in the audience approached me afterward, impressed by the song (probably not by my performance). It was so beautiful and artful, he thought it was a Broadway song. No, I said, just an old country song. He was shocked. In this world, at this time, can love really join the tribes of man? It was not a question when the Judds asked, Don't you think it's time? Naomi knew the answer all along. ___ Follow Jeff McMillan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jeffmcmillanpa This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Over 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the U.S., after strong winds had pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a small city in northern New Mexico. Calmer winds on Saturday aided the firefighting effort after gusts accelerated the fires advance to a point on Friday when we were watching the fire march about a mile every hour, said Jayson Coil, a fire operations official. Ash carried 7 miles (11 kilometers) through the air had fallen on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the fire from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson with the fire management team. But fire managers warned of windy conditions expected in the coming days, as well as impacts from smoke, and officials urged residents to remain vigilant for further possible evacuation orders. Stewart Turner, a fire behavior analyst with the fire management team, warned Saturday of a very serious week ahead with the forecasted winds. More extreme fire danger was forecast for Sunday for parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Mapping imagery indicated the fire that has burned at least 166 homes grew in size from 103 square miles (266 square kilometers) on Friday to 152 square miles (393 square kilometers) by early Saturday, officials said. The fire was described as 30% contained during a briefing Saturday evening. Winds in northern New Mexico gusted up to 65 mph (105 kph) Friday before subsiding as nightfall approached. By Saturday, aircraft that dump fire retardant and water could resume flights to aid ground crews and bulldozers. The fire's rapid growth Friday forced crews to repeatedly change positions because of threatening conditions but they managed to immediately re-engage without being forced to retreat, Coil said. No injuries were reported. The fire started April 6 when a prescribed burn set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush that can fuel fires was declared out of control. That fire then merged with another wildfire a week ago. With the fire's recent growth, estimates of people forced to evacuate largely rural areas plus a subdivision near Las Vegas doubled from 1,500 to 2,000 people to between 3,000 and 4,000, said Jesus Romero, the assistant manager for San Miguel County. Officials have said the fire has destroyed 277 structures, including at least 166 homes. No updated damage assessments were available on Saturday, Romero said. Wildfires were also burning elsewhere in New Mexico and in Arizona. The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood. Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the West given changing conditions that include earlier snowmelt and rain coming later in the fall, scientist have said. The problems have been exacerbated by decades of fire suppression and poor management along with a more than 20-year megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. In northern Arizona, firefighters neared full containment of a 30 square-mile (77 square-kilometer) blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national wildfire management team turned oversight of fighting the blaze back to local firefighting forces on Friday. National forests across Arizona announced they would impose fire restrictions starting next Thursday that limit campfires to developed recreation sites and restrict smoking to inside vehicles, other enclosed spaces and to the recreation sites. ___ Davenport reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report. RICHMOND HILL, Ga. (AP) When Amarilys Castillo walks into her classroom, she knows it will only be a matter of time before her students lose focus. A preschool teacher at the Liberty County Pre-K Center, Castillo said some of her students look like little zombies and need to catch a few zs before they are ready to learn. It goes downhill after recess, said Castillo. They are done. They are over it. My kids get to school and they are half sleep. You feel bad because they are exhausted. It tugs at your heart strings. With that, Castillo realized she had to do something. OPENING UP A NEW PRESCHOOL FOR RICHMOND HILL CHILDREN This summer, Castillo is set to open Lilys Bilingual School, a multicultural preschool in Richmond Hill. I kind of came up with this idea because I love what I do, said Castillo. Its always kind of been in my heart. I want to do this to help my community. I love this age of 3-5-years old. Its so fun. I am able to be creative and artistic. Teaching is exciting and the kids will always make you laugh. Castillo wants to reshape what preschool should look like. Students will attend class just a few hours a week, leaving nap time up to the parent. Castillo said the short timeframe is more than enough for students to retain what they have learned. Its a concentrated amount of time but we can get a lot done in that time, she said. Parents are growing more concerned about lengthy preschool hours, saying 46-year-olds are not mature enough emotionally to make it through an 8-9 hour day of schooling. With eight years of experience in education, Castillo said she envisions her school being a place where learning happens through laughter, play and adventure, as well as exposure to a bilingual-based curriculum. Castillo hopes her bilingual program will allow Hispanic parents to be involved in their childs education. She has witnessed the difficulties of parents who are eager to help their child succeed but cannot because they do not know how to communicate with their teacher. In addition, there are different dialects within Hispanic culture. She picked up on those languages throughout her time in education, so she is able to navigate through conversations that are different from her native tongue. But until there is more diversity, she fears parents will not know how to help their child thrive academically. Learning to speak English is very hard, said Castillo. You need to know English if you have a Hispanic background. I have taught in Savannah and have dealt with the Hispanic community. I feel like its hard to get parents involved. We need to get more employees and volunteers to help include these families. They want to help their kids but they dont know how. They try to pick up bits and pieces of what is being told to them, but I dont think they get the whole idea. They always say, yes, yes because they want to be seen as helpful. Castillo, who is Puerto Rican, said she wants to share food thats true to her heritage, as well as introduce students to different cultures. She hopes to spark a movement where teachers include more ethnicities in their curriculum. I really do think exposure is a big thing, even with the books that are read, said Castillo. People need to see all cultures represented. I hope the parents will push for this in the elementary ages. I hope there is a domino effect from this. JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) The only sea turtles that visitors to Loggerhead Marinelife Center will see right now are those whose images are printed on T-shirts in the gift shop. The big turtle tanks at the center on U.S. 1 in Juno Beach have been empty since early April because Loggerhead is facing issues with its water quality that have disqualified it from hosting and rehabilitating sea turtles its signature activity since it opened in 1983. The centers problems go beyond the tanks that are supposed to hold the green and loggerhead sea turtles that nest on northern Palm Beach Countys beaches. The popular destination also has seen the deaths of three turtles and a run of departures from staff members following the expansion of its campus and the arrival of a new chief executive, Kyle Van Houtan. More than a dozen people either have resigned or have notified the center they will be leaving shortly due to mismanagement and concern for the reptile patients, according to six current and former employees who spoke with The Palm Beach Post. Some of the centers marine turtle permits from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which allow it to rehabilitate the animals hang in the balance as the people named on the permits leave, taking their expertise with them. What remains is a CEO scrambling to get out ahead of rumors, local leaders wary of sending any more taxpayer money to the center, visitors let down by the absence of sea turtles and a $26 million newly renovated center missing its star patients. I understand theres been a lot of change around here, and we understand there has been a lot of concern, Van Houtan said. Were going to come out of this stronger. On Wednesday, Loggerhead placed a full-page ad in The Palm Beach Posts print edition, thanking its donors, staff members and volunteers amid what the board of directors called the centers significant growth pains. Loggerheads problems began last July as salinity levels in sea turtle care tanks dropped and began to fluctuate. While the oceans salinity is around 35 parts per thousand, FWC requires that sea turtle tanks range in salinity from 20 to 40 parts per thousand. According to Van Houtan and staff members who were monitoring water salinity, the amount of salt in the water being brought into Loggerhead was hovering in the upper 20s and low 30s. Staff members grew concerned about the low salinity and the fluctuation of salt levels in the tanks, and alerted FWC. Permit holders are required to report issues that affect animal welfare within 24 hours of discovering them. Since sea turtles naturally live in the ocean, too little salt in the water can cause them to retain more water and exacerbate health conditions such as anemia. Changing levels threaten the animals stability as they are rehabilitated, according to FWC and Loggerhead staff members. Van Houtan told The Post the center determined the changes in salinity were caused by a contractor error and runoff water entering Loggerheads intake pump system. In an official statement, he tied the salinity issues to a nearby beach renourishment project just north of Donald Ross Road that took place in January 2021. While the whole system is underground, staff members believe the renourishment project added sand to the beach around the intake pump and resulted in less ocean water and more runoff entering the tanks. While the pipes are stationary and havent moved, the beach renourishment has moved the ocean farther from the pipes, Van Houtan said. When you add 100 linear feet to the beach, you push the ocean farther away. ... Our pumps (are) working harder to get that ocean water and even pulling in some fresh water. Loggerhead staff members told The Post that fresh water included rain water and runoff from the street above as salinity dropped more drastically after large rain storms. Fluctuating salinity resulted in widespread issues in the water system at Loggerhead, and the staff members who spoke with The Post said it led to the death of three sea turtle hatchlings at the center in October. New patients were barred from entering the facility in mid-October, but FWC granted limited admissions in early January. Through February, several sea turtles were successfully rehabilitated and released, Van Houtan said in a written statement released Tuesday. But on April 8, the staff observed tiny air bubbles in seawater inflows. Bubbles can be harmful to sea turtles, especially small turtles, because they can enter their bloodstreams and cause decompression sickness, similar to the bends that scuba divers can face when pressure changes too quickly around them. As a result of the air bubbles, FWC removed all sea turtles from the centers care and relocated them. The nearest sea turtle rehabilitation program is about 40 miles to the south at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton. More than a dozen staffers resign from Loggerhead Staff members who have left the center paint a picture of poor communication, concerns about their patients well-being and mismanagement by Van Houtan, who started as the chief executive last July. Prior to joining Loggerhead, Van Houtan was the chief scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Previously, he was the marine turtle assessment program leader for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He holds a doctorate degree in ecology and environmental ethics from Duke University. But his communication style may have contributed to resignations by outgoing Loggerhead staff members and is the basis of at least one lawsuit. In late March, the centers former marketing director sued Loggerhead, accusing Van Houtan and the centers management of misleading her and the public about the water-quality issues in the tanks. Marilu Flores was hired in November 2021 after the start of the water quality concerns. She said she would have never taken the job had she known the issues at the center. In the lawsuit, Flores called the experience a nightmare and detailed attempts by Van Houtan to cover up water quality issues, such as hiring a crisis management firm and directing staff members not to tell anyone about the centers problems. Now the mass resignations have put the centers permits at risk. FWC issues permits to qualified individuals to handle sea turtles instead of institutions, and staff members say at least 20 full-time employees have resigned or are in the process of resigning their positions. Loggerheads website lists 32 staff members. Van Houtan said hes aware of 14 staff members who have resigned since he took the reins. Loggerhead has 30 days to hire new qualified individuals who can hold the permits, or the center is at risk of losing them and its abilities to host and rehabilitate turtles. Staff members who spoke with The Post say they were cut out by Van Houtan for bringing their concerns about management to human resources. Others said he prevented them from getting raises, awards for their work and grants for new projects. Theyve launched a petition online calling for Van Houtans resignation. Nearly 300 people have signed. During his tenure, staff has been belittled and ridiculed, excluded and misled, the petition says. Loggerhead Marinelife Centers reputation, in the community and amongst its peers locally and globally has hit rock bottom. Van Houtan said he has held town halls with the scientists, education coordinators and volunteers at the center to identify and address issues. Several members of LMCs staff and volunteer base have resigned over the past few weeks due to disagreement with our direction, he wrote in a statement. We understand change does not come easily, and we are working to improve the situation by increasing communication and accepting more input from our stakeholders. Van Houtan told The Post the centers core mission remains rehabilitating sea turtles, educating the public on ocean conservation and generating revenue to keep the mission afloat. But staffers pointed to new fish tanks and revenue-generating event space as signs that Loggerhead is morphing into an aquarium instead of a sea-turtle hospital. Town leaders withhold taxpayer money from center citing concerns Concerns about Loggerheads operations have rippled through the community, worrying visitors and nearby town leaders about its future. While volunteers said spring break was a busy week, there were just a handful of visitors at the center Tuesday morning. Parents and children wandered through the maze of 26 empty turtle rehabilitation tanks, passed fish tanks filled only with water and interacted with virtual aquariums projected onto the wall in the newly expanded center. On Tuesday, Jupiters Town Council opted not to award Loggerhead any money in its charitable donation program, citing concerns about water quality and staffing. This year was the first year Loggerhead applied for the donation program, according to town records. Although the center is in Juno Beach, it requested $7,500 for its Oceans of Opportunity program, an education effort for disadvantaged Jupiter residents, according to its application. The centers annual revenue tops $9 million, according to its most recent tax documents. The town of Juno Beach, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners are members of the centers Circle of 100, a group comprised from donors who give $5,000 or more per year to Loggerhead. Jupiter was the first north county municipality to discuss denying funding to Loggerhead. Town council member Ron Delaney said Tuesday that he brought family to the center recently while they were visiting. He called the visit a big thud, because there were no sea turtles. There was nothing there, he said of the new turtle tanks. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The tornado that damaged more than more than 1,000 buildings in south-central Kansas generated winds up to 165 mph (266 kph) and carved a path of destruction nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) long. The National Weather Service said the tornado that caused extensive damage Friday mostly in the Wichita suburb of Andover and injured several people rated an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale it uses to assess tornadoes. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said that at least 300 to 400 buildings were destroyed by the storm as part of a total of 1,074 buildings that were damaged. The Weather Service said the tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes Friday evening. Four people, including two firefighters who were responding to a call in Andover, were injured during the storm but their injuries were minor. Russell said it will take years for Andover to recover from this storm. The city of Andover will be affected by this for years, he said. We still have scars from 1991 (EF5 tornado). Im so thankful this tornado was not as bad as that, but we will literally be doing this for years. By Sunday, utility crews had restored power to nearly all of the more than 15,000 customers who lost power during the storm. Evergy said less than 1,000 people still lacked power in the Wichita area Sunday morning. In addition to the storm damage, the Oklahoma State Patrol said three University of Oklahoma meteorology students were killed in a car crash about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City in Oklahoma Friday evening as they returned from storm chasing in Kansas. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) A Las Cruces police officer shot and killed 75-year-old Amelia Baca on the evening of April 16. But it wasnt until two days later that the city confirmed a killing occurred via a news release after multiple news media outlets published the familys account. The news release left out several details, such as Bacas name and age, and raised several questions that have, so far, gone unanswered by city and police officials, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. The Officer-involved Incident Task Force is still in the preliminary stages of its investigation into Saturdays death of 75-year-old Amelia Baca of Las Cruces, City of Las Cruces spokesperson Dan Trujillo said on April 19 in a response to the Sun-News regarding the timeline of the investigation and whether a specialized mental health team was deployed to the scene. Trujillo added, the Las Cruces Police Department cannot provide details of the investigation at this time. The name of the officer will not be released at this time. The Officer-involved Incident Task Force will release findings from the investigation at an appropriate time. Six days after the shooting at about 6:30 p.m., LCPD released a produced video that featured selected screenshots from the responding officers body camera and snippets from the 911 call made before the shooting. The produced video confirmed the familys account that Baca was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting. In the portions of the 911 call shared, Bacas daughter asked for emergency personnel to assist her since her mother was wielding a knife and threatening her life. Body camera screenshots in the video showed the responding officer pointing his gun at Baca who was holding two kitchen knives and standing in her doorway. The video tells watchers that the officer told Baca to drop the knives, although that portion of the officers body camera was not made available in the released video. While the video shed some light on the incident, it did not reveal what happened. The Sun-News requests for the full-body camera video and full 911 call have been denied. The delay in information has raised questions about how and when police decide to inform the public about what theyre up to. It also highlighted an internal personnel shift within the citys communication office that, for a time, drastically limited how much information came out of the police department. When asked, City of Las Cruces Director of Communication Mandy Guss said her communications team delayed putting out information regarding Bacas death because they were trying to confirm the accuracy of the information. I think the most important thing for me that we want to explain in any of these incidents, is that we want to provide accurate information, Guss said. And, it can take time to get the details together. Police Chief Miguel Dominguez said a news release had been given to him well before it was released April 18. There was a (news) release that was actually ready to go, Dominguez told the Sun-News. For whatever reason, Im not sure why I didnt get it. ___ Where did all the LCPD news go? News involving LCPD is filtered through the citys communication department before being released to the public, Guss said. Under Guss, the city utilizes eight communications staff each with different responsibilities corresponding to different departments in the city. That includes departments like Parks and Recreation and LCPD, the citys largest and best-funded department. LCPDs news releases cover a range of topics. Some releases include notices of active police situations or informing the public that an LCPD officer has just killed someone. Other releases focus on prominent arrests, community events, or even corrections to incorrect information in previous releases. Many of the releases are posted on Facebook and shared among Las Cruces web of community watch pages. Theyre also digested and repackaged in newspaper articles and television news programs. Over the last 10 months, the flood of nearly daily news releases became a trickle. An analysis of news releases sent out by the LCPD and the City of Las Cruces since June 2021 shows an abrupt decline in the release of public information. LCPD went from producing an average of 24 news releases per month down to an average of 11 a month. In December 2021, LCPD put out just seven news releases. Guss attributed the decline in police news releases to a staff shortage. Trujillo had been the citys longtime dedicated public safety spokesperson, but in October 2021 Guss moved him to another city department on an interim assignment. That forced the remaining eight communications staff to pick up the slack of the citys largest department, Guss said. She said that the situation also meant that her staff had to spend more time reacting to information requests from the media instead of creating news releases. The public information team, without Trujillo there, didnt respond as quickly and in some cases as thoroughly to Sun-News questions about police incidents. Trujillo returned to the public information team this month but with a different title. Hes now a spokesperson for the city rather than the police department. Trujillo is the teams dedicated public safety spokesperson, however, its not clear how this role will affect what, and how quickly, police news is disseminated to the public. I would definitely like to take a much more proactive approach in the items that we send out from the police, Guss said. And thats why Im really excited to have (Trujillo) back on the team. ___ Repetition and agenda-setting Its unclear what, if any, damage the decision to leave Las Cruces police without a dedicated public information officer had. Sangwon Lee, a professor of communications and expert in political communications at New Mexico State University, said that the public comes to expect information about certain topics when they see that those topics are being heavily covered. When that source of information dries up, Lee said that it can lead to mistrust, especially if other sources of information are covering the topic. The situation relates back to something called agenda-setting theory, Lee said. Agenda-setting theory is the idea that when information is heavily covered by the media (which includes traditional media like newspapers and television news, state-sponsored media like news releases, and social media) people tend to think that its more important. So, how the media sets up the agenda (of what to cover and what not to cover) can definitely influence how people think, Lee said. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine lawmakers have extended a historic preservation tax credit to try to rehabilitate properties in downtown areas. The Maine Senate voted in late April to extend the sunset date for the Maine Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit from 2025 to 2030. Supporters of the proposal said it would help with affordable housing as well as preservation of historic downtowns. The tax credit program provides incentives so businesses, property owners and developers can rehab and reuse historic buildings in the state that produce income. Supporters said it's designed to encourage redevelopment of housing that is located within walking distance of downtowns. That cuts down the need for new building and dependence on cars. Bill sponsor Sen. Nate Libby, a Lewiston Democrat, said the proposal is one step to address an affordable housing crisis that has only gotten worse over the last few years. Greg Paxton, former executive director of Maine Preservation, said last year when he was still in the job that the tax credit program boosts communities that "feel pride in the repurposing for current uses of the historic buildings constructed so well by our predecessors. GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) Forty-three years is a long time to wait to reclaim stolen property, but thats how long it took for one Madison County music legend. On April 15, Sheriff Buddy Harwood presented Bobby Hicks with the pistol Hicks lost in 1978 in Greensboro. Hicks is a Marshall resident and former fiddle player with bluegrass music titan Bill Monroe. Harwood returned the handgun, a Browning Hi-Power .9mm short cartridge, after a detective with the Greensboro Police Department called him and told him of the finding. The gun was identified in a pawn shop in Greensboro, according to Harwood. Bobby called and said, Can you help me get this gun back? I dont want to drive to Greensboro, Harwood said. So I called Greensboro (PD) evidence section, and they said, Sure, Sheriff. Well get you the gun. According to Harwood, when he called the GPD office to arrange meeting up to have the gun transported back to Madison County, he urged the staff receptionist to explore some of Hicks playing, as she was unfamiliar with him. The woman answered the phone, and I said, You havent heard of Bobby Hicks? Why dont you Google him. Hes got 10 Grammys. Hes got them up in his house holding his doors open, Harwood said. She said, Ill mail you that gun, Sheriff. So I got it in (April 14). You talk about a legend getting a legend back. This gun was made in the 1930s. While 43 years may seem like a long time to some, it wasnt long enough for the local music legend to forget about the incident. I never forget anything anybody steals from me, Hicks said. I had it laying on the headboard of my bed. Whoever took it knew where it was at. It was the only thing I was missing. While authorities are still investigating who broke into Hicks home and stole his gun, the musician said he suspects it was stolen by someone close to him. I had two full-grown Doberman pinchers in my house, Hicks said. It was one of the older houses, where the bottom-half of the back door is wood, the top half is glass. They broke that window, and one of my Dobermans had glass all in his fur. So it had to be somebody that I knew, that knew those dogs, because they would have ate him up. According to the sheriff, the gun has a resale value of $600-$700. Hicks said he bought it for a lot cheaper than that, though. I bought it for $20, the 10-time Grammy Award winner said. I was playing in a dance hall-type place in Reno, Nevada. This guy was in there, and he was an alcoholic. He needed a drink, and he didnt have any money. But he had that gun. I didnt know he had it until he offered it to me for whatever I wanted to give him. I gave him a $20 bill and put it in my pocket. Harwood said the nearly 44-year period between the theft and its return speaks to the meticulous gun records that law enforcement agencies employ. It was 1978 that his house got broken into, Harwood said. Somebody has kept up a good hot files for all these years, because you have to validate them every 30 to 60 days. When you register a gun, its entered into whats called a hot file. Somebodys keeping some good records in Greensboro. With the pistol back in his possession, Hicks said it will go back into his safe with his other guns. Hicks said his animals will deter any potential intruders should anyone try to take it from him again. Ive got three dogs in the house, now, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Two people were rescued Sunday from the rubble of a building in central China more than 50 hours after it collapsed, leaving dozens trapped or missing, state media said. Separately, police arrested nine people including the building owner on suspicion of causing a major liability accident, the official Xinhua News Agency said. State broadcaster CCTV showed video of rescuers bringing a woman out on a stretcher about 4:30 p.m. Some could be heard shouting words of encouragement during the operation. She was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, CCTV said. State media reported another person was brought out alive in the evening but provided no details. Seven people have been rescued from the building, which collapsed Friday afternoon in the inland city of Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. About 20 others remained trapped, and another 39 had not been accounted for as of late Saturday. Besides the owner, police said they had arrested three people in charge of design and construction and five others for what they said was a false safety assessment for a guest house on the building's fourth to sixth floors. In photos the building appeared to have pancaked down to about the second floor, leaving rubble strewn on the sidewalk. It had stood in a row of buildings about six stories tall. Xinhua said the building had eight floors, including a restaurant on the second floor, a cafe on the third floor and residences on the top two floors. Other media reports said it was a six-story building. Tenants had made structural modifications to the building, but the cause of the collapse remained under investigation, Xinhua said. Police said the Hunan Xiangda Engineering Testing Co. issued the false safety report on April 13. The arrested included the legal representative of the company and four technicians suspected of providing the assessment. Following an increase in the number of collapses of self-built buildings in recent years, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that it was necessary to check such structures for any hidden dangers and fix them to prevent major accidents, Xinhua said. Poor adherence to safety standards, including the illegal addition of extra floors and failure to use reinforcing iron bars, is often blamed for such disasters. CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) A school bus driver for a central Virginia school district was charged with driving under the influence following what police call a hit-and-run crash and a brief chase. Richmond police said it happened Friday afternoon, according to media outlets, when the driver of a Chesterfield County Public Schools bus struck a light pole, breaking it into two pieces, and drove off. LAS VEGAS (AP) Visitors to the newly constructed Holocaust Memorial Plaza at King David Memorial Cemetery in Las Vegas might be caught off guard by the crumbled brick wall with rebar sticking out at the plazas entryway. But the symbolism is powerful. That depicts the deterioration of the Jewish community due to the Nazi regime, Jay Poster, the cemeterys general manager and founder, told the Las Vegas Sun. The monument of perseverance was unveiled last weekend as part of the commemoration of Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Remembrance Day celebrated April 27 to correspond to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar on the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. The plaza includes a Jewish star rising from the ground to symbolize survival, the names and locations of the Nazis World War II extermination camps, and a complete timeline of the Holocaust. The plaza will be sacred space where survivors and their descendants can pay their respects to the six million Jews and five million others killed in the Holocaust. More important, it will provide a resource for educators and rabbis in their teaching, officials stress. Thats the entire Nazi regime, from when Hitler came to power to Victory Day, said Poster, pointing to the timeline etched into granite lining the back of the plaza. On the ground, six bronze plaques represent the concentration camps where a majority of the Jews were gassed and murdered. Each plaque is engraved with the camp name, location and number of deaths, such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp in Poland where 1.1 million Jews were killed. And, thanks to Rabbi Sanford Akselrad of Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson, soil from near each of the six camps will be buried under the plaques. Akselrad was able to get the soil donated while on a mission trip in Poland this month helping refugees who are fleeing Ukraine. Poster, when the plaza project launched late last year, was in communication with the chief rabbi of Poland to coordinate acquiring the pieces of earth. But with Russias invasion of Ukraine, there were more pressing priorities. When Poster learned Akselrad, who is also his rabbi, was making the trip, he asked Akselrad if he could fulfill the request. Akselrad returned last week with the valuable soil in zip bags, an invaluable step in the plaza project. Akselrad coordinated with Jonathan Ornstein, the executive director of the Jewish Community Center in Krakow, Poland. The symbolism, of course, is whether inside the camp or outside, we know Jews marched to their death on that soil, Akselrad said. He continued, The soil tells its own story. By incorporating the soil itself into the Holocaust Plaza, as you come to the plaza, if you stand where that soil is placed, you are standing on the exact same soil our ancestors stood in the most tragic moment in history. That helps explain why Akselrads trip to Poland, where he was one of 27 rabbis bringing supplies and financial donations for Ukrainian refugees, was so significant for his congregation. Regardless if they were Jewish or not Jewish, we were doing for the refugees what was not done for the Jews during the Holocaust, Akselrad said. We felt a special obligation to help others, especially because our history in Poland was so tragic. The tragedy will be remembered at the plaza, which includes a plaque with a famous quote that originally was found on a cellar wall in Cologne, Germany, during the Holocaust: I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I cannot feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent. The unveiling will include a handful of guest speakers, including U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Tali Nates, the executive director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre. The project, which spans about 100 yards and includes family burial plots, was paid for by Palm Mortuary and King David Memorial Cemetery. King David, at 2697 E. Eldorado Lane in Las Vegas off Eastern Avenue, is the lone cemetery exclusively dedicated to Jewish burial in Southern Nevada. It is situated at the back of Palm Mortuary. The plaza will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. HAVANA (AP) Ricardo Alarcon, who was for years the head of Cubas parliament and one of the countrys most prominent diplomats, has died in Havana, authorities in Cuba said Sunday. He was 84 years old. Alarcon was the trusted adviser to Fidel Castro, and his brother and successor Raul, for decades and was a key negotiator in difficult talks with the United States in issues including immigration and the legal battle for the return of the child Elian Gonzalez to Cuba in 2000. Alarcon did not participate directly in negotiations that led to the islands thaw with Washington in 2014 under the direction of Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro, since he had by that time left public life. However, he was heavily involved in efforts to secure the release of five Cuban intelligence agents detained in Florida in 1999. Their return to Cuba coincided with the process of reestablishing diplomatic relations To Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, master of the diplomats of our generation, we will always keep deep respect, admiration and infinite affection. Thank you for the privilege and honor of having been his disciple, Deputy Minister Josefina Vidal said on Twitter. Alarcon, who spoke fluent English, was frequently interviewed on U.S. television channels about the policies of the islands communist government. He was one of the top leaders and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party, and was even mentioned as a possible successor to Fidel Castro before his brother Raul Castro assumed the leadership of the country in 2008. Wearing his traditional guayabera, his cigar between bony hands with long fingers and his thin glasses, Alarcon used to combine harsh rhetoric and fine sarcasm to criticize US policies towards Cuba, which he attributed to the influence of the Cuban exile community in Miami. During the legal dispute over the custody of Elian Gonzalez, Alarcon was a personal adviser to the minors father. During the process, he compared Cuban exiles in Miami with a banana republic and a wild west where no law reached. Alarcon, who often described the U.S. embargo as genocidal, was president of the National Assembly from 1993. He retired as its leader in 2013. At the head of this institution in 2002, Alarcon led efforts to inscribe the permanence of the socialist system in the Constitution, in defiance of growing demands for democratic reforms from opponents and some governments. Before becoming a parliamentarian, Alarcon served as foreign minister and twice Cubas ambassador to the United Nations: between 1966-1978 and between 1990-92. There, he was vice president of the U.N. General Assembly and Chairman of the Administrative Council of the U.N. Development Program. Born on May 21, 1937, Alarcon had a doctorate in philosophy and literature. As a young man, he was a staunch opponent of the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship and was part of the movement that overthrew him. KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Three people died and three others were injured after two weekend shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. A spokesman for the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, Officer Marshee London said one shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. MADISON, Wis. (AP) The number of Wisconsin state lawmakers hanging it up this year is near a modern-day high, and could even exceed the record set during World War II. The mass exodus comes amid uncertainty over legislative boundaries due to a redistricting fight, an ever-more partisan political environment and years of animosity between majority Republicans and minority Democrats. Thirty incumbents have announced they will retire, won't seek reelection or are running for another office. That's a quarter of the 118 lawmakers up for reelection. Thirteen Republicans and 10 Democrats in the Assembly are leaving; four Republicans and three Democrats in the Senate are out. The 30 departures ties with 2014 for the third-highest number of incumbent retirements since at least 1940, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau. Agency data shows 31 incumbents left in 1954 and 32 left in 1942 during the middle of World War II. The LRB's legislative turnover records date back only to 1940. University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist Barry Burden said legislative departures are often higher in redistricting years, when the Legislature redraws lawmakers' district lines to reflect population changes. This year's maps were delayed as Democrats and Republicans fought over them in court. The state Supreme Court didn't finalize the maps until earlier this month on the day candidates could pull nomination papers. The districts remained largely unchanged but Burden said the delay likely made it difficult for incumbents to plan. Burden speculated that Republicans also might be leaving because of internal dissension over election integrity. A vocal faction of the party believes Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump, even though recounts, court decisions and audits have confirmed that Biden defeated Trump by nearly 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. Republican Sen. Kathy Bernier, a former Chippewa County clerk and chair of the Senate elections committee, is retiring after 12 years in the Legislature. She took intense criticism for defending local clerks' elections performance and questioning Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' decision to hire former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to investigate the election. Gableman called on her to resign. She said she was ready to quit anyway, but the attacks made her decision easy. She said many Republicans believe as she does but are too afraid to stand up. "It just seemed to me something had to be said and something had to be done," she said. After getting the slings and arrows from people in my own caucus . . . they came to realize there was nothing they could say or do or no bill that they could write that would make the Trumpians happy. They just decided to keep quiet. They want to move on. I don't know if they can." Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke announced in January that he would not seek reelection. He ran afoul this winter of a faction of Assembly Republicans who demanded the body decertify the 2020 election results. Vos and the rest of the GOP leadership refused, saying it couldnt be done. Steineke called his decision just good timing after 12 years in Madison, but also said hes been dealing with criticism over his election stance that has at times been irrational. Somebody called (from) my district frustrated with the 2020 election, Steineke recalled. As we walked through all the issues he believed were wrong in the election, I explained every single one of them and what the reality was. He still couldnt accept that and then inferred elected officials are agents of foreign governments . . . Theres a segment of our citizenry that is incredibly frustrated and looking for an outlet and often times elected officials become an outlet for that frustration. Hanging over all of the departures is a partisan atmosphere that has grown more bitter, personal and sometimes abusive in recent years. This generation of lawmakers was on the front lines for the divisive battle over then-Gov. Scott Walker's public union restrictions, a fight that grew so intense that Democratic senators fled to Illinois in a futile effort to prevent passage. The night the Assembly passed the bill Democratic Rep. Gordon Hintz shouted You're dead! at a Republican colleague. Hintz is not seeking reelection. That leaves Christine Sinicki as the only Assembly Democrat who was present for the floor debate on the bill running again this fall. Senate Democrats never voted on the measure because they had left the state. The divide deepened after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeated Walker in 2018 but Republicans retained control of both legislative houses, leading to gridlock. The rancor has continued in the last two years as Republicans work to tighten voting laws, drawing protests from Democrats who say the GOP is trying to suppress their supporters' votes. I certainly understand the frustration some legislators on both sides of the aisle have, with the make-up of the Legislature and the tone of the debate, said Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach, who is retiring after 23 years. Were not talking about issues that affect districts. Why is Robin Vos spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on something thats not real? I got tired of trying to answer that when theres no answer. Or that the answer is theyre trying to keep the Trump people on board in the Republican Party and thats the only way to do it. ___ Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1 The nonprofit's new gallery show 'An Eye for Fashion' spotlights up-and-coming shutterbugs By Amelia Williams Bay City News Foundation Rohan DaCosta can admit that photography wasn't his first love. The Chicago native had always known he was a creative person, a "jack-of-all-trades," with a preference for poetry. But it was a relocation to the Bay Area, a bona fide petri dish of artistic proclivities, that rekindled the initial flirtation he had with the medium in a high school photojournalism class. Cameras and couplets, turns out, have more in common than you'd think. "It's all storytelling, or it all can be," he says. "Even as a writer or as a poet, I was a photographer as a poet. Poetry will offer you snapshots of a feeling; the two naturally, for me, bleed into each other." If the picture-to-word currency exchange still stands, DaCosta will espouse a book's length with his curation of the East Bay Photo Collective's latest gallery show, "An Eye for Fashion." The show comprises photography work from local artists, as well as those from places as disparate as Germany, and DaCosta says many of the photographers had never seen their work tangibly up on a wall before. He also made some modifications to the gallery space, such as painting the walls red and forgoing frames, but the EBPCo executive directors were game; "they wanted to take some chances and explore how they can engage the community," he says. Co-executive directors (and partners) Anita Gay and Vince Donovan founded the East Bay Photo Collective in 2017 after sensing a void in community spaces for photography. The Bay Area, as you may have noticed, is a photogenic place full of striking subjects, and a long history to boot; one of the region's first photographer collectives, called Group f/64, was founded in 1932. Both have been involved in photography in and out of the Bay Area for decades. Donovan, who calls himself a "photo mad-scientist," cofounded Photobooth SF in 2011 with fellow photographer Michael Shindler, a studio and gallery that focused on tintype photography, a quick-exposure method developed in 1853 that peaked during the Civil War years. Although Photobooth SF has since closed, Donovan says it was the first West Coast tintype studio in over 100 years. Gay has lived in the Bay Area for 20 years, and worked in photography retail nearly as long; she credits Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley for paving the path that would lead to founding her own photography community. "There's subcultures within the subcultures," Gay says. "There's the analog group, there's the digital group, there's everything in between. Most of the photographers I've met and crossed paths with are very interested in connecting across those subcultures. And that's kind of what we are as an organization. We try to foster that." The closing of other community photographer spaces, like Rainbow Express Studio, was a major catalyst in the founding of EBPCo. As photography methods and technology continue to evolve, older styles and craft could be swept away. The collective's goal is to honor that past while exploring the future, and give all the emerging shutterbugs the means and support to do so. "People are important; an important part of our mission is bringing people together to inspire each other and teach each other, learn from each other. Our new gallery is exactly that. We are literally the bridge from the previous generations to the new generations," Donovan adds. "To be that bridge to this traditional photographic experience and the new photographic experience is really thrilling." While calling it a collective is a bit of a misnomer -- it's a nonprofit -- they've connected with hundreds of photophiles over the last five years. Weirdly enough, the pandemic catalyzed a number of new and successful endeavors for EBPCo, including regular community photo walks, online talks with renowned photographers and a physical gallery. The space, called the Oakland Photo Workshop, is located in the Asian Resource Center in Oakland's Chinatown, and has hosted three shows so far since EBPCo acquired it in 2020, with "An Eye for Fashion" being the third. DaCosta has a handful of shows planned for the rest of the year, but those are currently under wraps. One of the photographers featured in "An Eye for Fashion," Oakland resident Katie Lovecraft, fell in love with photography in high school in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. She developed her colorful, graphic style for commercial fashion and beauty photography after attending photo school and moving out West, crediting Oakland's collaborative legacy with pushing her to develop her craft. Before DaCosta's introduction, she hadn't known about EBPCo. "To me 'An Eye for Fashion' feels like a community dialogue about what kind of energy we feel when we shoot the fashion imagery we want to see around us," she says over email. "My photo is a favorite from a shoot for Diablo Magazine's spring 2019 fashion editorial, so I was happy that a photo from a local Bay Area magazine was requested for this community show. It felt right." "An Eye for Fashion" is on display through May 21 at the Oakland Photo Workshop at 312 Eighth St., Oakland. The gallery is open noon-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. For more information, visit https://www.ebpco.org/an-eye-for-fashion. Copyright 2022 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 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Santa Clara County's Office of Sustainability and the Office of Education are partnering together to plant 1,000 trees that will put roots in the ground at school campuses and surrounding neighborhoods throughout the county -- designed to encourage an early sense of environmental stewardship among students. The first 27 saplings were planted Friday at the South County Annex in Gilroy, an educational campus that is located in a neighborhood that largely lacks in trees. The program for which the two county departments are partnering is performed in conjunction with Our City Forest, which conducts the planting of the trees and the training of tree stewards to ensure the new trees are properly tended to. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year pilot program in 2020 with a goal of planting and maintaining 1,000 trees every year. Planting began in the fall of 2020, with over 1,300 trees now in place. A project is now underway that will create a wildlife undercrossing beneath state Highway 17 to provide a route for mountain lions and other wildlife to travel safely between two large areas of habitat -- both of which are separated by four lanes of the busy traffic corridor. Groundbreaking took place Friday for the Laurel Curve Wildlife Undercrossing in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It will connect 460 acres of land on both sides of Highway 17 that has been preserved in a conservation easement by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. Construction crews have already begun building concrete supports under a 71-foot segment of the highway and, once the supports are in place, soil will be removed from beneath the roadway to create a bridge under which wildlife can cross. The $5.4 million project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. A prescribed burn operation is planned for this week in rural Calaveras County, according to Cal Fire officials. Cal Fire will conduct a prescribed burn operation on the Winton-Schaad Vegetation Management Plan site, located in northeastern Calaveras County four miles north of Wilseyville, near West Point. Smoke may be visible during the prescribed burn, scheduled to begin Monday and lasting through Tuesday. Additional prescribed burns within the project area are anticipated later this year, depending on fuel and weather conditions. Burning operations will be conducted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Twenty-six new police recruits will soon be on patrol in the Bay Area's third-largest city, graduating Friday from the police academy to keep the streets of Oakland safe. The Oakland Police Department welcomed the 26 new officers Friday as members of the 187th Basic Recruit Academy, the ceremony of which was held at the Scottish Rite Center. Three public elementary schools in Oakland are being honored by the state for implementing an innovative practice during the 2021-22 school year when California required schools to offer distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The schools, Cleveland Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and Peralta Elementary, are receiving the 2022 Pivotal Practice Awards, which is in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program. The Oakland Unified School District is also being recognized. Fire officials in Contra Costa County are investigating two suspicious fires that broke out early Saturday morning along Interstate 680 in Martinez. A spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said Saturday that the two blazes erupted along the freeway between the Benicia Bridge and Pacheco Boulevard. Firefighters successfully extinguished both fires within minutes. The California Highway Patrol reports that State Route 25 south of Gilroy was closed in both directions for nearly two hours due to two separate series of collisions about one hour apart, one late Saturday and another early Sunday. Both occurred on the same stretch of Route 25 near Bolsa Road, according to incidents filed by CHP, which reopened the northbound lanes only at 1:03 a.m. The first incident involved three vehicles at about 11:17 p.m. Saturday that resulted in multiple people injured. At 12:25 a.m. Sunday, the CHP received a report of a collision involving four vehicles, one of which wound up in a creek. A female pedestrian was struck and killed Saturday night in San Jose on Interstate Highway 680, according to a tweet from San Jose Police Department. The collision was reported at 6:36 p.m. on the highway near Capitol Avenue. The victim was declared dead at the scene, police said, and the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. Police reported this marks the 28th traffic fatality, 30th victim and 17th pedestrian fatality in the city for 2022. The National Weather Service forecast for Sunday for the greater San Francisco Bay Area calls for continuing warm temperatures with daytime highs ranging from the upper 60s to the upper 70s. Overnight lows Sunday morning will range from the upper 40s to the upper 50s. Copyright 2022 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 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KILLINGWORTH The third bid could be the charm for conservationists who want to prevent Deer Lake Scout Reservation from being sold to a developer. Less than one day before a May 1 deadline, Pathfinders submitted its third offer Saturday to buy Deer Lake Scout Reservation from the Boy Scouts Connecticut Yankee Council. The Council was asking for $5 million for the parcel, which included a $400,000 kill fee; they had agreed earlier to sell to a developer for $4.6 million. The fee is to break that contract. Pathfinders president Ted Langevin would not say how much the offer was. I can say we made the offer thats all Im going to say, he said. On the Save Deer Lake Facebook page, Langevin said in his announcement, Pathfinders has raised enough money in contributions, pledges, and loan offers to present a competitive offer to the Scouts. The Pathfinders made a solid offer, its in the hands of the Yankee Council to accept that in keeping with the spirit of conservationism and move forward, Killingworth First Selectman Nancy Gorski said. I am hoping that the Yankee Council stops putting hurdles in the way of Pathfinders acquiring this property, Gorski said. I hope they will accept the offer. According to Gorski, who has worked closely with the nonprofit Pathfinders and other interested parties, the group had submitted its second offer on Friday, but it was rejected. I do know another offer was made yesterday and was rejected, she said. They adjusted their offer to meet the demands of Yankee Council and I am at my wits end with Yankee Council right now, Gorski said. The Yankee Council is putting up stipulations around how the offer will be put together, so I am hoping they accept it, she said. Gorski said she does not know the final number Pathfinders offered. To keep Deer Lake as open space for recreation, volunteers have worked for weeks seeking donations from conservation groups, residents and former Scouts. They have received funds from donors in 25 states, Canada and Denmark. Conservation groups, state and local officials and Sen. Richard Blumenthal D-Conn. have been working with Pathfinders as well. This latest bid is actually the fourth made on the property since January by those who want to keep it as open space. The Trust for Public Land was the first to make an offer on the property in February for $2.4 million, which was rejected. This land deal has taken many twists and turns since the parcel was put up for sale last fall. Separate from sale of the camp, a Madison man filed a lawsuit last week against the Boy Scouts, saying the sale to a developer would harm the natural resources and wildlife and noted it was a protected bird sanctuary. The Richard English Bird Sanctuary is located on the site and is considered a charitable trust, according to the attorney who filed the lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court. The Boy Scouts Connecticut Yankee Council agreed to postpone its earlier deadline to May 1 to accept another offer, after it accepted the $4.6 million bid made by private developer Margaret Streicker, who is a member of the board. The Council had said it would consider a superior offer. This time around, Pathfinders had to not only beat the $4.6 million on the table but pay an additional $400,000 fee for the developer to null their contract or letter of intent. The Council rejected Pathfinders first bid, which was made hours before a March 31 deadline, when the state Attorney Generals office stepped in. Attorney General William Tong is reviewing legal questions raised regarding the sale of the camp. The attorney general is looking into whether its possible to sell the land to a private developer and possible conflict of interest. Tong said in a written statement about the scale of the investigation, Our review includes the Councils compliance with the nonstock corporation act, which includes prohibitions against, and safe harbors for, directors conflicting interest transactions. ... We also enforce the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, at the behest of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, and the fiduciary obligations of trustees over charitable trusts. Pathfinders, former campers, conservationists, state and local officials have worked to help keep the campground as open space for recreation and preservation for several months since the Council announced its sale last fall. The Boy Scouts decided to sell Deer Lake because of declining enrollment, Scout officials have said. The Boy Scouts of America declared bankruptcy in 2021, and in March offered $2.7 billion to settle a claim with tens of thousands of sex abuse survivors, according to Reuters. The Connecticut Yankee Council paid a portion with a combination of land and cash from its endowment to fulfill its share of the national organizations settlement, according to Scouting officials. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SALADO, Texas (AP) Nearly two dozen people were injured when tornadoes swept through central Texas as part of a storm system that was expected to spawn more twisters and damaging winds Wednesday. The storms caused widespread damage Tuesday in Salado, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Austin. Bell County Judge David Blackburn said 23 people were injured, one of them critically. Twelve of the injured were taken to hospitals, Blackburn said. Theres not much left, said Blackburn, the county's top elected official. Large trees are uprooted and overturned and stripped. Buildings really reduced to rubble. ... Power lines, power poles, are scattered all over the place. Its pretty devastating. Photos on social media showed grapefruit-size hail associated with that storm. Tornadoes were also spotted Tuesday in Iowa, but there were no reports of serious injuries. In Lincoln, Nebraska, powerful wind gusts knocked down tree limbs and caused some roof damage. A possible tornado also caused damage in the small southern Minnesota town of Taopi near the state's border with Iowa. Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik said dispatchers began getting calls from residents trapped in their damaged homes not long after a tornado warning siren sounded at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. There were no reports of serious injuries. Weather service crews were assessing damage in the area Wednesday. More tornadoes were in the forecast Wednesday for parts of the mid-South and in the Mississippi River Valley, the Storm Prediction Center said. Hurricane-force winds, intense tornadoes and large hail were possible in Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Indiana, Louisiana and Alabama, forecasters said. Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee, were among the cities that could see the worst weather Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said. Elsewhere, the North Dakota Capitol, schools, government offices and interstates remained closed Wednesday as a blizzard continued to bear down on the state. A blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service remained in effect through Thursday for most of western and central North Dakota where up to 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow was expected. WFO AMARILLO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 1, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Amarillo TX 555 PM CDT Sun May 1 2022 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN SHERMAN...SOUTHEASTERN DALLAM...NORTHERN MOORE AND NORTHEASTERN HARTLEY COUNTIES... At 555 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles southeast of Conlen, or 12 miles south of Stratford, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. IMPACT...Minor damage to roofs, siding, and trees is possible. People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Locations impacted include... Dumas, Hartley, Cactus, Sunray and Conlen. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. FOR NORTHWESTERN LUBBOCK...NORTHEASTERN HOCKLEY...SOUTHWESTERN HALE AND SOUTHEASTERN LAMB COUNTIES... At 555 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles west of Anton, or 7 miles southeast of Littlefield, moving north at 45 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Littlefield, Anton and Spade. Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside should move to a shelter, inside a strong building and away from windows. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a * Tornado Warning for... North central Gaines County in western Texas... * Until 645 PM CDT. * At 555 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Denver City, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. Storm spotters on the ground report funnel cloud. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of north central Gaines County. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. At 557 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles southeast of Littlefield, moving north at 45 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Public. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LUBBOCK... NORTHEASTERN LYNN...NORTHERN GARZA AND SOUTHERN CROSBY COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However small hail, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northwestern Texas. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service Lubbock Texas. ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GAINES COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A severe storm capable of a tornado continues to the southwest of Denver City. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for western Texas. Midland. ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR NORTHEASTERN BAILEY...SOUTHERN PARMER...SOUTHWESTERN CASTRO AND NORTHWESTERN LAMB COUNTIES... At 559 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles northeast of Progress, or 7 miles north of Muleshoe, moving north at 45 mph. Muleshoe, Bovina, Lazbuddie, Oklahoma Lane, Progress and Lariat. This storm is producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northwestern Kerr County in south central Texas... Northeastern Edwards County in south central Texas... Northeastern Real County in south central Texas... * Until 915 PM CDT. * At 808 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 16 miles north of Tuff, or 19 miles north of Leakey, moving northeast at 10 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Kerr Wildlife Management Area and Prade Ranch. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL MONTGOMERY AND NORTHWESTERN HARRIS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However small hail, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 637 PM CDT Sat Apr 30 2022 ...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Houston County through 730 PM CDT... At 636 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Grapeland to 13 miles southwest of Elkhart. Movement was east at 25 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Crockett, Grapeland, Latexo and Weches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3153 9511 3150 9509 3149 9511 3147 9510 3146 9507 3147 9506 3146 9505 3125 9547 3138 9569 3142 9571 3145 9571 3146 9575 3147 9572 3149 9573 3149 9574 3151 9574 3153 9565 3154 9565 3158 9536 TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 290DEG 21KT 3156 9548 3147 9572 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Smith, southwestern Harrison, northwestern Panola, Rusk, southeastern Gregg and northeastern Cherokee Counties through 715 PM CDT... At 639 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Turnertown, or 11 miles west of Henderson, moving northeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...Half inch hail. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Longview, Jacksonville, Henderson, Kilgore, Carthage, Overton, Bullard, Troup, Tatum, New London, Arp, Beckville, Pinehill, Mount Selman, Joinerville, Mixon, Turnertown, Minden, New Summerfield and Lakeport. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northeastern Texas. LAT...LON 3196 9522 3212 9535 3230 9497 3251 9462 3217 9433 3198 9470 TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 242DEG 12KT 3219 9498 MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL EDWARDS AND NORTHWESTERN REAL COUNTIES... At 639 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Vance, or 17 miles southeast of Rocksprings, moving northeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Vance, Barksdale, Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area and Prade Ranch. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. ...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Grimes, southwestern Houston, Madison and northwestern Walker Counties through 730 PM CDT... At 639 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles east of Centerville to 18 miles east of Franklin. Movement was east at 25 mph. These storms may intensify. Crockett, Madisonville, Austonio and Lovelady. LAT...LON 3130 9533 3092 9552 3085 9596 3100 9616 3107 9605 3107 9601 3109 9598 3109 9577 3114 9577 3116 9573 3121 9575 3123 9573 3127 9573 3129 9570 TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 288DEG 23KT 3124 9588 3112 9620 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in League City has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Central Montgomery County in southeastern Texas... Northwestern Harris County in southeastern Texas... * Until 845 PM CDT. * At 748 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Conroe, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected. * Locations impacted include... Conroe, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, Cut And Shoot, Woodloch, The Woodlands Pavillion, Porter Heights and Chateau Woods. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. If on or near Lake Conroe, get away from the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 15 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 1, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Lea County in southeastern New Mexico... Western Andrews County in western Texas... Southwestern Gaines County in western Texas... * Until 400 PM CDT/300 PM MDT/. * At 315 PM CDT/215 PM MDT/, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles southeast of Eunice, moving northeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Hobbs, Eunice, Nadine, Gaines County Airport, Eunice Airport, Frankel City, Lea County Regional Airport and Oil Center. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT/900 PM MDT/ for southeastern New Mexico...and western Texas. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. South central Brewster County in southwestern Texas... * Until 415 PM CDT. * At 317 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles southeast of Castolon, or 21 miles southwest of Panther Junction, moving north at 15 mph. This will affect Big Bend National Park. Seek shelter immediately. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Panther Junction, Big Bend National Park and Chisos Basin. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southwestern Texas. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 1, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 341 PM CDT Sun May 1 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Brewster County through 430 PM CDT... At 341 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles southeast of Persimmon Gap, or 19 miles northeast of Panther Junction, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Brewster County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southwestern Texas. LAT...LON 2949 10316 2952 10318 2973 10313 2972 10269 2967 10270 2963 10274 2960 10274 2960 10277 2955 10277 2952 10281 2949 10280 2945 10283 2939 10283 TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 281DEG 12KT 2958 10308 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Pecos, east central Reeves and central Ward Counties through 415 PM CDT... At 341 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 19 miles south of Barstow, or 19 miles southeast of Pecos, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. Locations impacted include... Coyanosa and B F Goodrich Testing Track. This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 61 and 62. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for western and southwestern Texas. LAT...LON 3108 10325 3119 10342 3153 10319 3135 10292 TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 216DEG 26KT 3120 10329 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH TX . TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ANDREWS BORDEN BREWSTER COKE CRANE CROCKETT DAWSON ECTOR GAINES GLASSCOCK HOWARD IRION LOVING MARTIN MIDLAND MITCHELL NOLAN PECOS REAGAN REEVES SCHLEICHER SCURRY STERLING SUTTON TERRELL TOM GREEN UPTON VAL VERDE WARD WINKLER The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... South central Brewster County in southwestern Texas... * Until 445 PM CDT. * At 344 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles south of Chisos Basin, or 16 miles south of Panther Junction, moving east at 30 mph. This storm is located in Big Bend National Park, seek shelter immediately if you are in the park. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Boquillas Canyon and Big Bend National Park. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 1, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 417 PM CDT Sun May 1 2022 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN ANDREWS AND SOUTH CENTRAL GAINES COUNTIES... At 416 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 17 miles west of Andrews, moving northeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...Two inch hail and 70 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. Locations impacted include... Andrews, Florey, Frankel City and Andrews County Airport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for western Texas. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Terry County in northwestern Texas... Eastern Yoakum County in northwestern Texas... * Until 515 PM CDT. * At 417 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles southeast of Denver City, moving northeast at 45 mph. HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Brownfield, Denver City, Locketville, Tokio and Wellman. The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a Southwestern Sherman County in the Panhandle of Texas... Southern Dallam County in the Panhandle of Texas... Northwestern Moore County in the Panhandle of Texas... Hartley County in the Panhandle of Texas... * At 417 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 7 miles northeast of Romero to 3 miles northwest of Channing, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. IMPACT...Minor damage to roofs, siding, and trees is possible. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Dalhart, Hartley, Cactus, Channing and Ware. Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a Southwestern Brewster County in southwestern Texas... Southeastern Presidio County in southwestern Texas... * At 419 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles north of Lajitas, moving east at 25 mph. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Lajitas, Study Butte, Terlingua, Big Bend National Park, Terlingua Ranch Airport, Terlingua Ranch Lodge and Barton Warnock Environmental Educational Center. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southwestern ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Brewster, eastern Jeff Davis and northeastern Presidio Counties through 500 PM CDT... At 419 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Alpine, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Alpine and Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. LAT...LON 3020 10364 3031 10380 3065 10351 3046 10328 TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 222DEG 21KT 3029 10369 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southwestern Rusk County in northeastern Texas... Northwestern Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas... Northern Cherokee County in northeastern Texas... * Until 900 PM CDT. * At 758 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Ponta, or 7 miles east of Jacksonville, moving southeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Jacksonville, Rusk, Sacul, New Salem, Ponta, New Summerfield, Gallatin, Reklaw and Laneville. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Kerr County through 845 PM CDT... At 759 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Kerrville-Schreiner Park, or near Kerrville, moving northeast at 10 mph. HAZARD...Nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Kerrville, Comfort, Center Point, Cypress Creek, Camp Verde and Kerrville-Schreiner Park. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. LAT...LON 3006 9892 2995 9892 2986 9911 2989 9918 2999 9926 3014 9910 3014 9898 TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 233DEG 7KT 2997 9914 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 802 PM CDT Sat Apr 30 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Nacogdoches, central San Augustine and northwestern Sabine Counties through 845 PM CDT... At 802 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Etoile, or 22 miles east of Lufkin, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Milam, San Augustine, Hemphill, Macune, Rosevine, Broaddus, Bronson, Denning and Chinaquapin. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for eastern Texas. LAT...LON 3129 9438 3142 9443 3160 9404 3157 9399 3159 9394 3133 9378 3125 9423 TIME...MOT...LOC 0102Z 255DEG 7KT 3134 9434 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...A portion of south central Texas, including the following counties, Edwards and Real. * WHEN...Until 1030 PM CDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 805 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause small stream flooding. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Camp Wood, Barksdale and Vance. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Media buyers expect Netflix to become a significant force in the local advertising market if it adopts cheaper, ad-supported subscriptions, flagging the potential for the global streaming giant to bring interactive products used in Asia to the Australian market. Following its first drop in users in over a decade, which triggered a steep fall in its share price, Netflix last month said it was exploring cheaper subscription offerings that would force users to submit to viewing advertisements. Netflix had previously ruled out ever allowing advertisements on the platform. Think of us as quite open to offering even lower prices with advertising as a consumer choice, co-chief executive Reed Hastings told investors. Earlier this month Netflix signalled it would explore lower subscription fees through advertising. Credit:Bloomberg Joe Frazer, managing partner and head of growth at media agency Half Dome, which focuses on digital ad placement, said advertisers would likely flock to Netflix due to its large audience base and its strong reputation among consumers. [Advertisers] are falling over themselves about Netflix, he said. Video-based advertising is just the biggest growth area at the moment, based on audiences shifting their consumption of content from linear to [broadcast video on demand (BVOD)] and streaming platforms. Qantas is expected to confirm plans to launch flights connecting Australias east coast to London and New York non-stop on Monday with a blockbuster order for new jets to operate the ultra-long-haul routes. The airline has spent almost five years working on so-called Project Sunrise, plotting record-breaking flights of more than 20 hours from Sydney to London and Sydney to New York, and is set to confirm an order for up to a dozen Airbus A350-1000s at Sydney Airport on Monday morning. An image of an Airbus A350-1000 in Qantas livery. Qantas had intended to launch its Sunrise flights in early 2023 but the COVID-19 pandemic put the project on hold. An Airbus-owned A350 was on route from the plane manufacturers base in Toulouse, France and was due to touch down in Perth just before 7pm local time (9pm eastern time), according to tracking site FlightRadar24. Lidcombe Uniting Church minister Uilisone Mafaufau accused the government of being missing in action as he told 200 attendees from across Sydney and the Pacific that he was angry it had not engaged with the Pasifika community. That empty chair is very disappointing, upsetting, and to tell you truth ... making me very angry. We have informed [the Liberal Party] about the climate change focus of this meeting. And we have tried all we can to ask the LNP to join us, he said. This is how much they think of us Pacific Island Australians Youd start to ask: Why are the Solomons [turning] somewhere else? Sydney Pasifika community leader Reverend Alimoni Taumoepeau said there was anger because Pacific Island voices had been marginalised for a long time. Perhaps because we are migrants ourselves, we are coloured people, we are not really recognised as people of power ... We understand that Australia is very interested in the Pacific Islands, but we know [it is] because of national security. Pacific Islands want the big brothers and sisters of our region to listen to our concerns, hear our hurt. Climate change is a crisis in the Pacific: Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands are already drowning. Tonga, Samoa and Fiji are going the same way. Taumoepeau said it was not too late to repair the damage. We need to allow space for our stories to be heard, and for Pacific Islands concerns to be recognised by our political leaders. According to the government, Australia has reduced its emissions by 20 per cent below 2005 levels, faster than similar developed economies such as Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. However, analysis by Crawford School of Public Policy honorary associate professor Hugh Saddler, shows Australias industrial emissions have continued to rise. If the changes to historical rates of land clearing were excluded, national emissions would have in fact risen by about 7 per cent. Dr Wesley Morgan, an expert in Pacific Island affairs from Griffith University, said Australias reputation and standing in the Pacific had been badly damaged over the past two decades due to its climate politics. We want to be the security partner of choice to the Pacific, but when Pacific leaders tell us their number one security threat is climate change, we ignore them, he said. Loading He said that the joke made by then Immigration Minister Peter Dutton in 2015 that Pacific ministers had been late to a meeting because time doesnt mean anything when youre about to have water lapping at your door typified Australian attitudes to many in the Pacific. It was offensive to Pacific leaders but they were not surprised, said Dr Morgan, who is also a researcher with the Climate Council. It confirmed a widely held view that Australia does not take the Pacifics key security concern seriously. Dr Morgan said that Pacific leaders feel this as a personal affront. They know that China is the worlds biggest emitter, but they expect more of Australia. Australia is the biggest member of the Pacific Islands Forum, it is part of the family. But it is also vying with Indonesia to be the worlds biggest coal exporter. They want China to do more, but they want Australia to help them call for China to do more. It is personal. Dr Morgan said the concerns had been made clear to Australia for decades, with Pacific leaders at the forefront of a campaign to have climate recognised as a security threat by the United Nations Security Council. In 2013 Marshall Islands foreign minister, Tony De Brum told the UN Security Council, in whose warped world is the potential loss of a country not a threat to international peace and security? In 2018 Pacific leaders issued a regional security declaration reaffirming climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. At the time it was widely reported that Australia sought to water down the language. In 2020 Solomon Islands high commissioner to Australia told a senate hearing, Lest we forget, climate change, not COVID-19, not even China, is the biggest threat to our security. Loading When asked if Australia should be doing more on climate during a 2019 forum at Australian National University the Solomon Islands diplomat Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary, Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. When we talk about climate change it is basically a life and death situation for us. We want everyone, including Australia, to do their fair share. Ashfield Aquatic Centre is usually quiet on a Friday evening. Last week, however, the facility was replete with tinsel curtains, pride flags, and a fellow in a leopard print onesie astride a giant inflatable unicorn, as the centre hosted its first swim night for trans and gender diverse people. This is my first night getting my new chest out, said Taj, one of the 350 people who signed up for the event. They had top surgery - a procedure in which trans men or non-binary people have breast tissue removed - in December last year. Trans ally Ivan at the Ashfield Aquatic Centres trans and gender diverse swim night. Credit:Jessica Hromas At first I was like, do I wear a rashie? But then I thought, this is my one chance to get it off and feel comfortable. And how did that feel? After receiving election pamphlets from the various parties in the mail, Lance Newsham of Drummoyne wondered if Column 8 was willing to throw its hat in the ring and field some candidates, what policies would they put forward? The introduction of on-the-spot fines for the misuse of apostrophes perhaps? Hmmmm. Long-term readers will recall that Column 8 does have form here, so to speak, with our illustrious former editor Pat Sheil having entered the political fray several times as a candidate for the federal seat of Wentworth. Some of Pats memorable campaign promises from his last tilt in 2013 were $3.50 schooners everywhere, a ban on leaf blowers and an Australian space programme to Neptune. Sheil be Right, indeed! The kookaburras of Wagga Wagga (C8) and surrounds must an unusually self-sufficient and well-behaved lot, going by the tone of the comments coming in from other readers, who seem to think riot is too kind a collective noun for the racket our laughing friends, in groups of five or more, kick up in the mornings. At a school trivia fundraiser a few years ago, our team were stumped by the question about the collective name (C8) for nightingales, writes Pauline McGinley of Drummoyne. We were kindly given points for ingenuity when we answered, a Florence. The correct (boring) answer apparently is a watch. Arriving home last week after having been away for three weeks, Lizzy McLean of Bilgola noticed that it looked like it had been raining. I messaged my neighbour and asked when the rain had started. Her reply: January. Michael Morton-Evans of Mosman says that for the past 50 years there have been many people who know me simply as Hyphen. You dont get much shorter (C8) than that. Dog attacks on posties and delivery drivers are on the rise, prompting Australia Post to plead with owners to keep their pets secured when mail arrives. The postal service has reported more than 1170 dog incidents so far this financial year about 400 more than the same time last year, and an increase of more than 200 on last financial years total. On average, five Australia Post workers are involved in dog incidents every work day, and, along with physical injuries, they can often be left traumatised. Melbourne motorcycle postie Tony Gadsby, who has delivered mail for more than two decades, said he was recently bitten by a dog while covering a new route. Rich lister Gerry Ryan is shifting his focus from the regional town of Nagambie to developing a winery and hotel complex in the Yarra Valley. Ryan, who made his fortune manufacturing Jayco caravans in Dandenong, is expanding his hospitality empire with the launch on Friday of Hubert Estate at the historic St Hubert winery. Gerry Ryan (centre) with son Andy Ryan (right) and Tim Ford of Treasury Wine Estates. Credit:Justin McManus It is a $70 million conversion of what was once a tin-shed tasting room into a cellar door, wine store, restaurant, events space and Indigenous art gallery. Construction will begin later this year on an 80-room hotel and wellness centre. They call me Bob the Builder, Ryan said. I like to build things and develop them. Weve always looked around to have quality properties that can offer something different. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce quietly appointed the head of a Liberal Party fundraising body to a plum job on a taxpayer-funded board in the 46th parliaments final days amid a flurry of other government gigs handed out before Scott Morrison called the election. Ryan Arrold, who chairs the Hume Forum, which raises funds for Energy Minister Angus Taylor and the Liberals, was made a non-executive director of the Australian Rail Track Corporation on March 30 the day after the federal budget. Barnaby Joyce on the campaign trail. Credit:James Brickwood Joyce did not announce the appointment in a press release or other statement, but Arrolds name and biography appeared on the company website. The taxpayer-funded job pays $83,150 a year, and there are typically eight board meetings annually. The ARTC is a federal government-owned corporation that owns and maintains an 8500-kilometre railway network across five states. Its current chair is former deputy prime minister Warren Truss, who was appointed to the job in 2018 by then deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, and reappointed last year. Le confirmed to the Herald she had authorised the flyer. The quote from Hayes talks about supporting local candidates. Thats basically showing that he supports a local candidate, someone whos grown up in Fowler and is connected to the community, she said. Les family moved to Australia from Vietnam as refugees in the 1970s; she worked as a cadet journalist at both the Liverpool and Fairfield Champions and was a journalist at the ABC before being elected to Fairfield Council in 2012. The popular businesswoman and independent politician is shaping up to be the major threat to Keneally in this years race. Marketing executive and former journalist Dai Le. Credit:James Alcock She is supported by Fairfield Mayor Carbone formerly a Labor politician but now also an independent whose popularity skyrocketed when he spoke out on behalf of his community during last years harsh lockdown. Carbone and Le won 10 of 13 seats on the council in last years local government elections. Independents, including Carbone, won seven seats, while Dai Les team and Labor won three each. Fowler has long been a safe Labor electorate: Hayes held it on a 14 per cent margin in 2019. But the Labor Partys decision to parachute Keneally from her home on Scotland Island and into the ethnically diverse electorate upset local members and retiring MP Hayes, who wanted local candidate Tu Le to replace him. Dai Le said she had been motivated to run by Keneallys selection. Once they heard someone from the northern beaches was chosen by Labor to be the candidate here, there was a lot of anger in the community. They encouraged me to put my hat on the ring, she said. In lockdown, when our community was marginalised, demonised and targeted, there was nobody who defended us. We felt someone who has been with the community in those difficult years should be able to fight for the community. Dai Le has made three attempts for election at state level in the NSW seat of Cabramatta: two as a Liberal candidate and one as an independent. Loading While Le was not successful in those attempts, each of her state campaigns has pulled a significant portion of votes from Labor. As a Liberal candidate, Le lost the 2008 by-election in Cabramatta but her candidacy saw a 21.8 percentage point swing away from Labor and towards the Coalition in the two-party-preferred vote compared with the 2007 election result; at the next state election in 2011, she improved that result with a 26.9 percentage point swing based on the 2007 tally. However, in 2016 she was suspended from the Liberal Party for 10 years after she announced she would run for mayor against the endorsed party candidate. Le then stood as an independent in the 2019 state election and polled 25.9 per cent of first preferences, with Labors share of votes dropping 10 per cent and the Liberal Partys dropping 13.4 per cent. Asked about her Liberal roots, Le said she would be driven by my community, first and foremost in this years campaign. Kristina Keneally campaigns in Cabramatta in March. Credit:Steven Siewert I have no allegiance to any political parties, she said, listing funding for Fairfield Hospital, road upgrades, commuter car parks, small business support and traineeships for young people as priorities. Le has proved popular in Cabramatta and the Fairfield local government area, but Labor hoped her vote will be diluted in Liverpool and parts of the electorate with a smaller Vietnamese community. Keneally has been renting in Liverpool since November and raced to establish her credibility in the area. Loading Carbone said he was supporting Le because it was important that residents in western Sydney stood for their communities. That flyer is reflective of what Chris wanted for the local area, he said. As a local mayor, I will always support local candidates. Why should people in western Sydney not have one of their own speak up and represent them? Could you imagine the people in the northern beaches if I decided to run as Mayor for them? But Hayes said he thought the seat would remain in Labor hands. A major Sydney hospital is reviewing the circumstances of the death of a man who died on an ambulance stretcher after waiting an hour for a bed in the emergency department, as enormous demand takes its toll on the health system after two Omicron waves. Concord Hospital, in the citys inner west, is reviewing the death of a palliative care patient who arrived at the hospital late in the afternoon on April 14. Concord Repatriation Hospital in Sydneys inner west. Credit:James Brickwood The man went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance after paramedics were unable to offload the patient who had been waiting 60 minutes for a hospital bed, according to a handover email sent by a NSW Ambulance operations manager to staff. Chronic hospital bed and staff shortages, compounded with soaring triple zero calls, have caused NSW Ambulance to hit its highest crisis level multiple times in April. The network reached status three where demand outstrips ambulance availability at least three times last week. Angelina Jolie rushed to bunker as air siren sounds in Ukraine's Lviv Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Russias military has turned its focus to Ukraines south and east after failing to capture Kyiv in the early weeks of a war that has flattened cities, killed thousands of civilians and forced more than 5 million to flee the country. In Mariupol, Moscow declared victory on April 21 even as hundreds of holdout Ukrainian troops and civilians took shelter in the Azovstal steelworks, a vast Soviet-era complex with a network of bunkers and tunnels, where they have been trapped with little food, water or medicine. Negotiations to evacuate the civilians had repeatedly broken down in recent weeks, with Russia and Ukraine blaming each other. But on Sunday, more than 50 civilians arrived at a temporary accommodation centre after escaping from Mariupol, a Reuters photographer said. Loading The civilians arrived on buses in a convoy with UN and Russian military vehicles at the Russian-held village of Bezimenne, around 30 kilometres east of Mariupol, where a row of light blue tents had been set up. One of the evacuees, Natalia Usmanova, 37, said she had been so terrified as Russian bombs rained down on the plant sprinkling her with concrete dust that she felt her heart would stop. When the bunker started to shake, I was hysterical. My husband can vouch for that. I was so worried the bunker would cave in, she told Reuters in Bezimenne. A spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said a safe passage operation had started on Saturday and was being coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Russia and Ukraine. Denys Shleha, commander of Ukraines 12th National guard brigade, speaking to television on Sunday from the Azovstal plant, said several hundred civilians remained in bunkers there, including about 20 children, and that one or two additional evacuation efforts of similar scale would be needed. Russias defence ministry said 80 civilians had been evacuated from the plant. A plan to evacuate civilians from areas of the devastated city outside the steelworks had been postponed to Monday morning, Mariupols city council said. The Ukrainian media reported on Saturday that their forces had killed Maj Gen Andrei Simonov, in an air strike at Russias eastern command centre. Ukraine has claimed that nine other Russian generals have died in the war. More than a quarter of the units dedicated to Russias invasion of Ukraine are probably now combat ineffective, according to the UKs Ministry of Defences latest update. The briefing note said that some of Putins elite units had suffered high attrition rates, adding: It will probably take years for Russia to reconstitute these forces. US stands with Ukraine Footage posted by Zelensky on Twitter on Sunday showed him, flanked by an armed escort and dressed in military fatigues, greeting a US congressional delegation led by Pelosi outside his presidential office the previous day. Our delegation travelled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, Pelosi, the highest ranking US official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24, said in a statement. Residents sit in the yard of their damaged building in Mariupol. Credit: Zelensky praised as substantive four hours of talks with Pelosi focused on US weapons deliveries, adding he was grateful to all of Ukraines partners who visit the capital at such a difficult time. Moscow calls its actions a special military operation to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression. Western nations have imposed broad economic sanctions on Russia and have been shipping increasing quantities of weapons to help Ukraine defend itself. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awards the Order of Princess Olga, the third grade, to US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Credit: Russias defence ministry said it had carried out a missile strike on a military airfield near the port city of Odesa, destroying a runway and a hangar containing weapons and ammunition supplied to Ukraine by the United States and European countries. Ukraine said a day earlier that Russian missiles had knocked out a runway opened at Odesas main airport last July to facilitate tourism, though Reuters could not verify if the incidents were related. Eastern push In the east, Moscow is pushing for complete control of the Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists already controlled parts of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces before the invasion. On Sunday, Kharkiv region governor Oleh Synehubov warned residents in the north and east of the city of Kharkiv to remain in their shelters due to heavy Russian shelling. Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, in a social media post, urged people to evacuate while it was still possible. Ukraines military said Russian forces were fighting to push north from Kherson to the cities of Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih, and Zelensky said Russian troops continued to launch strikes on residential areas and had destroyed grain storage depots. Loading This will only build up the toxic attitude to the Russian state and increase the numbers of those working to isolate Russia, Zelensky said. On Sunday, Swedens Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Swedish television that Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership. Russias invasion of Ukraine has forced both Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland to review beliefs that military neutrality is the best means of ensuring national security. We know more or less that they [Finland] will apply for NATO membership. And that changes the whole balance... If one of our countries join, we know that tensions would increase, Linde told public broadcaster SVT. Asked whether she thinks Finland will join NATO, Linde said: I think you can say that quite surely. Both Sweden and Finland are expected to make a decision on whether to join the military alliance in the coming weeks. Finlands Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Friday that he hoped Finland and Sweden would make similar decisions at the same time. Reuters Mr Blairs new Labour Party attracted a 10 per cent swing to wipe out the Conservatives political stranglehold on middle England that began under Margaret Thatcher. In a symbolic display of the change, Baroness Thatchers middle-class former seat of Finchley fell to Labour with a 15 per cent swing. Tony Blair and his deputy leader, John Prescott, are greeted by supporters at a victory rally outside the Royal Festival Hall in London. Credit:AP The 18-year Conservative era in British politics came crashing down yesterday, with the Labour Party, led by Mr Tony Blair, securing one of the biggest electoral victories in the nations history. The defeat of the Major Government, which lost more than 170 seats, sent waves of despair and desperation through the Conservative Party. Mr Major announced he would step down as party leader and said he hoped a successor could be found quickly. Senior party members had urged him to stay for several months in an attempt to dampen tension between leadership contenders. Loading But the process of succession was thrown into disarray when the most likely candidate to replace Mr Major, the Defence Minister, Mr Michael Portillo, lost his safe seat after his vote collapsed by 17 per cent. He was one of six Cabinet members to lose their seats. The first Tory MP to nominate for the party leadership was the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Major Government, Mr Kenneth Clark. Labours victory was the biggest electoral rout in Britain since a landslide win by the Liberals in 1906, and the Conservatives vote of 31.4 per cent was its lowest since 1832 when it was led by the Duke of Wellington. Labours majority is expected to be 180, considerably more than Baroness Thatcher ever secured. Her biggest majority, 144, came in 1983. Justin Ng of Singapore captured this view of a bright Eta Aquarid meteor hurtling across the night sky over Mount Bromo, on the Indonesian island of Java. Although the Perseid meteor shower in August may draw the most attention, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which occurs from roughly late April to mid-May, offers a long stretch of spectacular "shooting stars" that even a casual observer can spot in the night sky. The peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, when the most meteors are visible, should happen before dawn on May 5, according to Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. That means you'll need to schedule your stargazing time overnight on May 4 and May 5. Rates this year can reach up to 50 meteors per hour during that time, in theory, Cooke told Space.com. The meteor shower is of medium brightness, and the darker your skies the more you'll see. If possible, try to find a spot away from city lights, which can dampen the view. "The Etas are not a shower that you can go out to see after sunset because the radiant won't be up," Cooke told Space.com for our annual check in. You'll need to get outside around 2 a.m. your local time to try and see the Eta Aquarids, Cooke said. From then on, the rates will continue to increase until dawn. Although the moon will be in its waxing crescent phase when the Eta Aquarids peak and will shine about 15% full. Photos: The Eta Aquarid meteor shower in pictures Video: Eta Aquarid meteors captured by NASA all-sky cameras Where to look The Eta Aquarid meteor shower of 2022 will peak overnight on May 4 and 5. The shower's radiant is located at the center of this stellar map, in the constellation Aquarius. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan) The meteors appear to originate from Eta Aquarii, one of the brighter stars in the constellation Aquarius. (The point meteors appear to come from is called the radiant.) For people in mid-northern latitudes, the radiant won't be very high in the sky, so if that's where you're located, you'll need a dark-sky site with a relatively clear southern horizon to make the most of the meteors. Observers near the equator will have the best views, since the Aquarius constellation is more prominent in the southern sky. But even as far north as Miami, the view will be much better than it will be from New York or San Francisco, for example. Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere will have the best view of all and will see the shower's radiant in the north. Nights are also becoming longer in the Southern Hemisphere as the June solstice, and thus the austral winter, is approaching. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will need to look lower on the southeastern horizon to see the meteors. How to see them Although Eta Aquarid meteors will appear to originate from the same point, you shouldn't stare straight at the radiant to find meteors. If you do, you might miss the meteors that create the longest bright streaks across the sky. The best way to see the meteors, according to Cooke, is to lie flat on your back and look straight up. That way, you get the widest view of the sky, and you won't have to strain your neck. What causes the Eta Aquarids? Meteor showers are the flashes of dust grains that burn up in the atmosphere. They occur when the Earth crosses the paths of comets, which leave dust along their orbits. That's why they happen on certain dates and appear to originate from specific points in the sky. The Eta Aquarids are associated with Halley's Comet, but their path separated from the comet long ago. "All meteors move off the track of the comet orbit," Cooke said. "When they come off the comet, they are at a slightly different speed, and that changes the orbit a bit Other things besides gravity mess with it," such as radiation pressure and even interplanetary gas, he added. The Eta Aquarids don't produce as many meteors per hour as the more famous Perseid meteor shower in August, but they are just as bright, if not brighter. The meteoroids (the actual dust grains) are about a millimeter across, and there's no chance that they'll hit the ground, Cooke said. That's because they are too small and move too fast to endure the plunge through Earth's atmosphere; the heat generated from the friction with the atmosphere obliterates the little pieces of space rock. Meteorites the space rocks that make it to the ground tend to be chunks of asteroids, because they are moving more slowly relative to Earth. "They tend to come from behind, like they are trying to catch up to us," Cooke said. An Eta Aquarid fireball lights up the sky over Devils Tower, part of the Bear Lodge Mountains in Wyoming. Astrophotographer David Kingham captured this shot during the 2013 Eta Aquarid meteor shower. (Image credit: David Kingham/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Editor's note: If you snap an amazing Eta Aquarid meteor shower photo that you'd like to share with us and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, send images and comments to us at spacephotos@space.com. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Bullying in schools has not been eradicated. Childrens mental health is a serious and growing problem. The difference from a generation ago is that there are ways to counteract these issues and help children learn in a safe environment. Somehow, thats become controversial. The fight against those methods, part of a larger war on education that takes a new form every few years, says much more about the people waging that fight than on the methods themselves. The issue is social-emotional learning, which is widely utilized in schools in Connecticut and around the country. The state of Connecticut defines it as the process through which children and adults achieve emotional intelligence through the competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Its about ensuring not only physical safety but emotional well-being. At a time of massive disruption caused primarily by an unprecedented pandemic, this should all be uncontroversial, and encouraged. But the same way national attention on whats referred to as critical-race theory has found its way into Connecticut policy discussions, so has concern about social-emotional learning. Critics around the country say its actually a way of indoctrinating kids, often with sexual undertones. Anything they dont understand they assume is detrimental to kids or their own personal beliefs, a superintendent told the Washington Post. One of the problems appears to be the name itself. Parents are largely supportive of schools teaching the skills that fall under the umbrella of social-emotional learning, said a report in Education Week, but the term itself is unpopular. Parents prefer terms like life skills, which is fine. Its the content that matters. There remains a notion in some quarters that schools should do nothing but teach basic skills, from how to read to doing calculus, but that doesnt reflect reality. Education has to be about preparing children for the rest of their lives, and that includes their emotional well-being. A curriculum aimed at helping students manage emotions, develop good relationships and make positive decisions is crucial. So naturally, its come under attack. The questions about critical race theory, which were a major issue in last falls elections, havent gone away, but are more easily rebutted because CRT is something found in graduate schools. Mostly the term is used by critics as a catch-all for any kind of curriculum that tells uncomfortable truths about American history. Social-emotional learning, by contrast, is clearly part of local school programs. Its real. And the push-back is real, too. These are not issues that we can ignore just because Connecticut legislators arent fomenting rage about them. In Florida, for example, the state has rejected dozens of math textbooks because they incorporate prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including social-emotional learning. At the same time, that state is enacting a law thats been given the name the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, which the New York Times reports would bar instruction that could prompt students to feel discomfort about a historical event because of their race, sex or national origin. Which is odd since in rejecting the textbooks, that governor said: Math is about getting the right answer. ... Its not about how you feel about the problem. Its hard to keep clear when feelings should matter in school. Maybe its more about whose feelings matter. The issue has come up in Connecticut, handled reasonably in West Hartford, less so in Killingly. There will be more occasions where local school board face these questions, especially as the issue dominates prime time opinion shows on certain news networks. Theres also been action at the state level, where the General Assembly passed much-needed funding for increased access to mental health services. Thats welcome, but not enough on its own. A few months ago, my family chatted with the outgoing superintendent of schools in our town, who was leaving for a similar job at a larger district. We talked about some of the controversies affecting Connecticut schools, which at the time included masking, as well as parent complaints against diversity efforts aimed at boosting inclusivity, which is a major concern in many overwhelmingly white school districts. When did these become bad things? he asked rhetorically, referring to concepts like inclusion and antidiscrimination. Isnt that were supposed to be doing? The pandemic necessitated an upheaval in education, especially in the early months when we knew so little. The result is that assistance for childrens emotional development has never been more necessary, which makes the assault against those skills that much more dangerous. Anyone who cares about public schools needs to push back. Hugh Bailey is editorial page editor of the Connecticut Post and New Haven Register. He can be reached at hbailey@hearstmediact.com. OTTAWA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Ottawa police officers on Saturday continued their enhanced operations in the downtown area of Canada's capital city to manage protests and events of this weekend's Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally. Ottawa Police said in a news release that three people have been arrested on the second day. Other enforcement actions since Friday morning included 560 parking tickets, 39 vehicles towed and eight tickets for noise, smoking and encumbering highway. The protest is billed as an event to support Canadian veterans, with many veterans attending, although the "Rolling Thunder Ottawa" website gives no reason for the event. Some protesters are opposed to COVID-19 mandates. It was estimated that between one and two thousand people showed up on Saturday, a far cry from February's numbers. The city of Ottawa has brought in tight restrictions in anticipation of this weekend's protest to avoid a repeat of the anti-mandate convoy's occupation in late January and February, during which Downtown Ottawa was occupied for three weeks, resulting in a public order emergency. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD If a student struggles early in a school year, should they be penalized for those poor performances even if theyve shown great improvement by the end of the year? Thats the question at the heart of a grading scheme being piloted at Westhill High School that is part of a growing trend among educators to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged students. Known as grading for equity, after a book by the same title by author Joe Feldman, the system was designed to more accurately assess a students performance and growth in the classroom, while lessening the importance of elements such as behavior, tardiness or homework. Its not really a massive change to what the students are handing in to us as much as how we deal with that feedback, said Sean Otterspoor, a science teacher at Westhill who has implemented many of the principles of the grading system. The concept has been around at Westhill for the last two school years, and while staff dont have data yet to show the impact of the program, many teachers have become converts of the new way of thinking about assessing students. Since the beginning of the school year, Westhills grading committee has grown in members. And more than two-thirds of the staff said they have implemented some or all of the equitable grading practices, according to a chart put together by school staff. The school districts original plan was to expand the program to other schools starting in the 2022-23 school year, but that seems to be on the back burner now, as officials have shifted their focus to the implementation of a new block schedule at the three high schools in the fall. That issue has grown incredibly contentious, with teachers outright opposing the districts planned schedule, and teachers at two of the schools Westhill and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering issuing a vote of no confidence against Superintendent Tamu Lucero and Associate Superintendent Amy Beldotti. At a Board of Education meeting this week, board president Jackie Heftman said grading for equity would not be rolled out this year. I know that there are a lot of issues they are still looking at in this pilot at Westhill and theyre the ones who were saying were not ready to roll this out, she said, adding that the board would seek to have staff present more information about the program at an upcoming meeting. On Monday, Beldotti said the new grading initiative has taken a back seat to the expected shift to a new high school schedule. Professional development and planning for block scheduling has taken precedence this spring, Beldotti wrote, in an emailed message. So how does equitable grading work? At Westhill, thats a difficult question to answer, because teachers are still given autonomy to weigh assignments and use the grading system they wish. That means that many teachers are using grading for equity principles, but there are many variations among the educators. In general terms, the system features a grading scale that weighs each grade equally. The traditional 1-100 grading scale is ditched in favor of a 0-4 model, similar to how a grade-point average is calculated. The idea is that each grade should represent a fifth of the grading schema, unlike the traditional model which designates an F grade to anything under a 60. In essence, the system condenses the grading schema to a scale of 50-100, which each grade representing 10 points. Under the traditional grading scale, a super F when a student receives a zero for an assignment or test can be particularly damaging to an overall grade and can prevent students from catching up. The five grades are differentiated by how much the student has learned, and signal a shift to a standards-based grading approach. In the equitable grading rubric, a grade of 2 would mean the students has a partial understanding of the standards taught, while a 0 would mean the student has shown no signs of attempting a task. To score a 4, the student would have to not only understand the standards but apply them in complex ways. Under the traditional grading model, a student who shows great growth during a school year would still be penalized for poor performance at the beginning of the term. For advocates of the equity grading system, that seems counterproductive. A student who fits that description should receive a higher grade, they argue, because they demonstrated they learned the content by the end of the course. Those who oppose the grading system argue that the equity model is cutting students too much slack, essentially reducing standards and making it much easier for students to receive passing grades. Joshua Esses, a member of the Stamford Board of Education and the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, spoke out against it during a February meeting of the Board of Educations Teaching, Learning and Community Committee. The district is systematically lowering standards for all students to serve the sacred cow of equity, he said. And while there is growing support for the equitable grading model at Westhill, there also seemed to be possible resentment against it embedded in a statement released by tenured staff in March connected to the vote of no confidence against Lucero and Beldotti. The statement read, Grading for equity and mastery-based learning are fundamental changes to the way teaching and learning are conducted in Stamford, and teachers feel their concerns are being ignored or disregarded. Grading for equity seeks to impose a minimum grade of 50, even when students do no work at all. Mastery-based learning mandates that students master a subject before moving on to the next grade-level of work. Many teachers are worried that this change in policy would hold struggling students back from exposure to age-appropriate grade-level work. In an interview last week, Westhill teacher Drew Denbaum said that statement was less a repudiation of the grading movement, and more of a warning that teacher concerns are not being heard. In fact, he said, teachers at the school are not overly opposed to the concept. We were not coming out against grading for equity in any form, he said. We were just saying, Do not impose it on us. At Westhill, none of the above grading rules have been imposed on staff. And the equity-based grading system is seemingly only growing at the school. Otterspoor was one of the schools early skeptics, particularly of the concept of getting rid of the zero grade. But over time, he discovered the old way of grading wasnt benefiting his students. That change in behavior and tradition is something thats very hard for us myself, others to let go of because thats how we were graded as students, he said. Westhill Principal Michael Rinaldi said the change in grading philosophy is an adjustment for everyone. That shift too is for students ultimately focusing more on their learning than on points, he said. Otterspoor said standards-based grading shouldnt be that foreign to parents, since its essentially what is used at the elementary level. There, you are reporting discrete abilities that the students can accomplish fairly and their level of accomplishment, he said. The opportunity for students to re-do assignments and tests is another equitable grading change that Otterspoor and other teachers have incorporated, allowing students to grow, as opposed to the traditional one-and-done model. Michael Capriotti, a teacher at the school and chair of the math department, was one of the educators who spearheaded the equitable grading initiative at the school. Ive been enjoying it, he said, adding that some students have reported reduced anxiety due to the grading shift. Capriotti said, Ill catch a couple of my kids saying No other teacher grades this way. One of the main arguments against grading for equity is the perception that the system makes it too easy for students to pass. But, just like with the traditional model, students can still fail a class in the equity model if they dont do the work or continuously perform poorly. I would say the rigor is the same as the traditionalist teacher, Capriotti said. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com MORRISTOWN, Vt. (AP) Hundreds of people gathered Saturday in Vermont to honor the life of a transgender woman recently stabbed to death. The vigil in a park in Morristown was intended to highlight the womans life and the dangers and discrimination that transgender people face. WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in League City has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... North central Grimes County in southeastern Texas... Madison County in southeastern Texas... West central Walker County in southeastern Texas... * Until 915 PM CDT. * At 813 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 15 miles northeast of Kurten to near Madisonville, moving southeast at 10 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Madisonville and North Zulch. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Prepare immediately for large hail and deadly cloud to ground lightning. Seek shelter inside a well-built structure. Stay away from windows. ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN TRINITY AND NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON COUNTIES... At 814 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 6 miles west of Latexo to near Crockett, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected. Locations impacted include... Crockett and Latexo. If on or near Houston County Lake, get away from the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. remember, lightning can strike out to 15 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Said measures include the optional use of face masks at open spaces in regions where 80% of the population over the age of 60 has received the three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and where 80% of the population over 12 years of age has been given the two doses. This and other measures go into effect today, May 1, and may be modified based on the epidemiological context. Healthcare workers The rule, published in the Official Gazette El Peruano on April 23, also provides that healthcare workers must have had three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be able to work on a face-to-face basis at their workplace. Those with risk factors will perform remote or mixed work, based on the services they provide and on clinical examinations performed by occupational physicians or those acting in their stead at public entities. Face masks in enclosed spaces Additionally, the decree states that it is mandatory to wear a KN95 mask, or a three-fold surgical mask and over it, a community mask (fabric) in enclosed places. Bus and plane travel Peruvian citizens or foreigners over 12 years of age who intend to enter the national territory must provide proof of having received their first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while those over 18 years of age must show proof of having received a third dose. Said measure also applies to urban and inter-provincial transportation. (END) NDP/RRC/RMB The Government of Peru, through Supreme Decree No. 041-2022-PCM , has formalized new measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.Published: 5/1/2022 ???? Enviamos un fraterno saludo a las mujeres y hombres del Peru, quienes con su trabajo sustentan a sus familias y colaboran con la productividad del pais. El Gobierno impulsa la creacion de empleos dignos y ratifica la defensa de los derechos laborales. pic.twitter.com/iBwGYfjaJt The number of Ukrainian citizens entering the country has increased, on Saturday, by 26.3% over the previous day, informs a release of the General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) sent, on Sunday, to AGERPRES. "On April 30, 2022, in a 24-hour interval, at the national level, 109,271 persons crossed through the border crossing points, of which 10,569 Ukrainian citizens (increasing by 26.3% over the previous day). Through the border with Ukraine there were 6,134 Ukrainian citizens entering Romania (a 31.8% increase), while 2,437 entered through the border with the Republic of Moldova (40.7% increase)," the release shows.According to the same source, since the start of the crisis and until April 30, 24:00 hrs, 828,873 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. Four Ukrainian men have been discovered by border policemen after illegally entering Romania, later requesting asylum, informed, on Sunday, the spokesperson of the Maramures County Committee for Emergency Situations, Dan Buca said, Agerpres reports. "Border policemen detected four persons that crossed the green frontier between Ukraine and Romania, in the competence area of the Poienile de Sub Munte and Valea Viseului Border Police Sectors. They requested a form of protection of the Romanian state, for which specific procedures in such cases have been started," said Dan Buca.According to him, the firemen from Maramures transported with the firetruck, aided by a gendarme, four persons from the Border Crossing Point in Sighetu Marmatiei to the Regional Center for Accomodation and Procedures for Asylum Seekers Maramures in the town of Somcuta Mare.Furthermore, another five persons were transported, together with a volunteer, from the Sighetu Marmatiei Border Crossing Point to the Romanian Railways train station Sighetu Marmatiei, where they left by train to Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest.Furthermore, the crew on the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication [SMURD] mobile unit granted first aid to one person and transported them to the Sighetu Marmatiei Municipal Hospital for further investigations."There are presently no persons accommodated in the camp operationalized by Maramures firefighters in Sighetu Marmatiei. There are 160 spots for accommodation, which may be supplemented depending on the development of the situation," Dan Buca also said. The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) warns on possible ransomware-type attacks on a large scale, by the use of e-mails belonging to institutions from Romania. "At the level of the CYBERINT National Center of the Romanian Intelligence Service data was obtained regarding a possible mass campaign of cybernetic attacks of the spearphishing-type which targets the infection of computer systems with ransomware-type malware. The attackers intend to use e-mail addresses belonging to institutions in Romania in order to trick potential victims," shows a release sent by SRI on Saturday.It is recommended to not use links of files attached to mail-type messages that are not addressed to the receiver or which come from unknown sources. The same measures of precaution are recommended regarding the accessing of links or attachments sent through SMS, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or other messaging services."Furthermore, it's mandatory to perform backups for websites, databases or any other type of data exposed to the Internet, as well as storing that data on hardware physically separated in order to prevent encryption or destruction in a potential cyberattack," the release also says. As many as 492 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, down 395 from the previous day, with over 5,500 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Sunday, Agerpres reports. Of the new cases, 76 were in re-infected patients, who tested positive more than 90 days after the first time they recovered from the disease.Most of the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Romania since the previous reporting were recorded in Bucharest City - 192 and in the counties of Cluj - 38, Hunedoara - 32, and Ilfov - 29.As of Sunday, 2,894,368 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.- Hospitalisations -As many as 1,207 people with COVID-19, down 64 from the previous reporting, including 69 children, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities.Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 191 patients are in intensive care, down seven, no minors.Of the 200 patients admitted to ICU, 170 are unvaccinated against COVID-19.- Deaths -According to the ministry, another seven Romanians infected with SARS-CoV-2 - five men and two women - are reported dead in the last 24 hours.Out of the total seven patients who died, six were unvaccinated and 1 fully vaccinated. One of the dead vaccinated patients was between 40-49 years old, two were between 60-69 years old, two were between 70-79 years old, while two were over 80. All dead patients had comorbidities.Since the beginning of the pandemic, 65,493 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania. The Savarsin Royal Domain was reopened, on Sunday, in the presence of Custodian of the Crown Margareta and Prince Radu, with a classical and contemporary music concert, in the presence of a numerous public, informs the Royal Family of Romania. The ceremony was attended by the mayor of the commune, prof. Ioan Vodicean, members of the Romanian Parliament, the Arad County Council and other county institutions. A numerous public attended, coming mostly from Arad, Timis, Bihor and Hunedoara. The market of the Royal Village (the entry point to the domain played host to a classical and contemporary music concert put on by the Arad Quartet," mentions a release published by the Royal Family on their website, Agerpres.ro informs. Furthermore, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, and mayor Ioan Vodicean unveiled the inaugural placard of the Tea House, the building most recently restored by the Foundation of the Collection of the Royal Family of Romania. After the concert, several hundred people visited the Royal Park, the Automobile Museum, King Michael's Auto Workshop, the Souvenir Shop and the Tea House. The visiting schedule of the Savarsin Royal Domain in the month of May will be as follows: daily from 9:00 to 18:00 hrs, between May 1-12 and May 23-31. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Thousands of firefighters battled destructive wildfires in the Southwest as more residents prepared to evacuate Friday into the weekend in northern New Mexico where strong winds and dangerously dry conditions have made the blazes hard to contain. The biggest fire in the U.S. grew to more than 117 square miles (303 square kilometers) through the afternoon northeast of Santa Fe. Gusty winds prevented any aerial attacks by midmorning and crews lost some of the containment they had established in previous days. The rapid rate of the spread of the fire was exceeding dire predictions in some areas, incident commander Carl Schwope said Friday night. "Were in a very dangerous situation. Evacuation statuses are changing as we speak, he warned at a briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Santa Fe. More air and ground forces were on the way, he said, to fortify the nearly 1,000 firefighters on the fire lines there and winds that gusted up to 65 mph were beginning to subside as nightfall approached. There were no immediate reports of any new structures have been lost since the local sheriff confirmed Thursday night at least 166 homes have been destroyed in northeast New Mexicos rural San Miguel County. But erratic wind shifts in some of the driest conditions the region has seen in years were forecast again Saturday, and authorities were making preparations to evacuate some residents as far north as Taos. Just getting people out of the way, thats been the mission today, Sheriff Chris Lopez said at the briefing in Las Vegas. Some of the most active fire was heading in the direction of that town but he said the town itself was not in immediate danger. Fire lines were bolstered outside the rural New Mexico community of Ledoux in efforts to save structures, and they appeared to be holding. More than 2,000 firefighters were battling fires in Arizona and New Mexico on Friday about half of those in northeast New Mexico, where a total of more than 187 square miles (484 square kilometers) of mostly timber and brush have been charred. Red flag warnings for extreme fire danger were in place Friday for nearly all of New Mexico and parts of Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood. We still have some fire weather to get through tonight, tomorrow and several days afterwards," fire behavior specialist Stewart Turner said at Friday night's briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It's very important that everybody pays attention to the evacuation orders because this is a very, very serious fire very dangerous fire behavior out there. Matthew Probst, Las Vegas-based medical director for the health clinic network El Centro Family Health, said the nearby fire has swept through impoverished communities already frayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Here, you're losing meager homes, but it's everything. It's all they had, said Probst, a coordinator of county health services for wildfire evacuees. Rural families in the area were caught off guard after heading home from an early evacuation only to be ambushed by a fast-moving fire last week. A 79-year-old widow from the tiny community of Sapello left her house and a blue heeler cattle dog for a doctors appointment, with boxes packed for possible evacuation with jewelry and her 1964 wedding photos. Winds kicked up, and police said it was too late to go back for anything. "They said, No maam, its far too dangerous, said Sonya Berg in a phone interview Friday from an emergency shelter at a nearby middle school. A close friend says the house burned, but Berg doesn't want to believe it. A neighbor rescued the dog. Im in denial until I go and see it, said Berg, whose husband passed away in 2019 and was buried outside the home. Hes up there, hes been through the whole thing. Im hoping the gravestone we put up is still there. In the Jemez Mountains east of Los Alamos, another wildfire spanning 12 square miles (30 square kilometers) crept in the direction of Bandelier National Monument, which closed its backcountry hiking trails as a precaution while central visiting areas remained open. In northern Arizona, authorities are nearing full containment of a 30 square-mile (77 square-kilometer) blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national management team turned it back over to the local forest Friday. Its pretty stable for the most part, said Coconino National Forest spokeswoman Randi Shaffer. Were not seeing any forecasted crazy weather patterns. We have fire crews monitoring, all of our suppression efforts have been holding. Some residents near another fire 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Prescott havent been allowed back home. Firefighters have about one-third of the 14 square-mile (37-square-kilometer) fires perimeter contained. Lighter winds were expected into the weekend, but low humidity will be a concern, fire officials said. Associated Press writer Scott Sonner contributed to this report from Reno, Nevada. Attanasio reported from Santa Fe. 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. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger 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 Life is a circle. Thats what I thought when I saw Sister Carleen Reck on Thursday night. She was sitting in the front row of the annual dinner and fundraiser for the Criminal Justice Ministry, a nonprofit she founded. I was there to give the keynote address. I never would have been there if not for Reck, who retired several years ago. She first called me in 2015, after I wrote a column about Kathy Acres Back@You nonprofit that fills backpacks for people who battle homelessness. It was one of the first columns I wrote as metro columnist of the Post-Dispatch. Acre, who started her nonprofit in her basement, had come across a specific backpack manufacturer in Chicago that included a built-in rain tarp to protect the backpack and its precious belongings from getting waterlogged, which can be a big problem when youre living on the streets. Reck was passing out backpacks, too, to the people who used the services of Criminal Justice Ministry, or CJM men coming out of prison, many of them veterans. CJM helps them with housing, job training and social services. After Reck invited me to CJM, I met Brandon Reid, one of the employees there. He, too, came back to St. Louis after prison and needed help re-integrating into the community. Not long ago, I wrote about Reid. He has a scholarship to Washington Universitys Brown School of Social Work this fall to work on a graduate degree. He called me after a local landlord refused to consider him for an apartment because of a policy that the complex doesnt rent to anybody whos had a felony and certain misdemeanors in the past 100 years. After I wrote about the policy, Reid filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The complex, he tells me, has changed its policy. He found a different place to live. A couple of years back, I introduced Reid to my friend Lashawn Casey. She first wrote to me from the Dent County Jail back when I was writing debtors prison columns about people who were being locked up in county jails because they couldnt afford to pay their board bill for their previous time in jail. Casey spent some time in state prison on a drug charge, as Reid had many years ago. She needed a home plan as she left prison. CJM was starting to admit women to their programs. Casey became their client. Shes been in St. Louis now for more than a year. She graduated from the CJM program and has moved to a rental house in north St. Louis. She, like Reid, is a success story. This is what happens when the community comes together to welcome back people who have battled drug addiction or otherwise served their time, provides some help and guidance, and tries to break generational cycles. Casey is working. Shes doing well. One of the people CJM honored Thursday was Bernie Sammons. We met a few years back at a craft beer bar in Ellisville. Hes a retired Monsanto scientist. Sammons and his wife, Kathy, live their Catholic faith by raising awareness about social justice issues and raising money for various charities, including building three tiny houses near Sts. Teresa and Bridget Catholic Church in north St. Louis. The church is just a few blocks south of Ashland Avenue, where Casey found a house. At the Thursday event, Casey introduced me before my speech. The next day, she texted me. I really loved the people I met last night, she said. I want to get involved. She emailed Thomas Casey, the director of CJM. We both attended Loyola University of Chicago around the same time, though we didnt know each other. Now, one Casey will meet the other so she can give back to the organization that is helping her thrive. Life is a circle. From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JOSEPHVILLE John Wilmes, 83, is part of the old blood of this St. Charles County village that few people know exists. His parents farmed, had lots of children and eventually parceled off pieces of land to each of them. Wilmes and his wife, Karen, raised four children of their own on 12 acres, with some of his siblings as neighbors. Theres been plenty of rural buffer that tends to draw an occasional dreamer. Years ago, he said, somebody wanted to build a small airport in a nearby field full of wildflowers. I said thanks but no thanks, Wilmes, who taped drywall for 52 years, recalled. Why would you want an airport in your backyard? But what about a GM assembly plant? While north St. Louis, Fenton and Hazelwood pine for the days when automobile manufacturing was king, the area just beyond the Wilmes home has been booming with that kind of activity since the 1980s, when new vehicles started coming off the line. By now, growth has caught up to tiny Josephville, which is so tight-knit that village trustees dont even bother to officially sign up for elections. Josephville has a lot of residential development, but without a public water and sewer system, new houses must be built on a minimum of 3 acres to sustain septic tanks and individual water wells. The requirement has drawn an influx of well-off residents with enormous homes. We had our own well-kept secret around here for a long time, Steve Kersting, 68, whose family name also runs deep, said from his small-engine repair shop. Somebody put it on the map. In neighboring Wentzville, new houses are jammed along streets like Rifle Ridge and Rabbit Run that tout, in name only, the kind of lifestyle Josephville has tried to preserve since it incorporated in 1978. Population in the greater St. Louis metro area has been staying put around 2.8 million people, but St. Charles County, often billed as the fastest-growing county in Missouri, has been a relocation zone for many, particularly along Interstate 70 St. Peters, OFallon, Lake Saint Louis. In 1950, there were 30,000 people. Today there are 400,000, with 470,000 expected by 2030. There are notable concerns. Nearly two-thirds of workers commute to jobs outside of St. Charles County. In an official plan for the future, the county says [p]ressure for residential and retail development along major transportation routes has hampered efforts to preserve prime sites for enterprises that create high-paying jobs. The plan challenges officials to address the lack of properties of 100 acres or more that are ready for high-tech industrial and office use. Unless land use planning efforts in all jurisdictions in the county can preserve larger tracts at prime locations for business and commerce, the countys economic potential will not be realized, county officials warn. The St. Charles County Port Authority, which was established in 2019, passed a resolution at its last meeting that identified a large area around the GM plant, and the border of Josephville, as a desired location to foster the kind of development county leaders want. That growth would, inevitably, bring more traffic through the village. Not to worry. Design is underway for the expansion of Josephville Road from Highway P and Kersting Road to widen the two-lane street, iron out a couple substandard curves and add shoulders near the heart of the village by St. Joseph Catholic Church and Josephville Meat Processing, a small business with a vending machine and picnic table out front. The county confirmed $2.2 million is in place for the project. Construction is supposed to start in 2024. The project doesnt include the 90-degree turn in front of the Wilmes home. A crashed car from the night before rested in their driveway last week, waiting to be picked up. These days, it seems like every month somebody misses the turn. Its not as peaceful as it once was, Wilmes said. Candidates are usually write-ins Even with all the development near Josephville, there are still no restaurants or stoplights. There isnt a village hall or public website. No paid employees. County records list the home address of Victoria Walker for the Board of Trustees. She didnt come out to visit with a reporter, nor did she return calls. Outsiders could be forgiven for wondering if anyone governs Josephville. Each year, an election is held for village trustees. The ballot is almost always empty. When voters in the St. Louis region get to the ballot box each April, there are usually a handful of municipal positions that fail to attract a candidate: aldermanic or city council seats in smaller towns like Bella Villa or Parkdale. Even the top job can be left hanging. In 2014, nobody ran for mayor in Olympian Village or in Berger. But Josephvilles five-member board takes the cake. Three seats come up for election in odd-numbered years, and two seats in even years. Yet, year after year, no one bothers to file. Word just gets passed around. They do that by choice, said Bill Luetkenhaus, 58, who served on the board years ago. Its worked pretty good. St. Charles County doesnt charge any fees to file as a candidate in municipal elections, but a bit of paperwork is required. The most important is a notarized affidavit in which candidates affirm they arent delinquent in paying taxes. Instead, voters here are accustomed to just writing in their preferred choices, a practice that seems to have begun as soon as Josephville was incorporated. The village was even tinier then just 58 residents were recorded in the 1980 decennial census. The first time a candidates name appeared on the ballot for Josephville trustee was April 1982. Thomas A. Wilmes formal entry that spring made enough of a splash that the St. Charles Post wrote a story about it. A search of newspaper clippings found only four other trustee candidates have ever registered, and three of those were in 1995. Since then, Josephvilles population has grown, rising from 270 in 2000 to 512 in 2020, but write-ins still win trustee seats with as few as 5 votes. The 2021 election hit a snag. Roger Orf won the first of three seats with 20 votes. There was a three-way tie for the remaining two seats: Roger Housel, Luke Kersting, and Jamie Meyer each received 10 votes. Housel said in an interview that they agreed to resolve the tie by drawing names. He lost, but in early April, voters wrote his name in again and he won a seat. I like to get involved just to know whats going on, said Housel, 58. There are some big developments coming that I am pretty sure most of the people in town and around here dont know about. Housel, part of the new blood, moved here a few years ago from the Dallas area. I really like it, he said. Its nice and quiet. He wants it to stay that way. Josephville is trying to keep from being taken over, he said. We would like to grow our boundaries more to maintain our rural feel. He said village trustees meet once a month at St. Joseph Catholic Church. At his first meeting last month, the board weighed a proposal to add a trailer to the church school to provide more classroom space. Housel said village records arent electronic but they may start drafting a newsletter so residents can be more informed. Also at its last meeting, the county port authority passed a resolution to help create an Advanced Industrial Manufacturing Zone near the GM plant by Josephville. We would like to see more jobs, opportunities for employment, Roger Ellis, port authority chairman, said by telephone. Country living, minutes from the city Greg Buerck, 56, migrated from north St. Louis County to St. Charles County. He resettled in St. Peters. I dont like that you can spit at these houses and hit it, he said. While hes prospered from development by building retaining walls, patios and driveways, he enjoys having a lot of space for his home office and equipment yard right next to Josephville. You feel like you are in the country and you are only minutes from the city, he said. To Josephville native Marsha Kiel, it feels closer. The city is moving all around us, said Kiel, 59. A long time ago, she said her father used a workhorse, piano and some money for a down payment on 90 acres in the area. One of six children, she lives on a cut of the acreage in the 1300 block of Kiel Lane. A small farmhouse, where she lived as a baby, stands beside a bigger home, built in the 1960s, where she now lives with her daughter, Brittany Kiel-Mahoney. I am like a bitter old guy, Kiel-Mahoney, 32, said with a smile. I constantly live in what was. Behind them, McMansions on 3-acre lots fill up Barton Creek subdivision where Kiel-Mahoney used to take long walks to her aunts house. She still does, through her imagination. In my brain, when I look out there, its still all fields, she said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Jesse Bogan Jesse Bogan is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Jesse Bogan 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 Regarding "Meet the 2022 St. Louis Post-Dispatch A Students" (April 21): The Post-Dispatch has been publishing its annual "Congratulations 'A' Students" insert for 58 years to honor high school students' academic excellence. I have an idea for a new annual publication: Interviews with area district superintendents and school principals who failed to ensure their students were honored for their academic success. I'm sure it would make for some fascinating reading and just might inspire these education professionals to do the jobs they are paid for. After the Russian cruiser Moskva sank 130 kilometers off the Ukrainian port city of Odessa on April 14 th , the Russian salvage ship Kommuna and seven other ships left their base in Crimea and headed for the wreck site. The Moskva ship sank in about 50 meters (1t0 feet) of water and, even if it rolled over on its side, might still endanger large container or tanker ships operating in the area. Kommuna is not capable of recovering the 12,000-ton Moskva but could examine the wreck and recover some items of equipment as well as look for bodies. There are electronic and weapons components that would be of interest to hostile countries. Kommuna may also be able to settle disputes over how many died on the Moskva. Russia insists that only 396 were on board April 14 th . Moskva can carry up to 680 personnel and usually has 510. There are a growing number of families of men assigned to the Moskva who are demanding to know where their man is because they have not heard from him since the Moskva went down. Moskva was sunk by Ukrainian anti-ship missiles, which have claimed three Russian ships so far. Technically the Kommuna is a legitimate target, even if it is the oldest naval ship still in service. The salvage ship Kommuna is a 2,500-ton catamaran built in the Netherlands, using rust-proof steel, and entered service as the Volkhov in 1915 as part of the Tsarist fleet. Until the 1980s Kommuna was based in the Baltic Sea. Kommuna spent most of its career in the Soviet (communist) Navy, where it received its current name, and now serves in the fleet of the Russian Federation. Originally designed to recover submarines that had sunk in shallow coastal waters, Kommuna remains in service to handle smaller submersibles, does it well and has been maintained over the decades to the point where it is cheaper to keep the old ship operational than to try to design and build a replacement. While the Kommuna is a navy ship it is not a warship as it is not armed although some of the 99-man crew are armed with pistols, machine-guns and assault rifles. Kommuna is also equipped to rescue sailors trapped in a sunk sub as well as recover equipment and bodies from ships lost at sea, including any aircraft that go down over water. Most of the 436,000 square kilometer (168,500 square mile) Black Sea is deep, with an average depth of 1,253 meters. Extending from the northern coast, on either side of the Crimean Peninsula there is a continental shelf where average water depth is less than 100 meters. In many areas it is shallower because several major rivers (Danube, Dnieper, Don, Dniester, and Kuban) empty from the northern and western coasts. Silt from these rivers has built up over thousands of years inland and off the coasts, partially accounting for Ukraines huge agricultural productivity. The Black Sea was formed less than 8,000 years ago as sea levels rose over a hundred meters in a few years and the smaller fresh-water lake became the saline Black Sea while the dry land that became the continental shelf was flooded and the current coastlines established. Those shallow waters are littered with thousands of wrecks from shipping activity that has been going on for thousands of years. Kommuna has justified its continued existence by changing its purpose several times and undergoing several refurbishments and upgrades. In 1984 Kommuna was to be transferred to the Soviet Academy of Science to be used for maritime research. The Academy was unable to afford the cash needed for the conversion and Kommuna transferred back to the navy in 1987 and was sent to the Black Sea for a major refurbishment as a rescue ship for submarine crews, similar to its original task. In its 107-year career Kommuna has retrieved over 150 ships, parts of ships and aircraft. The mighty Soviet Navy, the second largest in the world, fell apart after 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved and the Russian Federation could not afford to provide crews and fuel for its hundreds of ships. In 1991 the Soviet Fleet had over 500 major warships including 109 nuclear subs and nearly as many older nuclear subs retired but still afloat because Russian could not afford to safely scrap them. There were a thousand smaller patrol craft and support ships, most of which could be sold for scrap. Kommuna escaped this carnage because it was a salvage and rescue ship and in good shape. Less than two decades after the Soviet Union disappeared the Russian Federation navy had about a hundred major warships in service and what little money there was for buying new ships went to build a dozen or so new nuclear powered SSBNs (ballistic missile) and SSNs (attack subs). There was still not enough money to send ships to sea for long periods. During the 1990s the navy was forced to retire most of its ships, including nearly 200 nuclear submarines. The nukes were a potential hazard already because some had already sunk off the north coast without regards to what impact the maritime nuclear power plants would have long-term. This prompted Western nations to spend nearly $20 billion in the 1990s to safely decommission the Russian nuclear subs. With the collapse of the Soviet Fleet the Kommuna had little to do because few sailors or ships were at sea and most of the retired ships were scrapped. All that changed in 2000 when the latest Russian nuclear sub, the Kursk, suffered tw0 explosions while submerged during naval exercises off the north coast. Russia did not have any modern submarine crew rescue ships or equipment and refused to accept help from NATO nations. That led to the loss of 23 sailors who survived in one compartment until their air ran out. The Kursk sank to the bottom 158 meters (500 feet) down and the sub was eventually recovered, along with the bodies of the 118 crew and evidence of what actually happened. Russia had already decided to equip several submarine crew rescue ships with modern equipment. Kommuna received some of this new gear and was the designated submarine rescue and salvage ship for the Black Sea fleet. Moskva was the largest warship in that fleet and emerged from a major refurbishment in 2019. As flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, it had a lot of special (encrypted) communications equipment and other secret items. While Kommuna is the oldest naval ship still in service, it is not the oldest warship. That honor goes to the gunboat Parnaiba of the Brazilian Navy. Parnaiba is a small (720 tons) River Monitor that entered service in 1938. Brazil, with one of the largest river systems in the world, and the second longest river in the world, the Amazon. Brazil has long depended on rivers for transportation and has over 22,000 kilometers of navigable rivers. Since many of these rivers pass through thinly populated inland regions Brazil always depended on small river gunboats to back up local law enforcement. The Brazilian Navy still maintains a force of fifteen river gunboats because it still has a lot of rivers that need patrolling. When the Parnaiba entered service in 1938 it was a modern design and, except for a few years during World War II (Brazil declared war on Germany in 1942 and sent some troops to fight), the only naval threat was German submarines in 1942. Parnaiba was briefly pressed into service as a coastal anti-submarine patrol boat but really was not built for operations in the ocean, even if just coastal waters, and soon returned to river patrols. Over the years Parnaiba has been well maintained and in the 1990s had her steam engines replaced with diesels. Some of her weapons were updated as well along with her electronics. Currently, Parnaiba is armed with a 76mm cannon, two 40mm and six 20mm autocannon as well as two 81mm mortars and some machine-guns and small arms. The ship now has a helipad for medium (up to 10 ton) helicopters. Top speed is 22 kilometers an hour and there is onboard fuel for traveling 2,500 kilometers at 10 kilometers an hour. Supplies are carried to sustain the crew of 74 for 16 days. Parnaiba became the oldest armed warship in 2011 when the British Royal Navy retired the 4,700-ton HMS Caroline. This light cruiser entered service in 1914 and fought in the epic Battle of Jutland in 1916. Caroline lost most of its heavy guns in the 1920s when many World War I cruisers and destroyers had their heavy guns removed for use as shore batteries. While HMS Caroline still had some weapons and its engines it spent most of its time tied up in port as a headquarters ship. After World War II Caroline served as a training ship, mostly tied up at dockside. When decommissioned in 2011, the ship could no longer move under her own power. At that point it was noted that the Caroline was not the only World War I warship still in service and that Russians were still using the Kommuna, an unarmed support ship. In 2011 the Parnaiba became the oldest armed warship still in service. The U.S. Navy had retired the last of its World War II era armed ships in the 1990s and ships like the Caroline were technically still not in service as an armed warship. But the Parnaiba still is and always has been, even though it patrols the worlds largest rivers, not the oceans. In any event, the thousands of Brazilian sailors who have served on the Parnaiba since 1938 all have war stories to tell. The rivers often attracted all manner of criminal activity that the Parnaiba had to deal with. Nothing really epic but there was violence, threats, chases and occasional use of the heavy weapons on board. Parnaiba was armed for a reason and not called a gunboat for nothing. Most navies would not want to bring attention to their oldest ship, especially if it was nearly a century old. It's different in the American Navy. For example, in 2009 the carrier, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) was finally decommissioned and ceased to be the oldest ship in the fleet. The Kitty Hawk served for 48 years and 13 days. In that time about 100,000 sailors served on the ship. The ship was the Navy's last non-nuclear carrier and, since 1998, the oldest ship in commission. When Kitty Hawk became the oldest Navy ship in commission in 1998, it received the First Navy Jack (the Don't Tread on Me flag flown by the first U.S. Navy warships). It's long been customary that the oldest ship in the navy is the only one that can fly the First Navy Jack, and after Kitty Hawk the carrier Enterprise, which entered service seven months after the Kitty Hawk, flew the First Navy Jack. From September 11, 2002 until June 2019 all U.S. Navy ships flew the First Navy Jack and continued to do so for the duration of the War On Terror. For the navy, the end date was June 2019 and the custom of only the oldest ship flying the First Navy Jack resumed. The First Navy Jack is now flown by the command ship Blue Ridge (LCC-19) which entered service in 1970 now has 52 years of service. The First Navy Jack moved around a lot in the 1990s, as the U.S. Navy downsized because the Soviet navy had largely disappeared. This process resulted in some very old ships finally getting retired. The USS Prairie, the last of the pre-war US Navy ships that fought in World War II, was decommissioned on 27, March 1993. The ship, a destroyer tender (a supply and maintenance ship for deployed destroyers), entered service in late 1939. The USS Prairie passed the First Navy Jack on to the USS Orion, a submarine tender commissioned in 1944. But the Orion went out of service later that year and the First Navy Jack rapidly moved from one retiring ship to another until the Kitty Hawk got it in 1998, and held on to it for eleven years, an unusually long time. Since 2009 three American warships have been the oldest ship and there are likely to be ships holding the oldest ship title for longer periods because the U.S. Navy has decided it would be cheaper to refurbish and extend the useful lives of older warships than building new replacements. The Enterprise was retired in 2012 and the amphibious ship Denver (LPD 9), which entered service in 1968, was the oldest ship until 2014 and succeeded by another amphibious ship the Blue Ridge. Celebrities, Survivors, Caregivers, and Supporters Join Forces on One Big Day to Raise Awareness and Critical Funds for the World's Toughest Cancer Event b-roll is available here. LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) hosted its largest annual fundraiser, PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate event to end pancreatic cancer. For the first time ever in the organization's history of PurpleStride fundraising events, the campaign rallied local efforts into one nationally synchronized day. From Los Angeles to New York City, supporters in nearly 60 communities walked the nation in solidarity to raise national awareness and much-needed funds for pancreatic cancer. Across the country, nearly 60,000 participants including pancreatic cancer survivors, loved ones and notable VIPs are fundraising to reach an ambitious goal of $16.5 million to fuel PanCAN's mission to create a world in which all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive. "PanCAN PurpleStride is the number one way we raise funds to advance progress against this disease and improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of PanCAN. "One of the most special parts of today is this incredible community coming together, supporters, volunteers, survivors, researchers, and healthcare professionals. In my 22 years with this organization, I continue to be amazed by the immense outpouring of support for our mission from people and organizations across the country." At PanCAN's flagship PurpleStride event in Los Angeles, a number of notable celebrity figures joined the ranks of striders to support PanCAN's mission, including PanCAN PurpleStride national ambassador, actor and producer Mindy Kaling. Kaling lost her mother to pancreatic cancer in 2012, just eight months after diagnosis. "I was blown away by the passion and drive of those helping to end this disease and touched by the stories I heard from survivors and loved ones," said Kaling. "Thank you PanCAN for hosting such a special event to bring this community together." In addition to Kaling, celebrity guests at PurpleStride Los Angeles included Jean and Nicky Trebek, widow and daughter of the late Alex Trebek, actor Rosario Dawson, striding in honor of her father who is currently battling pancreatic cancer, actor Josh Stamberg, who walked in memory of his father, and "Star Trek" actor Kitty Swink, an 18-year pancreatic cancer survivor. Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., with an overall five-year survival rate of just 11 percent. In 2022, more than 62,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., and nearly 50,000 will die from the disease. PanCAN PurpleStride is generously supported by national sponsors, Ipsen, AbbVie and Immunovia, Inc. For more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its urgent mission to save lives, visit pancan.org or follow PanCAN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) leads the way in accelerating critical progress for pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN takes bold action by funding life-saving research, providing personalized patient services and creating a community of supporters and volunteers who will stop at nothing to create a world in which all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive. Media Contacts:Jillian ScholtenSenior Public Relations ManagerPancreatic Cancer Action NetworkDirect: 310-706-3360E-mail: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pancreatic-cancer-action-network-hosts-first-ever-national-pancan-purplestride-the-ultimate-event-to-end-pancreatic-cancer-301536782.html SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network FORT BENNING, Ga. The top commander at Fort Benning plans to retire later this year, and his replacement has already been named, Army officials said. Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe plans to step down in July as commanding general at the base in Georgia, post officials told the Ledger-Enquirer on Friday. Maj. Gen. Curtiss Buzzard, currently the deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, is set to take his place. A change-of-command ceremony is set for July 14 at Fort Benning. Donahoe has served nearly 34 years in the Army and has been top commander at Fort Benning since July 2020. Before arriving in the Columbus area to take the commanding general job, he was a deputy commanding general for U.S. Army operations in Korea. He had previously served as chief of staff for the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning. Donahoe's Army career also included posts around the U.S. and in Afghanistan. He commanded the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, as it deployed to Iraq for counterinsurgency operations, earing the valorous unit citation. From July 2013 to June 2014, he served in Afghanistan as senior adviser to the chief of the general staff of the Afghan National Army. According to his Army biography, Buzzard has previously served as commandant of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. PHILADELPHIA (Tribune News Service) Anthony Fauci caused a stir this week when he said on national television that the United States was out of the pandemic phase. Nationwide, epidemiologists cringed. For one thing, the word choice by the nations infectious-disease chief was wrong. But the bigger question is whether Fauci was correct to suggest that in this country, the worst might finally be over. Theres now evidence suggesting that more than 90% of Americans have some level of COVID-19 immunity. Fauci later acknowledged that the world is still in the midst of a pandemic, but said the U.S. was past the full-blown phase of COVID, transitioning to a more predictable, controlled pattern over the long term. Is he right? Maciej Boni of Pennsylvania State University, Thersa Sweet of Drexel University, and Abby Rudolph of Temple University, three epidemiologists whove been tracking COVID since the start, will help with a deep dive into the evidence. Whats called a pandemic anyway? The words pandemic and epidemic are sometimes used in everyday conversation to suggest a lot of cases. But there are lots of cases of flu every winter, and in most years, it isnt called an epidemic. Instead, an epidemic means a sudden rise in cases above what is expected. A pandemic is an epidemic occurring in multiple countries. With COVID, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic to be underway in March 2020, after the virus had spread to more than 100 countries. Before long, it would indeed reach them all. Yet its not correct to say that any one country is or isnt in a pandemic phase, as that term applies to multiple countries, said Rudolph, an associate professor at Temples College of Public Health. That is, the U.S. could emerge from the epidemic phase while a pandemic remains underway globally. So Fauci was wrong? Technically, yes. The pandemic remains underway, even if maybe the U.S. might be emerging from the epidemic phase. But cut the guy some slack. It is hard to boil down complex subjects into straightforward answers on live television. Upon realizing he had overstated things, Fauci quickly made the rounds with the Associated Press and the Washington Post, acknowledging that no, were not quite there yet. A similar thing happened during those early controversial weeks of the mask debate. At first, Fauci and other prominent physicians said there was no need for most people to wear face coverings. As more evidence emerged about how easily the coronavirus could spread through the air, he admitted he was wrong, and explained why. What does COVID normal look like? Though it may feel as if COVID has been dragging on forever, its still a fairly new disease. So it is hard for expert disease-trackers to pinpoint when we have emerged from the epidemic or pandemic phase, reaching normal numbers of cases and hospitalizations. Everything about this has been abnormal. Earlier in the pandemic, for example, surges in the spring and fall caught many experts off guard. But the two really big spikes came in the winter, and evidence suggests that in the future, the colder months may always see a rise in cases, said Sweet, an associate professor at Drexels Dornsife School of Public Health. Thats due to a combination of factors, including that more people congregate inside and that the dry air makes their nasal passages less able to filter viruses. So COVID would become a seasonal illness like the flu, Sweet said. Even if that does happen, she said, the question is how severe is it going to get in the winter? In other words, what will normal look like? Hard to say for sure, but there are clues, said Boni, an associate professor of biology at Penn State. The key, he said, is to determine how many people have some level of immunity, whether through vaccination, infection or both. Once that percentage reaches the mid- or high-90s, then public health officials can make reasonable predictions about the toll of disease from year to year. Thats why we have a good handle on the flu, as nearly everyone has been exposed to it in one form or another. Thousands still die each year, but most people are protected from severe disease, and the numbers follow a predictable pattern. How do we know COVID immunity levels? Since the pandemic started, COVID testing numbers have lagged far behind a true count of infections. In order to estimate the true number, the CDC has tried another route: testing blood samples that are collected at hospitals and labs for other reasons. This week, agency scientists reported that at the end of February, close to 60% of all blood samples contained a special type of antibody to the coronavirus. The blood tests detected antibodies to an internal virus protein called the nucleocapsid, present in the blood only for those who have been infected. This is different from the antibody that the immune system generates in response to the vaccines, which are based on the spike proteins that protrude from each virus particle. Translation: By the end of February, a staggering three out of five people had been infected with COVID. Yet even the new CDC estimate is low, Boni said. Antibodies wane with time, so the blood samples likely reflected infections only in the previous few months, when the omicron variant was widespread. Could more than 90% of Americans have immunity? To estimate the larger, cumulative number of infections, researchers have to dig deeper. Boni was part of one such effort, working with colleagues at Harvard, Brown, and Yale Universities. The team analyzed data from hospitals and health agencies in three New England states, allowing them to estimate the number of cases that were missed in official tallies. The researchers determined that by the end of May 2021, close to 70% of people in those three states, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, had some level of immunity from being vaccinated, infected, or both. Another group of researchers from Yale, Harvard and Stanford conducted a similar deep dive for the whole country six months later, after the rise of the delta variant. They found close to 90% of people had some degree of immunity. With the additional cases from omicron, Boni thinks that number now is well into the 90s. That would mean nearly everyone has some degree of protection, except for very young children. What could the end look like? If thats the case, might the U.S. truly be nearing the end of the epidemic, abnormal phase of COVID? Not necessarily, said Sweet, the Drexel professor. Immunity wanes with time, and other variants will emerge at some point. And they will not necessarily be milder. A lot of people are under the impression that as the virus mutates, it would become less virulent so itll become more like the common cold, she said. We dont know what the next variants going to look like. Thats what happens with the flu, after all. It follows a pattern in most years, but every so often, there are new strains to which few have robust immunity, and an epidemic ensues. While the future is impossible to predict, Boni said a normal wintertime caseload for COVID might be one-third of what it was during the past two winters. Maybe. The numbers will get more regular, and smaller, he said. Im 70% sure that it will look that way. But everythings been surprising with COVID. ___ 2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. ROME For travelers heading to Europe, summer vacations just got a whole lot easier. Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday before Europes peak summer tourist season, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal. Greeces civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. As of Sunday, visitors to Italy no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated online ordeal required at airport check-in. Italy also did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. .Some indoor mask mandates in Italy also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces and stores. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas and in all health care facilities and nursing homes. It was needed, said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. We have waited more than two years. At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with friends, all without masks. Its much better, Bichler said. Lets say its a return to life, a free life. In Greece, where tourism accounts for about 20% of its GNP, enforcing the rules had already fallen off prior to Sunday. On the tourist island of Mykonos, revelers flooded beaches, bars and restaurant the previous weekend for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Some owners said business was the best they had seen in years and expected that to continue for the long May Day weekend. Vaccination certificates in Greece were abolished, not permanently, but from May 1 to August 31 and it will be determined in August whether to bring them back. Also suspended were restrictions on the number of customers in indoor spaces. But masks are still required indoors and in vehicles in Greece, and experts recommend using them outdoors in crowded situations like concerts. Business owners said many unvaccinated people were among those enjoying the end of COVID-19 restrictions. We saw again old customers whom we hadnt seen since November, when vaccination certificates first became mandatory, Michalis Epitropidis, general secretary of the association of restaurant, cafe and bar owners in Thessaloniki, told the Associated Press. By punishing the unvaccinated, the state was punishing us. Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, was a hotbed of militant vaccine denialism and protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Like Italy, Greece saw tourism revenues plunge in 2020 and only partially rebound in 2021. Greece is now hoping for a record tourism year in 2022 and so does neighboring Albania, where restrictions were also lifted Sunday. Public health officials say masks still remain highly recommended in Italy for all indoor activities, and private companies can still require them. Given that the virus is still circulating, we should keep up the vaccine campaign, including boosters, and keep up behavior inspired by prudence: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever theres a risk of contagion, said Dr. Giovanni Rezza, in charge of prevention at the health ministry. Nellas reported from Athens, Greece. Francesco Sportelli contributed from Italy, Costas Kantouris from Thessaloniki, Greece and Llazar Semini from Albania. South Korea, 1974: Sgt. Kenneth L. Simons, right, and Sgt. Marvin Perham, with the 3rd Security Police squadron at Kunsan Air Force Base, rest their weary feet after completing a 20-mile walk-a-thon to raise money for the Sam Sung Orphanage. DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska Those wishing to climb North America's tallest peak got a leg up this week from the U.S. Army. Aviators from B Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright flew two bus-sized CH-47F Chinook helicopters Wednesday to continue the decades-old tradition of helping set up base camp on Denali, a 20,310-foot mountain located about 240 miles north of Anchorage. Thousands of pounds of equipment and supplies were delivered to Kahiltna Glacier, site of the lower base camp at 7,200 feet. The National Park Service establishes that camp and another at the 14,000-foot level as climbers attempt to summit Denali along the West Buttress route, the most popular for climbers. Last year, of the 1,007 climbers who attempted to reach the top of Denali, 943 went along the West Buttress route. Of those, 490 reached the summit, or 52%. Fort Wainwright soldiers often return to Denali when the helicopters are needed for high elevation rescues. This assistance is provided for various reasons, including when the National Park Service's helicopter is out of service or when there are more patients than the park service's smaller helicopter can carry. SALE, Morocco As a combatant for the Islamic State group who left his native Morocco to join what he felt was a holy fight in Syria, Mohsin says he saw all the horrors of war. "A terrifying experience," he says. Now a prisoner, the 38-year-old claims he is no longer the fanatic he was then, enraged with a murderous hatred for non-Muslims. Captured in Turkey and extradited to Morocco, he is serving a 10-year prison term on terrorism charges. Now the former fighter has graduated with 14 other prisoners convicted of terror offenses from a Morocco de-radicalization program that might make them more eligible for an early release. The Associated Press and other media were invited to observe their graduation ceremony Thursday in a prison in Sale near the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and to interview some prisoners under monitored and controlled conditions. Prison administration officials picked out three men they said were willing to be interviewed. Officials stipulated that the inmates shouldn't be identified by their full names and that their faces mustn't be shown, citing privacy reasons. But prison officials didn't listen to the interviews or intervene to shut down media lines of questioning or inmates' answers. The 15 inmates in crisp shirts and trousers stood solemnly for Morocco's national anthem and were handed certificates. Prison officials said the de-radicalization program consisted of three months of classes in prison on religion, law and economics, and that inmates also received training on how to start a business. These most recent graduates were the ninth batch since the program started in 2017. Moulay Idriss Agoulmam, the director of social-cultural action and prisoner reintegration at Morocco's prison administration, said the program is entirely voluntary and works with inmates "to change their behaviour and improve their life path." "It enables prisoners to form an awareness of the gravity of their mistakes," he said. Graduating from the program doesn't make inmates automatically eligible for early release, but does increase their chances of getting a royal pardon or a reduced sentence. That's been the case for just over half of the program's 222 graduates so far, the prison administration says. Since 2019, the training has also been offered to women convicted under Morocco's Anti-Terrorism Act. Ten women have graduated so far all of them since released, including eight with pardons. Called "Moussalaha," meaning "reconciliation" in Arabic, the program is offered to prisoners who have demonstrated a readiness to disavow extremism. Mohsin said he left to fight in Syria in 2012. A school dropout as a teen, he said he "was virtually illiterate and couldn't discern good from bad." He said he was radicalized by people who showed him extremist videos "about the divine obligation to battle those who don't follow Islamic principles and to murder non-Muslims." In Syria, "I saw massacres, rapes, and thefts," he said. "I concluded after a time that the fight being conducted in the name of Islam had nothing to do with our religion." He escaped to Turkey in 2018 and was detained for a year there before being extradited to Morocco. He says he has now disavowed extremism. "That period of my life has passed," he said. Numerous Moroccans have traveled to Syria, Iraq and elsewhere to join extremist groups. Morocco has also experienced multiple attacks itself. Five suicide attacks in Casablanca in 2003 killed 33 people. In 2011, an explosion destroyed a cafe in Marrakech, killing 17 people, most of them foreign tourists. Al Mustapaha Razrazi, a clinical psychologist and member of the program's scientific committee, said among 156 people who have been released after attending the courses, just one has been caught committing a crime again. That person was convicted of a non-terrorism-related offense, he said. Ukraine said Friday that five Russian missiles had struck Kyiv during the visit of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres a day earlier, bringing widespread condemnation as vast quantities of weapons for Ukrainian forces continued to arrive in Eastern Europe. End-of-the-week transfers include more American artillery, radar systems and armed drones, as well as mines, rockets and small arms ammunition from other countries. The increased tempo of shipments comes as Ukrainian forces are trying to hold back a major Russian assault in the Donbas region. A senior U.S. defense official said Russian troops appear to be "at least several days behind where they wanted to be" in the new offensive and have met strong Ukrainian resistance. The Russians have relied on airstrikes, followed by artillery strikes, before moving their ground forces forward, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon. The official said the ground movements have been "fairly plodding." Russia appears to have abandoned its earlier goal to capture Kyiv and other population centers in the northern and central parts of the country, instead focusing on the Donbas, a section of eastern Ukraine where fighting has gone on for years. In response to urgent Ukrainian requests, the West has been flooding the country with heavy weaponry, including artillery, suitable for a sustained ground campaign. The Thursday attack on Kyiv destroyed what Russia described as an "arms factory" and also struck a high-rise apartment building, killing Ukrainian journalist, Vira Hyrych, who worked for the U.S.-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. It was the first major strike on the capital since Russian forces withdrew from that region earlier this month. "We are shocked and angered by the senseless nature of her death at home, in a country and city she loved," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Jamie Fly said in a statement. He said her remains were found Friday morning amid the building wreckage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack during Guterres's visit, shortly after he saw Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow was an attempt by the Kremlin to "humiliate the U.N. and everything the organization represents." Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, at a joint news conference in Helsinki with his Swedish counterpart to discuss their possible applications for NATO membership, called for the matter to be taken up in the U.N. Security Council, where Russia is one of five veto-wielding permanent members. Guterres on Friday tweeted pictures of his time touring the decimated buildings around the capital, and wrote that he was "moved by the resilience and bravery of the people of Ukraine. My message to them is simple: We will not give up." At the U.N., deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said that secretary general didn't see the Kyiv attack "as about him." "[The secretary general] sees this as another sign that there are parties who are wanting to continue this war, and we want to keep our push to make sure that the conflict can be ended," Haq said. At the Pentagon, spokesman John Kirby said that the U.S. military has begun training Ukrainian troops on the newly-arriving weaponry, including howitzer 155mm artillery and counter-artillery radar. The bulk of the training, Kirby said, will be carried out by members of the Florida National Guard, which had training forces inside Ukraine until just before Russia's February invasion. New commitments, and reaffirmations of existing ones, were made by a number of nations attending a U.S.-sponsored conference in Germany of more than 40 countries supporting Ukraine. One goal of the conference was to synchronize the donations and their delivery, and to meet Ukraine's immediate needs. Canada, among those who attended, is also supplying howitzers, as well as precision cameras for Turkish-made armed drones and other equipment, Anita Anand, Canada's defense minister, said in an interview Thursday. "We need to keep to supplying military aid regardless of the changing strategy of the Russians," she said. Kirby, in a briefing for reporters on Friday, used some of his strongest language yet to describe Putin, accusing him of "depravity" in emotional comments. Asked if Putin was a rational actor, Kirby said it was hard to look at what the Russian leader and his forces were doing after two months of war in Ukraine and "think that any ethical, moral individual could justify that." After pausing to compose himself, Kirby, a retired admiral, said that he could not speak for the entire U.S. government. "I have been around the military for a long, long time, and I have known friends who didn't make it back," he told reporters. "It's just hard. ... It's just difficult to look at that, and it's hard to square his let's just call it what it is his b.s.," he said, referring to Putin. There were stark reminders in Ukraine of the war's human toll. Zelenskyy told Polish media that officials had discovered a mass grave in the Kyiv region "with the bodies of 900 civilians." A spokesman for the president, Serhiy Nykyforov, later said Zelenskyy misspoke. A new mass grave was discovered near Bucha this week, he said, but "the 900 people is the approximate number of corpses found in that region" following the Russian withdrawal. Among the deaths reported Friday was a 22-year-old U.S. citizen and Marine Corps veteran, Willy Joseph Cancel, whose family said he was killed in the fighting this week. The nature of Cancel's activity in Ukraine and the circumstances surrounding his death, first reported by CNN, were not immediately clear. His son "just wanted to help out," Cancel's father, Willy Cancel Jr., told The Washington Post. Cancel joined the Marine Corps in 2017 as an infantry rifleman, said Maj. Jim Stenger, a spokesman for the service. His awards indicate he spent some time at sea and in South Korea. Cancel left the military after being court-martialed in 2020 and serving a five-month jail sentence, the service said. A person familiar with the matter said Cancel was court-martialed after bringing a weapon onto base. Cancel would be the first known American killed in combat in Ukraine. President Biden, asked about the death at an unrelated event in Washington, said "It's very sad. He left a little baby behind." Separately, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said it would take "immediate steps" to end a monitoring mission in Ukraine, days after the organization said some of its workers were detained in Russian-occupied territory. "This is not an easy decision to take," Poland Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, who became the OSCE chairman in January, said in a statement. He said the group "explored all possible options through political dialogue ... but the position of the Russian Federation left us with no choice but to take steps to close down the Mission." Rau did not tie the detentions directly to the withdrawal decision. In March, the security organization, composed of 57 member states, said Russia, a voting member, had opposed an extension of the mission, effectively ending a mandate that had been in place since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. As Europe searches for ways to end its dependence on Russian energy supplies, a fractious European Union debate about halting oil imports was expected to continue through the weekend. Softening from Germany, which wants an oil phaseout rather than a full an immediate ban, was seen by E.U. diplomats as making a deal more likely, but far from guaranteed. Baltic states and some other Eastern European countries have called for a total energy embargo. Others, notably Germany and Hungary, have resisted. The ban was seen as increasingly critical to undercutting a main support of Russia's economy as the war entered its third month. The Washington Post's Emily Rauhala in Brussels, Timothy Bella, Abigail Hauslohner, Julian Mark and Felicia Sonmez in Washington contributed to this report. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine A long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol began Sunday, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraine's president to show unflinching American support for the country's defense against Russia's invasion. Video posted online by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children bundled in winter clothing being helped as they climbed a steep pile of debris from the sprawling Azovstal steel plant's rubble, and then eventually boarded a bus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 100 civilians, primarily women and children, were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday. "Today, for the first time in all the days of the war, this vitally needed (humanitarian) corridor has started working," he said in a pre-recorded address published on his Telegram messaging app channel. The Mariupol City Council said on Telegram that the evacuation of civilians from other parts of the city would begin Monday morning. People fleeing Russian-occupied areas in the past have described their vehicles being fired on, and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of shelling evacuation routes on which the two sides had agreed. Later Sunday, one of the plant's defenders said Russian forces resumed shelling the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed. Denys Shlega, the commander of the 12th Operational Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard, said in a televised interview Sunday night that several hundred civilians remain trapped alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and "numerous" dead bodies. "Several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant," Shlega said. "We need one or two more rounds of evacuation." An aide to Mariupol's mayor also reported renewed shelling. "The cannonade is such that even (on the opposite side of the river) the houses are shaking," Petro Andryushenko wrote in a Telegram post. As many as 100,000 people may still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a key target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said civilians who have been stranded for nearly two months would receive immediate humanitarian support, including psychological services, once they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles northwest of Mariupol. Mariupol has seen some of the worst suffering. A maternity hospital was hit with a lethal Russian airstrike in the opening weeks of the war, and about 300 people were reported killed in the bombing of a theater where civilians were taking shelter. A Doctors Without Borders team was at a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, in preparation for the U.N. convoy's arrival. Stress, exhaustion and low food supplies have likely weakened civilians trapped underground at the plant. Ukrainian regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar, meanwhile, called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. "We don't know why they are not taken away, and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed," he said in a video posted Saturday on the regiment's Telegram channel. Video from inside the steel plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands were among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed men with blood-stained bandages, open wounds or amputated limbs, including some that appeared gangrenous. The AP could not independently verify the location and date of the video, which the women said was taken last week. Meanwhile, Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers visited Kyiv on Saturday. She is the most senior American lawmaker to travel to the country since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. Her visit came just days after Russia launched rockets at the capital during a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Rep. Jason Crow, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: "Weapons, weapons and weapons." In his nightly televised address Sunday, Zelenskyy said more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-agreed with Moscow since the start of Russia's invasion. "The organization of humanitarian corridors is one of the elements of the negotiation process (with Russia), which is ongoing," he said. Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of waging "a war of extermination," saying Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. "What could be Russia's strategic success in this war? Honestly, I do not know. The ruined lives of people and the burned or stolen property will give nothing to Russia," he said. In Zaporizhzhia, residents ignored air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home to visit cemeteries Sunday, when Ukrainians observe the Orthodox Christian day of the dead. "If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, 'It's not possible, they're worse than the Germans,'" Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said while marking the day with his family at a picnic table among the graves. "All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks." Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture the capital, Kyiv. Russia's high-stakes offensive has Ukrainian forces fighting village-by-village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling. Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of seizing medical facilities to treat wounded Russian soldiers in several occupied towns, as well as "destroying medical infrastructure, taking away equipment, and leaving the population without medical care." Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine is difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested the offensive was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russia's vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russia's offensive could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel, and a much larger air force and navy. In Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, an explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday, and a criminal investigation has been started, the region's government reported in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. ___ Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. WARSAW, Poland A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom. You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegations trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraines fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance arent going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win, he said. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Scores of U.S. lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the wars toll and shore up U.S. troops in the broader region. Pelosis delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosis stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won. Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. intelligence support it needs to defeat Russian forces. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, Pelosi said. McGovern said Russias war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added: I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world. Winfield reported from Rome, Mascaro from Washington. ANDOVER, Kansas (Tribune News Service) Flor and Aldo Delgado said they prayed in the basement of their Andover home as a tornado passed right above them, destroying their home and cars. The couple said they never expected to experience a tornado. Im at a loss of words right now. You never think youll live through something like that, and that its just something you see on TV or the movies, Aldo said. The couple live in Andover and saw the tornado forming around 8:15 p.m. Friday through their backyard window. The couple said they were thinking of grilling some food that day. We opened the patio door and suddenly saw a tornado starting to form. We started recording it at first and then realized that we needed to take cover in the basement, Aldo says. The couple were sitting at the bottom of the stairwell when they heard the wind starting to pick up. Within a minute, everything went dark. The lights started flickering and eventually went out, and within a minute from that the whole house started shaking and it was so loud. We started feeling water hitting our faces, and there was just dust everywhere. It lasted for what felt like a minute that it was right above us, Aldo said. In the moment I didnt know what to think. My wife and I just held each other and prayed that we would get through it, Aldo said. Growing up in Kansas, Flor Delgado says tornadoes were a norm. She didnt think too much of them. At first it didnt feel real. Its almost kind of the joke of when we hear tornado sirens, we go outside and see whats happening. That feeling quickly changed as the Delgados took cover in their basement. Flor said she could hear their home being torn apart as they prayed for their safety. In the moment I realized there is absolutely nothing we could do. I knew my husband felt it too because he was calm and comforting me, but at one point he just starts losing it and crying I could hear his voice cracking as hes praying, Flor said. The couple say the shaking lasted for about a minute. Afterward, Aldo called the police once the couple saw that they were trapped in basement covered in dust and debris. The staircase was completely covered. I turned over to the corner of our basement and saw light and rain coming through...thats when it clicked it with me that our house was gone, Flor said. Aldo said that at one point he could hear someone yelling. He yelled back to get their attention. A bystander was pounding on their window. We opened and asked if it was safe to go outside, because at that point we didnt know where the tornado was. We came out outside and a lot of our neighbors and bystanders came to check up on us, you know. It was comforting and made us feel secure, Aldo said. The couple walked away safely with only the clothes on their backs. Flor said their home, cars and personal items are gone. We didnt even have our wedding rings on at the time, Flor added. I had that feeling of impending doom. Im a nurse, so I see a lot of people at the end of their lives and they have that feeling of impending doom. They behave a certain way, and I feel like I understood it that you could possibly die and theres nothing you can do about it, Flor said. The couples home is one of at least 50-100 structures damaged in the path of the tornado. A GoFundMe has been set up by the family. 2022 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MINNEAPOLIS President Joe Biden saluted his "friend of five decades" Walter Mondale on Sunday, traveling to the University of Minnesota to remember the former vice president and Democratic Party elder whose memorial service was delayed for a year due to the pandemic. Mondale died in April 2021 at age 93. He is credited with transforming the office of the vice presidency which Biden himself held for eight years under President Barack Obama expanding its responsibilities and making himself a key adviser to President Jimmy Carter. Mondale "was a giant in American political history," Biden said of Mondale, known to friends as "Fritz." He added that Mondale was one of the "toughest, smartest men I've ever worked with" both as Senate colleagues and as a mentor when Biden was Obama's No. 2 and then later as president. Biden emphasized Mondale's empathy, recalling his own promise during the 2020 presidential campaign to unite the country. That's something the president has strayed from a bit in recent weeks, as he seeks to draw a starker contrast between his administration and congressional Republicans who have opposed it on nearly every major issue. "It was Fritz who lit the way." Biden said. "Everybody is to be treated with dignity. Everybody." Biden added of Mondale: "He united people sharing the light, the same hopes even when we disagreed, he thought that was important." "It's up to each of us to reflect that light that Fritz was all about." The invitation-only, 90-minute service Sunday inside a stately campus auditorium featured plentiful organ music. Biden, who received a standing ovation, said he spoke with Mondale's family beforehand and "got emotional" himself. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith called Mondale a "bona fide political celebrity" who still dedicated time to races large and small back in their home state. Minnesota civil rights icon Josie Johnson spoke of what a good listener Mondale was and how he championed inclusiveness. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar described once being an intern who climbed under chairs and a table to carry out a furniture inventory when Mondale was vice president. "That was my first job in Washington. And, thanks to Walter Mondale, this was my second," Klobuchar said of being a senator, noting that Mondale encouraged her to run and taught "the pundits in Washington how to say my name." Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota may be better known as Mondale's home state than its moniker "The Land of 10,000 Lakes," and praised Mondale's intellect, humility, humor and optimism. "He embodied a sense of joy. He lived his life every single day," Walz said. "At 91, he was still fishing for walleye. Unlike me, he was catching some." A booklet given to attendees for the "afternoon of remembrance and reflection" quoted from Mondale's 2010 book, "The Good Fight": "I believe that the values of the American people our fundamental decency, our sense of justice and fairness, our love of freedom are the country's greatest assets, and that steering by their lodestar is the only true course forward." Its back cover showed Mondale's face next to the slogan, "We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace," which Klobuchar described as being memorialized after the then-vice president said them at the end of the Carter administration. Mondale was a graduate of the University of Minnesota and its law school, which has a building named after him. During Sunday's remembrance, Biden wiped his eyes as a performance of "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie" played, and the service closed with the university's marching band, which sent people away with the "Minnesota Rouser" fight song. Mondale followed a trail blazed by his political mentor, Hubert H. Humphrey, serving as Minnesota attorney general before replacing Humphrey in the Senate. He was Carter's vice president from 1977 to 1981. Mondale also lost one of the most lopsided presidential elections ever, to Ronald Reagan in 1984. He carried only Minnesota and the District of Columbia after bluntly telling voters to expect a tax increase if he won. But he made history in that race by picking Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York as his running mate, becoming the first major-party nominee to put a woman on the ticket. Mondale remained an important Democratic voice for decades afterward, and went on to serve as ambassador to Japan under President Bill Clinton. In 2002, at 74, he was drafted to run for the Senate again after Sen. Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash shortly before the election. Mondale lost the abbreviated race to Republican Norm Coleman. CHICAGO (Tribune News Service) U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday he has introduced legislation that would give congressional authorization for President Joe Biden to use U.S. military force in Ukraine if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. Speaking on CBS Face the Nation, the Illinois Republican said the joint resolution would not be a mandate for the Democratic president but rather a measure that would provide an option for Bidens administration while also sending a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pursues war with Ukraine. It just says if it is used, (Biden) has that leverage. It gives him a better flexibility. But also, it is a deterrent to Vladimir Putin. If Vladimir Putin wants to escalate with the west, he will. Its easy for him to do it, said Kinzinger, the six-term congressman from Channahon who is not seeking reelection. Prior to World War II, there were moments nobody ever wanted to get involved and eventually came to realize they had to. I hope we dont get to that point here. But we should be ready if we do, he said. Kinzinger, a U.S. Air Force veteran with missions in Afghanistan and Iraq who is a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, said in a separate statement that his introduction of the use-of-military-force resolution came after speaking with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and hearing his grave concerns over Putins use of chemical weapons. Kinzinger, in his TV interview, also said he hoped there would be broad congressional support for Bidens call last week for $33 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine through September. Look, we do have outliers and people that seem to show some Putin sympathy, but for the most part Congress is vastly and largely united on the issue of Ukraine. We recognize Ukraine is fighting for all of us, Kinzinger said, citing some Republicans who have questioned providing U.S. aid to the war-torn country. That $33 billion is significantly less than what we would have to spend if we took Russia on directly, so I hope we dont have any impediments to that at all. I wouldnt expect we do. 2022 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. WASHINGTON The White House press corps' annual gala returned Saturday night along with the roasting of Washington, the journalists who cover it and the man at the helm: President Joe Biden. The White House Correspondents' Association dinner, sidelined by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, featured Biden as the first president in six years to accept an invitation. Donald Trump shunned the event while in office. "Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year," Biden told an audience of 2,600, among them journalists, government officials and celebrities. "Now that would really have been a real coup." The president took the opportunity to test out his comedic chops, making light of the criticism he has faced in his 15 months in office while taking aim at his predecessor, the Republican Party and the members of the press. "I'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have," Biden said to the Hilton ballroom filled with members of the media. Biden also made light of the "Let's Go Brandon" slogan, which has become the right's stand-in for swearing at the president. "Republicans seem to support one fella, some guy named Brandon," Biden said, causing an uproar of laughter among the crowd. "He's having a really good year. I'm happy for him." As far as roasting the GOP, he said, "There's nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn't already put on tape." He also took a jab at Fox News. "I know there are a lot of questions about whether we should gather here tonight because of COVID. Well, we're here to show the country that we're getting through this pandemic. Plus, everyone has to prove they are fully vaccinated and boosted," Biden said. "Just contact your favorite Fox News reporter. They're all here. Vaccinated and boosted." In addition to speeches from Biden and comedian Trevor Noah, the hourslong event had taped skits from talk-show host James Corden, comedian Bill Eichner and even Biden himself. "Thank you for having me here," Noah said to Biden. "And I was a little confused on why me, but then I was told that you get your highest approval ratings when a biracial African guy is standing next to you." While the majority of the speech was filled with cutting jabs, Biden did make note of the important role journalism plays in American democracy, especially in the last decade. "I mean this from the bottom of my heart, that you, the free press, matter more than you ever did in the last century," he said. "You are the guardians of the truth." The dinner had other serious moments, with tributes to pioneer journalists of color, aspiring student reporters as well as a dedication to the journalists detained, injured or killed during the coverage of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The premier event for news media in Washington, the correspondents' dinner mixed Washington journalists like CNN's Jake Tapper and MSNBC's Joy-Ann Reid with celebrities Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Brooke Shields, Caitlyn Jenner, Drew Barrymore and Martha Stewart. Among the large swath of government officials and other prominent figures was Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Accompanied by the first lady, the president came to the event while trying to strike a careful balance with the nation fatigued by the pandemic yet facing an uptick in infections. The ongoing national threat has struck closer to home for the president: Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive this past week and Dr. Anthony Fauci skipped the dinner for health precautions. The U.S. was experiencing a COVID-19 case spike from a highly contagious subvariant of omicron, with confirmed infections rising to about 44,000 per day, up from 26,000 a month ago. Still, virus deaths and hospitalizations were near, or at, pandemic lows, with the BA.2 variant proving less severe than earlier virus strains. In the wake of the recent Gridiron Club press dinner in Washington, dozens of attendees, including members of Congress and of Biden's Cabinet and journalists, tested positive for COVID-19. The White House Correspondents' Association said it was requiring same-day antigen testing for its dinner attendees even before the Gridiron outbreak, then added a vaccination requirement. Biden, 79, decided to pass up the meal but turn up later for the program. While he planned to be masked when not speaking, a maskless president greeted award winners on the dais and could be seen smiling broadly during the dinner program. The correspondents' dinner debuted in 1921. Three years later, Calvin Coolidge became the first president to attend and all have since, except Trump. Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon opted not to attend every year of their presidencies, however, and Reagan, then recovering from an assassination attempt, missed the 1981 installment but called in from Camp David. "The thing I think this shows is the restoration to the health of the relationship," Harold Holzer, author of the book "The Presidents vs. The Press" and the director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College in New York, said ahead of the dinner. "It's still barbed, there are still tense moments. But that's OK." ___ Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report. " " Prairie dogs, like this North America Black-tailed prairie dog, are chubby little critters who are members of the squirrel (Scuiridae) family. John Elk/Getty Images A rodent is a rodent, right? Sure even if they don't necessarily look like your idea of one. There are of course rats, squirrels and hamsters, and the huge capybara. They're all rodents, but look nothing alike. Then there are prairie dogs. Despite their name, they're not dogs at all. In fact, they too are rodents. At first glance, the chubby little critters, who are members of the squirrel (Scuiridae) family, look like they could be part of Whac-A-Mole-like game (sans the mallet, of course) as they pop their heads out of holes they burrow into the ground. But you won't find prairie dogs in any arcade. You will find them on the grasslands of America's Central and Western plains. And they do a lot more than pop out of holes. In fact, they are very smart animals. Advertisement Prairie Dogs' Habitat and Lifestyle There are five species of prairie dog: black-tailed, Utah, Mexican, white-tailed and Gunnison. All are small animals and range between 12 and 17 inches (30 and 43 centimeters) long and weigh in at between 1 and 3 pounds (0.45 and 1.3 kilograms). Depending on the species, they have shades of brown, black, tan, white and gray fur and short tails. These relatives of the squirrel are very social animals and excitedly greet each other with what appears to be hugs and kisses. They live in little coterie groups of one or two males, several breeding females and the new pups that result from this living arrangement. Males go from coterie to coterie, but females stick together for life. Females are only in estrus for one hour a year. Their life span is about five to eight years. The truncated mating season leaves a lot of time for digging burrows that lead to prairie dog towns. Tens of thousands of prairie dogs live in large intricate underground burrows, called towns. Towns are divided into family coteries. Each coterie covers about an acre (0.4 hectare) and contains separate rooms for sleeping, rearing young (the pups are born here and remain for about six weeks) and eliminating waste the prairie-dog versions of bedrooms, nurseries and bathrooms. All dogs in a coterie have specific duties, such as foraging, interacting with others (this must be the most popular duty), maintaining burrows or looking for unwanted guests. You can recognize a prairie dog burrow by the piles of dirt that sit above ground next to each entrance. The piles provide prairie dogs warmth in the winter and help keep burrows from flooding. They also function as footstools that give the small mammals a better vantage point to spot predators, including eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, coyotes, badgers, ferrets and snakes. " " Prairie dogs are very social animals and commonly greet each other with a kiss or hug. Robin Wilson Photography/Getty Images Advertisement They Have an Advanced Vocabulary Prairie dogs have an impressive communication system and use it to warn other town-dwellers of danger. To us, these repetitive sounds might seem like simple squeaks. But they're much more than that. When a prairie dog sees a predator, he makes a sharp warning sound and bobs up and down excitedly, and follows that up with a second sharp sound. He then dives into the burrow and continuously lets out a two-syllable bark (hence the name prairie "dogs") at the rate of 40 barks per minute. Other town members watch from farther away and alert the others of the intruder's route and proximity. Clint Lusardi, San Diego Zoo animal care manager, explains that a prairie dog not only alerts others that a human is coming, but they also use different vocalizations to distinguish between "a human," and "a human with a gun." "To me, that's the most interesting fact about prairie dogs. They've learned that a human with a gun is a threat," Lusardi says. In 2011, animal behaviorist and language specialist Con Slobodchikoff, Ph.D., even proved the little rodents used different calls and barks to distinguish between humans wearing a blue shirt from humans wearing a green or yellow shirt. When two coteries cross paths, there can be some serious tension that results think of it like the prairie dog version of chest pounding. Showdowns can include up to 30 minutes of staring, teeth chattering, tail flailing and sometimes fighting. " " Prairie dogs burrow deep into the ground and leave piles of dirt above ground next to their burrow entrances. The piles provide warmth in the winter and help keep the burrows from flooding. Mark Newman/Getty Images Advertisement Prairie Dogs Are a Keystone Species Prairie dogs are mainly herbivores and eat grasses, seeds, roots and any leafy plants they can find, as well as the occasional insect. They are diurnal and spend most of the day searching for food. They clear the area around the burrows of all the tall plants and grasses, which makes it harder for enemies to sneak up on them. Biologists consider these rodents a keystone species that benefit approximately 150 other species. Their towns offer cover to toads, small rabbits and rattlesnakes and the ground they clear attracts insects that feed birds. They also provide nitrogen-rich waste that fertilizes soil and plants. And sometimes when there's a breakdown in that elaborate communication system they do end up as food for their predators. But not everyone considers prairie dogs as cute, harmless little animals. Ranchers and farmers consider them as pests that compete with their livestock for food. They're also a safety hazard. Montana rancher Hank Swan knows firsthand how problematic they can be. "We've lost a lot of cattle; they step into prairie dog holes, break their legs and have to be put down," he says. "This is how we make our living and it's a significant loss." The idea that these rodents are pests has been a big part to their decline. In the early 1900s, there were about 5 billion prairie dogs across western North America, since then the population has decreased by about 98 percent, and about 100 million remain. The population has been decimated due to plagues, poisonings, shootings and bulldozing. The Utah and Mexican prairie dogs are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened and endangered, respectively, but the other species are not, and are instead being monitored constantly. Now That's Awesome Prairie dogs can create new "terms" for things they've never seen before and are thought to have one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any animal. WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) Gary Dagastine scanned a polished panel of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Tuesday, looking for a familiar name. When the Navy veteran from Post Falls found the name of a shipmate he lost 55 years earlier carved into the black granite wall, he couldnt control his emotions. If it wouldve been an older guy, it probably wouldnt be this bad, said Dagastine, 75, still choked up after making a charcoal rubbing of the name: Daryl Smock, an 18-year-old sailor who died in what Dagastine called a pretty hellacious accident on their Fletcher-class destroyer off the coast of North Vietnam in 1966. As Dagastine told the story, his eyes drifted back to the memorials more than 58,000 names. So many, he said. You turn around and look at how many we lost. He was one of 98 veterans from Eastern Washington and North Idaho who made a two-day trip to war memorials in D.C. and Virginia organized by Inland Northwest Honor Flight, the local branch of a national nonprofit founded in 2005. Tony Lamanna, who has organized twice-a-year Honor Flights from Spokane since 2009, said this years trip was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the group to delay a visit planned for April 2020. Twelve of the veterans who were scheduled for the April 2020 trip died during the two-year delay. A dozen more couldnt make the trip for health reasons, underscoring the mission of Inland Northwest Honor Flight. Veterans of World War II and the Korean War get first priority for the flights, according to the groups website, as well as any veterans who are terminally ill. Those who served during the Vietnam War are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with a waiting list of about two years. Bruce Hansen had planned to make the trip two years earlier with his father, David, a Marine Corps veteran from Sagle, Idaho, who died in February. The younger Hansen, who lives north of Seattle in Marysville, still decided to join the group as a guardian, one of the dozens of volunteers who helped the veterans during the trip. I thought it was just fitting to make sure that I follow through with what we were going to do together, Hansen said, wearing his fathers jacket, which he lay at the base of the memorial wall. Pushing a wheelchair for Bill Reilly, an Army veteran from Deer Park, Hansen was careful to say he was wearing the jacket in his fathers honor and was not a veteran himself, but Reilly interjected, Hes a hero to me. Reilly, 76, was looking for the name of his captain who was killed in Vietnam but couldnt remember if the mans name was Morris or Morrison. Scanning the thousands upon thousands of names, he said, made him think, What a waste of life. Earlier that morning, the veterans started their day at Arlington National Cemetery, where they watched as soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment conducted the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That is a powerful display, Dean Evans, an Army veteran from Spokane Valley, said later of the ceremony. And just the immenseness of the place, and how far it goes back. Evans, 72, said the community of veterans is a brotherhood no matter where they are. Just even when we wear our hats, everywhere you go, youve got a friend, he said. It kind of serves as a reminder, for me, of the cost of war. That cost was on the mind of Emmett McLaughlin, who at age 95 was the oldest member of the delegation and its sole veteran of World War II. He served in the Atlantic from 1944 when he joined the Navy right out of high school in St. Maries until 1946, but McLaughlin said it was his first time in the nations capital. While he was getting a lot of attention as the only World War II veteran in the group, McLaughlin said all of the younger veterans are heroes and noted that many of them had borne worse impacts of war. Most of them had more time in the service than I had, and more combat, but I feel quite fortunate to be on this trip, McLaughlin said. I feel real fortunate that Im in better physical condition than a lot of these younger ones. At the World War II Memorial, Norm Paulson and Bob Moser sat side by side and reflected on the impact of war. The two men, both 81, have known each other since grade school in Rosalia, Washington, and joined the Navy together. It just brings reality to what the war and everything was all about, said Paulson, who was stationed in the Philippines. All the lives that were sacrificed to get to where we are today, the freedom weve got. Moser, who was stationed in Seattle, agreed that seeing the memorials was very touching. Back at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Dagastine asked Molly Hanson, a Whitworth University student who volunteered as a guardian on the trip, to hold the paper with the charcoal rubbing of his shipmates name. His hands were still shaking with emotion. Its all young guys, said Randy Bowen, standing next to Dagastine and Hanson. Because he didnt personally know any of the names on the wall, Bowen said, he looked for someone from near his home of Kamiah, Idaho, and found a soldier who was killed at age 22. The 70-year-old Navy veteran served from 1969 until 1991, including tours in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. Hanson, 20, said she decided to volunteer in honor of a relative who served in the military but couldnt make the trip. She is part of the Army ROTC program at Gonzaga University and said being part of the Honor Flight group made her want even more to serve in the military, just to have this connection with other people and the camaraderie. Hanson said she was especially moved by seeing Dagastine grieving the loss of his friend. In order to feel pain, you need to love somebody, and its really powerful for me to see somebody be this upset about somebody that they lost, she said. I realize how powerful it is to serve for your country, and how real these people are. Orion Donovan-Smiths reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspapers managing editor. (c)2022 The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) Visit at www.spokesman.com (Tribune News Service) Jim Savage never wanted the officer route in his military career, but he recently was awarded an honor typically bestowed upon senior military officers or heads of state. The Fairfield Township, Ohio, resident, a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer, received the Legion of Merit medal, one of the military's most prestigious medals, in March. "It's the culmination of outstanding accomplishments within your career," said Savage, 63. "All the contributions and significant achievements you've done in the military." Savage retired from the Army in 2018, having been the Command Chief Warrant Officer at the 310 Expeditionary Command in Indianapolis from 2016 to 2018, though was assigned to the 310th in 2014. But his military service in 2006 and 2011 was what helped him earn the high honor. According to the U.S. Army, the Legion of Merit is only one of two decorations to be issued around the neck (the other is the Medal of Honor). In 2006, Savage was deployed to Iraq where he managed one of the largest combat vehicle battalions, and he never lost a vehicle. The fleet maintained a 98% operational readiness rating, well above the standard readiness rating of 90%. Five years later, he was deployed to Iraq again, but this time he was heavily involved in the logistical operations of the 2011 drawdown of Iraq. "I ended up drawing down and managing over 250,000 pieces of armored equipment, 8,000 soldiers," said Savage, who was born in North Carolina but moved to Ohio with his parents when he was 8. "Managed the logistics of where they slept, ate, all that stuff, as they pulled down." He also managed the coordination of convoys and the allocation of the troops. The Legion of Merit award was also made possible because of a 2015 rule change. In June 2015, the medal, along with others, was able to be issued to service members ranking as colonel and below, according to an Army memorandum. Though this is his highest award, it's not the only high-ranking medal Savage has earned. He was also awarded in 2006 and 2011 the Bronze Star for achievements during those deployments. The Legion of Merit was presented during a March ceremony at the AMVETS Post 1983 in Hamilton. Savage said the medal "signifies a major significant accomplishment in my military career." "To me, that means the Army recognized my contributions to the whole military in general," Savage said. His Army service since 1990 almost didn't happen. He joined the Air Force in 1977 and left after four years, serving 3-1/2 years at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Then in 1990, he decided to rejoin the military. The Air Force would have docked him a stripe he came out as a staff sergeant but the Army took him in as a sergeant, the equivalent E-5 rank between the two branches. Then, Savage said, "It kind of snowballed. I made more rank, went to higher commands, and kept advancing." As a 38-year-old sergeant first class, he went to Warrant Officer Candidate School. From 1977 to 2018, Savage served 35 years between the two branches of the military. He said it was "definitely a life experience." "It taught so much about maturity. Loyalty. Leadership. It helped me out immensely in my civilian career," Savage said. He was always on the management side of any business he worked at, from project management to operations, working in several manufacturing fields, such as paper, plastics and steel. He ended his civilian career working as a project manager for an engineering firm. Between his time in the Air Force and the start of his Army career, Savage married his wife, Kimberly, a Fairfield High School graduate, in 1984. They raised two kids both of whom live in Ohio and have three grandchildren. (c)2022 the Journal-News (Hamilton, Ohio) Visit the Journal-News (Hamilton, Ohio) at www.journal-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A warmer winter is on the horizon for over 1 million New Zealanders receiving either a main benefit or New Zealand Superannuation as the Winter Energy Payment begins today. When we first came into office, we introduced the Winter Energy Payment as part of our Governments December 2017 Families Package. This was designed to help older New Zealanders and many of our low and middle income families heat their homes over winter, says Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni. Between May 1 and October 1 this year, single people with no dependent children will receive a boost of $20.46 per week while couples and families with children will receive an extra $31.82 per week. Its tough for many whanau across the country, but the Winter Energy Payment is another step towards ensuring theyre supported to cover some of the costs which can peak during winter, says Sepuloni. We know that many older New Zealanders need every cent of support they get and the feedback we have got in previous years shows that it continues to be positively received. Having a warm home plays a part in preventing respiratory illnesses through the winter season and lowers the risk of other health issues. This payment supports people and whanau to cover the cost of energy bills and helps them heat their homes. The Winter Energy Payment provides support alongside the suite of income increases that took effect on 1 April, including increases to main benefits, New Zealand Superannuation, Working for Families and the Minimum Wage. Theres no silver bullet to solving issues like the cost of living, but weve taken a range of actions to lift Kiwis' incomes that, together, will make things easier for families," says Sepuloni. People dont need to apply for the Winter Energy Payment, theyll get it automatically. The Winter Energy Payment doesnt affect any other payments people may be getting. Key points about the Winter Energy Payment: The Ministry of Health is reporting 5,656 community cases, 466 hospitalisations and six deaths. Of the 5,656 new community cases, there are 175 new cases in Bay of Plenty and 116 in the Lakes District Health Board region. Across NZ, there are 16 people in ICU with Covid-19. There are 19 people in Bay of Plenty hospitals and two in Lakes hospitals. Todays seven-day rolling average of case numbers is 7,414 last Sunday it was 8,435. Covid-19 deaths Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of six people with Covid-19, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the previous three days. These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 750 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 11. Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, one person was from Northland, one from Taranaki, two were from Waikato, and two from Canterbury. Three were in their 70s and three were in their 80s. Four were women and two were men. Out of respect, we will be making no further comment. Border case with Omicron BA.4 variant A person who has travelled from overseas to New Zealand has been confirmed as having the BA.4 variant of Omicron. This is the first known detection of the variant in New Zealand. The person arrived in New Zealand from South Africa on 22 April, returned a positive RAT the following day and a positive PCR test on 24 April. Whole genome sequencing was undertaken as part of ongoing border surveillance for emerging variants and subsequently confirmed the BA.4 variant. The person followed all testing and reporting requirements, allowing this new sub-variant to be identified quickly, and has been isolating at home. BA.4 has been reported in Southern Africa and Europe, and a case was reported in New South Wales a few days ago. The arrival of this sub-variant in New Zealand is not unexpected. At this stage, the public health settings already in place to manage other Omicron variants are assessed to be appropriate for managing BA.4 and no changes are required. The BA.4 variant is one of the different Omicron subvariants being monitored by the World Health Organization. There is no evidence to date that BA.4 is more transmissible or causes more severe disease than other Omicron lineages, in particular the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant that is causing the vast majority of infections in New Zealand. It can take weeks or months to identify the severity of each new variant or sub-variant, so the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the emerging evidence closely. Two other sub-variants of Omicron the BA.2.12.1 and the BA 2.12.2 have also been detected in two returnees for the first time in New Zealand from travellers arriving on 11 and 15 April. Neither sub-variant is currently regarded as being of concern. Vaccinations administered in New Zealand Vaccines administered to date: 4,026,607 first doses; 3,977,968 second doses; 31,788 third primary doses; 2,630,365 booster doses: 261,588 paediatric first doses and 116,171 paediatric second doses Vaccines administered yesterday: 26 first doses; 69 second doses; 11 third primary doses; 1,431 booster doses; 107 paediatric first doses and 1,127 paediatric second doses People vaccinated All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,056,329 first dose (96.4%); 4,007,080 second dose (95.2%), 2,626,415 boosted (71% of those eligible) Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,026 first dose (91.2%); 504,054 second dose (88.3%), 234,511 boosted (54.7% of those eligible) Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,874 first dose (98.3%); 276,987 second dose (96.6%), 139,904 boosted (57% of those eligible) 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 258,808 first dose (54.3%); 113,430 second dose (23.8%) 5 to 11-year-olds - Maori: 40,802 first dose (35.3%); 12,841 second dose (11.1%) 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,489 first dose (47.6%); 6,496 second dose (13.2%) Note that the number for People vaccinated differs slightly from Vaccines administered as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas. Vaccination rates for all DHBs* Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (67.7%) Auckland DHB: first dose (99.2%); second dose (98.3%); boosted (73%) Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (65.9%) Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (70.8%) Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (66.6%) Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (65.9%) Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (66.3%) MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.1%) Tairawhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91%); boosted (65.7%) Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (71.5%) Hawkes Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (69.8%) Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (68.1%) Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (72.9%) Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (79.4%) Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (75%) Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (73.3%) West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (71.6%) Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.9%); boosted (74.4%) South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.7%); boosted (74.4%) Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (73.2%) *Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%. Hospitalisations Cases in hospital: total number 466: Northland: 29; Waitemata: 75; Counties Manukau: 64; Auckland: 97; Waikato: 37; Bay of Plenty: 19; Lakes: 2; Tairawhiti: 1; Hawkes Bay: 11; Taranaki: 7; Whanganui: 3; MidCentral: 5; Wairarapa: 3; Hutt Valley: 6; Capital and Coast: 12; Nelson Marlborough: 6; Canterbury: 60; South Canterbury: 3; West Coast: 1; Southern: 25 *Average age of current hospitalisations: 60 Cases in ICU or HDU: 16 Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (41 cases / 16.14%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (5 cases / 1.97%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (75 cases / 29.53%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (125 cases / 49.21%); unknown (8 cases / 3.15%) *Please note the average age of current hospitalisations is for the Northern Region admissions only at this stage. This data is recorded and extracted from the same source as the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals. We are currently working on a data solution which would include the average age of current hospitalisations from additional DHBs. Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases: 7,414 Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 8,435 Number of new community cases: 5,656 Number of new community cases (PCR): 169 Number of new community cases (RAT): 5,487 Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (139), Auckland (606), Waikato (341), Bay of Plenty (175), Lakes (116), Hawkes Bay (149), MidCentral (202), Whanganui (64), Taranaki (149), Tairawhiti (99), Wairarapa (58), Capital and Coast (360), Hutt Valley (152), Nelson Marlborough (222), Canterbury (931), South Canterbury (118), Southern (625), West Coast (74), Unknown (6) Number of new cases identified at the border: 62 Number of active community cases (total): 51,891 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 933,464 Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. Tests Mercury NZ Limiteds acquisition of Trustpower Limiteds retail business for the final acquisition price of $467 million is now unconditional, with completion expected later today. The acquisition will double Mercurys total customer connections and accelerate entry into the telecommunications market. Trustpowers retail business sells electricity, gas, fixed and wireless broadband, and mobile phone services, totalling approximately 416,000 connections. The combined business will have approximately 787,000 connections creating New Zealands leading multi-product utilities retail business. The final acquisition price of $467 million is made up of an underlying purchase price of $426 million plus a working capital contribution of $41 million. This is an increase in the price previously announced of $441 million explained by a higher working capital contribution mostly due to Trustpower retaining its accounts payable obligations. Mercury Chief Executive Vince Hawksworth says the acquisition of Trustpowers retail business will enable Mercury to accelerate its retail strategy, delivering the right product mix and enhanced value for customers on a faster trajectory. Going from a dual utility provider to a truly multi-product retailer adds material value for our customers in terms of convenience, cost efficiencies and the delivery of innovative and exciting products, says Vince. Multi-product bundling is a market where Trustpower has had great success and we know nearly half of Mercury customers like the idea of having a single utility provider. Mercury initially announced it had entered into binding agreements with Trustpower to acquire its retail business for NZ$441 million, payable in cash in June 2021. The transaction was conditional on several matters, including Commerce Commission clearance, completion of the proposed restructure of Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust and Trustpower shareholder approval. In an April survey of approximately 1500 Mercury customers, 45 per cent said theyd find it somewhat or very appealing to have one company provide multiple utility services to their household. Greater scale will also allow Mercury to invest in the underlying technology platform, enabling better services and improved customer experience, Vince says. We want to provide a best-in-class customer experience, including frictionless interactions across multiple touchpoints, as we deliver new products and experiences. Mercury will also be able to take purposeful action more broadly for customers and New Zealand, Vince says. As New Zealand transitions to a low carbon economy, we want to ensure this shift is equitable for all consumers, including those experiencing hardship. We are acutely aware of the role we have to play as a large retailer and this only grows in importance. He says that Mercury and Trustpower customers will continue to receive the same high standard of service theyve known from both retail brands. Today is about welcoming around 570 new colleagues to Mercury, taking us to around 1400 employees nationwide. My executive team is growing too, with the addition of Fiona Smith, Trustpowers General Manager Customer Operations, and Paul Bacon, Trustpowers General Manager Markets. Our focus moves quickly to how we integrate the two retail businesses supported by our outstanding generation assets, and how we can be innovative, responsive and streamlined in the way we operate. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. A six-year-old boy has died after reportedly consuming a glass of Monster Energy drink. The tragic incident took place when the youngster was visiting his grandma's house in Matamoros, north-eastern Mexico, on April 16. According to reports, young Francisco Cervantes saw a glass on the table filled with Monster Energy - an energy drink - and gulped it down to quench his thirst. He immediately began to experience discomfort and was taken by his relatives to the local Alfredo Pumarejo Hospital. Francisco Cervantes, 6, reportedly died after drinking an energy drink, in Matamoros, Mexico, in April 2022. Source: Newsflash After admission, he was diagnosed with intoxication and, later, brain death. He spent six days hospitalised in a coma, as his mother, Jessica, initially refused to allow him to be disconnected from his artificial life support machine. "I thank all those who came to offer us their support," the bereaved mum later said. "Unfortunately, my son couldn't take it anymore. Right now we're going to see about the funeral expenses to give him his Christian burial." Various health professionals and services, including the UK's NHS, advise that young children should not consume energy drinks, which are often high in caffeine and sugar. Francisco Cervantes was in hospital for six days before he died. Source: Source: Newsflash It was not reported if young Francisco had any known pre-existing health conditions. Yahoo News Australia has contacted Monster regarding the boy's death. As reported in a 2019 study, the US Food and Drug Administration said there had been 34 deaths attributed into energy drinks, thus warranting investigation into their safety. The study, titled 'Impact of High Volume Energy Drink Consumption on Electrocardiographic and Blood Pressure Parameters: A Randomised Trial', reported that "energy drink consumption has been associated with cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, spontaneous coronary dissection, and coronary vasospasm". Story continues Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. There have been several explanations offered for why crime has increased in New York over the last few years, but Harry Wilson thinks decisions made by state government officials have contributed, if not fueled, the problem. Wilson, one of four Republicans running for governor this year, unveiled his public safety agenda on Friday. The rollout included a stop in Syracuse, where he held a press conference to discuss his 14-page plan. His strategy focuses on four areas, including ending cashless bail. In 2019, the Democratic-led state Legislature passed and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to eliminate bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony offenses. Since its adoption, Republicans have blamed bail reform for increases in crime. There have been amendments to the law Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed for more changes in this year's state budget but it remains in place. And for Wilson, that's a problem. "What we have seen is a long list of stories and statistics of people's lives being upended by folks who were out on cashless bail when they shouldn't have been," he told The Citizen in an interview on Friday. In his plan, Wilson proposes adding a dangerousness standard to set bail New York is the only state without one and allowing for judicial discretion. He thinks it's common sense for judges to "decide what the parameters for bail consideration should be." He also pushes back against the "defund the police" movement. Instead of cutting funding for police departments, he wants to support police departments. That would include increased staffing, training and more tools to combat crime in communities. Specifically, he wants to ensure there is funding for plain-clothes units and neighborhood safety cameras. "We've had a series of political actions that have devalued the contributions of law enforcement," he said. "I think we need to reverse that." So-called "rogue" district attorneys are targeted in Wilson's plan. He singled out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who he says is "failing our citizens." Bragg was criticized after issuing policy directives that his office wouldn't prosecute certain offenses, including resisting arrest. He also told his prosecutors that armed robbery in businesses should result in a misdemeanor charge if there isn't a "genuine risk of physical harm." Bragg has since reversed many of those policies. Wilson, who attended Harvard with Bragg and donated to his campaign for district attorney, said district attorneys are elected to enforce the law, not decide which laws they want to enforce. "The governor has the authority to remove DAs who are not doing their job," he said. "I would use that power to do that to make sure DAs are enforcing the law." There is a collection of other reforms Wilson proposes in his plan. Whether it's bail, parole or sentencing, he thinks there should be a different approach to how crimes involving repeat offenders, violence and weapons are treated. He said those elements of crime are "particularly concerning" and need to be addressed. One byproduct of the ongoing opioid epidemic is the surge in fentanyl overdoses. Wilson wants to take a more aggressive approach to stop the flow of fentanyl into communities. One proposal is to increase penalties for fentanyl traffickers. He also panned parole reform, specifically the "Less is More" law that is being implemented. One part of that law is the discharge of 8,000 parolees from supervision, which was completed at the end of March. The parolees were eligible for discharge under the 30-for-30 provision, which rewarded them with 30 days off their sentences for every 30 days they weren't in violation status. Wilson is concerned that the 8,000 individuals who have been released from supervision won't be monitored and could commit new offenses. One issue he acknowledged is a problem is the security situation in state prisons. Assaults on corrections officers reached an all-time high in 2021. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing corrections officers in state correctional facilities, has been urging Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration and lawmakers to tackle the problem. NYSCOPBA has complained about the recent enactment of a solitary confinement reform law and a spike in violence. Wilson thinks the law should be amended so that violent offenders can be penalized. Under the law, incarcerated individuals can spend no more than 15 consecutive days in segregated confinement. Wilson argues that if his plan is adopted, New York will be the safest state in the nation. But first, he needs to be elected governor. He faces a crowded Republican primary field. U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin has been endorsed by the state GOP. Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and an ex-Trump aide, and Rob Astorino, a former Westchester County executive who was the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2014, are also seeking the nod. Wilson, though, has experience running a statewide campaign. In 2010, he narrowly lost to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat. It's the closest any Republican has come to winning a statewide race since George Pataki was reelected governor in 2002. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. gadadhar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,200 Thanked: 738 Times View My Garage Bangalore to Rajasthan - 15 Days, 5050 Kms, 5 States and 1 Union Territory As always, Team BHP was the first place to go while planning for a trip to unfamiliar roads, and the response to the The team My regular travel buddies - Cousin, wife and my better-half. Few tips from our planning: Our trip plan was covering not more than 600 Kms per day with no major night driving, we had exceptions on few days, max we drove one day was 744 Kms and till 8.30 pm Most of the hotel bookings were done in advance through online portals. We depended on Google Maps to check if the hotels were not too far from our travel route. Tripadvisor reviews were another point of reference for the overall feedback, parking facility etc. We also ensured free cancellation option availability for all bookings, this gave us the flexibility to make some adjustments later. Other preparations included purchase of a puncture kit, tool kit for the Fortuner (tyre inflator, jump start cable, seat belt cutter and a fire extinguisher were already part of the armory). We also did a dry run of a flat tyre change procedure, though it was the same as in my old Fortuner, we wanted to make sure that we were familiar with the procedure. Fortuner went for a wash, top-up of AdBlue, windshield washer etc. We took a PUC certificate for the new Fortuner though it was not required legally, thinking was it will be easier showing the certificate than convincing some clueless officer that is not required for a new vehicle. All vehicle documents were kept in mParivahan, but we also kept a backup of the hardcopies along with double vaccination certificates. Below is a summary of the 15 days trip It is compiled using data from Google timeline. We were completely dependent on Google Maps for the entire trip, we never got lost except on one occasion. Finally, the day of the trip had arrived. Day 1 - Bangalore JP Nagar to Hotel Vaishnavi, Sholapur - 645 Kms Odometer was at 6225 Our Junior (TeamBHPian itsnotdeva) could not join due to classes Started from JP Nagar 9th phase, Bangalore around 6.30 am, took NICE and got on to Tumkur road, our usual breakfast point on that route is the Kamat at Sira. We found a new place in VRL - Vasanthanarasapura. It's just an okay-ish place, with limited breakfast options and not so bad washrooms, it's really meant for their bus passengers and lorry drivers. The key advantage here is that it comes on the left side of the road. First Pitstop at VRL for breakfast Gender Discrimination Traffic was thin after the VRL break. Our next stop was a photo break near the Tungabhadra dam reservoir, which was a huge, endless, pristine blue waterbody. Lunch break was at a neat no frill veg restaurant (Nandagokula) at Kushtagi. There are very few food outlets on this stretch and we found this after lot of searching. Food was tasty and service was very quick. Ladies took over the cockpit after lunch We made good time and decided to make an unplanned stop at Gol Gumbaz. It was a very small detour and was worth the visit. State of Maharashtra welcomed us Day 1 stay in Solapur was in Hotel Vaishnavi was probably the only wrong choice we made in hotel booking. Hotel is located in a busy part of the city and had a very narrow entrance to the basement parking. Out initial thought was to look for another hotel with parking, but with help from hotel staff to block the outside traffic, we could finally manage the narrow entrance making a straight approach. Was not an easy task getting down here There was a veg restaurant attached to the hotel that served excellent Maharashtrian food. We retired early planning an early start on Day 2. It was a satisfying days drive with excellent roads all the way. Veg Maharashtra Thali Day 2 - Hotel Vaishnavi, Sholapur to Hotel Lavanya Plaza, Sala Khedi, Ratlam, MP - 744 Kms Started at 6 AM, excellent scenic roads awaited us once we exited Sholapur. We were warned about speed checking in MH, MP and RJ and tried maintaining the speed limits most of the time (but not always). We encountered vehicle mounted mobile speed cams near Jodhpur town and in Mumbai Pune express way (there are many fixed cams in this stretch as well). Though it is not too many cams to be really worried but you will never know when you may get a challan. Breakfast was at Kanhaiya Dhaba on the highway after around 2 hours drive, there were many eateries around this place. Rest of the stretch to Ratlam doesn't have good eateries except for small road side dhabas that serve tasty veg food, but may not have the type of washroom and comfort a family expects. Roads were excellent with sparse traffic till we reached the Gautala ghats, roads turned single lane here and there was a huge pileup due to an accident. Situation improved after around 1 hour of crawling through the ghats, roads continue to be single lane and passes through the busy Chalisgaon town. I am not sure if there is a bypass available since we just followed google maps, since the trucks were not found on the town stretch, I guess there would have been an alternate option. To make it worse, main road through Chalisgaon is in a bad shape, and this was blocked by Cops at some point and all vehicles were deviated through some country road. We got lucky to join back the main road with help from Google and locals and soon got on to the 4 lane. I would suggest BHPians planning this route to do some homework around the Gautala ghats and Chaligaon, this probably was the only real bad stretch of road we encountered in the whole trip We entered Madhya Pradhesh after a small ghat stretch, roads are excellent with 4 lanes in all of MP. We found traffic deviated through one track for kilometers long in many places with some sort of maintenance happening in the other track. You need to be very careful while driving through these diversions especially when it is dark due to the highspeed oncoming traffic. We were flagged down by Cops in Chalisgaon, but were given the green signal by the time we parked and got down. Same thing repeated in Rajasthan next day, I guess they were validating the PUC and other docs online and then let you go. While we were warned about Cops harassments for outside vehicles in MH, these were the only instances involving Cops during the whole trip. Twin found in MH Eat like a Roman while in MH But couldn't resist Dosa and Vada Road side small daba for lunch after lot of hunting Mother on all Grids Inviting Roads Sivaji Maharaj is everywhere This guy was doing 3 digits Gautala Ghats - Huge Solar farms stretch across the valley Boleros are the most popular form of Taxis in Chalisgaon Red Chilis in Chalisgaon Sky turned Red after the Red Chilis We reached our destination at 8.15 pm, stay was in Hotel Lavanya palace near Ratlam, rooms were excellent and reasonably priced and had wide open parking . Tasty veg food was served in the room for dinner, they even made arrangements to pack sandwiches for the 6 am start next day. A road trip outside South India was a long pending dream, and we thought the time has come with arrival of the new Fortuner, Covid cases dipping after the 3rd wave, and most importantly 2 weeks leave at disposal.As always, Team BHP was the first place to go while planning for a trip to unfamiliar roads, and the response to the thread (Destination & itinerary for a 14-day road trip from Bangalore) was amazing. It was a treasure of information and the whole plan was based on inputs from that thread. Special thanks to the Admins for featuring that thread in the weekly BHP emailer as well.My regular travel buddies - Cousin, wife and my better-half.Few tips from our planning:Our trip plan was covering not more than 600 Kms per day with no major night driving, we had exceptions on few days, max we drove one day was 744 Kms and till 8.30 pmMost of the hotel bookings were done in advance through online portals. We depended on Google Maps to check if the hotels were not too far from our travel route. Tripadvisor reviews were another point of reference for the overall feedback, parking facility etc. We also ensured free cancellation option availability for all bookings, this gave us the flexibility to make some adjustments later.Other preparations included purchase of a puncture kit, tool kit for the Fortuner (tyre inflator, jump start cable, seat belt cutter and a fire extinguisher were already part of the armory). We also did a dry run of a flat tyre change procedure, though it was the same as in my old Fortuner, we wanted to make sure that we were familiar with the procedure. Fortuner went for a wash, top-up of AdBlue, windshield washer etc.We took a PUC certificate for the new Fortuner though it was not required legally, thinking was it will be easier showing the certificate than convincing some clueless officer that is not required for a new vehicle. All vehicle documents were kept in mParivahan, but we also kept a backup of the hardcopies along with double vaccination certificates.It is compiled using data from Google timeline. We were completely dependent on Google Maps for the entire trip, we never got lost except on one occasion.Finally, the day of the trip had arrived.Our Junior (TeamBHPian itsnotdeva) could not join due to classesStarted from JP Nagar 9th phase, Bangalore around 6.30 am, took NICE and got on to Tumkur road, our usual breakfast point on that route is the Kamat at Sira. We found a new place in VRL - Vasanthanarasapura. It's just an okay-ish place, with limited breakfast options and not so bad washrooms, it's really meant for their bus passengers and lorry drivers. The key advantage here is that it comes on the left side of the road.Traffic was thin after the VRL break. Our next stop was a photo break near the Tungabhadra dam reservoir, which was a huge, endless, pristine blue waterbody.Lunch break was at a neat no frill veg restaurant (Nandagokula) at Kushtagi. There are very few food outlets on this stretch and we found this after lot of searching. Food was tasty and service was very quick.We made good time and decided to make an unplanned stop at Gol Gumbaz. It was a very small detour and was worth the visit.Day 1 stay in Solapur was in Hotel Vaishnavi was probably the only wrong choice we made in hotel booking. Hotel is located in a busy part of the city and had a very narrow entrance to the basement parking. Out initial thought was to look for another hotel with parking, but with help from hotel staff to block the outside traffic, we could finally manage the narrow entrance making a straight approach.There was a veg restaurant attached to the hotel that served excellent Maharashtrian food. We retired early planning an early start on Day 2. It was a satisfying days drive with excellent roads all the way.Started at 6 AM, excellent scenic roads awaited us once we exited Sholapur. We were warned about speed checking in MH, MP and RJ and tried maintaining the speed limits most of the time (but not always). We encountered vehicle mounted mobile speed cams near Jodhpur town and in Mumbai Pune express way (there are many fixed cams in this stretch as well). Though it is not too many cams to be really worried but you will never know when you may get a challan.Breakfast was at Kanhaiya Dhaba on the highway after around 2 hours drive, there were many eateries around this place. Rest of the stretch to Ratlam doesn't have good eateries except for small road side dhabas that serve tasty veg food, but may not have the type of washroom and comfort a family expects. Roads were excellent with sparse traffic till we reached the Gautala ghats, roads turned single lane here and there was a huge pileup due to an accident. Situation improved after around 1 hour of crawling through the ghats, roads continue to be single lane and passes through the busy Chalisgaon town. I am not sure if there is a bypass available since we just followed google maps, since the trucks were not found on the town stretch, I guess there would have been an alternate option. To make it worse, main road through Chalisgaon is in a bad shape, and this was blocked by Cops at some point and all vehicles were deviated through some country road. We got lucky to join back the main road with help from Google and locals and soon got on to the 4 lane.I would suggest BHPians planning this route to do some homework around the Gautala ghats and Chaligaon, this probably was the only real bad stretch of road we encountered in the whole tripWe entered Madhya Pradhesh after a small ghat stretch, roads are excellent with 4 lanes in all of MP. We found traffic deviated through one track for kilometers long in many places with some sort of maintenance happening in the other track. You need to be very careful while driving through these diversions especially when it is dark due to the highspeed oncoming traffic.We were flagged down by Cops in Chalisgaon, but were given the green signal by the time we parked and got down. Same thing repeated in Rajasthan next day, I guess they were validating the PUC and other docs online and then let you go. While we were warned about Cops harassments for outside vehicles in MH, these were the only instances involving Cops during the whole trip.We reached our destination at 8.15 pm, stay was in Hotel Lavanya palace near Ratlam, rooms were excellent and reasonably priced and had wide open parking. Tasty veg food was served in the room for dinner, they even made arrangements to pack sandwiches for the 6 am start next day. Last edited by gadadhar : 21st April 2022 at 22:16 . What just happened? If someone offered you all the Bitcoin in the world for $25, you'd be unlikely to turn it down, given that BTC has a market cap of around $746 billion. But Warren Buffett, better known as the third-richest man in the world and a very successful investor, wouldn't take that deal because Bitcoin isn't actually worth anything or produces anything, according to him. Berkshire Hathaway CEO/Chairman Buffett has made his feelings toward crypto clear in the past; he once called Bitcoin "rat poison squared." At his company's annual shareholder meeting on Saturday, Buffett once again rallied against digital currencies and why he believes they are a poor investment. "If you told me you owned all the bitcoin in the world and you offered it to me for $25, I wouldn't take it," Buffett said. "What would I do with it?" Rather than just colorfully expressing his feelings toward Bitcoin, Buffett, on this occasion, gave a more detailed explanation as to why he seemingly hates it so much. "If you said for a 1% interest in all the farmland in the United States, pay our group $25 billion, I'll write you a check this afternoon," the investor said. "[For] $25 billion I now own 1% of the farmland. [If] you offer me 1% of all the apartment houses in the country and you want another $25 billion, I'll write you a check, it's very simple. Now if you told me you own all of the bitcoin in the world and you offered it to me for $25 I wouldn't take it because what would I do with it? I'd have to sell it back to you one way or another. It isn't going to do anything. The apartments are going to produce rent and the farms are going to produce food." Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman and Buffett's long-time business partner, Charlie Munger, has been even more critical of Bitcoin in the past. He said holding onto crypto was "stupid" as he predicts its value will fall to zero in time, the crypto is "evil" because it undermines the integrity and stability of the US financial system, and it makes the US "look foolish" because China was sensible enough to ban it. "In my life, I try and avoid things that are stupid, evil, and make me look bad in comparison to someone else," Munger said. "Bitcoin does all three." It's often been said that crypto-love among billionaires is a generational thing. Fifty-year-old Elon Musk is a huge fan who constantly tweets about the likes of Dogecoin. Sixty-six-year-old Bill Gates isn't too enthusiastic; 91-year-old Buffett hates it; and 98-year-old Munger, who was born in the same year Lenin died, seems to think it's the work of the devil. Buffett might not like crypto, but he apparently believes in the earning power of video games. Berkshire Hathaway has raised its stake in Activision Blizzard from 2% as of the end of year to 9.5%, worth around $5.6 billion. It's an especially interesting move by Buffett, who says it was entirely his decision, seeing as the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard is in doubt due to the FTC's scrutiny of the deal. The company's shares are currently at $75, way below Microsoft's offer of $95 per share and the $82 they reached following news of the acquisition. As reported back in February, the uncertainty around the deal stems from the US Federal Trade Commission looking into the acquisition. Buying Activision Blizzard would make Microsoft the third-largest video game company after Tencent and Sony, and that's brought the attention of regulators examining potential antitrust issues. Buffett image credit (center): Fortune Live Media Smartmatic AES (Automated Election System) is "safe and secure" to be used again for the upcoming Philippines Election 2022 that will happen in May. That's what Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday, Apr. 29. (Photo : Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) Picture of the logo of Smartmatic, the firm that supplies Venezuela's voting technology, seen on a sliding door at the headquarters of the company in Caracas, on August 2, 2017. Smartmatic's spokesperson, Christian Lim, said that the allegations that the AES was hacked last 2016 election in the Philippines are not true. "Comelec never shares this electoral data with Smartmatic, so claims that sensitive data, such as the voter list, was stolen from Smartmatic is also unfounded," said Lim via Manila Bulletin. Is Smartmatic AES Still Safe and Secure? Lim claimed that their Smartmatic automated election systems never had access to sensitive voter data. He added that the Comelec is the only one that can generate voter data or voter lists for the upcoming Philippine Election 2022. Lim reiterated that the Comelec never shared sensitive voter information with other institutions. Commissioner Rey Bulay backed the statements made by Christian Lim. He explained that the alleged Smartmatic security breach accessed no essential data. He claimed that the May 2022 polls would not be affected by the automated election systems. Bulay said that the National Bureau of Investigation's latest report is the one that confirmed Smartmatic is secure and safe. Meanwhile, Lim warned the public to avoid sharing false information that could affect the upcoming Philippines 2022 Election. Smartmatic During Election 2016: A Lookback Inquirer.Net reported that the Smartmatic issue began in 2016 after Leni Robredo won as the Philippines Vice President. March 2016: Sen. Ferdinand, "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., claimed that he should have won VP over Leni. But, Comelec and PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) denied the accusation (CNN Philippines) May 2016: Comelec decided to investigate the technology used by Smartmatic AES. They did this to see any unauthorized changes in the data packet. The issue became more serious after Bongbong Marcos' camp provided a document showing that PPRCV altered the hash codes of the Smartmatic packet data. (Inquirer.Net) June 2017: The Philippines Justice Department decided to change its decision regarding Bongbong Marcos' claims against Smartmatic data alteration. Criminal charges were filed by the DOJ against Smartmatic and Comelec for changing the script in the servers during the 2016 polls. (Rappler) Jan 2018: Marcos' camp released some ballot images claiming that some "questionable" marks might indicate electoral fraud. (Rappler) July 2019: Smartmatic AES' accuracy was questioned. Former Biliran Congressman Lawyer Glenn Chong claimed that the automated election systems were manipulated or no longer accurate. (Philippine News Agency) October 2021: Smartmatic secured a million-dollar deal with the Comelec for the upcoming 2022 polls. This means that Smartmatic will still be used for Philippines Elections 2022. (Rappler) April 2022: Comelec decided to withhold its payment to Smartmatic since the data breach controversy is still unresolved. But, the Commission on Elections clarified that Smartmatic AES in the upcoming Philippines Elections 2022 would not be affected. (Rappler) Meanwhile, experts claimed that the Philippines' COVID-19 face masks with holes are not really effective. On the other hand, the Philippines' digital banking industry is enhanced by Apiwiz and Tonik. For more news updates about AES and other similar technologies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Philippines Cube Sats Enters Space Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9! Maya-3, Maya-4 as First PH Satellites Built by Students To Reach ISS This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. May 1, 1997 AUBURN A $1.15 billion subway car contract awarded to Bombardier Inc. will bring between 50 and 100 jobs to Auburn, a Bombardier spokesman said Wednesday. The 682-car contract, with an option for another 200 cars, was signed with New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The deal will primarily benefit Bombardier's Plattsburgh factory, but will also boost employment at the company's Auburn Technology facility, said David Cutler, vice president of U.S. Operations, Mass Transit Division. The Auburn facility has added about 100 jobs over the last year because of a pickup in its airplane components business, Cutler said. The plant currently employs around 150 people. The Auburn plant is equipped to make system components for the subway engines. Local company officials could not be reached for comment. "This will also bring a lot of other jobs to New York because of all the vendors that do business with Bombardier," Cutler said. Compiled by David Wilcox Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The BMW dealer from France has revealed the teaser of the 2023 BMW X1 ahead of its official unveiling. The teaser image shows the new iteration of the luxury crossover with a chiselled design. The teaser image revealed the new X1's silhouette along with the LED daytime running light outlining the headlamp cluster and wraparound LED taillight as well. The sloping hood and sloping roof of the car along with a rear spoiler too are visible in the teaser image. (Also Read: BMW i4 to Honda City Hybrid: Upcoming car launches in May 2022) The dealer has also mentioned the date of unveiling as May 2. However, it is not clear if the German luxury carmaker is actually planning to unveil the crossover on May 2. A translation of the dealer's social media post says: "We are pleased to invite you to discover the new BMW X1 exclusively during its exceptional preview in our BMW Charrier dealership in Cholet on Monday, May 2nd from 5:00 pm. Take your chance to be the first in France to discover it!" However, the post doesn't offer any further details about the 2023 BMW X1. The car has been previously spotted multiple times in its camouflaged test mule form though. Expect the 2023 BMW X1 to come with a chiselled design as compared to the outgoing model. Like its contemporary siblings, the new BMW X1 is expected to come with a larger kidney-shaped front grille. The headlamps and taillights are likely to come in an angular shape. There will be a quad exhaust setup. Inside the cabin too, there would be a host of changes. Expect it to come with a dashboard that will have a similar layout to the 2-Series Active Tourer. Also, there would be an updated instrument cluster and infotainment system displays. The 2023 BMW X1 is likely to come with a host of powertrain options. The M35i is likely to get the same engine as M135i and M235i. This would be a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is capable of churning out 302 hp of power and 332 Nm of torque. First Published Date: Discover the story of the suicide bombers of 1945 in Japan through a new story by Clementine Portier-Kaltenbach. In April 1945, the war between Japan and the United States was at its height. The Japanese army has set up a special unit made up of airmen, the kamikazes, in charge of a suicide mission. Among them, Tatsuno, ready to sacrifice his life for the Empire, and Yasuo, forced to accept the fate reserved for his best friend as an escort for the suicide bombers. In this second part of the episode, Clementine Portier-Kaltenbach describes the mission of escorts like Yasuo, and recounts the training of these war aviators who chose to give their lives to bring down the Allied armies. A local resident walks past a damaged building in the port city of Mariupol, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua) * Ukrainian president, British PM discuss defensive support * Erdogan says Turkey ready to provide supports to UN efforts in Ukraine * Ukraine allocates 4 bln USD for defense ministry * Putin, Zelensky both invited to G20: Indonesian president BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey is ready to provide support for the United Nations (UN) humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the latest developments in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine over phone, Turkey's Directorate of Communications said in a statement. The Turkish leader told Guterres that Turkey is ready to deliver all kinds of assistance to the UN-led work in Ukraine on humanitarian aid and evacuations. According to the statement, Guterres briefed Erdogan about his latest visits to Moscow and Kiev. - - - - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that he had discussed defensive support for Ukraine with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The two sides talked about the situation on the battlefield and the blocked city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky said on Twitter, adding necessary diplomatic efforts to achieve peace was another topic of the conversation. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian leader said he had discussed defense cooperation in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. - - - - An armored vehicle is seen near a damaged building in the port city of Mariupol, April 22, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua) Ukraine has appropriated billions of U.S. dollars to the defense ministry amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Friday. The Ukrainian government has allocated 119 billion hryvnias (about 4 billion dollars) for the ministry, Shmyhal said on Telegram. "We are trying to provide maximum support for our fighters." The funds will be used to pay salaries to Ukrainian troops, and supply them with equipment, fuel, food, protective devices and weapons, Shmyhal said. - - - - Indonesia has invited both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Group of 20 (G20) summit in November, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Friday. "Indonesia is ready to contribute to the peace effort," Widodo said in a virtual press conference. "Indonesia wants to unite the G20. Do not let there be a split. Peace and stability are the keys to the world economic development." The G20, he said, plays a catalyst role in the recovery of the world economy, adding that he had telephone conversations with both leaders of Russia and Ukraine this week. German luxury car major BMW may have to pull the plug on its small engine powered petrol and diesel cars in the near future, owing to the tightening emission norms in various countries around the world, claims a report by Autocar UK. This forecast comes at a time when the auto manufacturers around the world are increasingly focusing on shifting to electric powertrains from traditional internal combustion engine technology owing to multiple factors. (Also Read: BMW to build the world's first CO2-free vehicle plant in Hungary: Details here) BMW is one of the car majors that have been focusing on the same strategy. In this process, not every type of car is likely to survive the transition, claims the report. The report points out that the small, front-wheel drive models could be in jeopardy due to the transition in powertrain technology. The report claims that the UKL architecture of the automaker, which underpins several models from the cars under several brands from the BMW Group, won't be able to easily accommodate larger hybrid powertrains. On the other hand, if BMW wants to continue selling these small cars in the European market, the automaker has to comply with the regulation in the continent and shift these models to the hybrid powertrain technology. This may result in the automaker ditching these cars based on the UKL platform. BMW X1 and Mini models are going to be impacted due to this. The German luxury auto giant is also facing another hurdle, which is a lack of uniform sales volume. The auto brand's small cars don't sell in the US. On the other hand, China is a major market for BMW small sedans. Considering this BMW's dilemma is if it ditches small cars, it will leave the crucial market like China for its rivals. Overall BMW is facing a multi-pronged challenge with its small cars. First Published Date: Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Santos staff damned their management as ineffective and untrustworthy in an internal survey conducted just months after the oil and gas companys board dangled $6 million in front of chief executive Kevin Gallagher to encourage him to extend his reign. The July 2021 survey showed trust in leadership, and belief that the $27 billion oil and gas company was effectively managed and well run, were both well below benchmarks. Kevin Gallagher joined Santos as CEO in 2016 when the company was struggling with an ill fated investment in exporting gas from Queensland. Credit:Louie Douvis The number of employees who thought decisions were made in a timely manner and at the lowest appropriate level continue to decline versus 2019 and remain below all benchmarks, according to a summary of the survey results presented to WA staff in December and since obtained by this masthead. Only a third of employees agreed that divisions cooperated well with each other in the Adelaide-based company, which operates in northern SA and Queensland, offshore WA and the NT and in Papua New Guinea, and is developing the controversial Narrabri gas project in NSW. WiseTech and Xero were the big players in a tech-led market slump on Monday after a Wall St sell-off raised growth concerns. Local investors were also braced for possible interest rate rises this week by the RBA and its overseas counterparts. The ASX 200 dropped 1.2 per cent to close 88 points lower at 7347 with all sectors down. The tech sector was down 4 per cent with WiseTech closing 7.3 per cent lower and Xero down more than 6 per cent. But the rate-sensitive property sector was not far behind - dropping more than 3.6 per cent. Goodman Group closed more than 7 per cent lower at $22.26 with fund managers saying rising interest rates could be one of the issues concerning investors with regard to real estate investment trusts as a yield play. Good news from Qantas and Helloworld helped lift travel shares. Credit:Getty Images Wilsons head of investment strategy David Cassidy, said investors need to start factoring in the impact of rising rates on mortgage holders and the broader economic impact. We think mortgage holders can cope with a gradual 200 basis points rise in mortgage rates over the next 12 to 18 months though there will be impacts on both consumer spending and house prices, he said. We do not see a gradual shift to a 2 per cent cash rate as a big headwind for the share market with dividends well in excess of expected cash rates and eps (earnings per share) growth prospects still decent. We remain overweight Australian equities. Travel stocks provided one of the few bright spots for the market with Qantas among the biggest gains - up 2.9 per cent - after telling the market it expects to be making a profit by 2023. Helloworld also provided a boost with an update signalling that the travel market continues to recover from COVID, which helped Webjet and FlightCentre close higher. In other corporate news, shares of cancer-fighting outfit Imugene fell as much as 15 per cent to a year-low of 18.5c after cancelling a supply agreement with Merck & Cos MSD. Telco darling Aussie Broadband also dropped as much as 27 per cent to a low of $4.04 after unveiling an earnings downgrade which it blamed on higher than expected NBN charges. Early education providers are calling on the federal government to urgently ease visa rules to help stem worsening early childhood teacher shortages, with more than 6000 job vacancies across the country as of March. The sector says its in crisis and wants governments to quickly fund generous scholarship programs as workforce shortfalls strain childcare centres. Sethuli Gunasekwra, 4, campus director Gemma Noake and Emma Chan, 4, at the Papilio Early Learning Centre in Artarmon, Sydney. Credit:Jessica Hromas In NSW, about 16 per cent of early learning centres at the end of 2021 were operating under waivers because of staffing shortages while 23 are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or another health emergency. Affinity Education, which operates more than 170 centres across the country, has called for an urgent focus on encouraging people into early education amid a talent crisis. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has implored a thousand of his supporters to harness the power of the dark blue to overcome a contest from his teal-coloured independent challenger. In a 15-minute speech, the treasurer said a vote for former paediatric neurologist Monique Ryan would be a vote for a chaotic hung parliament that would make it more difficult for future governments to pursue big policies like JobKeeper or the AUKUS security pact. Josh Frydenberg shares a moment onstage with his family as he began his campaign for re-election in the seat of Kooyong before 1000 local constituents. Credit:Chris Hopkins Frydenberg claimed Labor leader Anthony Albanese was in bed with independents challenging inner-city Liberals, as he invoked Robert Menzies forgotten people, John Howards battlers and Scott Morrisons quiet Australians. If they vote for a so-called independent, they will get Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party, the treasurer said. This is the choice. And we know the Liberal Party represents the values and ideals of the quiet Australians. Stellantis has so far invested one billion euro in India with a long-term commitment and an aim to serve the global parts supply as well as export cars from the country. Stellantis is betting on India as a key strategic market for future growth and planning to develop it as a components sourcing hub as well for its global operations. Further, the company is looking to play a key role in each of the market segments in India through its two brands - Jeep and Citroen. Stellantis India CEO and Managing Director Roland Bouchara told PTI that India is on its way to achieve five million vehicles per year gradually. He added that this will result in India becoming one of the top five markets in the world. With the middle class, which is moving and increasing every year, with the young population... There are not so many countries having 5 million cars," Bouchara said. Explaining the opportunities and future potential of the country, he further stated, "When you look at the other markets, there are not so many. Europe is stable, America is stable, even China will be stable. As a big market to be developed, India is one of them to grow". (Also read | Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer to receive hybrid 4xe drivetrain by 2025: Report) Stellantis has been focusing on designing and developing products that are tailored for Indian requirements, which can also be exported to other similar markets. The company has also developed a strong components supplier base in India so that its products can be localised and be cost-competitive. "Now, India has been developed for global components that we are going to export as well. It will grow and it will become more important because we want to make India a global processing hub," Bouchara said. He highlighted that so far Stellantis has invested one billion euro in India with a long term commitment with an aim to serve the global parts supply as well as exporting cars from the country. First Published Date: Conventional wisdom says house prices double every decade, but in a string of sea- and tree-change hotspots prices have jumped that far in five or less. The combination of COVID lockdowns, remote working, ultra-low interest rates and cash saved from cancelled overseas holidays has supercharged price growth in holiday towns, some of which have become permanent destinations. The property market has boomed across the Byron shire in recent years, as Byron Bays growth prompted buyers to consider once-overlooked pockets. Pictured, Torakina Beach in Brunswick Heads. House prices are at least 120 per cent higher than five years ago in Victorias Alpine shire and the NSW Snowy Monaro Regional Council area, Domain data shows, as keen skiers who could not travel overseas purchased winter holiday homes. Prices rose a similar amount in the Glamorgan-Spring Bay council area in Tasmanias east. Sea-change stunners Noosa and the Byron shire rose 106.3 per cent and 111.8 per cent respectively from five years ago, as buyers chased getaways or a long-term move. He shot down numerous Russian planes, survived enemy attacks and became a symbol of Ukraines surprisingly effective air defences, earning a bold wartime moniker: The Ghost of Kyiv. He is also, it turns out, a myth. The ghost of Kyiv is a superhero-legend, whose character was created by Ukrainians! Ukraines air force command wrote on Facebook on Saturday, dispelling a monthslong rumour fuelled by Ukrainian authorities themselves that had invigorated the resistance to Russias invasion. A T-shirt featuring The Ghost of Kyiv for sale last month in Lviv, Ukraine. Credit:Getty The Ukrainian statement came after some news outlets, including the London Times identified the Ghost of Kyiv as Major Stepan Tarabalka, an actual 29-year-old who died in an air battle in March. The claim echoed across social media and tabloid publications in Ukraine and the West, seeming to confirm that the story of the heroic fighter was real. After an artillery unit attacks an adversary, it needs to keep moving, Flynn said. Once you get into a counter-battery fight, its shoot and scoot, he added. You dont stick around and let yourself get targeted. Ukraines ability to target Russian artillery units is especially important, analysts say, because of the Kremlins demonstrated willingness to lob round after round into cities and towns, destroying civilian homes and infrastructure. Just the existence of more Ukrainian artillery units performing counter-battery fire will degrade Russias ability to sit there, pile up ammo and go to town, said Scott Boston, a former US Army field artillery officer who studies the Russian military for the Rand Corporation. The problem that Ukraine and its Western allies would like to impose on the Russians, he said, is for them to never have confidence that a headquarters, or a key ammunitions dump, or an important cluster of firing platforms, can ever be stationary for very long. The Pentagon on Friday assessed that Russia has not been as effective as it would like at using long-range fires, with a senior defence official noting that, as the West continues to send so much artillery to Ukraine, This could become a bit of a gun battle. Artillery units often disguise themselves with camouflage or other forms of cover, and it can require a mixture of intelligence, unmanned aircraft and radar to spot them. The West is providing Ukraine with drones and counter-battery radar to do just that. Zelensky also has requested some form of multiple-rocket artillery, such as the highly accurate M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS, that is used by the US Army and Marine Corps. Such weapons launch rounds quickly, which is useful in firing on enemy artillery forces before they reposition, said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel who studies the war for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launch from a truck during training in the US. The new weapon is predicted to play a significant role in the Ukraine wars next phase. Credit:AP Cancian, a former artillery officer, said that there will be a lot of pressure to provide HIMARS in coming days, and that he wouldnt be surprised to see the United States begin supplying it soon. Another type of multiple-rocket launch system, such as the M270 operated by the U.S. Army, also could be sent, he surmised. The HIMARS is newer and moves about the battlefield more freely, while the M270 carries more rockets. I think there will be a lot of pressure to provide that, and since we seem to be announcing an aid package a week, I wouldnt be surprised to see HIMARS next week or the week after, Cancian said. Ukrainian officials also have sought more self-propelled howitzers rather than towed weapons such as the M777. A Ukrainian official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the issue is sensitive, said that while it appears easier to perform maintenance on and find parts for the M777 howitzer, they are more vulnerable to Russian counter-battery fire than self-propelled howitzers, like the Armys M109 Paladin. Cancian said he would be watching to see whether advanced, highly accurate 155 millimetre Excalibur rounds make it to Ukraine. The weapons are guided by GPS and designed to fly up to 40 kilometres, according to Raytheon, its manufacturer. The Pentagon has declined to specify what types of artillery rounds are being sent. Ukrainian servicemen unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles from the US. Credit:AP The shipping of Western artillery into Ukraine is important partly because there are few places where Ukraine can find replacement rounds for its Soviet-era systems, said Sam Cranny-Evans, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute in London. Poland, Bulgaria and a few other NATO allies produce them, but many more countries produce ammunition for Western weapons. Loading While the West has promised tens of thousands of artillery rounds to Ukraine, they may be depleted quickly, Cranny-Evans said, requiring defence contractors to ramp up production. Russia also has a significant advantage in the number of artillery pieces it possesses, and its unclear how many of Ukraines legacy systems are still operational or how much ammunition they have for them, he added. Russians forces are using artillery to extricate themselves from Ukrainian ambushes and inflict fatalities as well as to avoid having to go into the teeth of these very high-end Western weapons, including Javelin and NLAW anti-armor missiles, that already have destroyed some Russian units, Cranny-Evans said. Theyre just going to sit back and let their long-range assets to do the work because they dont have the manpower to waste, he said. Loading Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said in an interview that there is a role for collaboration among Western countries in providing weapons to Ukraine that are consistent and interchangeable, allowing Ukraine to learn the systems and maintain them when they are damaged. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. 100 years ago 1922: Flagstaff wants progressive men. There will be a city election held on Monday, May 22. The people should elect progressive, wide-awake men who will push forward the interests of Flagstaff without delays. Flagstaff needs an additional water supply now. Delays are not only dangerous but hold back the whole city. We can't grow without this additional water supply. The progressive people want paving. The majority of people are willing to pay for it and so signified by signing up willingly. Flagstaff won't grow without progressive men at the helm of the city administration. The Sun is not advocating men, but measures. Select the right men, men who will do it now and vote for them with the understanding that they will do things now. Decidedly wet, at Tuesday's noonday meeting of the Rotary Club of Flagstaff, Burt Campbell, chairman for the day, had requisitioned Mayor Sam F. Quay and Councilman Earl Slipper as speakers. Their subject was Flagstaffs inadequate water supply and what to do about it. Mr. Quay said that very few people here realize the menace in our present inadequate water supply, a supply that is great enough following periods of more than usual precipitation, but which is likely at any time to be far short of our needs. When the water in the reservoir gets down to a certain level, part of the railroad supply is cut off, and at another level, still more of their supply is cut off. If the water reaches a still lower mark, the mills will be cut off. This unfortunate condition has existed for quite some time. The Flagstaff lumber company made plans four years ago to haul water from Lake Mary, anticipating a shortage of city water. Mr. Quay spoke of the sites such as the Switzer Canyon reservoir project, where, according to his investigations, a dam 50 feet high and 13,150 feet long would impound from 200 to 250 million gallons of water it would cost, including a 20-foot roadway on top, about a quarter as much as another reservoir like our larger one. 75 years ago 1947: Now playing at the Orpheum Theater: A topflight six-gun thriller starring Charles Starrett and Lone Hand Texan with Smiley Burnette. Showings from 1:45 p.m. daily. Next Thursday, May 8, at the Federated church auditorium, Fred W. Roberts, scouting executive for the Grand Canyon council, will present charters to Scout Troop 31 and Cub Pack 31. All interested persons are invited. The meeting will start at 8:00 o'clock. 50 years ago 1972: Superior Court Judge J. Thomas Brooks and Lawrence Wren today noted May 1 and Law Day, saying the principles of the community should be defended and maintained in the community courts. The judges issued this statement of morality, integrity, law and order, and other cherished principles of our great heritage are battling for survival in many communities today. 1972 continued ... The law belongs to the people not just lawyers and judges, but it is only as strong as the respect people have for it. Law enforcement is not just a police problem, it is a community problem. We should be alarmed when some groups come under the guise of academic freedom and constitutional privilege, flood our college campuses with obscene four-letter-word campaigns and pornographic publications that violate all codes of ethics. An estimated 7,000 families became eligible for food stamps today as Coconino County joined seven other counties in the federal state program. Under the food stamp program, individuals send checks or money orders to the state welfare department and receive stamps by return mail. The stamps are then traded at grocery stores and supermarkets for their face value in food. The state welfare board approved switching programs for the entire state in October to give welfare recipients and low-income families a wider variety of foods to choose from. The surplus commodities program involves distribution of free surplus food to the poor. 25 years ago 1997: The magic school bus has explored the sea, probed outer space, ventured inside a human body and more. Wednesday afternoon, it traveled to Flagstaff to let children experience much of what Ms. Frizzles students do while going on zany, educational adventures with their beloved teacher as part of the PBS and book series. The colorful bus was in Flagstaff to promote reading and science, and give Flagstaff kids a taste of how learning can be big bunches of fun. Miss frizzle is so absolutely the perfect teacher, said Joann Ryan, who became Ms. Frizzle for a day at the Howard Johnson on Butler Avenue. She wore a red wig, and her bright blue dress and Birkenstocks were covered with material printed with hundreds of orange squid. The Flagstaff bus open its doors to about 1,000 kids, and most seemed please and quite happy. They checked out the displays of spiders, a crocodile head, rocks, video games and, of course, skeletons, porcupine quills, a bat, coral and more. Flagstaff said long and loud Wednesday night how it feels about Harold Weller. The veteran conductor of the Flagstaff Symphony, making his last regular appearance with the orchestra, was greeted with a standing ovation by a large crowd in Northern Arizona University's Ardrey Auditorium as he prepared to lead a performance of Gustav Mahlers resurrection Symphony. Two hours later, when a stunning performance of the great work was done, members of the orchestra, the master chorale of Flagstaff, the NAU chorale and the audience created another long moment of thundering tribute to the conductor. Wednesday's performance was marked by beautifully textured playing by the entire orchestra, particularly the strings led by concertmaster Louise Scott. All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Al Qaeda Is on Our Side: How Obama/Biden Team Empowered Terrorist Networks in Syria Obama officials now back in office under President Biden coordinated with the jihadist franchise in an effort to topple the Syrian regime Hours after the Feb. 3 U.S. military raid in northern Syria that left the leader of ISIS and multiple family members dead, President Biden delivered a triumphant White House address. The late-night Special Forces operation in Syrias Idlib province, Biden proclaimed, was a testament to Americas reach and capability to take out terrorist threats no matter where they hide around the world. Unmentioned by the president, and virtually all media accounts of the assassination, was the critical role that top members of his administration played during the Obama years in creating the Al Qaeda-controlled hideout where ISIS head Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi, as well as his slain predecessor, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, found their final refuge. In waging a multi-billion dollar covert war in support of the insurgency against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, top Obama officials who now serve under Biden made it American policy to enable and arm terrorist groups that attracted jihadi fighters from across the globe. This regime change campaign, undertaken one decade after Al Qaeda attacked the U.S. on 9/11, helped a sworn U.S. enemy establish the Idlib safe haven that it still controls today. A concise articulation came from Jake Sullivan to his then-State Department boss Hillary Clinton in a February 2012 email: AQ [Al Qaeda] is on our side in Syria. Sullivan, the current national security adviser, is one of many officials who oversaw the Syria proxy war under Obama to now occupy a senior post under Biden. This group includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken, climate envoy John Kerry, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, NSC Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, and State Department Counselor Derek Chollet. Their efforts to remake the Middle East via regime change, not just in Syria but earlier in Libya, led to the deaths of Americansincluding Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. officials in Benghazi in 2012; the slaughter of countless civilians; the creation of millions of refugees; and ultimately, Russias entry into the Syrian battlefield. Contacted through their current U.S. government agencies, none of the Obama-Biden principals offered comment on their policy of supporting an Al Qaeda-dominated insurgency in Syria. The Obama-Biden teams record in Syria resonates today as many of its members handle the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. As in Syria, the U.S. is flooding a chaotic war zone with weapons in a dangerous proxy conflict with Russia, with long-term ramifications that are impossible to foresee. I deeply worry that whats going to happen next is that we will see Ukraine turn into Syria, Democratic Senator Chris Coons told CBS News on April 17. Based on declassified documents, news reports, and scattered admissions of U.S. officials, this overlooked history of how the Obama-Biden teams effort to oust the Assad regimein concert with allies including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey details the series of discrete decisions that ultimately led the U.S. to empower terror networks bent on its destruction. Seizing Momentumand MunitionsFrom Libya to Pursue Regime Change in Syria The road to Al Qaedas control of the Syrian province of Idlib actually started hundreds of miles across the Mediterranean in Libya. In March 2011, after heavy lobbying from senior officials including Secretary Hillary Clinton, President Obama authorized a bombing campaign in support of the jihadist insurgency fighting the government of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Backed by NATO firepower, the rebels toppled Gaddafi and gruesomely murdered him in October. Buoyed by their quick success in Libya, the Obama administration set their sights on Damascus, by then a top regime change target in Washington. According to former NATO commander Wesley Clark, the Assad regimea key ally of U.S. foes Iran, Hezbollah, and Russiawas marked for overthrow alongside Iraq in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. A leaked 2006 U.S. Embassy in Damascus cable assessed that Assads vulnerabilities included the potential threat to the regime from the increasing presence of transiting Islamist extremists, and detailed how the U.S. could improve the likelihood of such opportunities arising. The outbreak of the Syrian insurgency in March 2011, coupled with the fall of Gaddafi, offered the U.S. a historic opportunity to exploit Syrias vulnerabilities. While the Arab Spring sparked peaceful Syrian protests against the ruling Baath partys cronyism and repression, it also triggered a largely Sunni, rural-based revolt that took a sectarian and violent turn. The U.S. and its allies, namely Qatar and Turkey, capitalized by tapping the massive arsenal of the newly ousted Libyan government. During the immediate aftermath of, and following the uncertainty caused by, the downfall of the [Gaddafi] regime in October 2011, the Defense Intelligence Agency reported the following year, weapons from the former Libya military stockpiles located in Benghazi, Libya were shipped from the port of Benghazi, Libya, to the ports of Banias and the Port of Borj Islam, Syria. The redacted DIA document, obtained by the group Judicial Watch, does not specify whether the U.S. was directly involved in these shipments. But it contains significant clues. With remarkable specificity, it detailed the size and contents of one such shipment in August 2012: 500 sniper rifles, 100 rocket-propelled grenade launchers with 300 rounds, and 400 howitzer missiles. Most tellingly, the document noted that the weapons shipments were halted in early September 2012. This was a clear reference to the killing by militants that month of four AmericansAmbassador Christopher Stevens, another State Department official, and two CIA contractorsin Benghazi, the port city where the weapons to Syria were coming from. The Benghazi annex was at its heart a CIA operation, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal. At least two dozen CIA employees worked in Benghazi under diplomatic cover. Although top intelligence officials obscured the Benghazi operation in sworn testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, a Senate investigation eventually confirmed a direct CIA role in the movement of weapons from Libya to Syria. A classified version of a 2014 Senate report, not publicly released, documented an agreement between President Obama and Turkey to funnel weapons from Libya to insurgents in Syria. The operation, established in early 2012, was run by then-CIA Director David Petraeus. The [Benghazi] consulates only mission was to provide cover for the moving of arms to Syria, a former U.S. intelligence official told journalist Seymour Hersh in the London Review of Books. It had no real political role. The Death of a US Ambassador Under diplomatic cover, Stevens appears to have been a significant figure in the CIA program. More than one year before he became ambassador in June 2012, Stevens was appointed the U.S. liaison to the Libyan opposition. In this role, he worked with the Al Qaeda-tied Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and its leader, Abdelhakim Belhadj, a warlord who fought alongside Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. After Gaddafis ouster, Belhadj was named head of the Tripoli Military Council, which controlled security in the countrys capital. Belhadjs portfolio was not limited to post-coup Libya. In November 2011, the Al Qaeda ally traveled to Turkey to meet with leaders of the Free Syrian Army, the CIA-backed opposition military coalition. Belhadjs trip came as part of the new Libyan governments effort to provide money and weapons to the growing insurgency against Bashar al-Assad, the London Telegraph reported at the time. On September 14, 2012just three days after Stevens and his American colleagues were killedthe London Times revealed that a Libyan vessel carrying the largest consignment of weapons for Syria since the uprising began, had recently docked in the Turkish port of Iskenderun. Once unloaded, most of its cargo is making its way to rebels on the front lines. The known details of Stevens last hours on September 11 suggest that shipping weapons was at the top of his agenda. Although based in Tripoli and facing violent threats, he nonetheless made the dangerous trek to Benghazi around the fraught anniversary of 9/11. According to a 2016 report from the House Intelligence Committee, one of Stevens last scheduled meetings was with the head of al-Marfa Shipping and Maritime Services Company, a Libyan firm involved in ferrying weapons to Syria. His final meeting of the day was with Consul General Ali Sait Akin of Turkey, where the weapons were shipped. Fox News later reported that Stevens was in Benghazi to negotiate a weapons transfer. With the Libyan channel shut down by Stevens murder, the U.S. and its allies turned to other sources. One was Croatia, where Saudi Arabia financed a major weapons purchase in late 2012 that was arranged by the CIA. The CIAs use of the Saudi kingdoms vast coffers continued an arrangement from prior covert proxy wars, including the arming of the mujahideen in Afghanistan and of the Contras in Nicaragua. Although the Obama administration claimed that the weapons funneled to Syria were intended for moderate rebels, they ultimately ended up in the hands of a jihadi-dominated insurgency. Just one month after the Benghazi attack, the New York Times reported that hard-line Islamic jihadists, including groups with ties or affiliations with Al Qaeda, have received the lions share of the arms shipped to the Syrian opposition. Covertly Arming an Al Qaeda-Dominated Insurgency The Obama administration did not need media accounts to learn that jihadists dominated the Syrian insurgency on the receiving end of a CIA supply chain. One month before the Benghazi attack, Pentagon intelligence analysts gave the White House a blunt appraisal. An August 2012 Defense Intelligence Agency report, disseminated widely among U.S. officials, noted that Salafi[s], the Muslim Brotherhood, and AQI [Al Qaeda in Iraq] are the major forces driving the insurgency. Al Qaeda, the report stressed, supported the Syrian opposition from the beginning. Their aim was to create a Salafist principality in eastern Syriaan early warning of the ISIS caliphate that would be established two years later. General Michael Flynn, who headed the DIA at the time, later recalled that his staff got enormous pushback from the Obama White House. I felt that they did not want to hear the truth, Flynn said. In 2015, one year after Flynn was forced out, dozens of Pentagon intelligence analysts signed on to a complaint alleging that top Pentagon intelligence officials were cooking the books to paint a rosier picture of the jihadi presence in Syria. (The Pentagon later cleared CENTCOM commanders of wrongdoing.) The Free Syrian Army (FSA), the main CIA-backed insurgent force, also informed Obama officials of the jihadi dominance in their ranks. From the reports we get from the doctors, FSA officials told the State Department in November 2012, most of the injured and dead FSA are Jabhat al-Nusra, due to their courage and [the fact they are] always at the front line. Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Nusra Front) is Al Qaedas franchise in Syria. It emerged as a splinter group of Al Qaeda in Iraq after a falling out between AQI leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and his then-deputy, Mohammed al-Jolani. In 2013, Baghdadi relaunched his organization under the name of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Jolani led his Syria-based Al Qaeda faction under the black flag of al-Nusra. [W]hile rarely acknowledged explicitly in public, Charles Lister, a Gulf state-funded analyst in close contact with Syrian insurgent groups wrote in March 2015, the vast majority of the Syrian insurgency has coordinated closely with Al-Qaeda since mid-2012and to great effect on the battlefield. As one Free Syrian Army leader told the New York Times: No FSA faction in the north can operate without al-Nusras approval. According to David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst who covered Syria in the wars early years, U.S. officials knew that al-Qaeda affiliated groups and Salafi jihadist groups were the primary engine of the insurgency. This, McCloskey says, was a tremendously problematic aspect of the conflict. In his memoir, senior Obama aide Ben Rhodes acknowledged that al-Nusra was probably the strongest fighting force within the opposition. It was also clear, he wrote, that U.S.-backed insurgent groups were fighting side by side with al-Nusra. For this reason, Rhodes recalled, he argued against the State Departments December 2012 designation of al-Nusra as a foreign terrorist organization. This move would alienate the same people we want to help. (Asked about wanting to help an Al Qaeda-dominated insurgency, Rhodes did not respond). In fact, designating al-Nusra as a terror organization allowed the Obama administration to publicly claim that it opposed Al Qaedas Syria branch while continuing to covertly arm the insurgency that it dominated. Three months after adding al-Nusra to the terrorism list, the U.S. and its allies dramatically stepped up weapons supplies to Syrian rebels to help rebels to try and seize Damascus, the Associated Press reported in March 2013. There Was No Moderate Middle Despite being privately aware of Nusras dominance, Obama administration officials continued to publicly insist that the U.S. was only supporting Syrias moderate opposition, as then-Deputy National Security Adviser Antony Blinken described it in September 2014. But speaking to a Harvard audience days later, then-Vice President Biden blurted out the concealed reality. In the Syrian insurgency, there was no moderate middle, Biden admitted. Instead, U.S. allies in Syria poured hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Assad. Those weapons were supplied, Biden said, to al-Nusra, and Al-Qaeda and the extremist elements of jihadis coming from other parts of the world. Biden quickly apologized for his comments, which appeared to fit the classic definition of the Kinsley gaffe: a politician inadvertently telling the truth. Bidens only error was omitting his administrations critical role in helping its allies arm the jihadis. Rather than shut down a CIA program that was aiding the Al Qaeda-dominated insurgency, Obama expanded it. In April 2013, the president signed an order that amended the CIAs covert war, codenamed Timber Sycamore, to allow direct U.S. arming and training. After tapping Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar to fund its arms pipeline for insurgents inside Syria, Obamas order allowed the CIA to directly furnish U.S.-made weapons. Just as with the regime change campaign in Libya, a key architect of this operation was Hillary Clinton. Obamas upgraded proxy war in Syria proved to be one of the costliest covert action programs in the history of the C.I.A., the New York Times reported in 2017. Documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed a budget of nearly $1 billion per year, or around $1 of every $15 in CIA spending. The CIA armed and trained nearly 10,000 insurgents, spending roughly $100,000 per year for every anti-Assad rebel who has gone through the program, U.S. officials told the Washington Post in 2015. Two years later, one U.S. official estimated that CIA-funded militias may have killed or wounded 100,000 Syrian soldiers and their allies over the past four years. But these militias were not just killing pro-Syrian government forces. As the New York Times reported in April 2017, US-backed insurgents carried out sectarian mass murder. One such act of mass murder came in August 2013, when the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army joined an al-Nusra and ISIS offensive on Alawite areas of Latakia. A Human Rights Investigation found that the insurgents engaged in the systematic killing of entire families, slaughtering a documented 190 civilians, including 57 women, 18 children, and 14 elderly men. In a video from the field, former Syrian army general Salim Idriss, head of the U.S.-backed Supreme Military Council (SMC), bragged that we are cooperating to a great extent in this operation. The Latakia massacres came four months after the U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, hailed Idriss and his fighters as the moderate and responsible elements of the armed opposition. The role of Idrisss forces in the slaughter did not cancel the administrations endorsement. In October, the Washington Post revealed that the CIA is expanding a clandestine effort aimed at shoring up the fighting power of units aligned with the Supreme Military Council, an umbrella organization led by [Idriss] that is the main recipient of U.S. support. [After this article was published, RCI received Fords email response to our request for comment. Ford wrote that there was no question that the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army engaged in war crimes but noted, We denounced [them] publicly at the time and in private. Ford said the administrations official stance that moderates were engaged in the fight was accurate in light of the facts on the ground. Our definition of moderates in the armed opposition, he wrote, were people willing to negotiate a peaceful end to the war.] Officially, the upgraded CIA program barred direct support to al-Nusra or its allies in Syria. But once U.S. weapons arrived in Syria, the Obama administration recognized that it had no way of controlling their usean apparent motive for waging the program covertly. We needed plausible deniability in case the arms got into the hands of al-Nusra, a former senior administration official told the New York Times in 2013. One area where U.S. arms got into al-Nusras hands was the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib. Al Qaeda leaders would ultimately control andthough the group disputes itprovide ISIS leaders sanctuary there. Al-Qaedas Largest Safe Haven Since 9/11 In May 2015, an array of insurgent groups, dubbed the Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest) coalition, captured Idlib province from the Syrian government. The fight was led by al-Nusra, and showcased what Charles Lister, the D.C.-based analyst with contacts to insurgents in Syria, dubbed a far improved level of coordination between rival militants, including the U.S.-backed FSA and multiple jihadist factions. For Lister, the conquest of Idlib also revealed that the U.S. and its allies changed their tune regarding coordination with Islamists. Citing multiple battlefield commanders, Lister reported that the U.S.-led operations room in southern Turkey, which coordinated support to U.S.-backed insurgent groups, was instrumental in facilitating their involvement in the operation led by al-Nusra. While the insurgents U.S.-led command had previously opposed any direct coordination with jihadist groups, the Idlib offensive demonstrated something different, Lister concluded: To capture the province, U.S. officials specifically encouraged a closer cooperation with Islamists commanding frontline operations. The U.S.-approved battlefield cooperation in Idlib allowed al-Nusra fighters to directly benefit from U.S. weapons. Despite occasional flare-ups between them, al-Nusra was able to use U.S.-backed insurgent groups as force multipliers, the Institute for the Study of War, a prominent D.C. think tank, observed when the battle began. Insurgent military gains, Foreign Policy reported in April 2015, were achieved thanks in large part to suicide bombers and American anti-tank TOW missiles. The jihadist-led victory in Idlib quickly subjected its residents to sectarian terror. In June 2015, al-Nusra fighters massacred at least 20 members of the Druze faith. Hundreds of villagers spared in the attack were forced to convert to Sunni Islam. Facing the same threats, nearly all of Idlibs remaining 1,200 Christians fled the province, leaving a Christian population that reportedly totals just three people today. In a 2017 post-mortem on the Obama administrations covert war in Syria, the New York Times described the insurgents conquest of Idlib as among the CIA programs periods of success. This was certainly the case for Al Qaeda. Idlib Province, Brett McGurk, the anti-ISIS envoy under Obama and Trump, and now Bidens top White House official for the Middle East, said in 2017, is the largest Al Qaeda safe haven since 9/11. US Allows ISIS Takeover Al Qaeda is not the only sectarian death squad that managed to establish a safe haven in the chaos of the Syria proxy war. Starting in 2013, al-Nusras sister-turned-rival group, ISIS, seized considerable territory of its own. As with Al Qaeda, ISIS land-grab in Syria received a significant backdoor assist from Washington. Before Al Qaeda captured Idlib, the first ISIS stronghold in Syria, Raqqa, grew out of a similar alliance between U.S.-backed moderate rebels and jihadis. After this coalition seized the city from the Syrian government in March 2013, ISIS took full control in November. When ISIS declared its caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq in June 2014, the U.S. launched an air campaign against the groups strongholds. But the Obama administrations anti-ISIS offensive contained a significant exception. In key areas where ISISs advance could threaten the Assad regime, the U.S. watched it happen. In April 2015, just as al-Nusra was conquering Idlib, ISIS seized major parts of the Yarmouk refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus, marking what the New York Times called the groups greatest inroads yet into the Syrian capital. In the ancient city of Palmyra, the U.S. allowed an outright ISIS takeover. [A]s Islamic State closed in on Palmyra, the U.S.-led aerial coalition that has been pummeling Islamic State in Syria for the past 18 months took no action to prevent the extremists advance toward the historic townwhich, until then, had remained in the hands of the sorely overstretched Syrian security forces, the Los Angeles Times reported in March 2016. In a leaked conversation with Syrian opposition activists months later, then-Secretary of State John Kerry explained the U.S. rationale for letting ISIS advance. Daesh [ISIS] was threatening the possibility of going to Damascus and so forth, Kerry explained. And we know that this was growing. We were watching. We saw that Daesh was growing in strength, and we thought Assad was threatened. We thought, however, we could probably manage, that Assad would then negotiate his way out of power. In short, the U.S. was leveraging ISISs growth to impose regime change on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. strategy of watching ISISs advance in Syria, Kerry also admitted, directly caused Russias 2015 entry into the conflict. The threat of an ISIS takeover, Kerry said, is why Russia went in. Because they didnt want a Daesh government. Russias military intervention in Syria prevented the ISIS government in Damascus that Kerry and fellow Obama administration principals had been willing to risk. Pulverizing Russian airstrikes also dealt a fatal blow to the Al Qaeda-dominated insurgency that the Obama team had spent billions of dollars to support. From US Enemy to Asset in Syria With U.S.-backed fighters vanquished and one of their main champions, Hillary Clinton, defeated in the November 2016 election, the CIA operation in Syria met what the New York Times called a sudden death. After criticizing the proxy war in Syria on the campaign trail, President Trump shut down the Timber Sycamore program for good in July 2017. It turns out itsa lot of al-Qaeda were giving these weapons to, Trump told the Wall Street Journal that month. With the exit of the Obama-Biden team, the U.S. was no longer fighting on Al Qaedas side. But that did not mean that the U.S. was prepared to confront the enemy that it had helped install in Idlib. While Trump put an end to the CIA proxy war, his efforts to further extricate the U.S. from Syria by withdrawing troops were thwarted by senior officials who shared the preceding administrations regime change goals. When President Trump said I want everybody out of Syria, the top brass at Pentagon and State had aneurysms, Christopher Miller, the Acting Secretary of Defense during Trumps last months in office, recalls. Jim Jeffrey, Trumps envoy for Syria, admitted to deceiving the president in order to keep in place a lot more than the 200 U.S. troops that Trump had reluctantly agreed to. We were always playing shell games to not make clear to our leadership how many troops we had there, Jeffrey told Defense One. Those shell games have put U.S. soldiers in harms way, including four servicemembers recently wounded in a rocket attack on their base in northeastern Syria. While thwarting a full U.S. troop withdrawal, Jeffrey and other senior officials have also preserved the U.S. governments tacit alliance with Idlibs Al-Qaeda rulers. Officially, al-Nusra remains on the U.S. terrorism list. Despite several name changes, the State Department has dismissed its rebranding efforts as a vehicle to advance its position in the Syrian uprising and to further its own goals as an al-Qaida affiliate. But in practice, as Jeffrey explained last year, the U.S. has treated Al-Nusra as an asset to U.S. strategy in Syria. They are the least bad option of the various options on Idlib, and Idlib is one of the most important places in Syria, which is one of the most important places right now in the Middle East, he said. Jeffrey also revealed that he had communicated with al-Nusra leader Mohammed al-Jolani via indirect channels. Jeffreys comments underscore a profound shift in the U.S. governments Middle East strategy as a result of the Syria proxy war: The Syrian branch of Al Qaeda, the terror group that attacked the U.S. on 9/11, and which then became the target of a global war on terror aimed at destroying it, is no longer seen by powerful officials in Washington as an enemy, but an asset. Since retaking office under Biden, the Obama veterans who targeted Syria with one of the most expensive covert wars in history have deprioritized the war-torn nation. While pledging to maintain crippling sanctions and keep U.S. troops at multiple bases, as well as announcing sporadic airstrikes, the White House has otherwise said little publicly about its Syria policy. The U.S. military raid that ended ISIS leader al-Qurayshis life in February prompted the only Syria-focused speech of Bidens presidency. While Biden trumpeted the lethal operation, the fact that it occurred in Idlib underscores a contradiction that his administration has yet to address. By taking out an ISIS leader in Al Qaedas Syria stronghold, the president and his top officials are now confronting threats from a terror safe haven that they helped create. This article was written by Aaron Mate for RealClearInvestigations The water supply for Las Vegas has marked a milestone, with a water intake breaking the surface of drought-depleted Lake Mead and the activation of a new pumping facility to draw water from deeper in the crucial Colorado River reservoir. The Southern Nevada Water Authority released photos this week of the uppermost intake visible at the lake behind Hoover Dam. The agency says a deeper intake completed in 2020 that's called the third straw continues to let Las Vegas pump water from its primary supply while the lake level continues to decline. The moves come as several states relying on the Colorado River take new steps to conserve water amid ongoing drought and climate change. Private electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest are planning tens of millions of dollars in upgrades to reduce the risk that their power lines could spark wildfires during extreme weather. These reports show major spending increases to harden infrastructure, remove trees near power lines and install systems to instantaneously de-energize circuits if a fault is detected during a windstorm. Thousands of firefighters continued to slow the advance of destructive wildfires in the Southwestern U.S. but warned they were bracing for the return Friday of the same dangerous conditions that quickly spread the wind-fueled blazes a week ago. A swath of the country stretching from Arizona to the Texas panhandle is expected to be hit the hardest by the return of the bad firefighting weather that has generated unusually hot and fast-moving fires for this time of year, forecasters warned. Southern California's gigantic water supplier has taken the unprecedented step of requiring about 6 million people to cut their outdoor watering to one day a week as an extended drought plagues the state following another dry winter. Record dry conditions have strained the system, lowering reservoir levels, and the State Water Project which gets its water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta has estimated it will be capable of delivering only about 5% of its usual allocation, for the second consecutive year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 In this special episode, we sat down with John Millsretired colonel, former director of cybersecurity at the Defense Department, senior fellow with the Center for Security Policy, and part of the Spectrum Consulting Group. We also hear from Casey Fleming, CEO of BlackOps Partners. They talk about the growing importance of the cyber realm in modern warfare, what China might be learning from Russias invasion of Ukraine, and what this means for Taiwan and the United States going forward. On the China threat, Mills said Americans need to put this at the front of their daily thought. This is a battle. It is a daily battle. Everything going around, most Americans are just trying to live their lives, go to church, take care of their families, provide for their families. But you got to realize almost every American knows somebody who has been affected by the opioid threat. Okay, wheres that opioid threat coming from? Its coming from China. Fentanyl is almost 100 percent a product from the CCP. Almost every American knows somebody in the bondage of opioid addiction. Right there. We are on the frontline, the American citizen is on the front line against the struggle against China, just by us having to face the opioid threat. Fleming said the level and degree of infiltration and subversion is beyond most peoples comprehension. Ive been doing this a long time and its a stretch for me to accept it. But I see it all day, every day, seven days a week. Most people have no idea. And its kind of like dont ask, dont tell, but the level that we are infiltrated in the United States and in the UK and Canada and Australia, and Western civilizations would absolutely blow your audiences mind. He adds, Youre seeing that all these different methodseconomic warfare, telecommunications warfare, religious warfare, drug warfareall these types of things are meant to weaken the adversary before a conventional ground war. Have other topics you want us to cover? Drop us a line: chinainfocus@ntdtv.org And if youd like to buy us a coffee: https://donorbox.org/china-in-focus Subscribe to our newsletter for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit us on Gettr and Twitter. Brendan Carr, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, speaks at the CPAC convention in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 29, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Apples App Store Censorship in China is Disturbing: FCC Commissioner A top Federal Communications Commission (FCC) official has expressed concern over Apples censorship apparently to appease the Chinese Communist Party. Brendon Carr, the FCC commissioner, recently told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, that he is concerned about Apples App Store repeatedly blocking the Voice of America app in China, which he believes was done to placate the Chinese regime. I think its quite ironic for him [Tim Cook] to come to Washington, D.C., and give that speech, the commissioner told NTD, while at the same time Apples conduct in China shows that they are actually doing the bidding of the communist regime. And so, I think thats quite disturbing. On April 12, Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a keynote speech at the Global Privacy Summit in Washington, hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Cook highlighted Apples commitment to protecting people from a data industrial complex built on a foundation of surveillance. Apple CEO Tim Cook testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) For decades, Carr said, large global corporations like Apple preach about human rights values, yet they compromise those values when they stand shoulder to shoulder with genocidal regimes like Communist China. I think its bad enough if youre going to be doing business with a regime that the U.S. State Department has said is committing crimes against humanity, he said. The State Department in 2021 declared that the Chinese communist regime is committing genocide and crimes against humanity through its wide-scale repression of Uyghurs in the western region of Xinjiang, including in its use of internment camps and forced sterilization. This designation has been affirmed by several Western parliaments and an independent peoples tribunal. Its time for us to fundamentally rethink our relationship with China, whether its the App Store or even the deep manufacturing ties that places like Apple have, Carr said. The FCC commissioner sent a letter to Cook on April 20, in which he criticized Apple for continuing its well documented campaign in Beijing of aggressively censoring apps at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party. His accusations also included Apples decisions to remove Quran and Bible apps. Carr in the letter cited comments by the Asia director for Amnesty International: Apple has become a cog in the censorship machine that presents a government-controlled version of the internet If you look at the behavior of the Chinese government, you dont see any resistance from Appleno history of standing up for the principles that Apple claims to be so attached to. B.C. Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon addresses supporters after winning a by-election for a seat in the legislature in the riding of Vancouver-Quilchena, in Vancouver, on April 30, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon Wins Seat in Legislature Through Byelection VANCOUVERThe leader of the British Columbia Liberals says he will use his new seat in the legislature to look the NDP government leaders straight in their eyes and ask tough questions. Kevin Falcon won the VancouverQuilchena byelection in a landslide Saturday with 6,200 votesmore than double the 2,590 ballots of his nearest challenger NDP candidate Jeanette Ashe, according to preliminary results. The win was expected in the Liberal stronghold, which has been represented by two previous party leaders, Andrew Wilkinson and Gordon Campbell. Tonight we got a wonderful message from voters of VancouverQuilchena, that said it is time for the end of empty rhetoric, it is time for a government that gets results, Falcon told a crowd of supporters at the partys headquarters in downtown Vancouver. The former cabinet minister has not had a voice in the legislature since he won the partys leadership race in February. He fills the seat left vacant by former Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, who won the riding in 2020 but resigned to make way for Falcon to sit in the legislature. Falcon, 59, returns to politics after leaving a decade ago to spend more time with his young family and work in the private sector with a Vancouver investment and property development firm. He held a number of portfolios in cabinet after first being elected in 2001 including transportation, health, finance and deputy premier. Falcon finished second in the 2011 leadership contest, losing to Christy Clark, who served as premier until the party lost power in 2017. Falcon said in an interview that he has heard concerns from voters about housing and fuel prices, as well as a lack of access to family doctors. Weve got people really struggling to make ends meet and this government has done nothing but raise taxes, increase spending, without getting results, he said. Ashe, a political scientist who is married to Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, congratulated Falcon on the win. She said she was proud of the NDP campaign and its focus on Falcons record, which she said involved working in favour of the wealthy and wellconnected. Her campaign was not one of personal attacks but scrutiny of a former politicians record, she said. His record was one of deep and devastating cuts to health care, to housing, to education, she said in an interview. Also vying for the seat were Green candidate Wendy Hayko with 10 per cent, Conservative Dallas Brodie with seven per cent and Libertarian Sandra FilosofSchipper with one per cent. The results from Elections BC are not final, however Falcon said he expects to be in the legislature before the end of the current session. His first order of business as the Official Opposition leader will be addressing gaps in rhetoric and promises delivered on topics like gas prices, housing costs, rental rates and taxes. I now have a seat in the legislature to hold the government to account looking straight in their eyes and asking them the tough questions, which I intend to do. Liberal politicians past and present said they looked forward to watching Falcon in the legislature. Wilkinson, who failed to lead the party to victory in the 2020 election, said hindsight is perfect but he would only offer advice or lessons learned if asked. He described Falcon as a very credible, very thoughtful candidate and said he fully supports the new leader. Trevor Halford, MLA for SurreyWhite Rock, said Shirley Bond has been a strong interim leader and he looks forward to watching Falcon transition to leader of the Official Opposition. Kevin is going to be asking some very direct and very hard questions because hes a guy that wants results. And were going to be there to support them in that. Green leader Sonia Furstenau said she hopes to continue collaborating with the Liberal caucus on common ground, such as the allparty Health Committee to address the drug poisoning crisis. By Amy Smart Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting with members of the Business Council and management of the New Development Bank during the BRICS Summit in Brasilia on Nov. 14, 2019. (Pavel Golovkin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Beijing Increases Blame Campaign Against NATO for Russia-Ukraine Conflict News Analysis Beijing doesnt just want to upend the U.S. systemit wants to replace it. Chinas strategy for challenging the U.S.-led international order largely proceeds according to two separate yet interrelated prongs. First, Beijing expounds on the failures of Washingtons foreign policy, pointing to its consequences and castigating its interventionist principles. Second, Beijing simultaneously presents the Chinese model of governance as a superior alternative to the liberal democratic regime, highlighting selective economic metrics and espousing its principles of greater good Marxian collectivism over inhumane Western individualism. Both of these prongs have recently been on display. In the international realm, Beijing has continued to focus on the Russo-Ukraine war as a direct consequence of failed U.S. foreign policy. Throughout the conflict, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continued to blame the outbreak of hostilities on U.S. foreign meddling and the reckless expansion of NATO. On April 26, CCP propaganda outlets ran multiple stories on the United States as an interventionist menace to the global community. This is not an isolated incident. Throughout the nearly two months since Russia first began its military operation, there has been a steady stream of headlines such as the Role of NATO after end of Cold War: Pawn for U.S. in seeking hegemony (Peoples Daily) and [NATO] a monstrous remnant from Cold War days (Xinhua). The final sentence of the former article summarizes the general sentiment that CCP propaganda has been attempting to emphasize: The Ukraine crisis once again proves that the U.S. hegemony is the fuse for global instability and the U.S. is the largest perpetrator of turmoil in the world. This evaluation is shared by decision-makers in the Kremlin, as well. Russia has presented multiple justifications for its military operation in Ukraine: denazification, securing national security interests in the Black Sea region, ensuring Ukrainian neutrality, and stopping the eastward spread of NATO. On April 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated his countrys opposition to the transatlantic alliance. NATO is essentially going to war with Russia through a proxy and arming that proxy. In war, as in war, said Lavrov during a televised news segment. Yet all of these purported justifications for intervention have been predicated on one central premisethe same as that mentioned above in Chinese sources: the United States unipolar moment has passed, and the Wilsonian crusade for international liberal democracy undergirded by Washingtons economic (and military) hegemony is no longer viable. Russia has consistently blamed the current bloodshed in Ukraine on a confrontational U.S. military establishment. Rather than be subjugated by the latter, the Kremlin argues that it has had its hand forced by an America that refuses to accept the national security considerations of other nations. Instead, the United States seeks a subjugated system of client states that promote Washingtons interests at the expense of all others. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian gestures during a media briefing that referred to reports of atrocities in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Beijing, China, on April 6, 2022. While declining to blame Russia, China has urged that the reports of civilian killings in Ukraine be further investigated. (Liu Zheng/AP Photo) On this point, China and Russia clearly agree. As such, both perceive the relative weakening of the United States as a necessary condition for the emergence of a multipolar world. The latter would be defined by an international balance of power in which regional power centers have their own respective sphere of influence free from the meddling of otherssuch as China in Southeast Asia and Russia in the post-Soviet space. In pursuit of this end, the second prong of Beijings strategy for undermining U.S. hegemony is to present the CCP example as an effective model of governance, both as a means for intimidating competitors in its geographic proximity as well as in offering a viable alternative to the system of liberal democracy espoused by the United States. As the flames of war continue to rage across Ukraine, Chinas tacit support for Russia is, therefore, about more than just advantageous trade deals or expanded market access. Instead, it is about shining a spotlight on U.S. foreign policy and making the bloodshed a reflection of Americas political system in general. China has an apparent interest in the latter. CCP leadership perceives any poor optics for liberal democracy as inherently positive for the authoritarian communist alternative of the Chinese system. Not only does the former lead to needless war, as in the conflict over Ukraine, but it additionally fails to provide the same level of material benefit to its citizens as the latter. Recent reporting by The Wall Street Journal states that CCP leader Xi Jinping prioritizes consistent economic growth above 5 percent and stable governance as a direct challenge to the U.S.-led system. It seeks to showcase how Chinas one-party system is a superior alternative to Western liberal democracy, and that the U.S. is declining both politically and economically. Therefore, increasing output and reaching growth goals is imperative of geopolitical competition as much as it is for domestic prospering. Many factors influence the decision-making of an international actor. The CCP may desire the spread of its variety of communism to other countries based on revolutionary zeal and Marxist social philosophy. However, the influence of a normative socialist principle (such as the latter) does not preclude the fact that Beijing also considers its security considerations as a nation-state. The more players in the international system that adopt a top-down authoritarian style of governance similar to that of Chinawhether they nominally identify as Marxist or notthe more advantageous it is for Beijing. It is ironic that the CCP constantly describes NATO as a remnant of the Cold War and accuses the United States of having an anachronistic foreign policy. Encouraging other countries to adopt a similar political model was a primary consideration in the geopolitical competition of the Cold War, in which the United States and the Soviet Union each tried to win adherents over to their respective political system as much as a matter of national security as of ideological competition. Beijing may not place as much explicit pressure on other nation-states as the USSR, or the United States did during the latter half of the 20th century. Still, it certainly seeks to co-opt them to its system of stable and predictableif oppressiveauthoritarianism. It is no secret that Beijing interprets the Russo-Ukraine conflict through the lens of Sino-American competition. However, it is important to realize that this goes beyond the realm of simple economic considerations or competing military interestsit is a battle for the political character of the global community. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Legislation to Repeal Californias Sanctuary State Law Fails to Pass California state lawmakers recently voted down legislation that would have repealed the states sanctuary law that shields illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities. The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted down Assembly Bill 1708 on April 19 in a 23 vote, with Assemblymembers Tom Lackey and Kelly Seyarto, both Republicans, voting in support. Sadly, I was not surprised, Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, also a Republican, told NTD Television. Kiley amended and introduced AB 1708 on March 11 in an effort to remove Californias sanctuary law. The bill would simply say that if someone is in the country illegally and theyve committed a crime and the immigration authorities identified this person who they think should be a high priority for deportation procedures, then there should be a line of communication they can have with law enforcement, he said. It was quite unfortunate given that we just had this incredibly tragic incident. Kiley was referring to the Feb. 28 shooting at a Sacramento, California, church, where 39-year-old David Mora killed his three daughters and a chaperone before taking his own life. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later confirmed that Mora entered California from his native Mexico in December 2018, but overstayed his visa and was subsequently in the United States illegally. ICE stated that Mora was released from prison just a week prior to the shooting after assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer in Merced County, California. Despite ICE asking to be notified of Moras release, its officers were never informed. Following the shooting, Kiley called on the legislature to end Californias sanctuary state status in a March 3 Twitter post. Ive been fighting against the sanctuary state law for quite a while since it was introduced. I had hoped this recent incident would wake up some of the people at our capitol and cause them to think differently, but unfortunately, thats not what happened, he wrote. He also referenced the 2015 Kate Steinle case in San Francisco. Steinle was walking with her father and a friend along Pier 14 in San Francisco when illegal immigrant Jose Inez Garcia-Zarate fatally shot her. A Mexican national, Garcia-Zarate had previously been deported five times. He pleaded guilty to federal firearm charges on March 14. Weve seen this happen time and time again. It was utterly predictable. In fact, it was predicted by the State Sheriffs Association when they opposed the sanctuary state law, Kiley said. During the April 19 committee meeting, AB 1708 was met with opposition. This would require state governments to work with ICE, an agency with a long record of systemic abuse to fill immigration detention centers and carry out mass deportation, said Faith Lee from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a civil rights organization. California became a sanctuary state in 2017, when lawmakers passed Senate Bill 54. The law prevents local law enforcement from contacting ICE about the release of illegal immigrants from jail. It also prevents local jails from holding illegal alien inmates for up to 48 hours longer when ICE makes a request for the transferexcept for inmates who have committed certain violent crimes, such as murder, robbery, rape, or kidnapping. SB 54 bans state and local law enforcement officers from asking the immigration status of anyone during a routine stop, and theyre prohibited from arresting illegal aliens based on civil immigration warrants. Kiley said SB 54 was misleadingly touted as favoring immigrants in general. The only people that the sanctuary state protects are people who are in the country illegally and who have committed crimes. Thats the only group that receives any benefit from sanctuary state laws. Its not about being in favor or against immigration or anything like that. Its simply the matter of the rule of law, he said. Were talking not only about people who have been in the country illegally, but also violated the criminal laws while theyve been here. This is about making sure those people arent able to commit more crimes in the future. Kiley said he believes that violent crime in California will continue to increase if local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies remain unable to communicate and collaborate regarding illegal immigrants. The best solution is to overturn the sanctuary state law, to secure the border, to retain Title 42, to end sanctuary policies across the country, and to restore this idea of the rule of law, he said. We should have, of course, continued pathways for legal immigrants. Legal immigration is very important to our country. Our legal immigrants are an important part of the fabric of this country. But we cant just continue to have an open border. (Left) Oleanvine Maynard, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority. (Right) British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie. (Government of the Virgin Islands) British Virgin Islands Premier, Managing Director of Ports Arrested in Miami on Drug Trafficking Charges The premier of the British Virgin Islands and Managing Director of BVI Ports were arrested in Miami on April 28 on charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed. Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie and Oleanvine Maynard, as well as Maynards son, Kadeem, were arrested by DEA agents at Miami-Opa-Locka Executive Airport and charged with conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder money, according to a criminal complaint (pdf). Maynards son is facing the same changes in the alleged plot. Fahiewho is the head of the governmentand Oleanvine Maynard had allegedly gone to the airport to meet with undercover DEA agents disguised as Mexican drug traffickers, and check on a shipment of $700,000 in cash that they had expected to receive in exchange for helping to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to Miami and New York. The DEA said the investigation was launched in October 2021 after a DEA confidential source had several meetings with a group of self-proclaimed Lebanese Hezbollah operatives who stated that they had business ties to South Florida and the Middle East. Those meetings took place on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, the complaint alleges. The confidential source asked the group to help facilitate the use of Tortola as a temporary storage port for cocaine transported from Colombia by boat and destined for the United States, it says. This would have included the subsequent laundering of the drug proceeds, the complaint states. According to the affidavit, a member of the group agreed to approach the head of security for Fahie who could offer protection for such activities in return for payment. A group member also claimed that he owned Oleanvine Maynard, as per the complaint. A meeting with Maynard was then set up, however, group members said Maynard demanded an up-front payment. On April 7, 2022, the source went to Tortola and met with Oleanvine Maynard and her son, Kadeem, and the conversation was recorded, the affidavit states. During the long drive to the meeting, Fahie allegedly told the source that the British didnt pay him much. Also during that meeting, the DEA source told Fahie that he worked for people in Mexico, and they wanted to use of the ports in Tortola for free passage of 3,000 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of cocaine at a time. The cocaine, which would come from Colombia, would pass through the BVI, then Puerto Rico on its way to Miami and New York, the source told them, according to the affidavit. It would be packaged in construction material and bundled inside 5 kg buckets of waterproof paint so that it would not test positive for cocaine. The confidential DEA source proposed paying Fahie and Maynard a percentage of his cocaine sales in exchange for their help in passing the drugs through their ports, which Fahie estimated to be more than $7.8 million, and to which they agreed. In a statement, the DEA said the charges should should send a clear message that anyone involved with bringing dangerous drugs into the United States will be held accountable, no matter their position. Today is yet another example of DEAs resolve to hold corrupt members of government responsible for using their positions of power to provide a safe haven for drug traffickers and money launderers in exchange for their own financial and political gain, officials said. The British Virgin Islands is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean Sea, located east of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It has a population of about 35,000 people. The Governor of the British Virgin Islands, John Rankin, was appointed by the Queen and acts on her behalf. Rankin also confirmed the arrests on Thursday, stating: I realise this will be shocking news for people in the Territory. And I would call for calm at this time. He noted that the arrests were not linked to the Commission of Inquiry report, which was set up by the UK last year in response to allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The remit of the Commission of Inquiry focused on governance and corruption, and was not a criminal investigation into the illegal drug trade, Rankin said. To avoid unnecessary speculation, I intend to move ahead urgently on publication of the Inquiry Report so the people of the BVI can see its contents and its recommendations in the areas it addresses. Fahie has previously denied accusations of corruption high up in the BVI government made by the previous governor of the British Virgin Islands, Augustus Jaspert. It is regrettable that the former governor has made some very unsubstantiated allegations towards the territory which have the potential to be damaging to our reputation, Fahie told the Financial Times in an interview in January. We do call on the former governor to apologise. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss said on Thursday that she was appalled by these serious allegations, in a statement on Thursday. This arrest demonstrates the importance of the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry, Truss said. I have spoken to the Governor of the BVI and he will be holding an emergency meeting of the Territorys Cabinet later today. Truss noted that Governor Rankin will lay out the next steps to take on Friday, including the swift publication of the Inquirys report. It is not immediately known if Fahie and Maynard have legal representation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This aerial photo taken on Dec. 7, 2021 shows containers and gantry cranes at a port in Lianyungang in China's eastern Jiangsu province. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Chinas Lockdowns of Tens of Millions Inflict More Pain on Global Supply Chains Seeing Chinas financial hub Shanghai, home to 25 million people, come to a standstill amid more than four weeks of lockdowns has made those residing in Beijing nervous. The capital city has detected growing COVID-19 outbreaks and has rushed to conduct mass testing in a bid to contain the virus. Almost all 22 million inhabitants in Beijing completed three rounds of testing as of April 30. The results may determine whether theyll be destined to experience the same fate as those in Shanghai, where fenced-in people have been banging pans on their balconies at night to protest the month-long lockdown. Shoppers in Beijing have rushed to stock up on food, just in case. Officials have closed schoolswithout specifying a reopening dateand more venues. Workers have set up blue metal barriers around residential blocks where infections have been recorded. A sign placed outside such a residential complex reads, Entry only. No exit. The scenes in Beijing are reminiscent of other Chinese cities battling the fast-moving Omicron variant. As the Chinese regime appears determined to contain the outbreak under its heavy-handed zero-COVID policy, lockdowns and mass testingand the well-documented suffering they causeare likely to remain commonplace. As of April 28, at least 26 cities across the country are currently in partial or full lockdown, covering roughly 78 million people, according to calculations by The Epoch Times based on notices by local authorities. These cities range from northern Baotou, a major supplier of rare earths, to eastern Yiwu, an export center that produces everything from Christmas trees to presidential campaign merchandise. A bicycle is parked in front of a barricaded fence of a locked-down residential complex in Beijing on April 29, 2022. (Andy Wong/AP Photo) Those not experiencing lockdowns still face restrictions. The tech hub Hangzhou city is testing its residents every 48 hours. About 12.2 million students and workers must provide proof of negative results if they want to take public transportation and enter schools or offices. Similar measures will be effective in Beijing after May 5, with officials at an April 30 briefing calling it normalized nucleic acid tests. Foreigners Flee The Chinese regimes relentless zero-COVID fight has forced foreigners to rethink their lives in the international financial hub of Shanghai. The month-long closure of the city, home to numerous multinational firms, has left even white-collar professionals struggling with food shortage issues. While many are allowed to walk around in their neighborhood now, concerns about being taken in to quarantine remain. The citys 25 million people will continue to take more tests until May 7, local officials said at a May 1 press conference. A positive result means separation from families and living in crowded quarantine facilities, with 24-hour lights and no hot water. Until the lockdown, I really couldnt feel the authoritarian government, because youre more or less free to do what you want, said Jennifer Li, a foreigner whos making plans for her family to leave the city that has been their home for 11 years. The regimes handling of COVID-19 made us realize how human lives and human mental health is not important to this government, she said. The European Chamber of Commerce recently warned that the number of foreigners in China have halved since the pandemic began and could halve again this summer. Residential units during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jingan district in Shanghai on April 29, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Economic Toll The strict restrictions are also crushing economic activity. The gauge of manufacturing activity contracted at a steeper pace in April, reaching the lowest point since February 2020, when lockdowns halted industrial production and disrupted supply chains for the first time. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 47.4 in April from 49.5 in March, offering a first glimpse into the economic pain inflicted by lockdown measures. Analysts from several investment banks have further cut their forecasts for the countrys economic growth rate as the lockdown in Shanghai has dragged on. The lowest is from Nomura, with a prediction of 3.9 percent, down from 4.3 percent previously, well below the official target of a 5.5 percent increase. Related Coverage Chinas Lockdown of Nearly 400 Million Set to Strike an Economic Blow In a worst-case scenario, China can expect a decrease in GDP [gross domestic product] by 53 percent if all cities are forced into lockdown, Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow of global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, told an April 26 virtual panel. Chinas yuan currency fell by more than 4 percent in April, its biggest monthly drop in 28 years, while its stock markets have been the second-worst performers this year, after sanctions-hit Russia. The slowdown is likely to weigh on global recovery as the lockdown will hurt companies sales in China and ripple through the supply chain, said professor Yen Huai-Shing, deputy director of the Taiwan Chung Hua Institution for Economic Research. Supply Chain Woes Carmakers and phones are experiencing shortages of components sourced in China. The United States imports close to 18 percent of all products from China and 33 percent of electronics, according to official data. U.S. giants, including Apple and Microsoft, have said that Chinas lockdowns have intensified global supply chain disruption and raised uncertainty about their business outlook. Container ships are seen at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif., on Nov. 17, 2021. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) A main source of the supply chain troubles has been severe delays in transportation: frequent COVID-19 testing has disrupted the work of truckers and port workers. Once the lockdown is lifted and economic activity once again springs to life, a pileup of products from accumulated orders will surge into the United States, Sara Hsu, a clinical associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville wrote in The Diplomat. This means that the backlogs that Los Angeles and Long Beach ports experienced last year will happen again, she noted. Yen doesnt see the supply chain disruptions ending soon. [Chinas] COVID lockdown brings more uncertainty to foreign investors and damage to their confidence, she told The Epoch Times. Yen suggested that multinational companies should consider relocating their supply chain elsewhere. Some firms in the semiconductor hub of Taiwan have already started diversifying supply chains since 2018 during the U.S.China trade war, she said. Unwavering in Zero-COVID As zero-COVID batters the countrys economy, Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced on April 29 an infrastructure push to boost demand, a method Beijing used during the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 that created a mountain of debt. However, he didnt provide key details, such as the amount of spending or the specific time frame. Still, Xi, whos seeking an unprecedented third five-year term in office this autumn, showed no signs of changing course at the April 29 meeting of the 25-member Politburo, the center of power within the Chinese Communist Party, which is also led by Xi. The leadership called for the country to persist with dynamic zero, referring to zero-COVID, according to the meeting summary released by the state-run Xinhua news agency. For now, China is not getting out of the corner the president [Xi Jinping] has maneuvered the country into, Joerg Wuttke, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, told Swiss media outlet Market NZZ. They are prisoners of their own narrative. Its rather tragic: China was the first to get into the pandemic, and its the last to get out. And in the meantime, theyve been telling the whole world that theyre the best. Luo Ya and Reuters contributed to the report. Why doctors need to remember the patient can hear you In this room sits a remarkable woman starts the 1954 documentary on Helen Keller. She does not see the room, or the book shes reading. She sees nothing. She doesnt hear the rustling of the curtains behind her. Helen Keller, probably one the most inspiring deaf and blind persons in history, as well as a disability rights advocate and American author, learned to communicate with a finger system with her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Each letter has a sign, and Anne would spell out words in the palm of Helens hand. Did you ever see Helen Kellers smile when she first started to communicate? Or when she spelled out her first word W-A-T-E-R? She was ecstatic about engaging in communication. She made contact! I often think of Helen Keller after routine appointments with my son and his epileptologist or specialist. Sometimes the patient at the doctors appointment is non-verbal, or has dementia, or something physical that prevents them from joining in the conversation with their caregiver and doctorbut theyre still there. Anyone who cares for someone and takes them to appointments knows their loved one like no other. We know they can hear, feel, and see what is going on, even when they appear to be out-of-it. We know they need contact. Even if they cant respond to the words, Hello, and How are you feeling, need to be asked. They need a proper greeting at a doctors appointment. And they need to be talked to as if they are present, because they are present. Its not just important to them to be included, but I can tell you from experience, it means everything to the caregiver. We want our loved one to feel the tapping in the palm of their hand, a reminder that they are part of the healing process and not just a patient account number. Did you know theres a page in Emily Posts Etiquette (19th Edition) that says, Dont forget whos listening. If doctors or other health professionals are in the room, dont talk to them as if the patient werent there or refer to her in the third person. My teen son Luke is often disregarded as a Helen Keller. On any given day, its Heaven or Hell, due to the up and down nature of Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome, or FIRES syndrome epilepsy, and the overactive nature of his hippocampus. He will either spread love and joy like a Care Bearor he will be slumped in a wheelchair, drooling, and sitting as still as a warrior turned to stone by Medusa. After a seizure he can move all but one fingerthe finger that rewinds his portable DVD player to rewatch the cyclops scene of that campy Ray Harryhausen movie The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Over, and over, and over. (You have no idea how many times my son has watched that movie). Because Luke demands attention when hes having a good day, its easy for hospital staff to connect with him. Hes the one saying hello. Hes the one reminding the doctors office that good manners are the How-do-you-dos and How-have-you-beens. When Luke walks in and breaks all social distancing rules, they usually say, Well, thank you for the hug! I needed that, or Thanks for complimenting my necklace. I got it from my favorite aunt or something like that. He always reminds them to have a wonderful day. These are the positive moments of human connection and mutual appreciation that make the many appointments fly by, as I usually discuss everything else with the doctors as my son passively listens and interjects when he wants to tell us something about Sinbad and the cyclops. On these days, I dont worry. Yet how many of us care for those who have mostly bad days? Does our loved one forfeit our common courtesy if they physically cant lift their chins? The last time I went to see one of our regular doctors, it had been a year. There was much to plan with new treatments and innovations, and I take my caregiver duties as seriously as I take common courtesy and mannersI come equipped with research and an idea of how I think Lukes treatment should go. I always greet these doctors with respect, as I know to get into their position they had to invest in years of study and advance to the highest level in academics. Unfortunately, this was a very bad day. We had a seizure in the lobby three minutes before the appointment. But I wasnt about to turn home after an hour drive and a year-long wait for a time slot with our in-demand epileptologist. The appointment was efficient. I managed to shift focus from the seizure to the needs at hand. The doctor and I figured out what to do. I had to attend to Luke a few times when his video stopped working. But the whole time, I was burning up inside. I couldnt get over the fact that my son had been sitting there the whole time, listening to us babble on about him. The doctor, who may have innocently just got wrapped up in conversation, forgot to greet him. He forgot to check in with him, and during the 60-minute appointment, he spoke of Luke in the third person. He said a few things that were scary, like the increased risk of Luke dying in his sleep. I knew for sure my son could hear that part. Though I left the appointment with some fresh ideas on Lukes treatment regimen, I felt like I wanted to sleep and never wake up. Its draining when you see your loved one get less-than-human type of care. Its a robotic transaction. Its no wonder Luke needed to escape into a world of Sinbad the Sailor. No one would ever ignore a sword-wielding hero. I wish I could say this was an isolated incident. Its not. More times than I can count, a bad day means Luke is treated like hes not there. This lapse in bedside manners occurs across all types of appointmentsfrom alternative and western. It makes me dread going to the doctor at all. I think there are many of us who want to be in our doctors good favor. And we will sometimes overcompensate for their lack of manners and accept that our loved one was treated like they were invisible. However, we all benefit from good manners. More than everafter two years of masks, distancing, and telehealth, we need connection. We need affirmation that our loved ones are cared for. We need the human basics covered before we can move on to anything else. We dont like to leave appointments feeling like we forgot something or that nobody cares. I really dont think doctors mean to be rude. They get wrapped up in talking to the caregiver. They have important information to gather and to share. Talking to someone who cannot respond takes extra time. Its a bit of a chore. Sometimes it takes my son almost a minute to respond to a question after a seizure. I know seniors have ups and downs that make them not even know where they are sometimes. Yet, they deserve to be seen. Perhaps medical staff could use a little refresher on bedside manners. Perhaps hospital administrations need to hold a little pep rally on patient care. Helen Keller could not hear the curtains rustling behind her, nor could she hear the words of her teacher, but she felt the touch of her teachers hand. She was blind and deaf, but always knew when someone entered the room. I do believe it is common courtesy to greet everyone in the roomdespite disability. If a person is sitting in your clinic, I would hope we can all remember that they should be greeted with dignity, and considered part of the conversationspeaking or notthey are there and they matter. Its common courtesy. Beth Giuffre is a mosaic artist and frequent contributor to the Epoch Times. When the youngest of her three sons began having seizures, she began researching the root cause of intractable epilepsy, and discovered endless approaches to healing for those who are willing and open to alternatives. Factories in Shanghai Struggling to Resume Production Under Lockdown Workers are unable to get back to work Shanghai has now been locked down for a month under the Chinese communist regimes zero-COVID policy. Daily life, manufacturing production, and supply chains have been severely disrupted. Recently, Shanghai authorities have been pushing for the resumption of production in manufacturing, but the progress has been slow, and some enterprises are having difficulty resuming work under the indefinite lockdown, as workers are unable to get back to work. Residents in Shanghai said that the damage to the economy will be long-lasting. Chinese officials recently also claimed that a dynamic clearing COVID-19 pandemic control policy and economic development are not in opposition to each other. On April 22, Shanghai officials said that 70 percent of the 666 whitelisted key enterprises have resumed work and production. But U.S. and European companies in Shanghai say they still face severe logistics and labor shortages under the lockdown. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Chinas vice president and Shanghai chair told CNBC in a statement that although a significant number of members of the chamber are on the whitelist, many companies still face the challenges of labor shortages and logistical difficulties, estimating that less than 30 percent of members workforces are eligible to return to work because of the lockdowns. A Volkswagen sales shop inside a downtown shopping mall in Shanghai, China, on April 26, 2021. (Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images) A resident with the surname Wang in the Pudong district of Shanghai told The Epoch Times on April 30 that most companies in the city have not yet resumed work and production, despite the governments order. The reason is that when you are locked at home, how do you resume work and production? Its not open yet, what about the round-trip traffic? No bus, no subway. For example, a tobacco company, they say that the factory sends vehicles to pick up employees to work, but some communities dont let people out. Its very troublesome anyway, he said. Che Yunan (a pseudonym), an employee of Shanghai Electric Power Company, said that Shanghai has not yet returned to normal. We have been issued a notice here that it would be possible to open on May 2. But if new cases are found in the community, they will postpone the lift of lockdown, he said. Ches company has been locked down since the end of March. He said that people who have resumed work in the company are those who had been locked in the factory since then, and others were not allowed in. Quanta (Shanghai) Computer Co., Ltd., which produces Tesla accessories and Apple laptops, is one of the first batch of 666 whitelisted enterprises in Shanghai to resume production. The company has eight factories in Shanghai and about 40,000 employees. Production was officially resumed on April 20. At present, its F1 and F3 factories have gradually resumed work, with about 15 percent of the workers returning. Photos from the Quanta Computer company facilities in Shanghai during a recent COVID-19 outbreak in April 2022. (Supplied) The companys employees revealed to The Epoch Times on April 19 that COVID-19 broke out in the dormitory of the companys subordinate factory, thousands of workers were infected, and the employees were silenced by the factory when they sought help from the outside world. The companys production resumption plan, obtained by The Epoch Times, shows that the companys COVID-19 cases are not included in the social COVID-19 dynamic clearing plan, which means the companys cases are not counted in the official data of Shanghai. Lu Yong (a pseudonym), an employee of the company, told The Epoch Times on April 29 that the infected cases in the factory were counted at the beginning, but there are too many infected people here, at least 10,000 now, so they are not reported anymore. On April 29, Liang Wannian, the expert group leader of the Chinese regimes National Health Commissions pandemic response team said that dynamic clearing COVID-19 pandemic control policy, economic development, and normal production and life are synergistic and do not oppose each other. Zero-COVID effectively protects and promotes economic development, and effectively guarantees the normal production and life of the people, he claimed. Wang questioned the officials claim, saying: How can they synergize with each other? I dont understand. Everyone is locked in the community, at home, how can you synergize? He is just shouting slogans. It is impossible to clear COVID-19 cases. A resident looks out behind a gate blocking an entrance to a residential area under lockdown in Shanghai, China, on April 13, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters) How can we get enough food from the government under the lockdown? How can they ensure the normal life of the common people? It [the regime] wants to resume production, and everyone is stuck at home, how to resume production and how to coordinate development? Its just a slogan, he hasnt done any social investigation at all, just talking nonsense in his office. Only when he goes to the factory and the community to see the life of the common people, he has the right to speak, Wang said. Gu Qinger, Gu Xiaohua, and Luo Ya contributed to the report. Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla, on, July 11, 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Family Visiting Disney World Says Apple AirTag Was Used to Track Them A Tennessee family who visited Disney World in Florida claimed that someone used an Apple tracking device to monitor their whereabouts. I had no idea, no idea what an AirTag was. Like, I was clueless, said Jennifer Gaston, according to local media. It stated that it was first detected with her at 7:09 p.m. and we got the notification at about 11:33 p.m. Her daughter, Madison, clicked on the notification and saw a map outlining all the places they had visited while at Disney World over the past four hours, the mother said in reports published over the past weekend. It showed the first destination where it was detected with her, then it basically draws a line and makes the connections of the points where she had been, Gaston said. Her daughter added that she had seen videos of other people warning people about them and what they were basically. So thats how I knew what they were and I did not ignore the notification. After checking their bags and car, the family drove back to their hotel without locating the Apple AirTag, which are small, coin-sized Apple devices generally used to track luggage and other items. But there have been reports of criminals using the devices for various nefarious purposes. As a parent, I just was so frantic in the moment, Gaston remarked. Just to think that somebody had those intentions. Looking at your daughters and just having those intentions, it was just terrifying. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the states top law enforcement agency, said it is investigating the familys claims. Meanwhile, the Orange County Sheriffs Office in Florida said the family contacted its office. However, because the family did not locate the AirTag, a deputy could not determine a criminal violation. Some privacy experts have called on Apple to permanently end sales of the product. Some people who have ill will towards others are using it to potentially stalk people, follow people, tag vehicles, high luxury vehicles, that they might want to come back and steal, David Benson, a security researcher, told Fox35. Even if its not at epidemic proportions, its happening enough where its concerning. Several months ago, two women in Southern California claimed they were tracked by an Apple AirTag after they were shopping in the area. I immediately turned around, I was like, Im not going home because we were together the whole night in my car,' Adrianna Ballesteros told ABC7. So I was like, If anything, its probably on my car.' When contacted about the case, Apple told news outlets at the time that the device allegedly has featured to discourage unwanted tracking. AirTag is designed with a set of proactive features to discourage unwanted trackinga first in the industrythat both inform users if an unknown AirTag might be with them, and deter bad actors from using an AirTag for nefarious purposes, the Big Tech giant said. Disney and the Orange County Sheriffs Office have not responded to a request for comment. News Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/oliver-stone-e2-80-98the-putin-i-knew-was-rational-calm-always-acting-in-the-best-interest-of-the-russian-people-e2-80-99/ar-AAWCBIQ Oliver Stone in Barcelona where he presented 'JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass' at the BCN Film Fest Andreu Dalmau (EFE) Oliver Stone: The Putin I knew was rational, calm, always acting in the best interest of the Russian people Jacinto Anton - Tuesday Oliver Stone, the self-described old left-wing filmmaker who made unforgettable movies like Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July and JFK, on Tuesday came out in defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the presentation of a new documentary about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Oliver Stone in Barcelona where he presented 'JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass' at the BCN Film Festival. Asked by this newspaper about his views on the Russian leader, Stone said that one cannot separate the man from the state. Its been three years since I last saw him, but the man I knew had nothing to do with the irresponsible and murderous madman that the media are now making him out to be, comparing him with Hitler and Stalin, said Stone, who was in Barcelona for the Spanish premiere of JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass as part of the 6th BCN Film Fest. The Putin I knew was rational, calm, always acting in the best interest of the Russian people, a true son of Russia, a patriot, which does not imply a nationalist, said the 75-year-old director, whose earlier four-hour TV series The Putin Interviews, based on talks held with the Russian leader between 2015 and 2017, has been described by critics as too soft on Putin. Stone described a Russia that has been reduced and mutilated following the collapse of the Soviet Union, with large numbers of Russians living in other territories. According to him, the US had a long-term plan to place a pro-Western, anti-Russian government in Ukraine when Ukraine had always been neutral, with democratically elected governments. The goal of this plan, said Stone, was to turn Ukraine into a useful antagonist of Russia, something which he said has been achieved with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskiy. The movie director suggested that the ultimate goal may have been to destabilize Russia and change the regime there, to take Putin out and put in another [Boris] Yeltsin. Stone, who noted that there were Ukrainians who fought for Hitler during World War II, also described the US as an attack dog that will not stop at Russia and could later target China. He deplored the way that Russia is being depicted as the bad guy and the US as the good guy. After discussing his new documentary on the JFK assassination, Stone said that the world needs more leaders like Kennedy, recalling the former presidents speech about a Pax Americana that should not be achieved through supremacy or weapons. FBI agents begin to take away evidence from the family home of Brian Laundrie, who is a person of interest after his fiance Gabby Petito went missing in North Port, Fla., on Sept. 20, 2021. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images) Gabby Petitos Parents Claim Laundrie Family Knew About Daughters Death During Vacation in Amended Lawsuit The parents of Gabby Petito, the young woman killed by her fiance, Brian Laundrie, have amended their lawsuit against Brians parents by accusing the Laundrie family of going on a vacation with knowledge of the location of Petitos body. Laundrie and his parents went on vacation knowing that Brian Laundrie had murdered Gabrielle Petito, it is believed that they knew where her body was located, and further knew that Gabrielle Petitos parents were attempting to locate her, the amended lawsuit states, according to NBC. Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, Brian Laundries parents, have denied any knowledge related to Petitos death, where her remains were, or that they helped their son flee when he was being sought after by law enforcement as a person of interest. Roberta Laundrie made a camping reservation at Fort De Soto Park for the first weekend of September. However, the reservation was changed on Sept. 3 to the weekend of Sept. 6 to 8 and an extra person was added to the list. The change in reservation came just two days after Brian returned home after his trip with Petito on Sept. 1. On Sept. 17, the Laundries told police officers that they hadnt seen their son since the 14th of the month. On Sept. 19, Petitos body was discovered at the Wyoming national park. A coroner ruled that the 22-year-old woman had died by strangulation. On Oct. 20, Brians body was found at Floridas Carlton Reserve together with a notebook nearby in which he confesses to being responsible for Petitos death. Brians death was ruled a suicide. The Petito family eventually filed a lawsuit contending that Brian confessed about the murder to his parents and that Roberta and Christopher concealed this fact from investigators. In doing so, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie acted with malice or great indifference to the rights of (Gabbys parents) Joseph Petito and Nicole Schmidt, the lawsuit claims, adding that such conduct is shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. The Laundrie family is also accused of attempting to arrange for Brians escape from the country, though no evidence was provided to back up such a claim. Petitos family is seeking damages of at least $30,000. Steven Bertolino, attorney for the Laundrie family, said in an interview with CNN that he is confident that the court will side with his clients in the lawsuit. The allegations in the amended complaint may now conform to proper pleadings but they do not give rise to liability under the law. Thus, we are still confident the Court will dismiss the action, Bertolino said. Ghost of Kyiv Fighter Ace Is Actually a Myth, Ukraine Military Admits The mysterious Ukrainian war hero hailed as the Ghost of Kyiv not only didnt die in combat, but also wasnt real, the Ukrainian military has said. The unsubstantiated tale about an anonymous Ukrainian fighter jet pilot who allegedly took down six Russian warplanes in one day has been circulating on social media since the early days of Russias full-scale military offensive against Ukraine. The story gained major media attention and was perpetuated by official Ukrainian social media channels, including Twitter accounts of the Ukrainian government and former president Petro Poroshenko. People call him the Ghost of Kyiv, and rightly so, Ukrainian government wrote on Twitter on Feb. 27. This UAF ace dominates the skies over our capital and country, and has already become a nightmare for invading Russian aircrafts. Over the past two months, many people questioned whether the Ghost was real. But it wasnt until the supposed death of the Ghost made news headlines that the Ukrainian military came out and admitted there never was such a person. Last week, The Times of London identified the Ghost as Stepan Tarabalka, a 29-year-old man flying a MiG-29 fighter jet. According to the report, Tarabalka had shot down as many as 40 Russian aircraft until he was overwhelmed by the enemy forces and killed on March 13. The report prompted the Ukrainian Air Force to clarify that Tarabilka did die in a battle, but he was definitely not the Ghost of Kyiv, which is but a fictional character created to boost Ukrainian morale in their conflict against Russians. Stepan Tarabilka is not a Ghost of Kiev and he did not shoot down 40 planes, UAF spokesman Yuriy Ignat told The NY Times. On March 13, 2022, Major Stepan Tarabilka heroically died in an air battle with the superior forces of the Russian occupiers. The Ghost of Kyiv is a superhero legend who was created by the Ukrainians! This is rather a collective image of the pilots of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade defending the sky of the capital. Which suddenly appear where they are not expected. In another Facebook post, Ukraines Air Force Command again confirmed that the Ghost of Kyiv is a superhero-legend. Hero of Ukraine Stepan Tarabalka is NOT Ghost of Kyiv and he did NOT shoot down 40 planes, the post reads. The story comes as Ukraine continues to ask the United States to provide American fighter jets, such as F-16s, to help deny Russian air advantage over Ukrainian skies. Senior Pentagon officials said, however, that Ukraine has an air force that relies principally on Russian-made aircraft, and F-16s are not yet a part of Americas aid plan. We have been providing and helping coordinate from other nations that have the kinds of aircraft that the Ukrainians fly, a senior defense officials said at an April 28 press conference, referring to former members of the Eastern Bloc and their Soviet-era jets. Im not going to speculate about future aircraft deliveries one way or the other. Again, this is an Air Force that relies principally on old Soviet aircraft, thats what theyre used to flying, thats what theyve got in their fleet, the official said. Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Grassroots Movement Seeks to Help Chinese People Break From the Bondage of Communism: Advocate Nearly 400 million Chinese have renounced their affiliation to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as part of what might be Chinas largest and longest-lived grassroots movement, according to Sen Nieh, vice president of the nonprofit Global Service Center to Quit the CCP. The movement, called Quit the CCP or Tuidang in Chinese, is about the individuals choice that they dont want to associate or identify with CCP affiliates anymore, Nieh, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Catholic University of America, told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program on April 19. In China, from childhood to adulthood, citizens are often induced to join the CCP and its affiliate organizationsthe Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneersby taking an oath, swearing loyalty to the Party. Quitting the CCP is a quiet and moral awakening of the individuals inner self, which comes from an understanding that they dont want to be part of the CCPs malign actions, Nieh said. What spurred the movement, he said, was the release of Nine Commentaries of the Communist Party, a book first published by the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times in 2004 that explores the history of deception and murder perpetrated under the CCPs totalitarian rule. Nieh said millions of copies of the book have made their way into China, which has helped people learn about the crimes committed by the Communist Party. Many of those copies were and are still distributed by adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been brutally persecuted by Chinas communist regime since 1999. After reading the Nine Commentaries, Chinese citizens started sending statements to The Epoch Times, [saying] they wanted out, one after another, said Nieh. This prompted the creation of The Global Service Center to Quit the CCP, which aids those who want to renounce the Party. The center set up a website where people can withdraw from the CCP in a public statement. Over the past 17 years, the center has documented 394 million withdrawals from the CCP, which is more than the population of the United States, Nieh noted. Some quit with their real name and location. But many use aliases to protect their identity, thus preventing retaliation from the Party. The participants dont know each other; they dont want to be known by others. They just want to have inner peace that they cut down their connection to the Communist Party, Nieh said. Its about how Chinese people try to break out of the bondage from communism. Regarding the impact of Party withdrawals, Nieh said that, even though thats not its purpose, the movement is inevitably weakening the CCP from within. The professor said mainland Chinese are often indoctrinated by the regimes propaganda and its sophisticated online censorship mechanism known as the Great Firewallwhich blocks internet access to websites and information deemed sensitive by the CCP. They know theyve been brainwashed, but they dont know how [theyve] been brainwashed. So once they have a chance to assess the free information, or come out of China, they like to learn more about their own country, he said. He said that, while younger generations often have more access to outside information by using VPNs that bypass the Great Firewall, senior citizens might lack that access. For this reason, Nieh said, the Global Service Center has been helping people quit the CCP by making phone calls to China: A machine calls random numbers from mainland China, and when someone picks up, it plays a short message that explains the nature of the Party or the crimes committed by it. Receivers are then given the option to listen to another message, withdraw from the CCP, or talk to someone from the center. The center, now registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has offices in Flushing, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It cant afford to pay for employees, so it relies exclusively on the help of volunteers, Nieh said. To pay for expenses, such as the machines for robocalls, it depends on donations, which can be made on the centers official website, he said. Homeland Security Secretary Defends Disinformation Board and Its Newly Appointed Leader Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended his agencys move to create a so-called Disinformation Governance Board after it faced widespread criticism that it was tantamount to an Orwellian Ministry of Truth. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Mayorkas said the new DHS panel would not be used to monitor American citizens and praised its new leader, Nina Jankowicz, after it was revealed that she posted crude and bizarre videos online and repeated false claims in late 2020 that reports about Hunter Bidens laptop were part of a Russian disinformation plot. The board does not have any operational authority or capability, Mayorkas told CNN on Sunday. What it will do is gather together best practices of addressing the threat of disinformation from foreign state adversaries, from the cartels, and disseminate those practices to the operators that have been executing and addressing this threat for years. When asked by CNNs Dana Bash about whether the board will monitor U.S. citizens, Mayorkas replied, No. At the same time, he praised Jankowicz as neutral, a renowned expert, and eminently qualified to lead the panel. Jankowicz previously served at the Woodrow Wilson Center think tank and had written opinion articles for a variety of mainstream publications. Other than making posts disputing reports about Hunter Bidens laptop, Jankowicz in 2020 reposted claims on Twitter from former UK spy Christopher Steele, a Democratic Party-hired political operative who authored the discredited and controversial Steele dossier about former President Donald Trump. Republicans and critics of Big Tech said the panel will attempt to suppress conservative viewpoints and views that are outside of the mainstream, comparing it to the infamous Ministry of Truth in George Orwells novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. The timing of Mayorkass announcement was also flagged as suspicious by critics, who said it is being unveiled just days after tech billionaire Elon Musk and Twitter announced he would take over the company. Mayorkas testified last week in Congress that the board was recently created to combat so-called online disinformation. The board, he added, will focus on the spreading of disinformation in minority communities. He did not provide more details. The goal is to bring the resources of (DHS) together to address this threat, Mayorkas told lawmakers. In response, Musk wrote on Twitter that the boards creation is discomforting, without elaborating, in response to a post from conservative commentator Steven Crowder. Last week, the White House also defended DHSs creation of the disinformation board, claiming that it was a continuation of an effort organized under the Trump administration. India to Open Diplomatic Mission in Lithuania This Year Experts say India's global footprint is increasing, suggesting an alternative model to China NEW DELHIThe Indian government has accorded approval for the opening of a new mission in Lithuania this year. Opening of the Indian Mission in Lithuania will help expand Indias diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations and strategic cooperation, enable the growth of bilateral trade, investment, and economic engagements, facilitate stronger people-to-people contacts, allow for more sustained political outreach in multilateral fora and help garner support for Indias foreign policy objectives, said the Indian government in a press release on April 27. Experts told The Epoch Times that the decision will enable Indias greater integration with the European Union (EU), open new channels for connectivity for India, and help New Dehli increase its global footprint. It will also help counter Chinas growing influence abroad by providing an alternative model for engagement. Its part of Indias broader foreign policy objectives but of course, given the state of affairs with China, between China and Lithuania since last November, this is certainly also aimed at telling China that look India is also able to respond to Chinas challenge, Harsh V. Pant, vice president of studies and foreign policy at the New Delhi based Observer Research Foundation, told The Epoch Times. Lithuania has come under Chinese pressure after it allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in its capital Vilnius. The mission doesnt have formal diplomatic status but its the first Taiwanese mission abroad with Taiwan and not Taipei in its title. China retaliated by imposing a series of sanctions against Lithuania. Lithuanian companies have been facing problems in China, India can perhaps emerge as an alternative, said Pant. So this is also part of the larger dynamics of India offering itself as a more credible alternative to China in the global economy. Abhishek Srivastava, assistant professor of diplomacy at New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, said that in the current geopolitical context, European nations are coming closer to India because New Dehli is a responsible player in the global politics and can act as a counterbalance to China in Asia. European countries are not comfortable with the rise of China because China is not a protector of international values, Srivastava told The Epoch Times in an email. The decision is likely to send a direct message to China. Im sure that China will be irked with this decision but they should hear us that China-India relations are on a trajectory where nothing much positive has come out in a long time span, said Pant. Taipei announced it had formally opened a de facto embassy in Lithuania using the name Taiwan, a significant diplomatic departure that defied a pressure campaign by Beijing, on Nov. 18, 2021. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images) Increasing Global Footprint India has had close diplomatic relations with the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, though activities are conducted by other embassies in Europe because New Dehli does not have any missions in the region. Experts said opening a mission in Lithuania is in line with Indias desire to have a broader, global footprint and New Dehli has been rapidly expanding its missions in countries where it traditionally didnt have an outpost. Lithuania was covered from Poland but sometime back decision was taken to open resident missions in all three and this is a continuation of that policy. This is also part of greater integration with the EU, Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian diplomat who has served at the Indian missions in Cote dIvoire, Bangladesh, Mongolia, United States, Russia, Sweden and Nigeria, Libya, and Jordan told The Epoch Times in an email. He said by opening its mission in Lithuania, India is fulfilling an obligation because Lithuania was the first Baltic nation to open an embassy in India in 2008. Baltic countries have been making efforts to enrich ties with India to enhance technology exchanges. The Indian government described the new mission as a forward-looking step, adding that its decision will help its goal of inclusive growth and achieving self-reliance. Enhancement of Indias diplomatic presence will, inter-alia, provide market access for Indian companies and bolster Indian exports of goods and services. This would have a direct impact on augmenting domestic production and employment in line with our goal of a self-reliant India, said the Indian government. Boosting technology transfers, gaining greater access to the EU, and increasing connectivity corridors are key priorities for India, according to Trigunayat, whos also a distinguished fellow at the Vivekanand International Foundation. The former diplomat added the EUs pro-India foreign policy expedited Indias decision to open the new mission in Lithuania. Srivastava said Lithuania is an important country in the EU and its location in Eastern Europe is crucial for India. Especially during the Russia-Ukraine war when India started evacuation process for Indian nationals it realized that we need more strong partners in this region. As both countries had strong historical and cultural links, this is an opportunity for India to diversify its opportunity from culture to commerce, he said. Jack Dorsey: Twitter Reinstated NY Posts Account Almost Immediately After Hunter Biden Laptop Story Jack Dorsey, the former chief executive at Twitter, said the social media company reinstated the New York Posts account almost immediately, although the paper has said it was locked out for more than two weeks. Days after it was announced that Tesla CEO Elon Musk would take over the company, Dorsey posted that Twitter went too far when it blocked the sharing of a bombshell NY Post report about Hunter Bidens laptop and overseas business dealings just weeks before the November 2020 election. I have tried taking a break from Twitter recently, but I must say: the company has always tried to do its best given the information it had. Every decision we made was ultimately my responsibility*, Dorsey wrote. In the cases we were wrong or went too far, we admitted it and worked to correct. In response, a Twitter user raised a question about the NY Posts account being locked and the suppression of the laptop story. At the time, Twitter officials claimed the report violated its policies on hacked materials, although it was revealed that the Postwhich was started by Founding Father Alexander Hamilton in the early 1800s and is considered one the oldest newspapers in the United Stateshad obtained the physical laptop hard drive. Meanwhile, The Washington Post and The New York Times several weeks ago, in a reversal, reported that the contents of the laptop were authentic. When I found out, we took that action, Dorsey wrote in response, we reversed it almost immediately even though the Post at the time provided near-daily updates about its account being locked. Eventually, the newspaper was allowed back into its account about 16 days after it was locked. Dorsey, who had fielded criticism that his company was taken over by far-left activists, added that Twitter should have also reinstated the account without requiring a delete of the tweet. Last year, Dorsey, who co-founded the social media company, announced he was stepping down from his role as CEO. He named Parag Agrawal, the companys chief technology officer, as his replacement. About a week ago, Twitter and Musk, the worlds richest man, announced a deal worth $44 billion to allow Musk to take over the company and take it private. Previously, Musk criticized the companys content moderation policies and recently expressed misgivings about the Democratic Party and leftists. It isnt clear whenor ifthe deal will actually go through. Closing the sale of Twitter could take weeks or months. Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a press conference after visiting TEi engineering and steel fabrication company in the seat of Herbert, Queensland in Australia on April 26, 2022. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Australias Liberal Party Target Big Tech for Online Safety Big tech will be required to build enhanced safety controls into their devices that are easy for parents to use and hard for children to bypass, if Australias centre-right Coalition is returned to government. Technology companies would need to create the safeguards for smartphones and tablets as part of a new federal eSafety package. The eSafety Commissioner would work with Apple, Samsung, and others to design device settings and a binding code under the Online Safety Act. If the industry does not create these controls within 12 months of the government being elected, it would move to force companies to comply with regulations. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is campaigning in Sydney on Sunday, has frequently spoken about online safety during his tenure. Our kids should be able to learn, be entertained or connect with their friends and family without facing abuse, humiliation or online predators, he told Nine newspapers. The online world cannot be a cowards cavern where the rules of the real world do not exist. In December, Morrison established a parliamentary inquiry into the effects of social media, saying at the time that parents had a right to be worried about whether big tech was doing enough to keep kids safe. The governments e-safety package also includes $23 million (US$16 million) to raise awareness of eSafety support in schools and provide teacher training and resources. Some A$10 million (US$7.06 million) will also go to the eSafety Commissioner to make it easier for people to report online harms, by expanding co-ordination with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies. Another A$2 million (US$1.41 million)has been earmarked for an online safety grants program to support women and girls in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The government is also renewing its commitments to push social media companies to be more accountable by legislating anti-trolling and online privacy laws, strengthening classifications, introducing stronger regulations to combat fake news and establishing the Online Safety Youth Advisory Council. Smoke rises from the grounds of the Azovstal steel plant in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 29, 2022, amid the ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine. (Andrey Borodulin/AFP via Getty Images) RussiaUkraine War (May 1): Ukrainian Commander: Russia Resumes Shelling The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, May 1. Click here for updates from April 30. Ukrainian Commander: Russia Resumes Shelling A Ukrainian military officer says that Russian forces have resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the war-torn port city Mariupol immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said Sunday in a televised interview that the shelling began as soon as rescue crews ceased evacuating civilians at the Azovstal steel mill. Shlega says that at least one more round of evacuations is needed to clear civilians from the plant. He says dozens of small children remain in bunkers below the industrial facilities. The commander estimates that several hundred civilians still are trapped at the site alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. ___ Germany May Quit Russian Oil by Late Summer Germany says its making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of crude oil imports from Russia by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europes largest economy has reduced its share of Russian energy imports to 12 percent for oil, 8 percent for coal, and 35 percent for natural gas. Habeck says those steps mean increased costs for the economy and for consumers. But he says the changes are necessary if Germany no longer wants to be blackmailed by Russia. The announcement comes as the European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil. The bloc has already decided to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. Weaning German off Russian natural gas is a far bigger challenge. Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany got more than half of its natural gas imports from Russia. ___ Nadal Says Wimbledon Ban on Russian and Belarusian Players Unfair Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal has labeled the ban on Russian and Belarusian players from this years Wimbledon over Moscows invasion of Ukraine as unfair, saying they are not responsible for the war. The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has barred the two countries players from competing at this years grasscourt major in response to what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine. Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion. I think its very unfair to my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues. In that sense its not their fault whats happening in this moment with the war, 21-times major winner Nadal told reporters at the Madrid Open on Sunday. Lets see what happens in the next weeks, if the players will take some kind of decision well, there is one thing thats negative, there are things that are clear. When the government imposes some restrictions, you just have to follow them. AELTCs decision has been condemned by both the mens and womens tours as well as several other players. ___ Mariupol Prepares for Broad Evacuation The city council in the bombed-out southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol says Monday is the scheduled start date for a broad, U.N.-backed evacuation of its civilians, other than those sheltering at a steel plant. The city council also confirmed Sunday in a social media post on Telegram that some civilians were being evacuated Sunday from the Azovstal steelworks, the last Ukrainian defense stronghold in Mariupol. City officials note the support of the Red Cross and say the wider evacuation of the strategic port city was delayed by security concerns. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ Ukraine Says Its Stalling Russian Offensive The Ukrainian army says that a Russian offensive along a broad front in the countrys east has been stalling amid human and material losses inflicted by Kyivs forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Sunday in a Facebook post that Russian troops were trying to advance in the Sloboda, Donetsk, and Tauride regions, but were being held back by Ukrainian forces that continue to fight village by village. Separately, Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of destroying medical infrastructure, taking equipment, and denying medical care to residents in several occupied cities and towns. ___ Russian Oligarchs to Be Targeted in US Aid Package for Ukraine, Schumer Says U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday he will add provisions to a $33 billion Ukraine aid package to allow the United States to seize Russian oligarchs assets and send money from their sale directly to Ukraine. Ukraine needs all the help it can get and, at the same time, we need all the assets we can put together to give Ukraine the aid it needs, Schumer said at a media briefing in New York. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve $33 billion in assistance for Kyiv on Thursday in what would mark a dramatic escalation of U.S. funding for Ukraine more than two months after it was invaded by Russia. ___ Polands Armed Forces Say NATO Military Exercises Involving Thousands of Soldiers Have Begun Polands armed forces said Sunday that military exercises involving thousands of NATO soldiers have begun. They are regular exercises aimed at improving the security of the alliances eastern flank but come this year with Russias war against Ukraine raging nearby. Due to those circumstances, Polands military appealed to the public on Sunday not to publish information or photos of the columns of military vehicles expected to move through the country in the coming weeks. It warned that ill-considered activity could harm the alliances security. Lets be aware of the dangers! the statement said. The Polish Army said in a statement that 18,000 soldiers from over 20 countries were taking part in the Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises that are taking place in Poland and eight other countries. The exercises are scheduled to run May 127. ___ Next Round of EU Sanctions on Russia Must Include Oil Embargo, Ukraines FM Tells Borrell Ukraines foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he told the European Unions top diplomat on Sunday that the blocs next round of sanctions must include an oil embargo on Russia. I also emphasized there can be no alternative to granting Ukraine EU candidate status. We paid separate attention to further safe evacuation from besieged Mariupol, Kuleba wrote on Twitter after his call with Josep Borrell. ___ Fire Reported at Russian Military Site Near Ukraine One person was injured in a fire on a Russian defense ministry facility in the southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, the Belgorod region governor said on Sunday. Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said a local resident suffered minor injuries and his life was not in danger. There were no immediate comments from the defense ministry. Images posted to social media showed a large funnel of smoke rising above the ground. Separately, the governor of the Kursk region, which also shares a border with Ukraine, said that a railway bridge had been damaged on a line used by freight trains. Speaking in a video posted on his Telegram channel, Gov. Roman Starovoit called the incident an act of sabotage. Russia last month accused Ukraine of a helicopter attack on a fuel depot in Belgorod, for which Kyiv denied responsibility, as well as shelling villages and firing missiles at an ammunition depot. Other Russian regions that share a border with Ukraine have also reported cross-border shelling incidents since Moscow sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special military operation. ___ Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol Around 100 Ukrainian civilians were being evacuated from a ruined steelworks in the city of Mariupol on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after the United Nations had confirmed a safe passage operation was in progress there. Grateful to our team! Now they, together with (United Nations), are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant, Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. The evacuees would reach the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday, he said. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. ___ Russia Releases Video Purportedly Showing Missile Used in Odesa Military Airfield Strike Russias defense ministry released footage on Sunday purporting to show a missile being fired that was used to carry out missile strikes on a runway at a military airfield near the Ukrainian city of Odesa a day earlier. The video shows what the Russian defense ministry said was a high-precision Onyx missile being fired from a launcher in an undisclosed location and moving off at speed to its target. The ministry said it had carried out a missile strike on a military airfield near the port city of Odesa, destroying a runway and a hangar containing weapons and ammunition supplied to Ukraine by the United States and European countries. On Saturday, Ukraine said Russian missiles had knocked out a newly constructed runway at Odesas main airport. It was unclear if they were referring to the same incident. Odesa regional governor Maksym Marchenko said Russia had used a Bastion missile, launched from Crimea. ___ Pelosi Visits Kyiv, Meets With Zelenskyy House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a delegation of U.S. lawmakers revealed that they traveled to Ukraines capital to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a bid to express solidarity with the country. Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, the group of lawmakers said in a statement. When we return to the United States, we will do so further informed, deeply inspired, and ready to do what is needed to help the Ukrainian people as they defend democracy for their nation and for the world. Other than Pelosi, several top Democrat House members also traveled to Kyiv, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). A video posted by Zelenskyys Twitter account apparently showed the delegation walking on the streets of Kyiv before they were greeted by the Ukrainian leader. Pelosi is now the highest-ranking U.S. elected official to visit the beleaguered Eastern European nation since the start of its conflict with Russia. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken both traveled to Ukraine to meet with top officials last weekend, while earlier this month, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ukraine-born Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) went to the outskirts of Kyiv, which has seen heavy fighting. Zelenskyy greeted the delegation outdoors before they adjourned to a meeting room where he said, I am grateful to you for this signal of strong support from the United States, the people, and Congressbicameral and bipartisan support. This shows that the United States today is a leader in strong support for Ukraine during the war against the aggression of the Russian Federation, Zelenskyy said. Pelosi told Zelenskyy, We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi added. The visit was not previously announced. Read the full article here ___ Blinken Says US Diplomats to Visit Kyiv Again U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says American diplomats are making plans to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. Blinken made the comment while speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. An overnight statement Sunday said Blinken told Kuleba that America plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. He said diplomats had been making initial visits to Lviv to prepare. The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Kyiv in February just before Russia launched its war on the country. The United States had been bringing diplomats across the Polish border each day to work in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine some 470 kilometers (290 miles) away, before stopping the practice. Lviv has largely been spared in the conflict, though a missile strike several days ago targeted a railroad facility near the city. The United States is one of Ukraines main backers in the war, providing billions in aid and weaponry. ___ Russia Should Respond Symmetrically to Asset Freezes by Unfriendly Countries: Duma Chairman Russia should respond symmetrically to the freezing of Russian assets by some unfriendly countries, Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman on Russias state Duma, the lower house of parliament, wrote in a social media post on Sunday. It is right to take mirror measures towards businesses in Russia whose owners come from unfriendly countries, where such measures were taken: confiscate these assets, Volodin wrote. ___ Russia Says Ukraine Shells Its Own Civilians; Some Evacuations in Mariupol Ukraines shelling killed and injured its own civilians in the southern region of Kherson, Russia said on Sunday, after pounding southern and eastern areas with missile strikes, while some civilians got away from a steel plant in besieged Mariupol. Moscow has turned its focus to Ukraines south and east. Its forces have captured the town of Kherson, giving them a foothold just 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Russian-annexed Crimea, and have mostly occupied Mariupol, the strategic eastern port city on the Azov Sea. Russias defense ministry accused Ukraines forces of shelling a school, kindergarten, and cemetery in the villages of Kyselivka and Shyroka Balka in the Kherson region, the Russian RIA news agency said on Sunday. The ministry gave no further details. There was no immediate response from Ukraine to the report. But Ukraines military said in a bulletin on Sunday that Russian forces were fighting to break beyond Khersons administrative borders and prepare the way for attacks on the cities of Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih. Russias control of Kherson will help sustain its advances to the north and west and improve its control of Crimea, British military intelligence said in a Twitter update. ___ Zelenskyy Urges Russian Troops Not to Fight Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy switched to Russian in his nightly video address to urge Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expected that thousands of them would die. He said Russia has been recruiting new troops with little motivation and little combat experience for the units that were gutted during the early weeks of the war so these units can be thrown back into battle. He said Russian commanders fully understand that thousands of them will die and thousands more will be wounded in the coming weeks. ___ Russian Ruble to Be Used as Currency in Ukrainian City Kherson: UK Military The British military says the Russian ruble will be used as currency in a Ukrainian city that Moscow seized earlier in the war. The British military wrote that the city of Kherson will begin a four-month transition from the Ukrainian hryvnia to the ruble starting Sunday. The British Defense Ministry said the move is indicative of Russian intent to exert strong political and economic influence in Kherson over the long term. It added: Enduring control over Kherson and its transport links will increase Russias ability to sustain its advance to the north and west and improve the security of Russias control over Crimea. Kherson is some 450 kilometers (280 miles) southeast of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Russia seized the city just across the Crimean Peninsula in early March. ___ Jack Phillips, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report. On February 2021, the Doctors for COVID Ethics sent a letter to the European Medicines Agency, listing several urgent questions about vaccine safety. STORY AT-A-GLANCE Doctors for COVID Ethics have been warning about the potential for gene-based COVID-19 vaccines to cause blood clots, cerebral vein thrombosis and sudden death SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor on platelets. The subsequent activation of the platelets can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), i.e., a pathological overstimulation of your coagulation system resulting in abnormal blood clotting, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and hemorrhaging Research shows deaths are 14.6 times more frequent during the first 14 days after the first COVID injection among people over the age of 60, compared to those who arent vaccinated. Other data also show that after COVID-19 vaccines were implemented, overall death rates have, with few exceptions, increased A key problem with all of these gene-based COVID-19 vaccines is that the spike protein itself appears toxic, and your body is now a spike protein-producing factory Its inherent toxicity may be due to it being a prion protein. If so, we can expect these injections to cause all manner of prion diseases, such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS) February 28, 2021, Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, a retired professor, microbiologist and infectious disease and immunology specialist, along with several other doctors and scientists who have formed Doctors for COVID Ethics, sent a letter[1] to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), warning about the potential for gene-based COVID-19 vaccines to cause blood clots, cerebral vein thrombosis and sudden death. The signees listed several questions in need of urgent answers, including evidence that gene-based vaccines will not enter the bloodstream and disseminate throughout the body, or that the vaccines will not remain entrapped in circulation and taken up by endothelial cells. They warned that, barring such evidence, it must be expected that during expression of the vaccines nucleic acids, peptides derived from the spike protein will be presented via the MHC I pathway at the luminal surface of the cells, and that many healthy individuals have CD8-lymphocytes that recognize these kinds of peptides either due to previous COVID-19 infection, or cross-reaction with other coronaviruses responsible for the common cold. We must assume that these lymphocytes will mount an attack on the respective cells, they noted, unless theres evidence to exclude this probability. If lymphocytes do mount an attack on cells, it must be expected that endothelial damage with subsequent triggering of blood coagulation via platelet activation will ensue, they warned, adding that reduced platelet count and the appearance of D-dimers in the blood is also to be expected, as are myriad ischemic lesions throughout the body including in the brain, spinal cord and heart, followed by profuse bleedings and hemorrhagic stroke. Post-Vaccination Thrombocytopenia Bhakdi and colleagues cite research showing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor on platelets. The subsequent activation of the platelets can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), i.e., a pathological overstimulation of your coagulation system that can result in abnormal, and life threatening, blood clotting, as well as thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and hemorrhaging. Platelets are specialized cells that stop bleeding. As Bhakdi explains, you basically end up with so many blood clots throughout your vascular system that your coagulation system is exhausted, resulting in bleeding (hemorrhaging). Interestingly, thrombocytopenia low platelet count has been reported in severe COVID-19 cases and vaccinated individuals alike, suggesting the spike protein may be a causative agent. The signees also demand evidence that an actual emergency existed at the time of the EMA granting Conditional Marketing Authorization to the manufacturers of all three vaccines, to justify their approval for use in humans, seeing how most hospitals, in most countries, were no longer at capacity when the authorizations were issued. There are serious concerns, including but not confined to those outlined above, that the approval of the COVID-19 vaccines by the EMA was premature and reckless, and that the administration of the vaccines constituted and still does constitute human experimentation, which was and still is in violation of the Nuremberg Code, the letter states.[2] Vaccine Risks Clearly Outweigh Any Potential Benefit Since that February 28, 2021, letter to the EMA, 15 European countries have suspended use of the AstraZeneca DNA vector-based vaccine due to clotting disorders.[3] The U.S. temporarily suspended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, another DNA vector vaccine, for the same reason.[4][5] As of mid-May 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 28 cases of serious blood clots among the 8.7 million Americans who had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.[6] While the CDC admitted theres evidence to suggest a plausible causal association, the pause was lifted April 23, 2021.[7] However, as Bhakdi explains, the mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) are just as dangerous and can cause the same problems, as the key causative agent appears to be the spike protein. The EMA held a press conference March 17, 2021, at which they assured the European population that no definitive link could be found between the COVID-19 vaccines and these rare coagulation disorders. They also stated that the World Health Organization considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue. However, as stated in a follow-up letter to the EMA, Bhakdi and his colleagues point out that The WHO is not a competent body for formally evaluating drug safety. That is explicitly the role of the [EMA]. In the interview, Bhakdi notes that in Germany, a total of 52 people without preexisting disease died as a direct result of COVID-19 infection during the first six months of the pandemic. Extrapolating from the EMAs own statistics on vaccine-related deaths (which is likely to be an undercount), vaccinating 60 million Germans under the age of 60 would result in the death of 54 people from these two rare blood disorders alone[8] (DIC and cerebral venous thrombosis, i.e., blood clots in the brain resulting in bleeding). So, how in Gods name can the benefits outweigh the risks? Bhakdi says. Indeed, its important to realize that the COVID-19 vaccines do not confer immunity. You can still contract the infection and spread it to others. All the vaccines may do is reduce your symptoms, if and when you get infected. Also remember that, unless you are elderly and have more than two underlying chronic conditions, your risk of death from COVID-19 is on par with seasonal influenza.[9][10][11][12][13] As explained by Bhakdi, the first symptom of a blood clot in your brain is a splitting headache, followed by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, alterations of consciousness, reduced hearing, blurred vision, paralysis and uncontrollable body spasms, just to name a few. Early emergency medical treatment is essential for survival. Vast numbers of people complain of one or several of these symptoms after getting a COVID-19 shot, and not just the AstraZeneca vaccine, and this does not bode well for safety. How COVID Vaccines Deregulate Your Vascular Function In the video above, Bhakdi explains the science behind the blood disorders seen post-vaccination with gene-based COVID-19 vaccines, and why, in the long term, these injections may be causing dangerously overactive immune function in hundreds of millions if not billions of people. He believes the mRNA or DNA in the vaccines are being taken up by the endothelial cells that line your blood vessels. These cells then start producing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the blood vessel wall. This is a disastrous situation, Bhakdi says, because the spike protein itself is now sitting on the surface of the cells, facing the bloodstream. It is known that these spike proteins, the moment they touch platelets, they active them [the platelets], and that sets the whole clotting system going. The second thing that should happen, according to theory, is that the waste products of this protein that are produced in the cell, are put in front of the door of the cell and is presented to the immune system. The immune system, especially the lymphocytes, recognize these and will attack the cells, because they dont want them to make viruses or viral parts. And the viral parts are now being made in locations where viral parts would never, ever reach [naturally], like the vessel wall in your brain If that tapestry of the wall [i.e., the lining of the blood vessel] is then destroyed, then that is the signal for the clotting system to [activate], and create a blood clot. And this happens with all of these vaccines because the gene [the instruction to make spike protein] is being introduced to the vessel wall. The fact that blood clots can occur anywhere in the body is evident from reports. For example, a 43-year-old healthy man lost a large portion of his small intestine after developing a blood clot following the AstraZeneca vaccine.[14] His symptoms included headache, nausea, fever and vomiting. A 62-year-old woman suffered blood clots in her lungs a week after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.[15] The same fate hit an 18-year-old nursing student three weeks after getting the AstraZeneca jab.[16] Clear Correlation Between Vaccine and Increased Death Rate Five months into the vaccination campaign, statistics tell a frightening story. For example, one recent investigation[17] shows deaths are 14.6 times more frequent during the first 14 days after the first COVID injection among people over the age of 60, compared to those who arent vaccinated. Another study,[18] reviewed in the video above, shows that after COVID-19 vaccines were implemented, overall death rates, with few exceptions, temporarily increased after they had been dropping in virtually every country. Interestingly, I recently interviewed Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., about a paper in which she details some of the harmful mechanics of COVID-19 vaccines, and she noted that countries in which COVID-19 vaccines have not raised mortality rates are also not using glyphosate. This, she believes, may be a central part of the equation, as glyphosate causes a lot of biological damage and lowers your immune function. April 23, 2021, molecular biologist and toxicologist Janci Chunn Lindsay, Ph.D., provided a public comment during a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, in which she noted that:[19] We have enough evidence now to see a clear correlation with increased COVID deaths and the vaccine campaigns. This is not a coincidence. It is an unfortunate unintended effect of the vaccines. We simply must not turn a blind eye and pretend this is not occurring. We must halt all COVID vaccine administration immediately, before we create a true pandemic that we cannot reign in. Other Theories Another hypothesis has been presented by professor Andreas Greinacher, a German expert on blood. Greinacher and his team at the University of Greifswald believe viral vector vaccines AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson may be causing an immune response resulting in blood clots due to the presence of human-derived proteins and/or the preservative used in the AstraZeneca vaccine. As reported by The Wall Street Journal:[20] Prof. Greinacher and his team has identified more than 1,000 proteins in AstraZenecas vaccine derived from human cells, as well as a preservative known as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA. Their hypothesis is that EDTA, which is common to drugs and other products, helps those proteins stray into the bloodstream, where they bind to a blood component called platelet factor 4, or PF4, forming complexes that activate the production of antibodies. The inflammation caused by the vaccines, combined with the PF4 complexes, could trick the immune system into believing the body had been infected by bacteria, triggering an archaic defense mechanism that then runs out of control and causes clotting and bleeding The type of clotting observed is known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT. Peer-reviewed studies by Prof. Greinachers group, as well as from teams at the University of Oslo and University College London have independently confirmed its existence. Other scientists hypothesize that the adenoviruses used in the DNA vector shots might play a role, as they too have been linked to blood clotting, while a theory suggested by professor Eric van Gorp in The Netherlands is that the intense flu-like symptoms induced by the shots contribute to inflammation that can trigger or exacerbate an autoimmune reaction that in turn results in blood clotting.[21] Toxicity of Spike Protein Is a Major Issue As noted in my interview with Seneff, a key problem with all of these gene-based COVID-19 vaccines is that the spike protein itself appears toxic, and your body is now a spike protein-producing factory. They have done studies where they only expose the [animal] to the spike protein, showing it was toxic in the brain and the blood vessels, Seneff said, So, its causing immune reactions all by itself that is damaging to the tissues. Its inherent toxicity may be due to it being a prion protein. While this has yet to be conclusively determined, there are signs to suggest the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein acts as a prion. If so, we can expect these injections to cause all manner of prion diseases, such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS). COVID-19 vaccines are instruction sets for your body to make a toxic protein that will eventually wind up concentrated in your spleen, from where prion-like protein instructions will be sent out, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. Disturbingly, the spike protein produced by COVID-19 vaccines due to the modifications made to the synthetic mRNA that delivers the instructions to the cell for what protein to make may make it more of a prion than the spike protein in the actual virus, and a more effective one. To summarize a take-home message from that interview, COVID-19 vaccines are instruction sets for your body to make a toxic protein that will eventually wind up concentrated in your spleen, from where prion-like protein instructions will be sent out, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. Vaccine Remedy May Be Worse Than the Disease In her recently published paper, Seneff explains how and why the spike protein acts as a metabolic poison. While I recommend reading Seneffs paper in its entirety, Ive extracted key sections below, starting with how the spike protein can trigger pathological damage leading to lung damage and heart and brain diseases:[22] The picture is now emerging that SARS-CoV-2 has serious effects on the vasculature in multiple organs, including the brain vasculature In a series of papers, Yuichiro Suzuki in collaboration with other authors presented a strong argument that the spike protein by itself can cause a signaling response in the vasculature with potentially widespread consequences. These authors observed that, in severe cases of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 causes significant morphological changes to the pulmonary vasculature Furthermore, they showed that exposure of cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit was sufficient to promote cell signaling without the rest of the virus components. Follow-on papers showed that the spike protein S1 subunit suppresses ACE2, causing a condition resembling pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe lung disease with very high mortality The in vivo studies they referred to had shown that SARS coronavirus-induced lung injury was primarily due to inhibition of ACE2 by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, causing a large increase in angiotensin-II. Suzuki et al. (2021) went on to demonstrate experimentally that the S1 component of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, at a low concentration activated the MEK/ERK/MAPK signaling pathway to promote cell growth. They speculated that these effects would not be restricted to the lung vasculature. The signaling cascade triggered in the heart vasculature would cause coronary artery disease, and activation in the brain could lead to stroke. Systemic hypertension would also be predicted. They hypothesized that this ability of the spike protein to promote pulmonary arterial hypertension could predispose patients who recover from SARS-CoV-2 to later develop right ventricular heart failure. Furthermore, they suggested that a similar effect could happen in response to the mRNA vaccines, and they warned of potential long-term consequences to both children and adults who received COVID-19 vaccines based on the spike protein. An interesting study by Lei et. al. (2021) found that pseudovirus spheres decorated with the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein but lacking any viral DNA in their core caused inflammation and damage in both the arteries and lungs of mice exposed intratracheally. They then exposed healthy human endothelial cells to the same pseudovirus particles. Binding of these particles to endothelial ACE2 receptors led to mitochondrial damage and fragmentation in those endothelial cells, leading to the characteristic pathological changes in the associated tissue. This study makes it clear that spike protein alone, unassociated with the rest of the viral genome, is sufficient to cause the endothelial damage associated with COVID-19. The implications for vaccines intended to cause cells to manufacture the spike protein are clear and are an obvious cause for concern. Long-Term Neurological Damage Is To Be Expected Seneff also describes key characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that suggests its a prion. As such, the spike protein may induce serious neurological damage resulting in conditions such as such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS), just to name a few. She writes:[23] Neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as headache, nausea and dizziness, encephalitis and fatal brain blood clots are all indicators of damaging viral effects on the brain. Buzhdygan et al. (2020) proposed that primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells could cause these symptoms In an in vitro study of the blood-brain barrier, the S1 component of the spike protein promoted loss of barrier integrity, suggesting that the spike protein acting alone triggers a pro-inflammatory response in brain endothelial cells, which could explain the neurological consequences of the disease. The implications of this observation are disturbing because the mRNA vaccines induce synthesis of the spike protein, which could theoretically act in a similar way to harm the brain. The spike protein generated endogenously by the vaccine could also negatively impact the male testes, as the ACE2 receptor is highly expressed in Leydig cells in the testes Prion diseases are a collection of neurodegenerative diseases that are induced through the misfolding of important bodily proteins, which form toxic oligomers that eventually precipitate out as fibrils causing widespread damage to neurons Furthermore, researchers have identified a signature motif linked to susceptibility to misfolding into toxic oligomers, called the glycine zipper motif Prion proteins become toxic when the -helices misfold as -sheets, and the protein is then impaired in its ability to enter the membrane. Glycines within the glycine zipper transmembrane motifs in the amyloid- precursor protein (APP) play a central role in the misfolding of amyloid- linked to Alzheimers disease. APP contains a total of four GxxxG motifs. When considering that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a transmembrane protein, and that it contains five GxxxG motifs in its sequence,[24] it becomes extremely plausible that it could behave as a prion. One of the GxxxG sequences is present within its membrane fusion domain. Recall that the mRNA vaccines are designed with an altered sequence that replaces two adjacent amino acids in the fusion domain with a pair of prolines. This is done intentionally in order to force the protein to remain in its open state and make it harder for it to fuse with the membrane. This seems to us like a dangerous step towards misfolding potentially leading to prion disease A paper published by J. Bart Classen (2021) proposed that the spike protein in the mRNA vaccines could cause prion-like diseases, in part through its ability to bind to many known proteins and induce their misfolding into potential prions. Idrees and Kumar (2021) have proposed that the spike proteins S1 component is prone to act as a functional amyloid and form toxic aggregates and can ultimately lead to neurodegeneration. Clear Crimes Against Humanity Circling back to where we started, March 23, 2021, the EMA issued a reply[25] to the Doctors for COVID Ethics. In it, they conceded that the gene-based vaccines do enter the bloodstream, but they could provide no quantitative data. This lack of data effectively nullifies the remainder of their scientific assessment, which Doctors for COVID Ethics described as unconvincing and unacceptable. The following week, April 1, 2021, Doctors for COVID Ethics sent a follow-up letter and rebuttal[26] to the EMA, expressing their dissatisfaction with the EMAs responses:[27] We are dismayed that you chose to respond to our request for crucially important information in a dismissive and unscientific manner. Such a cavalier approach to vaccine safety creates the unwelcome impression that the EMA is serving the interests of the very pharmaceutical companies whose products it is you pledged duty to evaluate. The evidence is clear that there are some serious adverse event risks and that a number of people not at risk from SARS-CoV-2 have died following vaccination For the avoidance of doubt, if your regulatory body does not immediately suspend its emergency recommendation of potentially dangerous inadequately tested gene-based vaccines, while the matters which we have highlighted to you are properly investigated, we hereby put the EMA on notice of being complicit in medical experimentation, in violation of the Nuremberg Code, which thereby constituted the commission of crimes against humanity. Originally published May 28, 2021 on Mercola.com References Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A vial labelled "Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine" is seen in this illustration taken on Jan. 16, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters/Illustration) Moderna Targeting Fall Release for Omicron Variant-Specific COVID-19 Boosters A top executive at vaccine maker Moderna said that an Omicron- and subvariant-specific COVID-19 vaccine booster will be potentially released by the company in the fall. We announced a couple weeks ago a new, variant-specific booster that weve been testing, and we have an additional candidate, our lead candidate, in testing now that I believe is going to be even more superior, Moderna Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton told CBS on Sunday. We are confident that by the fall of this year, we should have large amounts of that new booster vaccine that will protect against Omicron and other variants, and really protect Americans and people around the world as we go into the fall of 2022. Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)set a deadline of June for vaccine manufacturers to submit their respective formulas for variant-specific COVID-19 vaccines. It comes after the company asked the FDA to authorize its vaccine for children under the age of 6. Burton told the outlet that the vaccine is only 37 percent in children aged 2 to 5 and 51 percent effective on children aged 2 and under. He said that because of the Omicron variant, the vaccine has a lower efficacy. What it means for parents or caregivers is that if they give the Moderna vaccine to these little kids, they would basically cut in half the risk of that children getting symptomatic COVID, he claimed. I know that 50 percent is often lower than what were used to seeing with our vaccine, but its because this study was conducted during a time of Omicron. Studies and data have shown that throughout the pandemic, small children saw the lowest hospitalization and death rates among all age groups. Elderly people and individuals with compromised immune systems have the highest COVID-19 death and hospitalization rates, according to data published by health agencies around the world. And it is not clear how many American parents will want to vaccinate their children as data shows that only 28 percent of U.S. children in the 5 to 11 age group are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that COVID-19 case numbers continue to remain vastly lower than the recent January 2022 peak. As of April 29, the 7-day average for U.S. cases stood at around 56,000, whereas on Jan. 15, the seven-day average was about 808,000. On Tuesday, Pfizer asked the FDA to approve a third, or booster, dose for children aged 5 to 11. COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. A high-speed pursuit through Gage County Saturday evening ended with a suspect being shot by Beatrice Police in the area of downtown Beatrice. The pursuit started north of the Pickrell turn on Highway 77 at around 10:30 p.m. when a deputy spotted a vehicle traveling south toward Beatrice with a headlight out. The deputy attempted a traffic stop and the vehicle accelerated to speeds of more than 100 mph. With the threat of public safety, the BPD officers sent two spike strips and deployed them at Sixth and Industrial and Sixth and Dorsey streets, Beatrice Police Chief Bruce Lang said during a press conference. The vehicle continued with four flat tires and eventually came to a stop near Second and Ella streets, where the driver fled on foot. Police attempted a Taser deployment, but were unsuccessful. The driver had made statements to the officers, I have a gun dont make me use it, and reached hands into waistband, Lang said. When the individual reached into his waistband a Beatrice Police Officer fired multiple shots at the suspect, striking him. Officers then rendered first aid to him and he was transported to Bryan West where he is in critical but stable condition in the ICU. The suspect was identified Monday morning as 36-year-old Bradley Allen. Lang added there were active warrants for the suspect from Nebraska and Kansas, which police suspect is the reason he fled. He said as of Saturday night, a weapon had not been recovered from the suspect. A female passenger remained with the vehicle when it stopped, and was not arrested by police. The officer who fired the shots, Kelly Byrne, has been placed on administrative assignment pending the investigation, which Lang said is standard procedure. The Nebraska State Patrol is heading the investigation. Byrne has been employed by the department since December 2018. Lang, who is retiring as police chief in June after 30 years, said this is the second officer-involved shooting in Beatrice during his career. Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 0 Money Maze: Retirees Turn Detective to Find Lost Pensions When Sam Semilia toted up his retirement finances, he was pretty sure that he was due a pension from his time working as a steam engineer for the Diamond Crystal salt company four decades before. Salty is one way to describe the search for his money, a four-year odyssey filled with shredded paper trails and assorted dead ends, along with a brief history of modern American capitalism. These obstacles included the fact that while Diamond Crystal was still a familiar brand, it had been bought and sold by several companies through the yearseach one newly responsible for old pensioners. As he traced that snaking path, he found that his original paperwork may have no longer existed, as business records mostly went digital since he left the company in 1979. I dont know how someone would do it without documents, said Semilia, 71. I kept all of them, including a worksheet and cover letter, but it still wasnt good enough. Over the past several decades, as a wave of stock-market crashes, recessions, de-industrialization, and the pandemic have roiled U.S.-based companies, millions of workers like Semilia have been impacted by lost or terminated pensions. Many may not know how to claim the money they earned. While business owners are required to inform participants when a defined benefit plan shuts down or terminates, the process is often far from smoothespecially when workers have moved. As a result, it is often supremely challenging to know where to look or whom to ask, even when pensioners have all their records. At stake are hundreds of millions of dollars from defined benefit (DB) pension plansthe old-style, single-employer plans that used to guarantee lifetime benefits. More than 61,000 defined benefit plans have been terminated by employers over the past 30 years. These pensions used to guarantee payments at retirement, but now they are rarely offered to new corporate employees, although they are more often used in the public sector. But all is not lost. Many of these plans are backstopped by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Created by federal law in 1974, the PBGC is similar to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. A quasi-public insurance/regulatory entity, it monitors and insures trustee-defined benefit pension plans. When companies fail, or they terminate their plans, these are taken over by the PBGC. It collects premiums from companies to cover beneficiary payments and administrative costs. All told, the PBGC is responsible for current and future pensions for workers in 4,200 single-employer and multi-employer pension plans. Yet trying to find out if youre entitled to unclaimed defined benefit pension payments is like entering a bewildering labyrinth. If you know the exact name of your plan or the current name of the company administering it (or if the PBGC is the trustee of a terminated plan), thats a start. One Mans Search As Semilia began searching for his pension in 2016, he was well prepared. He had documents verifying his benefits, a company cover letter, and even a statement of earnings from the Internal Revenue Service. He had called every agency from the U.S. Department of Labor to the many corporations that had acquired Diamond Crystal over the past four decades. He learned that Diamond had changed hands multiple times. As near as Semilia could figure, its convoluted string of owners included the multinational corporation AkzoNobel, and another major corporation, Cargill. Further complicating matters: As Semilia would come to discover, one of AkzoNobels spinoffsNouryon Chemicalswas a custodian of relevant records. Complicating matters still further, MetLife had been retained at some point to administer the benefits. He hit a major roadblock when an AkzoNobel representative told him they had found his file but that it showed he had accepted a lump sum payment in 1990. This was not correct. Despite calling these various organizations every 90 days or so, he never received a payment. Neither the Social Security Administration nor the IRS could not warm his cold trail. In utter frustration, Semilia sought help. He connected with Jennifer Anders-Gable, a lawyer with Western States Pension Assistance Project, a nonprofit that helps people track down pensions. With her assistance, Nouryon located Semilias records. It paid him over $5,200 in retroactive benefits (including interest) and continued to pay him the monthly $81 benefit he earned many decades ago. He was surprised that things worked out so quickly after we got involved since he had been trying to initiate benefits for years on his own, Anders-Gable said. Semilias experience is not unusual, said Jane Smith, a policy analyst with the nonprofit Pension Rights Center, Unless you get lucky in an internet search, she said, a pension plan can be extremely hard to locate. The centers chief operating officer, Kyle Garrett, added, A lot of people are not internet savvy and they will hit a lot of dead ends. Dumping Pensions Defined benefit plans used to be the gold standard in private-sector retirement plans. Back in 1975, they covered more than 27 million workers; today it is fewer than half that number, according to the Congressional Research Service. Now 401(k)-style plans predominate in the retirement programs of private employers, covering more than 85 million employees. Companies have been accused of dumping pensions into the lap of the PBGC, which has financially struggled in recent years to keep up with terminations. When companies experience financial difficulties or choose to direct corporate capital elsewhere, they often underfund their plans. Under the most dire circumstances, they can terminate them, leaving the PBGC on the hook for billions in future benefitsand shortchanging workers who were expecting those payments. If a plan terminates, the PBGC may not make a former employee whole on the entire benefit that was promised at retirement. It will pay an annuity based on the retirees age and employment duration. The maximum annual benefit the PBGC will pay depends on the persons age: The younger he or she is, the lower the monthly benefit. United Airlines, for example, shut down its pension plan as part of bankruptcy reorganization for 14,000 active and retired pilots in 2004. At the time, the severely underfunded plan had $2.8 billion to cover $5.7 billion in owed benefits, known as liabilities. The PBGC only covered $1.4 billion in future worker payments. It was the third-largest claim in the history of the PBGC at the time. Pilots saw their future pension payments reduced by thousands of dollars a year. The PBGC insures only defined benefit pension plans, which began to disappear in the 1970s. These are not to be confused with the 401(k)-style defined contribution (DC) plans now common in the private sectors retirement programs. Employers and professional fund trustees held and managed the assets of DB plans; employees never really owned or had direct access to them. By contrast, employees own and manage the money in their 401(k) plans and take it with them when they change jobs (although that doesnt always happen). Unlike defined benefit plans, however, 401(k)s do not make guaranteed payments and are not insured by the PBGC. The Spreadsheet From Hell Pension plan administrators and the PBGC are obligated to track down beneficiaries who have moved on, but the companies that originally provided the plans may have gone into bankruptcy, merged, been acquired, or moved. They are difficult to trace. Yet another wrinkle is that your employer may have terminated a plan after you left the company. The PBGC has a long spreadsheet list of terminated or trusteed plans that is available online, but its more than 5,000 lines long and unalphabetized. Its not user-friendly unless you know what youre looking for and know the precise name of the company plan. You also need to know if you qualified for a benefit and how much that benefit would be, given your years of service. DB plans have various, often complex vesting periods that would qualify you for payments. To know if youre due a pension, you would need to know those rules at the time you signed up or have a summary document of those rules. The spreadsheet list, however, is only for single-employer plans that have shut down. It doesnt include multi-employer plans, the names of potential beneficiaries, or the vesting rules for those plans. Not everyone who worked for a company is eligible to participate in a plan and earn a vested benefit, the PBGC states. Typically, individuals must work at least five years and meet other requirements to earn a benefit. Ideally, one federal agency should have an easily searchable online portal to find lost benefits, but at present the information is dispersed in multiple places. The resources needed to help pensioners are sparse and scattered. Its easier to search for a restaurant near you or to order consumer goods online. Government Overwhelmed Considering the amount of money involved, and what an important source of income this is for retired Americans, it would be reasonable to expect that between the PBGC, the Department of Labor, and the IRS, the effort to locate pension recipients would be more robust. But thats not the case. The IRS, for example, used to notify beneficiaries that they were entitled to benefits. That service was discontinued in 2012, when the agency announced that it would no longer process requests to locate retirement plan participants or beneficiaries. Retirees were advised by the IRS to use an online search, a commercial locator, or credit reporting agencies to retrieve their pension benefits. A likely candidate to help beneficiaries would be the U.S. Department of Labor. While the DOL has a mountain of reporting requirements and vast enforcement capability, it doesnt offer a service to find lost pensions. (If a pension that you know you have is underfunded, the DOL can provide that information.) A PBGC Advocate office was set up to assist beneficiaries. This under-publicized unit has a staff of three people, and is led by Constance Donovan, who said her office only receives about 20 inquiries a year regarding lost pensions. She didnt know the current number of beneficiaries entitled to benefits, although her staff works with the PBGCs Missing Participant Program, a liaison with employers that was expanded in 2018 to locate beneficiaries of defined contribution plans (401[k]-type programs). In some instances, we find out that someone is entitled to a benefit, but the name of the plan may have changed or the assets have been sold to another company, Donovan said. She added: There is no system to track pensions. Its a developing problem. There are nonprofit resources that can help. The aforementioned Pension Rights Center provides free legal assistance and counseling. You can also enlist a commercial unclaimed assets search service. In addition, the PBGC provides some tips on looking for an unclaimed pension. Congress to the Rescue? A searchable, user-friendly pension registry listing all shuttered DB plans, companies, and ways to connect with lost benefits would make eminent sense, but it doesnt exist. Considering that the PBGC has been around since 1974, this essential service is painfully slow in coming. The PBGC Advocates office and the Pension Rights Center have been working on such a registry for years. Of course, after some due diligence, you may be able to track down benefits from searching the PBGCs unclaimed pensions pageif you have the name of the plan and other detailsbut there are a few hitches: The agency has to have insured the plan and taken it over. Not all DB plans are covered by the agency. And the agency lacks a tool that links a renamed insured plan to a former plan. The U.S. House of Representatives on May 4, 2021 passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, which would create a registry of retirement plans to be housed at the Department of Labor that would enable persons to find a current contact for their plans so that they may claim their benefits. The registry would also provide information on defined contribution plans. The Pension Rights Center, which supports the legislation, notes that the registry is not final yet and could be changed, or even eliminated, as the bill goes through all the committees and to the Senate. In the interim, Donovan of the PBGC Advocate office says her agency has a technical roadmap for the pension registry that its creating with the General Service Administrations Centers of Excellence. But its a multi-phased project, so there is no hard date for when the pension search service will be up and running. Sam Semilia said such reforms are long overdue. Reflecting back on the four-year hunt for the money he was owed, he wistfully noted, A pension search tool wouldve been nice. This article was written by John F. Wasik for RealClearInvestigations With Mothers Day in view, Im thinking about mothers and what distinguishes them from other women. While no two women are the same, there is one major difference: Mothers raise children. Some women look forward to having children but, for some reason, they or their husbands are unable to procreate. Many consider adoption, but some fear it will make them stand out from others, that it will be too difficult, or that the children will not love them as birth children would. Lets take a closer look at adoption. Think first about the fact that we are all adopted sons and daughters of God. Christians remember the words Christ reportedly said on the cross, directed to Mary, his mother, Woman, behold your son, and to his apostle John (us), Behold your mother. Theres a long tradition of child adoption in the Old Testament. For example, Moses was a baby of three months when the pharaohs daughter found him and adopted him as her own. He became a great leader. In the book of Esther, Mordecai adopted the child Esther, his cousin, when both her parents died. She, like Moses, played a major role in the survival of the Jewish people. She eventually married the king who had signed a decree to have all the Jewish people killed. Queen Esther caused him to change his mind and rescind the order. That was long ago in a country far away, but last year in the United States, 70,000 children were adopted. Yet there are about 2 million people currently waiting to adopt in the United States. That means there are as many as 36 couples waiting for every child who is placed for adoption. The sad news is that there are still approximately 450,000 kids in foster care, many of them up for adoption. And even more frightening is that almost 1.5 million babies are killed by abortion in the United States every year. Recently I saw a young man who, along with his two brothers, had been adopted six years earlier. Phil was 13 at the time and his brothers were 15 and 11. They lived their early childhood without a dad or mom, and spent many years in and out of foster homes. According to Phil, after being adopted, they all enjoyed high school, played sports, and had decent GPAs. After high school, Phil worked for a year before deciding to become a Marine. I wish you could have met him. He had an infectious smile, a great attitude of gratitude, and was the boy every family wants. I keep thinking how lucky these boys were to have such a generous, hardworking, loving family. Many who arent familiar with Phils story might argue that adopting pre-teens and teenagers isnt wise. While it might occasionally be disappointing, in most cases it works out just great. The success of any adoption depends on the attitudes of the parents and the kids. While most couples want infants, there are far too many older kids waiting for adoption. One national organization, AdoptUSKids, had this to say: Of the children in the U.S. foster care system, 108,000 children under the age of 18 are currently waiting for adoptive families. Sorry to burden you with statistics, but I do want you to know how many wonderful kids are just waiting for a family to help them develop into all they can be. What can a couple or person do to increase the odds of helping a child find a forever family and find fulfillment in being a mother or father? First, get in touch with an adoption agency. One of the most popular is Catholic Charities. They have offices all across the country and serve all faiths. Or, check out AdoptUSKids.org. Adoption agencies are great at obtaining the medical history of the biological parents as well as prenatal screening of the adopting couple for disease or other health issues. They will also screen the forever parents for financial stability, presence or absence of social and family support and be available for additional help after the adoption occurs. As a side issue, remember that 8 of 10 fathers of teen pregnancies will, sooner or later, abandon both mother and baby. Adoption can save the biological mother as well as the baby from living their lives in poverty. Sadly, far too many babies of unwed teen mothers will end up being abused by the mothers new boyfriends. These are societal problems, and removing the stigma of giving up a baby and the embarrassment of being infertile and adopting are big first steps. Imagine how great it would feel to be a part of preventing that poverty and abuse. Second, find a pediatrician. In addition to the advice given by the adoption agency, most new parents need someone to discuss the medical, psychological, and social aspects of parenting and offer continuing support. While waiting for the adoption to take place is a good time to find a pediatrician. Most pediatric doctors offer a get-acquainted, complimentary visit. Here is the time and place to see if you and the doctor have the same philosophy regarding child care. If not, move on. Your doctor should have passed his or her pediatric board, and be a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Be sure to ask about after-hours coverage. If youre considering adoption but are hesitant, let me share an office visit I had years ago. While a physician in the Air Force, I saw an excited mother with her month-old, adopted baby boy. She beamed when I told her she was doing a great job and her baby was both healthy and beautiful. She finished dressing him, turned to me, and asked if I knew Dr. Gunderson. When I answered yes, she asked if she could see him. She explained, I just wanted to meet him and thank him for the card he sent us. She opened her purse and handed me the card. It read: Congratulations on your new baby. On behalf of all us adopted kids, I want to thank you for adopting him. I wish you all good health and you and your husband the best of luck. Continue to love and enjoy your family, and may God continue to bless you and them. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a picture after their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 30, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Pelosi, Schiff Make Unannounced Visit to Ukraine: Support Is on the Way House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a delegation of U.S. lawmakers revealed that they traveled to Ukraines capital to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a bid to express solidarity with the country. Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, the group of lawmakers said in a statement. When we return to the United States, we will do so further informed, deeply inspired, and ready to do what is needed to help the Ukrainian people as they defend democracy for their nation and for the world. Several other top Democratic House members traveled with Pelosi to Kyiv, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). A video posted by Zelenskyys Twitter account apparently showed the delegation walking on the streets of Kyiv before they were greeted by the Ukrainian leader. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 30, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Handout via Getty Images) Pelosi is now the highest-ranking U.S. elected official to visit the beleaguered Eastern European nation since Russia invaded. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken both traveled to Ukraine to meet with top officials last weekend, while last month, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ukraine-born Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) went to the outskirts of Kyiv, which has been the scene of heavy fighting. We are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, Pelosi said in a meeting with Ukrainian officials, according to a video that was posted on Zelenskyys Telegram page on May 1. Your fight is a fight for everyone, and so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. As seen in footage uploaded online, Pelosi said Congress would work with the White House to pass a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine. President Joe Biden last week called on Congress to pass the measure, while similarly announcing another $800 million in security assistance for the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (center right) and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pose for a picture with members of their entourage, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (L) during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 30, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Zelenskyy, according to a statement from Pelosis office, conveyed the clear need for continued security, economic, and humanitarian assistance from the United States to address the devastating human toll taken on the Ukrainian people after Russias invasion. Our delegation proudly delivered the message that additional American support is on the way, as we work to transform President Bidens strong funding request into a legislative package, the statement said. After meeting with Ukrainian officials, the delegation then traveled to Poland. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a veteran and a member of the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committee, was more explicit in laying out what Democrats want. Weapons, weapons, and weapons, he said. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight, and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. PG | 2h 6min | Drama, Comedy, Family, Adventure | 23 November 2011 (USA) When it was revealed that Martin Scorsese was making a 3D childrens movie, most of his loyal fan base recoiled a tad more than slightly. The same man who made some of the greatest films of the last 40 yearsall of them with decidedly adult contentis going to make a 3D kids movie?! After the initial shock wore off, an air of guarded optimism took over and glass-half-empty types finally took to rationalization. If anyone can make a 3D movie that looks good and comes with a great, well-told story, its Scorsese. And if he succeedsif he really nails itit will be superb. Just because a movie features child actors as the leads, which children will love, doesnt mean its appeal is limited to that demographic. There are plenty of adults who will be enthralled by this amazing film. Critics and Audiences Agree Superb doesnt begin to describe Hugo. With one teeny-tiny exception, every facet of this movie achieves a level of perfection never previously seen in any motion picture. The premise, the writing, the acting, the editing, costume and set designs, the little details, the special effects, the direction, everything. Yes, even the 3D is impeccable. Critics and mass audiencesgroups of people who rarely agree on anythingare blessed with a movie such as Hugo, if theyre real lucky, once every decade or so. Three months after its release, Hugo was nominated for 11 Academy Awards (more than any other 2011 title), eventually winning five. While going into the details of the plot might prod some on the fence into giving Hugo a shot, it would be a disservice to truly interested viewers, remove elements of surprise, and squash the myriad of twists. In this instance, being vague about what happens is infinitely preferable. Chloe Grace Moretz as Isabelle and Asa Butterfield as Hugo in Hugo. (Paramount Pictures) Once you get past the imagined children/3D stumbling block, the story begins to dovetail and mushroom in the most unexpected, joyous, and sometimes frightening ways. Both the title character (Asa Butterfield) and Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz) are orphans and are in possession of the kind of artistic talents that children their age dont usually have, but not excessively so. Theyre not wunderkinds or freaks or tortured geniuses in training; theyre just inquisitive, smart, and appropriately drawn to each other. More Than Just Puppy Love While Isabelle is a voracious reader, Hugo prefers movies, which he used to attend with his late father (Jude Law). She introduces him to the classics, and he takes her to see her first film (Harold Lloyds Safety Last!). To call what is developing between them puppy love would be accurate but also a huge generalization. The relationship between Hugo and Isabelle, like all the others in film, is multilayered yet firmly grounded in reality. There are two hypnotic, back-to-back dream sequences, but no elements of fantasy or magic. Everything that takes place in the movie could actually happen in real life. Showing up in the first scene after the opening credits and weaved throughout the remaining narrative is an automaton that bears a striking resemblance to The Machine Man played by Brigitte Helm in Fritz Langs Metropolis (1927). The automaton surrounded by Hugo (Asa Butterfield) and Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz). (Paramount Pictures) Currently broken, the automaton was a project that Hugo and his dad were working on just prior to the latters death. When not tending to the many clocks in the train station, Hugo devotes every second of his free time trying to fix it, which includes scrounging around for missing parts. Asa Butterfield as Hugo and Ben Kingsley as Georges in Hugo. (Paramount Pictures) In the opinion of shopkeeper Georges (Ben Kingsley), Hugo is stealing these items, a position shared by Inspector Daste (Sacha Baron Cohen). Daste is a World War I veteran with a bum leg, who polices the station with a Doberman Pinscher and appears to take great pleasure in snatching up vagrant children and dispatching them to the local orphanage. Inspector Daste (Sacha Baron Cohen) in a moment when he is not policing the train station. (Paramount Pictures) As it turns out, Georges turns out to be Isabelles godfather and as such, once she becomes aware of exactly what transpired in his first confrontation with her newfound friend, she intervenes on Hugos behalf. About halfway through, it becomes clear that Scorseses dogged dedication to movie preservation (he founded The Film Foundation in 1990) starts working its way into the plot, and writer John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator, Rango) brilliantly does so without any type of force-fitting. Asa Butterfield as Hugo in Hugo. (Paramount Pictures) Employing the most modern, up-to-date technology, Scorsese and Logan give everyone a most welcomed, highly informative, and entertaining lesson on the origins of film without ever preaching or drifting into dry, listless, yawn-inducing minutiae. Now Back to That Teeny-Tiny Exception The movie (based on the novel by Brian Selznick, a twice-removed first cousin of movie pioneer David O. Selznick) is set in post-World War I Paris where nobody speaks French and everyone talks with a British accent. While its very nice, looking at the Paris skyline and taking in the accordion-based score, theres nothing contained in the details of the story itself that would have prevented the filmmakers from changing the setting to London. It would have served everyone so much better and easily removed the movies only facet of artificiality. To suggest that it might be better than, say, The Departed, Raging Bull or GoodFellas would be like comparing apples to oranges and patently unfair to Scorsese. The fact that the same person could have made all of those films and Hugo is testimony to his talent and range. Hugo provides the proof, if any was still needed, that Scorsese doesnt just make mob movies. Its safe to say that Hugo is Scorseses best film that isnt rated R. This film is the work of a genius at the top of his game. It exceeds all expectations and is literally a movie for anyone with a pulse. By anyones standards, this is quite simply one of the finest motion pictures ever made. Hugo Director: Martin Scorsese Stars: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law Running Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Release Date: Nov. 23, 2011 Rating: 5 out of 5 Signs against critical race theory in front of the Loudoun County School Administration building in Virginia on Nov. 9, 2021. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) Proposal to Prohibit Teaching Critical Race Theory in Texas School District Wins Majority Approval in Public Comment TEXASThe majority opinion in public comment chose to favor proposed policies that will put guardrails on social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and prohibit critical race theory (CRT) teachings for the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (GCISD), following a board meeting on April 25. Board members Casey Ford and Shannon Braun proposed the policy (pdf) based on what Ford said was input from the community. After an antagonistic discussion about procedural issueshow the policy was presented, how the draft was written, and if it should be discussed that night or in a later committeethe board agreed to evaluate the policy further. A majority of the 40 people who spoke in public comment spoke in favor of the policy. Board member Becky St. John, who advocated for the SEL program, said there were sections of the policy that violated the First Amendment, while stating that CRT and SEL were separate issues. Though CRT is a Marxist philosophy that claims social relations are a class struggle between oppressors and the oppressedspecifically labeling white people as the oppressors and all other races as the oppressedthe phrase has come to encompass for many teachers and parents a more expansive trend that incorporates not only issues of race but also themes of sexuality through SEL questionnaires. SEL programs are sold to schools by for-profit companies backed by philanthropic organizations, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundations, that provide grants to schools, which some parents and teachers have argued is done with the intention of controlling the curriculum with data-mining and political agendas at the sacrifice of basic reading, math, and science skills. Many of these SEL programs that come from companies such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning promote themselves as resources to help children develop positive emotional skills that will in turn help them learn. However, under the microscope, parents and teachers have reported agenda-based content, such as ideologies telling children they can choose their own gender while authorizing teachers to diagnose students with gender dysphoria, a practice that steps outside the purview of taxpayer-funded public education. The policy proposed that teachers should instead be required to present materials related to the founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, as well as speeches by African American statesman Frederick Douglas and Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King. Impartial and Objective The policy would require that teachers present controversial topics in an impartial and objective manner, while teachers not use the classroom to transmit personal beliefs regarding political or sectarian issues. The TikTok page Libs of TikTok has cataloged numerous testimonies of teachers on the social media platform discussing their strategies to teach complex sexual and politically-biased issues to their students. In North Carolina, a task force was initiated in 2021 to give teachers and students an online portal on which to share their experiences with political and sexual indoctrination in the classroom. Race shaming and allusions to surgical castration in childrens literatureas well as accusations of xenophobia against political figures such as former President Donald Trumpwere among the themes found in North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons Indoctrination in North Carolina Public Education report. I Was Shocked One speaker during the public comment session who stood in favor of the proposed policy said after being shown what children were being taught in school, I was shocked. I am shocked that we need this, but I am grateful for those who put this together so we can get this implemented, he said. A speaker who said she was against the policy said it was ridiculous, arguing that those who proposed the policy are operating under the assumption that racism doesnt exist, while also arguing that the policy would prohibit mental health treatment for children by not allowing them to be themselves. The speaker suggested that the policy would prevent teachers from being a safe space for children where their parents arent. Board member Jorge Rodriguez said he took issue with the sentence in the policy stating that teachers shall not be compelled to discuss widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs. However, a sentence following the one Rodriguez read on page two of the document added, However, in the event a teacher chooses to discuss a topic described above, the teacher must explore that topic objectively in a manner free from political bias. The idea that CRT is equivalent to teaching about racism has been the main talking point for critics against anti-CRT legislation, and those critics have often alleged that those pushing for policies that would prohibit CRT in public K-12 public schools are attempting to whitewash history. Conservative Christians Need to Get COVID and Die Another speaker during public comment, advocate Aaron Rowan, said he had been on a podcast called Deprogrammed with Keri Smith, in which he detailed the background of what he described as existentially troubling attitudes within school district officials. On his website, gcisdparents.com, he and others have compiled what he said was evidence of the districts relationship with CRT and SEL propaganda. On the podcast, Mario Cordova, who was among those who spoke in favor of the policy in the meeting, described an incident earlier in the year in which Lisa Grimes, a GCISD teacher, resigned after being caught on video telling other teachers, Im telling you, those conservative Christian people, they need to die; they need to get COVID and die. Both Cordova and Rowan said it was an incident that reflected toxic attitudes in pockets of the district toward Christian parents. If she had said this about blacks or Jews, this may have made national headlines, but because it was against conservative Christians, it only made local headlines in the area, Cordova said. Cordova and Rowan described another incident in which a GCISD principal, James Whitfield, agreed to leave his role after being accused of advocating for CRT. Whitfield openly criticized those advocating against CRT by stating, If you listen to their words that they have to say in an open forum, theyll tell you exactly who they are about having school for and that is if you are a white, Christian, straight person. The board at the time voted 7-0 to approve a settlement that involved Whitfield being placed on administrative leave until his resignation in August 2023. Both Rowan and Cordova said it was statements such as these that promote CRT concepts that allege systematic racism. Fortunately, or unfortunately, since hes moved on, weve been able to tackle this head-onshed some light on itand now, weve got momentum behind people understanding that critical race theory has been present in our district, Cordova said. President Joe Biden (L) and Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas (R) take part in a naturalization ceremony for new citizens ahead of Independence Day in the East Room of the White House on July 2, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Republican Lawmakers Voice Concern Over Bidens Orwellian Disinformation Board Several House and Senate Republicans are voicing concerns over the Biden administrations decision to create a Disinformation Governance Board under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Their concerns arent limited to what the new agency will do, but also include the administrations choice of Nina Jankowicz, a former disinformation fellow at Washington-based think tank Wilson Center, as its executive director. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the new agency on April 27. In a letter (pdf) to Mayorkas dated April 29, 19 Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, led by ranking member James Comer (R-Ky.), said the Orwellian-named agency would suppress free speech. The United States internal security apparatus must serve to protect the American people from threats to the homeland, not be weaponized by an unpopular President to push false narratives and discredit lawful discourse, the lawmakers wrote. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 30, 2020. (Greg Nash/ Pool/Getty Images) The lawmakers questioned Jankowiczs qualification for heading the new agency, pointing to her past public statements. Ms. Jankowicz recently derided defenders of the First Amendment as free speech absolutists engaged in abuse against marginalized communities, the letter reads, pointing to her remarks made during an interview with NPR in April. Mayorkas on May 1 defended the panel and its new leader, saying the board wouldnt be used to monitor U.S. citizens. The board does not have any operational authority or capability, Mayorkas told CNN. What it will do is gather together best practices of addressing the threat of disinformation from foreign state adversaries, from the cartels, and disseminate those practices to the operators that have been executing and addressing this threat for years. When asked by CNNs Dana Bash about whether the board would monitor U.S. citizens, Mayorkas replied, No. At the same time, he praised Jankowicz as neutral, a renowned expert, and eminently qualified to lead the panel. Steele and Hunter Biden Jankowiczs support for former British spy Christopher Steele and false narratives on Hunter Bidens alleged laptop are particularly concerning, the GOP lawmakers said. Steele is best known for being the author of the now-discredited Steele dossier, which contained false and fabricated claims accusing President Donald Trump of colluding with Russia. Steeles primary source for the dossier, Igor Danchenko, was charged with five counts of making false statements to the FBI in November last year. Steele compiled the dossier after being hired by Fusion GPS ahead of the 2016 election to conduct opposition research on Trump. Fusion GPS was retained by Washington-based law firm Perkins Coie on behalf of the Democratic National Committee. In August 2020, Jankowicz wrote on Twitter about Steeles appearance on the Infotagion podcast, saying: Listened to this last night- Chris Steele (yes THAT Chris Steele) provides some great historical context about the evolution of disinfo. Worth a listen. In 2017, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) asked a question on Twitter, saying, Was there collusion between DOJ and Fusion GPS to use Democratic funded dossier for political and legal purposes? In response, Jankowicz wrote, Your party funded the dossier first. Jankowicz repeated her claim on Twitter in April 2020, writing, Youre probably aware that [the Steele dossier] began as a Republican opposition research project. Just before the November 2020 presidential election, the New York Post and Senate committees were among the first to obtain and review emails from Hunter Bidens abandoned laptop in Delaware. The emails revealed how Joe Biden, his brother James, and his son Hunter, were involved in various foreign business ventures, in countries such as Ukraine, Russia, and China. Hunter Biden walks to Marine One on the Ellipse outside the White House on May 22, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) At the time, Jankowicz also tried to dismiss the revelations associated with the laptop. We should view it as a Trump campaign product, she said in October 2020, according to The Associated Press. On Oct. 22, 2020, she took to Twitter to dismiss the New York Posts story on Hunter Bidens laptop, before posting on the same day that emails dont need to be altered to be part of an influence campaign. The very next day, Jankowicz reposted Bidens comment on the laptop during the second presidential debate. Biden notes 50 former natsec officials and 5 former CIA heads that believe the laptop is a Russian influence op, she wrote. On Oct. 24, 2020, she posted a Washington Post article calling it a great piece on the nuance of the alleged Biden laptop kerfuffle. Surprisingly, the idea of a government disinformation body that she now heads seemed unacceptable to her in 2020. That year, she said during an interview that she opposed the concept of the Trump administration being able to determine what is fake news. Imagine that, you know, with President Trump right now calling all of these news organizations that haveinconvenient for himstories that theyre getting out there, that hes calling fake news, and now lashing out at platforms, she said. I would never want to see our executive branch have that sort of power. Concerns Her public comments indicate that she is a partisan; neither a defender of the First Amendment, nor possessing instincts that would make her a credible arbiter of truth, the Oversight Committee Republican lawmakers wrote. Her many public statements undermining First Amendment freedoms further call into question the purpose of the Disinformation Governance Board, and signal that it is likely being set up to provide political cover for an unpopular Administration and to launder political attacks against its opponents. On April 29, the White House defended the decision to hire Jankowicz, with press secretary Jen Psaki saying that she is an expert on online disinformation. Any hiring decisions are up to the Department of Homeland Security, but this is a person with extensive qualifications, Psaki said. The lawmakers want Mayorkas to provide them with documents and information before May 13, including all documents and communications regarding the selection of Nina Jankowicz as the executive director. They also asked the DHS to provide documents on any DHS definition of or criteria for determining what constitutes disinformation, as well as the names of employees authorized to make such a determination. Several Republican senators have also publicly voiced their concerns about the new Disinformation Governance Board, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). The @DHSgov new Disinformation Governance Board is straight out of Orwells 1984, Scott wrote. Its @JoeBidens Thought Police & should terrify every American. A Disinformation Governance Board? Seriously? The Biden admin is quite literally taking a page out of 1984, Ernst wrote. I wont be answering to Nina Jankowicz or her Ministry of Truth for what I write, speak, or think. No other American should either! OPSEC Group's Gregg Phillips (C) conducted the geospatial investigation into ballot trafficking featured in Dinesh DSouzas 2000 Mules documentary to be released next week. (Screenshot/2000 Mules) Researcher Featured in 2000 Mules Documentary Explains How Local Election Fraud Was Grown to National Scale Voter fraud has traditionally been a local affair in the United States, where elections are conducted by more than 3,000 counties in a decentralized system that makes mass ballot manipulation nearly impossible. And it very much remains so, maintains Gregg Phillips. His investigation into Georgia voter fraud during the states 2021 U.S. Senate election runoff is featured in Dinesh DSouzas 2000 Mules documentary, to be released this week. While manning True the Votes voter fraud hotline during the 2020 election, Phillips said he observed local election fraud grown to scale as part of a ballot-harvesting scheme orchestrated by national organizations. Across the country, there are a thousand local insurgencies doing their own things in defiance of state election laws, he said. But what has happened over the past few decades, and became evident during the 2020 election, is new money and old money, old-fashioned foundations can leverage fraud already in place at a local level, Phillips said. This is how this thing grows to scale and can influence state and national election results. Phillips, a former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services and a former deputy commissioner for the Texas Health & Human Services Commission, is the managing partner and majority owner of OPSEC Group LLC, based in Birmingham, Alabama. His company conducts voting roll and election results investigations and analysis for True the Vote (TTV), a nonprofit based in Houston founded by Catherine Engelbrecht in 2010. For more than a decade, TTV has been training poll watchers, educating voters in election law, and lobbying to enact many of the reforms adopted post-2020. Engelbrechts TTV and Phillipss OPSEC conducted the investigation presented in the documentary by DSouza, which is set to open in 300 theaters on May 2 and May 4. The genesis of the investigation, which he and Englebrecht say proves large-scale, illegal vote trafficking occurred in the 2020 election, was digging into reports after manning TTVs tip line, Phillips said. We started to see these anomalies, these densities, in precinct after precinct in places like Milwaukee, Detroit, Atlanta, and Arizonas Maricopa County, where voter turnout was extraordinarily high and virtually all ballots were cast for the same candidates, he said. Mistakes happen, but when you have 100 percent of [registered voters] voting and all for the same candidates, there is something fishy afoot, Phillips said. He said that people calling the tip lines from across the country reported oddities around ballot drop boxes. A common theme was seeing the same people dropping off ballots. There was a lot of speculation about things related to drop boxes, a lot of video around these drop boxes, Phillips said, but it was difficult to use in trying to prove fraud. Then he had an idea: Geospatial analysis gleaned from cellphone data. He said that each cellphone emits a unique, identifiable signal, or ping, he said, all of which are collected and amalgamated by brokers and sold. By collecting cellphone data, you not only know where, but when a phone is at different places, Phillips said. Presuming you know the person who owns that phone, you can learn, where does he sleep? Where does he work? He was eager to see what analyzing cellphone pings around drop boxes would engender. The phone numbers can be tracked and investigators can go back and bust out a pattern of locations before, during and after the phone was at the dropbox, he said. They then refined a hypothesis that [could be tested] in Georgia during the January 2021 runoff election for both of the states U.S. Senate seats. The operation would require the purchase of a petabyte of pings. A petabyte equals 1,000 terabytes, which Phillips said is a big, big, big thing. [Engelbrecht] and her team were working on filing freedom of information requests, and she didnt really buy into a lot of the stuff that was out there, he said. But she supported us, backed us all the way, when we needed more data, she went out and raised more money. The data were super expensivemillions of dollars, Phillips said. We may be the only group left standing when this is all said and done that went out and bought 10 trillion pings. Once they had the data, the question was, who made 25 or more visits to a dropbox? What that left us with was 242 individuals who met that threshold, Phillips said. TTV also collected 4 to 5 million minutes of video that also show the cellphone owners making ballot drops, he said. Those who did so 25 or more times were labeled mules. The data confirmed conclusively that industrial-scale ballot harvesting was routine in Georgia, especially in the Atlanta area. Phillips said Englebrecht demanded it be checked and rechecked. She says over and over again, Gregg, no matter what, you cant be wrong, he said. We had to put it through these quality control checks, create algorithms to pick up anomalies and kick them out. We did not want to include false positives, exclude people who should be included, and include people who should be excluded. We dont want to get ahead of ourselves, Englebrecht said. It takes time to develop these analyses. When the findings were presented to state officials in early 2021, they didnt get the expected response. In September 2021, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds said that since TTV would not reveal sources cited in its analysis, there was no probable cause to investigate. They got mad at us and sent us a letter saying no probable cause to investigateyou dont need probable cause to investigate, Phillips said. I think the greatest challenge we faced was we really believed we could get our work to a point to where it was clear there is a problem, that using our data collected by the same technology routinely used by law enforcement would be impetus enough for key officials to say, This is something we should look into, Englebrecht said. On April 25, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced the state would investigate TTVs claims and subpoenaed Englebrecht and Phillips. One reason for Georgias revived interest in TTVs 2021 investigationand sourceswas that similar subsequent geospatial investigations by Phillips had gained traction with officials in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Phillips said they found ballot harvesting to be a local cottage industry everywhere they looked. County by county, the grifts are different, the collectors and the collection methods are different, he said. You think, how could this possibly be so coordinated? It doesnt seem plausible that thousands of people could have been brought in to do all this stuff. This makes combatting fraud at the polls a thousand-front war, a whole bunch of mini-insurgencies that provide the infrastructure for national groups to scale up. Phillips said he cant name names right now. We are being advised right now (not to make specific allegations) until we get further down the road, he said. But he said the groups capitalizing on local election fraud networks tend to be state chapters of national advocacy groups and foundations with grant programs that have significant influence in communities. I went to Dinesh and said theres enough material here for a movie, and Im not sure anyone else will tell the story, Englebrecht said. Its very difficult in todays environment to find people like Dinesh willing to step up to the line and say, Lets take a look at it. We both ended up being a lot more involved in this movie than we thought we would be, Phillips said. The next thing we know, we are front and center. But stay tuned, both say more is coming. We have two investigations that are more explosive and likely more impactful than this entire mules thing, Phillips said. There is something we havent spoken of publicly because we thought it was going to go in a certain direction, and now that agency is flipping the script, so we are trying to batten down the hatches, Englebrecht said. When it comes to this stuff, you cannot be wrong. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon meets activists and local candidates during local election campaigning in Dunfermline, Scotland, on April 30, 2022. (Jeff J Mitchell-Pool/Getty Images) Scots With CCP Virus No Longer Told to Self-Isolate or Test Scots who have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive are no longer asked to self-isolate or to take a PCR test under the Scottish governments new guidance. The Scottish branch of Britains National Health Service (NHS) was taken out of emergency footing at the end April 30 as COVID-19 cases continue to fall, the Scottish National Party (SNP)-led administration said in a statement. From May 1, people who have symptoms of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, have a fever, or are too unwell to carry out normal activities are just asked to stay at home until their fever has gone or they feel well enough. Children and young people aged 18 and under with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, no longer need to stay at home and can continue to attend education settings, the new guidance said. Those with CCP virus symptoms no longer need to take a PCR test, after mass testing and contact tracing ended on April 30. But Scots who work in health or social care sectors, those visiting hospitals and care homes, will still be able to access COVID-19 testing. The Scottish governments health secretary Humza Yousaf hailed the success of the Test and Protect programme, but said the government recognises we are now in a different phase of the pandemic. The primary purpose of testing is changing from population-wide testing to reduce transmission, to a targeted response focused on reducing severe harm of the virus, he said. The government also said it will close down its vaccine passport app shortly, though users are encouraged to keep the app on their phones in case it is needed again at a future date. Speaking during a campaign visit to Glasgow on April 29, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon emphasised that its not the end of the pandemic and urged people to still be sensible about this virus. But she said: If were all sensible and, of course, if we avoid new variants, then there is every reason now to be a lot more optimistic about the period that lies ahead. Linda Bauld, a public health expert, told the BBC on April 29 that Scotland is now treating the COVID-19 pandemic like any other virus. Essentially we are moving to a stage now where we are less worried about infection and what were focusing on is trying to find people who have the virus, who need support, or are supporting those who are most vulnerable, said the Edinburgh University professor. We are kind of moving to a stage where we are treating this a bit like other viruses which I know not everyone agrees with, recognising that were at a different stage in the pandemic, she added. PA Media contributed to this report. Sen. Scott: Left-Wing Groups Using Race, Lawsuits to Carry Out Election Fraud One of the top Senate Republicans said that left-wing groups are using lawsuits and allegations of racism to push for measures that weaken the countrys election integrity. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) says that Democrats are currently using claims that voter ID laws are racist in a bid to strike them down, although many such laws are commonplace in countries across Europe and elsewhere. You know what the left does? Well, youre a racist. My gosh, if you do anything like that youre a racist, Scott told Just The News. If you do you have to ask somebody for their ID, youre a racist, or if you dont allow us to do same-day registration where you wont know whos voting, you must be a racist. Meanwhile, left-wing advocacy groups, reportedly coordinating with the Department of Justice, are trying to make sure that you can commit fraud in this country, Scott added. Such reports suggest those groups are seeking to dissolve or block voter ID laws, ballot harvesting laws, and limits on ballot boxes, he said. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 26, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Its not fair that you get to know whos going to vote in an election. And we ought to be able to ballot harvest. And by the way, those ballot boxes, they shouldnt be monitored, Scott, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), told the outlet. Thats what they want. Scott said that NRSC and Republican National Committee are now defending numerous lawsuits against election integrity laws across the United States. Were defending lawsuits all over the country where these states have improved their election laws to make sure that your vote is never diluted, he said. About a month ago, a judge in Florida ruled that the states new election law, SB 90, was unconstitutional, although state officials have appealed the order. That law was signed in May 2021 by the governor before it was challenged by several liberal advocacy groups, some of which accused the law of being racist. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, an Obama appointee, said the law is discriminatory and claimed it violates the Constitution. He also issued a permanent injunction that prevented the enforcement of many of the provisions Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody last month appealed the ruling, while Gov. Ron DeSantis said he believes Walkers ruling will be overturned. I dont think there is any question that it will be stayed and reversed, but this was way, way outside the bounds of what the current law is, the governor said in April. Department of Justice officials didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. ROSEMONT, Ill.Mechanical engineer and former Army service member Gary Gaughan enjoyed a Shen Yun performance on the evening of April 29. It became a jumping off point to deepen his exploration of Chinese culture. Shen Yun is a New York-based performing arts company that brings to life 5,000 years of Chinese culture before communism took over. Through classical dance and live music, it provides audiences a glimpse of Chinas rich but threatened heritage. Ive always been attracted to the Chinese culture, and Im still trying to learn Mandarin, he said, commenting on the talent and dedication of the performers. The artists are very creative, very fluent in their moves, and well-practiced. It just tells me that theyre putting their full heart and soul into what theyre doing. He appreciated the old traditions and values presented in Shen Yuns program. Its kind of like with a lot of American culture. Weve lost to a degree where weve come from and what our basics were. Everybodys going for the bells and the whistles and forgetting about what a nation was truly created on. You have to embrace your heritage and where you come from. Chinas cultural backbone prior to the communist takeover in 1949 was its faith-based traditions. But Shen Yuns performers are practitioners of Falun Gong or Falun Dafa, a spiritual tradition based on truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Shen Yuns themes of honor, tradition, unity, and discipline stood out to Mr. Gaughan. After the show, he bought a copy of Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa, from the gift stand. Im one of those people that I always want to know more, he said. I guess the way some Americans would end up looking at [this book] is that this is like what they would look at as their Bible. It was something that people would read every day. The words in the book are more than just words on a page. They have a meaning. They have a true meaning behind them, about how you should practice [in] your life and how its not just about you, its about a higher power as well. Payal and Mehul Patel at the Shen Yun performance on April 29 in Rosemont, Ill. (Sherry Dong/ The Epoch Times) Chicago IT director Mehul Patel called Shen Yun a new form of art. He attended the show with his wife, optometrist Payal Patel. Its really calm and comforting, Mr. Patel said. And its bringing a new aspect of the whole performing arts that we havent seen before. So this is a new form of art that is very unique and really lively, makes a very kind of good feel, and brings the old and new aspects together. Mrs. Patel also commented, saying, the dances were so beautiful. Theres this flow to it. Its like a dream. The emcees introduction of Chinas dance traditions helped her understand the origins of this art form, including how it differs from ballet, which audiences may be more familiar with. I love dancing myself, she said. Im from India, so I always want to learn classical Indian dancing. So I can relate how Chinese traditional dancing, what it means to the Chinese people and how important it is to keep it alive. So Im very glad that these people came together and put this much effort into keeping the culture alive. Both Mr. and Mrs. Patel came away from the performance feeling uplifted. Its very fulfilling; you watch that and you feel good, and you want to do good, Mr. Patel said. Absolutely, added Mrs. Patel. It touches your heart. Reporting by Stacey Tang and Sherry Dong. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. To hear Gary Buchanan tell it, theres an eight-lane highway down the middle of Montana politics. It is the space left behind by the major political parties steering to the opposing guardrails of the political spectrum. Buchanan, a career financial adviser and long-time public servant, is one of several candidates hoping to occupy the center lanes in Montanas newly created Eastern U.S. House District. You could say hes hitching a ride. The candidate is scrambling to gather voter signatures ahead of a May 31 deadline for non-party candidates qualifying for the November ballot. Theres a question about whether this opening lane in the political asphalt really exists, or is merely a heat mirage. Voters like Bob Brown believe it's real because theyre occupying it. Libertarians also think its real, said Sid Daoud, the Montana Libertarian Party chairman. This political space might best be defined by what it isnt, Brown said, which is his truth. Eighteen years ago, Brown was the Montana Republican Partys candidate for governor. Voters preferring Republican candidates had also elected Brown Montanas secretary of state, and before that elected him to the Legislature for 22 years. That started to change in 2016 with the election of President Donald Trump. Brown isnt a Trump guy. As most Republicans went all-in for the bombastic celebrity, Brown didnt follow along. The Montanan's notion of the art of a deal had always involved getting buy-in from both sides of the political aisle. That wasn't Trump's way. I saw a poll that showed something like 80% of self-identified Republicans, maybe that figure is down closer to 70% now, were loyal to Donald Trump, Brown said. And I thought to myself, well, thats definitely not what I am. If thats what all the Republicans have become, or are, Im not a part of that. I dont know what I am, but I know thats what Im not.' Full disclosure: Brown is a Buchanan supporter. He joined former Montana governor Marc Racicot in putting his name to Buchanan's campaign. Racicot, like Brown, had emerged from years of silence to warn the current Republican establishment that many voters are becoming disenfranchised. As Racicot put in an open letter to RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel earlier this year, Many intensely loyal Republicans, more polite and less dangerous than those who breached the Capitol, are in larger and larger numbers, quietly but persistently looking for alternatives in the form of political movements and candidates of conscience, character, conviction and courage. Theyre not suggesting, hopelessly, a return to simpler times. Theyre calling, hopefully, for a return to simple, timeless and enduring values: presuming the best of each other, listening in good faith before acting or responding, exuding generosity and grace, self-correcting our own mistakes and being ambitious to accomplish something, not to be somebody. The former governor backed those statements with his own credentials as a former RNC chairman and George W. Bush team leader in the recount of Florida ballots that decided the 2000 presidential election. He was Bushs campaign chairman in 2004. The Montana Republican Party responded to all this third-partyism with a two-party response. It circulated an email pointing out all the Democrats who Buchanan has donated to over the years, plus a few he hadnt. In truth, the candidate had donated, like a businessman, to candidates of both parties. Buchanan had also hosted Greg Gianfortes campaign kickoff for governor in 2016. A spokesperson for incumbent Rep. Matt Rosendale told the Montana Free Press that Buchanan was a Democrat. Full stop. Third-party contenders There are three other candidates trying to appeal to voters not locked into a major party. Theyre all Libertarian: Roger Roots, Sam Rankin and Samuel Thomas. Daoud said theres never been a better time for Libertarians to run. The politics of the pandemic, mask requirements, and for some an expectation to get vaccinated for private work or as government employee, are straight out the Libertarian playbook. We know the reality of it is, were like a super-duper long shot, and even the Democrats are a super-duper shot if you look at the way the races have gone, Daoud said. Daoud pauses for a minute, and then explains that Libertarians needed to communicate more to own the message about public health mandates versus personal liberties. Then he adds, The Libertarian Party at this point is a more well-greased machine than the Democrats at this point. Weve been long shots, weve been called pointless in the past, but the reality is that every cycle were increasing our percentage of the vote. Membership is up 50% in the past two years. A few of Daouds statements are worthy of asterisks. Libertarians are strongest in Western Montana, to which Daoud concurs. Counties in the newly formed Eastern U.S. House District, have only given Libertarian candidates more than 5% of the vote in congressional races twice since 2010. The best performance was a 6% showing in the 2017 special election for U.S. House. Thats more a highway stripe than a viable center lane. It is true that the Democratic machine in Eastern Montana could use some grease. In 21 of Montanas 56 counties, there is no local Democratic county chairperson, no committee structure, according to the Montana Democratic Party roster of county committees. All 21 of those counties are in the Eastern U.S. House District, although there are tribal committees at the Fort Peck and Fork Belknap reservations. Election data from 2010 to present shows that in four of the last seven U.S. House races, the margin of victory for GOP candidates over Democrats in the counties that now comprise the Eastern district has been greater than 20%. Only once was the margin closer than 15%. Montanas current at-large representative, Matt Rosendale, has all the characteristics of a dominant incumbent on the Eastern districts 2022 House ballot. He won 61% of the vote in the east as a statewide candidate running against Democrat Kathleen Williams in 2020. The only Republican to do better since 2010 was Denny Rehberg, who was an eight-year incumbent in 2010 when he won 62% of the vote in the Eastern district counties. Rehberg managed to set the bar high in an election year without a presidential race, or top ticket Senate race, to drive up voter interest. Rosendales campaign also has $1 million cash on hand. The rest of the field has reported less than $106,794.73 combined through March. Whats surprising is that despite those advantages for an incumbent, there are still 11 people running for office, said Jeremy Johnson, political scientist at Carroll College. The advantages for Rosendale havent discouraged the competition, including other Republicans. Theres a four-candidate Republican primary. Challengers Kyle Austin, James Boyette, and Charles Walkingchild faced off in a Miles City debate April 21. Rosendale didnt attend. There is also a three-candidate Democratic primary. Penny Ronning, Mark Sweeney and Skylar Williams debated in Havre on April 28. The three-candidate Libertarian primary is new ground for the party, Daoud said. It wasnt until 2020 that Montana allowed Libertarians to have a primary. One occurred earlier in a Missoula race for state Legislature. Neither the Libertarians nor Buchanan have had a chance to share a stage with other candidates this spring. There is an all-comers forum scheduled for May 8 in Billings at Art House Cinema and Pub. The event is organized by Forward Montana. It remains to be seen how Libertarian or independent candidates shape the outcome of the race, especially in a district where Republican candidates have voting margin to burn without losing. There are more Republican-leaning voters in the Eastern district, as we know. So, how important is this or who is affected? Johnson said. Obviously, just for the demographics of the Eastern District, the expectation is all other things being equal the Republican has a big advantage. So, theres a lot of hill to climb. This article has been updated to reflect campaign finance data through April 15. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 4 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PALM DESERT, Calif.Ken Dahlquist is a freelance camera operator and five-time Emmy Award winner. He spent 50 years working in Hollywood but is now retired. Mr. Dahlquist said that coming to see Shen Yun Performing Arts was a good date night and, because of the pandemic, it was his first date in two years. New York-based Shen Yun is a traditional Chinese classical dance and music company that is touring the globe with its mission of reviving Chinese culture as it was in the pre-communist times. Shen Yun was playing at the Palm Desert McCallum Theater and Dahlquist was enjoying himself enormously. I just like the choreography. [Ive] worked on a lot of dance shows, and I appreciate the talent, he said adding that the energy and the dedication of the performers was astounding. Its just amazing that they are in stepall in unison, always. Nobodys missing a beat. Pretty impressive, he said. Shen Yuns backdrops and its dynamic use of digital technology also impressed Dahlquist. The use of 3D technology creates a near-magical performance that gives the audience an unforgettable experience. Traditional Chinese culture focused on values such as morality, loyalty, truthfulness, and goodness. Besides drawing on legends and history from Chinas past, the dances also include stories of the present-day persecution of the spiritual practice known as Falun Dafa by the Chinese regime. Because Shen Yun reveals the true nature and history of Chinas past traditions, it has been banned from performing in its country of origin. I think its important that we understand a lot of this could not be seen in China today. And [its] very, very disturbing and sad that that happens [while] in America were able to watch this and enjoy, said Mr. Dahlquist. Also enjoying Shen Yun were Catherine Bray, the owner of a tutoring agency and former elementary school teacher, and Roberta Edward, a retired purchasing agent. Shen Yun enlightens us, said Ms. Bray. I absolutely loved it, she said. I love the quality of the dancing. I love the colors. Its bright, its cheerful, said Ms. Bray. I came back because I loved it so much. I wanted to see it again and brought my friend Roberta. I love the dancing, the music. I love the history. Theres a lot of things that we Americans dont know that goes on in China, I think, and were learning more about it through music and dance. Catherine Bray I love the dancing, the music. I love the history. Theres a lot of things that we Americans dont know that goes on in China, I think, and were learning more about it through music and dance, she said. [The music] is emotional. Its beautiful. Yet underlying, its a little sad. But then its happy. You know were all human, so were happy, but we have emotions, explained Ms. Bray. She applauded Shen Yun in their mission of bringing back traditional Chinese culture. The two friends agreed that Shen Yuns endeavor to educate its audiences about Chinese history and culture was phenomenal. For Ms. Edward it was the stories portrayed by Shen Yuns dancers that she loved. It was only through watching Shen Yun that people could learn the real story about China, she said. You wouldnt find out what is going on exactly. And whats the history of China? The present of China and how much is suppressed, Ms. Edward said. The American education system does not teach Chinese history as portrayed by Shen Yun, said Ms. Bray. And so, if more people knew what was happening, I think it would open [their] eyes. So, I love it. Its a great experience, she said. Ive told many people that its a wonderful [performance] and theres a lot of history involved in it. And the theater is full tonight. Look at the theateryou can tell people are interested. They want to know, said Ms. Bray. Reporting by NTD Television and Diane Cordemans. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. A sign is posted in front of a Samsung Electronics office in San Jose, Calif., on July 30, 2012. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) South Koreas Semiconductor Market Share Weakens, Samsungs Leadership Called Into Question A recent South Korean study shows the countrys semiconductor market share in China shrunk 5.5 percent compared to 2018, citing the effect of U.S. sanctions on China. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the study was conducted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), an economic association for domestic industries in South Korea. It analyzed the market share changes in Chinas semiconductor imports in 2021 compared to 2018, the year before the United States imposed sanctions on Chinas semiconductor industries. The study indicated that South Koreas semiconductor market share in China shrunk by 5.5 percent in 2021 compared to 2018, while Taiwan and Japans market shares increased by 4.4 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. Among them, South Koreas memory chip market share in China took the largest hit, a decline of 13.7 percent. From April 2019 to September 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed several sanctions targeting Chinas major tech firms, such as Huawei and SMIC. The sanctions prohibited companies worldwide from selling chips developed or produced using U.S. software or technology to select Chinese companies without first obtaining a license. The report said that Chinas total chip imports in 2021 shrunk 37.2 percent compared to 2018. Among them, its chip imports from Taiwan and Japan increased by 57.4 percent and 34.8 percent, respectively, while imports from South Korea only increased by 6.5 percent, suggesting that Taiwan and Japan are the main beneficiaries of U.S. sanctions on China. The analysis attributed the leading cause of South Koreas declining chip market share in China to Huawei stopping its imports of South Korean memory chips amid U.S. sanctions. As a result, South Korean memory chips saw a price decline, and exports to China shrunk 13.7 percent compared to 2018. Amid South Koreas weakening position in the global semiconductor competition, the head of FKIs International Affairs Division, Kim Bong-man, called on the South Korean government to provide more support to its domestic semiconductor industries. Governments of the United States, China, Japan, and Europe have invested heavily in building their own semiconductor ecosystems and accelerating [their] supply chain restructuring. The South Korean government should also boost the competitiveness of its semiconductor industries by issuing supporting policies such as more R&D investment and tax incentives for domestic semiconductor firms, Kim said. Concerns Over Samsungs Leadership and Dwindling Investment Plans Many in South Koreas tech industry have expressed concerns about the lack of a strong leader in Samsung Electronics, the countrys leading semiconductor giant, and how it impacts the companys future, The Korea Economic Daily reported. Lee Jae-yong, a business magnate and vice chairman of Samsung, is still serving his prison sentence. Although Lee was paroled last August, he is still unable to actively participate in Samsungs business operations. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong gets out of a car at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov. 22, 2019. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) In 2017, Lee was jailed and charged with bribing a confidante of the once-imprisoned former president, Park Geun-hye, but was released in 2018 through an appeal to the Supreme Court. However, through a retrial in January 2021, Lee was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison; his time already served will count toward the new sentence. Presently, Samsungs position in the field of semiconductors is weakening as it is increasingly challenged by its major competitors, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the worlds largest chip foundry. Samsung has reportedly been unable to narrow the gap with TSMC in recent years. Samsung lags behind TSMC in terms of its investment plans in semiconductors. In March 2021, TSMC announced plans to spend $100 billion over three years to expand its chip fabrication capacity, Reuters reported. This year, it plans to spend up to $44 billion as chip demand continues to surge, according to the Wall Street Journal. The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Jan. 19, 2021. (Ann Wang/Reuters) Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics announced last year that it would spend about $151 billion by 2030 to take over the global foundry leadership from its archrival TSMC, according to The Korea Economic Daily (KED). However, Samsungs overall investment scale is smaller compared to TSMC. Thus far, it has only unveiled a $17 billion investment plan in building a new semiconductor manufacturing plant in Taylor, Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Kinam Kim, vice chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics Device Solutions Division, announce that the chip-making company will build a $17 billion plant in Central Texas. (Courtesy of Samsung) Seeing Samsungs dwindling investment plans, many in South Koreas tech industry have urged President Moon Jae-in to grant Lee a pardon before he leaves office on May 9, hoping to enable Lees full participation in the running of Samsung Electronics, KED reported. Visitors walking their dogs across the U.S. Supreme Court Plaza on Capitol Hill in Washingotn on Feb. 22, 2022. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) The Fascinating Supreme Court Opinions in the Vaello Madero Case Commentary There hasnt been much public attention bestowed on the Supreme Courts opinions in United States v. Vaello Madero (pdf). But there should be. Justice Brett Kavanaghs opinion for the court held that Congress didnt violate equal protection principles when it denied citizens of Puerto Rico federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch wrote concurring opinions. Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented. Kavanaughs opinion is important, but the concurring opinions of Thomas and Gorsuch are extraordinary. (Disclosure: Thomass opinion cited one of my own scholarly works.) After explaining the constitutional law background, Ill unpack each opinion. The Constitutional Law Background The Constitution entrusts Congress with governing U.S. territories (Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2). There are now five territories, of which Puerto Rico is one. The Constitution also entrusts Congress with ultimate control over the District of Columbia (Article I, Section 8, Clause 17). The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 in the wake of the Civil War. Its equal protection clause reads, nor shall any State deny to any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws. Notice that this wording applies only to state governments, not to the federal government. It doesnt limit how Congress governs federal territories or the District of Columbia. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that state laws segregating public schools by race violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause (pdf). Although the equal protection clause doesnt apply to the District of Columbia, the court also ruled that segregation was unconstitutional in the District (pdf). The court based the latter decision on the Fifth Amendments due process clause, which does apply to the federal government (nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law). The justices claimed that this language contains an equal protection component, which D.C. segregation violated. In other words, they ruled that in these circumstances, denial of equal protection was a denial of due process. In later cases, the court has said that the Fifth Amendment due process clause applies as much equal protection law against the federal government as the 14th Amendment equal protection clause applies against the states. As we shall see, the claim of an equal protection component in the due process clause is mostly nonsense. It was the product of judicial lawmaking common among 20th-century activist justices. As I noted in an earlier essay, however, the present court generally adheres to 20th-century liberal precedents. Its one reason why the common assertion that we have a conservative Supreme Court is untrue. Justice Kavanaughs Opinion for the Court Jose Luis Vaello Madero was a resident of Puerto Rico who received SSI payments in violation of federal law. When the feds sued him for restitution, he argued that denying SSI to residents of Puerto Rico violated the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause. In keeping with the courts deference to most liberal precedent, Kavanaughs opinion didnt question the assumption that the Fifth Amendment due process clause has an equal protection component. Nevertheless, all nine justices agreed that Congress still has discretion in making such decisions. They applied a test whereby a law discriminating among people is constitutional if the discrimination has a rational basis. Kavanaugh said Congress did, indeed, have a rational basis for denying SSI benefits to Puerto Ricans. He pointed out, for example, that Puerto Ricans are exempt from many federal taxes. In dissent, Sotomayor argued that there was no rational basis. She noted that people on SSI are so poor they generally dont pay federal taxes, whether they live in Puerto Rico or anywhere else in the United States. The main takeaway from Kavanaughs majority opinion is that Congress has great leeway in treating people differently based on financial considerations. This result is in keeping with the courts 20th-century liberal precedents. Justice Thomass Opinion Thomas is an originalist. That means he interprets the Constitution as the Founders intended it to be interpreted, and as judges and lawyers have construed most legal documents for centuries. He has never reconciled himself to the usurpations of 20th-century judicial activists. Thomas agreed with Kavanaugh that denying SSI benefits to Vaello Madero didnt violate equal protection. Yet, as Thomas often does, he decided to puncture a judicial balloon. He wrote separately to debunk the claim that Fifth Amendment due process somehow includes 14th Amendment equal protection. Thomas pointed out that process means procedure. The due process clause (and this is my formulation) was designed to protect people from unfair proceduresspecifically, from efforts by government to attack citizens with newly made-up rules that government applies retroactively. The 14th Amendment equal protection clause, by contrast, is designed to prevent a state from passing laws that irrationally discriminate among classes of people. Thus, an otherwise fair prosecution under a law that irrationally discriminates violates equal protection, but not due process. Arbitrary enforcement of a fair law violates due process, but not necessarily equal protection. That equal protection isnt included in due process is shown by the text of the 14th Amendment. (This is the point on which Thomas cited my scholarship.) That amendment contains both a due process clause and an equal protection clause. If equal protection were just part of due process, there would have been no need to add the latter (pdf). Thomas then considered whether some other parts of the Constitution impose equal protection limits on the federal government. (Other scholars and I have concluded that the answer is yes. (pdf)) Thomas focused on the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. It grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. Thomas speculated (he admitted he hasnt entirely made up his mind) that citizens inherently enjoy equal civil rights. There is some linguistic sense behind Thomass suggestion: Civil derives ultimately from the Latin word cives, which means citizen. And when the 14th Amendment was ratified, that Latin derivation would have been common knowledge among educated Americans. One caution, though: When the 14th Amendment was ratified, people used the phrase civil rights in a narrower way than we use it today. Civil rights were limited to protection against how the government treated you. They encompassed, for example, the right to trial by jury and free speech. They didnt include what were called political rights (influencing government, as by voting or holding political office) or social rights (equal treatment by private parties). Government protection for political and social rights came later. Based on his opinion, Justice Thomas seems to understand this. Thomas often writes for the future. His opinion may herald the day when the court cashiers the fictional due process contains equal protection idea and moves toward a sounder constitutional interpretation. Gorsuchs Opinion The Constitution is absolutely clear that (1) it derives all its force from the people and (2) the federal government and its officials have only those powers the Constitution gives themno more. Still, some justices, officials, and academics maintain that federal functionaries have powers the Constitution doesnt give them. For example: In 1936, the Supreme Court ruled that in conducting foreign affairs, the president isnt limited to his constitutional authority (pdf). Congress asserts almost absolute dominion over American Indian affairs, despite clear constitutional limitations (pdf). In the early 20th century, the Supreme Court issued the Insular Cases. These ruled that the federal government holds despotic power over unincorporated federal territories, despite limits imposed by the Constitution. The court might have addressed the Insular Cases in Vaello Madero, since the matter at hand involved Congresss authority over Puerto Rico. But the court didnt. So Gorsuch issued his own sizzling opinion. He pointed out that the Insular decisions have no basis in the Constitution: The notion of unlimited power over territories directly contradicts the principles embodied in that document. He added that the judiciary has no business deciding whether a territory is incorporated, since that phrase also is foreign to the Constitution. He further observed that the Insular Cases were based on the assumption that people in some American territories, such as Puerto Rico and the Philippines, were racially and culturally inferior. He identifies Harvard professors as responsible for promulgating that idea (as they have promulgated so many other bad ideas). In other words, the good justice didnt spare his own alma mater. Gorsuch is now the courts best writer. In this case, as often, his prose is worth quoting at length: The flaws in the Insular Cases are as fundamental as they are shameful. Nothing in the Constitution speaks of incorporated and unincorporated Territories. Nothing in it extends to the latter only certain supposedly fundamental constitutional guarantees. Nothing in it authorizes judges to engage in the sordid business of segregating Territories and the people who live in them on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion. The Insular Cases can claim support in academic work of the period, ugly racial stereotypes, and the theories of social Darwinists. But they have no home in our Constitution or its original understanding. In this country, the federal government deriv[es] its powers directly from the sovereign people and is empowered to act only in accord with the terms of the written Constitution the people have approved. Monarchical and despotic governments may possess the power to act unrestrained by written constitutions. But our Nations government has no existence except by virtue of the Constitution, and it may not ignore that charter in the Territories any more than it may in the States. Later this year, the court will hear consolidated cases addressing Congresss pretensions to unlimited power over Indian affairs. Perhaps the court will apply Gorsuchs reasoning there. Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor who is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver, authored The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant (3rd ed., 2015). Since 2013, Supreme Court justices have cited his constitutional research articles 21 times in eight cases. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Great Translation Movement in Historical Perspective Commentary While Putins invasion of Ukraine has seen economic repercussions around the world, from supply chain disruption and to shortages in daily goods like cooking oil and tomatoes in Europe, the impact in China is more ideological. Not only does the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) act contrary to the world by supporting Russias military action and requesting schools teach about the legitimacy of the invasion, but many ordinary Chinese people have been found to be unsympathetic to the civilian victims of the invasion. Many Chinese have been blasting the internet with justifications for the invasion, such as Putin has no choice, and the USA and NATO should be held responsible for the invasion, to profanities like I am happy to receive homeless, white-skinned Ukraine beauties. However, anti-war posts are deleted by the regimes online censors. It is against this one-sided view of Russias war that some Chinese netizens have organised the Great Translation Movement (GTM), an online campaign that seeks to identify radically discriminatory comments by the CCP and its supporters, and have them translated into English and other languages so that this side of China may be better known to the outside world. Dealing with foreigners has always been controversial in China since the early 19th century. Modern China was always characterised by strong anti-foreignism sentiment. According to the communists, China before 1949 was oppressed by three big mountains, one of which was imperialism. Through formulating anti-imperialist narratives, the Chinese communists gained essential political capital. The founding of the PRC was followed first by anti-America and then anti-Soviet campaigns. People living in Hong Kong, which was then under British rule, were no strangers to such sentiments. The san (three) shi movementchoushi (hatred), bishi (disdain), mieshi (contempt)which was originally against America in the Korean War, was used against the British in Hong Kong during the 1967 Riots. Meanwhile, all Chinese needed to make a clean break (huaqing jiexian) with imperialism, and Soviet revisionism, in the Cultural Revolution, or they would be criticised and made an example of in political campaigns. Anti-foreignism subsided for an extended period after the Cultural Revolution. The Reform Era, particularly in its early years, embraced the West. Chinas new ruler, Deng Xiaoping, dared to try on a cowboy hat presented to him by two cowgirls during his official visit to the United States, sending an unambiguous message to the Chinese people that learning from the West was now politically safe. This was a prime time for the Chinese, particularly for book collectors like me, as Chinese publishers just translated and published whatever foreign titles were available to them. The most well-known was the Series into the Future, edited by Jin Guantao and Liu Qingfeng, that had produced more than 70 titles up to June 4, 1989. June 4 was a turning point for all. As the CCP saw peaceful evolution and imperialisms incessant desire to crush China behind the incident, tightening the ruling partys ideological control of the Chinese was a logical result. It was not a surprise to see the re-appearance of publications characterised by anti-foreignism, focusing on the United States. The most popular title was China Can Say No by Song Qiang and others: a manifesto of Chinese nationalism published in 1996, with chapter titles such as Growth of my pro-US sentiment, Spread of the plague of pro-US psychology, Burn Hollywood, Narcissistic ultra-egoism of the USA, Chinese iron lady who said no to the USA, referring to Wu Yi, then minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation. The book portrays Chinese growing up under American cultural influence as an original sin, and in turn challenges the United States in every respect. Living a Americanized life was described as something like national shame. McDonalds is a Western fast-food restaurant, which is equivalent to Chinas breakfast snack or noodle bar. A young Beijing couple was found to have their wedding there, showing laughable ignorance and blindness in idolising foreign things, the book reads. And after the revival of China, the West will again experience the Great Depression as seen in the 1920s and 1930s, and a possible outlet for Western capital will be Africa, it continues. The CCP may be thinking that the partys ideological writings will not be known to non-Chinese readers or that China already has the necessary strength, which has seen China-centered views become increasingly chauvinistic. For example, in a 2001 publication entitled Report on China Problem, Chinese hackers (translated into Chinese as heike, meaning black guest)who targeted Indonesians due to an anti-Chinese riot, Taiwan due to Taiwanese independence, the U.S. and Japanese governments due to rightist remarks on the Nanjing Massacreare praised as hongke (meaning red guests) for their hacking campaigns in what the CCP called patriotic wars defending Chinas sovereignty. According to the report, China had proudly launched four such hacking wars from 1997 to 2000. In other words, this wave of hatred against the West, which shapes the discriminatory public discourse targeted by the GTM for translation, has its roots in the 1990s. From these non-official publications, it is not difficult to see that the traditional wisdom of China and the ideology of the CCP can be viewed separately. Long before the rise of the CCPs 50 cent army, many Chinese (and overseas Chinese) had already showed their allegiance to the CCP and its ideology, with the dichotomous concept friend or foe already ingrained in their world views. Political allegiance to the CCP characterized by a lack of empathy and blind struggle against a wide array of foreign countriesthis will provide an endless supply of interesting materials for the GTM. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Soldiers from U.S. Army Garrison Italy return a birthday cake to Meri Mion (C) in Vicenza, northern Italy, on April 28, 2022. (Laura Krieder, U.S. Army via AP) US Army Returns Cake to Italian Woman for 90th Birthday ROMEWith a round of Happy Birthday in Italian and English, the U.S. Army toasted an Italian woman with a birthday cake Thursday to replace the one that U.S. soldiers ate as they entered her hometown during one of the final battles of World War II. Meri Mion, who turns 90 on Friday, wiped away tears as she was presented with the cake during a ceremony in Vicenza, northwest of Venice. The event marked the anniversary of the day the 88th Infantry Division fought its way into the city on April 28, 1945. According to the U.S. Army, Mion spent that night with her mother hiding in the attic of their farm in the nearby village of San Pietro in Gu. Retreating German soldiers had fired on the house, but when Mion awoke on the morning of her 13th birthday, American soldiers were nearby. In a statement, the U.S. Army Garrison Italy said Mions mother baked her a birthday cake and left it on the windowsill to cool. But it disappearedapparently nicked by hungry American soldiers who had already been feted by grateful Italians with wine and bread as they entered Vicenza along its main thoroughfare. Mion seemed genuinely surprised that U.S. soldiers had returned the cake 77 years later. She marveled Mama mia and Grazie as a small crowd featuring U.S. commanders and Italian officials sang Happy Birthday. Tomorrow, we will eat that dessert, with all my family remembering this wonderful day that I will never forget, Mion said, according to the U.S. Army. Around this time each year, the all-volunteer personnel committee at Unitarian Universalist Society: East in Manchester sits down with a broker to select an employee health insurance plan for the coming fiscal year. Only three of the churchs six employees are on the plan, yet it costs about 10 percent of the nonprofits annual $500,000 budget. And each year, their carriers rates have gone up often by double-digit percentages. There was just no possible way the church could absorb that kind of increase in a premium, committee chair Vivian Carlson said, recalling a recent year when UUS:Es carrier was poised to raise rates by 25 percent. Reluctantly, the church has switched carriers and upped the deductible several times over the last few years, enabling it to stay within budgetary constraints but creating confusion and higher costs for staff members. Many small businesses and nonprofits in Connecticut face a similar conundrum, weighing the solvency of their business against how generous theyd like to be with employee health benefits. We hear from employers every day that providing health care for their employees is either the No. 1 or No. 2 expenditure they have, and if that continues at this rate, they wont be able to locate here and provide good quality insurance and attract employees, said Vicki Veltri, director of the states Office of Health Strategy. As health care benefits gobble up larger shares of their budgets, small businesses and nonprofits are forced to make tradeoffs. UUS:E delayed hiring a part-time membership coordinator, a position the Rev. Joshua Pawelek says would help the churchs congregation boost its funding base. Instead, the church has to put those dollars toward insurance premiums. We dont have a big endowment. We get our money from the members of the church, Pawelek said. Theyre very generous, but if we have to add another six grand every year for health insurance, that makes it difficult to do other things, he said. Why so expensive? Health insurance premiums are going up largely because health care costs are rising. Over the past two decades, the cost of hospital and medical care has risen faster than inflation. The carriers are continually seeking to bring innovative, more affordable products to market that include a focus on value-based care in recognition that affordability is critical, Susan Halpin, executive director for the Connecticut Association of Health Plans, said in emailed comments. To better achieve that goal, focus needs to be directed at how to best reduce the underlying cost of care. Halpin also said changing state and federal regulatory requirements, such as the Affordable Care Acts elimination of limits on pre-existing conditions, contribute to rate increases. In 2019, OHS found that hospital inpatient and outpatient spending were primary contributors to rising health care costs for commercially insured individuals. Nationally, hospital care accounted for 31 percent of all personal health care spending in 2019, rising 6.2 percent from the year prior to nearly $1.2 trillion. Jill McDonald Halsey, spokeswoman for the Connecticut Hospital Association, said the hospitals support the states effort to limit the annual growth rate of health care spending an initiative, passed via Executive Order two years ago, known as the health care cost growth benchmark. She attributed the rising costs of care to several factors, including labor, the pandemic, inflation and inadequate state and federal payments for patients on Medicare and HUSKY plans. We need to examine the entire system if we are to be successful, including providers, health insurance companies, and drug manufacturers, McDonald Halsey said in emailed comments. OHSs analysis to date has been too narrowly focused and relies on incomplete data. If we are to be successful in achieving greater affordability, OHS will need to broaden its view to all stakeholders and focus on a more comprehensive list of contributing factors. The state General Assembly is currently considering legislation that would codify the governors executive order on limiting rising health care costs through data transparency. House Bill 5042, which passed the House 119-29 last week and awaits a vote in the Senate, requires insurers and providers to make cost and quality data public and calls on OHS to hold public hearings with entities that dont meet state targets. The bill is part of a broad package of legislation, proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont, aimed at reining in health care costs across the state. On Friday, Lamont held a press conference at UConn Health in Farmington to push the Senate to pass H.B. 5042. Joined by Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, and Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, he told the gathering of doctors and state administrators: This allows private sector employers across the board [to] be able to make the most informed decisions where you get the best value, where you can get the best return, and where you can get the highest quality health care. Hospital consolidation plays a role Academic researchers have attributed much of the steep rise in hospital costs in recent years to poorly functioning markets for hospital services namely, the consolidation of hospital systems through mergers and acquisitions, which reduces competition. In Connecticut, the health care field has consolidated significantly, with Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health steadily gaining share in markets around the state. Another piece of legislation proposed this session sought to outlaw anticompetitive practices among hospitals. Hartford HealthCare is fighting two civil lawsuits over allegedly unfair methods and attempted monopolization of the market. Competitor Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center sued HHC in January, and a group of consumers filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the hospital system in February. UUS:Es Rev. Pawelek is one of the plaintiffs in the second case. In their complaint, he and his fellow plaintiffs alleged: There is a direct connection between higher hospital prices and higher insurance premiums, and one of the primary drivers of an increase in premiums is consolidation in the relevant hospital market. The economic effects of hospital consolidation can be far-reaching. Research from the RAND Corporation has tied hospital mergers and the higher prices for hospital care that result to declines in wages in their local markets. In a 2020 study, RANDs Daniel Arnold and Christopher Whaley found that hospital mergers between 2010 and 2016 reduced average wages of local residents by about 1 percent. Both Connecticuts Attorney General and the Office of Health Strategy have said theyre paying close attention to the issue of hospital consolidation and the impact it can have on the cost of care. H.B. 5042 contains some minor adjustments to OHSs authority in reviewing and approving proposed mergers; OHS has recommended expanding that authority further. We need access to insurance thats affordable, flexible and predictable, said Andy Markowski, Connecticut director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. But before you even get to affordable, flexible and predictable, it needs to be in a competitive market. Multiplier effects When health insurance premiums go up, businesses pass along about half of that increased cost to their employees, said Priyanka Anand, a health economics researcher and associate professor of health administration and policy at George Mason University. I kind of see it as a shared burden among the employer and the employee, Anand said. Reduced compensation can take a broader toll on the economy, Anand said. If you have less money to take home, thats less for rent, its less for food, its less for all the other things youre spending on, she said. Smaller businesses, which make up 97 percent of all companies in Connecticut and employ roughly half of the states workforce, often experience a more acute impact from higher health care costs. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, small businesses pay between 8 percent and 18 percent more than large companies for the same health insurance policies. While most working people (56 percent) are on insurance plans provided by their employers, smaller businesses are less likely to provide health benefits. Thats partly because it costs more. Annual employee premiums at Connecticut companies with 10 or fewer staff can be hundreds of dollars more than the private sector average, according to data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The decision to take on that cost or not to can fundamentally change the way small businesses and nonprofits operate. State Sen. Christine Cohen and her husband own Cohens Bagel Co. in Madison. After covering 100 percent of their employees health insurance for many years, they recently decided to eliminate the benefit because it got too expensive. Its a frustration as a business owner I want to attract talent, I want my employees to come work for me and stay with me, Cohen said. Small businesses are out there every day begging for something to stop this, said Wendy Traub, co-owner of Hemlock Directional Boring Inc. in Torrington, which does contract work digging tunnels. With a very small staff, Hemlock used to cover all of its employees health insurance at 100 percent, but now the company can only afford to cover 70 percent of the premiums with employees paying the other 30 percent. It just starts to get unmanageable, Traub said. BEIJING (AP) Only a trickle of visitors strolled the pedestrian-only streets Sunday in central Beijing's historic Qianmen district, which normally would be bustling with tourists on what was a national holiday and a sunny spring day. Many Chinese marked a quiet May Day this year as the government's zero-COVID approach restricts travel and enforces lockdowns in multiple cities. Millions remain restricted to their buildings or compounds in Shanghai, Chinas largest city, under a lockdown that has only slightly eased. Under an order announced the previous afternoon, all Beijing restaurants were closed to dine-in customers Sunday and can offer only takeout and delivery through the end of the national holiday on Wednesday. Parks and tourist attractions in the Chinese capital are limited to half capacity. The Universal Studios theme park, which opened last year, said it had shut down temporarily. In Qianmen, the touristy neighborhood around the street that leads to the imposing gates of the former imperial palace, some people bought food from stalls and ate on outdoor benches. Wang Liying said sales at her noodle and stir-fry restaurant have plunged 98% during the holiday compared to last year. The remaining 2% is very little for us," she said. There is not much we can do with the pandemic. The virus situation varies across the vast nation of 1.4 billion people, but the Transport Ministry said last week that it expected 100 million trips to be taken from Saturday to Wednesday, which would be down 60% from last year. Many of those who are traveling are staying within their province as local governments discourage or restrict cross-border travel to try to keep out new infections. China is sticking to a strict zero-COVID policy even as many other countries are easing restrictions and seeing if they can live with the virus. Much of Shanghai a finance, manufacturing and shipping hub remains locked down, disrupting people's lives and dealing a blow to the economy. The major outbreak in Shanghai, where the death toll has topped 400, appears to be easing. The city recorded about 7,200 new locally transmitted cases on Saturday, down from a peak of 27,605 on April 13. Outside of Shanghai, only 364 new cases were found in the rest of mainland China. Beijing, which has tallied 350 cases in the past nine days, is restricting activity to try to prevent a large outbreak and avoid a citywide lockdown similar to Shanghai. Individual buildings and housing complexes with coronavirus cases have been sealed off. Gyms and theaters have been closed for the holiday period. Visitors to many office buildings and tourist sites such as the Great Wall must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 48 hours. Epidemic prevention and control are at the most critical juncture in Beijing, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the city's disease prevention center. While most of the new cases are among people under quarantine, some have been found in the broader community, Peng said. Beijing is conducting repeated rounds of mass testing to find and isolate any infected people. Online booking agency Ctrip said last week that people were booking travel to cities that were mostly free of the virus, such as Chengdu in Sichuan province and nearby Chongqing. Other popular destinations included Wuhan, where the world's first major outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in early 2020. About half the orders on the Ctrip platform were for travel within a province. ___ Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOS ANGELES (AP) Being homeless in Los Angeles and struggling with addiction is hard enough, but Rachel Niebur couldn't imagine enduring it without her dog Petey. Niebur credits her constant companion, an energetic black and white chihuahua mix, with helping her keep off drugs and giving her a reason to get up in the morning. She needs me. She gives me my focus. I have to feed her. I have to walk her. It's a real relationship, said Niebur, before following Petey to the small, fenced-in dog park on the grounds of the shelter in the Venice neighborhood where the inseparable pair have lived for about two years. Traditional homeless shelters have long been off limits to pets, leaving animal owners who want to get off the streets with a difficult choice. But as homelessness surges across the U.S., those working toward a solution are increasingly recognizing the importance pets have for vulnerable populations and are looking for ways to keep owners and pets together. When given the choice between getting shelter or giving up their pet, unhoused people will almost always choose to remain on the streets, said Tim Huxford, the associate director of the Venice facility now home Niebur and Petey. So we always want to reduce the amount of barriers that we have for people in bringing them off the street, he said. We realize that pets are like family to people. The Venice shelter operated by the nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless, or PATH, was the first of its kind in Los Angeles County to allow residents to bring animal companions, Huxford said. Thanks to a state grant, PATH has a budget for food, crates, toys and veterinary services under an initiative called the Pet Assistance and Support program. In 2019, the pilot program provided $5 million to nonprofits and local jurisdictions, and that amount was doubled the following year. Now pending legislation would make the grant program permanent, while expanding it across the state. State Sen. Robert Hertzberg, who wrote the bill that would expand the program, estimates that about 10% of homeless Californians have pets. And the reason many shelters don't accept animals is simply because they don't have resources to care for them, said Hertzberg, a dog owner. He called pets our comfort and cited research that found animals provide companionship and a sense of purpose to people who dont have housing. The Democrat from Los Angeles said it's just raging common sense to give nonprofits and other caregivers the budgets they need to feed and house pets, especially considering how much California already allocates to address the statewide homelessness crisis. We're spending a billion dollars over here to get people off the street; why can't we spend a few dollars over there to put together veterinary services and dog food and crates? These are grants of between $100,000 and $200,000, so it's not a ton of money in the grand scheme of things, Hertzberg said. The money would come the state's general fund, so it's not cutting into any existing funding, Hertzberg said. The measure, SB513, unanimously passed the state Senate in January and now awaits consideration in the Assembly. The California law is part of a larger national recognition of the issue. In Arizona, for example, there are several organizations that take care of animals for residents who are struggling to get back on their feet. A nonprofit no-kill shelter called Lost Our Home provides up to 90 days of pet care for homeless people while they search for a permanent place to live following a crisis like eviction, domestic violence or medical treatment. Don Kitch manages one of several shelters operated in the Phoenix area by the nonprofit Family Promise, among the few that allow people to keep their pets at a separate area for the animals at the site. He said his shelter was currently housing four dogs, two cats and a Guinea pig. Unfortunately, there are very few facilities around here that will accept pets, said Kitch. He said many shelters do allow service animals, and less frequently emotional support animals. Kitch said the Arizona Humane Society takes in pets for 90 days to allow their owners time to find stable housing, while the Sojourner Center allows domestic violence victims to keep their pets at the shelter. Kitch said Family Promise used a grant from PetSmart to get started with its program to house pets. He said he'd welcome a law like California's, because anything to defray the cost would be ideal for a nonprofit homeless shelter like ours. The national nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society has joined forces with Catholic Charities USA to push for programs that keep homeless people and their pets together. The group Feeding Pets of the Homeless organizes veterinary clinics and donation drives for pet food and supplies. The ASPCA and other animal care groups are urging the California bills' passage. The ASPCA believes that financial circumstances alone are not reliable indicators of the capacity to love and care for a companion animal and that pets are incredible source of support and companionship in our lives, especially during times of stress and uncertainty," said Susan Riggs, the ASPCA's Senior Director of Housing Policy. One of Petey's canine companions at the Venice PATH facility is Champ, a pit bull mix that his owner Ro Mantooth calls the mascot of the shelter. He's really my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without him, Mantooth, 29, said of Champ. I'm lucky to have him. Not a lot of places are going to take animals, you know? In addition to Petey and Champ, there are eight other dogs and one cat at the Venice shelter. Huxford said another PATH facility has a parrot in a cage. Technically there are no rules about what animals can be admitted, he said, but that hasn't been tested yet. If someone came in with an elephant, I guess we'd have to see, he said. ___ Associated Press reporter Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this report. JERUSALEM (AP) Israel has prevented the director of a Palestinian civil-society group from traveling abroad to attend a professional conference in Mexico. Ubai Aboudi is the head of Bisan, one of six Palestinian groups that Israel last year designated a terrorist organization. Israeli officials declined to comment on the travel ban. In an interview, Aboudi said he tried to exit the occupied West Bank last week in order to travel to the World Social Forum, an annual gathering of civil society groups that this year is taking place in Mexico. But he said he was stopped by Israeli officials at the crossing into Jordan. I was informed that I am banned from traveling. I asked why I am banned from traveling. They said they did not want to inform me, he said. Aboudi, who is a U.S. citizen, said that just a month earlier, he traveled to Jordan without any problems. The Bisan Center for Research and Development is a nonprofit that says it is committed to promoting a Palestinian society based on freedom, justice, equality and dignity. Aboudi has been arrested in the past by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which administers autonomous areas of the occupied West Bank, for his political activities. Bisan is among six Palestinian human rights groups that Israel last year effectively outlawed after designating them terrorist organizations. Israel says the groups have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine -- a small Palestinian faction with an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks on Israelis. The PFLP is considered a terrorist group by Israel and its Western allies. But Israel has provided little evidence backing up its claims against the six groups. The groups all continue to operate, though the Israeli crackdown has concerned international donors and caused some to cut ties. Aboudi says he has no ties to the PFLP. The activists have said the Israeli move is an attempt to silence groups that have documented harsh treatment against Palestinians over the years. There is no explanation for what happened to me except that this was an attempt to silence the Palestinian voice, Aboudi said. Photo: A beautiful day for a pickle frenzy on Grand Street! Lower East Side headlines in the past week: A big fire ripped through a 4-story building on Chatham Square in Chinatown late Saturday night. Five firefighters suffered minor injuries. Several residential tenants were relocated by the Red Cross. A restaurant, Dim Sum Palace, is located on the ground floor. [AM New York] Amid fierce protests, the city decides to drop plans for a homeless shelter at 47 Madison St. [Channel 4] Another challenge for Chinatown: a shortage of dim sum chefs. [Eater] Community Board 3s May meeting lineup. [CB3] A Lower East Side mom, who also happens to be head of the local Community Education Council, tells her familys story, as the mayor unveils a plan to help students with dyslexia. [Gothamist] LES local Coss Marte talks about getting into the cannabis business. [Forbes] Every restaurant on Canal Street. [Eater] The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to the communique issued by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), captioned 2023 Presidency: Northern Elders Kick against Zoning. The communique which was signed by the former Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Professor Doknan Danjuma Shenni, among other issues stated that the 2023 presidential contest should be left open to every region of the country for the best candidate to emerge. The communique also added that the current state of insecurity in the North is unprecedented and unacceptable Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses surprise that the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum, mostly elders, will collectively act the fifth Roman emperor, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who fiddled while Rome was on fire. In the communique, the NEF observed that Nigeria is confronted with unprecedented insecurity, poverty, large number of internally displaced Nigerians, etc. These are issues which have remained unabated because of ethnic and religious induced policies, injustice and more importantly, the inability to make the right choices. It is therefore very strange that the elders instead of seeking solution to the problems they have so identified, they are busy strategizing on how to destroy the vital values that has helped to lubricate a precarious balance in the country. At about 1994, some Nigerian patriots conceived an article of faith and principle of rotation of power that guarantees equity and inclusiveness for all the diverse components of the country. Thus, Nigeria was structured into six geopolitical zones; namely, South South, South East, South West, North West, North Central and the North East. It was also agreed that political offices will be zoned or distributed among the zones in such a way that every zone will have a sense of belonging. Furthermore, that the presidency will rotate among the zones to promote peace, unity and progress in Nigeria. The NEF are aware that Nigeria has religiously followed the rotation and zoning principle since 1999 with Chief Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (South West) as the elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Obasanjo, in keeping with the rotation principle, handed over to the North in the person of former President Umaru Musa YarAdua in 2007. At the death of YarAdua, a Southerner, specifically the South South in the person of Dr Goodluck Jonathan was elected the President. Jonathan again, handed over to a Northerner, President Muhammadu Buhari whose second tenure of four years each will end in 2023. By the rotation and zoning principle that has been in operation in Nigeria, It is only fair that the presidency be zoned to the South, specifically the South East of Nigeria. It remains the moral duty of elders to guide the society on the path of truth and honour. It was Alex Tocqueville who admonished that when the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness. The NEF know full well that in the interest of peace, unity and corporate existence of Nigeria, we the elders must, as a matter of necessity, embrace equity and justice. It is therefore only fair that the South East of Nigeria should be supported to accede presidential power because what is good for the goose is, mutatis mutandis, good for the gander. It is also surprising that NEF is more enamored of power than the veritable and conducive environment under which sustainable national development can be attained. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no country on the planet earth that can progress under the dire straits and strains of inequity, injustice, mistrust, viciousness, braggadocio and predatory ethnocentrism. The above vices will surely engender crises, conflicts, economic downturn, unemployment, poverty, insecurity, kidnapping, banditry, etc. All the ongoing shenanigans about zoning in Nigeria is because it is the turn of the South East to produce a president in Nigeria. This NEF knows. We want to use this medium to salute the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Chief E K Clarke, Dr. Pogu Bitrus and other leaders for their courage to stand by the right side of history. I have supreme confidence in the inevitable natural phenomenon, that a broken leaf, after fluttering in the air must obey the law of gravity. Above all, President Muhammadu Buhari has the burden of history to treat the South, the South East, how Chief Olusegun Obasanjo treated the North in 2007. Obasanjo against all pressures displayed honour and statesmanship when in 2007, he handed over to the North in the person of Umaru Musa YarAdua. Today, Buhari is the leader of the country. He pilots the ship of the state. It is hoped that he will anchor the ship at the appropriate bank. Without sounding immodest, the Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Professor George Obiozor stands on a firm wicket to assure Nigerians that an Igbo president has the Midas touch to turn around the Nigerian economy for better. With an Igbo as president of Nigeria, all the indices of a fragile state that currently confront Nigeria will vanish for good. With an Igbo as president, it is an era of prosperity. Nigerians are witnesses to the highly accomplished cerebral Igbo technocrats with impressive track records of accomplishments that have indicated their interest to redeem Nigeria from a tailspin. Among them are men who have served Nigeria with uprightness and impeccable integrity. Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia is the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, Commandant Emmanuel Ocheja has honoured officers of his command for their dedication, resilience, selflessness and professionalism in the cause of discharging their duties in protecting live and property in the country. Commandant Ocheja who spoke through the Commands Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Corps II (ASC II) Atanda Olabisi on the 1st May, 2022, at the Commands Headquarters, Osogbo. Commandant Ocheja salutes all workers in the country and all over the world who continue to put in long hours of hard work and dedication to provide for their families and serve their country. He commended officers and men for their sacrifices and dedication to safeguarding the country's physical infrastructure. He said there is no substitute for hard work, dedication and hard labour of workers. Nigerian workers have helped with the development, economy, security and nation building. So, they deserve to be appreciated on an auspicious occasion like this CC Ocheja concluded by sending appreciation and love to all deserving workers all over the world, emphasizing that we mark this day to celebrate their huge sacrifices and acknowledged their immense contributions to nation-building. E-SIGNED ASCII Atanda Olabisi Public Relations Officer Nigeria Security and Civll Defence Corps Osun State Command. For the State Commandant. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has ordered heavy nationwide deployment of Police officers, especially intelligence operatives, traffic officers and other operational assets of the Force for adequate security ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr celebration and beyond. The IGP equally orders that adequate priority be accorded to Eid prayer grounds, highways, recreational centres, financial institutions especially ATM and POS points, to safeguard religious celebrations and financial transactions during the festive period. The IGP's order to Strategic Police Managers at various levels is predicated on the need to maintain a more secured public and social space for the celebration. He further directs that all men deployed must be properly briefed and adequately supervised to ensure they maintain high level of proactiveness, visibility patrols and professionalism in the discharge of policing services to all and sundry. The IGP equally tasks all State Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to ensure that crime and criminality is put in check and brought to its lowest ebb for a hitch free celebration. The Inspector-General of Police, on behalf of the Force Management Team, and the entire workforce of the Nigeria Police Force, felicitates with all Muslim faithfuls in the country as they join the global Muslim Ummah to mark this years Eid-el-Fitr. He admonishes them to practicalise the values of empathy, faith, charity and other salient teachings of Ramadan in their relationship with other members of the society. CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA. Navy trainer to be discharged over hazing scandal BANGKOK: The navy has jailed for 30 days an instructor who allegedly punished new recruits by forcing them to drink semen, before he will be discharged for a serious breach of the militarys disciplinary code. militarycrime By Bangkok Post Sunday 1 May 2022, 01:35PM V/Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin, spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy, says officers have been ordered to treat privates with respect and refrain from degrading discipline. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Vice Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin, navy spokesman, yesterday told the media that Petty Officer Second Class Taksin Ngokpilai was transferred to an inactive post amid an investigation into the matter, reports the Bangkok Post. V/Adm Pokkrong said a navy panel ruled the allegation had grounds, prompting an order to detain PO2 Taksin for 30 days. As this act was found to have seriously sullied the reputation of the military, PO2 Taksin will also be discharged, he said. In addition, PO2 Taksins superiors are expected to be held accountable for the action. The commander of the Royal Thai Marine Corps Security Department will be punished for seven days while the commander of the departments command and service company will be punished for 15 days, according to the navy. Navy chief Adm Somprasong Nilsamai had said all supervisors must ensure that instructors behave appropriately and take care of recruits properly, Vice Adm Pokkrong said. The incident took place at a naval training camp in Chon Buris Sattahip district in October. The case came to light after a Facebook account named Khon Khao Muang Pathum uploaded a video clip depicting an instructor punishing a conscript by forcing him to drink semen mixed with fish sauce. The conscripts in the video clip were recently discharged after completing their six months in the military. Phuket arrivals increase on Day 1 of new entry measures PHUKET: More than 4,400 international arrivals are expected to land in Phuket today (May 1), the first day under the new entry measures that no longer require a COVID test before departure or after landing in Phuket. tourismeconomicsCOVID-19Coronavirus By The Phuket News Sunday 1 May 2022, 05:08PM The number of arrivals today is already nearly double the daily average for the past few months, which regularly struggled to see more than 2,000 arrivals a day in Phuket, including Thais returning home, expats and even transit passengers. The number of foreign tourists coming to Phuket is expected to continue to rise, said Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Phuket international Airport (AoT Phuket), this morning. Mr Manode was on hand to welcome the 324 arrivals who landed at Phuket airport at 6:55am on Qatar Airways Flight QR842 the first flight to arrive under the new entry measures. On average there are about 27 international inbound flights per day already scheduled for this month, said Mr Manode. This is the first day of the change in entry rules, and we have both domestic and international passengers arriving continuously, he said. After this the number of tourists travelling to Phuket is expected to be no less than 5,000 people a day, Mr Manode said. The atmosphere inside the arrivals hall had noticeably improved, officials noted. It is particularly busy, one officer said. Mr Manode also conducted a final inspection of all the locations where arrivals are processed for entry, including Immigration, Customs and the Thailand Pass counter, where entry documents are checked. Everything is in good order. The whole process has been made simpler and it is much more convenient for tourists, he said. Phuket Quarantine officials at the airport confirmed that the last person to enter Phuket under the Test & Go entry measures, was cleared by officials to leave the airport just before midnight last night. The number of international arrivals under the Sandbox and Test & Go entry schemes since Nov 1, when the Test & Go scheme was launched, totalled 500,555, Phuket Quarantine officials said. Thailand thanks Myanmar for drug lords extradition BANGKOK: Thailand has expressed gratitude to Myanmar authorities for returning Thawatchai Aomchompoo, one of Thailands most wanted drug suspects, reports state news agency NNT. drugscrimeMyanmar By National News Bureau of Thailand Sunday 1 May 2022, 09:30AM Photo: NNT At the 23rd meeting of the Thailand-Myanmar Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in Drug Prevention and Suppression in Bangkok, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin represented the government in thanking the Myanmar government for its assistance in apprehending the drug suspect, said the NNT report. Thawatchai was apprehended as part of the Most Wanted operation jointly conducted by Thailand and Myanmar to track down and apprehend individuals suspected of being part of an international drug trafficking ring, the report noted. In his remarks, Minister Somsak emphasised the importance of multilateral cooperation in combating drug trafficking and bringing those responsible to justice. According to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), the individual was found hiding in the town of Tachileik, across the border from Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai, where he ran a drug-smuggling operation. NSB chief Pol Lt Gen Sarayut Sanguanphokhai said Thawatchai was wanted by police for his alleged role in at least two major trafficking cases. He faces a number of charges, including conspiracy to traffic narcotics and money laundering. Both countries agreed at the meeting to step up investigations into the smuggling of narcotics and their precursors in the region as part of Operation Golden Triangle 1511, endorsed at the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Sessions. Additionally, the two sides agreed to beef up border patrols in order to deter those smuggling drugs and precursors, the NNT report concluded. Three alleged suppliers to Phuket drug trade arrested SONGKHLA: Three people who allegedly supplied illicit drugs to dealers in Phuket and nearby southern provinces have been arrested in two separate operations in Songkhla. drugscrimepolice By Bangkok Post Sunday 1 May 2022, 10:33AM Officers question drug suspect Chalor Phongchana, 48, after his arrest at a resort in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province. Photo: Supplied via Bangkok Post Drug suppression police take Witsanu Promsila and his wife Jiraphorn Wongkaew to search a house in Ranot district of Songkhla, where the couple allegedly kept crystal methamphetamine and speed pills. Photo: Supplied via Bangkok Post Drug suppression police arrested Witsanu Promsila, 31, and his wife Jiraphorn Wongkaew, 35, in Ranot district of Songkhla on Friday (Apr 29). They later apprehended Chalor Phongchana, 48, at a resort in Hat Yai on the same day, said Pol Lt Gen Sarayut Sanguanphokhai, chief of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB). The arrests came after officers obtained information that a drug gang was supplying crystal methamphetamine to dealers in Phuket and nearby provinces to sell to users there, reports the Bangkok Post. Officers seized three kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine from Witsanu and Jiraphorn. The couple were then taken to their house in Ranot district, where 51 packs of crystal methamphetamine, each weighing 1 kilogramme, and 16,000 speed pills were found hidden in an ice container, said Lt Gen Sarayut. During questioning, Witsanu admitted he and his wife had delivered drugs to Phuket and other southern provinces and implicated Mr Chalor in the drug trade. The police team subsequently arrested Chalor in Hat Yai, said the NSB chief. All of the suspects confessed to the drug charges and were handed over to NSB police for legal action. The investigation is being extended to bring others involved in the drug trade to task. Initially, the arresting team seized assets worth more than B2 million from the suspects, said Lt Gen Sarayut. His nose was legendary among first responders in more than two dozen area police agencies. It is what helped cops discover fentanyl stashed in the car of a city worker and substitute teacher in April 2019, what led police that summer to 10 pounds of pot stashed in a duffel bag on Buffalo's West Side and what helped federal agents find five kilos of cocaine in a car downtown. But going after drug dealers was only one way that Haso, a German shepherd in the Erie County Sheriff's K-9 unit, served the community during his four years on the job. He also saved the lives of at least eight people, like the autistic boy in Gowanda who jumped from his mother's car and disappeared, the elderly Clarence man with Alzheimer's who wandered away in his pajamas and the missing Amherst woman he found lying in Ellicott Creek. "He did not deserve to go like this," said Deputy Richard Lundberg, his owner and former K-9 handler. "He deserved to go on his terms comfortable, at home, while taken care of and happy." Criminal investigation underway into death of retired police K-9 found Friday Haso was found dead around 4:30 p.m. Friday, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office suspects the dog may have been deliberately harmed. An active criminal investigation is underway. But this rescue attempt would have no happy ending. Haso was pronounced dead Friday, three days after he was reported missing from Lundberg's home in Cattaraugus County, where the dog was living in retirement. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's officials declined to comment Saturday on exactly how Haso died and who was responsible. Capt. Jordan Haines said Friday it was clear the dog did not die of dehydration or exposure. "The way he died is such that it would kick off a criminal investigation," Haines said. Lundberg also declined to give specifics, citing the pending investigation, but said he has an idea what happened. "I know how he died," Lundberg said in an interview with The Buffalo News. "Its just a depraved indifference to life." Frantic search underway for retired police K-9 missing since Monday night Neighbors, family members and strangers have embarked on a search for Haso, a retired K-9 dog who is credited with saving many lives during his four-year career as an active duty member of the Erie County Sheriff's Office. Dog diffused situations Haso started as a K-9 dog in 2015 and was trained in both drug detection and tracking. The Erie County Sheriff has the region's largest unit, with 17 working dogs. Lundberg said Haso assisted more than two dozen local police agencies, as well as the State Police and three federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration. Haso had a mischievous personality and he and Lundberg quickly developed a bond. K-9 dogs live with their handlers full-time. Lundberg remembers the dog's reaction when they were called to a scene on Grand Island. "It was a terrible call Id watched a guy burn alive on a motorcycle," Lundberg said. "And I just remember I came back to my car, and I opened his door, and Haso just pressed his head into my chest." The German shepherd was known for diffusing tense situations, like the night police and sheriff's deputies were executing search warrants on suspected drug houses in Buffalo. The occupants of one home were handcuffed and sitting on the ground when Lundberg said the sight of the dog made them "melt." "I bring Haso in and the people are like, 'That is a gorgeous dog.' Im like, 'The SWAT team just blew your door off, and youre complimenting the dog?' That works for me." Early retirement beckons for marijuana-sniffing K-9s Apollo still jumps up, barks and wags his tail when Erie County Sheriffs Deputy Robert Galbraith puts on police gear each morning. For three years the 6-year-old German shepherd worked at Galbraiths side as a narcotics detection dog and tracker. But Apollo doesnt leave for work with Galbraith anymore. Last spring, the Sheriffs Office unceremoniously retired Apollo, even though Retired in 2020 But with the legalization of marijuana in New York, the skills of drug dogs like Haso have increasingly become obsolete. While some dogs who specialized in detecting harder drugs than marijuana remained on the force, Haso was retired in 2020 at age 6. Soon after, Lundberg sold his home in Cheektowaga and bought property in rural Cattaraugus County where Haso could roam free. The dog snapped at bumblebees, sniffed rabbits and chased pheasants through the woods. He ran laps around the house and made friends with Lundberg's neighbors. Even letter carriers took a liking to him. "I mean, the UPS guy loved him," Lundberg said. "He would come up and give him treats and flip on his back and let him scratch his belly. He wasnt like this sort of stigmatized police dog." Lundberg said he let Haso out of his kennel around 7:45 p.m. Monday and went into his garage for four minutes. When the deputy returned, Haso was gone. Lundberg said Saturday he received a phone call days earlier indicating that someone knew what happened to his dog. That's when the Cattaraugus County Sheriff opened a criminal investigation. The dog was found a half mile from Lundberg's house in West Valley, plunging his owner into a mixture of anger and sadness. Lundberg got up early Saturday morning and drove to the sheriff's office in downtown Buffalo, where he planned to work through some of his grief. "Driving into the office today, I probably cried three or four times on my way in," he said. "I cant go home and see his things. I need to put some distance between me and the pain of losing him, and the pain that he went through." The one consolation Lundberg has is that he was able to enjoy the final two years of of Haso's retirement. He recalled the two of them sitting on a rock by the water, taking in the scenery. It's moments like those he will remember the most. In hindsight, Im really glad that I didnt take those moments for granted," he said. "I recognized the perfection of them in the moment. News Staff Reporter Sandra Tan contributed to this story. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Elon Musk made a big purchase last week. You may have heard. Some billionaires buy yachts, jets or islands. Musks vanity purchases venture into uncharted territory: spaceships and social media companies. He paid $44 billion for Twitter. This was not a savvy business deal. It wasnt intended to be. The price was driven up by a poison pill maneuver and other circumstances. Vanity purchases are rarely good bargains. And the upside is hard to see. According to the market research firm IBISWorld, revenue in the social media sector has grown 20% per year, on average, since 2017. But this year, that growth is expected to slow considerably. Gradually, Americans are coming to grips with the corrosive effects of social media. Public opinion is turning more negative toward the sector. According to Pew research, 72% of U.S. adults say social media companies have too much power and influence in politics. And 64% say social media have mostly negative effects on the way things are going in the country. Only 10% of Americans believe social media is a force for good. Twitter certainly deserves blame for some of its editorial decisions. And co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey deserves criticism for his absenteeism, splitting his time with his other company, Square. But those arent the sum of Twitters problems. This is an industry in the crosshairs. As Jonathan Haidts column in The Atlantic illustrated this month, companies like Twitter have contributed to the Babel-ification of America. Dialogue is harder to engage. Truth is harder to find. The people are scattering. Musk fans, mostly conservatives and libertarians frustrated by Twitters editorial decisions, see him as a savior who will restore free speech to the platform. Indeed, Musk has said that is one of his goals. But effectively combining free speech and social media is a moon shot even for Musk. Whats much more likely to happen is that the internet will ruin the billionaires new asset. As other companies have shown, to whatever extent a platform retreats from editorial control, internet users will fill the void with inane, offensive or even dangerous content. Remember Parler? As Musk will soon find out, being in the publishing business isnt easy, even for a brilliant billionaire inventor scientist businessman. Being in the business of airing peoples thoughts and statements comes with all kinds of complications that throwing around the phrase free speech doesnt easily resolve. What will happen is unpredictable. But if Musk thinks he can take Twitter back to the early days of a social media free-for-all, he may soon wish he was once more just another tweeter. LAWRENCEVILLE When Dennis Green was a young farmer starting out in southern Illinois in the 1970s, he did not give a lot of thought to the Soviet Union as a player in world agriculture. Russia and Ukraine and some other countries were still part of the Soviet Union. In the 1970s, they could not raise enough wheat for their own people, Green said. We would never have thought that a war like we have going on right now would be something that would have an impact on world markets Russia and Ukraine are large contributors to the world wheat market. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia this spring has rocked global markets, causing shortages, creating uncertainty, and driving up prices for U.S. wheat. At wheat harvest time in June and July, market watchers expect Illinois prices will hit record highs. Prices have soared, and so have the costs of fertilizing U.S. crops. According to data from the Fertilizer Institute, Russia is the biggest exporter of fertilizers in the world, producing 23% of ammonia exports, 14% of urea exports, 10% of processed phosphate exports and 21% of potash exports. Russia is also a major exporter of natural gas, which is used in the manufacture of nitrogen fertilizers. Even before Russian troops began building up on the Ukrainian borders this winter, high natural gas prices had been driving up the cost of fertilizers and other inputs that U.S. farmers depend on. Western sanctions on Russia have disrupted fertilizer shipments and increased shortages, driving input costs even higher than they were last fall. So, should Illinois wheat farmers increase the amount of wheat they plant in the fall? Green said it is too soon for him to decide. The factor that will determine what happens there is what the price of wheat looks like come fall, Green said. In some Illinois fields, after the corn and soybean crops are harvested wheat is planted to overwinter in the same soil where the corn and soybeans were grown. The soft red winter wheat variety grown in Illinois is primarily sold to U.S. factories to be used to make cookies, pretzels, baked goods and flatbreads. It is not used for bread and pasta. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has predicted that the U.S. will produce 1.28 billion bushels of wheat this year. The soft wheat production what we produce east of the Mississippi in the Midwest is less than one-sixth of the total wheat that is grown in this country, Green said. Green, who farms near the Indiana border, will factor in the timing of his soybean harvest, the weather conditions at planting time and the price of wheat this fall before he decides how much wheat he will plant this year, he said. EDWARDSVILLE Two Edwardsville residents were indicted last week for child abduction and endangering the welfare of a child in a custodial case. Jordan M. Jones, 33, and Falon R. Miles, 39, both of the same address in Edwardsville, were indicted April 28 with child abduction, a Class 4 felony, and endangering the life or health of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. Charges were originally filed April 21 in the cases, which were originally presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. According to court documents, between April 17-19 the two allegedly violated a court order granting temporary custody of a 3-year-old girl to the Illinois Department of Children and Family service by concealing the childs location; and endangered the child by allowing her to wander from the residence for an extended period of time while (the two were) impaired. In an unrelated case, Felipe J. Ramirez-Perez, 22, of Granite City, was indicted for aggravated stalking, a Class 3 felony. Charges were originally filed April 7 in the case, which was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, Ramirez-Perez allegedly violated an order of protection by engaging in conduct which he knew or should have known would cause her to fear for her safety or to suffer emotional distress. Specifically, on Oct. 22 he approached a woman at a BP gas station and pointed a gun at her; and on Jan. 15 went to her residence and entered it. Bail was set at $75,000. An 18-year-old Buffalo man was killed Saturday after being hit by gunfire inside a car in the Kensington-Bailey neighborhood, police said. The shooting happened near Martha and Roosevelt avenues while the victim was inside a vehicle that then struck a pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Northeast District officers responded around 7:45 p.m. Police did not release the victims name or any other details of the crime. They are still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call or text the Confidential tip-call line at 716-847-2255. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CAIRO (AP) Egypts Suez Canal said Sunday its monthly revenues hit an all-time record, raking in $629 million in April. The unprecedented income came as the Suez Canal in March increased transit fees for ships passing through the waterway. Adm. Ossama Rabei, head of the Suez Canal Authority, said in a statement that 1,929 vessels sailed through the Suez Canal last month, compared to 1,814 in April 2021. He said the revenues rose by 13.9% compared to April last year when the crucial waterway received $553.6 million. About 10% of global trade, including 7% of the worlds oil, flows through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red seas. The canal, which first opened in 1869, is a major source of foreign currency to Egypt. The annual revenues of the canal reached $6.3 billion in 2021, the highest in its history. The Canal said 20,649 vessels passed through the waterway last year, a 10% increase compared to 18,830 vessels in 2020. The shipping industry is still under pressure from the coronavirus pandemic and Russias war on Ukraine has already added to global economic concerns. WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 1, 2022 _____ FROST ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service New York NY 320 PM EDT Sat Apr 30 2022 ...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM EDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 will result in frost formation. * WHERE...In New Jersey, Western Passaic County. In Connecticut, Northern Fairfield, Northern New Haven, Northern Middlesex and Northern New London Counties. In New York, Orange and Putnam Counties. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. An elevated risk of fire growth and spread continues through early this evening. Northwest winds sustained at 10 to 15 mph with gusts 20 to 25 mph are expected, along with minimum relative humidities of 15 to 25 percent. For New York residents, the annual statewide burn ban remains in effect until May 14. No burn permits are issued. Listen to NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio or visit our web site at https://weather.gov/nyc for further details or updates. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. IVY GOODMAN, Stonington, Girls, Lacrosse, Senior; Goodman scored 12 goals and had 13 assists in three games. Her seven assists in the Bears win over Waterford established a school record. She surpassed the 50-goal mark for the season in Stoningtons victory over Ledyard. DEAN PONS JR., Westerly, Baseball, Senior; Pons, a senior, struck out 14 batters in the Bulldogs five-inning win against Wheeler School/Rocky Hill. Pons had an assist on the remaining out, throwing out a runner on a groundout. Pons allowed just one hit and walked only two. KATIE PIERCE, Wheeler, Girls, Lacrosse, Sophomore; Pierce scored five goals and the Lions beat Griswold to earn their first victory of the season. Wheeler avenged an earlier loss to the Wolverines this season with the 15-4 victory. WEEKO THOMPSON, Chariho, Girls, Track Sophomore; Thompson, a sophomore, bettered her school record in the discus at the Classical Classic meet. She finished first in the event and also won the shot put. Vote View Results Guo Jun walks with freshly-picked tea leaves in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 27, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun (5th L) remarks on tea leaves his students processed at a local technical school in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 27, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun gives a lesson on tea making at a local technical school in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 28, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun (1st R) talks with his students about tea making technique at a local technical school in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 28, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun (3rd R) and his students pluck tea leaves in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 29, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun plucks tea leaves in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 27, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun (2nd R, front) teaches his student to bake tea leaves in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 27, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun looks at a cup of tea his student brewed in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 29, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun (2nd R) and his teacher Liu Xiaohua (1st R) watch a student brew tea at a local technical school in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 29, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Guo Jun (R) walks with his students carrying freshly-picked tea leaves in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 29, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) In this aerial photo, Guo Jun (2nd R) and his students pluck tea leaves in Meitan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 29, 2022. Busy toasting tea leaves on a stove, Guo Jun basks in the fresh aroma filling a workshop in Meitan County. After graduating from Guizhou University in 2016, Guo returned to his hometown to work at a tea company, where he learned tea making from a local master. In 2018, he became an instructor at a local technical school two years later. Honing one's tea-making skills demands huge reserves of patience, empathy and a strong sense of vocation. "My students and I have to bake while kneading the leaves by hand. Our hands often get burned on the wok, leaving them blisters," Guo recalled. "We, the younger generation, should cherish traditional tea making technique while tapping its innovative potential," he said. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Jeremy Sams, who was featured in the February 2017 issue of Plein Air Magazine, is an award-winning painter from the mountains of North Carolina. Sudanese security forces fired tear gas at crowds who massed in Khartoum on Saturday to rally against military rule and mark the third anniversary of the killing of scores of protesters. The crowds blocked a major road junction in the capital and laid out food to break their Ramadan fast. But just before sundown, officers began breaking up the rally and chased demonstrators into side streets, a Reuters reporter said. Postings on social media said people also gathered in the cities of Madani, Kosti and El Obeid, carrying posters with faces of some of the young men killed in 2019. We will continue on the path the martyrs began, said one of the protesters in Khartoum on Saturday who declined to be named. Protests and unrest have continued to rock Sudan since months of massed demonstrations culminated in the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. On June 3 that year, armed men charged pro-democracy demonstrators who were holding a sit-in outside the military headquarters in the centre of the capital, demanding the army hand over rule to civilians after Bashirs ousting. Activist doctors said nearly 130 people were killed in that raid and ensuing violence. Official tallies put the death count at 87. The military later agreed to share power with civilians but took power again in a coup in October 2021. Sudanese police could not be reached for comment on Saturday, the third anniversary of the sit-in raid according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Khartoum states security committee had on Friday called on protests to remain peaceful and blocked off central Khartoum. Military leaders have denied responsibility for the 2019 killings. A number of more junior officers are on trial over the deaths. Since the October coup, many of Bashirs former allies have been allowed to rejoin the civil service while others have been freed from jail. Its very disappointing that we put in so much work to get them out, and theyre starting to come back, Hassan, an unemployed 30-year-old protester in another part of Khartoum, said. SOURCE: REUTERS KINDERHOOK It's hard to find anyone in Columbia County who is unaware of the Harold Handy beating. Handy, a mechanic, was hurt so badly at a July 4, 2020 party at the home of a Columbia County sheriff's deputy and her gym-owner husband he ended up in the intensive care unit at Albany Medical Center. Four people including the deputy and an IRS agent were indicted on gang assault, unlawful imprisonment and assault charges after State Police investigators took over the case from the sheriff's office. Though only the barest details about what happened to Handy have emerged until now, speculation about the case has run wild in the nearly two years since the incident, even after the top charges were dismissed by a judge. But court documents filed in the case give the clearest picture yet of what police and prosecutors say happened that night. The documents include testimony from Handy, who has said little publicly, and two key witnesses, as well as a deposition to State Police given by a witness. All statements were given under oath. What emerges is a chaotic scene of violence punctuated by gunshots fired outside a "party barn." Deputy Kelly Rosenstrach and her husband Alex Rosenstrach have pleaded not guilty, as have the two other men charged in the case, IRS law enforcement agent Bryan Haag and Cory Gaylord, a contractor. Last year, their attorneys convinced the judge in the case to dismiss the most serious charges, including felony gang assault, after arguing the evidence was too weak to sustain the charges. Two of the defense attorneys returned calls for comment last week. Haag's attorney, Paul DerOhannesian II, said Handy struck his client who was "only trying to help" as the incident unfolded. Gaylord's attorney, Stephen Coffey, questioned the veracity of statements from a key witness, saying she's told different stories over time. Here is how events unfolded that night, according to court documents filed in the case: Handy and his then-fiancee, whose identity is not being revealed by the Times Union, arrived at the Rosenstrachs' Kinderhook home between 11 and 11:20 p.m. on July 4, according to Handy's testimony. Handy had been drinking at the earlier family gathering but told a grand jury he only became intoxicated after continuing to drink at the Rosenstrach home. At some point, Handy got into an argument with a man he did not know, but the quarrel ended after Alex Rosenstrach told them to end the argument with a communal shot of liquor, Handy testified. When asked by prosecutors if he remembered anything else, Handy responded that he was "attacked by Alex." Handy, now 33, alleged Alex Rosenstrach punched him several times in the face, causing him to topple over, then punched him again on the ground and got on his back and put him in a chokehold. He also testified he remembered his fiancee standing above him, screaming, then remembers nothing until he woke up in the ICU with a concussion, a fractured eye socket, and scratches and cuts all over his body. Handy's fiancee, who testified she had only had one drink the entire day, paints a far more detailed picture through her deposition to State Police and her testimony to the grand jury. (The couple married in August 2020.) Before the alleged beating, she testified she saw Alex Rosenstrach twice walk outside the "party barn" with a handgun and fire shots. The second time, Gaylord, the contractor, also walked outside and fired shots, she said. Sometime after Alex Rosenstrach had cooled things off between Handy and the unknown man with a shot of liquor, Handy's fiancee saw the gym owner and Gaylord doing a martial arts demonstration, possibly showing off a "police move." She testified Handy tried to insert himself into the demonstration and Alex Rosenstrach told him, "you're not going to come at me like that," after which he punched Handy three times in the face and took him down to the ground with the chokehold. Partygoers, including Kelly Rosenstrach, separated the two, after which Handy's fiancee helped him outside the barn, she testified. Alex Rosenstrach then confronted the couple. "It was, 'you're my best friend, you can't leave,'" Handy's fiancee testified. She told Alex Rosenstrach they just wanted to go and tried to step past him, but "it was automatically several punches to Harold's face." The couple continued to stumble away, but she said Alex Rosenstrach again confronted them, telling Handy they were friends. Handy told him to get out of their way, then Alex Rosenstrach again punched him several times in the face and took him to the ground with a chokehold, Handy's fiancee testified. This time, other partygoers allegedly joined, holding Handy down and beating him. Handy's fiancee testified she couldn't identify most of them, but recognized Gaylord, who she said held Handy's arm down and repeatedly punched him in the face. Handy's fiancee recognized one other person in the mob: Haag, the IRS agent, though she testified she couldn't recall Haag actually hitting Handy at that point. Alex Rosenstrach eventually told everyone to get back, but continued to pin Handy, punching him in the face whenever he squirmed, his fiancee testified. She tried to get out her phone to call a friend, but Gaylord demanded to know who she was calling, then told her she could not call police, she testified. He allegedly checked her phone after each call as she tried to reach friends. She eventually reached a friend, who arrived in a truck, and the two tried to lead the stumbling Handy to it. Haag then stepped toward the three and Handy told him "get away from me I don't want your help," before Handy "flailed" at Haag and toppled over onto his hands and knees, according to his fiancee's testimony. Haag then kicked Handy in the face, his fiance testified, knocking him out cold. DerOhannesian, representing Haag, said his client was "attacked after trying to help." Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. Handy hit Haag in the eye, breaking blood vessels, an injury documented by investigators, DerOhannesian said, but the evidence was not presented to the grand jury, "so their decision did not have the benefit of his statement to the police." "Our position is that (Haag's) actions were justified as a result of him being assaulted by the complainant," DerOhannesian said. Only prosecutors present to grand juries, whose members do not hear arguments or see evidence from defense attorneys to refute allegations from authorities. Several times during the alleged beatings, Kelly Rosenstrach said no one should call the police, Handy's fiancee testified. The deputy allegedly relented after the unconscious Handy started making gurgling noises on the ground and Alex Rosenstrach turned him on his side so he wouldn't choke on his vomit. Handy's fiancee's parents, who she had managed to reach by phone, then arrived, followed shortly by on-duty sheriff's deputies and paramedics. Word of the alleged attack spread quickly through the community. By late July, with no arrests made and the sheriff's office in charge of the investigation, signs proclaiming "Justice for Harold" sprang up in yards around northern Columbia County. In the first week of August 2020, State Police took over the case after the move was requested by Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czjaka, according to a State Police spokesman, who said the agency had begun assisting the sheriff's office two days into the investigation. The case was presented to a grand jury on Sept. 27, 2020, according to court documents, and the four defendants were then indicted on felony charges of gang assault and unlawful imprisonment. Alex Rosenstrach and Bryan Haag were also indicted on a felony second-degree assault charge. Czjaka did not get everything he wanted, though court documents show the district attorney tried to get Kelly Rosenstrach and Corey Gaylord indicted for second-degree assault, but the charge was voted down by the grand jury, which also voted not to indict the deputy on misdemeanor assault charges. Republican Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett received considerable criticism the case. One of his deputies, Don Krapf, ran against Bartlett for sheriff last year. Krapf ran as an independent but was heavily backed by the Columbia County Democratic Committee. He refused to talk about the Handy case during interviews, but politically benefited as Don Krapf yard signs replaced "Justice for Harold" signs across the county. During the election, seven area police unions that had endorsed Bartlett in 2017 declined to do so again. The Times Union also reported that Alex Rosenstrach was Bartlett's top political donor. Though the contributions were made before the alleged assault, Bartlett refused to return the money when interviewed. Krapf handily won the election with 55 percent of the vote. In late December 2021, Columbia County Judge Richard Koweek dismissed the top charges in a 42-page decision that hinged on defense attorneys' arguments that Handy's injuries were not severe enough to justify the gang assault or felony assault charges. Now the four defendants are only facing a single felony charge: unlawful imprisonment, which carries a maximum of four years in prison. Stephen Coffey, who represents Gaylord, questioned Handy's fiancee's veracity, saying her story had changed during the investigation, and he expected it would again when the case reached trial. The attorneys representing Kelly and Alex Rosenstrach did not return calls for comment. Hearings have been held in the case, but a trial date has not yet been set. When PBS was looking for a short film companion piece for their new American Masters documentary Becoming Helen Keller, they struck gold with the subject of the nearly 8 minute piece, Elsa Sjunneson. Shes a Seattle-based, deaf-blind writer and activist. She also happens to be a fencer, hiker, downhill skier, video game player and consultant, media critic, college professor and a Hugo Award winner currently up for two more at this years annual event honoring the best in science fiction and fantasy writing. And she recently began writing for Marvel Comics with last years title, Women of Marvel #1. The original director, an acquaintance of Sjunnesons, had a conflict, but she knew the right person to call: Albany filmmaker Cameron Mitchell. Time was not on their side, though. There was a tight deadline for it, said Mitchell. We had less than three weeks from when I heard about this to when it had to air. And if it didnt air at the end of [March]," it might not have aired at all. Mitchell, 31, accepted the challenge and winged his way to Washington to meet Sjunneson, a fierce advocate for disability rights. He also came with the background and experience to prove he was the right person for the job. Both of his parents are disability studies professors, who write extensively and create their own films on the subject. His movies, including the narrative short, The Co-op about an attempted robbery that goes awry when the would-be thief encounters a grocery store filled with disabled customers all deal with disability issues. He also considers himself disabled, diagnosed with post-traumatic spondylosis, as well as other diagnoses. And while he is not deaf or blind, his sister Emma is both. I make all my films for my sister and my parents. My parents are the ones who gave me the perspective to think about disability and write and talk about it, he said. They gave me a comfortability with it, and I think that comfort level is a key part in approaching that subject matter. All this proved enough to earn Sjunnesons seal of approval. This film is the first time that Ive felt like somebody who doesnt know me has depicted me well, she said. Cameron is also an incredibly talented filmmaker. Mitchell echoes the sentiments. I had an immediate rapport with her because of that, because we both make things about disability and inclusion. Representation, inclusion, proximity. These are words that come up often in the works and actions of both Sjunneson and Mitchell. We dont have a lot of good representation and we need more, said Sjunneson. A lot of my work centers around the idea that when nondisabled people consume media that depicts us poorly, they basically consume and internalize these concepts about disability that are wrong. As Mitchell put it, Thats why I make these films because Im trying to create proximity for other people. If we see representation on the screen, then we might take that with us. Its just important that we give opportunities to marginalized voices, to also tell their stories because all the perspectives can build into a larger understanding. Speaking of understanding, both Mitchell and Sjunneson had to first get past their mutual ambivalence about being connected to a film that showcases Helen Keller, a near-mythic figure in the disabled and deaf-blind communities and one whose experiences and reputation have been reevaluated as times have changed. As Mitchell points out, much of what the world knows about Keller is through the fictionalized play and movie, The Miracle Worker, where the stage directions call for the performer playing her to act animalistic. As for Sjunneson, shes had to fight against comparisons between herself and Keller her whole life, as well as the monolithic idea that Keller represents all deaf/blind people. Its complicated, right? Like, a lot of my work has been about saying, I am not like Helen Keller. But she felt that the short film was an opportunity to showcase that her reality of being deaf-blind is very different from Helen Kellers reality. Even though I have problems with Helen Keller, I also feel like speaking to the truth of her legacy is part of my job. More Information "PBS Masters" Film: Elsa Sjunneson: pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/elsa-sjunneson-deafblind-fencer-hiker-published-author-7bkjs/21230 Cameron Mitchell's website: cameronsmitchell.com "The Co-Op": youtube.com/watch?v=OtmPs2hnLxg&ab_channel=SlamdanceFilmFestival Elsa Sjunneson's website: www.snarkbat.com "Being Seen": simonandschuster.com/books/Being-Seen/Elsa-Sjunneson/9781982152376 See More Collapse Not that her job doesnt sometimes make her uncomfortable. Is it scary? Absolutely its scary. You put yourself out in front of the world and theres a risk. In the case of this film, though, the networks reputation helped. I felt that PBS was probably a good place to be because they werent going to sensationalize me in a way that some other venues might. With Mitchell as her director, there was little chance of exploitation. Hes been steeped in the subject matter his entire life. His parents were not just examples of disability rights activism in action, but often featured him in their writings and films. That includes a family trip to visit Nazi killing centers in Europe for a short film about involuntary euthanasia during World War II. It was the water that I swam in, so I never thought anything of it. But it clearly made an impression because now he is quite proud to be known as a disability filmmaker. It wasnt an immediate vocation, though. After moving during his senior year of high school from Chicago to Philadelphia when both his parents got positions teaching at Temple University, he followed them there the next year as a student, enrolling as a psychology major. He took a visual anthropology course with a professor whose family was royalty in India, and who took his students on a trip to his native country each summer where they each made their own film. Mitchells was a documentary about a Christian Hindu Muslim music teacher. He returned to Temple and changed to a double major of film and visual anthropology. And his career choice has obviously impressed a very important member of his audience, his father, David T. Mitchell, now an English professor at George Washington University. Cameron manages to do what most filmmakers miss about disability in that existing in the small-scale world that most disabled people are limited to lends an intensity of insight and a probing of a microcosm that most people only glance at, he wrote via email. In many ways this video could only be told by someone who grew up in great proximity to disability. Elsa Sjunnesons own childhood and background was equally as full. Despite growing up with two queer parents who resisted bowing to pressure and institutionalizing her, their decision to raise her as nondisabled inadvertently led to a stigmatizing or hiding of her disabilities. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. But she decided to learn horseback riding because she loved horses. She was put on skis because my relatives are Swedish. At 12 or 13, she wrote a full-length play and gave a reading of it to an invited audience at her grandparents house. She staged other plays in her own backyard and wrote a novel. And an early love of knights and swordplay morphed into becoming a fencer, on and off, since she was 9 years old. Of course, theres more to that story. She was offered the opportunity to take lessons while attending a French camp in the San Juan Islands. Nobody thought that maybe the blind kid shouldnt be fencing, so they just let me. Shes now skilled at saber and foil, as well as the long swords associated with historical European martial arts. Shes quick to note here that she is blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other, and she also has hearing aids. But neither those facts nor societys inherent need to rank or clarify disabilities deters Sjunneson. Im completely deaf/blind because thats the experience of my body. This is the body I have; this is the experience I have and its actually valuable. My perspective matters. Ive always been a very driven person. And to be clear, I dont actually think thats because Im disabled. Its just because Im that kind of person, she said. I dont think that I felt like I needed to be better than anybody else. I get bored really easily and when I get bored is usually when I cause trouble. Some good trouble she got into recently was writing her first book, Being Seen: One Deafblind Womans Fight to End Ableism, which was published last October. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, she couldnt do as much promotion for it as she hoped, and it was seen by fewer eyes than she would have liked. She says that societal ableism isnt what informs her drive but declares that fighting against ableism is the backbone of everything that I do. My whole job is making sure disabled people dont get left behind. Ableism is a really pernicious force. Mitchell experienced this on a creative and professional level. His earlier film, The Co-Op, played at several film festivals around the world, but he could only shop it to disability festivals. Even in the wake of the success of this years best picture Oscar winner, CODA (a movie both Mitchell and Sjunneson have serious reservations about regarding representation and ableism), he does not see the needle moving. Ive had meetings with Netflix and other major distributors and theyre not jumping out of their shoes to sign disability films right now, he said. Were going to keep seeing these types of narratives unless we change the curators, the tastemakers, and what were looking for. Sjunneson would love to see movies where disabled people just existed. Their disability is not the plot. Disabled bodies are not tragedies. The idea that they are is something that is really problematic, I mean, it harms people in real-time. When we have stories that depict disability as something to overcome what were really saying is, Your disabled body has to be overcome in order for you to be worth something. Getting the word out about their PBS film available at YouTube and the PBS website is an immediate task for both, but the work goes on. In addition to her day job as an accessibility specialist, Sjunneson continues writing. For Mitchell, he and his father are expanding his parents short film about the Nazi killing centers and horrific T4 program into a longer documentary. And, of course, the crucial work of disability awareness and inclusion never stops. Sjunneson has advice for nondisabled people to expand their worldview, and it might be surprising. Your first step is to actually go on Twitter. Its one of those things that I know sounds really weird, but the disability community is really active on Twitter. She also recommends TikTok for the same reason, as well as reading books. Yeah, absolutely, buy my book, read it, learn from it. I have to shill, its part of my job. And contrary to popular belief, she believes, the answer is not to start volunteering with disabled people. Mitchell has already built up quite a film resume of his own and others projects, including being part of the crews for the locally filmed movies, Paint, starring Owen Wilson, and Resurrection, with Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth, soon after he arrived in Albany. And hes put down roots here. His wife is a grad student at the University at Albany in a five-year program and they bought a house in the city. I really like Albany and the film scene here is really burgeoning. I love how friendly the community is here, he said during a conversation in a Lark Street coffee shop, and while he was talking specifically about the creative and film community, as if on cue a fellow patron struck up a conversation after overhearing him say the name of his first high school in Chicago. Turns out they have a friend in common. He could be talking about the Capital Region film community, working with Sjunneson, or the experience of living in Albany with simple interactions like that one: Its been a really enriching experience actually beyond anything I could have expected as a filmmaker. JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) The only sea turtles that visitors to Loggerhead Marinelife Center will see right now are those whose images are printed on T-shirts in the gift shop. The big turtle tanks at the center on U.S. 1 in Juno Beach have been empty since early April because Loggerhead is facing issues with its water quality that have disqualified it from hosting and rehabilitating sea turtles its signature activity since it opened in 1983. The centers problems go beyond the tanks that are supposed to hold the green and loggerhead sea turtles that nest on northern Palm Beach Countys beaches. The popular destination also has seen the deaths of three turtles and a run of departures from staff members following the expansion of its campus and the arrival of a new chief executive, Kyle Van Houtan. More than a dozen people either have resigned or have notified the center they will be leaving shortly due to mismanagement and concern for the reptile patients, according to six current and former employees who spoke with The Palm Beach Post. Some of the centers marine turtle permits from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which allow it to rehabilitate the animals hang in the balance as the people named on the permits leave, taking their expertise with them. What remains is a CEO scrambling to get out ahead of rumors, local leaders wary of sending any more taxpayer money to the center, visitors let down by the absence of sea turtles and a $26 million newly renovated center missing its star patients. I understand theres been a lot of change around here, and we understand there has been a lot of concern, Van Houtan said. Were going to come out of this stronger. On Wednesday, Loggerhead placed a full-page ad in The Palm Beach Posts print edition, thanking its donors, staff members and volunteers amid what the board of directors called the centers significant growth pains. Loggerheads problems began last July as salinity levels in sea turtle care tanks dropped and began to fluctuate. While the oceans salinity is around 35 parts per thousand, FWC requires that sea turtle tanks range in salinity from 20 to 40 parts per thousand. According to Van Houtan and staff members who were monitoring water salinity, the amount of salt in the water being brought into Loggerhead was hovering in the upper 20s and low 30s. Staff members grew concerned about the low salinity and the fluctuation of salt levels in the tanks, and alerted FWC. Permit holders are required to report issues that affect animal welfare within 24 hours of discovering them. Since sea turtles naturally live in the ocean, too little salt in the water can cause them to retain more water and exacerbate health conditions such as anemia. Changing levels threaten the animals stability as they are rehabilitated, according to FWC and Loggerhead staff members. Van Houtan told The Post the center determined the changes in salinity were caused by a contractor error and runoff water entering Loggerheads intake pump system. In an official statement, he tied the salinity issues to a nearby beach renourishment project just north of Donald Ross Road that took place in January 2021. While the whole system is underground, staff members believe the renourishment project added sand to the beach around the intake pump and resulted in less ocean water and more runoff entering the tanks. While the pipes are stationary and havent moved, the beach renourishment has moved the ocean farther from the pipes, Van Houtan said. When you add 100 linear feet to the beach, you push the ocean farther away. ... Our pumps (are) working harder to get that ocean water and even pulling in some fresh water. Loggerhead staff members told The Post that fresh water included rain water and runoff from the street above as salinity dropped more drastically after large rain storms. Fluctuating salinity resulted in widespread issues in the water system at Loggerhead, and the staff members who spoke with The Post said it led to the death of three sea turtle hatchlings at the center in October. New patients were barred from entering the facility in mid-October, but FWC granted limited admissions in early January. Through February, several sea turtles were successfully rehabilitated and released, Van Houtan said in a written statement released Tuesday. But on April 8, the staff observed tiny air bubbles in seawater inflows. Bubbles can be harmful to sea turtles, especially small turtles, because they can enter their bloodstreams and cause decompression sickness, similar to the bends that scuba divers can face when pressure changes too quickly around them. As a result of the air bubbles, FWC removed all sea turtles from the centers care and relocated them. The nearest sea turtle rehabilitation program is about 40 miles to the south at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton. More than a dozen staffers resign from Loggerhead Staff members who have left the center paint a picture of poor communication, concerns about their patients well-being and mismanagement by Van Houtan, who started as the chief executive last July. Prior to joining Loggerhead, Van Houtan was the chief scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Previously, he was the marine turtle assessment program leader for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He holds a doctorate degree in ecology and environmental ethics from Duke University. But his communication style may have contributed to resignations by outgoing Loggerhead staff members and is the basis of at least one lawsuit. In late March, the centers former marketing director sued Loggerhead, accusing Van Houtan and the centers management of misleading her and the public about the water-quality issues in the tanks. Marilu Flores was hired in November 2021 after the start of the water quality concerns. She said she would have never taken the job had she known the issues at the center. In the lawsuit, Flores called the experience a nightmare and detailed attempts by Van Houtan to cover up water quality issues, such as hiring a crisis management firm and directing staff members not to tell anyone about the centers problems. Now the mass resignations have put the centers permits at risk. FWC issues permits to qualified individuals to handle sea turtles instead of institutions, and staff members say at least 20 full-time employees have resigned or are in the process of resigning their positions. Loggerheads website lists 32 staff members. Van Houtan said hes aware of 14 staff members who have resigned since he took the reins. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Loggerhead has 30 days to hire new qualified individuals who can hold the permits, or the center is at risk of losing them and its abilities to host and rehabilitate turtles. Staff members who spoke with The Post say they were cut out by Van Houtan for bringing their concerns about management to human resources. Others said he prevented them from getting raises, awards for their work and grants for new projects. Theyve launched a petition online calling for Van Houtans resignation. Nearly 300 people have signed. During his tenure, staff has been belittled and ridiculed, excluded and misled, the petition says. Loggerhead Marinelife Centers reputation, in the community and amongst its peers locally and globally has hit rock bottom. Van Houtan said he has held town halls with the scientists, education coordinators and volunteers at the center to identify and address issues. Several members of LMCs staff and volunteer base have resigned over the past few weeks due to disagreement with our direction, he wrote in a statement. We understand change does not come easily, and we are working to improve the situation by increasing communication and accepting more input from our stakeholders. Van Houtan told The Post the centers core mission remains rehabilitating sea turtles, educating the public on ocean conservation and generating revenue to keep the mission afloat. But staffers pointed to new fish tanks and revenue-generating event space as signs that Loggerhead is morphing into an aquarium instead of a sea-turtle hospital. Town leaders withhold taxpayer money from center citing concerns Concerns about Loggerheads operations have rippled through the community, worrying visitors and nearby town leaders about its future. While volunteers said spring break was a busy week, there were just a handful of visitors at the center Tuesday morning. Parents and children wandered through the maze of 26 empty turtle rehabilitation tanks, passed fish tanks filled only with water and interacted with virtual aquariums projected onto the wall in the newly expanded center. On Tuesday, Jupiters Town Council opted not to award Loggerhead any money in its charitable donation program, citing concerns about water quality and staffing. This year was the first year Loggerhead applied for the donation program, according to town records. Although the center is in Juno Beach, it requested $7,500 for its Oceans of Opportunity program, an education effort for disadvantaged Jupiter residents, according to its application. The centers annual revenue tops $9 million, according to its most recent tax documents. The town of Juno Beach, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners are members of the centers Circle of 100, a group comprised from donors who give $5,000 or more per year to Loggerhead. Jupiter was the first north county municipality to discuss denying funding to Loggerhead. Town council member Ron Delaney said Tuesday that he brought family to the center recently while they were visiting. He called the visit a big thud, because there were no sea turtles. There was nothing there, he said of the new turtle tanks. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the last section of Mariupol not occupied by the Russians, said he was glad evacuations had begun. Palamar hoped the evacuations from the Azovstal steel mill continue until everyone in the plant, civilians and soldiers, had gotten out. Its been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant, he told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. The Azovstal plant is strewn with mines, rockets, artillery shells and unexploded cluster ordnance, he said. Along with the Azov regiment, Palamar said, the plant is being defended by the 36th Marine Brigade, police officers, border guards, coast guard and more. Some of them guard the territory, some of them prevent attempted attacks, some of them are responsible for a ceasefire, some of them help to clear the rubble under shelling. He said the presence of children and civilians makes it harder to fight, and there are many injured people in the plant. Theres not enough water, he said, and the air smells of decomposing bodies. The fighters in the plant will continue to resist until they receive an order not to, Palamar said. The best solution in this situation is our evacuation. Does it make a sense to continue carrying this massacre? he asked. The standoff at the steel plant saved many lives, he believes. Because if we hadnt done this, the front line would be much bigger. The front line would be in another area. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Evacuations underway at steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol Pelosi leads delegation to Kyiv and Poland; vows US support Combat death puts spotlight on Americans fighting in Ukraine Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers evacuation Look for the orange vest: Ukrainians in Romania help others Germany vows to stop using Russian oil exports by late summer Ukraine admits Ghost of Kyiv fighter pilot is a myth Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: An explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday in the Kursk region of Russia, which borders Ukraine, and a criminal investigation has been started. The regions government reported the blast in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. The explosion Sunday caused a partial collapse of the bridge near the village of Konopelka, on the Sudzha-Sosnovy Bor railway, the report from Kursk said. It was a sabotage, a criminal case has been opened, said the regions governor, Roman Starovoit, according to TASS. He said there were no casualties, and no effect on the movement of trains. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Four civilians were reported killed and 11 more were injured by Russian shelling in the Donetsk region on Sunday, the Ukrainian regional governor said that evening. The deaths and seven of the injuries were in the northern city of Lyman, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. One person also died in the city of Bakhmut from injuries received in the Luhansk region, he said. In the same post, Kyrylenko said that it was impossible to determine the number of victims in the bombed-out port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha, which is controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists. ___ LVIV, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, citing strikes against non-military targets on Sunday. Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. The targets they choose prove once again that the war against Ukraine is a war of extermination for the Russian army, he said. He said Russia will gain nothing from the damage but will further isolate itself from the rest of the world. What could be Russias strategic success in this war?" Zelenskyy said. "Honestly, I do not know. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukraines president is describing his hourslong weekend meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv as a powerful signal of support in a difficult time. In a televised address on Sunday evening, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his meeting with Pelosi included discussions of defense supplies to Ukraine, financial support and sanctions against Russia. Pelosi and a half dozen U.S. lawmakers met with Zelenskyy and his top aides for about three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Zelenskyy says Ukrainians are grateful to all partners who send such important and powerful signals of support by visiting our capital at such a difficult time. Additionally, Zelenskyy estimated that more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-arranged with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine in late February. Many civilians were evacuated Sunday from at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. ___ KYIV, Ukraine A Ukrainian military officer says that Russian forces have resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the war-torn port city Mariupol immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said Sunday in a televised interview that the shelling began as soon as rescue crews ceased evacuating civilians at the Azovstal steel mill. Shlega says that at least one more round of evacuations is needed to clear civilians from the plant. He says dozens of small children remain in bunkers below the industrial facilities. The commander estimates that several hundred civilians still are trapped at the site alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. A video published earlier on Sunday by the Russian defense ministry showed people walking out of the steel plant, including a small group of women accompanied by two pet dogs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Sundays evacuations from Mariupol marked the initiation of a vitally need humanitarian corridor. ___ BERLIN Germany says its making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of crude oil imports from Russia by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europes largest economy has reduced its share of Russian energy imports to 12% for oil, 8% for coal and 35% for natural gas. Habeck says those steps mean increased costs for the economy and for consumers. But he says the changes are necessary if Germany no longer wants to be blackmailed by Russia. The announcement comes as the European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil. The bloc has already decided to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. Weaning German off Russian natural gas is a far bigger challenge. Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany got more than half of its natural gas imports from Russia. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The city council in the bombed-out southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol says Monday is the scheduled start date for a broad, U.N.-backed evacuation of its civilians, other than those sheltering at a steel plant. The city council also confirmed Sunday in a social media post on Telegram that some civilians were being evacuated Sunday from the Azovstal steelworks that is the last Ukrainian defense stronghold in Mariupol. City officials note the support of the Red Cross and say the wider evacuation of the strategic port city was delayed by security concerns. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The Ukrainian army says that a Russian offensive along a broad front in the countrys east has been stalling amid human and material losses inflicted by Kyivs forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Sunday in a Facebook post that Russian troops were trying to advance in the Sloboda, Donetsk and Tauride regions, but were being held back by Ukrainian forces that continue to fight village by village. Separately, Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of destroying medical infrastructure, taking equipment and denying medical care to residents in several occupied cities and towns. In a Facebook post Sunday, Ukraines Ministry of Defense claims that ventilators and other equipment provided since 2014 by international donors and the government of Ukraine were removed from a hospital at Starobilsk in Ukraines eastern Luhansk region. The same post alleges that tuberculosis patients were denied medical care in the Kharkiv region at Volchansk while several facilities were used to treat wounded Russian troops. The accuracy of the claims could not be immediately verified. Ukrainian officials also said Sunday that internet and cellular communications were cut in a large area in the Russian-occupied Kherson region and part of the Zaporizhzhia region and blamed Russian forces. The London-based internet monitor Netblocks said the Kherson region lost 75% of internet connectivity beginning Saturday evening. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that an evacuation is underway of civilians at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday that a group of 100 people are on their way from Azovstal steelworks to Ukrainian-controlled territory. He indicated that plans are underway for a Monday rendezvous with the evacuees at the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia that has previously been a staging post for those fleeing Mariupol. Zaporizhzhia is located about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from Mariupol. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ DUSSELDORF, Germany German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to continue to support Ukraine with money, aid and also weapons, saying a pacifist approach to the war is outdated. Speaking at a May Day rally in Dusseldorf, Scholz said: I respect all pacifism, I respect all attitudes, but it must seem cynical to a citizen of Ukraine to be told to defend himself against Putins aggression without weapons. The German leader also warned that the war would have consequences for food supply, potentially leading to a worldwide hunger crisis. Soaring food prices and disruption to supplies coming from Russia and Ukraine have threatened food shortages in countries in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia. ___ ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine The United Nations has confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is underway. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the sprawling Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ BERLIN German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has brushed aside criticism that his government is not doing enough to help Ukraine defend itself against Russias invasion. Even though Germany reversed its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, Scholz has been accused at home and abroad of being hesitant and slow in coming to Ukraines aid. In an interview published Sunday by newspaper Bild, the Social Democratic leader defended his governments approach. I make my decisions quickly and in coordination with our partners, Scholz was quoted as saying. I am suspicious of acting too hastily and Germany going it alone. Germany broke with tradition after Russias invasion on Feb. 24 to supply anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Ukraine. It has since agreed to provide Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Scholz has faced mounting pressure to send other heavy weapons including tanks and other armored vehicles. Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor late last year, said he wasnt bothered by opposition claims that hes too hesitant and timid. It is part of a democracy that you are robustly challenged by the opposition, he said. ___ VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has appealed again for a safe evacuation of Ukrainians trapped in the steel plant of Mariupol, saying he weeps thinking of their suffering and how their city has been barbarously bombed and destroyed. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Speaking Sunday during his traditional noontime prayer, Francis urged all the faithful to pray the Rosary every day in May for peace. He noted that May 1 begins the month Christians dedicate to Mary, the mother of God and for whom Mariupol is named. He said: Even now, even from here, I renew the request that safe humanitarian corridors be arranged for the people trapped in the steelworks of that city. I suffer and cry thinking of the suffering of the Ukrainian population, especially the weakest, the elderly and children. He noted the terrible reports of children being expelled and deported and the terrible regression of humanity. ___ WARSAW, Poland Polands armed forces said Sunday that military exercises involving thousands of NATO soldiers have begun. They are regular exercises aimed at improving the security of the alliances eastern flank but come this year with Russias war against Ukraine raging nearby. Due to those circumstances, Polands military appealed to the public on Sunday not to publish information or photos of the columns of military vehicles expected to move through the country in the coming weeks. It warned that ill-considered activity could harm the alliances security. Lets be aware of the dangers! the statement said. The Polish Army said in a statement that 18,000 soldiers from over 20 countries were taking part in the Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises that are taking place in Poland and eight other countries. The exercises are scheduled to run May 1-27. ___ RZESZOW, Poland U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and vowed continued U.S. support to help Ukraine defeat Russia after leading a congressional delegation to Kyiv to assess Ukraines needs for the next phase of the war. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is next in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. She and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses so far and offering continued long-term military, humanitarian and economic support, vowing the United States would stand with Ukraine until it defeated Russia. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. He said: We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Pelosi said she was dazzled by Zelenskyys expertise of all the issues at hand and described him at their meeting as a remarkable master class of leadership. ___ LONDON Russian cyber soldiers have launched a new offensive against foreign leaders, targeting social media platforms with a large-scale disinformation campaign that seeks to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine, according to research funded by the U.K. Paid operatives working from a factory in St. Petersburg use the Telegram messaging app to recruit and coordinate supporters who then flood the social media accounts of Kremlin critics with comments supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, the U.K. Foreign Office said Sunday. The so-called troll factory has developed new techniques to avoid detection by social media platforms, posting comments and amplifying pro-Kremlin content created by legitimate users rather than creating its own content, the Foreign Office said. Traces of its activity have been found on eight social media platforms, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The operation has targeted politicians and wider audiences in a number of countries, including the U.K., South Africa and India, the Foreign Office said. It is believed to have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and Britain for financing the Kremlins online influence operations. We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putins illegal war, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in the statement. The U.K. government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to oil depots just across the Ukrainian border in Russia after suspected Ukrainian attacks. The photos from Saturday show damage at two sites in Bryansk. The blasts damaged multiple tanks, leaving the surrounding grounds charred. The explosions happened Monday. One hit an oil depot owned by Transneft-Druzhba, a subsidiary of the Russian state-controlled company Transneft that operates the western-bound Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline carrying crude oil to Europe. The second facility is a short distance from the other. Bryansk is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the border with Ukraine. ___ KYIV, Ukraine U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has met with Ukraines president. Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a Congressional delegation. Those with Pelosi included Reps. Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff. Zelenskyy told the delegation: You all are welcome. Pelosi later said: We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. The visit was not previously announced. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant that is the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol, a Ukrainian official and Russian state news organizations said. But hundreds are believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. The United Nations was working to broker an evacuation of the up to 1,000 civilians living beneath the sprawling Soviet-era Azovstal plant after numerous previous attempts failed. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city. U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Saviano Abreu said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but he could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation. ___ LVIV, Ukraine U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says American diplomats are making plans to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. Blinken made the comment while speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. An overnight statement Sunday said Blinken told Kuleba that America plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. He said diplomats had been making initial visits to Lviv to prepare. The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Kyiv in February just before Russia launched its war on the country. The U.S. had been bringing diplomats across the Polish border each day to work in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, before stopping the practice. Lviv has largely been spared in the conflict, though a missile strike several days ago targeted a railroad facility near the city. The U.S. is one of Ukraines main backers in the war, providing billions in aid and weaponry. NEW ORLEANS (AP) New Orleans is paying to relocate all remaining residents of a bankrupt apartment complex where people said a landlord's neglect forced them into unsanitary living conditions with rampant mold, rodents and a broken pipe that spewed raw sewage. The rare move began last week and was expected to take about two weeks. After all residents are of the Oakmont Apartments, the 336-unit complex will be vacated and secured until code and safety violations are resolved, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. The conditions of the Oakmont Apartments have become unsafe and unsanitary for residents due to the owners neglect and lack of concern for his tenants, Cantrell said last week. It is imperative that we address this problem head-on and relocate the tenants to safe, alternative housing immediately. City Hall said it plans to put tenants in hotels for up to three months while housing navigators seek affordable apartments, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported. The Housing Authority of New Orleans and the nonprofit Unity of Greater New Orleans are among those involved. Oakmont is the largest of five New Orleans apartment complexes that landlord Joshua Bruno placed under bankruptcy protection in January to avert foreclosure. Bruno did not immediately return a message to the newspaper last week seeking comment on the citys move. Bruno asserts he has spent millions fixing up declining properties, only to see the conditions get worse with the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Ida damage on Aug. 29. Bruno also blamed Fannie Mae for stalling insurance payments amid a foreclosure fight. Fannie Mae has argued Bruno cant be trusted to manage Oakmont. While residents live in squalor, he has transferred millions from Oakmont and other properties over the past year to various entities he controls, the lender alleges. Residents and advocates have urged U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill to wrest control from Bruno and appoint a trustee to manage them. A hearing is set for May 23. Hannah Adams, a Southeast Louisiana Legal Services staff attorney, represents several Oakmont tenants and said all want to leave. She called the administrations offer extraordinary, saying it provided a full wraparound cushion, including hotel stays, help finding a new home, a deposit and two months of rent to get started. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. How much the evacuation plan will cost is uncertain. City Hall said it aims to tap federal emergency rental assistance money. Cantrell called it not the ideal, but better than leaving residents in Oakmont. Adams said 100 to 120 residents had remained. She said homeless services organizations have been trying to draw squatters off the property. The administration cited Bruno last summer for code violations at Oakmont. Bruno has appealed. City Hall in February began offering relocation assistance to the remaining Oakmont tenants. Tuesdays announcement marked a shift from optional relocation to a forced exit. People are being forced to leave because of Josh Bruno and Westbank Holdings history of negligence, not because of the city, Adams said. SCHENECTADY Ellis Hospital is temporarily closing its inpatient adolescent mental health unit, citing an employee shortage that makes it difficult to keep it staffed 24 hours a day. The closure may last months, but Ellis officials said they are recruiting to fill positions for the unit. The closure will begin Monday. We arrived at the difficult, but necessary, decision following persistent staffing limitations stemming from the local and national healthcare employee shortage, which will limit our abilities in the months ahead to safely staff this unit on a 24/7 basis, the hospital said in a statement. Ellis Medicine is committed to restoring inpatient adolescent mental health services in the coming months. The unit serves six to seven children a day. The hospital notified staff late Friday afternoon. On Saturday morning, the NYS Coalition for Childrens Behavioral Health responded with a news release offering to help people find care while the unit is closed. Coalition President and CEO Andrea Smyth urged people to call a mobile mental health crisis unit. It isnt necessarily the emergency room that is the best place to go, she said. In many cases the mobile health teams can deescalate the situation and come up with a plan of what to do next If it can happen in the childs home, its much better for them than waiting hours or days in the emergency department. Northern Rivers has a mobile crisis team that can be called at 518-292-5499. It serves Rensselaer County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County, Warren County and Washington County, as well as children and adolescents in Albany County. For an adult needing mental health crisis care in Albany County, call the Albany County Mental Health Center Mobile Crisis Team at 518-549-6500. If crisis teams are not available, they refer families to the emergency department. That may change now. Albany Medical Center also does not have an inpatient mental health unit for children and adolescents. Ellis will continue to operate all outpatient mental health services at the Ellis Health Center at 1023 State St., including the newly expanded Child & Adolescent services and the 24/7 mental health crisis line. For that line, call 518-243-4000 and ask for a crisis worker. But not having inpatient care will impact some families. Those who have commercial health insurance usually do not have coverage for residential treatment centers, but do have hospital coverage, Smyth said. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Thats why closing hospital beds hurts, because commercial insurance will cover that, she said. About one-third of the children in the state have commercial coverage, usually through a parents job. Another third have Medicaid, which does cover treatment centers. The other third are on programs like Child Health Plus, which will start covering such centers later this year. The new law expanded it but its not in effect yet, Smyth said. Also in the works is an alternative to 911. Families with a mental health crisis will be able to dial 988, beginning July 1. There was significant funding in the governors budget instead of having to call 911 and get law enforcement involved in cases where its not necessary, Smyth said. But thats not until July 1. NYS Coalition for Childrens Behavioral Health is pushing for two changes that could improve the situation. They want the state to pass a bill that would allow licensed mental health providers to diagnose and develop treatment plans, roles currently limited to psychiatrists and social workers. That would add about 10,200 providers to help children during the current adolescent mental health crisis, with another thousand or so graduating every year. They have a masters degree and take classes in how to diagnose, Smyth said. This bill could address the problem with staffing. If, with one law, you could strike a blow against slumlords, human traffickers, fentanyl importers, tax cheats, terrorists, political corruption, kleptocrats and Russian oligarchs, would you pass that law? Thats the question New York faces in whether to pass a bill I have introduced with Sen. Brad Hoylman. The LLC Transparency Act (A9415 / S8439) would require the disclosure of the beneficial owners of limited liability companies operating in New York. Beneficial owners are the individuals who profit from or control a corporation, asset, or legal entity, as distinct from the legal owners, which can include registered agents, nominees, or intermediaries such as trusts or other corporations. The use of complicated indirect ownership structures and shell companies like LLCs, which can be organized with less personal information than it takes to get a library card, allow a beneficial owner to profit or exercise control while remaining anonymous, a feature that has been exploited by criminals worldwide. In 2003, the Financial Action Task Force, the international body tasked with promulgating anti-money-laundering standards, began recommending that nations adopt beneficial ownership transparency laws in order to crack down on terrorist financing and money laundering facilitated by opaque matrices of anonymous trusts and shell corporations. In 2012, the G8 nations committed to beneficial ownership transparency, which was followed by a G20 commitment in 2014. By 2016, the United Kingdom became the first nation to adopt the gold-standard policy for beneficial ownership transparency: a publicly searchable registry of beneficial owners of corporations. The EU followed suit in 2018. As of this year, 105 countries worldwide have committed to public registries of beneficial ownership. The U.S. has not. These policies have been prompted by the proliferation of shell corporations like LLCs. As the United States has fallen behind, it has become the second-most secretive financial jurisdiction in the world, after the Cayman Islands. The consequences of this inaction were laid bare by the release of the Pandora Papers last year, which showed the extent to which the United States had become the go-to destination for money laundering and tax evasion. Ironically, while the federal government has insisted on sanctions against kleptocrats abroad, policymakers have allowed our own borders to become the safest place to evade those sanctions. As Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen remarked in December, The best place to hide and launder ill-gotten gains is actually the United States. The risks created by anonymous shell companies are not abstract. This lax disclosure regime has resulted in the federal government accidentally funding the Taliban through shell companies posing as Afghan contractors; sanctioned oligarchs sheltering their assets in New York while the federal government seeks to penalize them abroad; the Iranian government owning a skyscraper in downtown Manhattan; the sale of fentanyl and opioids in the United States through anonymous shell companies; the operation of 2,100 shell companies in the United States by the Chinese XPCC paramilitary organization, under sanction for human rights abuses committed against the Chinese Uyghur minority; New York-based money launderer Da Ying Sze laundering $653 million in drug money through shell companies with bank accounts in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and remitting that money to China and Hong Kong; and human traffickers hiding their identities behind shell companies organized in the United States. In the housing market sociologist Adam Travis has documented an LLC effect: a statistically significant correlation between code violations and the prevalence of LLC landlords, a phenomenon documented by a 2019 Senate investigation focusing on the Hudson Valley. Anonymous LLCs also continue to facilitate campaign finance violations. Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter. Beneficial ownership transparency is necessary for the world we live in, which is why I have introduced A9415. LLCs were invented in Wyoming in 1977 to exploit a loophole in American tax law and brought to New York in 1994. They werent handed to Moses on a stone tablet. They have many legitimate business uses, but none of these depend on the anonymity of their owners. Limited liability is a legal privilege conferred upon an individual by the state, and its eminently reasonable to ask for the disclosure of ones identity in exchange for such a privilege. We cannot stand idly by while oligarchs under sanctions abroad use LLCs in New York to hide their wealth or criminals traffic people and narcotics using LLCs to escape accountability. Besides helping combat corruption and crime, beneficial ownership transparency significantly eases the investigative and regulatory burdens on law enforcement, title companies and financial institutions already tasked with identifying beneficial owners as part of routine work but who hit dead-ends whenever confronted by anonymous LLCs. The importance of corporate transparency is evidenced by the wide support corporate transparency proposals have received in Congress. The need for transparency measures is self-evident in many areas where they have already been adopted, such as with lobbying disclosures, but LLC transparency has largely escaped scrutiny. Passing the LLC Transparency Act will illustrate that New York is willing to lead on this issue and will not tolerate being complicit in these crimes. Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, D-Brooklyn, represents the 50th Assembly district. ---- To come to the debate over student loans without any background is to think this is just about a big giveaway to millions of borrowers. The reality is more complicated. An important part of that reality is this: Under the rules, many borrowers are already entitled to have their loans forgiven or substantially reduced, but they havent because of bureaucratic failures by the U.S. Department of Education and private loan servicing companies that have been going on for years. This is entirely separate from President Joe Bidens possible plan to forgive students loans across the board. The U.S. Department of Education says it intends to fix at least some those wrongs. Thats good news for a host of reasons, not the least of which is the prospect of taking this issue away from politicians who have been casting student loan reforms as a favor to freeloaders when plenty of other people have paid their college debts pitting hardworking Americans against hardworking Americans to score political points. Consider these examples of how the system has failed: The Education Department acknowledges that millions of borrowers have been steered into forbearance, through which people struggling to make payments can have them reduced or suspended for a time. During that period, however, interest keeps accruing and they end up owing even more. They also get no credit toward loan forgiveness. But many people with low incomes qualify for better options like income-driven repayment, through which monthly payments can be reduced even to zero while they continue to make progress toward loan forgiveness, which is supposed to come in 20 to 25 years. The income-driven repayment program has had problems of its own, with the Education Department failing to make sure peoples accounts were accurately tracked. That resulted in at least 3,000 borrowers paying even after their remaining debt should have been erased, according to the Government Accountability Office. A 2021 study by the nonprofit National Consumer Law Center found that only 32 people had gotten their loans canceled under the program in its 25-year history. Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter. People who go into public service teachers, nurses, police officers and so on can have their loans forgiven after 10 years. But the Department of Education found that 99 percent of applications for such loan forgiveness had been denied even for those who met all the requirements. The department had failed to monitor private loan servicers who intentionally didnt tell borrowers they were eligible for the program or forced them out of it on technicalities. To its credit, the Biden administration says it intends to make all this right, giving the proper credits for public service to those who deserve it, addressing the problems with the income-driven repayment program and adjusting the accounts of 3.6 million borrowers to credit them for between one and three years of forbearance toward loan forgiveness. Thats good to hear, but none of this is really news to the government. The problems in the public service loan forgiveness program, for example, have been known since 2017, and the mess is still not fully cleaned up. Like the borrowers who have faithfully kept up their end of the bargain all this time, the administration needs to follow through once and for all. WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northwestern Bandera County in south central Texas... West central Kerr County in south central Texas... Northeastern Real County in south central Texas... * Until 815 PM CDT. * At 713 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Tuff, or 9 miles north of Leakey, moving northeast at 5 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Lost Maples State Natural Area, Tuff and Prade Ranch. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. The National Weather Service in League City has issued a Southwestern Houston County in southeastern Texas... Madison County in southeastern Texas... * At 713 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 10 miles northwest of Madisonville, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...Quarter size hail. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected. Madisonville and Normangee. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather This week the Kansas Democratic Party leader records an ABSOLUTELY STUNNING string of victories against a Republican Super Majority in Kansas that struggles to find leadership and unity. Among the Sunflower State right-wing ishe has scathing critics but apparently those folks don't have much sway in the state house. Accordingly . . . At the start of this year Republicans seemed to support universal rebuke of this embattled politico but the conclusion of their work session shows a lack of commitment against the governor and, more importantly, a sign that she might be able to ride out the upcoming nationwide GOP red wave. Here's a peek at the stich going into the end game of the session . . . The (local mask mandate) measure's supporters fell far short early Friday of the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. She has not said what she will do. The vote in the Senate was 23-17, four votes short of a two-thirds majority. The tally in the House was 64-53, or 20 votes shy of a two-thirds majority. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . GOP lawmakers in Kansas OK ban on state, local mask mandates SOURCE: File image Conservative Republican lawmakers have approved a measure that would prohibit Kansas or its cities, counties or school districts from imposing mask mandates to control the spread of any infectious disease. But the measure's supporters fell far short early Friday of the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto from Democratic Gov. House fails to override Kelly's veto of civil rights bills - The Sentinel The Kansas House of Representatives failed on April 28, 2022, to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of two civil rights bills - despite the Kansas Senate voting to override. The House voted to override Kelly's Veto of , the Parents Bill of Rights," which states that all parents have a right to direct their child's upbringing, education, care, and mental health. Developing . . . Sorry, trolling strangers and elected leaders via social media doesn't count as a sense of humor . . . Even if it's a great deal of fun. We joke at everyone's expense on this blog but can't help but notice that people seem soooooooo serious nowadays and quite a few denizens of the discourse have lost their ability to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Again, our right-wing pals mistakenly think that online stalking or cleverly phrased death threats count as a form of humor and progressive "satire" always seems to overlook the banality of Democratic Party leaders. And so . . . Like it or not, the Prez deserves more than a bit of credit for his willingness to stand up to more than a bit of mockery . . . The president took the opportunity to test out his comedic chops, making light of the criticism he has faced in his 15 months in office while taking aim at his predecessor, the Republican Party and the members of the press. Im really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have, Biden said to the Hilton ballroom filled with members of the media. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Correspondents' gala offers political normalcy despite COVID WASHINGTON (AP) - Much of Washington is ready to party like it's 2019, before the coronavirus, when the biggest risk at the annual White House press corps gala was more likely to be jokes that ruffled too many political feathers. Biden jokes about low approval, 'Let's Go Brandon' in White House Correspondents' speech President Biden spoke at the first White House Correspondents' Dinner since 2019 Saturday evening, poking fun at his low approval ratings and the Republican "Let's Go Brandon" slogan targeting him. Some of his jokes got more laughs than others. Trevor Noah Holds Nothing Back in Brutally Funny Correspondents' Dinner Roast The last time a president and a comedian shared the stage at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was six long years ago, when Larry Wilmore ended his set with a deeply personal send-off to Barack Obama. A lot has changed in both politics and comedy since then. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson Attend White House Correspondents' Dinner Together The two attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner together on Saturday in Washington, D.C., making sure to stop by the red carpet. The Saturday Night Live actor joined the reality star as her guest at the dinner, which celebrates the work of White House journalists and the media. White House Correspondents' Dinner red carpet arrivals Journalists and celebs like Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson hit the red carpet for the 2022 White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 30. You decide . . . Bruce Arthur: Were sick of thinking about COVID. But here are the key questions we still need to answer New variants, waning immunity, the prevalence of long COVID and peoples new habits will all factor into a future that is very uncertain. Whether you live in Niagara or North Bay, we've got you covered. U.S. Army soldiers move armored personnel carriers bound for Ukraine onto truck trailers. U.S. Department of Defense officially informs that U.S Army soldiers move M113 Armored Personnel Carriers bound for Ukraine onto truck trailers at Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook. The Armed Forces of Ukraine thanked the United States for support and assistance. As reported, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act on April 28. During World War II, the policy of lend-lease allowed the United States to supply military aid to its foreign allies quickly. ol All the leaders of the free world know what the Russian Federation has done to Mariupol. All the leaders of the free world know what Russia has done to Mariupol. And Russia will not go unpunished for this. Many of the leaders are trying to help save our heroic defenders of the city, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his latest address. As noted, the issue of Mariupol was discussed in great detail with the UN Secretary-General during his visit to Kyiv. We are doing everything possible to ensure that the evacuation mission from Mariupol is carried out, Zelensky added. As Sviatoslav Palamar a.k.a. Kalyna, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, informed on the evening of April 30, twenty civilians women and children had been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, destroyed by Russian shelling. About 1,000 civilians and Ukrainian servicemen still stay in plants territory, including about 600 wounded. Mariupol experiences one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes caused by Russian aggression. The invaders bomb unarmed residents, block the delivery of humanitarian aid, and deport Ukrainian citizens to depressed regions of Russia. Soldiers of the Azov Regiment, marines, and motorized riflemen continue to defend Mariupol. ol Denmark will send 25 Piranha III wheeled armored personnel carriers and M10 heavy mortars to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Olfi Danish media outlet reports. Piranha is a family of wheeled APCs designed by Mowag Swiss company. It is one of the most popular armored vehicles in the world. The outlet notes that the Piranha III is an outdated APC model for Denmark. At present, the Danish army adopts Piranha V armored personnel carriers. All Piranha vehicles can move afloat with the help of two propellers mounted in the stern under the hull. Piranha can be used as a tank destroyer and self-propelled anti-tank missile system. Piranha vehicles can be equipped with various turrets with guns made by foreign manufacturers: Swiss Oerlikon-Buhrle GAD-AOA with 20mm gun, Israeli TCM-20 with a paired 20mm anti-aircraft gun, French Hispano-Suiza with a 90 ET-90 with 90mm howitzer gun. In addition to these armored personnel carriers, Denmark sends heavy M10 mortars and thousands of shells for them to Ukraine. The media outlet also specified the number of M113 G3 DK tracked armored personnel carriers which were reported to be sent to Ukraine earlier. The Armed Forces will receive 50 such armored personnel carriers. Photo credit: olfi.dk ol The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has neutralized an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group (SRG), which was plotting a terrorist attack to shoot down a passenger aircraft over Russia or Belarus in order to accuse the Ukrainian side. The relevant statement was made by the SSU on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The SSU has conducted a multi-stage special operation, during which they neutralized a deeply secreted enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group. The agents of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces were plotting a terrorist attack to shoot down a passenger aircraft over the territory of Russia or Belarus, the report states. Russian occupiers were planning to accuse Ukraine and its partners of the attack on the aircraft. In order to make a provocation, attackers wanted to open fire on a civilian aircraft with the Stinger man-portable air-defense system. Russias security officials instructed their agents to steal and smuggle a foreign-made Stinger system for this purpose. The enemy SRG included two persons with dual citizenship and one accomplice recruited by them. Their activities were coordinated by Russian Alexander Tyuterev, a staff member of the Main Department of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, using the call sign Morpekh. Tyuterev used to take part in a series of terrorist attacks committed in Odesa Region and was on the wanted list. The SSU detained all members of the enemy SRG. Investigative and operational actions are underway to substantiate the facts of the crime and bring its heads to justice. mk More than 9,000 cases have been initiated over Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine, and the process of bringing criminals to justice has already begun. Ukraines Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said this during a nationwide telethon on Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrinform reports. "To date, we have 9,158 cases over war crimes. Every day we have grounds to initiate more and more new cases - the death of civilians, bombing, deportation of our people and children to the occupied territories or the territory of the aggressor state," Venediktova said. According to her, the process of bringing to justice has already begun and a certain number of war criminals of the aggressor's army have been identified. "In Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv regions, liberated from the occupation, we are launching the process of bringing to justice. We have already identified some war criminals. In Kyiv region, there are 15 people whom we are bringing to justice for torture, rape, and looting. Prosecution over the Chornobyl [NPP] seizure has also begun, Venediktova said. On February 24, Russia launched a new phase of its eight-year war against Ukraine a full-scale invasion. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles. iy The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a strategy of the integrated automated radiation monitoring system for the period up to 2024. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. It is noted that the implementation of the strategy in Ukraine will create a unified integrated radiation monitoring system, which will be synchronized with EUropean Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP). In addition, Ukraine will introduce mechanisms for early warning of the population and forecasting the development of the radiation situation in the country during the transboundary movement of radioactive material. "In the conditions of war and continuous radiation threats from Russia, there is an urgent need for combining radiation monitoring data by creating a unified system at the state level and integrating it into the European radiological data exchange platform EURDEP. This is an extremely important security issue for both Ukraine and Europe. The unified monitoring system will allow us to detect and respond quickly to threats of radioactive material movement in Ukraine and abroad," said Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets. iy The Kharkiv defense forces have received a batch of modern optics as assistance from the people of Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Poland, namely 200 binoculars worth almost EUR 35,000. Thats according to the press service of the Eastern Territorial Department of the National Guard of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. "Residents of Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Poland have given us 200 10x50 and 10x42 binoculars worth almost 35,000 euros, delivered from Cyprus to Kharkiv for the Eastern Territorial Department of the National Guard of Ukraine, the National Academy of the National Guard, and the Kharkiv Region Police," the statement said. The batch was transferred across Europe at the expense of Polish volunteers, while on the border with Ukraine, the batch was picked up by their Ukrainian counterparts with the "Kharkiv with You" and "HelpArmy" nonprofits. "Thanks to the true friends of our Guards, a big van delivered the binoculars to Kharkiv, all intact and safe," the report said. According to the National Guard, among the initiators behind the assistance effort was a well-known Kharkiv native Yulia Staroselska. Many remember her as Yulia Bezrukava, the face of Ukraine's first independent, non-governmental Tonis Center TV company. The star of Kharkiv television, she is still successfully engaged in journalism, but in Cyprus, where Julia hosts popular TV and radio shows," the statement reads. The Ukrainian Air Force continues to destroy Russian aircraft: over the past day alone, t 10 Russian Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles were downed. This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to the Air Force Command. The Russian Orlan-10 UAV is now the most popular target for the Ukrainian Armys air defense units, the statement reads. The Air Force Command says enemy warplanes mainly operate outside the Ukrainian airspace of Ukraine or in the temporarily occupied territory, where the Russian has significantly expanded their own air defenses of various types. Orlan-10 drones mostly conduct aerial reconnaissance and spot artillery fire. There is enough information about this UAV in the public domain. It is a Russian project, but there is almost nothing Russian in Orlan-10, all the "stuffing" is imported (from USA, Japan, China, Germany, etc.). The role of this should not be underestimated. "Orlan-10 can perform various tasks, including targeting, serving as a broadcaster or an interference asset. So it poses a serious threat to our troops," the military said. And although this target is small and hard to spot, every day, defenders of the Ukrainian sky hit more and more of these UAVs, using various weapons. The Air Force Command also recalled the price of one such drone it ranges from US$80,000 to $120,000, depending on its configuration. As Ukrinform earlier reported, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed in the southern regions the Russian electronic warfare station Repellent-1, three anti-aircraft guns, the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system, as well as a communications vehicle. Also, 42 Russian servicemen were eliminated over the past 24 hours. Russian leaders have drafted an elaborate plan to invade Moldova soon, which could lead to a repeat of a Donbas scenario in the region. Thats according to Suspilne, referring to the article by The Times. There are a number of indicators pointing to an attack in the near future on the former Soviet state, which has only 3,250 soldiers in its army, Ukrainian intelligence sources suggest. A certain activity is already being observed in the airport of Tiraspol, the capital of the unrecognized republic of Transnistria. Russians may try to transfer its troops on Il76 planes and helicopters taking off the occupied Crimea. At the same time, protests and riots are to be set up in Moldovas capital Chisinau. At the same time, the outlet notes that the information does not go in line with the western intelligence assessments suggesting that Russia has no sufficient capabilities to safely complete this route without risking its planes being downed by Ukrainian air defense in Odesa region. Also, to transfer ammunition and troops, Russia would need to create a land corridor from the temporarily occupied Kherson through part of Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, facing fierce resistance of Ukrainian forces. It is reported that Russia may try to invade Moldova closer to May 9, when Russia celebrates Victory Day. On this date, President Vladimir Putin may announce recognition of Transnistrias independence, which would lead to the unfolding of a Donbas scenario and pose a direct threat to Moldovas territorial integrity. We believe the Kremlin has already taken the decision to attack Moldova. The fate of Moldova is very crucial. If the Russians start to take control, we will, militarily, be an easier target and the threat to Ukraine will be existential, said the source. The Russians will then start to supply large amounts of weapons to the country before moving to try to make it part of Russia, the source suggested. A successful takeover would lead to Russian troops moving into the Black Sea port of Odesa, in Ukraine, from the west, thus opening up a new Russian front against Ukraine from Moldova. British defense analysts note that such military operation could serve three goals: Pull part of the Ukrainian forces to the south-western flank; Undermine the Moldovan governments pro-European policies; and Intimidate the west, suggesting that support for Ukraine may lead to further destabilization in the region, including in the Balkans. As reported earlier, an urgent issue of the Transnistria newspaper had allegedly been printed, dated May 2, where acts of terror are covered and an appeal is published, presumably from the population, to President Putin, asking the latter to intervene. A number of explosions were reported in Transnistria over the past week, including targeting the HQ of the local security agency in Tiraspol and a TV and radio broadcasting center in the village of Maiac. Also, the Russian intelligence launched a false-flag operation, circulating hoax warnings, allegedly coming from the Ukrainian security forces, of the impending missile and artillery strikes on the region. Local armed forces were put on high alert. Ukrainian authorities have underlined that Kyiv resolutely condemns any attempts to pull the Transnistrian region of Moldova into the full-scale war Russia is waging against Ukraine and called for an immediate de-escalation. Ukraines defense intelligence stated that the series of explosions in Tiraspol had been staged by the Russian security forces. Sanctions must be imposed on any company or state that helps Russia trade oil. We expect a decision on oil restrictions against Russia in the near future. We insist that a fair part of sanctions against Russian oil should be the blocking of any attempts by Russia to circumvent restrictions through the sale of so-called oil blends. If any company or state helps Russia trade oil, it must also face sanctions, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his latest address. He stressed that any sponsorship in the interests of the Russian military terrorist machine must end. On February 24, Russian president Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles. The European Union, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on the aggressor state. The EU actively works on the sixth package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The package may include a partial ban on Russian oil imports. ol To evade sanctions, Russia is negotiating with Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to set up routs for re-exports of Russian products to international markets. Thats according to the press service of the Ukrainian defense intelligence, Ukrinform reports. "Moscow plans to organize in the territory of CSTO nations production of components for Russian military and dual-use products, especially those requiring foreign components. In addition, this will increase the economic dependence of the CSTO member states on Russia, which is also in the Kremlins interests. Moscow is also in talks with Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to re-export Russian products to international markets. It is planned to supply products posing as Georgian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani ones, with their further exports to third countries. More than 200 companies have already been founded in these countries, the statement reads. It is noted that Armenia creates favorable conditions for Russian companies to do business there, especially in the IT sector. Since the onset of the large-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, about 85,000 Russian citizens and 113 IT companies have settled in Armenia. Russian citizens have set up about 1,000 private enterprises and more than 250 LLCs in Armenia, which will pay taxes to both budgets. In addition, the leading Russian manufacturer of air defense equipment - JSC Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant is involving Kazakhstan in obtaining German-made components. Prior to the invasion, Russia had been purchasing German products required for production and modernization of Buk-type SAMs and Tunguska anti-aircraft missile systems. In the wake of tougher sanctions imposed on Russia, these supplies became impossible. President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine has already become an integral part of united Europe. "I spoke today with French President Emmanuel Macron about various directions of cooperation between Ukraine and France, first of all, about defense and about the cooperation on Ukraine's path towards the European Union. We are moving towards the political formalization of what already exists de facto: Ukraine has become an integral part of united Europe," Zelensky said in his video address, Ukrinform reports. The President also said that he spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about defense support for Ukraine and other necessary efforts to end the war. Zelensky informed him about the current situation in the areas of combat actions - about the situation in the east, in Mariupol, in the south of Ukraine. The Head of State also said that he held talks with Swiss President Ignazio Cassis. "I thanked for the humanitarian support for Ukraine and Ukrainians. We discussed the mediating role of Switzerland to help Ukrainians that entered the territory of Russia. We also discussed preparations for the conference on postwar reconstruction of our state. We are doing everything to return normal life to the de-occupied part of our Ukraine," Zelensky said. On February 24, Russia launched a new phase of its eight-year war against Ukraine a full-scale invasion. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles. iy Western sanctions are already affecting the IT industry in Russia, while additional sanctions against software and IT services produced in Russia will exert additional pressure on Putins regime, which is a necessary thing. Thats according to Petras Austrevicius, Member of the European Parliament (Lithuania), who spoke with Guildhall, as reported by Ukrinform. It seems that we will also have to resort to sanctions against the Russian IT sector, since we have no other way but to increase sanctions pressure, it is only a matter of time. Today, Western businesses use programs and services that are produced in Russia or supplied from Russia, and they will have to find other suppliers, in other countries, for example in Ukraine, the politician said. I think it's really only a matter of time before we introduce these sanctions. The IT industry in Russia is already suffering from sanctions imposed in response to the terrible crimes of Russias ruling regime, and such new sanctions will bring additional and necessary pressure. This is a reasonable initiative for the European Union member states and the international community in general, said Petras Austrevicius. Earlier, Oleksandr Danyliuk chief of the Center for Defense Reforms, coordinator of the interagency platform for countering hybrid threats, operating within the framework of Ukraine-NATO cooperation platform, said that as part of the response to the aggressive war Russia is waging against Ukraine and cyber attacks being launched against Western nations, the international community should impose sanctions on the purchase of any software products and IT services that are even partly produced or rendered in Russia or Belarus. Such a move would put serious pressure on the Russian economy and make import substitution impossible in the IT industry, which Russia badly requires, as well as accelerate the outflow of IT professionals from the country. The West and Europe try to prevent the Russian war in Ukraine from escalating into World War III, but it has already begun. Thats why, being afraid to provide weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine is nonsense. Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andrij Melnyk expressed the opinion in an interview with Bild, Ukrinform reports. "The fear of becoming a party to the war by supplying weapons is complete nonsense. For Putin, Germany has long been a party to the war. Anyone who wants to prevent the war from escalating must help us put Putin in his place now. Russia's victory in Ukraine would be the worst thing that could happen to Germany," Melnyk said. He hopes everyone will realize that Putin wants a new imperialist world order with a smaller NATO which no longer includes the countries of the former Eastern bloc. So Putin wages this war of destruction against the entire West, against its entire value system. "World War III has already begun. Putin's attack on Ukraine affects everyone, including the Germans, although not yet militarily," the Ambassador said. According to the diplomat, the fact that none of the German government members has visited Kyiv so far testifies to the inertia of German policy. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is probably acting in the same way as his predecessor Angela Merkel: wait and see how things unfold, then consider whether a decision should be made or not. What the German government lacks is "imagination and courage," according to the Ukrainian Ambassador. He is convinced that many Germans would like to have a vigorous chancellor. The war, the Ambassador said, requires quick solutions, but Germany continues to fight with itself, "the federal government is very good at justifying and giving absurd excuses for its inaction." He called this week's decision to supply 30 Gepard tanks to Ukraine a step in the right direction, but still insufficient. Moreover, these tanks lack ammunition and they are 40 years old, while the most advanced German weapons are needed to defeat Russia. Melnyk outlined what Ukraine would like to receive from Germany as soon as possible: 88 Leopard tanks, 100 Marder tanks, self-propelled howitzers, and much more. He believes that the German lend-lease law similar to the American and a long-term alliance against Russia would be important. The Ambassador admitted that he annoyed many people in Germany with his statements but assured that he was actually "very grateful to Germany for any help." Andrij Melnyk is, without exaggeration, the most famous and controversial ambassador of a foreign state in Berlin. He made strong statements long before the war, warned about it, demanded to provide weapons and halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Since the beginning of the aggression, Melnyk has been a regular guest on talk shows, he is quoted by all German media outlets and even politicians. As Ukrinform learned, he is currently under police protection due to threats received. ol Deborah Gioia began teaching at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) in 2006. During her tenure, she has taught and mentored social work students in the masters and PhD programs, specializing in teaching qualitative research methods and clinical courses, and twice co-led an international course in India. In her research pursuits, she has studied the mental health outcomes of veterans returning from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and assessed Baltimore elementary school teachers involved in a wellness program. Her other research interests include schizophrenia and vocational identity, evidence-based practice adoption by mental health practitioners, adolescence and emerging adulthood, and first-episode psychosis. Among her accomplishments, she is particularly proud of her work as a GLOBALtimore teaching fellow with the UMB Center for Global Engagement, recounting a 2019 trip to Kerala, India. The Center for Global Engagement assisted us with a grant to reduce the cost for more than two weeks of travel for students, some of whom who had never been out of the country, she said. Seeing students flourish on this trip and navigate new spaces with their social work student peers in India was the ultimate gift. Gioia received her bachelors degree from Northeastern University, her Master of Science in Social Work degree from Columbia University, and her PhD from the University of Southern California. She said her dissertation, Meaning of Work for Young Adults with Schizophrenia: A Mixed-Methods Study, enabled her to develop her own original research agenda. Before joining UMSSW, she was an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Simmons College School of Social Work, and the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. She has been a licensed certified social worker since 2010 and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work through the National Association of Social Workers. Gioia said she was honored to be chosen as an Honorary Faculty Marshal and is excited to hear from keynote speaker Anthony Fauci, MD. It stirs a feeling of pride to be part of the UMB family celebrating our graduates, she said. Dr. Fauci was such a constant presence during the peak COVID period that I began to feel that he was part of my coping mechanisms and support system. I am sure his speech will be inspirational. When simmering disputes between herders, fishermen and farmers over scarce water resources in Cameroons Far North region flared into violence last December, Tomma Ndjindas village was among those caught up in the deadly clashes. Our village was attacked, and we were forced to flee without having time to take anything with us," she says. Ndjinda headed south in search of safety together with her husband and seven children, ending up at the Ardjanire displacement site in Bogo. The site currently hosts around half of the 4,200 people in this area who fled the worst intercommunal violence ever seen in Cameroons Far North. But faced with a desperate shortage of food and other resources despite the generous welcome shown by the local community, Ndjindas husband went back to salvage what he could of their crops and possessions. My husband tried to return to our village to harvest sorghum in our fields. But when he arrived, he discovered that migratory birds had eaten everything. All our belongings were also destroyed, she explained. Tragically, her husband never made it back, and Ndjinda believes the shock of seeing what had become of their home led to his sudden death. Now left to care for seven children on her own with no income, Ndjinda is at a loss to know how they will survive. We are running out of everything. When the children get sick, I can't take them to the hospital." The climate crisis is exacerbating competition for water and other resources in this part of Africas Sahel region, where temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average. Water levels in Lake Chad have decreased by as much as 95 per cent in the past 60 years, and the effects are being felt by communities that rely on the Logone and Chari rivers that feed the lake on Cameroons far northern border. See also: Climate change fuels clashes in Cameroon that force thousands to flee On a three-day visit to Cameroon that concluded on Friday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met with Ndjinda and other displaced families affected by the recent violence, who described to him the pressing needs they face. "Beyond efforts made by the authorities and the generosity shown by host communities, the needs for food, education and health care remain," Grandi said. "We have also heard concerns over pressure on local services, underlining the need to increase our support to both displaced families and members of the local community who are hosting them. UNHCR and partners are working to establish secure displacement sites and deliver life-saving aid including water, shelter and household items. Together with the Cameroonian authorities, the agency has also led conflict-resolution efforts aimed at putting an end to the violence. The High Commissioner visits pupils at a school in the Ardjanire displacement site. UNHCR/Colin Delfosse Filippo Grandi (centre-right) and Millicent Mutuli, Director of the UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa (centre-left), meet one of the residents of Ardjanire displacement site. UNHCR/Colin Delfosse Grandi plants a tree as part of a reforestation project at the site designed to combat desertification. UNHCR/Colin Delfosse Internally displaced residents sit in the shade of one of the few remaining trees in the Ardjanire site. UNHCR/Colin Delfosse Identifying the causes of conflicts and addressing them would ensure peaceful cohabitation among communities, Grandi said. "Reconciliation and reconstruction are key to pave the way for for voluntary and safe return of dispalced families." He also called for an assessment of reconstruction needs in areas affected by violence. During his visit to Ardjanire, the High Commissioner visited a reforestation project that will plant 2,000 trees to help address the desertification being exacerbated by the climate crisis and provide additional resources and income opportunities for displaced and local communities. The project is part of the Great Green Wall initiative, which aims to grow an 8,000-kilometre continent-wide barrier to combat land degradation, desertification and drought in the Sahel. donate Hundreds of interpreters worked alongside Canadian troops in Afghanistan In late 2011, Saifullah Mohammad Zahed was working as an interpreter for Canadian troops in Afghanistan's Kandahar province when he received a letter from the Taliban. "They said they knew I was working for 'infidels' and told me to stop," he remembers. "They said they would kill me and my family if I didn't." Soon after, Mr Zahed was able to move to Canada after six years working with Canadian and Nato forces in Kandahar, a province considered to be the birthplace of the Taliban. It wasn't an idle threat. "My dad was shot and killed by the Taliban," he told the BBC from his home in Calgary. "Since then, my family has been moving around, going from province to province. We've all been Taliban targets for a long time." Mr Zahed is one of hundreds of Afghans who worked for Canadian forces as interpreters and in other jobs. Many are hoping to get their families out of Afghanistan - where they are at risk of retribution from the victorious Taliban - and bring them to Canada. After the fall of Kabul last August, Canada's federal government vowed to welcome as many as 40,000 refugees and vulnerable Afghans to the country. As of 21 April, more than 11,300 Afghans had arrived in Canada. As part of that effort, the government in November announced a pathway to permanent residency for extended family members of Afghan interpreters already in Canada. But critics of the extended family programme have accused the government of burdening family members with unreasonable and often redundant bureaucratic hurdles - including documentation and biometrics - that result in delays. Several Afghan interpreters in Canada described dozens of pages worth of necessary documents and few, if any, possibilities of family members leaving Afghanistan to complete the required steps in safety. To date, not a single Afghan has made it to Canada through that programme. Jenny Kwan is the opposition New Democratic Party's immigration critic, and has been advocating on behalf of at least 300 Afghan families - about 5,000 people in total. Story continues She said that a primary problem is that many families still in Afghanistan are unable to safely travel to a third country where they can do the biometrics and submit the paperwork necessary to get to Canada. "They're going to have to go to an office that's run by the Taliban right now and ask for passports," she said. "As you can imagine, red flags and alarm bells go off when the entire family shows up saying they need a passport to go to Canada." Mr Zahed, for his part, said that the lives of family members still in Afghanistan are at risk each day they remain in the country. An Afghan soldier near a Canadian position in 2011 in Kandahar While one of his two brothers was successfully smuggled out of the country to Turkey, another - who stayed in Afghanistan - has gone missing. His fate is unknown. "The Taliban have been searching houses," he added. "I've got two other colleague that live here [in Canada] One has lost 11 [family members]since the Taliban took over. The other's sister was killed in a school. It's been really, really dangerous." Another former interpreter, Ottawa-based Ghulam Faizi, told the BBC he has 18 members of his extended family left in Afghanistan, where they are living in hiding. Three other family members have made it to Pakistan, where they have been waiting in vain for permission to travel to Canada. "They've been there three months and now their Pakistani visas have expired," he said, saying some have never received a response from Canadian officials. Many of the interpreters and those working on their behalf are frustrated by the treatment of Afghan allies when they look at how Canada is handling the process for Ukrainians fleeing war. In the case of Ukraine, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced that Canada will waive most visa requirements as well as biometrics for seniors and those under 18. Those who qualify for the emergency travel programme can stay in Canada for up to three years. By the end of March, more than 60,000 Ukrainians and their families had applied through the programme. Former interpreters say that Taliban fighters have been hunting down family members of those with ties to Western forces "No one understands the situation in Ukraine better than us. Our country was also invaded by the Russians," Mr Zahed said. "And we appreciate what the government is doing for them. But we should not be forgotten by the Canadian government." According to Ms Kwan, short-term steps that can be taken by the government include waiving most of the documentation required and issuing a travel document that can be used to leave Afghanistan to a third country, from where they can travel to Canada. As part of the measures announced to support Ukrainian refugees, Canada said it can issue a single permit travel document for refugees who don't have a passport or have an expired one, on a case-by-case basis. "[They should] issue these travel documents like they do to Ukrainian nationals," said Ms Kwan. Responding to questions from the BBC, Aidan Strickland, a spokesman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said that "the hard truth is that there are obstacles facing us in Afghanistan that were not present in other large-scale resettlement efforts". Those challenges include the fact that Canada has no presence in Afghanistan and that diplomatic efforts are impossible as a result of the Taliban's status as a terrorist entity under Canadian law, he said. While Mr Strickland acknowledged that crossing Afghanistan's borders is dangerous and that "many vulnerable, at-risk Afghans" who qualify for Canadian programmes remain in the country, the government is doing what it can to help swiftly resettle Afghans. As an example, he said that the departure of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is dependent on the Pakistani government's entry and exit requirements. "Every step along the way there's a unique challenge depending on the circumstances," he said, adding that "the government of Canada remains firm in its commitment". For interpreters such as Mr Faizi, however, these promises provide little comfort. "We're also veterans. We fought shoulder-to-shoulder with them and supported the Canadian mission," he said. "But we're not being treated like allies, or even the other refugees that come to Canada." Activists and Ukrainians demonstrate with a giant peace sign and 'Stop Putin's oil' in front of the EU Council and the EU Commission Thierry Monasse/Getty Images The risk of Russia cutting off natural gas may mean Europe doesn't ban Russian oil, Vortexa's chief economist said. Oil is a major source of money for Russia, while natural gas is its political weapon, said David Wech. Europe relies heavily on Russian energy, especially gas, and has paid the country billions for it since the Ukraine invasion. Europe is under pressure to ban imports of Russian oil, despite its dependence, but doing so would raise the very real risk that Moscow would retaliate with a halt on natural gas exports that could plunge the entire region into recession, according to energy market intelligence provider Vortexa. The European Union gets 30% of its crude oil from Russia. A ban would hurt, but it's not a matter of there being no alternatives, according to Vortexa's chief economist David Wech. "I think the most important factor probably holding some European countries back from banning Russian crude imports is the concern that this will lead to a situation where also Russian gas is lost," he said in an interview with Insider this week. Russia is a major producer of oil and gas and makes billions from its exports. The EU is its major customer, particularly for natural gas, which meets 40% of the entire region's needs, and in the case of some member states, close to 100% of demand. "What is important to understand here as well is that Russia earns way more money with oil than with gas. So they will not hurt their oil income," Wech said. "They know that Europe is more dependent on gas, they know they have more power on that side." "So the gas is the political power tool. The oil is the income tool," he said. Since it invaded Ukraine, Russia has made over $66 billion from its energy imports. The EU has stumped up $46 billion to pay Moscow for fuel in that time, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Movements of cargo ships transporting Russian fossil fuels since Feb 24, 2022. Credit: Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air Western countries have hit Russia with intense sanctions following the war, but the EU has not yet banned Russian oil and gas. Less dependent nations, such as the United States and Britain, have stopped Russian energy imports. Story continues Russia has put measures of its own in place, such as demanding payment for natural gas in rubles from "hostile countries". Gas generally continued to flow uninterrupted through the pipelines that service Europe, until this week, when Russia announced it had turned off the gas taps to Poland and Bulgaria. European natural gas prices are The infrastructure alone - a network of overground pipelines that run for thousands of miles through numerous countries - means it's a lot easier for Russia to cut gas to Europe than oil. "It's not so straightforward to have a say over where the oil is going. Russian companies want to export the oil, they don't care that much who is ultimately taking it," Wech said. "There is not this direct link like with the gas pipelines, where there is this one to one relationship, but Russia can decide to whom it (cuts) off the gas." Europe can easily source oil from other countries, Wech said, although a ban would risk an escalation of war in Ukraine and a direct hit to consumers across the region that are already struggling with sky-high inflation, largely driven by surges in the price of oil and gas. European natural gas prices surged as much as 180% in the immediate afthermath of the invastion. They've since retreated, but are still a full 300% higher than they were at this point last year. One option is the United States, which, thanks to the boom in shale oil, is now the world's largest producer and its exports go all over the world, Wech said. "The US will rank highly, that's natural, given its size, and its proximity and also the crude quality, but it's by far not the only option." Read the original article on Business Insider BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior industrial official has called for all-out efforts to ensure the stability and connectivity of industrial and supply chains to maintain industrial growth. Efforts will be made to ensure the solid implementation of the "white list" approach to support the resumption of work for key companies and remove bottlenecks that still exist in some places, Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said in an interview with Xinhua. Xin made the remarks in response to the new challenges that emerged since mid-March, including sporadic resurgences of COVID-19 and a complex external environment, resulting in the suspension of some factory activities and freight transport. With countermeasures taken swiftly to stabilize the industrial and supply chains, the country's industrial economy has shown positive signs of stabilization, seen in a narrowed decline in industrial electricity consumption for two consecutive weeks since the second week of April, Xin said. Currently, the country has seen an accelerated pace of resumption of work and production in key areas and industries, Xin said, adding that 86.8 percent of enterprises among the 666 companies included in the first batch of the "white list" in Shanghai have resumed work by April 28. Noting that the difficulties are short-term and temporary, Xin said the sound long-term fundamentals of China's industrial economy remain unchanged, and the overall trend of steady development will not change as well. For the automobile industry, which was hit hard by the epidemic, Xin said the ministry will strengthen monitoring of the production in key automobile firms, proactively promote consumption and improve weak links in auto chips. Moreover, the official also pledged further efforts to improve the business environment and help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tide over difficulties. Efforts will be made to ensure the solid implementation of the relief measures that have already been formulated and provide targeted services to the SMEs, Xin said. Top American politician Nancy Pelosi paid tribute to the leadership of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the latest show of international unity with the country in its war with Russia. For security reasons, details of Saturday's trip to Kyiv emerged on Sunday and came less than 24 hours after the French president Emmanuel Macron promised to send more arms and humanitarian assistance to Zelensky during an hour-long phone call. Pelosi, who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives the lower house of parliament in the United States is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the conflict on 24 February when the Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his country's armed forces into Ukraine. She was accompanied by a heavyweight team of US politicians specialising in security issues and humanitarian assistance. Following the visit, Pelosi stopped in Poland to thank the government of Mateusz Morawiecki for its swift humanitarian response to thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. She and members of her delegation also fleshed out details of the American pledges for more humanitarian aid as well as help for post-war reconstruction. Pelosi added: "We were proud to convey to President Zelensky a message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage." The delegation's trip came just as around 20 women and children who had been sheltering underneath the Azovstal plant in Mariupol were evacuated from the zone during a brief ceasefire on Saturday night. Another 80 were allowed to leave on Sunday as part of an exercise coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky said that evacuations from Mariupol might continue on Monday. "We will continue to do everything to evacuate our people from Azovstal, from Mariupol in general," he added. Story continues "The organisation of such humanitarian corridors is one of the elements of the ongoing negotiation process. It is very complex. " Civilians and soldiers retreated to the iron and steel works two weeks ago as Russian forces launched airstrikes on the port city. On 21 April, Putin said that his troops would not storm the works but instead blockade it. Remaining forces It is believed around 1,000 Ukrainian troops many of them injured remain in the complex. The United Nations has been working to broker evacuation deals to free those trapped in the labyrinth of underground passages. Controlling Mariupol would assist Russia's strategic plan to seize the entire south coast of Ukraine. That would unite pro-Russia separatist regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. It would also increase access to the pro-Russia Transnistria area across Ukraine's western border in Moldova. Kyiv, Ukraine, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st May, 2022 ) :A group of 20 civilians are leaving the Azovstal steelworks, where the last Ukrainian troops are holed up in the Black Sea port of Mariupol, the soldiers there said Saturday. "Twenty civilians, women and children... have been transferred to a suitable place and we hope that they will be evacuated to Zaporizhzhia, on territory controlled by Ukraine," said Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov regiment. Earlier Saturday, a correspondent from Russia's TASS news agency reported from the city that 25 civilians -- including six children younger than 14 -- had quit the site. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week ordered a blockade of the steelworks, where several hundred Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are still sheltering inthe maze of Soviet-era underground tunnels. Many requre medical attention. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had repeatedly warned that if Russian forces killed the last remaining troops there, that would spell the end of any peace talks. Washington, May 1 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st May, 2022 ) :The president and the jokes were back, as the gloves -- and Covid masks -- came off for the return of the White House correspondents' dinner in Washington on Saturday. President Joe Biden poked fun at his slumping poll ratings, took several sly digs at his predecessor Donald Trump and accepted a roasting from Daily Show host Trevor Noah at the glitzy party mixing Washington politics, media and Hollywood. And there were serious references as well -- to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and challenges to democracy and media freedoms at home and abroad. "I'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have," Biden said in his opening comments. The White House press corps association, the WHCA, has hosted presidents for an annual black tie dinner starting with Calvin Coolidge in 1924. But the televised Washington social juggernaut -- beloved by some, maligned as cringe-worthy by others -- shuddered to a halt under the twin impacts of Trump's media-bashing presidency, then Covid-19. So to gather 2,600 invitees at the Washington Hilton offered a restorative return to the familiar. Biden acknowledged the past years had been hard. "We had a horrible plague followed by two years of Covid," he quipped. His remarks then took a more serious turn, acknowledging journalists covering the war in Ukraine and warning of "a poison running through our democracy... with disinformation massively on the rise." "You, the free press, matter more than you ever did in the last century," Biden said. The dinner also paid tribute to sacrifices made by journalists in war zones. - Covid, Ukraine cast shadows - Covid-19 vaccination was mandatory for the gala, but many questioned the wisdom of 79-year-old Biden joining. His vice president, Kamala Harris, tested positive for the virus last week and the country's senior infectious diseases specialist Anthony Fauci did not attend. Biden skipped the meal itself as a precaution, though he did not don a mask. "Trevor, the really good news is, now you get to roast the president of the United States," Biden said while introducing the comedian. "And unlike in Moscow, you won't go to jail." Noah opened his speech saying he was honored to host "the nation's most distinguished superspreader event." Journalists "have been so hard on you, which I don't get," he joked to Biden. "Ever since you've come into office, things are really looking up -- you know, gas is up, rent is up, food is up. Everything." Biden, who laughed throughout Noah's set, appears to want to draw a line under Trump, who not only never attended the dinner, but branded journalists "the enemy of the people." The last WHCA gala before Covid-19 broke out was in 2019. It featured neither the president nor even a comedian -- fallout from the previous year's event when featured comedian Michelle Wolf's jokes upset Trump press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. WHCA president Steven Portnoy, from CBS radio, said earlier it was time to return to tradition, with an evening honoring pioneering reporters of the past, prize winners from today and paying respect to journalists who died covering the war in Ukraine. Noah echoed the sentiment, when his speech took a serious turn as he called the right to a free press a "blessing.""Ask yourself this question: if Russian journalists who are losing... their freedom for daring to report on what their own government is doing," Noah said, "if they had what you have, would they be using it in the same way that you do?" WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2022) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed Washington's support to Kiev in a phone call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, US State Department Spokesperson Ned price said. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to follow up on their April 24 meeting in Kyiv. ...The Secretary provided an update on plans for U.S. diplomats to return to Ukraine, including initial visits to Lviv this week and plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the Administration's April 28 request to Congress for $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid to empower Ukraine to defeat the Kremlin's unconscionable war," Price said in a Saturday statement. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden asked the US Congress for $33 billion in emergency supplemental funding to support Ukraine, including $20 billion for military assistance. The request comes on top of about $4 billion in military aid the Biden administration has already committed to Ukraine, $3. 4 billion of which came after Russia launched its military operation in late February. Last weekend, Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kiev and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During their visit, Blinken and Austin said that US diplomats were going to return to Ukraine in the coming week. US media reported on Tuesday that US diplomats, who relocated to Poland in advance of Russia's operation, conducted a day trip to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where many of Ukraine's decision makers had relocated from Kiev. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, after the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. Russia said that the aim of its special operation is to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine. In response to Russia's operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. BEZIMENNE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2022) People evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and nearby surroundings are deciding for themselves where to go next from a temporary camp in the village of Bezimenne located in the Donetsk People's Republic, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Sunday. Women and children are taking seats in buses prepared for transportation to Russia or Kiev-controlled Zaporizhzhia. All evacuees are asked to choose their further destination in the presence of UN representatives and staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross. At the same time, men are being checked more carefully for their potential membership in neo-Nazi formations, the correspondent said. According to the Russian defense ministry, 80 civilians, including women and children, were evacuated from the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, where the remaining Ukrainian forces have been hiding since the takeover of the port city by the Russian troops. All people were taken to the village of Bezimenne, where they were provided with overnight shelter, food and medical assistance. On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian forces. Russia said that the aim of its operation is "demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine." On March 7, forces of the Donetsk People's Republic surrounded Mariupol and began a liberation campaign, with the remaining fighters of the nationalist Azov battalion now hiding in the underground tunnels of the Azovstal plant. PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2022) Clashes between the French police and demonstrators broke out at May Day rallies in Paris on Sunday, forcing law enforcement officers to use tear gas several times, according to a Sputnik correspondent. The May Day demonstration has involved various trade unions, youth organizations, left-wing politicians, representatives of socialist and communist parties, as well as supporters of the Yellow Vests movement. According to the BFMTV broadcaster, former French presidential candidate, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party Jean-Luc Melenchon, was expected to participate in the Paris rally. Most clashes between the police and radical groups among the demonstrators took place in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, on Voltaire Boulevard. Protesters began pelting police with smoke bombs, glass bottles and stones. In response, law enforcement officers used tear gas several times in a row, the correspondent said. The radical Black Block movement, which has joined the demonstration, began to smash the windows of cafes, real estate agencies, banks, pharmacies and other buildings on Voltaire Boulevard. Some protesters began looting the unguarded stores, the correspondent said. On Monday, a Sputnik correspondent said that the clashes between radicals and law enforcement officers erupted in Paris after the announcement of preliminary presidential election results, with police having used tear gas against the demonstrators. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2022) A hangar with weapons and ammunition delivered to Ukraine from the United States and Europe was destroyed at a military airfield near the Ukrainian city of Odessa by Russian high-precision Oniks missiles, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday. "Oniks high-precision missiles destroyed a hangar with weapons and ammunition received from the US and European countries that was located at a military airfield near Odessa, the runway was also destroyed," Konashenkov told a briefing. The Russian air force also destroyed two Ukrainian S-300 air defense systems, Konashenkov noted. In addition, the Russian air defense units destroyed two Su-24M bombers and two Tochka-U ballistic missiles of the Ukrainian troops, as well as 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the night, according to Konashenkov. Russian artillery hit 786 areas of concentration of the Ukrainian manpower and equipment over the past 24 hours and destroyed 3 ammunition depots, 24 command posts, a multiple rocket launcher, and up to 20 units of military equipment. "A total of 145 aircraft, 112 helicopters, 672 unmanned aerial vehicles, 281 anti-aircraft missile systems have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation," Konashenkov said. He added that 2,703 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 312 multiple rocket launchers, 1,203 field artillery, and mortars, as well as 2,514 units of special military vehicles were destroyed since February 24. On February 24, Russia began its special military operation in Ukraine in response to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2022) The Colombian Foreign Ministry has accused the Venezuelan Armed Forces of breaching the border in the northern part of the country. "Servicemen of the Bolivarian National Guard have breached the airspace and invaded the territory of the country. A military helicopter landed ... west of the internationally-recognized border, with the armed servicemen having been landed," the ministry said in a statement. The incident took place in the department of Norte de Santander. Colombia has firmly condemned the alleged violation of its national sovereignty. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has rejected these accusations. "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the statement released yesterday by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which refers to the alleged violation of the air and land space of the country by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces," the Venezuelan ministry's statement said. The Venezuelan military personnel carried out an operation to combat drug trafficking in the border area in the Venezuelan state of Zulia, the statement said. (UroToday.com) The 2022 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) Hybrid Meeting included a session on biochemical recurrence, and a presentation by Dr. Jochen Walz discussing local treatment options for biochemical recurrence after definitive radiotherapy. Dr. Walz started his presentation by highlighting the frequency of local recurrence. Local failure rates after radiotherapy are ~17-40% if PSMA PET/CT is used for restaging, and thus we need to think about local salvage therapy options. Staging depends on the intended management, which may include MRI, PSMA PET/CT or biopsy. In the setting of detection of local recurrence after radiotherapy, MRI has a sensitivity of 82% (95% CI 75-88%) and a specificity of 74% (95% CI 64-82%). PSMA PET/CT is likely to play a very prominent role in the staging of these patients: sensitivity is 35% and specificity is 100% for detecting lymph node involvement in the salvage setting, and sensitivity is 81% and specificity is 67% for intraprostatic recurrence detection. Furthermore, PSMA PET/CT identifies 10.5% of patients with locoregional disease, and 18.4% of patients with regional/distant disease: With regards to the role of biopsy in the detection of local recurrence after radiotherapy, the EAU guidelines note that given the morbidity of local salvage options, it is necessary to obtain histological proof of the local recurrence before treating the patient. The nature of radio recurrent prostate cancer is that it often recurs at the site of the primary lesion, with 60-70% being unifocal, however 30-40% can be multi-focal recurrences. Dr. Walz notes that treatment options for these patients include: Surveillance Hormone therapy (not the focus of this presentation) Focal therapy/ablation Re-irradiation Salvage surgery Dr. Walz notes that surveillance is an option for these patients given that radiorecurrent prostate cancer is a slowly progressing disease. For these patients, it is important to estimate several criteria before salvage surgery, including life expectancy and risk of cancer progression (high ISUP grade, cT category, and short interval to biochemical failure -- <18 months). Focal therapy/ablation typically includes HIFU, cryotherapy, VTPT, IRE, and laser ablation: Valle and colleagues [1] performed a systematic review to assess the efficacy and toxicity of salvage radical prostatectomy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy, and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Among 150 studies included in the analysis, adjusted 5-year RFS ranged from 50% after cryotherapy to 60% after HDR brachytherapy and SBRT, with no significant differences between any modality and radical prostatectomy. Severe GU toxicity was significantly lower with all three forms of radiotherapeutic salvage than with radical prostatectomy (adjusted rates of 20% after RP versus 5.6%, 9.6%, and 9.1% after SBRT, HDR brachytherapy, and LDR brachytherapy, respectively; p 0.001 for all). Severe GI toxicity was significantly lower with HDR salvage than with radical prostatectomy (adjusted rates 1.8% vs 0.0%, p < 0.01), with no other differences identified: Key outcome predictors for HIFU include (i) selection of unifocal disease, (ii) quantitative DCE parameters (heat sink effect), (iii) PSA level, and (iv) prostate volume. Key outcome predictors for cryoablation include (i) selection of unifocal disease, (ii) PSA <5 ng/mL (>5 ng/mL predictions progression to CRPC), (iii) long-interval between radiotherapy and cryoablation, and (iv) post-cyrotherapy PSA nadir. When considering re-irradiation, clinicians should aim for <131 Gy of combined irradiation, with key predictors for appropriate outcomes including PSA, PSA doubling time, and tumor volume. Outcome prediction after salvage radical prostatectomy includes (i) PSA at the time of surgery, (ii) clinical stage, (iii) number of positive cores before surgery, and (iv) Gleason score. Dr. Walz concluded his presentation by discussing local treatment options after radiotherapy biochemical recurrence with the following take-home messages: Consider local salvage treatment Patient and cancer selection is key for successful salvage treatment For decision making, realistic counseling is essential When salvage treatment is done, it should be done at high volume centers Presented By: Jochen Walz, MD, Institut Paoli-Calmettes Cancer Center, Marseille, France Written By: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc Urologic Oncologist, Assistant Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2022 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) Annual Hybrid Meeting, Lugano, Switzerland, Thurs, Apr 28 Sat, Apr 30, 2022. References: During Sunday's Regina Coeli, Pope Francis said his thoughts turn to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the "City of Mary", which has been "barbarously bombed and destroyed." He remembered, too, all those suffering in Ukraine, especially the children and elderly. He invites the faithful to pray a daily Rosary for peace. By Thaddeus Jones After leading the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis recalled the suffering people of Ukraine, inviting all the faithful, in this month dedicated to the Mother of God, to pray every day a Rosary for peace. He said his thoughts "go immediately to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, "City of Mary", "barbarously bombed and destroyed." He renewed his call for "safe humanitarian corridors" to be established for people trapped in the city's steelworks complex. I suffer and weep, thinking of the suffering of the Ukrainian people and in particular of the weakest, the elderly and children. There are even terrible reports of children being expelled and deported. The Pope united his concern for the anguished people, wondering aloud if we really are seeking peace now as we witness "a macabre regression of humanity." He asked if there really is a will to avoid an ongoing military and verbal escalation, and if everything possible is being done to "silence the weapons." He appealed that we not give in to the logic of violence and the perverse spiral of armed conflict. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. The reclusive Taliban chief, in a rare public appearance, Sunday hailed what he said was the return of security and the Islamic system to Afghanistan after his hardline group seized power last August. Congratulations on this victory, freedom and success, Hibatullah Akhundzada told several thousand worshippers at the central mosque in the southern city of Kandahar. He spoke at the start of three days of Eid al-Fitr festivities to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The second largest Afghan city is known as the Talibans birthplace and de facto power center. Akhundzada was making his first public speech since the takeover. He delivered the brief address without turning to face the worshippers. Taliban security confined journalists, including the crew of the official Afghan television, to a corner of the mosque and did not allow them to approach Akhundzada. An eyewitness told VOA the compound was heavily guarded, with machine-gun positions on the roof of the mosque around the dome and under construction towers next to the building. A large number of Taliban soldiers were deployed in and outside of the house of worship and Russian-made MI-17 helicopters and a Cessna aircraft hovered over the mosque when Akhundzada was delivering his speech. The tight security measures stemmed from a series of bombings in mosques, schools and other civilian targets across major Afghan cities, including the capital, Kabul, over the past two weeks, killing and injuring scores of people. The victims were mostly members of the minority Shiite Muslim community. Some of the attacks have been claimed by Islamic States Afghan affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan Province, commonly known by the acronym ISIS-K. The deadliest of the attacks took place in the northern province of Kunduz, where a bomb ripped through a crowded mosque, killing at least 36 worshippers and wounding scores of others. No group has yet claimed responsibility. War-related casualties, however, have almost disappeared in Afghanistan since August 15, when the insurgent-turned ruling Islamist group seized power from the then-Western-backed government in Kabul and U.S.-led coalition troops withdrew from the country days later after 20 years of war with the Taliban. Akhundzada's public appearance on Sunday was his second known since he was appointed as the supreme leader of the Taliban in 2016. He had visited a mosque in Kandahar last October and briefly spoke to a small gathering of his followers. Taliban social media accounts later released an audio recording from the October event in a bid to dismiss rumors of his death and media speculation about the role the low-profile Akhundzada is playing in the policy making affairs of the interim government in Kabul. The Taliban rulers are being denounced by the global community for not lifting a ban on schoolgirls education in Afghanistan despite repeated public pledges they would allow women to work and receive an education. In a message on Friday ahead of the Eid festival, the Taliban chief tried to address those concerns. We respect and are committed to all the Sharia (Islamic law) rights of men and women in Afghanistan; no one should worry about it and do not use this humanitarian and emotional issue as a tool for political ends, Akhundzada said. The IEA is committed to take further steps in this regard, as education is the key to rescue our compatriots and pave the way towards our countrys development and prosperity, he said, using the official name of the Taliban government, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 by the U.S.-led military invasion of the country for harboring al-Qaida leaders blamed for the deadly terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11 of that year. The ensuing war killed nearly 300,000 people, including foreign troops, with Afghan civilians forming the majority of the casualties. Billionaire finance guru Warren Buffett, who complained recently that he did not know where to put his money, said Saturday he has invested billions of dollars so far this year, even as he took jabs at Wall Street. Buffett, 91, took questions for five hours at the much-anticipated annual shareholder meeting of his holding company Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Nebraska, its first in-person gathering since before the COVID-19 pandemic. He did so along with his right-hand man Charlie Munger, who is 98. The event, dubbed a "Woodstock for Capitalists," draws thousands of shareholders from around the world to hear the investment wisdom of Buffett, revered among investors as the "Oracle of Omaha." As markets vacillated since the start of the year, Berkshire Hathaway spotted bargains and bought shares worth more than $51 billion from January through March. For example, it raised its investment in oil company Chevron from $4.5 billion in late 2021 to $26 billion in late March. Chevron is now among the top four of the holding's investments, along with American Express, Apple and Bank of America. Berkshire Hathaway also acquired a 14% stake in Occidental Petroleum. It bought an 11% stake in computer maker HP, as well, and increased its share of video game maker Activision -- which is being acquired by Microsoft -- to 9.5%. Berkshire sold shares worth $10 billion over the same January to March period. Bottom line, Berkshire's war chest of cash on hand dropped from $147 billion to $106 billion. But Buffett said investors need not worry because Berkshire "will always have a lot of cash" to weather hard times. Joining him and Munger on the podium were vice president Greg Abel at 59, he is Buffett's designated successor and company executive Ajit Jain. Profits down Buffett took some pot shots at Wall Street, saying, "They make a lot more money when people are gambling than when they are investing." He said the fact that his company acquired 14% of Occidental Petroleum in just two weeks shows that "overwhelmingly large companies in America, they became poker chips." Of cryptocurrencies, he said: "Whether it goes up or down in the next year or five or 10 years, I don't know. But the one thing I'm pretty sure of is it doesn't produce anything." The question of succession at Berkshire Hathaway is a big one because of the age of Buffett and Munger, but neither said anything about retiring. Before the meeting, Berkshire said its net profit plunged by 53% in the first quarter due to a drop in the paper value of its investments. Berkshire listed net profits of $5.5 billion, down sharply from the $11.7 billion of the year-earlier period. Operating profits of companies owned by the conglomerate ranging from insurance companies to energy providers and even frozen desserts remained essentially unchanged, at $7.04 billion. A drop in profits from insurance companies was compensated by profits from rail lines, energy firms, manufacturing, services and retail sales, said a statement from Berkshire Hathaway. But the value of its investments, which can be volatile from one quarter to the next, plunged amid the year's market weakness, leading to a paper loss of $1.58 billion. Buffett regularly advises his shareholders to ignore quarterly fluctuations, whether positive or negative. The value of Berkshire shares themselves has held up well rising 7% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 index, representing the 500 biggest Wall Street-traded firms, lost more than 13%. Harrison Jozefowicz quit his job as a Chicago police officer and headed overseas soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. An Army veteran, he said he couldn't help but join American volunteers seeking to help Ukrainians in their fight. Jozefowicz now heads a group called Task Force Yankee, which he said has placed more than 190 volunteers in combat slots and other roles while delivering nearly 15,000 first aid kits, helping relocate more than 80 families and helping deliver dozens of pallets of food and medical supplies to the southern and eastern fronts of the war. It's difficult, dangerous work. But Jozefowicz said he felt helpless watching from the United States last year during the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, particularly after a close friend, Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, died in a suicide bombing at Kabul. "So, I'm just trying to do everything I can to make sure I can help others not go through what I went through," he said Saturday during an interview conducted through a messaging platform. A former U.S. Marine who died last week was believed to be the first American citizen killed while fighting in Ukraine. Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, died Monday while working for a military contracting company that sent him to Ukraine, his mother, Rebecca Cabrera, told CNN. An undetermined number of other Americans many with military backgrounds are thought to be in the country battling Russian forces beside both Ukrainians and volunteers from other countries even though U.S. forces aren't directly involved in fighting aside from sending military materiel, humanitarian aid and money. Russia's invasion has given Ukraine's embassy in Washington the task of fielding inquiries from thousands of Americans who want to help in the fight, and Ukraine is using the internet to recruit volunteers for a foreign force, the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. "Anyone who wants to join the defense of security in Europe and the world can come and stand side by side with the Ukrainians against the invaders of the 21st century," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a recruitment pitch. Texan Anja Osmon, who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army from 2009 through 2015, said she went to Ukraine on her own. A medic, she said she arrived in Ukraine on March 20 and lived in the woods with other members of the International Legion before a new commander sent her away because he didn't want female fighters. Osmon, 30, said her mother wants her home before September. But for now she's anxious to get out of the hotel where she is staying in Lviv and catch on with another fighting force nearer the action. "I can't turn away from injustice," she said. "No one should be scared." U.S. Marine veteran Eddy Etue said he quit his job in the gig economy, found a friend in Colorado to watch his cat and gave up his home four blocks from the beach in San Diego, California, to help out in Ukraine, where he's been about two weeks. He first worked with an aid organization but now is training with the International Legion. Etue, 36, said he simply couldn't stay home. "It's just the right thing to do," said Etue, who financed the journey through an online fundraising campaign. Etue's family history pulled him toward Ukraine. He said his grandparents left Hungary with nothing but their four children and clothes after the 1956 revolution, which was put down by Soviet forces that killed or wounded thousands. "What's happening here will affect not only the people who are experiencing it but their children and grandchildren as well," he said. "I know that from personal experience." Jozefowicz, the former Chicago cop, says thousands of American and other volunteers are in Ukraine. Multiple organizations are operating in the country, and Jozefowicz said his group alone has placed scores of volunteers in positions all over the country, with about 40 of those being combat jobs. "We do not facilitate a civilian going into any direct-action role. We only guide and connect prior military volunteers," he said. But there's plenty of other work to do. Groups of volunteers are getting medical and food supplies to people in the nation of 44 million people, he said, and others are working with refugees and others who've had to flee their homes. "The closer I got into Ukraine and the more time I spent in Ukraine, the more voids I found that needed to be filled to maximize my groups volunteer efforts," he said. Osmon, who said she's been in contact with Jozefowicz's group, said she supplied troops with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications after days in the woods. "Most everyone had air raid fever from hiding in the trenches in the snow and cold air," she said. "Bronchitis was ravaging us." Etue said he got a feel for the country after making a 24-hour round trip with another volunteer to pick up a vehicle in Odesa. He said he's been impressed with the quality of people serving in the International Legion since Ukrainians have done a good job of weeding out the inexperienced and "war tourists" who don't have much to offer a military unit. "I think they're doing amazingly well given that they're at war with one of the largest standing armies in the world," he said. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinea's military junta, said Saturday he had opted for a 39-month transitional period before a return to civilian rule. He made the announcement in a speech broadcast on television, saying the National Transition Council (CNT) would put the proposal to parliament. The announcement came after the creation of what the regime has described as an "inclusive consultation framework" in April. That culminated in a conference boycotted by several prominent political groups. On Friday, the army-dominated government said that the forum considering the issue had considered a transition period of 18-52 months. Doumbouya, in Saturday's speech, described the period he had opted for as the "median proposal. Regional bloc ECOWAS had set last Monday as a deadline for putting forward an "acceptable" transition timetable or risk economic and financial sanctions. Guinea's ruling military junta let the deadline pass, however, asking the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for more time for consultations to continue. ECOWAS has called for an "acceptable" timeline for a return to civilian rule, failing which it has threatened to extend sanctions applied to Guinea following the military coup there. Growing discontent In September 2021, army officers led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted elected president Alpha Conde in the impoverished former French colony. Conde, 84, had drawn fierce opposition after he pushed through a new constitution in 2020 that allowed him to run for a third presidential term. Following the coup, ECOWAS called for a return to civilian rule within six months. Although many Guineans initially welcomed the coup, there is growing discontent against the junta in the nation of 13 million people. Guinea's coup last September came on the heels of a military takeover in Mali. ECOWAS has applied sanctions on members of the Mali junta, shut its borders with the country, frozen its assets at the Central Bank of West African States and imposed a trade embargo. For Guinea, leading junta members have been sanctioned and are subject to a travel ban within the bloc. A third ECOWAS member, Burkina Faso, experienced a coup in January. It has so far escaped the sanctions handed out to Guinea and Mali but was also given until last Monday to spell out an "acceptable transition timetable. The Burkinabe junta has said it stands by a three-year schedule for holding elections, arguing that it first has to deal with a bloody jihadist insurgency. Health officials are still trying to identify the cause of cases of acute and severe hepatitis that have infected scores of children in 16 countries, mainly in Europe. Over 170 cases of acute severe hepatitis in children aged between 1 month and 16 years have been reported from 16 countries, 12 in Europe. Most cases have been found in Britain. Other infections have been reported from the United States, Canada, Israel, and Japan. The World Health Organization reports 17 children have required liver transplantation and one child has died. Hepatitis in children sometimes can lead to chronic liver disease and liver failure. Philippa Easterbrook is a scientist at the WHOs program of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections. She said the origin of these infections in children remains unknown. She said investigations have shown that none of the children have the common viral causes of hepatitis A, B, C or E. The questionnaires have not identified any common exposurebe it to a toxin or a particular food and no strong travel history. And importantly, very few of the children have received COVID vaccinations. So, there does not appear to be a link with COVID vaccine, she said. Easterbrook says one line of inquiry is to see whether there is a possible link to adenovirus. This is a common infection in children, which can cause respiratory illness, gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis and bladder infection. She said a few cases of unexplained hepatitis in children occur every year in most countries. She said scientists are trying to ascertain whether the current apparent infection rate is truly unusually high or just a result of better reporting. The suggestions are there is a clear significant increase above that background rate in several of the countries that have been able to report this data with some confidence. But that is what we are trying to establish in the various countries now that we are working with to investigate those cases and establish whether this is the case, said Easterbrook. The WHO says toxicology, immunology, and other studies will continue in hospitals. It notes the likelihood that more cases will be detected before the cause of this infection can be confirmed and before more control and prevention measures can be taken. Wedding rings. Ol'ga Vostruhina / EyeEm via Gety Ima A couple got married on a Southwest Airlines flight, the airline said. The couple's initial plan to elope in Las Vegas was disrupted after their connecting flight was canceled. After boarding the Southwest Airlines flight, Pam and Jeremy agreed to tie the knot on board. A canceled flight couldn't stop this love connection. A couple got married on a Southwest Airlines flight after their initial plan to elope in Las Vegas, Nevada was disrupted, the airline shared in a Facebook post on Friday. Pam and Jeremy first joked about getting hitched in Las Vegas earlier this month, but soon realized they both wanted to take their relationship to the next level, the post said. The couple decided to go for it and purchased plane tickets with a Southwest competitor for the coming weekend and booked a chapel appointment to tie the knot the night they arrived. Upon arrival at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, they were informed that their connection to Vegas was canceled, according to the airline. However, their luck changed for the better when they found seats on a Southwest flight to the city that also happened to have an ordained minister onboard. "Chris, another passenger traveling to LAS from DFW, overheard Pam and Jeremy discussing how they might still get to Vegas in time for their appointment," the post said. "Chris also happened to be an ordained minister and offered to marry the couple himself! The three went online, snatched up the last three seats to Vegas on a Southwest flight, and hurried together across town to Dallas Love Field." The duo, already dressed for the wedding, boarded the Southwest Airlines flight when the pilot asked them about their attire and jokingly made a suggestion to get married on the plane. The joke became reality when the couple agreed to do it. The airline said the crew made toilet paper streamers, a "snack mix sash" for Chris the officiant, and one of the attendants served as Pam's maid of honor. Story continues In addition, a photographer who happened to be a passenger on the plane captured the moment while everyone on board signed a notebook to wish the couple the best. "Congrats to the newlyweds on a memorable inflight wedding neither our Employees nor Passengers are likely to forget! We can't wait to welcome you back onboard the love airline," the airline said. Read the original article on Insider Iraq on Sunday was yet again covered in a thick sheet of orange as it suffered the latest in a series of dust storms that have become increasingly common. Dozens were hospitalized with respiratory problems in the center and the west of the country. A thick layer of orange dust settled across streets and vehicles, seeping into people's homes in the capital Baghdad. Flights were grounded due to poor visibility at airports serving Baghdad and the Shiite holy city of Najaf, with the phenomenon expected to continue into Monday, according to the weather service. "Flights have been interrupted at the airports of Baghdad and Najaf due to the dust storm," the spokesman for the civil aviation authority, Jihad al-Diwan, told AFP. Visibility was cited at less than 500 meters (550 yards), with flights expected to resume once weather improves. Hospitals in Najaf received 63 people suffering from respiratory problems as a result of the storm, a health official said, adding that the majority had left after receiving appropriate treatment. Another 30 hospitalizations were reported in the mostly desert province of Anbar in the west of the country. Iraq was hammered by a series of such storms in April, grounding flights in Baghdad, Najaf and Irbil and leaving dozens hospitalized. Amer al-Jabri, of Iraq's meteorological office, previously told AFP that the weather phenomenon is expected to become increasingly frequent "due to drought, desertification and declining rainfall." Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having already witnessed record-low rainfall and high temperatures in recent years. Experts have said these factors threaten to bring social and economic disaster in the war-scarred country. In November, the World Bank warned that Iraq could suffer a 20% drop in water resources by 2050 due to climate change. In early April, environment ministry official Issa al-Fayad had warned that Iraq could face "272 days of dust" a year in coming decades, according to the state news agency INA. The ministry said the weather phenomenon could be addressed by "increasing vegetation cover and creating forests that act as windbreaks." For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. Recap of May 1: FIGHTING * Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said, after about 100 civilians were evacuated, Russian forces resumed their shelling of a steel plant in Mariupol. HUMANITARIAN * Mariupols city council said a broad U.N.-supported evacuation of the city would begin Monday. * Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that an estimated 350,000 people have been evacuated from combat zones since Russia invaded his country in February. DIPLOMACY * A U.S. delegation including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met in Kyiv with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed defense supplies to Ukraine, financial support and sanctions against Russia. SANCTIONS * Germany said it is making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of Russian crude oil imports by late summer. MEDIA * The New York Times reported that nearly all cellular and internet service was down in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region. Ukraine accuses Russia of disrupting the services. The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT: 9:39 p.m.: Energy ministers from European Union countries said they plan to hold emergency talks on Monday, as the bloc strives for a united response to Moscow's demand that European buyers pay for Russian gas in rubles or face their supply being cut off, Reuters reported. 6:27 p.m.: Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said Sunday that Russian forces resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the war-torn port city Mariupol immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians, The Associated Press reported. Shlega said in a televised interview that shelling began as soon as rescue crews stopped evacuating civilians at the Azovstal steel mill, AP reported. He added that at least one more round of evacuations is needed to clear civilians from the plant, which the commander said still held several hundred civilians, nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies, AP reported. 5:56 p.m.: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an hourslong meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers a powerful signal of support. During a televised address, Zelenskyy said he and Pelosi included discussions of defense supplies to Ukraine, financial support and sanctions against Russia, The Associated Press reported. Pelosi and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met with Zelenskyy and his top aides for about three hours late Saturday. 3:25 p.m.: A broad, U.N.-backed evacuation of civilians, and others sheltering at a steel plant in Mariupol, will begin on Monday, the city council said on Sunday. 1:38 p.m.: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that an estimated 350,000 people have been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-arranged with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine in late February, The Associated Press reported. More than 100 civilians many women and children -- were evacuated Sunday from a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol, the AP reported. The evacuees were to be taken to Zaporizhzhia on Monday. 1:09 p.m. : Germany says its making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of Russian crude oil imports by late summer, the Associated Press reported. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europes largest economy has reduced the share of Russian energy imports to 12% for oil, 8% for coal and 35% for natural gas. Germany has been under strong pressure from Ukraine and other nations in Europe to cut energy imports from Russia that are worth billions of dollars, which help fill Russian President Vladimir Putin's war chest. The whole European Union is considering an embargo on Russian oil following a decision to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. 10:00 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on the effort to evacuate people from a steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol. 9:47 a.m.: Ukraines ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova, in an interview with ABC News, has welcomed the visit to Kyiv by a U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 9:35 a.m.: The United Nations has confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is underway. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. 8:20 a.m: Ukraine has accused Russian forces of looting priceless artifacts from a museum in the southern city of Melitopol as fighting and missile strikes continued in Ukraines south and east. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said during a national telethon that the orcs have taken hold of our Scythian gold, using a derogatory term by which many Ukrainians refer to the invading Russian soldiers. We dont know where they took it. The New York Times reported that the director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History, Leila Ibrahimova, said museum workers had hidden the priceless treasure in boxes in a cellar. After Russian troops abducted and interrogated her for several hours in March, Ibrahimova left Melitopol for Kyiv-controlled territory. Melitopol has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. RFE/RL has the story. 7:43 a.m.: Pope Francis on Sunday described the war in Ukraine as a "macabre regression of humanity" that makes him "suffer and cry", calling for humanitarian corridors to evacuate people trapped in the Mariupol steelworks, Reuters reported. Speaking to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his noon blessing, Francis again implicitly criticized Russia. My thoughts go immediately to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the city of Mary, barbarously bombarded and destroyed," he said of the mostly Russian-controlled southeastern port city, which is named after Mary. 6:30 a.m.: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has posted on Twitter video of her and a congressional delegation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. 5:53 a.m.: CNN reports that 46 civilians were evacuated Saturday from the area around the besieged steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine. 5:27 a.m.: The New York Times reports that nearly all cellular and internet service is down in Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region. Ukraine accuses Russia of disrupting the services. 5:05 a.m.: CNN, citing the Ukrainian military, reports Russia is reinforcing its offensive operations in eastern Ukraine with weapons and military equipment amid heavy artillery assaults. 3:59 a.m.: The Washington Post reports that Sweden said a Russian plane violated the country's airspace Friday. The military said the plane violated Swedish airspace for a "short period" before leaving. The military identified the plane as an AN-30, an aerial survey craft. 2:52 a.m.: The Associated Press reports that U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has visited Kyiv and met with Ukraine's president. AP says footage released Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a congressional delegation including Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff. We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, Pelosi told Zelenskyy. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, she added. 2:01 a.m.: The latest intelligence update from the U.K. defense ministry says Russia is trying to install a pro-Russian administration in the city of Kherson, which it seized in March. "Enduring control over Kherson and its transport links will increase Russias ability to sustain its advance to the north and west and improve the security of Russias control over Crimea," the update notes. 12:02 a.m.: Al Jazeera reports that Russia says Ukrainian forces shelling the Kherson region have killed and injured civilians. The defense ministry says Ukraine shelled a school, a kindergarten and a cemetery. Some information came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Citizens and trade unions in cities around Europe were taking to the streets on Sunday for May Day marches, and to put out protest messages to their governments, notably in France where the holiday to honor workers was being used as a rallying cry against newly reelected President Emmanuel Macron. May Day is a time of high emotion for participants and their causes, with police on the ready. Turkish police moved in quickly in Istanbul and encircled protesters near the barred-off Taksim Square where 34 people were killed In 1977 during a May Day event when shots were fired into the crowd from a nearby building. On Sunday, police detained 164 people for demonstrating without permits and resisting police at the square, the Istanbul governor's office said. At a site on the Asian side of Istanbul, a May Day gathering drew thousands, singing, chanting and waving banners, a demonstration organized by the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey. In Italy, after a two-year pandemic lull, an outdoor mega-concert was set for Rome with rallies and protests in cities across the country. Besides work, peace was an underlying theme with calls for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Italy's three main labor unions were focusing their main rally in the hilltop town of Assisi, a frequent destination for peace protests. This year's slogan is "Working for peace." "It's a May Day of social and civil commitment for peace and labor," said the head of Italy's CISL union, Daniela Fumarola. Other protests were planned far and wide in Europe, including in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where students and others planned to rally in support of Ukraine as Communists, anarchists and anti-European Union groups held their own gatherings. In France, the May Day rallies a week after the presidential election are aimed at showing Macron the opposition he could face in his second five-year term and to power up against his centrists before June legislative elections. Opposition parties, notably the far left and far right, are looking to break his government's majority. Protests were planned across France with a focus on Paris where the Communist-backed CGT union was leading the main march through eastern Paris, joined by a handful of other unions. All are pressing Macron for policies that put the people first and condemning his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 65. In a first, far-right leader Marine Le Pen was absent from her party's traditional wreath-laying at the foot of a statue of Joan of Arc, replaced by the interim president of her National Rally party. Le Pen was defeated by Macron in last Sunday's runoff of the presidential election, and plans to campaign to keep her seat as a lawmaker. "I've come to tell the French that the voting isn't over. There is a third round, the legislative elections," said Jordan Bardella, "and it would be unbelievable to leave full power to Emmanuel Macron." Sudanese security forces fired tear gas at crowds who gathered in Khartoum on Saturday to rally against military rule and mark the third anniversary of the killing of scores of protesters. The crowds blocked a major road junction in the capital and laid out food to break their Ramadan fast. But just before sundown, officers began breaking up the rally and chased demonstrators into side streets, a Reuters reporter said. Postings on social media said people also gathered in the cities of Madani, Kosti and El Obeid, carrying posters with faces of some of the young men killed in 2019. "We will continue on the path the martyrs began," said one of the protesters in Khartoum on Saturday who declined to be named. Protests and unrest have continued to rock Sudan since months of massed demonstrations culminated in the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. On June 3 that year, armed men charged pro-democracy demonstrators who were holding a sit-in outside the military headquarters in the center of the capital, demanding the army hand over rule to civilians after Bashir's ousting. Activist doctors said nearly 130 people were killed in that raid and the ensuing violence. Official tallies put the death count at 87. The military later agreed to share power with civilians but took power again in a coup in October 2021. Sudanese police could not be reached for comment on Saturday, the third anniversary of the sit-in raid, according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Khartoum state's security committee had on Friday called on protests to remain peaceful and blocked off central Khartoum. Military leaders have denied responsibility for the 2019 killings. A number of more junior officers are on trial over the deaths. Since the October coup, many of Bashir's former allies have been allowed to rejoin the civil service while others have been freed from jail. "It's very disappointing that we put in so much work to get them out, and they're starting to come back," Hassan, an unemployed 30-year-old protester in another part of Khartoum, said. Black and Hispanic Americans remain far more cautious in their approach to COVID-19 than white Americans, recent polls show, reflecting diverging preferences on how to deal with the pandemic as federal, state and local restrictions fall by the wayside. Despite majority favorability among U.S. adults overall for measures like mask mandates, public health experts said divided opinions among racial groups reflect not only the unequal impact of the pandemic on people of color but also apathy among some white Americans. Black Americans (63%) and Hispanic Americans (68%) continue to be more likely than white Americans (45%) to say they are at least somewhat worried about themselves or a family member being infected with COVID-19, according to an April poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Throughout the pandemic, Black and Hispanic communities have experienced higher rates of illness and death from COVID, said Amelia Burke-Garcia, public health program area director at NORC. Those experiences have resulted in greater levels of stress, anxiety and awareness of the risks of catching COVID-19, she said, which means people of color are more likely to feel measures like mask mandates are needed. "We've seen these trends endure throughout the entire pandemic," Burke-Garcia said. "What we're seeing now as mitigation measures are being rolled back is there's still great concern amongst Black Americans and Hispanic Americans around the risk of getting sick." Seventy-one percent of Black Americans say they favor requiring face masks for people traveling on airplanes, trains and other types of public transportation. That's more than the 52% of white Americans who support mask mandates for travelers; 29% of white Americans are opposed. Among Hispanic Americans, 59% are in favor and 20% are opposed. The poll was conducted before a ruling by a federal judge scuttled the government's mask mandate for travelers. In Indiana, Tuwanna Plant said she sees fewer and fewer people wearing masks in public, even though she said she has been diligent in always wearing one. Plant, who is Black, said she sees people treating the pandemic like it's over, and she wants the mask mandate to continue. Plant, a 46-year-old sous chef, said she had some concerns about getting the vaccine and took every other precaution, such as cleaning and masking, to avoid getting sick but recently was hospitalized for COVID-19. The experience scared her she has a preexisting lung condition, and knew family members who died from COVID-19. She said she plans to get vaccinated as soon as she can. "I called my children while I was in the emergency room," Plant said. "I didn't know ... if it was going to get better or worse, I didn't know. So it was the experience for me altogether." Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist and editor-at-large at Kaiser Health News, said people's lived experiences deeply shape how they perceive the pandemic. Anecdotes and personal experience can have a larger impact on behavior than numbers, she said, and people of color are more likely to have had negative experiences with health care prior to and during the pandemic. While new medicines and vaccines have made it easier to treat COVID-19, Gounder said many people still face systemic barriers to accessing that medical care. Others risk losing their jobs or are unable to take time off if they do fall ill, she said, or cannot avoid things like public transit to reduce their exposures. "When people argue that they don't have to mask on the plane, that means something very different for someone who has access to all of these new innovations than it does for somebody who has no health insurance, who struggles to care for an elderly parent and their children, who's maybe a single mom working in a job where she has no paid sick and family medical leave," Gounder said. "It's just a completely different calculation." In January, an AP-NORC poll showed Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely than white Americans to feel certain things would be essential for getting back to life without feeling at risk of infection. For example, 76% of Black Americans and 55% of Hispanic Americans said it was essential for getting back to normal that most people regularly wear face masks in public indoor places, compared with 38% of white Americans. Last month, an AP-NORC poll showed Black and Hispanic Americans, 69% and 49%, were more likely than white Americans, 35%, to say they always or often wear a face mask around others. Lower support for mask mandates and other precautions among white Americans may also reflect less sensitivity towards what occurs in communities of color. In a 2021 study of mask wearing during the early part of the pandemic, researchers found that mask wearing among white people increased when white people were dying at greater rates in the surrounding community. When Black and Hispanic people were dying, mask usage was lower. Berkeley Franz, a co-author of the paper, said that in addition to residential segregation that separates white people from communities of color, past research has shown that white people can display ambivalence toward policies that they believe mostly help people of color. "Anti-Blackness is really pervasive and has tremendous consequences, both in terms of the policies that get passed, and what doesn't," Franz said. "White people can still have really racist actions without seeing themselves that way and understanding the consequences. It's largely below the surface and unintentional but has tremendous consequences in terms of equity." Communities of color also have a different perception of risk from the pandemic than their white counterparts, said Michael Nino, a sociology professor at the University of Arkansas who co-authored a paper on race, gender and masking in the pandemic. "Masking is something that is relatively cheap, it's effective, and it's something that can be easily done," he said. "It doesn't require any sort of governmental response. These broader histories of racism and sexism in the United States are most certainly shaping some of the patterns we're seeing." The AP-NORC poll of 1,085 adults was conducted April 14-18 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and four Democratic congressmen visited Kyiv Saturday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Pelosi told Zelenskyy that the visit was intended to thank Ukraine for its fight for freedom and that the U.S. commitment is to be there for Ukraine until the fight is done. With Pelosi were Representatives Adam Schiff of California, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Gregory Meeks of New York and Jason Crow of Colorado. A Russian missile strike on the Odesa airport Saturday damaged the runway, rendering it useless, the Ukrainian military reported. One witness told CNN that she saw at least one combat plane over the southern city; the blasts were heard soon after air raid sirens sounded across the city. Russian forces pounded Ukraine's eastern Donbas region Saturday but failed to capture three target areas, Ukraine's military said. The target areas were Lyman in Donetsk and Sievierodonetsk and Popasna in Luhansk, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in its daily update. "Not succeeding - the fighting continues," it said. Elsewhere, Ukrainian police said they had found the bodies of three civilian men in the Bucha district, north of Kyiv. Police said the bodies were in a pit and the victims hands were bound, their eyes were covered and two were gagged. There are traces of torture on the corpses, as well as gunshot wounds to various parts of the body, Kyivs regional police chief, Andriy Nebytov, said in a statement. The victims were tortured for a long period of time; bullet wounds were found on the extremities. Finally, each of the men was shot in the ear. Kyiv says more than 1,000 bodies have been discovered in or around Bucha, where it alleges systematic abuse by Russian soldiers occupying the area. The governor of Russias western Kursk region said several shells were fired Saturday at a checkpoint near its border from the direction of Ukraine. Speaking in a video posted on his Telegram channel, Governor Roman Starovoit said there were no casualties or damage. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report, and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Evacuations, prisoner exchanges Ukraine said it had managed to evacuate 20 women and children from the Azovstal steel works in Mariupol. CNN reported that satellite images taken Friday show that nearly every building on the sprawling steel plant had been destroyed by intense shelling by artillery, ships and airstrikes. To the north, Ukraine evacuated more people Saturday in the eastern town of Lyman in the fiercely fought-over region of Donetsk, where at least half the residents have fled Russian shelling since the start of the war. Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange with Russia on Saturday, with seven soldiers and seven civilians coming home, deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in an online posting. One of the soldiers was a woman who is five months pregnant, she added. She did not say how many Russians had been transferred. Kherson The British Defense Ministry said early Sunday that Russia is trying to legitimize its control of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, through installing a pro-Russian administration. That administration has declared a return to Ukrainian control for the city and surrounding area "impossible" and announced that the Russian ruble will be used in Kherson beginning Sunday. The ministry said that Russian control of Kherson and its transport links will help sustain Russias efforts to advance to the west and north and improve Russias control over Crimea. Russian Assertions In other developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a number of assertions in two interviews Saturday. Early in the day, he told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya Television there was no need for anybody to provide help to open up humanitarian corridors out of Ukraines besieged cities. We appreciate the interest of the secretary-general to be helpful, he added. (We have) explained what is the mechanism for them to monitor how the humanitarian corridors are announced. He also accused the West of being Russia phobic and complained that his country never lived a day without being subject to sanctions by the West. So ... to believe that this latest wave of sanctions is going to make Russia cry Uncle and to beg for being pardoned, those planners are lousy and, of course, they dont know anything about [the] foreign policy of Russia and they dont know anything about how to deal with Russia. Later, in an interview with Chinas official Xinhua news agency, Lavrov said the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia is part of peace talks with Ukraine. "At present, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations are actually discussing on a daily basis via video-conferencing a draft of a possible treaty," Lavrov said in comments published on the Russian foreign ministry's website on Saturday. "The talks' agenda ... includes, among other things, the issues of denazification, the recognition of new geopolitical realities, the lifting of sanctions, the status of the Russian language," Lavrov said. But Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak denied this was the case, saying, the issue of global international sanctions against the Russian Federation is not discussed at all in negotiations. Further, Podolyak added, Lavrov had not attended a single negotiating round and Ukraine did not need lessons in "denazification" or use of the Russian language from those who had attacked and occupied Ukrainian towns and cities. "It is for all our partners, together with Ukraine, to decide what decisions should be taken on sanctions, and when, he said. The Associated Press and Reuters provided some information in this report. The United Nations said Sunday it is conducting a safe passage operation to get as many as 1,000 Ukrainian civilians out of the steel plant blockaded by Russian forces in the war-ravaged southern port city of Mariupol. The operation, being coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross along with Russian and Ukrainian officials, began at the Azovstal steel works Saturday. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs offered no other details so as not to jeopardize the safety of the rescue operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted, The 1st group of about 100 people is already heading to the controlled area. Tomorrow well meet them in Zaporizhzhia. Grateful to our team! he said. Now they, together with (the U.N.) are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant. Officials believe another 2,000 Ukrainian fighters remain in the plant, where they are holed up in the massive complexs labyrinth of tunnels and passageways surrounded by Russian forces. As many as 100,000 other Ukrainian civilians may still be in the city on the northern coast of the Sea of Azov that is controlled by Russia after a two-month bombing campaign that has all but leveled it. Initially, the Russian Defense Ministry said 46 people, a group of 25 and another totaling 21, were evacuated, while the Azov Regiment, the Ukrainian unit defending the steelworks, said 20 women and children were among those evacuated. The U.N. operation came as U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and six other Democratic lawmakers made an unannounced visit Saturday to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for a three-hour meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Watch related video by Arash Arabasadi: Pelosi was the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the war-torn country since the February 24 Russian invasion that has killed thousands of fighters on both sides and thousands of Ukrainian civilians. Later, speaking from Poland after leaving Kyiv, Pelosi said she had vowed to Zelenskyy, We are with you until this fight is won. She said the congressional delegation brought him "a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership" in fighting back against the Russian invasion. Pelosi has promised quick House passage of the new $33 billion Ukraine aid request U.S. President Joe Biden sent to Congress last week. Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, the lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABCs This Week show that he too expects Congress to approve the new arms and humanitarian aid package, more than double the $13.6 billion in assistance Congress had already approved. After early predictions by some military analysts that Russia would quickly overrun Ukraine and topple Zelenskyy, McCaul said he now believes Ukraine can win it. That should be the goal. I think the fighting spirit of the Ukrainians is far superior to that of the Russians, McCaul said. Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, told ABC, None of [the Russians] objectives are met. They are trying to scare Ukrainians. We have to win and we will. She described Pelosis visit to Kyiv as yet another sign of the very strong support from the United States. Meanwhile, Russia launched new assaults on coastal southern Ukraine and the country's eastern industrial heartland. Fighting was occurring village by village. Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address late Saturday, warned that Russia was "gathering additional forces for new attacks against our military in the east of the country." He implored Russian troops not to fight in Ukraine, arguing that even their generals expect that thousands more of them will die. "But why do the Russian soldiers need this? Why do their families need this?" Zelenskyy said in Russian. The British Defense Ministry said early Sunday that Russia is trying to legitimize its control of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, through installing a pro-Russian administration. That administration has declared a return to Ukrainian control for the city and surrounding area "impossible" and announced that the Russian ruble will be used in Kherson beginning Sunday. The ministry said that Russian control of Kherson and its transport links will help sustain Russias efforts to advance to the west and north and improve Russias control over the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. A possible influx of thousands of migrants at the southwestern U.S. border later this month will place an extraordinary strain on our system, the Homeland Security chief acknowledged Sunday, while reminding migrants that our border is not open and that they should not attempt to get into the United States. Federal immigration authorities daily apprehend some 7,000 migrants trying to cross the northern Mexican border. U.S. officials say the figure could reach 18,000 daily if they are allowed to end a medical protocol that currently forces those infected with the coronavirus to remain in Mexico. The protocol, known as Title 42, is set to expire May 23. The administration wants to end enforcement of the rule but says it will honor a federal judges decision last week to keep it in place pending further court hearings. Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas told CNNs State of the Union show that his agency has been preparing for months to handle the expected influx of migrants, while acknowledging the difficulty of doing so. Numerous Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed fears in recent days that the thousands more migrants expected at the border in the next few weeks will overwhelm border officials. We need countries to our south to handle their borders, Mayorkas said. As it stands now, he said migrants trying to get into the U.S. are either expelled under the coronavirus provisions or they are placed in our immigration enforcement proceedings and required to report for hearings on whether they can remain in the U.S. Mayorkas told Fox News Sunday that about 86% of the migrants appear for their scheduled immigration court hearings. Over the years, millions of migrants released into the U.S. remain for years although there is always a threat for them of being arrested and deported. He told CNN that migrants should not place their lives at risk in the hands of smugglers who exploit their lives for the mere purpose of profit. On Fox, Mayorkas said, It is the objective of the Biden administration to make sure that we have safe, legal and orderly pathways for individuals to be able to access our legal system. We are against irregular migration. Police fired tear gas to push back black-clad anarchists who ransacked business premises in Paris on Sunday during May Day protests against the policies of newly reelected President Emmanuel Macron. Thousands of people joined May Day marches across France, calling for salary increases and for Macron to drop his plan to raise the retirement age. Most were peaceful but violence broke out in the capital, where police arrested 54 people, including a woman who attacked a fireman trying to put out a fire, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter. Eight police were injured, he added. Clashes with police broke out at the start of the march near La Republique Square and when it reached La Nation Square in eastern Paris. "Black Bloc" anarchists ransacked a McDonald's restaurant on the Place Leon Blum and trashed several real estate agencies, breaking their windows and setting garbage bins on fire. Police responded by firing tear gas. About 250 rallies were organized in Paris and other cities including Lille, Nantes, Toulouse and Marseille. Overall, 116,500 people demonstrated across the country, including 24,000 in the capital, the interior ministry said. In Paris, trade unionists were joined by political figures -- mostly from the left -- and climate activists. The cost of living was the main theme in the presidential election campaign and looks set to be equally prominent ahead of June legislative elections that Macron's party and its allies must win if he is to be able to implement his pro-business policies, including increasing retirement age to 65 for 62. "It is important to show Macron and the whole political world that we are prepared to defend our social rights," Joshua Antunes, a 19-year-old student said. He also accused the president of "inactivity" on environment issues. Marchers carried banners reading "Retirement Before Arthritis," "Retirement at 60, Freeze Prices" and "Macron, Get Out." The government has got to deal with the purchasing power problem by raising wages," Philippe Martinez, the head of the hardline CGT union, told Reuters before the rallies. Macron won a new five-year presidential term after beating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in last Sunday's runoff vote. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who came third in the first round of the presidential vote, attended the Paris march. He wants to rally a union of the left, including the Greens, to dominate parliament and force Macron into an awkward "cohabitation", but so far this has not materialized. "We will not make a single concession on pensions," Melenchon said before the march started. He said he still hoped an agreement to build a new union of the left could be reached by Sunday evening. Unlike in previous years, Marine Le Pen did not lay a wreath in Paris at the statue of Joan or Arc, whom her party uses as a nationalist symbol. She was replaced by the Rassemblement National Interim President Jordan Bardella, who said Le Pen was preparing for the legislative elections. Le Pen urged voters in a video message to elect as many deputies from her party as possible in June so that she could "protect your purchasing power," and prevent Macron from carrying a "harmful project for France and the French people." The parliamentary elections will be held on June 12 and 19. Zimbabweans commemorated International Workers Day on Sunday with some labor activists and opposition politicians calling for the dumping of the Zimbabwe currency and adoption of the United States dollar until the economic situation improves. Addressing a Workers Day event in Harares Dzivarasekwa suburb, the leader of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Florence Taruvinga, said most workers are struggling to survive in the country amid an economic downturn due to the devaluation of the local currency. Its surprising that the government wants workers to be paid in the local currency when people are being asked to pay for passports in United States dollars. This is wrong. Workers have to fight hard to correct this. They should be paid in U.S. dollars, she said. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, former ZCTU boss, Peter Mutasa, said workers have been reduced to beggars. Mutasa said, There is nothing good for workers anymore in Zimbabwe. Workers are now beggars and the situation is getting worse. We are working for nothing. Its like what was happening during the Ian Smith regime. We have been oppressed by this government. We are going for elections and our goal is to remove the party in power. Labor and Social Welfare Minister, Paul Mavhima, said Zimbabwe can improve workers conditions if all local people work together. Mavhima said, It is only when we accept collective responsibility that we can move forward. We have spent a lot of time fighting over many issues than to resolve them amicably. No, no, to unnecessary divisions, we say no to intolerance. Lets come together as Zimbabweans to build our country. Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa attended the event in Dzivarasekwa where he became an instant hit when he walked into the venue accompanied by his vice, Tendai Biti, and several others. Julie Glenn Julie Denine Glenn had an eclectic impact on Southwest Florida, from expertise with wines to promoting aspiring journalists and keeping WGCU as a vital local media presence. Glenn, 50, news director for WGCU Public Media and an Estero resident, died Saturday in Bonita Springs after a progression of glioblastoma, a highly malignant form of cancer in the brain and spinal cord. "Julies passing is a real loss to WGCU, FGCU and all of us who knew and appreciated her," FGCU President Michael V. Martin said. "She was a talented and dedicated colleague and friend. We send our sincere sympathy to her family." At WGCU Public Media, Glenn had been news director, talk show host, reporter, podcast creator and co-host, nurturer of young journalists and an optimistic, inspiring and fun friend and colleague. She began her career at WGCU in November 2016 and took over as interim news director in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down on Southwest Florida. Rick Johnson, former general manager of WGCU Public Media, said Glenn jumped into that role without hesitation. "It was under that circumstance that Julie ... accepted the responsibility of leading the WGCU news team that kept Southwest Florida informed over the course of the terrible days leading up to, during, and after Irmas march through Southwest Florida," Johnson said in a remembrance on WGCU's website. "WGCUs non-stop coverage led by Julie Glenn was recognized for its excellence by national and regional journalism organizations and was profiled by the Washington Post as exemplifying the critical importance of local journalism." More: Software to silverware More: From Cuba with love More: The perfect pairing Julie was larger than life, said longtime friend Catherine Bergerson of Naples, who met and befriended Glenn in 2004 while both were anchor reporters at WGEM in Quincy, Illinois. By 2006, both were in Southwest Florida, Bergerson as a reporter for Waterman Broadcasting, later moving to public relations and Glenn as a wine company representative, columnist and a freelance writer for numerous local and national publications. Story continues Julies friends are innumerable. She and Ro generously opened their home to friends and family. Always cooking delicious meals, opening a carefully selected bottle of wine, and sharing time with stories and laughter. Julies fierce loyalty to those she loved, her quick wit, clever quips, love of music and a spontaneous living room dance party, made her a one-in-a-million kind of friend. She is survived by her husband, Rosario Fragale; her daughter, Arianna Susan Fragale, 11; and her father, Dennis (Linda) Glenn of Estero. She was the daughter of the late Susan Glenn. Glenn was a graduate in mass communication theory from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where she was raised. Glenn also earned a masters degree in food and wine from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy, and a masters in communication of quality products from Universita Degli Studi di Scienze Gastronomiche in Piedmont, Italy. She was known in Southwest Florida and elsewhere as an accurate, compassionate journalist covering critical community stories. Glenn served in several roles at WGCU (PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida) and received numerous accolades for her journalism with the WGCU news team including regional and national Edward R. Murrow awards. During her tenure the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters twice named WGCU as station of the year. One of Glenn's focus areas was developing and helping young journalists. Those she helped, such as Michelle Alvarez, a reporter now at WINK news, pointed to her practice of celebrating their successes to others who could help their careers. Julie Glenn and Michelle Alvarez at a public relations media day in June 2021 The Fort Myers TV reporter said Glenn helped her with all facets of the media world. "I got my foot in the door at WGCU and she pretty much was there the whole time. I told her eventually my goal was to be on TV," Alvarez recounted. "Ever since then she truly helped me out with that," she added. "With everything, with reporting, with my voice, with performance. She was there the whole way." Alvarez said that Glenn's influence tracked to even promoting the aspiring reporter's abilities to prospective employers including her work at WGCU to create a Spanish language newscast . "I feel that truly helped me," she said. Glenn also was co-creator and co-host of the popular WGCU/NPR Grape Minds podcast with local media personality and good friend Gina Birch. As a former wine columnist and company representative, Glenn shared a deep knowledge of wine, grapes, geography, local history, soil conditions and more, putting that together with a sense of humor and engaging storytelling. Glenn also collaborated with The News-Press and Naples Daily News on a series of Coronavirus Town Halls. Julie was a joy to work with on the series of coronavirus town halls we partnered with WGCU on, said Mark Bickel, audience development director for a The News-Press and Naples Daily News, who presided with Glenn over several award-winning pandemic-related community forums. Her passion for journalism was, and always will be, inspiring. She made our community a better place because of her reporting. Its a well-deserved legacy. Beyond Julies journalistic acumen and passion for news, she was a nurturing co-worker who always went above and beyond to celebrate someones birthday or recent accomplishment, said Amy Shumaker, WGCU associate general manager for content. If you were in need, Julie was there. We will miss her terribly. Julie will forever be remembered for the incredible person she was, and for her focus on the important things in life devotion to family, friends, community, happiness, and giving it her all, every day, Bergerson said. A memorial for Glenn is being planned. Glenns husband asks that anyone wishing to honor her life may want to offer their support to other families who need financial or emotional assistance in their fights with cancer. Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com. Dayna Harpster, a communications specialist at WGCU, contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Wines blogger, WGCU news director Julie Glenn dies from cancer Zimbabweans on Sunday teamed up and went to journalist Hopewell Chinonos homestead in Murewa to block a Zanu PF activist who was threatening to seize his Boer goats, claiming that they were part of a state-sponsored project. Chinono told VOA Zimbabwe Service that Taurai Kandishaya failed to achieve his mission as villagers, civic society leaders, opposition Citizens Coalition for Change activists and others formed a human shield at his homestead. He said, So, today came and Im told that a lot of people around the villages have gone to my homestead to defend my goats and my property from the illegal action that has been threatened to be carried out. Chinono said Kandishaya made false claims about the goat project following his address at the World Summit on Human Rights in Geneva where he told the gathering that Zimbabwes problems are caused by rampant corruption. The whole of last week I was getting threats from Zanu PF executive member of the Youth League Taurai Kandishaya saying that they were going to expropriate my goats and they were lying that I received the goats from the government. They were saying that it was part of the government project which I had personalized. I produced my receipts on social media showing that the goats had been imported from South Africa from a town called Nigel in South Africa. I produced the import licenses and everything but he continued threatening me that he was going to my village and that they were going to take the goats. What triggered them to do this was the speech that I made in Geneva in Switzerland a couple of weeks ago where I correctly pointed out the problems that were faced in the health delivery system in Zimbabwe that there is no single cancer machine in the whole of the public health system in Zimbabwe, that 2,500 women are dying everyday because we do not have maternity theaters. The biggest hospital, Harare Hospital, now known as Sally Mugabe Hospital only has one maternity working. It was built in 1977 by Ian Smith. According to Chinono Zanu PF does not tolerate constructive criticism. So, when I mentioned those things in Geneva the Zanu PF government was upset and they have been abusing me writing articles in The Herald which is controlled by the state saying lies, saying Im a sellout, Im a puppet. But Kandishaya claimed that his mission has been accomplished despite the fact that he did not seize the Boer goats belonging to Chinono. We achieved our first stage according to plan. Our first stage was to expose the double standards done by people in the opposition where they go around telling people that Zimbabwe does not have a conducive environment for conducting business and that if you are not under Zanu PF you are targeted. They will be fooling youths to go on streets and fight for jobs. They dont tell the youth that they must fully utilize land by coming up with projects. So, other triple C (Citizens Coalition for Change) members are calling me saying we never knew that Hopewell Chinono and other senior members have farms, businesses and various projects while they are telling us to go to the streets and protest over lack of jobs. So, first stage we have achieved CCC deputy spokesperson, Ostallos Siziba, said they formed a human shield in order to defend a citizen, who was being terrorized by the ruling party. We are here as citizens of Zimbabwe. Young people are saying enough is enough to the harassment, torture and abuse of state institutions by Zanu PF. Hopewell is a citizen and so we stand together with anyone. We saw Zanu PF doing this to Siphosami Malunga (in Nyamandlovu). And now they are coming for Hopewell. We cannot allow that to happen. The agenda of the liberation struggle was about the sacrosanctity of land, that people should be given land. So, we must protect it with our hearts and souls. If we dont speak about what is happening to journalists, tomorrow they are coming for us. We have to speak for and on behalf of the oppressed. Placeholder while article actions load This is one of a series of interviews by Bloomberg Opinion columnists on how to solve the worlds most pressing policy challenges. It has been edited for length and clarity. Robert A. George: Youre a senior lecturer of American Studies and English at Columbia University, the former director of Columbias famed Core Curriculum and the author of Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life And Why They Matter For A New Generation.Your book describes your own journey as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and emphasizes the importance of a liberal education for all, especially immigrants and the underprivileged. So why does Socrates need to be rescued? What is the significance of Socrates in the context of modern education? Roosevelt Montas, senior lecturer, Columbia University and author, Rescuing Socrates: The title hits several things. One is the imperiled condition of liberal education in the academy today. Socrates is in some ways the founding figure or patron saint of liberal education. Rescuing Socrates suggests the need to rejuvenate and reinvigorate and recommit to liberal education. And theres a biographical reference too, because as a sophomore in high school, I found a copy of the dialogues of Plato in a garbage can they were the dialogues recording the last days of Socrates. Reading that book proved to be decisive in my intellectual development, beginning the road to a life in academia and a life of advocacy of the liberal arts. Advertisement RG: You were born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States RM: two days before my 12th birthday. RG: As a 12-year-old not speaking much English, how did you find yourself fitting in? RM: It was profoundly disorienting. I not only came from a third world country; I came from rural poverty. I grew up without 20th century appliances, no TV, no refrigerator, no stove, no telephone. When I traveled, that was the first time I was in an airplane. I lost not just a country, I lost a culture, a language, a sense of place, a sense of belonging. It was a deep trauma. And I dont want to dramatize it too much, because probably millions of people have experienced something like that. But it left me and my family adrift. My mother didnt speak English herself, hadnt even finished high school, had minimum-wage jobs. I did not kind of assimilate in a peer group. Advertisement RG: How did you end up overcoming? RM: Books were a big part of it. I slowly mastered the language. It became clear to me that the way out of marginality, poverty and disempowerment was through education. Somehow there was a way for me to acquire the tools to become an active agent, the tools with which to take control of my life and to become somebody who could shape his own destiny. Even though the New York City public school system has a lot of problems, it was a far superior education than I had access to in the Dominican Republic. RG: One mans trash is another mans treasure you literally find one of the volumes of the classics in the garbage and you pick that up. What caused your high school sophomore brain to be drawn to that book? RM: Frankly, the first thing is, it was a beautiful book, hardcover leather, tilted edge, two hundred pages; it felt like a beautiful, valuable artifact. Just learning English, I knew that I needed practice. Then, you meet this character, Socrates, an old man, 70 years old, on trial for his life for corrupting the youth and introducing new gods into the city. Especially as a young person, you always have this sense that the culture is trying to protect you from so-called corrupting influences you actually love. You actually think, wait a minute, Im not being corrupted by this; Im being educated, entertained and built up. So that idea that he was a man that was doing something that the establishment thought was dangerous for the youth immediately made it attractive for me. And then when it turns out what hes doing is this questioning and investigation of the deep issues of life: What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be just? What is the beautiful? What is the pious? That really caught my attention, in a moment where I was trying to ground my own sense of coming of age as an immigrant in New York. Advertisement RG: You applied to and were accepted to Columbia University via the New York State Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). Right now, the Supreme Court is looking at the issues of affirmative action in college, particularly in Ivy League institutions. Would you consider HEOP as a form of affirmative action? How should questions of merit and opportunity for the underprivileged balance out? RM: [HEOP] is an affirmative action program, but in the sense that it seeks to lend an extra hand to students who are economically and educationally disadvantaged. To those students, it gives extra financial aid. In addition, there is academic support, including a six-week summer program, which is kind of a college prep program at Columbia. It is not affirmative action on the basis of race. It is not for people of color, but for people who are economically and academically disadvantaged. There were white students in my cohort and there were many immigrant people of color, but it was not race-based. Still, affirmative action strikes me as a necessary mechanism in a society that strives towards equality of opportunity. Just like privilege, which has a tendency to accrue and to be passed on, so does disadvantage and poverty. A society committed to equality of opportunity needs affirmative action to level the playing field for some. It is embedded in our aspirations for equal opportunity in cases where opportunity is drastically unequal. Advertisement RG: You go to Columbia, graduate and get a Ph.D. and eventually end up running the universitys Core Curriculum for 10 years. How did that experience put you on your current path as an evangelist for liberal education? RM: The Core Curriculum was really extraordinary: Every undergraduate at Columbia College takes two-plus years of study of the tradition of literary, philosophical and artistic expression of the West. The first year begins with the Iliad and the Odyssey and Greek playwrights and historians, all the way to 20th century and contemporary literature. As sophomores, they read philosophical classics Plato, Aristotle, and then coming to modernity with Locke, Hobbes, Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, etc., all the way to the 20th century. And they do the same in art and in music. This extraordinary education grounds them in the major texts, debates, and artistic idioms in which we live. That program was absolutely transformative for me. Liberal education, I came to understand, was a countercultural practice, because the contemporary university is a hostile environment for the practice of liberal education. One of the things that motivated the writing of my book advocating for liberal education was to highlight the impact of liberal education in my own life as kind of Exhibit A. Advertisement RG: Many voices have questioned the practical value of a liberal education in terms of getting a job. Call it the pragmatic, hard knocks, criticism and not in a political sense the conservative viewpoint. And then youve got the contemporary liberal perspective instead of pursuing general, big questions, students should learn about themselves, personally, culturally, their identities, etc. Is liberal education being squeezed from both sides? RM: Yes, but neither characterization really stands up to scrutiny. Absolutely, a college education should equip students with skills that have practical value allowing them to get a job. But the point is not to do liberal education instead of that, but liberal education as the basis for technical specialization. If you want to achieve the highest degree of success and effectiveness and importance in whatever field you go into whether engineering or business or law or medicine you need a grounding in the human questions. That will make you a much more effective, innovative and accomplished practitioner of your craft. Liberal education grounds practical education in human values. Conversely, the contemporary liberal position that students should be more involved in their own personal identity only makes sense in the context of that which is universal or common to our humanity. You will have a deeper sense, a deeper appreciation of your own particularity when that is set up against the universality of the human experience. RG: You ran the Core Curriculum at Columbia for 10 years, but also then launched a high school version of this. Advertisement RM: In 2009, a group of colleagues in the American Studies department launched a program to answer the question, If we gave high school students low-income, first-generation college aspirants exposure to this kind of invigorating, exhilarating, exciting intellectual experience, will it do what it did for me? Will low-income, first-generation college aspirants relate to Plato, to Hobbes, to Lincoln, to Jefferson? We started this program where we brought initially 15 such students to live on campus for a month. They take this Great Books seminar for a month the summer between junior and senior year. In the fall, we help them prepare applications to college. Over senior year, we teach them a civic engagement curriculum where they take on projects within their communities that they design themselves. In the 13 years weve been doing this, 99% of our 300-some students have gone on to college and 79-80% them graduate within five years of registration. A graduate from our first class, Shaun Abreu, was elected last November to the New York City Council. This program proves that this kind of education isnt some kind of frivolous indulgence for the elite, but something that transforms and empowers the lives of these low-income first-generation college aspirants. RG: Theres growing interest in reviving civic education for students from elementary school onward. Could what you started with these high school students be expanded to civic education for younger students? Advertisement RM: This is civic education, but not in the narrow sense of teaching students to memorize how many branches of government there are, how many in the House of Representatives, how to appoint a judge. Its not knowledge of the mechanics of our civic structure. It is engagement with the deep questions that our political structure tries to answer. And its reproducible. In fact, the Teagle Foundation, which was the initial funder of our program, has started a grant-making initiative to encourage other institutions to replicate what were doing: bringing low-income, first-generation local kids to the classroom to study the Great Books, the foundational debates of our culture and political civilization. Colleges and campuses throughout the country can engage their local communities and share their intellectual wealth in this way. It will make a difference in our politics, in these communities, and most importantly, in the lives of these needy kids. RG: Your introduction to Socrates was reading a dialogue where hes literally on trial for his life. Ultimately, his supporters were unsuccessful in rescuing him. Will his modern-day supporters rescue the liberal education tradition descended from Socrates? RM: I am not worried about the demise of the liberal arts tradition. What I am worried about is, who will have access to it? Enough elites will continue to seek and pay for a traditional liberal arts education, and alumni will continue to support the institutions where they experienced the life-altering power of a liberal education. But, in keeping with the growing economic polarization in our society, I worry about a bifurcation where the already privileged pursue this high-quality education, while everyone else is steered towards technical, vocational, and job-oriented education, much of it online. That would be disastrous perhaps even catastrophic for our democracy. Advertisement RG: Do you remain optimistic that can be avoided? RM: I see in the Great Books a way to break the deadlock of polarization between right and left. Rather than getting people shouting at each other about the latest headlines, what if we were to talk about the deep issues that underlie our political life? What justice is. What political power is. What the nature of government is. What the nature of individual rights are; what the idea of equality means; what the idea of inherent rights mean. Forget the politics of today. Lets talk together and debate the deeper issues. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Robert A. George writes editorials on education and other policy issues for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously a member of the editorial boards of the New York Daily News and New York Post. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load European Union sanctions on Russian oil are inching closer, with Germany, the blocs biggest economy, saying that it wont oppose an embargo. But what is actually considered Russian oil? Putting restrictions on Russian crude is one thing. Trying to stop the sale of Russian refined products is much more complicated, in part because its not clear what can, or should be, included. For crude, it is (relatively) straightforward. Sanctions should be applied to crude pumped out of oil fields in Russia, from which the government derives revenue in the form of export duties and mineral extraction tax. The one area of uncertainty is CPC Blend crude, which is shipped from a terminal on Russias Black Sea coast close to, but entirely separate from, the countrys main export port in the region at Novorossiysk. The blend contains some molecules of Russian origin, and purchasers have been named and shamed by organizations tracking shipments of Russian crude. Advertisement But the situation isnt that simple. At the export terminal, CPC Blend comprises approximately 90% crude from Kazakhstan and 10% that comes from fields in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea, which are operated by the Russian oil company Lukoil PJSC. While it might be technically feasible for the Russian molecules to be separated prior to export, as the U.S. Treasury initially suggested in its guidance on Russian oil sanctions, this isnt going to happen. The Russian operators of the export terminal arent going to segregate molecules from Russian oil fields just to make it easier for buyers to avoid them. That would appear to make it a candidate for sanctions. But the CPC pipeline carries about 80% of Kazakhstans crude exports, and there are no realistic alternatives for more than a small fraction of that volume. So the choice is clear: Ban CPC exports and cripple the economy of Kazakhstan, while inflicting little pain on Russia. Or, accept that Moscow will continue to export a small amount of crude via the CPC system. Advertisement The U.S. Treasury updated its guidance in mid-March, noting that CPC crude is marketed and loaded with a certificate of origin verifying that the crude is of Kazakh origin and that U.S. persons may reasonably rely upon a certificate of origin. So Russian crude will continue to leak onto the market, just as supplies do now from Iran and Venezuela, with some countries willing to keep buying despite sanctions. Steps could be taken to limit and gradually reduce those flows over time, by granting waivers to buyers who demonstrate that they are reducing their purchases of Russian crude. This was done with considerable success during the Obama-era sanctions on Iranian oil. Yes, there will be some smuggling and blending of Russian crude with other grades in shady ship-to-ship transfers, but no system is going to be perfect. Refined products are even more complicated. Advertisement Fuels produced in Russian refineries are an easy target. The U.S. ban on imports is already hitting Russian refineries that have few other outlets for selling fuel oil and vacuum gasoil and no way to avoid making them. The build-up of unsold product has forced them to cut throughput as they run out of storage space. But what about, for example, diesel fuel produced in an Indian refinery that has started to import Russian crude alongside deliveries from traditional suppliers in the Middle East? How should those refined products be classified? Moscow wont see tax receipts from the diesel sales it has already collected them from the original crude cargo. But if such sales are permitted, theres no economic incentive for Indian refiners to stop buying Russian crude. And their purchases have soared since Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The cost of shipping crude from western Russia to India and China is much greater than making deliveries to Europe, necessitating steep discounts to offset higher shipping costs and many more vessels, with voyages to Asia taking at least four times as long as trips to Europe. Advertisement Oil market dynamics, where diesel fuel is already in short supply and prices have risen to record highs, may make it very difficult to sanction products refined from Russian crude outside of Russia. Maybe thats just something we have to live with, as the screws are tightened on Russias crude flows. Sanctions arent a failure even if they only reduce, rather than halt, Russias oil exports. More From Bloomberg Opinion: The Second Wave of the Russian Oil Shock Is Starting: Javier Blas Russias Coming Struggle for Markets for Its Crude: Julian Lee A Better Way to Sanction Russias Oil: Meghan L. OSullivan This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Julian Lee is an oil strategist for Bloomberg. Previously he worked as a senior analyst at the Centre for Global Energy Studies. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load On Feb. 25, the day before sending out a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. annual shareholder letter that lamented the lack of action at the company in 2021, Warren Buffett got an email from Alleghany Corp. Chief Executive Officer Joseph Brandon. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Brandon is a former CEO of Berkshire subsidiary General Re who took charge at insurer Alleghany last April. The company had just released the first annual report and shareholder letter of his tenure, and he wanted Buffett to take a look. Buffett replied that he would, and also that he would be in New York City, where Alleghany is based, on March 7 (to see The Music Man on Broadway, among other things), and wondered if Brandon might have time to get together. He did, and two weeks after Buffett and Brandon met, Berkshire and Alleghany announced that the former would acquire the latter for $11.6 billion, part of a big-spending February and March for Berkshire that has already insured that Buffett will have no need to apologize for lack of action in 2022. Advertisement The main point of this story, when Buffett recounted it at Berkshires annual meeting on Saturday (except for the bit about The Music Man, which he mentioned in on an earlier interview with Charlie Rose), seemed to be that serendipity plays a really big role in life and in the fortunes of the worlds seventh-most-valuable corporation. If he hadnt sent me the note it would have never occurred to me to write to him, Buffett said, and the acquisition wouldnt have happened. Then again, Buffett also mentioned that hed been following Alleghanys ups and downs for 60 years, and had four filing drawers filled with its annual reports. As he contemplated meeting with its CEO, it hadnt taken him long to develop a clear idea of what the company was worth and what he would pay for it. As Berkshire board member Ron Olson put it on CNBC a little later: Im not sure it was all that accidental myself. This interplay of serendipity and preparedness came up a lot during Saturdays annual meeting in Omaha, the first conducted in person since 2019. With a question-and-answer session that lasted for more than five hours, lots of other things came up too. But as a first-time observer (via streaming) I was struck by how often Buffett and Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger came back to expressing a philosophy of business that I guess can be summed up as: Advertisement Dont plan ahead all that much. Be prepared to act quickly when opportunity presents. The modern history of Berkshire Hathaway, in this telling, has been one of putting one foot in front of the other. Many of those steps including Buffetts 1965 takeover of Berkshire, a struggling Massachusetts textile firm were probably mistakes, but that was OK. Munger: Part of the trick is to correct your own mistakes. Buffett: Weve done better with the mistakes than with the good ideas. Munger: Its so easy to overvalue a good idea. The correcting of the mistake that was Berkshire began with the 1967 acquisition of National Indemnity, an Omaha insurance company that gave Buffett the first float that he could invest in the market. Getting the opportunity to buy it was pure luck, Buffett said Saturday. Its owner would get fed up with regulators once a year or so and decide to sell, only to change his mind. Buffett caught him in one of those moods and pounced. The one thing is you have to be prepared, he said. When opportunity comes, you really do have to just move. Fortunately I operate in an environment where I can do that. That is, if the board set up a committee to review every major acquisition, Berkshire might have missed out on a lot of opportunities. Then came this exchange: Advertisement Munger: The relative absence of bureaucracy at Berkshire has made the company a lot of money. Buffett: We are extraordinarily well positioned to do exactly what we want to do with float. Amid this years market turmoil, that has involved taking big stakes in Chevron Corp., Occidental Petroleum Corp. and HP Inc., as well as buying Alleghany outright and, as Buffett revealed at the meeting on Saturday, adding to Berkshires holdings of Activision Blizzard Inc. in a bet that its announced acquisition by Microsoft Corp. will go through. There could be much more to come: Berkshire still had $103 billion in cash and U.S. Treasury bills on hand as of March 31, down from $144 billion at the end of last year but still well above the $30 billion that Buffett has said is the minimum cash cushion hes comfortable with. Advertisement With Buffett now 91 and Munger 98, this could be the last such big buying flurry of their joint tenure. The gigantic corporation that they have by their own description somewhat haphazardly assembled will trundle on. On Saturday both expressed confidence that Berkshires culture would sustain it for decades to come. But a significant part of that culture has been the ability to make deals quickly and without much board interference. When a shareholder asked if Buffetts anointed successor Greg Abel will have that same freedom to act, the honest-sounding answer was probably not. My guess is the board will put on some more restrictions and require some more consultation than they do with me, Buffett said. They wont need to, but they will feel they have to. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He was the editorial director of Harvard Business Review and wrote for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is the author of The Myth of the Rational Market. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article The days are longer and the weather is warmer, so more of us are spending time outdoors with wildlife. The Blue Ridge Health District reminds you to avoid contact with animals that could be carriers of rabies. Rabies is a deadly disease that affects the nervous system. Caused by a virus that affects warm-blooded animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, fox, coyote, dogs, cats, cattle and humans, rabies is almost always fatal. Humans usually get the disease from the bite of an infected animal, with most of the recent human rabies cases in the United States linked to bats. The rabies virus is mainly present in the saliva and brain of infected animals. It is transmitted through a bite or when infected saliva or brain tissue enters a wound, the mouth, or eyes. It can take weeks for an infected person to show symptoms, but when left untreated, they will usually not survive. The best way to prevent the spread of rabies is to keep pets properly vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination programs and better treatment for those who have been exposed, are the primary reasons rabies cases among humans in this country are rare. If you have been exposed to rabies, seek medical attention immediately, wash the wound with soap and water, and give appropriate first aid treatment. The next steps depend on the circumstances of the exposure, the species of the animal, and whether it was a wild animal or a pet. If a bite is from a domestic animal, that pet must be confined and observed for 10 days. Get the owners name, address, phone number, the description of the animal, location of where the bite occurred, and call police to report the incident to Animal Control. If the bite is from a wild animal, it must be euthanized and the brain tested for rabies. Try to safely trap the animal and do not let it get away. Bats have small, sharp teeth, so it is hard to know if you have been bitten, especially if you wake up to find it flying around in your bedroom. For assistance dealing with wild animals, contact Animal Control or a wildlife removal company. If your pet has been exposed to the bite of a rabid animal, contact your veterinarian immediately. To prevent exposure, keep your pet under supervision and call your local animal control officer to remove stray animals in the neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could expose your family pet to unnecessary risk. To help protect you and your family, follow these recommendations: Do not handle or feed wild animals or unknown dogs and cats. Avoid exposure to bats. Never adopt wild animals or attempt to help sick or injured animals. Call an animal rehabilitation group or, for cats and dogs, your local animal control officer. Vaccinate all family pets. Report bites to your local health department. During holidays and weekends, call (434) 972-6200, Option 8. BRHD is available to answer your questions and provide assistance regarding rabies. We work with Animal Control to investigate reports of animal exposure and are trained to submit animals to the laboratory for analysis, counsel on the confinement of domestic animals, and provide information about human treatment with rabies vaccines. For additional information, visit the Virginia Department of Health website at www.vdh.virginia.gov. Placeholder while article actions load KYIV, Ukraine Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the last section of Mariupol not occupied by the Russians, said he was glad evacuations had begun. Palamar hoped the evacuations from the Azovstal steel mill continue until everyone in the plant, civilians and soldiers, had gotten out. Its been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant, he told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. The Azovstal plant is strewn with mines, rockets, artillery shells and unexploded cluster ordnance, he said. Along with the Azov regiment, Palamar said, the plant is being defended by the 36th Marine Brigade, police officers, border guards, coast guard and more. Some of them guard the territory, some of them prevent attempted attacks, some of them are responsible for a ceasefire, some of them help to clear the rubble under shelling. Advertisement He said the presence of children and civilians makes it harder to fight, and there are many injured people in the plant. Theres not enough water, he said, and the air smells of decomposing bodies. The fighters in the plant will continue to resist until they receive an order not to, Palamar said. The best solution in this situation is our evacuation. Does it make a sense to continue carrying this massacre? he asked. The standoff at the steel plant saved many lives, he believes. Because if we hadnt done this, the front line would be much bigger. The front line would be in another area. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Evacuations underway at steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol Pelosi leads delegation to Kyiv and Poland; vows US support Combat death puts spotlight on Americans fighting in Ukraine Advertisement Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers evacuation Look for the orange vest: Ukrainians in Romania help others Germany vows to stop using Russian oil exports by late summer Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: An explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday in the Kursk region of Russia, which borders Ukraine, and a criminal investigation has been started. The regions government reported the blast in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. Advertisement The explosion Sunday caused a partial collapse of the bridge near the village of Konopelka, on the Sudzha-Sosnovy Bor railway, the report from Kursk said. It was a sabotage, a criminal case has been opened, said the regions governor, Roman Starovoit, according to TASS. He said there were no casualties, and no effect on the movement of trains. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Four civilians were reported killed and 11 more were injured by Russian shelling in the Donetsk region on Sunday, the Ukrainian regional governor said that evening. The deaths and seven of the injuries were in the northern city of Lyman, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. One person also died in the city of Bakhmut from injuries received in the Luhansk region, he said. In the same post, Kyrylenko said that it was impossible to determine the number of victims in the bombed-out port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha, which is controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists. Advertisement ___ LVIV, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, citing strikes against non-military targets on Sunday. Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. The targets they choose prove once again that the war against Ukraine is a war of extermination for the Russian army, he said. He said Russia will gain nothing from the damage but will further isolate itself from the rest of the world. What could be Russias strategic success in this war? Zelenskyy said. Honestly, I do not know. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukraines president is describing his hourslong weekend meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv as a powerful signal of support in a difficult time. Advertisement In a televised address on Sunday evening, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his meeting with Pelosi included discussions of defense supplies to Ukraine, financial support and sanctions against Russia. Pelosi and a half dozen U.S. lawmakers met with Zelenskyy and his top aides for about three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Zelenskyy says Ukrainians are grateful to all partners who send such important and powerful signals of support by visiting our capital at such a difficult time. Additionally, Zelenskyy estimated that more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-arranged with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine in late February. Many civilians were evacuated Sunday from at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. Advertisement ___ KYIV, Ukraine A Ukrainian military officer says that Russian forces have resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the war-torn port city Mariupol immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said Sunday in a televised interview that the shelling began as soon as rescue crews ceased evacuating civilians at the Azovstal steel mill. Shlega says that at least one more round of evacuations is needed to clear civilians from the plant. He says dozens of small children remain in bunkers below the industrial facilities. The commander estimates that several hundred civilians still are trapped at the site alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. Advertisement A video published earlier on Sunday by the Russian defense ministry showed people walking out of the steel plant, including a small group of women accompanied by two pet dogs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Sundays evacuations from Mariupol marked the initiation of a vitally need humanitarian corridor. ___ BERLIN Germany says its making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of crude oil imports from Russia by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europes largest economy has reduced its share of Russian energy imports to 12% for oil, 8% for coal and 35% for natural gas. Habeck says those steps mean increased costs for the economy and for consumers. But he says the changes are necessary if Germany no longer wants to be blackmailed by Russia. Advertisement The announcement comes as the European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil. The bloc has already decided to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. Weaning German off Russian natural gas is a far bigger challenge. Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany got more than half of its natural gas imports from Russia. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The city council in the bombed-out southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol says Monday is the scheduled start date for a broad, U.N.-backed evacuation of its civilians, other than those sheltering at a steel plant. The city council also confirmed Sunday in a social media post on Telegram that some civilians were being evacuated Sunday from the Azovstal steelworks that is the last Ukrainian defense stronghold in Mariupol. City officials note the support of the Red Cross and say the wider evacuation of the strategic port city was delayed by security concerns. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The Ukrainian army says that a Russian offensive along a broad front in the countrys east has been stalling amid human and material losses inflicted by Kyivs forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Sunday in a Facebook post that Russian troops were trying to advance in the Sloboda, Donetsk and Tauride regions, but were being held back by Ukrainian forces that continue to fight village by village. Separately, Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of destroying medical infrastructure, taking equipment and denying medical care to residents in several occupied cities and towns. In a Facebook post Sunday, Ukraines Ministry of Defense claims that ventilators and other equipment provided since 2014 by international donors and the government of Ukraine were removed from a hospital at Starobilsk in Ukraines eastern Luhansk region. The same post alleges that tuberculosis patients were denied medical care in the Kharkiv region at Volchansk while several facilities were used to treat wounded Russian troops. The accuracy of the claims could not be immediately verified. Ukrainian officials also said Sunday that internet and cellular communications were cut in a large area in the Russian-occupied Kherson region and part of the Zaporizhzhia region and blamed Russian forces. The London-based internet monitor Netblocks said the Kherson region lost 75% of internet connectivity beginning Saturday evening. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that an evacuation is underway of civilians at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday that a group of 100 people are on their way from Azovstal steelworks to Ukrainian-controlled territory. He indicated that plans are underway for a Monday rendezvous with the evacuees at the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia that has previously been a staging post for those fleeing Mariupol. Zaporizhzhia is located about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from Mariupol. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ DUSSELDORF, Germany German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to continue to support Ukraine with money, aid and also weapons, saying a pacifist approach to the war is outdated. Speaking at a May Day rally in Dusseldorf, Scholz said: I respect all pacifism, I respect all attitudes, but it must seem cynical to a citizen of Ukraine to be told to defend himself against Putins aggression without weapons. The German leader also warned that the war would have consequences for food supply, potentially leading to a worldwide hunger crisis. Soaring food prices and disruption to supplies coming from Russia and Ukraine have threatened food shortages in countries in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia. ___ ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine The United Nations has confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is underway. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the sprawling Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. ___ BERLIN German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has brushed aside criticism that his government is not doing enough to help Ukraine defend itself against Russias invasion. Even though Germany reversed its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, Scholz has been accused at home and abroad of being hesitant and slow in coming to Ukraines aid. In an interview published Sunday by newspaper Bild, the Social Democratic leader defended his governments approach. I make my decisions quickly and in coordination with our partners, Scholz was quoted as saying. I am suspicious of acting too hastily and Germany going it alone. Germany broke with tradition after Russias invasion on Feb. 24 to supply anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Ukraine. It has since agreed to provide Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Scholz has faced mounting pressure to send other heavy weapons including tanks and other armored vehicles. Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor late last year, said he wasnt bothered by opposition claims that hes too hesitant and timid. It is part of a democracy that you are robustly challenged by the opposition, he said. ___ VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has appealed again for a safe evacuation of Ukrainians trapped in the steel plant of Mariupol, saying he weeps thinking of their suffering and how their city has been barbarously bombed and destroyed. Speaking Sunday during his traditional noontime prayer, Francis urged all the faithful to pray the Rosary every day in May for peace. He noted that May 1 begins the month Christians dedicate to Mary, the mother of God and for whom Mariupol is named. He said: Even now, even from here, I renew the request that safe humanitarian corridors be arranged for the people trapped in the steelworks of that city. I suffer and cry thinking of the suffering of the Ukrainian population, especially the weakest, the elderly and children. He noted the terrible reports of children being expelled and deported and the terrible regression of humanity. ___ WARSAW, Poland Polands armed forces said Sunday that military exercises involving thousands of NATO soldiers have begun. They are regular exercises aimed at improving the security of the alliances eastern flank but come this year with Russias war against Ukraine raging nearby. Due to those circumstances, Polands military appealed to the public on Sunday not to publish information or photos of the columns of military vehicles expected to move through the country in the coming weeks. It warned that ill-considered activity could harm the alliances security. Lets be aware of the dangers! the statement said. The Polish Army said in a statement that 18,000 soldiers from over 20 countries were taking part in the Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises that are taking place in Poland and eight other countries. The exercises are scheduled to run May 1-27. ___ RZESZOW, Poland U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and vowed continued U.S. support to help Ukraine defeat Russia after leading a congressional delegation to Kyiv to assess Ukraines needs for the next phase of the war. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is next in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. She and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses so far and offering continued long-term military, humanitarian and economic support, vowing the United States would stand with Ukraine until it defeated Russia. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. He said: We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Pelosi said she was dazzled by Zelenskyys expertise of all the issues at hand and described him at their meeting as a remarkable master class of leadership. ___ LONDON Russian cyber soldiers have launched a new offensive against foreign leaders, targeting social media platforms with a large-scale disinformation campaign that seeks to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine, according to research funded by the U.K. Paid operatives working from a factory in St. Petersburg use the Telegram messaging app to recruit and coordinate supporters who then flood the social media accounts of Kremlin critics with comments supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, the U.K. Foreign Office said Sunday. The so-called troll factory has developed new techniques to avoid detection by social media platforms, posting comments and amplifying pro-Kremlin content created by legitimate users rather than creating its own content, the Foreign Office said. Traces of its activity have been found on eight social media platforms, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The operation has targeted politicians and wider audiences in a number of countries, including the U.K., South Africa and India, the Foreign Office said. It is believed to have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and Britain for financing the Kremlins online influence operations. We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putins illegal war, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in the statement. The U.K. government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to oil depots just across the Ukrainian border in Russia after suspected Ukrainian attacks. The photos from Saturday show damage at two sites in Bryansk. The blasts damaged multiple tanks, leaving the surrounding grounds charred. The explosions happened Monday. One hit an oil depot owned by Transneft-Druzhba, a subsidiary of the Russian state-controlled company Transneft that operates the western-bound Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline carrying crude oil to Europe. The second facility is a short distance from the other. Bryansk is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the border with Ukraine. ___ KYIV, Ukraine U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has met with Ukraines president. Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a Congressional delegation. Those with Pelosi included Reps. Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff. Zelenskyy told the delegation: You all are welcome. Pelosi later said: We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. The visit was not previously announced. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant that is the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol, a Ukrainian official and Russian state news organizations said. But hundreds are believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. The United Nations was working to broker an evacuation of the up to 1,000 civilians living beneath the sprawling Soviet-era Azovstal plant after numerous previous attempts failed. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city. U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Saviano Abreu said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but he could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation. ___ LVIV, Ukraine U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says American diplomats are making plans to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. Blinken made the comment while speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. An overnight statement Sunday said Blinken told Kuleba that America plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. He said diplomats had been making initial visits to Lviv to prepare. The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Kyiv in February just before Russia launched its war on the country. The U.S. had been bringing diplomats across the Polish border each day to work in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, before stopping the practice. Lviv has largely been spared in the conflict, though a missile strike several days ago targeted a railroad facility near the city. The U.S. is one of Ukraines main backers in the war, providing billions in aid and weaponry. GiftOutline Gift Article Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Danie Mellor grew up with images of his forebears around him. They were taken in the early 20th century by Queensland photographer Alfred Atkinson and had a significant effect on him: Mellor wondered not only about the lives of the people in the images, but about the underlying meanings of archival photography. Who was it for, what was its purpose and how do we view it today? The people in those photos were from north Queensland. There, on his mothers side, can be found his Indigenous heritage, with his grandmother and great-grandmother descended from the Mamu and Ngagen people. That region, south of Cairns, is special to Mellor, and when walking through its rainforests, he perceives more than the seething vegetation, animal sounds and the dripping atmosphere: he sees a layering of stories and people, where the visible and invisible entwine. Danie Mellor with works from his latest exhibition. Credit:Simon Schluter Mellor has in recent years used infra-red photography in his art, capturing a spectrum the human eye cannot see. His long-term research examines, among other things, the idea of hidden histories and the meanings conveyed by archival photography. Subtly and exquisitely, his work presents a sort of metaphysical archaeology. His latest exhibition, Redux, includes an intriguing series of tiered shelves holding what at first seems to be an eclectic array of historic imagery. There are trees, people, ceremonies, landscapes. Danie Mellor, Redux, 2022. Photographic print on mirror polished stainless steel. Credit:Courtesy Tolarno Galleries and the artist. Gaze at these seemingly disparate pictures his own and archival and connections start to fire up like so many synapses: Indigenous displacement, colonial legacies, ecological destruction and the usurping of land jostle into each other. Likewise, the larger-scale works many printed on metallic photographic surfaces reveal powerful, linking threads the longer they are contemplated. Danie Mellor, Perpetual (ngaray), 2022. Photographic print on mirror polished stainless steel. Credit:Courtesy Tolarno Galleries and the artist. Advertisement Mellor is used to connecting seemingly divergent things: his childhood was spent in many places around Australia and abroad, and his family history stretches in many directions on both sides. On the paternal side, Mellors grandparents were sugarcane farmers in Mackay; his great-grandfather migrated here from California and was a gifted horseman known as Bronco George (or The Arkansas Kid when he was riding in Buffalo Bill Codys Wild West show in the US). On his mothers side, the Atkinson images informed part of Mellors early career research and PhD, and, along with other archives, are a foundation for his current focus. I recall seeing these images from our family archive at a young age and beginning to understand a sense of temporal depth to human life that stretches beyond the experience we have of our own selves, Mellor says. I didnt have words to conceptualise that at the time, but felt it was somehow important, particularly as my great-grandmother was alive into my teenage years, and I was able to hold and look at portraits of her and several generations of our family taken by Atkinson. Danie Mellor, The dream stealer, 2022. Photographic print on mirror finish aluminium. Credit:Courtesy Tolarno Galleries and the artist. Loading Mellor, who has served on the Australia Council for the Arts, and as a senior lecturer at the Sydney College of the Arts, has won many prestigious prizes, and has work in most major Australian collections. He has always kept a tight focus on his work and research, which has included travelling around parts of northern Queensland with Indigenous elders, and hearing of various sites and stories of the ancestors. Mellors images often show a landscape augmented with infra-red, and layered with other historic and cultural references. A simple nature scene a bend in the river at the Tully Gorge, for example might incorporate references to an Indigenous creation story, a tourist stopping for a quick snapshot, or a colonial explorer bent on discovery. Advertisement Mellor says that of the many places he spent time in when he was younger, Sutton Grange (near Bendigo) and Stirling (Scotland), seem to have influenced him in particular, alongside the tropical environments of northern Queensland. I was particularly captivated by the feeling of arriving in a world of heat and swirling humidity when travelling from where we lived for a few years in Sutton Grange on visits back to Queensland, he says. I remember each time when getting off the plane, having travelled north, there was a sense of returning to something very familiar in a deep sort of way. Danie Mellor, Constellations, 2022. Photographic print on milled aluminium. Credit:Courtesy Tolarno Galleries and the artist. Landscape is a tricky concept: the word has long been challenged by scholars and artists, for it implicitly suggests that we humans are separate from nature as we look at the landscape. In his monumental reverie, Landscape and Memory (1996), British historian Simon Schama traces the words origins to the 16th century Dutch term, landschap, which meant a unit of human occupation that might also be a pleasing object of depiction. This contrasts with the Australian Indigenous understanding of Country, which incorporates complex unifying relationships between nature, family and ancestors. Loading My earliest memories of landscape have marked contrasts, from the snow and the melodies of fast-flowing burns in Stirling, against a backdrop of the castle, to the extraordinary granite country of the landscape around Mount Alexander/Lanjanuc, where we lived for a few years, Mellor says. Our house was close by the mountain and I recall the profound, if gentle, impact of seeing it every day and driving over its lower slopes to school in the morning and home in the afternoons. But what seems to have embedded itself the most, he says, is the sensual nature of tropical regions. They are places I can revisit internally or through travel, much like an oasis or well. Mellor says Redux continues his long-range research into a sense of place and history, but also acknowledges how significant those spaces are ecologically, and how they have been affected often disastrously since colonial times. The show also reveals how colonial photography was used to shape the perception of the ownership of land and the environment. Advertisement In the latest instalment of Black Incs Growing Up series, memoir, character portrait and childhood reminiscence feature prominently. The past, though, is the anthologys main character. Often the country is narrated as a place of growing up of transit, rather than of permanence. The land is never quite present; it exists largely in the rear-view. As Samantha Leung observes, Geraldton was a place where you got stuck, and I, for one, couldnt wait to leave. Promoting the book, Black Inc. has referred to the contributors wide range of backgrounds, noting that this includes First Nations and new migrants. Its not clear why these two categories should be placed together or referred to almost as a parenthetical aside, but it does speak to some of the ways the Growing Up series is framed. Its premise, which focuses on marginal identities, is based on the concept of celebrating own voices. Notwithstanding that such voices are always having to explain themselves anyway we can be confident there will never be a growing up white and middle-class in Australia it reinstates, on some level, the idea that Australia, and Australian writing, is white. According to this view, First Nations and new migrants a term which recalls the critical interventions of authors like Ania Walwicz, Sneja Gunew and many more exist mostly as a kind of ponderous side-hustle. Growing up in Country Australia. Edited by Rick Morton. Credit: As Tom Plevey writes, pace this view, The Chinese side of my family has been kicking around this wide, brown, occasionally on-fire land in some fashion for decades. Plevey is not a lone voice here; many contributors, with insight and skill, interrogate taken-for-granted ideas about race and class, unwilling to assume the neutrality or straightforwardness of ideas like country.Australia is all country, each square metre belonging to particular languages, cultures, histories. The idea of country which this anthology refers to recalls Raymond Williams seminal study, The Country and the City, in which Williams explored how England conceived of its urban areas as existing separately from the regions. Contributor Angus Thompson, adopting the sort of imagery Williams analysed, describes the country as a place of songbirds and earthy palettes far away from the urban cacophony. This view of country as demarcated and separate, if not wholly inscrutable, runs counter to that of First Nations, something Melinda Mann touches upon when she remarks, many barely acknowledge whose lands the towns are built on. Loading What does it mean, then, to live in a continent where colonial amnesia and white supremacy condition the work of nation-building? The idea of the country as a place of explicit apartheid and racism recurs frequently throughout the collection: arriving in Geraldton, Samantha Leung notes that Almost everyone in my year was white and, for the first time, I noticed. Bridie Jabour tells the anecdote of her Lebanese grandfather buying wine for a Bundjalung man banned from the main bar of Graftons Post Office Hotel, recalling the local mans memory of the camaraderie they shared. There are also those contributions, like Lech Blaines and Michael Winklers whose contribution Bob is written with great empathy which seek to explore the interventions of death, loss and bullying that can occur in remote areas. Some writers, on the other hand Plevey among them remember experiencing othering and marginalisation only after leaving the country. CRITICS VIEW: TRIBAL NITV, Thursday 8.30pm & SBS On Demand The second season of this Canadian First Nations police drama picked up from season ones cliffhanger and continues its unique storytelling drawing on real-life crimes and events. It was created by Ron E Scott (who also writes and directs), a member of the Metis Nation in Canada whose previous series Blackstone focused on Indigenous life on a fictional reserve, and who wrote Tribal as a way of exploring the polarisation between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures; Scott himself is of mixed heritage. Brian Markinson and Jessica Matten in Tribal. Rather than the kinds of sensationalised crimes that often feature in cop procedurals, Scott wanted to keep the crimes grounded in real issues affecting Indigenous Canadians, telling the stories through an Indigenous perspective. Season one opened with the mismatched cops partnered together trope, but its not your standard unlikely pairing. After the local Justice department takes over control of the tribal police of the Nehiyawak First Nation (which previously oversaw only the local native reserves on the outskirts of the city), officer Sam Woodburn (Jessica Matten) is appointed as the tribal polices interim chief; her predecessor, Daniel Crowchild (Julian Black Antelope), has been suspended amid allegations of corruption. In a bid to integrate the local and tribal police, shes partnered with old-school detective Chuck Bukansky (Brian Markinson, most recently seen in Fargo), a veteran of the metro polices major crimes detective unit, decorated for bravery, and recovering from a traumatic shooting incident. Bukansky is also sexist, racist and decidedly unhappy with the new extension of the tribal police forces powers. Their partnership in which Woodburn is technically Bukanskys boss and the integration of the tribal police into the metro force might be just a cynical political move (Bukansky sees her as a token appointment to put a younger, prettier face at the head of a force accused of corruption), but Woodburn takes the job seriously and, eventually, Buke is forced to as well, especially once it comes to light theres corruption within the metro force. The crimes investigated in season 2 of Tribal are increasingly serious. The crimes they investigate echo real cases, among them violence at pipeline protests, murdered former gang members, healing lodges (correctional institutions designed specifically for Indigenous inmates), poaching and missing and murdered Indigenous women, culminating with the mass grave of Indigenous bodies that Buke discovered at the end of season one, which becomes an over-arching storyline this season. Other crimes in this second season are equally shocking, particularly one focused on starlight tours, based on real-life events between the 1970s and the early 2000s in which police officers would arrest Indigenous men, drive them to deserted rural areas in winter, and abandon them, often leading to the mens deaths from hypothermia. Alongside such confronting crimes, this season evolves into more character-led drama as well; we learn more of Bukes backstory, and of Woodburns struggle to deal with her two identities. Loading Filmed in and around Calgary and on the Tsuutina Nation (although the city in which the series is set is never explicitly named), Tribal isnt the most slickly produced series and is occasionally victim to some leaden dialogue and tired tropes (its hard to find a crime procedural that isnt, lets face it) but Scotts portrayal of Indigenous people is nuanced: Woodburn, for example, is of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry and doesnt come from a dysfunctional background. Shes from a well-off family, her father was a judge and she lives in a cool loft apartment with her lawyer boyfriend. Most Australians my age who were lucky enough to be able to afford overseas travel left to live in London in the 1980s and 90s. We went for a year and usually stayed for two. Some overstayed their working holiday visas up to 10 years, some married Brits and some simply never came back. We were not just journalists seeking Fleet Street experience - which back then held more cachet than time in the Canberra press gallery - but teachers, tradies, bankers, doctors and nurses, all lured by the prospect of earning powerful British pounds we usually spent on weekends abroad in Europe. For all those Aussies who spent a White Christmas in Britain: Helen Pitt and friends celebrate Christmas in Britain in 1990. Credit:Jim Hope What bonds us all, other than photo albums full of happy snaps at Buck Palace and London Bridge, and a heart full of happy memories of cold Christmases spent in council flats where we lived eight to a two-bedroom unit, is that none of us have been able to donate blood anywhere in the world. Until last Thursday, when the Therapeutic Goods Administration gave the green light for Red Cross Lifeblood to receive blood from my cohort. The medical regulator made the change, based on medical advice from Australian Red Cross blood donation arm, Lifeblood, in the hope it could lead to tens of thousands of additional donations. Senator Amanda Stoker, the federal governments assistant minister for women, promoted her stand against abortions to around 1000 people at a pro-life rally in Brisbane on Saturday. It really does baffle me why there are some people who have questioned whether it is appropriate for a person like me to serve as assistant minister for women because I am pro-life, Stoker said. They suggest there is some sort of conflict between those two roles. Senator Amanda Stoker, the LNPs pro-life assistant minister for women. Credit:Tony Moore But in my mind, there is absolutely no conflict possible between supporting women and supporting the most vulnerable people in our community. Stoker said it was clear that some women faced conflicts in their pregnancies and were forced to terminate them. Those target seats for the Coalition include Gilmore and Parramatta in NSW, McEwen in Victoria and even Blair in Queensland, where Labor began the campaign hoping to win three or four seats. Strategists on both sides now believe its possible no seats will change hands in Queensland. Sources close to the treasurer insisted he is not taking his seat for granted but conceded Morrisons personal standing was toxic with inner urban voters and that it could come down to 500 votes, with a very real chance the man often touted as the next leader of the Liberals could lose his seat. Labors Catherine Renshaw, Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman and Independent Kylie Tink at the North Sydney debate. Credit:Richard Dobson If Frydenbergs primary vote were to fall below 46 or 47 per cent, Liberals believe, it will be difficult for the Treasurer to retain the seat on preference flows. Frydenberg said the Kooyong contest would be tight and every vote will count. I am up against a former long-standing member of the Labor Party in Monique Ryan who is asking people for their vote but is not prepared to tell them how she will vote in a hung parliament a hung parliament which will bring uncertainty and instability. Voters in Kooyong were confronted on Sunday with a bust of the prime minister made of coal perched outside the treasurers electorate office as part of a stunt by the left-wing lobby group GetUp. Those The Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald spoke to had mixed views about how they would vote. Retiree Jeanette Botham, 72, is a long-suffering Labor voter who has lived in the area for 50 years and plans to allocate her preferences to the independent in the hope that she can unseat Frydenberg. Labor has never held the seat and the party won fewer primary votes at the last election than the Greens, who had a star candidate in Julian Burnside. Its been frustrating for years being a Labor supporter, she said. I dont know whether [Ryans] going to win, but I think its good that someone is pushing him, put it that way, Botham said. She nominated climate change, cost of living and funding for public schools as the important policy issues for her: The amount of private schools around here, she said. We could do with a bit [more] for public education. Standing at Camberwell Junction, underneath competing billboards for both candidates, Botham said she thought locals were tired of Frydenberg. I dont know what he offers, I dont know what the Liberal Party offers under Morrison, to be perfectly honest, she said. This gives people a chance to maybe rethink it [voting Liberal]. Liberal voter Russell OConnell, 61, a business owner who lives in Balwyn, believes Frydenberg is being challenged by a group of independents who will back Labor if they have the balance of power. Kooyong voters would not be happy about that, he said, and should know Ryans intentions before polling day. A lot of the people that she appeals to, which are probably females that are similar to her in looks and demographic, think that shes a great lady, he said. But actually you do realise that if you vote for her, you vote for Labor. If you said that to them, they would say, Oh no, no we dont [vote that way]. OConnell said Frydenberg should be returned to parliament because he understands the community and business. Were not fooled by the fact that she [Ryan] has got billboards everywhere, he said. Fellow businessman Simon Holmes, 45, said that he had always voted Liberal but was disappointed by Australian politics as a whole. I dont think we have any strong leaders, he said. I do feel there is a strong move to the independents. Holmes said the last thing he wanted to see was a hung parliament, preferring one of the major parties to win convincingly. In North Sydney, Liberal Trent Zimmerman is considered the most at-risk of the MPs facing a challenge from the teal independents. Zimmerman has a margin of 9.3 per cent but is in a three-cornered contest with independent Kylea Tink and Labors Catherine Renshaw. Loading One senior NSW MP, who asked not to be named so they could discuss internal deliberations, said: Trent is the one we are most worried about in New South Wales [against teal candidates] but our biggest problem is Reid. One member of cabinet said its entirely possible we will win suburban seats, lose Kooyong and North Sydney and end up on 76 seats [the minimum required for majority government] . In Wentworth, which Dave Sharma won with a 1.3 per cent margin over Kerryn Phelps in 2019, the incumbent now faces high-profile businesswoman Allegra Spender. Though the margin is much tighter on paper, the Liberals are more confident of retaining the seat compared to North Sydney or Kooyong. As one MP who has campaigned in the seat said, the aggro isnt directed at the Liberal Party, its directed against Morrison. And in Goldstein, which covers some of bayside Melbourne, Tim Wilson is thought to be the safest of the quartet from the challenge presented by former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel. A Victorian MP familiar with the campaign on the ground said that Tim is under serious pressure and that the seat was home to voters in the post-material intellectual class who dont care about the economy, its all about climate. However, the MP said controversy over anti-Israel comments made by members of Daniels campaign team had ensured the Jewish community in the seat, which represents about 7 per cent of the seats population, had swung behind Wilson. Meanwhile, in Labor ranks there was fury on Saturday over campaign headquarters decision to release the Robodebt royal commission policy late on Friday night, after newspaper deadlines. Several Labor MPs said it was a missed opportunity for the opposition to set the news agenda on Saturday. I cant believe they left it so late, one Labor MP said. Loading A similar decision not to release the partys veterans policy to newspapers first a week previously a decades-old practice had also infuriated MPs and left them questioning the competence of staff in the campaign media team. This says a lot about our internal disorganisation, that its a problem, another Labor MP said, adding that it should have made a much bigger splash on the day before Anzac Day. At best, elections are unique opportunities to focus the national attention on pressing issues, and forge a consensus to address those issues. At worst, well, I think we might be looking at it. For years during this countrys ignominious climate wars we talked about how hamstrung Labor was on climate issues. The wisdom was that Labor was unable to move left and promise real action without upsetting its traditional, blue-collar voter base, particularly those in coal seats. But it was also unable to move right to match the Coalition, for fear of losing all credibility with its urban, middle-class professional voters. Anthony Albanese plays with his dog, Toto, in Marrickville on Friday. Credit:Steven Siewert In fact, it is the electorate that has moved on this issue, amid flood, fire and international condemnation of Australias climate position. And its the Coalition that has been wedged. Prime Minister Scott Morrison achieved a hard-fought Coalition detente on climate issues last year, when he got the recalcitrant Nationals over the line to support a very average and now-outdated emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050. It cost taxpayers big $14 billion in regional funding, handed over in a nakedly transactional way. That was supposed to have settled the issue. Loading He didnt lose any time in reaching out to people, with an approachable, straightforward and honest manner as well as an attitude towards just getting things done, Javid says. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the minister closest to Brandis, says he has been a hugely consequential ambassador. Brandis term has not been without controversy but he recalls one of Whitehalls most senior bureaucrats observing that to make a government policy popular in Britain, all we have to do is prefix something with the words Australia-style and everyone thinks its a good idea. Australias tough China stance has also not gone unnoticed. Jacob Rees-Mogg said to me quite recently: The most important thing Australia has done for the United Kingdom is not the FTA, its not AUKUS, its that you have awakened us to the China threat and more than any other country in the world you were the ones who did it, Brandis says. But Australia owes Britain, too. The FTA is now signed, AUKUS is done, the relationship between Australia and the UK has not been better ... This is a terrific time to turn the page, Brandis says. Credit:Liliana Zaharia When Prime Minister Scott Morrison put out the call to Australias diplomats to source Pfizer vaccines that could be loaned to Australia, just three countries responded: Singapore, Poland and Britain. Javid remembers taking the first request during a phone call in August 2021. Its a big thing to trust another country with something so precious, especially at that time, he recalls. But the British knew just how much Australians needed the mRNA vaccines. Morrison was under relentless pressure to speed up Australias sluggish rollout the only end to the lockdowns and border closures that had dominated Australias pandemic response. Europe had blocked export of AstraZeneca supplies at a time when the doses being made in Melbourne were not yet ready. While the vaccine, developed at Oxford University, later fell out of favour over blood-clotting fears, at the time it was considered the workhorse of Australias vaccine rollout. Javid and his adviser, Samuel Coates, who worked in Australia for the Liberals on the 2013 campaign, asked their vaccine taskforce how many doses Britain could manage to supply. The answer was about 4 million. It would be the largest recorded vaccine swap between countries. Thanks to George and his personal involvement, I dont think it could have gone any faster. It was a success because of his personal involvement, Javid says. Brandis believes much of his success lies with his ability to communicate with former cabinet colleagues in Australia and new friends in Westminster. But he wasnt always this sure. Early in his term, while watching a debate at the Commons, he was alarmed to hear a Labour frontbencher misrepresenting Australias position on trade. He texted Australias then trade minister Simon Birmingham and advised him to message his British counterpart Liam Fox. From his seat in the gallery, Brandis caught Foxs eye and gestured that he check his phone. Fox swiftly rebuffed his opponent and corrected the record in the House about Australias true position. Brandis sought the counsel of John Dauth, a professional diplomat. Assured by Dauth that the Commons texting intervention was exactly what he should be doing to stand up for Australias interests, Brandis confidence grew. From that moment on, I began to appreciate just how much better the outcomes I could get for Australia, of which the vaccine swap deal is probably the best example, by being unabashed about having been a senior politician, he says. There are certain things that somebody whos been a senior cabinet minister can do that a professional diplomat wouldnt dream of doing like deal with political leaders and cabinet ministers in the host country in a very direct political way. His original mission when sent to London was to secure Australia a free-trade agreement. As the British system suffered its political heart attack as it tried to execute Brexit, Brandis quietly spent the best part of 2020 making friends with cabinet rising star Liz Truss, who had just been appointed trade secretary. Britains Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Brandis discuss the Australia-UK security relationship on their flight to Sydney for AUKMIN talks. She became a regular visitor to the High Commissioners official residence, Stoke Lodge, attending working breakfasts and weekend croquet matches on the lawns, sometimes even staying on after dinner for a spontaneous karaoke session usually to ABBAs Dancing Queen or Waterloo. They say that the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, our FTA was clinched on the croquet lawns of Stoke Lodge, Brandis boasts. But their friendship did not guarantee a deal. Brandis faced enormous hostility from Tory backbenchers and the British farming union, who insisted the trade deal had sold them out. He ended up calling every single Tory backbench MP, and spent a week in Wales talking to farmers. I drew upon every lesson Id ever learned as a practising politician to run a political campaign to sell the FTA to sceptical Tories, Brandis says. George Brandis handwritten note showing the quotas agreed for Australian sheep and beef producers as agreed by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the UKs Boris Johnson at Downing Street. At times, Brandis had to go head-to-head against the British civil service and pit his own political insight against theirs. This came to a head when Brandis learned the British government was being advised to publicly hector Morrison on climate change with the goal of forcing Australia to sign up to a net-zero carbon pledge in time for the Glasgow climate summit. Brandis knew Morrison was working on the party room, and that trying to shame the government internationally would derail the backroom gains he was making. Brandis spoke to the Lords Minister for the Environment, Zac Goldsmith. I said: Who are you going to trust to interpret politics of the government party room to you? Just trust me Morrison will sort this. Morrison soon announced a net-zero target in time for COP26. At 64, Brandis is coy about whether his future holds any further public service. He ends his diplomatic career 22 years to the day after being selected by the LNP to fill a Senate casual vacancy and says he goes out on a high. The FTA is now signed, AUKUS is done, the relationship between Australia and the UK has not been better in anyones memory. This is a terrific time to turn the page, he says. My phone lights up at 10.39pm with the message I have been waiting for: This is your location pin to meet the president please be punctual. It is like something out of a Hollywood thriller, and ironically, we are on our way to meet a man whod spent most of his working life as an actor. But the days of vaudeville are long gone for Volodymyr Zelensky now the leading man for Ukraine in its hour of need. Russian President Vladimir Putin is clearly rattled by his adversary there have already been 10 foiled assassination attempts on Zelensky. Washington: The White House press corps annual gala returned along with the roasting of Washington, the journalists who cover it and the man at the helm: President Joe Biden. The White House Correspondents Association dinner, sidelined by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, featured Biden as the first president in six years to accept an invitation. Donald Trump shunned the event while in office. Joe Biden: Im really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have. Credit:Bloomberg Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year, Biden told an audience of 2600, among them journalists, government officials and celebrities. Now that would really have been a real coup. The president took the opportunity to test out his comedic chops, making light of the criticism he has faced in his 18 months in office while taking aim at his predecessor, the Republican Party and the members of the press. A bronze plaque to honor of Reuben Shipley was placed at Mount Union Cemetery on Saturday, April 30. Shipley was a slave who guided a Missouri family across the Oregon Trail in 1853. In exchange, he was given his freedom by his then-owner. Shipley settled near Corvallis and went on to amass the largest farm holding in the Willamette Valley by a Black man at the time of the Civil War. An operation to evacuate civilians from a steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is under way. The effort to bring civilians out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done Sunday with the International Committee of the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first group of about 100 people was headed to Ukrainian-controlled territory. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraines president to show unflinching American support for the countrys defense against Russias invasion. Later Sunday, one of the defenders of the steel plant said Russian forces resumed their shelling of the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed on Sunday. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. We run down the hottest new reviews of the week in this first episode of a new series! This week the two shows on the cards are the UK premiere of Prima Facie, starring Jodie Comer, as well as Jerusalem, starring Mark Rylance, which makes its return to the West End after a blistering original release. LOS ANGELES (AP) Being homeless in Los Angeles and struggling with addiction is hard enough, but Rachel Niebur couldn't imagine enduring it without her dog Petey. Ro Mantooth walks with his dog Champ, left, with his friend, Petey, at the nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless, in the Venice section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. It was the first facility of its kind in Los Angeles County to allow homeless shelter residents to bring animal companions. In addition to Petey and Champ, there are eight other dogs and one cat at the Venice PATH shelter. Mantooth calls Champ "the mascot" of the shelter. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) LOS ANGELES (AP) Being homeless in Los Angeles and struggling with addiction is hard enough, but Rachel Niebur couldn't imagine enduring it without her dog Petey. Niebur credits her constant companion, an energetic black and white chihuahua mix, with helping her keep off drugs and giving her a reason to get up in the morning. She needs me. She gives me my focus. I have to feed her. I have to walk her. It's a real relationship, said Niebur, before following Petey to the small, fenced-in dog park on the grounds of the shelter in the Venice neighborhood where the inseparable pair have lived for about two years. Traditional homeless shelters have long been off limits to pets, leaving animal owners who want to get off the streets with a difficult choice. But as homelessness surges across the U.S., those working toward a solution are increasingly recognizing the importance pets have for vulnerable populations and are looking for ways to keep owners and pets together. When given the choice between getting shelter or giving up their pet, unhoused people will almost always choose to remain on the streets, said Tim Huxford, the associate director of the Venice facility now home Niebur and Petey. So we always want to reduce the amount of barriers that we have for people in bringing them off the street, he said. We realize that pets are like family to people. The Venice shelter operated by the nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless, or PATH, was the first of its kind in Los Angeles County to allow residents to bring animal companions, Huxford said. Thanks to a state grant, PATH has a budget for food, crates, toys and veterinary services under an initiative called the Pet Assistance and Support program. In 2019, the pilot program provided $5 million to nonprofits and local jurisdictions, and that amount was doubled the following year. Now pending legislation would make the grant program permanent, while expanding it across the state. State Sen. Robert Hertzberg, who wrote the bill that would expand the program, estimates that about 10% of homeless Californians have pets. And the reason many shelters don't accept animals is simply because they don't have resources to care for them, said Hertzberg, a dog owner. He called pets our comfort and cited research that found animals provide companionship and a sense of purpose to people who dont have housing. The Democrat from Los Angeles said it's just raging common sense to give nonprofits and other caregivers the budgets they need to feed and house pets, especially considering how much California already allocates to address the statewide homelessness crisis. We're spending a billion dollars over here to get people off the street; why can't we spend a few dollars over there to put together veterinary services and dog food and crates? These are grants of between $100,000 and $200,000, so it's not a ton of money in the grand scheme of things, Hertzberg said. The money would come the state's general fund, so it's not cutting into any existing funding, Hertzberg said. The measure, SB513, unanimously passed the state Senate in January and now awaits consideration in the Assembly. The California law is part of a larger national recognition of the issue. In Arizona, for example, there are several organizations that take care of animals for residents who are struggling to get back on their feet. A nonprofit no-kill shelter called Lost Our Home provides up to 90 days of pet care for homeless people while they search for a permanent place to live following a crisis like eviction, domestic violence or medical treatment. Don Kitch manages one of several shelters operated in the Phoenix area by the nonprofit Family Promise, among the few that allow people to keep their pets at a separate area for the animals at the site. He said his shelter was currently housing four dogs, two cats and a Guinea pig. Unfortunately, there are very few facilities around here that will accept pets, said Kitch. He said many shelters do allow service animals, and less frequently emotional support animals. Kitch said the Arizona Humane Society takes in pets for 90 days to allow their owners time to find stable housing, while the Sojourner Center allows domestic violence victims to keep their pets at the shelter. Kitch said Family Promise used a grant from PetSmart to get started with its program to house pets. He said he'd welcome a law like California's, because anything to defray the cost would be ideal for a nonprofit homeless shelter like ours. The national nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society has joined forces with Catholic Charities USA to push for programs that keep homeless people and their pets together. The group Feeding Pets of the Homeless organizes veterinary clinics and donation drives for pet food and supplies. The ASPCA and other animal care groups are urging the California bills' passage. The ASPCA believes that financial circumstances alone are not reliable indicators of the capacity to love and care for a companion animal and that pets are incredible source of support and companionship in our lives, especially during times of stress and uncertainty," said Susan Riggs, the ASPCA's Senior Director of Housing Policy. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. One of Petey's canine companions at the Venice PATH facility is Champ, a pit bull mix that his owner Ro Mantooth calls the mascot of the shelter. He's really my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without him, Mantooth, 29, said of Champ. I'm lucky to have him. Not a lot of places are going to take animals, you know? In addition to Petey and Champ, there are eight other dogs and one cat at the Venice shelter. Huxford said another PATH facility has a parrot in a cage. Technically there are no rules about what animals can be admitted, he said, but that hasn't been tested yet. If someone came in with an elephant, I guess we'd have to see, he said. ___ Associated Press reporter Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this report. A proclamation that would declare June LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Lebanon was rejected after Mayor Paul Aziz refused to sign it. I think a proclamation would divide our community even more because there are more people in our conservative town that would be upset by this, Aziz said in an interview with Mid-Valley Media. It would not have the effect that folks want. It would be negative. Fifteen-year-old Zayn Chapman, however, disagrees. We dont just want but need this representation, he said. Theres more than just a couple people who want this to happen. Pride Month has been celebrated nationwide for more than 50 years to commemorate the Stonewall uprising of 1969 in New York. Chapman, a sophomore at Lebanon High School, sat before Lebanon City Council members at their April 13 meeting and told them about a time he had been choked with his own pride flag at school by 25 other students who also called him homophobic slurs. His story was met with sympathetic nods and encouraging comments about his bravery to sit in front of councilors and urge them to sign the proclamation. Theres a lot of darkness out there still, and the only thing that drives out darkness is light, former councilman Jason Bolen said at the meeting, his last before stepping down. You guys are a light for our city, and Id back (this proclamation) a thousand percent. Council members Michelle Steinhebel and Gamael Nassar also voiced their support and appreciation to the teenagers who came out to advocate for themselves. Aziz thanked Chapman and his friend for their courage to speak to the council and said he would take the proclamation into consideration. That consideration ultimately led to a no. Aziz said he found the proclamation to be activist-written and too highly promoted one group of people over the other. We dont do that with any other group, he said. At the same meeting, however, Aziz declared May to be Mental Health Awareness Month, Older Americans Month and declared a National Police Week for the month as well. Each month has had at least one proclamation for various groups. But Aziz said those are not the same as the Pride proclamation. Its a different group of people that is looking specifically to be recognized, and they already are recognized, he said. Calling out the month as gay Pride month isnt going to fix kids getting bullied. Aziz said he received emails from community members against a Pride proclamation, which informed his thought process to reject it. He added declaring June Pride Month would take away from the annual Lebanon Strawberry Festival. Instead, Lebanon City Manager Nancy Brewer drafted up a revised proclamation that Aziz was willing to sign. When presented to the group from the Lebanon Downtown Association which is planning a June 18 Pride event and wrote the original proclamation it was rejected. There was no mention of the LGBTQ+ community in this version, swapping that language to say all people'' instead, and the message had been lost, supporters say. Chapmans mother, Cassie Cruze, is the Main Street manager for the downtown association and helped write the original proclamation. When she heard Aziz was unwilling to sign it, she and her son met with him to see if they could find common ground. They could not. We did not take it personally. It was just more offensive that our community leaders would treat their own people this way, Cruze said. I must have had a very naive feeling that the citys model is built around friendliness. Lebanons town motto is The City That Friendliness Built. Councilor Steinhebel also met with Aziz to understand his reasons for denying the proclamation, which she said she hoped would get signed. We can agree to disagree, she said. Steinhebel now is hopeful that the city will find another way to formally recognize the LGBTQ+ community, like partnering with the Lebanon Downtown Association to elevate the Lebanon Family Pride Event in June. Tami Cockeram, who is planning the event and helped draft the proclamation, said her group is asking allies to email the mayor and city manager expressing their solidarity. Well be back in front of the council May 11, Cockeram said. We dont intend to just accept the no. 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 Lebanon Family Pride Event will be a celebration at Academy Square, with speakers, tabling, a memorial walk and an LGBTQ+ documentary showing. The community in Lebanon has never really had these conversations, Cockeram said. But the LGBTQ community here is ready to have a voice and have these conversations. As uncomfortable as they might be now, if we keep having them in a year, theyll no longer be uncomfortable. Joanna Mann (she/her) covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. Love 39 Funny 8 Wow 2 Sad 8 Angry 20 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Winnipeg Beach declared a state of emergency Saturday in order to receive the provincial government's permission to remove culverts causing water backup. Winnipeg Beach declared a state of emergency Saturday in order to receive the provincial government's permission to remove culverts causing water backup. On Saturday, workers cleared away two culverts in the Boundary Creek area to allow water to flow more freely into Lake Winnipeg, Mayor Tony Pimentel said Sunday morning. The results were rapid and effective, Pimentel said. One home in the region has been sandbagged to keep out water. The state of emergency also allows the community to bring in more flood protection equipment in short order if needed, Pimentel said. Residents and visitors could one day be using cable cars to cross rivers in two central Alberta cities. Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Residents and visitors could one day be using cable cars to cross rivers in two central Alberta cities. A 350-metre urban ropeway, also known as a gondola, has been proposed to connect Red Deer's business district with the Bower Ponds recreation area. "In Red Deer, it's really simple. There are two stations. It crosses the Red Deer River," said Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondolas, which has said it would invest $25 -million in the project. Prairie Sky also wants to string cable cars across the North Saskatchewan River between downtown Edmonton and Whyte Avenue, a popular street with bars, restaurants and stores. Geotechnical and environmental assessments are being done and public input is being gathered through meetings with Indigenous communities and others interested in the project. The projects are two of many proposed across North America as a way to move people across waterways or get tourists up mountainsides. Steven Dale is an urban planner who created The Gondola Project website and has consulted on many proposals. He said interest in urban ropeways has been growing steadily. "Five years ago, the vast majority of my business was outside of North America," Dale said. "Today, it's probably 85 to 90 per cent in North America. "Beyond the systems you have heard of, there are numerous other cities that are looking at this and discussing this very seriously." Dale said cities have started to realize gondolas can be cheaper than other transit, can be built over less time and can be used to quickly move people from one spot to another. "No one likes to do a commute so the shorter and more predictable it is, the better." Toulouse, Grenoble and Paris in France are fully integrating gondolas into their transit networks, Dale said. A similar idea is being considered in Burnaby, B.C., where city council in January endorsed a gondola connecting the rapid-transit SkyTrain lines to Simon Fraser University. "The gondola project will create a safe and reliable transit option for Burnaby residents travelling to and from Burnaby Mountain," Mayor Mike Hurley said in a news release at the time. The project is part of council's 10-year vision that guides priorities and investments in transit. Dale said gondolas in Latin America "spread like wildfire" once the first integrated ones were built. "Right now, North America is starting to pick up on it and it's starting to spread here" SJC Alliance, the company where Dale works, is involved in a gondola project in Los Angeles and in a study for another one in Tampa Bay, Fla. "Think about the absurdity of this. We are talking about using a ski lift as public transit in Florida," he said. "It's totally ridiculous, but that's actually a good thing, because the ridiculousness of it gets people's attention." Ironically, Dale said, it's only Canadians who say: "We have snow. We have ice. We have wind. We have winter. How does it work in winter? "It's a ski lift. How do you think it works in winter? You take it out of the mountains and put it into a city and people's minds go screwy." There are already gondolas in Western Canada for tourists and skiers, but others are being considered in the Alberta mountain towns of Banff and Canmore. Developers want to build cable cars that would carry people to the tops of mountains from the townsites. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In Canmore, a proposal for a gondola at Silvertip Resort is before the public until the middle of June to set the terms for an environmental review. The project would connect the resort to the summit of Mount Lady MacDonald. A gondola to take skiers and hikers from the Banff townsite to the summit of the Mount Norquay ski resort was rejected in 2019 by Parks Canada. The resort's owners, however, told Banff town council last August that they still hope to build a smaller version from the town to the mountain's base. Back in Edmonton, Hansen-Carlson said an urban gondola can be a tourist draw, but it can also be a transportation solution. "As a piece of infrastructure, simply moving people, its day has come," he said. "Around the world today, there are about 200 urban ropeways successfully operating. "So, we are not a pioneer globally, but we definitely are in the North American context." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2022. ROME (AP) For travelers heading to Europe, summer vacations just got a whole lot easier. People wear face masks as they step off a public transport bus in Rome, Sunday May 1, 2022. Face masks, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, are no longer required in supermarkets, bars, restaurants, shops and most workplaces throughout Italy, but remain mandatory on public transport, planes, trains and ships, theatres, cinemas, concert halls and for indoor sporting events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ROME (AP) For travelers heading to Europe, summer vacations just got a whole lot easier. Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday before Europe's peak summer tourist season, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal. Greeces civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. As of Sunday, visitors to Italy no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated online ordeal required at airport check-in. People sit at a cafe where a musician performs, in Athens, on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal before Europe's peak summer tourist season. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Italy also did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. .Some indoor mask mandates in Italy also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces and stores. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas and in all health care facilities and nursing homes. It was needed, said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. We have waited more than two years. At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with friends, all without masks. Its much better, Bichler said. Lets say its a return to life, a free life. People sit at a restaurant with a view at the Acropolis hill, in Athens, on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal before Europe's peak summer tourist season. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) In Greece, where tourism accounts for about 20% of its GNP, enforcing the rules had already fallen off prior to Sunday. On the tourist island of Mykonos, revelers flooded beaches, bars and restaurant the previous weekend for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Some owners said business was the best they had seen in years and expected that to continue for the long May Day weekend. Vaccination certificates in Greece were abolished, not permanently, but from May 1 to August 31 and it will be determined in August whether to bring them back. Also suspended were restrictions on the number of customers in indoor spaces. But masks are still required indoors and in vehicles in Greece, and experts recommend using them outdoors in crowded situations like concerts. Business owners said many unvaccinated people were among those enjoying the end of COVID-19 restrictions. We saw again old customers whom we hadnt seen since November, when vaccination certificates first became mandatory, Michalis Epitropidis, general secretary of the association of restaurant, cafe and bar owners in Thessaloniki, told the Associated Press. By punishing the unvaccinated, the state was punishing us. Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, was a hotbed of militant vaccine denialism and protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Like Italy, Greece saw tourism revenues plunge in 2020 and only partially rebound in 2021. Greece is now hoping for a record tourism year in 2022 and so does neighboring Albania, where restrictions were also lifted Sunday. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Public health officials say masks still remain highly recommended in Italy for all indoor activities, and private companies can still require them. Given that the virus is still circulating, we should keep up the vaccine campaign, including boosters, and keep up behavior inspired by prudence: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever theres a risk of contagion, said Dr. Giovanni Rezza, in charge of prevention at the health ministry. ___ Nellas reported from Athens, Greece. Francesco Sportelli contributed from Italy, Costas Kantouris from Thessaloniki, Greece and Llazar Semini from Albania. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic WARSAW, Poland (AP) A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, awards the Order of Princess Olga, the third grade, to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) WARSAW, Poland (AP) A top-level U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the ferocity and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. "We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, third from right, and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, third from left, talk during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) You all are welcome, Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy "the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegation's trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support. This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny, said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives for his meeting with U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraines fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance arent going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win," he said. "What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Scores of U.S. lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the wars toll and shore up U.S. troops in the broader region. Pelosis delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosi's stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walks before her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. "is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won." Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. intelligence support it needs to defeat Russian forces. The delegations visit followed those of several EU officials and European heads of state who have gone to show solidarity with Zelenskyy, starting with the March 15 surprise visit by the leaders of NATO members Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, centre right, and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) More recently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. A missile strike rained down on the capital barely an hour after their joint press conference, an attack Kyivs mayor said was Putin giving his middle finger to Guterres. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts, Pelosi said. McGovern said Russias war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. Putins brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine, McGovern said. Its also a war against the worlds most vulnerable. He added: I dont think that Putin cares if he starves the world." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ___ Winfield reported from Rome, Mascaro from Washington. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, not third. ___ More AP coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) A long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was under way Sunday, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraine's president to show unflinching American support for the country's defense against Russia's invasion. Destroyed houses are photographed in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) A long-awaited evacuation of civilians from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was under way Sunday, as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraine's president to show unflinching American support for the country's defense against Russia's invasion. Video posted online by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children bundled in winter clothing being helped as they climbed a steep pile of debris from the sprawling Azovstal steel plants rubble, and then eventually boarded a bus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 100 civilians, primarily women and children, were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday. Today, for the first time in all the days of the war, this vitally needed (humanitarian) corridor has started working, he said in a pre-recorded address published on his Telegram messaging app channel. The Mariupol City Council said on Telegram that the evacuation of civilians from other parts of the city would begin Monday morning. People fleeing Russian-occupied areas in the past have described their vehicles being fired on, and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of shelling evacuation routes on which the two sides had agreed. Destroyed houses are photographed in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Later Sunday, one of the plants defenders said Russian forces resumed shelling the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed. Denys Shlega, the commander of the 12th Operational Brigade of Ukraines National Guard, said in a televised interview Sunday night that several hundred civilians remain trapped alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. Several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant, Shlega said. We need one or two more rounds of evacuation. A Ukrainian serviceman talks to a resident inside a basement used as a bomb shelter during Russian attacks in a village recently retaken by Ukrainian forces near Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the steel plant, told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday that it has been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. We hear voices of people who are still alive inside shattered buildings. As many as 100,000 people may still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. People gather and talk outside a terrace bar in central Kyiv, on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov, is a key target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said civilians who have been stranded for nearly two months at the plant would receive immediate humanitarian support, including psychological services, once they arrive in Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) northwest of Mariupol. Mariupol has seen some of the worst suffering. A maternity hospital was hit with a lethal Russian airstrike in the opening weeks of the war, and about 300 people were reported killed in the bombing of a theater where civilians were taking shelter. Local residents close the windows of an apartment building with plywood after Russian shelling in Dobropillya, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) A Doctors Without Borders team was at a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, in preparation for the U.N. convoys arrival. Stress, exhaustion and low food supplies have likely weakened civilians trapped underground at the plant. Ukrainian regiment Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Palamar, meanwhile, called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well as civilians. We dont know why they are not taken away, and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed, he said in a video posted Saturday on the regiments Telegram channel. Video from inside the steel plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands were among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed men with blood-stained bandages, open wounds or amputated limbs, including some that appeared gangrenous. The AP could not independently verify the location and date of the video, which the women said was taken last week. The body of a man lies in an apartment as Russian bombardments continue in a village recently retaken by Ukrainian forces near Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Meanwhile, Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers visited Kyiv on Saturday. She is the most senior American lawmaker to travel to the country since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. Her visit came just days after Russia launched rockets at the capital during a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Rep. Jason Crow, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. In his nightly televised address Sunday, Zelenskyy said more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-agreed with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion. The organization of humanitarian corridors is one of the elements of the negotiation process (with Russia), which is ongoing, he said. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, awards the Order of Princess Olga, the third grade, to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Zelenskyy also accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, saying Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. What could be Russias strategic success in this war? Honestly, I do not know. The ruined lives of people and the burned or stolen property will give nothing to Russia, he said. In Zaporizhzhia, residents ignored air raid sirens and warnings to shelter at home to visit cemeteries Sunday, when Ukrainians observe the Orthodox Christian day of the dead. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives for his meeting with U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) If our dead could rise and see this, they would say, Its not possible, theyre worse than the Germans, Hennadiy Bondarenko, 61, said while marking the day with his family at a picnic table among the graves. All our dead would join the fighting, including the Cossacks. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture the capital, Kyiv. Russias high-stakes offensive has Ukrainian forces fighting village-by-village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling. In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walks before her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of seizing medical facilities to treat wounded Russian soldiers in several occupied towns, as well as destroying medical infrastructure, taking away equipment, and leaving the population without medical care. Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine is difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. But Western military analysts have suggested the offensive was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east. In this image provided by the Lviv city hall Angelina Jolie, Hollywood movie star and UNHCR goodwill ambassador, poses for photo with kids in Lviv, Ukraine, Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022. Ms Jolie was in Ukraine to meet the children affected by the war and visited hospitals and NGOs helping the injured and displaced. (Maksym Kozutsky/Lviv City Hall via AP) Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russias vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support. With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russias offensive could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel, and a much larger air force and navy. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, an explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday, and a criminal investigation has been started, the regions government reported in a post on Telegram. Vera Velakanova, left, and Lyudmila Vondarenko eat some food at the Kapustyanyy cemetery during the day that Ukrainians mark as the day of the dead, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Sunday, May 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. ___ Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Ottawa police found themselves patrolling increasingly empty downtown streets on Sunday as the "Rolling Thunder" protest made good on plans to decamp from Canada's capital, but the force did open an investigation after the scene of the day's only formal event was defaced with graffiti targeting demonstrators. A traffic free Wellington Street is pictured prior to the start of a demonstration, part of a convoy-style protest participants are calling "Rolling Thunder", in Ottawa, Saturday, April 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Ottawa police found themselves patrolling increasingly empty downtown streets on Sunday as the "Rolling Thunder" protest made good on plans to decamp from Canada's capital, but the force did open an investigation after the scene of the day's only formal event was defaced with graffiti targeting demonstrators. Unlike in February, when throngs of protesters opposed to COVID-19 public health measures and the federal government choked Ottawa's streets for weeks, scant traces of this weekend's rallies remained on Sunday afternoon. Roughly a dozen people milled around outside Parliament following a Sunday morning service at the nearby Capital City Bikers' Church, the final scheduled event of the weekend-long rally. The event drew hundreds of worshippers as police launched an investigation into vandalism that allegedly took place ahead of the gathering. Bikers, "Rolling Thunder" rally supporters and other worshippers arrived at the church to find its brick exterior had been vandalized with spray-painted messages including "fascists" and "no haven for fascism." The Ottawa Police Service confirmed it is investigating "an incident of hate-motivated mischief at a religious institution" on Carillon Street, the same one where the church is located. But the incident did little to suppress the spirits of the enthusiastic, peaceful crowd. A four-piece band belted out soulful Christian rock songs while hundreds of worshippers, some wearing leather biker jackets with Canadian flags draped around their shoulders, waved their arms in the air. Families, children and even dogs packed the darkened building, as purple flood lights and a stained-glass image of Jesus illuminated by the outside sun lit up the stage inside. A bar in the back of the Pentecostal church sold soft drinks, snacks and coffee, and a shop sold Biker Church T-shirts. "You begin to talk about hell and 'Oh, you're one of those religious fanatics, aren't you?'" Pastor Rob McKee asked the crowd during his sermon on how hell exists. His long, grey beard spilled onto his button-up plaid shirt, which he wore with a pair of loose-fitting jeans. "We all love the part that God is love, so if I was the enemy I would work really hard to try to get people to believe, no, that's a scam, that's fake news." McKee appeared to shrug off the graffiti and described the day as "church as usual," but others who attended the service were more upset. "Its extremely insulting," said Kimberly McGrath. "I had to let it brush off my shoulders, but for a lot of people it is traumatizing and its hurtful. It reminds us of what we have been going through, and being labelled as racist, misogynistic and anti-science." Attendees munched on hotdogs and socialized in the parking lot once the service wrapped up. Most expressed their intentions to leave Ottawa, though some indicated they planned to move on to a potential protest in Montreal or return to Parliament Hill. The Sunday morning service marked the last event in the weekend-long "Rolling Thunder" rally, organized in part by a group called Freedom Fighters Canada. Participants began arriving in Ottawa Friday afternoon, bringing large crowds to a downtown core still on edge after the three-week-long "Freedom Convoy" occupation in February. "Rolling Thunder" organizers say the rally was set up to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates, but as in February, some demonstrators had a longer list of grievances. Randy Hill from Penticton, B.C., arrived at the church service in a red pickup decked out with Canadian flags and a "faith not fear" sticker on the side. He said he and his wife Carol-Anne are opposed to all vaccine mandates and government measures and intend to stay put. "We want this government removed by God and a righteous government put in place. The people in charge of this government are accountable to God," he said. Among the last of the demonstrators left in Ottawa was Misty Brown who had travelled for four weeks from Vancouver Island and arrived on Friday night. Unlike many at this weekend's protest, Brown did not take part in the February protests but joined the biker rally to voice her opposition to vaccine mandates. "My daughter was forced to take a vaccine just so she could keep her job. She didn't want it but she had to pay the bills," Brown said. "It's our bodies and we should have the right to choose." A heavier-than-normal police presence remained around Parliament Hill, with officers patrolling streets in pairs and city bylaw officers ticketing cars. But otherwise it was business as usual on a sunny afternoon, with tourists exploring the area on foot or on bicycles. The peaceful denouement came after residents had expressed concerns that the protests would stretch on for weeks as they did during the winter. Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell had previously indicated this would not be allowed to happen, and hundreds of reinforcements from the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and other municipal forces were brought in to bolster the local ranks. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Ottawa Police made a handful of arrests over the course of the weekend, including three during the main demonstrations on Saturday. The force said one woman was arrested for assaulting police on Elgin Street, where a large motorcycle rally took place, and a man was arrested for breaching conditions stemming from February's "Freedom Convoy" occupation. Another man is facing several charges after allegedly "rushing" an OPP motorcycle, including dangerous driving, assault with a weapon and violating conditions stemming from the last round of protests. More than 760 parking tickets had been issued and 39 vehicles have been towed since early Friday morning, city officials said Sunday. Ten other tickets have been issued for infractions including noise, smoking and public urination. With files from Sarah Smellie in St. John's This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2022. OK, lets try that again. To say its been an interesting first four years for Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill at 435 Notre Dame Ave. is a bit of an understatement. Winnipegs first-ever authentic Pakistani dining spot was an out-of-the-box hit when it began welcoming customers in the spring of 2018, largely owing to menu selections described at the time by Free Press restaurant critic Alison Gillmor as "fresh and very good," "beautifully sauced" and, in regards to a spicy cheese dish dubbed paneer kadahi, "an absolute standout." She wasnt the only one singing the West End locales praises; throughout that year and the next, online review sites were rife with recommendations for owner Jehangir Khans take on traditional offerings such as fish tikka, Lahori mutton kahari and chicken haandi, the latter prepared in an earthen clay pot Khan brought with him when he moved to Canada from the South Asian nation in 2007. Things took a turn, however, after COVID-19 reared its head a little over two years ago. Forced to close for in-person dining, Khan, a married father of five, opted to take his family to Pakistan for a visit. His children had never met their grandparents and numerous cousins face-to-face, so he figured hed wait out what he was anticipating would be a brief closure there, versus here. After opening a halal meat counter, where he sold marinated meats, Jehangir Khan decided to also do the cooking himself and so opened Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) For a litany of reasons, one of which was international travel restrictions, their stay turned from weeks into months. By the time Khan finally flew back to Winnipeg in early April, it had been two years since hed been at his restaurant, which remained open during his absence for pick-up and delivery. Unfortunately, quality suffered while he was gone, a set of circumstances he is intent on rectifying, now that hes back at the helm. "It was hard to keep the doors open while I was away, we lost tons of money, but thank God (restrictions) are over so we can start welcoming customers inside again," says Khan, whose return to work coincided with Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by a dawn-to-dusk fast that concludes this weekend. (Khan laughs, saying no, hes used to it, when asked how tough it is to be around food all day hes been offering an all-you-can-eat, end-of-day special during Ramadan when he cant touch a morsel until sunset, which fell at 8:29 p.m. the day we visited.) Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill has been in business for four years, but is undergoing a kind of post-COVID rebirth. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) "Theres no arguing ours was the industry most affected by the virus and now that were back, were hoping for the best, not just for our restaurant but for all the restaurants that suffered." Khan, 49, grew up in a mountainous region in northwest Pakistan near Abbottabad, a city of 245,000. He did a fair bit of travelling in his 20s he spent time living and working in Singapore and Dubai and became convinced Winnipeg was the right fit for him when he initially visited in 2004, at the behest of a friend from back home whod relocated here already. Jehangir Khans Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill is offering an end-of-Ramadan, Pakistani breakfast on May 7, beginning at 10 a.m. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) "Ive never been a big fan of larger cities like Toronto or Vancouver. In Winnipeg, you can step outside and breathe the air, without all the tall buildings blocking your view of the sky," he says, shaking his head in regards to our frigid clime. Like the rest of us, he could have done with a little less of the white stuff this past winter, but snow and cold weather were commonplace where he grew up, with the mercury often dipping into the -10 range in December and January. The first thing Khan did after moving here permanently in March 2007 was go job hunting. He tried his hand at a number of occupations before settling in at a manufacturing plant that built hydraulic cylinders. He enjoyed the physicality of what he was doing and within a month or two, was regularly signing up for overtime, which seemingly rubbed some of his fellow employees the wrong way. He was making them look bad by working too hard, they said over and over; also, he was giving all his money to the government, they told him, referring to the amount of income tax that was being deducted from his pay. He ultimately quit and, following a year-long stint as a house framer, decided his best course of action would be to go into business for himself, a dream hed had since he was a kid. For Yasmeen Naeem, Ibrahim Name and Sughrain Umar, dining at Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill is often a family affair. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) Something Khan had noticed about Winnipeg was how difficult it was to find fresh halal meat here, meat that is certified permissible for Muslims to consume. There were a couple shops that sold frozen cuts, but that paled in comparison to what hed grown used to eating in Pakistan. There was an ethnic grocery store at 1052 St. Marys Rd. about 10 minutes from where he lived. In the summer of 2010, he approached the owner, with whom hed become acquainted, with a proposition: what if he opened a western-style butcher shop inside the store that offered halal meat exclusively? The proprietor welcomed the idea and, after working with the provincial government to find farmers who could properly supply him, Khan unveiled his meat counter that fall. He purchased the store outright in 2012, and renamed it Grocery Bazar. Always thinking, Khan next came to the realization that despite Winnipegs reputation for being culturally diverse in the way of dining spots, there wasnt anywhere to go for authentic Pakistani cuisine. Since he was already pre-marinating cuts of meat at the grocery store and had a lengthy file of rub recipes, he thought he would take things one step further, by establishing a restaurant of his own, where he could showcase the food of his homeland. The aroma of fresh-baked naan bread is likely the first impression at Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) Like we mentioned earlier, Barbeque Hut-Pakistani Grill opened for business just over four years ago. The first thing customers are greeted by when they enter the 80-seat operation in addition to the aroma of freshly baked naan is a brightly painted, three-wheel rickshaw, imported from Pakistan. (You dont want to know, Khan replies, when asked how much it costs to ship not one, but three rickshaws there are two more in an adjoining banquet room from overseas.) In addition to the vehicles dont worry, the motors have been removed Khan also brought over a dozen or so cultural chairs, each of which features colourful, eye-catching spindles, turned on a lathe to give the appearance of interconnecting balls and beads. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "And on these walls are photos of some of my countrys regions," Khan says proudly, waving his arm in front of blown-up scenes of Islamabad, Karachi and K2, the worlds second-highest mountain. "Lots of people, especially the young ones, enjoy getting their picture taken in front of these scenes, or in the rickshaws." Amandeep Kaur, a worker at Barbeque Hut removes naan from the oven. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) The same as before, Khan says anybody who visits the Barbeque Hut should expect to sink their teeth into "the real deal," whether its tandoori boti, butter chicken or pulao rice topped with lamp chops, all of which are available as a single serving or platter-style with multiple selections. (For religious reasons, there is no alcohol on the premises.) "My food tastes the same as what youd get in Pakistan, I dont modify it in any way, shape or form to make it less spicy for westerners," he says with a chuckle, adding the restaurant will be offering an end-of-Ramadan, Pakistani breakfast on May 7, beginning at 10 a.m. "If you are kind enough to come here, I expect that you are looking for the tastes the experience of my people. Ive been away for two years thats a very long time and now that Ive returned, I cant wait to get back to doing what I do best." David Sanderson writes about Winnipeg-centric restaurants and businesses. david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca The first Bacon Fest takes over Loggers Field in La Crosse on Saturday, and tickets are sold out. The River Valley Media Group has partnered with Festival Foods, Farmland Bacon and Copeland Park & Events Center to bring Bacon Fest to La Crosse on May 7. A highlight of the event will be the official Bacon Eating Contest, sponsored by Festival Foods and Farmland Bacon. Fifteen contestants will compete to see who can consume the most bacon in five minutes. The winner will receive a trophy, and bragging rights as the first-ever Bacon Fest Bacon Eating Champion. VIP and general admission tickets are sold out. General admission gates open at 1 p.m., and ticket holders receive one free sample from all food vendor booths. . Food vendors will gather at Loggers Field, offering samples of their best bacon dish or overall bacon in this family friendly event, with trophies awarded to vendors in each category. There will be a Fans Favorite division, as voted on by all attendees as well as a Judges Choice in each category as voted upon by a panel of local judges. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A year ago, as part of her role addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a Call to Action for businesses and social enterprises to make new, significant commitments to sustainably address the root causes of migration by promoting economic opportunity. As focus shifts to the midterm elections, delivering on this promise will become even more critical if Democrats hope to maintain control in Washington. The first pillar of the Root Cause Strategy is to address economic insecurity and inequality in the region. To that end, Harris has primarily focused on promoting private sector investment in the region, recently touting several major U.S. companies promised investments. Despite these actions, illegal immigration at the southern border has increased rapidly since President Biden was sworn in, rising at a faster rate in his first six months than any other period since the Border Patrols founding nearly a century ago. More than 2 million migrants were stopped while attempting to enter the United States from Mexico illegally in 2021. Compared to the average 500,000 people stopped per year previously, it is clear that the United States needs to take a different approach. Yet without significant changes, this trend will continue, with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting that there were 153,941 encounters along the southwest land border in January alone. It is abundantly clear that more work needs to be done to sustain the long-term economic growth that is needed to address the root causes of migration, in large part fueled by a lack of job opportunities. Given that many countries in Central America, particularly the Northern Triangle (made up of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) borrowed heavily to supply their citizens with support packages during the COVID-19 pandemic, it will likely take these countries many years to recover economically, making timely action even more critical. Instead of focusing on a scattershot of private-sector investments, the Biden administration should look at structural changes that would promote growth long-term, particularly changing policies that can be found within the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). CAFTA-DR was originally established to promote stronger trade and investment ties, prosperity and stability throughout the region and along our Southern border. A recent report published by the Mosbacher Institute at Texas A&M University pointed out that apparel production in Central America is stifled by a provision in CAFTA-DR that limits the yarns and fabrics that can be used in clothing to qualify for duty-free trade. This report highlights how in developing countries, exporting apparel creates jobs, reduces poverty and contributes to economic growth. While Chinas and Vietnams share of U.S. apparel imports expanded, Central Americas share has remained constant or fallen. But not only is the quantity of apparel products being produced and exported in the region not increasing, Central America exports a narrow variety of apparel products, particularly when compared to China and Vietnam. This lack of growth and diversity in apparel is largely due to the yarn-forward rule of origin requirement that mandates that apparel products, unlike other products covered by CAFTA-DR, be wholly sourced from member countries. This rule is maintained at the insistence of a handful of monopolistic yarn producers and allows them to earn record profits and charge a premium while suppressing apparel job creation in the Northern Triangle. This anti-competitive rule must be addressed if the administration truly wants to create apparel jobs in this Hemisphere. Additionally, this rule and the exceptions to it are less understood by small and medium producers, and presents an administrative burden that is too costly for these businesses and, as such, limits the ability of the agreement to promote job growth in the apparel sector. Allowing exceptions to the yarn-forward rule for items not produced locally in sufficient quantities would allow Central America to upgrade and diversify. And boosting the Central American apparel industry would also go a long way toward promoting economic equality, given the sector is a key driver for jobs for women in the region. Without structural changes to the restrictive rules that govern trade between the United States and Central America, we can expect economic growth to continue to be stifled in the region, and therefore migration to the United States to accelerate. If Democrats hope to stymie the predicted loss of congressional seats in the midterms, they should work to deliver on their promises like addressing the root causes of migration by updating the rule-of-origin requirements in CAFTA-DR. Carlos Solorzano is the CEO of the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce of San Francisco. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Madison Area Technical College Reedsburg Campus is looking to expand scholarships for its nursing program and hosted an event that exceeded expectations. The first annual Celebrate a Nurse 5K Run/Walk on Saturday morning raised over $8,000 for program scholarships and had over 170 registered participants, which both were higher than predicted numbers, according to campus director Shawna Marquardt. Participants included graduates from the colleges nursing program as well as residents of Reedsburg and other nearby communities. We all value our nurses and we want to honor them with everything they have been through with retirements and with COVID, said campus administrative coordinator Peggy Nolden. We wanted to find a way to thank them and we thought it would be a great way to get a lot of people together to do a run/walk and can celebrate all that they have done, added campus manager Linda Spencer. Runners had two options for the event. They could either run 1 mile or do the 5K run (3.1 miles). Both runs began and finished at the college. Cookies, coffee and other beverages, including milk and water, were served at the event. Despite rainy conditions, the event exceeded expectations. I think its tremendous that we had that many people show up, said Marquardt. Its great to support our nurses. One-hundred percent of the proceeds of this event all go towards our Reedsburg nursing scholarship. We cant wait to do it bigger and better next year. Marquardts daughter Shelby is a 2021 graduate of the schools two-year nursing program and just began work as an intensive care unit nurse at SSM Health St. Marys Hospital in Madison after working a similar position in Spirit Lake, Iowa, following her graduation. Its so awesome, especially with the weather being kind of crappy today, Shelby Marquardt said of the run/walk. Its so nice to see such a great turnout of everybody to support nurses. A 2010 graduate of the program, Kelly Stroede, was one of the runners at the event. She has been a nurse at Reedsburg Area Medical Center since her graduation and interned at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo during her last year at MATC Reedsburg. It felt great to support to support future nurses that these scholarships will go towards, said Stroede. I think its wonderful. We need lots of nurses, lots of good nurses. They have done great things here already. Reedsburg teacher honored Along with the Celebrate a Nurse Run/Walk, a longtime teacher in the program received honors from Madison Area Technical College. Teri Gorder, who graduated from the program in 1998 and is currently the program director, received one of three 2022 Distinguished Teachers of the Year awards voted on by the MATC student body. This one is really special because it comes from the students, said Gorder. It makes us feel like teaching really matters. After receiving her associate degree in nursing from MATC Reedsburg, she earned a bachelors degree from UW-Madison and a masters degree in nursing from Concordia College. A student at MATC Reedsburg called Gorder a hidden gem who goes above and beyond for students and that she is loved by students and faculty who know her. It was incredible, Gorder said of the run/walk, which she attended. Really, the amount of people that showed up considering what the weather was like was absolutely tremendous. It was so great to see so many past students that are currently working in our communities. Columbus Area Historical Society 1972 Bill Goebel, 81, started working as a barber in Columbus back in 1921. He retired after 61 years in the barber business. From 1938 until his retirement in 1971, he managed his barber shop at 148 E. James St. The Columbus 4th of July Organization was officially incorporated according to local attorney Bob Behl. Officers were Jim Boness, president; Elvin Reynolds, vice-president; Kathy Yuds, secretary; and Dan Schilling, treasurer. Board members included Joan Ganga, Lyle Sampson, Bob Behl, Adrian Shaw, and Earl Witthuhn. 1982 A representative from the Wisconsin DOT told a group of 35 area residents that plans for the Highway 151 freeway from Madison past Sun Prairie and a bypass around Columbus was not on the list of priority projects because the state was short of money. Planning for the project began in 1966 with the right-of-way land purchased shortly thereafter. The city got bad news when it met with Donohue & Associates were they learned that the cost of a new sewer plant had gone from $6,000,000 to $7,750,250 with the citys share at $3,003,996. 1992 School bus drivers were honored in Wisconsin during School Bus Driver Recognition Week. Columbus drivers with more than 20 years of driving experience included Fred Dartt, 30 years; Bob Jones, 29 years; Earl Steinhorst, 30 years; Milton Kluetzman, 28 years; John R. Kurth, 28 years; and Harold Mace, 21 years. Rudy Van Fleet, Dairy & Livestock Agent for Columbia County, was honored and presented the Sheep Industry Award at the state sheep industry conference. Van Fleet taught agriculture at Ithaca for three years and as vo-ag instructor at Columbus from 1959-to 1970. 2002 Fifth- and sixth-graders at St. Jeromes School had their Drug Abuse Resistance Education - DARE, graduation after 16 weeks of lessons. Fifth-graders Margot Groh and Brittany Walz read their papers to the group. The new Columbus Area Aquatic Center neared completion with a scheduled grand opening around Memorial Day. The Columbus Area Aquatic Center Committee took over the organizing of the pool planning and raised the majority of the $3,000,000 cost keeping the cost off of the tax rolls. Follow us on Facebook at Columbus, WI Area Historical Society, or email museumcahs@gmail.com. At least one tornado touched down near Andover, Kansas, on Friday. Paramedic swaps north east Wales for Africa on aid mission A north east Wales paramedic has been putting her skills to good use on an aid mission in Africa. Esther Dittmar, based in Dobshill, flew 6,500 miles to Uganda last month to help locals to expand its motorbike ambulance service. Esther was part of a seven-strong group of volunteers who flew out with the Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust (PONT), a Pontypridd based charity supporting projects in Mbale. As well as exploring ways to grow the motorbike service, Esther and her fellow volunteers, including a GP and a mental health nurse, planned the future delivery of training for the regions health workers. Esther, 30, said: It was a privilege to be part of this trip and to contribute my ideas and suggestions about how to improve the ambulance service in Mbale. Medically, it was so different to the everyday work we do here in Wales, and culturally, it was different too. From a paramedic perspective, I was excited to plan the training for health workers and it will be interesting to keep in touch to hear about how ambulance provision is evolving in the region. The Welsh Ambulance Service has worked in partnership with PONT since 2009, during which time dozens of its frontline staff have journeyed to Mbale to support projects. Mbale is a mountainous area with many villages only accessible by steep paths, and many people live a long way from the nearest hospital or health centre. With PONTs support, Mbale has introduced motorbike ambulances to carry patients across even the roughest ground on roads and tracks that cars and other vehicles cannot access. German-born Esther originally pursued a career in marketing and came to the UK as part of a student exchange programme to take up studies at Wrexhams Glyndwr University. She later enrolled on the paramedic science degree at Swansea University, having grown disillusioned with working behind a desk in her digital marketing job. Esther has been a paramedic at the Welsh Ambulance Service for three years, and Uganda is the latest in a series of trips that she has made abroad to help others. As well as a placement in Germany, Esther journeyed to Mexico for a month-long placement as part of an international exchange programme and has penned a series of articles about her experiences, including for the College of Paramedics and International Paramedic Practice magazines. Esther, who lives in Chester, said: If you have the opportunity, I think its really important for clinicians to experience the way that other communities deliver services. It broadens your horizons not just in terms of the clinical knowledge you acquire, but in terms of the life experience that you gain. The lifelong friends you make along the way are an added bonus. Fiona Lambrecht, Duty Operations Manager in Flintshire and Wrexham, said: Esther is a shining example of compassion in action, and shes not only committed to patients in the Flintshire community but those less fortunate in Africa too. She goes above and beyond to help others, and were so proud that she took the initiative to volunteer in the Mbale community and look forward to hearing all about the trip. Visit www.pont-mbale.org.uk for more information. Photo taken on Dec. 17, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua) TEHRAN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran pledged on Sunday to continue the talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal until its national interests are completely and comprehensively protected, official news agency IRNA reported. The remarks were made by Ali Bahadori-Jahromi, spokesman of the Iranian government, in reaction to talk that the United States is close to admitting the failure of the Vienna nuclear talks. The nuclear negotiations are among Iran's top priorities, Bahadori-Jahromi noted. Iran will continue efforts within the framework of the international diplomatic mechanisms until it protects its economic interests and nuclear rights, the spokesman concluded. In July 2015, Iran signed with the world powers a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in which Tehran agrees to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of the international sanctions on it. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to gradually drop some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement. Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties to revive the deal. Iran insists on securing guarantees that the U.S. governments would not abandon the deal again and lifting the sanctions in a verifiable manner. On Tuesday, Israel claimed that the United States is closer than ever to admitting defeat on President Joe Biden's stated goal of a return to the JCPOA. The following testimony to the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic has been submitted by a Senior Health Care Assistant in a busy hospital in the north of England. Nurse A, whose name is being withheld to protect against victimisation, normally works on a gerontology ward caring for the old and infirm and those suffering from dementia. At the beginning of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, hospitals began to fill with patients suffering from COVID and the virus spread from patient to patient. Nurse As gerontology ward was transformed into a COVID ward as all the patients had contracted the virus. The patients either caught the virus from staff or visitors or were transferred from other wards after testing positive. This happened repeatedly during further waves of the pandemic. Many gerontology patients at this time were transferred out of the hospital setting into nursing or care homes. The negligent way this was done led to the premature deaths of around 20,000 old people nationally during the pandemics first wave. The High Court in London ruled recently that the Conservative government led by Boris Johnson acted unlawfully when it discharged thousands of untested, asymptomatic hospital patients into care homes, without the advice to isolate for 14 days. This resulted in the unchecked spread of the disease. Equally negligent was the way the government and Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency) exposed National Health Service (NHS) workers and hospital patients to a deadly, highly transmissible virus. Nurse As testimony to the Global Workers Inquest exposes the impact of the Johnson governments anti-scientific and profit-driven pandemic response policies on staff and patient care. *** Ever since the pandemic was officially recognised by the government in March 2020, NHS frontline staff have been treated as nothing more than COVID cannon fodder. In March 2020, we had infection control telling us to remove our masks because we were wasting PPE. One of my co-workers was in tears over this. In the ward where I work, I watched on TV as the governments Chief Medical Officer Sir Patrick Valance said that it was preferable for 60 percent of the population to become infected. This was the herd immunity policy of the government. In Italy hospitals were being overwhelmed and strikes erupted as workers demanded protections. In mid-March, 229 scientists in the UK signed an open letter demanding urgent measures to stop the spread of COVID. Online petitions by teachers and parents gained momentum, with 685,000 demanding the closure of schools and 409,000 calling for public health measures to stop the spread. Nurses wearing bin bags at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, Greater London during the first wave of the pandemic. All three nurses subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. (Credit: Twitter) Around March 20, we were given PPE: blue protective gowns that covered your body, white aprons, surgical masks, gloves, and face visors. This was the recommended PPE as stipulated by Public Health England [PHE, now UK Health Security Agency]. At this point there was enough of this PPE. But it didnt take long, perhaps weeks, before we were told that the blue gowns werent necessary. When you raised any opposition, infection control would just cite government stipulations. PHE had already downgraded COVID-19 from a High Consequence Infectious Disease, despite meeting all the criteria. The PPE we were allocated flowed from this. It was stated by the Trust [National Health Service Trust] that the NHS had always worked clear from the elbows down, which means wearing nothing below the elbow. This is how the NHS justified getting rid of blue gowns as they were running out. But we had to watch when our co-workers in radiology from a nearby trust came over in better masks, head coverings and blue gowns. It was different rules for different Trusts. This caused tension and resentment between staff. We asked, Arent our lives worth as much as theirs? But our anger was always towards the Trust, not our colleagues. Despite developments in scientific knowledge about the spread of COVID 19, that its transmitted primarily through aerosols, fine particles in the air, the Trust still responds to any outbreak through droplet precautions. As far back as April 2020, Chinese scientists were warning that COVID was airborne. This was backed up by scientific investigations by the University of Nebraskas National Strategic and Research Institute, which found traces of the virus lingering in rooms and corridors long after people had exited. This was ignored by the World Health Organisation (WHO). We still only use surgical masks, a white apron, gloves and a visor. Nurses at the Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, on April 4, 2020. Chinese hospital staff and paramedics have continued wearing full PPE. (Credit: Zhang Dan) In China, health care professionals are wearing protective suits, masks, gloves, goggles, face shields, and gowns. A report from April 2021 by SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) states that FFP3 respirators or FFP3 masks should be worn when treating Covid positive patients. This was never acted on as far as I know. We wore the standard and ineffective PPE, no FFP2 or FFP3 masks, because the Trust views them as unnecessary. Those in charge follow government advice, not scientific advice. Staff burnout and stress Most of my co-workers are frustrated. Theyve had enough of the constant conflicting information. That creates an atmosphere of just wishing it was over. At the start we approached it in a disciplined manner, now everyone is just tired and fed up. We had a recent outbreak; one patient was sent from another hospital before their swab results were back. Its common to move patients out for beds. The results came back positive, so we had to treat the whole bay of six patients as positive. The stress of being on a COVID ward and the potential for further outbreaks wears people down. A lot of staff members are off sick, not just with Omicron, but with stress-related issues. Several of us have taken time off this year for stress. Weve nearly all had COVID to varying degrees. Ive spoken to consultants, doctors and nurses who were so ill with it they felt like they were going to die. Several have been reinfected. Of the 1.3 million people in the UK suffering from Long COVID, many will be health care workers. At least 650 health care workers have died from COVID. The virus is officially recognised as airborne now by public health bodies, including the World Health Organisation, but not by the UK government. The Trust I work for, and I imagine a lot of Trusts are the same, lags way behind the scientific data. Thats the most worrying thing. We arent led by people who have patient and staff interests as their driving principle, but those who just appear to follow government guidelines. But these guidelines are based on the herd immunity policy of let the virus rip, placing the interests of the economy above human life. These conditions impact on staff. There is an attitude of the worst is over, and observation of correct mask use and PPE use starts to wane. Workers in the NHS are in a stranglehold of anti-science policies and bureaucratic enforcement of these by those running the NHS. A struggle is needed to change this, to inform NHS staff of the current scientific data and let that drive our practice. Caring for patients The impact on patients and their families has been severe. Many patients came to hospital with other health problems and contracted the virus and died. Families were angry and distraught. Not being able to be with loved ones in the final moments of their lives was devastating. When the pandemic first struck in full force, around mid-March 2020, none of us were prepared. At this point we still werent wearing masks or PPE. Patients and staff became ill. I lost my sense of taste and smell, several of us did. We said it must have something to do with the virus, but this was dismissed by senior staff. Clinical staff care for a patient with coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England, May 5, 2020 [Credit: Neil Hall Pool via AP] Patients became more and more ill, and all medical interventions didnt work. Their oxygen saturation levels just kept dropping, despite being given oxygen. I watched patients die without family. We always tried to ensure they werent alone. Wed take turns to sit with them and hold their hands when their breathing changed, and we knew death was close. We had to lay people out (which is standard procedure), but with COVID we had special body bags, and we had to put a hazardous material sticker on the double-sealed body. It was heartbreaking to refer to a patient, someones loved one, as hazardous material. Political conclusions drawn Political attitudes among health care workers were mixed. But we all felt angry towards the infection control staff who were constantly stripping us of PPE and were hostile to our concerns. There was a general feeling that we were expendable. And the key worker label soon began to diminish due to the governments promotion of anti-science. Some families, a small minority, began to accuse us of infecting their loved ones. The atmosphere started to change. Working through 2020 was a traumatic experience and has left its mark. I know of numerous colleagues who are leaving to find other jobs, some away from wards but still in the NHS, and some away from the NHS altogether. Student nurses, brand new to a hospital environment, supposedly supernumerary and not counted in the official staff numbers, were thrust into this dangerous environment and expected to work with more experienced staff in COVID wards. This was a disgrace. I was criticised for saying to a young student nurse that the PPE was totally insufficient. The student nurse complained to her university that the environment was unsafe, which is totally correct, but staff were criticised for being truthful with the students and for causing them to not want to be on a COVID ward. They should have been protected and encouraged to work elsewhere. Again, this highlights NHS leaderships indifference. As far as the unions are concerned, we have heard absolutely nothing from them. The unions abide by the Trust policy anyway, which is based on government stipulations. Its like banging your head against the wall addressing this, because you raise things and the unions say, Its against Trust Policy. This is the default answer. The Trust policy is two years or more behind the science! There is enormous indifference with the NHS leaders, and this filters down to ward managers and senior staff. They are all yes men. The government and the NHS leaderships policies downplay the fact that COVID is airborne, because they are not prepared to bear the cost of eradicating an airborne disease. They are basing policy on the economic interests of capitalism. Another surge is here, in the form of the BA.2 variant. The NHS leadership not only isnt prepared but is facilitating the devastating impact of this. We need to break with these government yes men and have a leadership that follows scientific evidence and challenges the pandemic is over, live with it narrative and fights for a policy aimed at eradicating COVID-19. This comment was submitted to the World Socialist Web Site. As part of the anti-Russian campaign that followed Moscows invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russian research institutes and Russian scientists are being ostracized from the international scientific community. The participation of Russian institutes in international collaborations has been suspended and Russian authors have been banned from US and European-based scientific journals. Journals based in Russia are being barred from application to the extremely influential citation indexes of Web of Science and Scopus. Russian rocket prepared for ExoMars Rover. (Credit: European Space Agency) Perhaps the most profoundly universal of disciplines, scientific research is inherently an international endeavor. International collaboration is an essential part of how science is done. There is hardly a research institute in the world that does not participate in international collaborations. Nor is there an individual researcher whose work is not intricately bound with that of his or her international colleagues. Scientific journals, even national publications, are, by definition, international works. Not a single serious journal in the natural sciences features an editorial board or authors list that is not composed of members from the international community. In this light, the anti-Russian measures taken by certain scientific organizations are profoundly reactionary. The achievements of Russian scientists, notably those working in the Soviet Union, have made an invaluable contribution to science and, as a result, to humanity in general. In the USSR, despite the tragic influence of Stalinism on the field of genetics, many areas such as physics, chemistry, mathematics and space travel saw advances which were at the time the cutting edge of scientific achievement and which earned Russian scientists international recognition, even during the Cold War period. Nikolay Nikolayevich Semyonov (1896 1986) --Public domain, Unknown author Nikolay Semenov earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1956, followed by 10 Soviet scientists sharing six Nobel Prizes in Physics, including Pavel Cherenkov (1958), Lev Landau (1962) and Pyotr Kapitsa (1978). Sergei Novikov (1970) and Grigory Margulis (1978) received the Fields Medal, the highest honor that can be awarded to a mathematician. The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into orbit in October 1957. In April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. Although the defunding of science that started in the 1980s and accelerated after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 has weakened the countrys scientific activity, Russian researchers continue to play an integral role in the international scientific community. In 2011, Russian authors published 10,000 scientific papers in collaboration with their international colleagues, about double the output of national collaborations. Over 60 percent of these works were coauthored with researchers from European Union (EU) member states and over 25 percent with authors from the United States. These percentages have decreased slightly during the ensuing 10 years, due to increased tensions in Russian relations with the EU and the US, as new collaborations have shifted to China and India, but in absolute numbers Russia-EU and Russia-US collaborations have remained high. Now collaborations are being unilaterally severed by western institutions. On March 8, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world, announced that it was suspending collaborations with Russian institutions, as well as those in Belarus. The future of over 1,000 Russian scientists who work at CERN, making up 8 percent of its workforce and whose sudden departure might leave the laboratory unable to function, is now uncertain. The granting of new contracts has been officially suspended for individuals affiliated to institutions in Russia and Belarus. Since its inception in 1954, one of the aims of CERN has been to promote peace in postwar Europe. A recent article in the journal Science has compared the laboratory to a narrow but sturdy cultural bridge between East and West, which endured the coldest days of the Cold War. CERN science for peace. (Credit: CERN website) John Ellis, a theoretical physicist from Kings College London, who has worked at CERN for over 40 years, told Science, One of CERNs mottos is science for peace, and that goes back to the 1950s, when CERN was actually a meeting place for scientists from the Soviet Union and the U.S. and Europe. Ellis stressed that maintaining such ties is particularly important in times of conflict and that CERN did not expel Russian scientists when the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968 or Afghanistan in 1979. ExoMars Rover prototype at the 2015 Cambridge Science Festival (Creative Commons/Cmglee) Further examples of the ostracizing of Russian scientists includes the suspension of the collaboration of the European Space Agency (ESA) with the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos on the development of the ExoMars Rover for Mars exploration. The mission, intended to search for life and investigate the history of water on Mars, had been on track to leave for the planet in September. The launch is now very unlikely according to the ESA. The swiftest and strongest measures came from Germany, where the Alliance of Scientific Organizations, an association of the countrys most important academic organizations, has recommended that all academic collaboration with state institutions in Russia be stopped. The deep-space telescope eROSITA (short for extended Roentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array), a Russian-German collaboration launched to obtain the largest map of black holes in the universe, was switched off at the end of February. eROSITA celebrations at the Max Planck Institute command centre, 2019 (Credit: eROSITA website) The German Research Foundation (DFG), which in the past three years has funded over 300 German-Russian research projects, involving 110 million, is also suspending all its funded research projects between academics from Germany and Russia with immediate effect. What is more, funding proposals for new collaborative projects and renewal proposals for ongoing projects will not be accepted until further notice, reads a DFG statement from March 2. The energetic universe as seen with the eROSITA X-ray telescope. The first eROSITA all-sky survey was conducted over a period of six months by letting the telescope rotate continuously, thus providing a uniform exposure of about 150-200 seconds over most of the sky, with the ecliptic poles being visited more deeply. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Credit: Jeremy Sanders, Hermann Brunner and the eSASS team (MPE); Eugene Churazov, Marat Gilfanov (on behalf of IKI) On February 25, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) abruptly ended its partnership with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), a private research institute in Moscow established 2011 with a curriculum designed by MIT. Most of the institutes academic activity has been done in close collaboration with the American university. Now, the future of all such work, including research projects and students careers, is in question. The publishing industry in the US and Europe has also begun to effectively censor Russian research although, for now, few scientific journals seem to be implementing a direct ban on papers submitted by authors at Russian institutions. Elsevier, an academic publisher based in the Netherlands, and one of the most important for scientific, technical and medical content, has refused to specify how many of its journals are practicing anti-Russian censorship, commenting only that the number is very low. However, we know of at least one Elsevier Journal, the Journal of Molecular Structure, that has openly implemented an anti-Russian ban. Perhaps most critically, Clarivate, the company that owns the citation database Web of Science (WoS) and publishes the yearly Journal Citation Reports (JCR), has suspended the evaluation of new journals from Russia. It is difficult to overstate the influence the Clarivate publications have on the way international science is done and financed, and the harm that this censorship will do to Russian researchers. The WoS citation indexes are a widely used resource for the international research community that aids in the discovery of scientific literature based on citations. The publications contained in these collections are selected by a group of experts, thereby giving them a seal of quality as they increase a journals visibility internationally. The success of any scientific journal is dependent on its inclusion in Web of Science collections. Even more influential is the JCR, which every year publishes a list of the most impactful journals, together with their Journal Impact Factor (JIF), a measure of a journals citation performance. The JIF is widely used internationally and on every level by Science and Education Ministries, as well as other funding agencies, to evaluate academic institutions, research groups and down to individual researchers based on how many articles they produce in journals published in the JCR. The excluding of Russian journals from this publication will serve to isolate the Russian research community from their international colleagues. The first signs of this isolation are already apparent. As a reaction to the anti-Russian bans from Web of Science and individual journals, the Russian government has removed requirements for scientists to publish their work in international publications and in those indexed in Web of Science. This contrasts with virtually every other countrys science policy. The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education will now be developing its own system for evaluating research. Many in the scientific community oppose the anti-Russian bans. In an open letter opposing the ban, published in the journal Science on March 24, five prominent scientists from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom protested the Shutting down [of] all interaction with Russian scientists and emphasized maintaining non-ideological lines of communication across national boundaries, and opposing ideological stereotyping and indiscriminate persecution. The International Space Station is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). The International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a flyaround of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony modules space-facing port on Nov. 8, 2021. (Credit: NASA Johnson/Crew-2/Flickr) I put a very high value on cooperation in science and technology said John Holdren, a research professor in environmental science and policy at Harvard Kennedy School and one of the authors of the letter. My colleagues and I who wrote that letter together were alarmed by reports that what was underway was a wholesale demonization and isolation of Russian scientists. He stressed the importance of Russian scientific efforts on climate change and the Arctic in particular. While collaboration between governments is understandably on hold, the letter continues not all engagement with Russian scientists should be. They pointed to the fact that many thousands of Russian academics and students live and work in the West and are critical of the Russian government. Surely these Russians should not be lumped together with leaders of the Russian state. Rather, humanitarian provision should be made to ensure that, as their visas and passports expire, they are not forcibly repatriated to face not only isolation from their Western colleagues but also, very possibly, persecution, they wrote. John Ellis, the Kings College physicist that spoke to Science about the CERN Russia ban, said, My personal attitude is that we should really strive to maintain that collaboration, if its at all politically possible, but adds ominously, The scientists sitting around the table may express their opinions, but its basically going to be a political decision. In addition to these and other statements by researchers across the globe protesting the anti-Russian ban in science, the author of this letter, a physicist at a Spanish laboratory, would like to point out the staggering hypocrisy of these measures. As the universal discipline of science is being divided along national lines and tens of thousands of Russian researchers are unable to continue working with their western colleagues, Web of Science continues to review journals from Saudi Arabia, whose bombs have killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis. The Journal of Molecular Structure continues to publish papers by Israeli researchers even though that countrys leaders systematically devastate the Palestinian population. And, of course, no one has ever considered banning US researchers from any scientific journal or collaboration, despite 30 years of unprovoked wars of aggression by their government against Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia, Libya, the list goes on. After unveiling her Fall/Winter 2022 collection at New York Fashion Week, Tia Adeola has released the latest range comprised of dresses, jumpsuits and more. Ahead of the release, the garments were shot in a series of visuals shared exclusively with Hypebae. The images were taken in Nigeria, Adeola's home country that served as inspiration for the collection. The FW22 lineup arrives in small drops, with Drop 1 including a silver silk dress highlighted with "You were supposed to protect me" text. Meanwhile, graphics are printed onto a maxi-length black dress, as well as a white shirt. Adeola's signature ruffles are seen on a two-piece set. Peep the first FW22 drop above. You can head over to Tia Adeola's website to shop the pieces. Miracle: Letters to the President, directed by Lee Jang-hoon, was Saturday named as the best film winner at the Far East Film Festival in Italys Udine, following an audience poll. The South Korean-made film was described by festival organizers as a sweet-natured hymn to the power of dreams. Second and third places belonged to Chinese-produced pictures, Li Ruijuns Return to Dust and Xing Wenxiongs To Cool to Kill, respectively. The festivals Black Dragon season ticket holders voted for Return to Dust, while users of the MYmovies service championed Koreas Kingmaker by Byun Sung-hyun. More from Variety The jurors for the best debut film awarded the festivals White Mulberry award to Too Cool to Kill. The Mulberry Award for best screenplay Jojo Hideos Love Nonetheless. If the order of the prizes seemed like a return to pre-COVID normality, so too did the operation of the event, Udines 24th. After a wholly online edition in 2020 and a hybrid event in 2021 the 2022 edition was largely operated as a conventional in-person event, which welcomed over 40,000 human spectators. COVID controls operated inside the two main cinemas, but were no more restrictive than taking an airplane in Europe these days. And at outdoor events participants went mask-free. Stephy Tang and Josie Ho, escaped the far-more disease-restrictive Hong Kong, to appear in person in Udine, show their latest films and meet audience members and media. The iconic Japanese actor-director Kitano Takeshi was presented with a Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement award. But it was a virtual ceremony, where FEFF organizers gamely tried hard to wear their best smiles. Story continues Kitano undid two years of preparations with his last-minute change of heart at Tokyos Narita Airport, which he blamed variously on airport lounges, the war in Ukraine, ongoing COVID concerns and his own poor health. Speaking by video link, Kitano said that he was finishing a film and will screen it at Udine in future. Udine also saw the return of in-person pitching sessions, a project market and workshops within the context of its Focus Asia industry sessions, that counted some 250 participants. The Ties That Bind initiative, seeking to link the European and Chinese independent film businesses, was also present. Held some three weeks before the Cannes film festival, and after two years of isolation for many Asian film folk, these were a useful re-introduction for many to in-person meetings, crowds and parties. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. KYIV/BEZIMENNE, Ukraine (Reuters) -Around 100 Ukrainian civilians were evacuated from the ruined Azovstal steelworks in the city of Mariupol on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, after the United Nations confirmed a "safe passage operation" was in progress there. The strategic port city on the Azov Sea has endured the most destructive siege of the war with Russia - now in its third month - with Pope Francis, in an implicit criticism of Moscow, telling thousands of people in St Peter's Square on Sunday it had been "barbarously bombarded". "For the first time, we had two days of a ceasefire on this territory, and we managed to take out more than 100 civilians - women, children," Zelenskiy said in a nightly video address. The first evacuees would arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday morning, he said, adding that he hoped conditions would continue that allowed for more people to be evacuated. With fighting stretching along a broad front in southern and eastern Ukraine, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged continued U.S. support for Ukraine "until victory is won" after she met Zelenskiy in an unannounced visit to Kyiv. Russia's military has turned its focus to Ukraine's south and east after failing to capture Kyiv in the early weeks of a war that has flattened cities, killed thousands of civilians and forced more than 5 million to flee the country. In Mariupol, Moscow declared victory on April 21 even as hundreds of holdout Ukrainian troops and civilians took shelter in the Azovstal steelworks, a vast Soviet-era complex with a network of bunkers and tunnels, where they have been trapped with little food, water or medicine. Negotiations to evacuate the civilians had repeatedly broken down in recent weeks, with Russia and Ukraine blaming each other. But on Sunday, more than 50 civilians arrived at a temporary accommodation centre after escaping from Mariupol, a Reuters photographer said. Story continues The civilians arrived on buses in a convoy with U.N. and Russian military vehicles at the Russian-held village of Bezimenne, around 30 km (18 miles) east of Mariupol, where a row of light blue tents had been set up. One of the evacuees, Natalia Usmanova, 37, said she had been so terrified as Russian bombs rained down on the plant sprinkling her with concrete dust that she felt her heart would stop. "When the bunker started to shake, I was hysterical. My husband can vouch for that. I was so worried the bunker would cave in," she told Reuters in Bezimenne. A spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said a "safe passage operation" had started on Saturday and was being coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Russia and Ukraine. He said no further details could be released so as not to jeopardise the safety of evacuees and the convoy. Denys Shleha, commander of Ukraine's 12th National guard brigade, speaking to television on Sunday from the Azovstal plant, said several hundred civilians remained in bunkers there, including about 20 children, and that one or two additional evacuation efforts of similar scale would be needed. Russia's defence ministry said 80 civilians had been evacuated from the plant. A plan to evacuate civilians from areas of the devastated city outside the steelworks had been postponed to Monday morning, Mariupol's city council said. U.S. 'STANDS WITH UKRAINE' Footage posted by Zelenskiy on Twitter on Sunday showed him, flanked by an armed escort and dressed in military fatigues, greeting a U.S. congressional delegation led by Pelosi outside his presidential office the previous day. "We stand with Ukraine until victory is won. And we stand with our NATO allies in supporting Ukraine," Pelosi, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, said on Sunday at a press briefing in Poland. Zelenskiy praised as substantive four hours of talks with Pelosi focused on U.S. weapons deliveries, adding he was grateful to all of Ukraine's partners who visit Kyiv at such a difficult time. U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in New York he would add provisions to a $33 billion Ukraine aid package to allow the United States to seize Russian oligarchs' assets and send money from their sale directly to Kyiv. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve the aid package on Thursday in what would mark a dramatic escalation of U.S. funding for Ukraine. Biden spoke with Pelosi on Sunday about her trip, a White House official said without elaborating. Moscow calls its actions a "special military operation" to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was not demanding that Zelenskiy "give himself up" as a condition for peace. "We are demanding that he issue an order to release civilians and stop resistance. Our aim does not include regime change in Ukraine," Lavrov said in a media interview published on his ministry's website. EASTERN PUSH In the east, Moscow is pushing for complete control of the Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists already controlled parts of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces before the invasion. On Sunday, Kharkiv region governor Oleh Synehubov warned residents in the north and east of the city of Kharkiv to remain in their shelters due to heavy Russian shelling. Reuters could not immediately verify reports of shelling in the area. Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, in a social media post, urged people to evacuate while it was still possible. Ukraine's military said Russian forces were fighting to push north from Kherson to the cities of Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih, and Zelenskiy said Russian troops continued to launch strikes on residential areas and had destroyed grain storage depots. "This will only build up the toxic attitude to the Russian state and increase the numbers of those working to isolate Russia," Zelenskiy said. (Reporting by Hamuda Hassan and Jorge Silva in Dobropillia, Ukraine, and Natalia Zinets in Kyiv; Additional reporting by Reuters journalists; Writing by Clarence Fernandez, Frances Kerry, Alex Richardson and Michael Martina; Editing by David Goodman, Alexandra Hudson, Angus MacSwan, Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft) The University of Illinois Springfield and its faculty union, UIS United Faculty, have reached a tentative deal on a new four-year contract. The university and union announced the agreement Saturday afternoon following a nine-month stalemate after the prior collective bargaining agreement expired last August. The new deal is backdated to Aug. 16 and will expire Aug. 16, 2025. After a lengthy session on Friday, the two sides re-engaged Saturday just before noon before a deal was announced. Faculty members had set Monday as a potential strike date last week after they saw little progress to date on the new contract. UIS United Faculty represents about 130 members and is part of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100. More: Voting UIS faculty members express 'no confidence' in provost Separately, the Coalition of Concerned Professors, a group of UIS tenured and tenure-track faculty, had approved a declaration of "no confidence" Thursday for provost and vice chancellor Dennis Papini, citing mismanagement of enrollment and faculty resources in addition to creating a "toxic" campus climate. United Faculty had asked for salary increases and more manageable workloads, with the university seeking to try and find a balance between compensating faculty with keeping the university in sound financial order. The last time faculty at UIS went on strike was in 2017, just two years after the union organized. The two sides reached a tentative agreement after five days. In a statement, the two sides said that they were committed to working together on meeting the university's goals and mission. "We look forward to continuing to work together to fulfill our universitys mission to provide a uniquely student-centered educational experience both in and out of the classroom through active learning, meaningful research and impactful civic engagement that prepares graduates to contribute fully to society," the release said. Story continues Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor at the University of Illinois Springfield Ryan Williams wears a union button on his cap during a rally held by the UIS teacher's union for a new contract Thursday March 31, 2022. [Thomas J. Turney/ The State Journal-Register] Kristi Barnwell, an associate professor of history at UIS, said Saturday a date for ratification of the tentative agreement hasn't been set. Contact Zach Roth: (217) 899-4338; ZDRoth@gannett.com; @ZacharyRoth13 This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: University of Illinois Springfield, faculty reach contract agreement Daily reported cases of COVID-19 continued to rise in New Mexico, with 1,117 reported in the week between April 18 and 25, according to weekly reports from the state Department of Health. That was an increase from 979 the week before, following a trend of increased reported cases week over week during April. Health officials have acknowledged that daily cases are, more than ever, undercounting the true number of cases as New Mexico relies more on at-home testing rather than lab-confirmed tests that are reported to the health department. New COVID variant is spreading across the US. Here's what you need to know about BA.2 A New Mexico Department of Health graph from April 25, 2022 depicts daily COVID-19 cases, with the broken line representing 7-day rolling averages. An increase in infections had been anticipated as the BA.2 subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is now associated with more than 68 percent of current cases nationwide, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A fellow descendant of the highly contagious omicron variant, BA.2.12.1, now accounts for 28.7 percent of those U.S. cases; and in South Africa, subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are associated with new surges in cases there. Health officials have prioritized hospitalizations and deaths over daily case rates and test positivity. On Thursday, the health department reported 39 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, with three requiring ventilators. Earlier in April, the health department said some New Mexico hospitals remained full, but not with COVID-19 patients. Downtown traffic is reflected in the window of COAS Books in Las Cruces, N.M., where a sign in the window requests customers maintain physical distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Thursday, April 28, 2022. State acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase said the current "run on hospital beds" was for patients with chronic conditions or illnesses that were diagnosed late during 2020 and 2021, which was attributed to the pandemic. The official death toll from COVID-19 as of Thursday was 7,484, and included 19 new fatalities reported that day. While the recovery rate from COVID-19 has always been high, the disease also had a high case fatality rate compared to influenza (with which COVID-19 shares many common symptoms), at 1.43 percent. Story continues Vaccinations continued to demonstrate effectiveness against severe disease and mortality, with showing that patients who had not completed a primary series of vaccine accounted for 58 percent of cases since February, 75.7 percent of hospitalizations and 79 percent of deaths. A majority of New Mexico adults have completed a course of vaccine with at least one booster, per health department data: 68.2 percent as of April 25, while 80 percent have at least completed a course of Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson and Johnson vaccine. More: BA.2 variant of COVID-19 is spreading in New Mexico, but hospitalizations lower than in March A graph compares COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths among unvaccinated, fully vaccinated and vaccinated/boosted patients from February through April 25, 2022. Large majorities in all three categories are among those who had not completed a course of vaccine. And 7 percent, more than 78,000 people, have received a second booster dose, available to people over 50 or who are immunocompromised. Nearly 270,000 New Mexicans age 65 or over, comprising 82.6 percent of that cohort, were fully vaccinated with a booster, and 55,000 of them had taken a second one. Among minors, 62 percent of those between 12 and 17 had completed a vaccine series, while more than 43 percent had taken a booster. Among the age 5 through 11 group, for whom boosters are not available, 32.5 percent had completed a series. Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New BA.2 variant pushes COVID-19 cases upward in New Mexico Mark Esper privately described Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger as 'superheroes' for voting to impeach Trump after the Capitol riot, book says Then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks as then-President Donald Trump listens during a daily White House coronavirus press briefing on April 1, 2020. Win McNamee/Getty Images Trump's former defense secretary described Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger as "superheroes" after they voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot. That's according to "This Will Not Pass," by NYT's Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin. Cheney and Kinzinger now sit on the House select committee investigating the insurrection. Donald Trump's former defense secretary, Mark Esper, said that two House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Capitol riot were "superheroes." That's according to "This Will Not Pass," by The New York Times reporters Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, an early copy of which was obtained by Insider. The book says that Esper privately described Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger as "superheroes" after they joined eight other House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump on one charge of incitement of insurrection. Cheney and Kinzinger now serve on the bipartisan House select committee investigating the deadly siege. Esper served as Trump's defense secretary from 2019 to 2020. He was fired on November 9, 2020, days after Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden. Esper's ouster came after months of strife with Trump. Among other things, the defense secretary quietly worked with Congress to rename military bases that were named after Confederate leaders, a move Trump strongly opposed; and he publicly broke with Trump on whether active-duty troops should be deployed to quell civil unrest following the police murder of George Floyd. Trump was said to be livid with Esper and wanted to fire him at the time but was talked out of doing so by other administration officials, The Wall Street Journal reported. Esper was the first Cabinet-level official Trump fired as part of his post-election purge. In the days after, the president also terminated Chris Krebs, the US's top cybersecurity official who had spent weeks publicly batting down Trump's conspiracy theories suggesting the election was plagued with widespread fraud. Story continues The Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021 sparked a slew of resignations from other Cabinet-level and senior Trump administration officials. Among those who resigned were White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham; deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews; education secretary Betsy DeVos; transportation secretary Elaine Chao; special envoy to Ireland and former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney; deputy national security advisor Matt Pottinger; and senior cybersecurity official John Costello. Insider has reached out to representatives for Esper for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Christian conservatives took aim at COVID-19 mandates, big government, critical race theory and LGBTQ issues at a Culture Engagement Summit Saturday, urging one another to become engaged in politics through things like voter registration drives, running for office and standing for conservative values. Right now, Christians are concerned about seeing our culture unraveling much more quickly than we ever expected, but theyre also concerned about what their response should be to that unraveling, said Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas and a religious adviser to former President Donald Trump. Jeffress preached that, Jesus said, You are the salt of the earth and that the primary function of salt was once to serve as a preservative. One reason God has left Christians on the earth is to push back against evil, to delay the worlds unraveling, Jeffress said. Unfortunately, there are too many Christians today who have become passive toward evil in our culture the real reason is theyre afraid, theyre cowards, and thats why they dont want to get involved, Jeffress said. More: Mark Meadows, other GOP leaders rally Republicans in Memphis More: State challenges residency of House candidate Lee Mills, says home is in Fayette County Jeffress also spoke about how the U.S. Supreme Court is expected this summer to rule on a Mississippi court case that could effectively end Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that ruled a state law banning abortion was unconstitutional. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas and an Evangelical adviser to former President Donald Trump, speaks Saturday, April 30 at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. That challenge to Roe is because of the results of an election in 2016, the election of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States, Jeffress said. In electing Trump, Christians werent voting for a pastor or a pope, they were voting for a president, Jeffress said. Elections make a difference. The Saturday event at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary was hosted by the Citizens for America Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates conservative Christian principles, and had about 300 attendees. It coincided with the relocation of the foundation from Boone, North Carolina, to Memphis. Story continues A day earlier, the Conservative Baptist Network also hosted an event at the seminary, drawing between 115-150 people to the seminarys campus for worship and preaching. Other speakers Saturday voiced the debunked theory that President Joe Biden stole the 2020 election, called LGBTQ people groomers and warned of Marxism infiltrating college campuses. Topics of breakout sessions offered ranged from Pro-life 101 to The cancel culture on college campuses to How coffee can help fund your ministry. Rick Green, a former Texas State Representative and founder of Patriot Academy, said the United States is definitely no more than one generation from losing freedom. We live in a moment right now where every little thing you do in your community, your church and your family could be the difference-maker, because we are teetering between liberty and tyranny. Everything you do in your family, your church and your family could be the difference that pushes us between liberty and tyranny, Green said. He strongly opposed COVID-19 mandates, calling masks face diapers and referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the Center for Demented Confusion. Demonic, yelled someone in the audience. This has been an absolute out of control federal government, Green said, describing walking through the airport during the federal mask mandate without wearing a mask I was Katniss from Hunger Games, I just showed my sign of defiance, he said, raising his hand in the three-fingered salute from The Hunger Games. Youre kind of giving them three middle fingers, kind of saying I wont comply. Mark Meadows, former congressman and chief of staff to former President Donald Trump, speaks Saturday, April 30 at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. Mark Meadows, former congressman and chief of staff to Trump, spoke about the iconic battle in 1776 when George Washington moved his troops across the Delaware under the cover of fog. Most said it was the hand of God protecting those who were willing to fight for freedom, Meadows said. Im here today to tell you the fog is lifting here in this country for the patriots who are willing to get in the boat and row one by one. So my question for you is are you willing to get in the boat? Are you willing to row not knowing the outcome? Meadows is currently resisting a subpoena to appear before the Jan. 6 committee, claiming executive privilege. In December, the U.S. House voted to hold Meadows in contempt of Congress for defying the subpoena. He also has frequently appeared in the news in recent weeks as text messages have revealed the extent of the communication between Trump's inner circle as they discussed fighting election results after Biden's win in 2020. A recent court filing also alleged that Meadows was warned of possible violence on Jan. 6, 2021. For subscribers: Jan. 6 committee aims for June hearings on Capitol attack. Will they affect the 2022 elections? Meadows did not address the controversies, but Jim DeMint, former U.S. senator and chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute, said Meadows is being attacked every day. The attacks are not really about Mark Meadows at all, DeMint said. Its about you and every Christian who dares to get involved in .. politics or the public square at home. They want to intimidate everyone to look at the attacks and say I dont want to ever be a part of that. In other news: How to find your polling place which may have changed for Tuesday's Shelby County Primary More: Mark Meadows, other GOP leaders rally Republicans in Memphis Ryan Helfenbein, executive director of Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University, quoted from Jeremiah 29:4-7, when God tells the Israelites, Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile for in its welfare you will find your welfare. The people of God, wherever they are in the world, are called to seek the welfare of the city, Helfenbein said. I believe Christians ought to build hospitals, orphanages, schools. I believe Christians ought to disciple those who are in government. I believe Christians ought to build hobby stores, sell chicken sandwiches and bake cakes. Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Robert Jeffress, others urge Christian conservatives to engage in politics As Russias war in Ukraine continues, human rights groups have gathered evidence of Russian atrocities against civilians including executions, rapes, and mass murder. These are war crimes, President Biden asserted recently, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin should be held accountable. Biden is right. Russias crimes in Ukraine clearly violate the laws of war enshrined under the Geneva Conventions as well as the UN Charter, which prohibits wars of aggression. The International Criminal Court, or ICC, has already opened an investigation into Russias alleged crimes in Ukraine. The U.S. wants to support the move, but theres one big problem: Like Russia, the United States itself refuses to join the court. And that could make it more difficult to get justice for Ukrainians. National courts would ideally prosecute the perpetrators of international crimes. But when states prove unable or unwilling to prosecute them including for political reasons the ICC has stood as the court of last resort. Farrah Hassen, J.D., is a writer, policy analyst, and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Cal Poly Pomona. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org. Established in 2002 by the Rome Statute, the ICC has 123 member states where it can investigate and prosecute crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and state acts of aggression. (Ukraine has also not formally joined the court, but has submitted to its jurisdiction in the past.) International courts have long played an important role in pursuing justice and the larger fight against impunity under international law. After World War II, the prominent Nuremberg trials, led by the U.S. and allied powers, prosecuted Nazi war criminals. The U.S. has also backed international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, which have held high-ranking individuals accountable for terrible crimes. More: Titusville missionary sets course to fly water purifiers to Ukraine's war zone But what happens when a state is too powerful to be bound by international courts? The problem isnt the absence of law but rather its breakdown, when states refuse to comply and arent held accountable. This can further inflame conflicts. The resulting pattern of war, displacement, and rampant human rights violations were seeing in Ukraine has tragically become all too familiar. Story continues But its not just Russia. war crimes When President Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute, he advised against U.S. ratification out of concern that the court could assert jurisdiction over U.S. officials and servicemembers. President George W. Bush then famously unsigned the Rome Statute less than one year before the invasion of Iraq. The Trump administration went so far as to sanction ICC prosecutors who were investigating possible U.S. crimes in Afghanistan. The U.S. now has an opportunity to reset its contentious relationship with the ICC and the global rule of law more broadly. A resolution now in Congress, introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), calls for the U.S. to join the ICC. Another resolution would repeal a 2002 law that prohibits U.S. support for ICC investigations. Enacting both would bolster the courts effectiveness through greater U.S. involvement and show that the U.S. is serious about international criminal justice. More: L3Harris forms group to address military threats and needs in Ukraine and elsewhere Ultimately, no country should stand in the way of accountability and remedy for victims of conflict, whether in Ukraine, Palestine, Yemen, or elsewhere. That includes the United States, which must also reckon with its own crimes committed during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. White House calls Putin's war crimes against Ukrainians "tragic, but not surprising" We cannot successfully cooperate with the rest of the world in establishing a reign of law, warned Robert H. Jackson, the chief U.S. prosecutor at Nuremberg, unless we are prepared to have that law sometimes operate against what would be our national advantage. Law alone wont deliver global justice. But if we want fewer wars, more diplomacy, and more international cooperation, then no country can remain above it. Farrah Hassen, J.D., is a writer, policy analyst, and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Cal Poly Pomona. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org. Support local journalism and become a subscriber. VIsit floridatoday.com/subscribe This article originally appeared on Florida Today: The U.S. needs to join the ICC OKLAHOMA CITY Tributes from grieving family and friends poured in Saturday for three University of Oklahoma meteorology students who died while storm chasing in Kansas this weekend. A tight-knit community of weather lovers and storm chasers is grieving after the three students died in a car crash late Friday while returning to Norman, Oklahoma, from storm chasing in Kansas. The loss of the students, Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, prompted many to express their grief, but also to remember why they loved them. Leigh O'Neil, a geographic information science major at OU, said the three students were the "kindest, smartest people" she'd ever met. O'Neil said a selfie of the three mugging for the camera that they sent to their friends Friday is a perfect representation of how funny they were. "You couldn't be around them without laughing your ass off," she said. "They truly would do anything to help others out, even before their own well being. ... They are already missed greatly. Their loss is insanely painful for us all." Fatal collision occurred during rainstorm in northern Oklahoma Nair, Short and Brooks were driving southbound on a wet highway when their SUV hydroplaned, left the roadway to the right and then came back onto the highway and stopped. The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan was struck by a semi traveling in the same direction, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Gavin Short, orange shirt, and Nicholas Nair, left of Short, are pictured with their friends. Short and Nair died in a fatal car crash while coming home after storm chasing in Kansas. The three were pronounced dead at the scene about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City. Tonkawa Fire Department officials and paramedics worked nearly five and a half hours to remove them from the wreckage. The semi truck driver was transported to a hospital in Blackwell but has since been released. The accident took place around 11:23 p.m. Friday night, just three hours after the students witnessed a small tornado north of Herrington, Kansas, according to their Twitter accounts. Story continues Evan Short, 17, Gavin Short's younger brother, said Gavin "lived more in his 1.5 years at OU than in his first 18 years of life." "I can find solace in the idea that now he can live among the clouds which he loved so much," Evan Short said. OU's College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences issued a statement saying that as finals weeks approaches, counseling was available "as we all grieve this unthinkable heartbreak." "Our community in Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences is close-knit, and our School of Meteorology is very much a family. Now, more than ever, we must come together in kindness and heartfelt support for one another. Please join us in offering thoughts and prayers for those most impacted, and providing them with privacy," the statement said. Gavin Short, 19, is pictured holding a storm chaser sign he was gifted with at Christmas in December 2021. Meteorological community mourns OU students' death on social media Those in the weather and meteorology community took to Twitter Saturday to express their condolences over the news. Chris Dixon, a fellow OU meteorology student, was part of a separate group of students storm chasing Friday. He saw his first tornado over Andover, Kansas, but woke up Saturday to hear that three peers had died. In the past 24 hours, I've had a range of emotions. I was sad (I thought my first chase was going to be a bust), I was joy-filled (I saw my first tornado), and I was in shock (waking up to news that fellow OU students died). Chris Dixon (@catholic_wx) April 30, 2022 "Words cannot describe this rollercoaster of emotions from one of the highest points of my life to one of the most close-to-home serious ones," Dixon wrote on Twitter Saturday. A well-known storm chaser and OU meteorology alum Reed Timmer called the students friends and said they are close to his heart. "My thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends," Timmer said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Three OU Meteorology students die in car crash after storm chasing Insider's reporter visited the Caribbean for the first time on a recent cruise and longed for more time in Honduras and Mexico. Joey Hadden/Insider I recently went to the Caribbean for the first time onboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. It was my first cruise ever and we visited Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I only got a small taste of each place, but two ports left me wishing I had more time to explore. I recently took my first cruise on the world's largest cruise ship to the western Caribbean. The author at a port in front of the world's largest cruise ship. Joey Hadden/Insider Read more: I just went on my first cruise here are 15 things that surprised me the most about this type of travel The ship, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, stopped at four ports during the seven-night cruise Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; as well as Royal Caribbean's own private island in the Bahamas. Wonder of the Seas docked in Roatan, Honduras. Joey Hadden/Insider Source: Royal Caribbean Read more: Step aboard the world's largest cruise ship, which is so big it has 8 'neighborhoods' spread across 18 stories At each stop, cruise passengers have the option to plan their own day or join a Royal Caribbean excursion at an extra cost. The latter includes fully-planned itineraries with activities like hikes, tours, and beach time. Wonder of the Seas docked at a port in the western Caribbean. Joey Hadden/Insider The ship stopped at each port for about seven hours. I thought it was only enough time to get a small taste of each place, and the first two ports left me wishing I had more time to explore. People explore the port in Roatan, Honduras. Joey Hadden/Insider The first was Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras surrounded by one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, according to the Roatan Tourism Bureau. A view of the port in Roatan from the ship. Joey Hadden/Insider Source: Roatan Tourism Bureau I spent my day in Roatan on a Royal Caribbean excursion that went to Mayan Eden Eco-Park, a nature preserve with hiking trails and wildlife. The author hikes in Mayan Eden Eco-Park. Joey Hadden/Insider To get there, a tour bus drove us from the port through Coxen Hole, the capital city. Passing through so quickly made me wish I could explore the streets on foot. A market seen from the bus window. Joey Hadden/Insider After a short drive, we arrived at the park, where our first stop was a butterfly sanctuary. A room where caterpillars are kept. Joey Hadden/Insider Here, I observed more butterflies at once than ever before. Different species fluttered around the enclosed natural space, and I also noticed plants I'd never seen before. Story continues Butterflies land on plants inside the sanctuary. Joey Hadden/Insider After visiting the butterflies, we spent the next hour or two hiking a trail on Ocelot Mountain. The trail on Ocelot Mountain. Joey Hadden/Insider The jungle terrain was lush and shaded with rich green grass, leaves, and vines. It was beautiful. Plant life on the trail. Joey Hadden/Insider If I wasn't on a guided tour, I'd probably spend all day hiking these trails, I thought. A railing on the trail. Joey Hadden/Insider I wished I had time to relax in one of the hammocks placed periodically throughout the hike. An empty hammock the author longed to relax in. Joey Hadden/Insider During the trek, we crossed two suspension bridges, which was a new experience for me. A suspension bridge seen through tree branches. Joey Hadden/Insider The first one was short, preparing me mentally for the second bridge, which I thought might be scary since our tour guide said it was longer. The first suspension bridge. Joey Hadden/Insider I ended up loving the feeling of being suspended above the forest. I wish I could have crossed it again. The second suspension bridge. Joey Hadden/Insider On the way back to the port in Roatan, we stopped at a gift shop. Instead of shopping, I chose to explore the area outside the store to get a better sense of my surroundings until it was time to go back to the ship. The parking lot of the gift shop. Joey Hadden/Insider Back onboard, I longed for more time in Honduras and went to the ship's top deck to get a better look at the island before departing. A view of Roatan from the ship. Joey Hadden/Insider As we started to sail away, I saw houses and streets at the foothills of the mountainous jungle and wondered about the lives of the people inside them. Homes on the coast of Roatan. Joey Hadden/Insider I now want to plan a trip back to Roatan on my own to see more of the island and take a longer hike. A view of the coast of Roatan. Joey Hadden/Insider The next day, I woke up in port in Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, according to the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo. A view of Cozumel from the port dock. Joey Hadden/Insider Source: Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo The island is known for its large and untouched wild nature area and surrounding coral reefs, according to the same source. Another view from the dock. Joey Hadden/Insider Source: Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo Since I'd never been to Cozumel, I was excited to see what it looked like outside of the port. The author takes a selfie in Cozumel. Joey Hadden/Insider But I didn't realize until I got there that the excursion I booked through Royal Caribbean took the entire day in Tulum, which was a 45-minute ferry ride away. A ferry docked in Cozumel. Joey Hadden/Insider The ferry made me seasick and I was disappointed that I wasn't going to have any time in Cozumel, but I'll come back, I thought. The author's view from the ferry ride. Joey Hadden/Insider The ferry took us to Playa Del Carmen on the coast of mainland Mexico, and we took a bus to ancient Mayan ruins and the beach. Playa Del Carmen from the ferry. Joey Hadden/Insider Our first stop was the Mayan ruins. In ancient times, Tulum was a successful trading hub and one of the last Mayan cities, according to their website. Inside the ancient walls of Tulum. Joey Hadden/Insider Source: Tulum Ruins The ancient walls were next to forests. I was glad to be able to enjoy some nature on the way. Forests surrounding Tulum. Joey Hadden/Insider We entered the ruins through a small tunnel in the ancient wall surrounding the grounds. The entrance to the ancient city. Joey Hadden/Insider Inside, there were several preserved stone structures and temples from the 13th century. An ancient Mayan temple. Joey Hadden/Insider Some of the temples were rebuilt on top of existing temples, the tour guide said. Mayan ruins in Tulum. Joey Hadden/Insider I noticed some of the structures had to be supported with modern technology, but most stood alone. A structure with added support. Joey Hadden/Insider To me, the coolest part of this experience was knowing that archaeologists were able to learn so much about the history of this site only by observing what's left of it. Ancient Mayan ruins in Tulum. Joey Hadden/Insider After the ruins tour, we went to the beach where I swam in the clearest water I'd ever seen. Clear waters in Tulum. Joey Hadden/Insider The beach was a relaxing way to end the day after a history lesson. And although I enjoyed my time in Tulum, I was still left wondering what it would have been like to spend the day in Cozumel. The author enjoys her day in Tulum. Joey Hadden/Insider I also had fun at the last two ports, Costa Maya, Mexico; and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. But neither stood out to me quite as much as the first two did, where I really felt like I was experiencing a new country. Costa Maya (L) and CocoCay (R). Joey Hadden/Insider After my cruise, I added Roatan and Cozumel to my travel bucket list. I'll definitely be back. The author views the ship from a lookout in Roatan. Joey Hadden/Insider Read the original article on Insider ashton-mila-70s-show-2-2000 Michael Lavine/20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock The gang's (mostly) all here. After announcing their upcoming '90s-set spinoff of That '70s Show, Netflix confirmed Saturday that original stars Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Wilmer Valderrama will make special guest appearances on That '90s Show. The streaming platform also shared a first look at Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp reprising their roles as Red and Kitty Forman on That '90s Show, for which they will serve as series regulars and executive producers on the 10-episode multi-camera series. RELATED: Netflix's That '70s Show Spinoff Will See Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp Return as '90s Grandparents Smith, 78, shared the photo to Twitter, showing himself and Rupp, 71, sitting at the Formans' kitchen table. "Same Red and Kitty. Different decade," he wrote. Grace, 43, also celebrated the news with a photo of himself rocking a T-shirt for the show's fictional high school, the Point Place Vikings, class of '77. "Yup, still fits," he captioned the photo. Additionally, Ashley Aufderheide, Callie Haverda, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi, and Sam Morelos join the cast as the show's young new stars. Notably absent is Danny Masterson, who is currently waiting to stand trial for three counts of rape this August, for which he has pleaded not guilty. Story continues A plot description from Netflix reads: "Hello, Wisconsin! It's 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer, where she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red. Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll never dies, it just changes clothes." Although Grace previously told PEOPLE he would return to his That '70s Show roots "in a heartbeat," he said of the possibility last month on SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show: "Oh, I don't know. It's all top-secret." RELATED: Wilmer Valderrama Is Open to Reprising Fez on Upcoming That '90s Show Series: 'I'd Never Say No' The Emmy Award winner said to PEOPLE in 2017 that he'd come back "mostly just to hang out with everyone 'cause it's such a great group of people and I miss them so much," adding: "I love that group. I thought I was lucky to get the part but I now realize I was really lucky to get a part that was with that group of people." Valderrama, 42, also expressed his interest in returning to the franchise earlier this month in an interview with TV Insider. "I'm a little busy right now, but I support them so much. I'm rooting for them. I wish them nothing but the best," he said, adding: "If the timing is right, I'd never say no." RELATED VIDEO: Wilmer Valderrama Reveals 'That '70s Show' Cast Have Discussed a Follow-Up Movie The original show series, which ran for eight seasons on Fox from 1998 to 2006, followed Point Place teens Eric Forman (Grace), Donna Pinciotti (Prepon), Michael Kelso (Kutcher), Jackie Burkhart (Kunis), Steven Hyde (Masterson), and Fez (Valderrama) as they navigated life, love, and adolescence in 1970s Wisconsin. A short-lived spinoff entitled That '80s Show ran for one season. Biden took a dig at Putin during White House Correspondents' Dinner, telling Trevor Noah he won't be jailed for roasting him on stage Left: Joe Biden; Right: Trevor Noah Left: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File; Right: Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images Biden took a dig at Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. He invited comedian Trevor Noah to the stage and said he wouldn't go to prison for making fun of him. "Now you get to roast the President of the United States and, unlike in Moscow, you won't go to jail," Biden said. President Joe Biden on Saturday took a jab at Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying comedian Trevor Noah would not be imprisoned for making fun of the president in the US. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to turn this over to Trevor now, strap myself into my seat," Biden said in his introduction for Noah at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. "And, Trevor, the really good news is: Now you get to roast the President of the United States and, unlike in Moscow, you won't go to jail," Biden added. Putin is known for orchestrating retaliatory efforts against his critics, usually through jailing or poisoning them. Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, one of Putin's most high-profile critics, was poisoned in 2020 with Novichok, a nerve agent that blocks signals from the nerves to the body and breaks down the body's ability to do various functions. At the time, he had been en route to Germany to receive medical treatment. When he returned to Russia last year, he was arrested and detained. Since then, he's been recovering in jail, continuing to speak out against Putin through his lawyers and allies. In March of this year, a judge accused him of fraud and embezzlement and sentenced him to 13 years in a maximum-security prison. From prison, he's also continued to protest, including by going on a hunger strike to bring attention to his medical condition. He said at the time of the hunger strike that his doctors have not been granted access into the prison, and he therefore has been unable to receive medical care. Story continues The White House Correspondents' Association dinner is usually held every year to honor the journalists who report on the White House and the president. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. But this year, Biden in his remarks at the dinner talked about the strength of the free press in the United States, as well as the role it has in upholding the pillars of democracy. Read the original article on Business Insider Emma Raducanu produced her best performance since the US Open to surge past Marta Kostyuk and into the third round of the Madrid Open. Having managed back-to-back victories at an event just once in the seven months following her New York triumph, Raducanu has now done it twice in as many weeks. A fortunate draw helped in Stuttgart before she produced a very creditable performance in defeat by world number one Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals. Dropping only 3 games! @EmmaRaducanu is all smiles as she continues her straight-sets run in Madrid #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/p0su2UreoU wta (@WTA) May 1, 2022 The 19-year-old has built on that in the Spanish capital, winning 11 of the last 12 games to see off Tereza Martincova in the opening round after a poor start and then racing to a 6-2 6-1 success against fellow teenager Kostyuk. Speaking on court, Raducanu said: Im definitely very happy with my performance today. Marta is a great opponent, we played several times in the juniors and then once last year. I knew it was always going to be a really tough battle so I went out there trying to be really aggressive and it definitely paid off. The pair are almost the same age but Ukrainian Kostyuk, who has spoken extensively about the effect the war in her homeland has had on her, has been playing on the main tour since she was 15 while Raducanu prioritised her school work and has been a full-time professional for less than a year. Emma Raducanu hits a backhand (Manu Fernandez/AP) They played in Romania last October, with Raducanu affected by illness and Kostyuk winning by an identical scoreline, but here the British player began on the front foot and did not let up. Story continues Everything was working, in particular her forehand and serve, with Raducanu dropping just six points on her own delivery during the match. The ninth seed will next face another Ukrainian in Anhelina Kalinina, who was a surprisingly one-sided winner over home star Garbine Muguruza. Clay is not normally a particularly happy hunting ground for British players but the altitude of Madrid makes conditions faster and Raducanus victory was one of three on Sunday. Twenty-year-old Jack Draper, who is surging up the rankings, claimed his second best win by ranking, taking out world number 27 Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 6-3 in his first tour-level match on clay. Sonego has struggled this season and Draper, ranked 124, took full advantage to set up a clash with sixth seed Andrey Rublev. Dan Evans arrived in Madrid having lost six of his last seven matches but claimed a morale-boosting 6-3 6-4 success against Argentinian Federico Delbonis. Former Nixa standout Chase Allen has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears. The four-time Second Team All-Big 12 tight end will have the chance to continue his football career after six seasons at Iowa State. The school announced his signing after the draft on Saturday. At 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, Allen is coming off a year he caught 26 passes for 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was his best statistical year after catching 74 passes for 810 yards and six touchdowns over his career. The son of former Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Kansas head coach Terry Allen was a three-star out of Nixa High School and was ranked as a top-25 tight end nationally. He chose Iowa State over Michigan, Nebraska, Florida State, Oklahoma State and others. The three-sport standout was a first-team all-state performer in 2015 after catching 33 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns his senior year. He also recorded 92 tackles and 11 for a loss as a linebacker. As a wide receiver as a junior, he caught 13 passes for 189 yards. Allen was named the conference player of the year and an all-state performer on the basketball court as a senior averaging 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He also set the state record for longest javelin throw in 2015 while also winning the 2016 Class 5 state championship at the same event. Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Chase Allen, Iowa State and Nixa grad, signs with Chicago Bears LOUISVILLE, Ky. Scores of people lined Broadway Sunday to watch the Kentucky Derby Festival's longest-running event: the Zoeller Pump Pegasus Parade. This year marked the parade's return after two years of COVID cancellations, as well as the first time in the parade's nearly seven-decade history that it was held on a Sunday instead of the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby. At East Broadway and South Hancock Street, Louisville native Brittany Greene celebrated the move to a Sunday parade. Greene, 36, had been coming to the parade since she was 5, watching from the same spot a few blocks from her family's Smoketown home. But with work and her own children needing to be picked up from daycare and school, it was hard to keep that tradition going when the parade was at 5 p.m. on a weekday. Pegasus Parade: Find yourself in these photos from the Kentucky Derby Festival Zoeller Pump Pegasus Parade "It means a lot to come together as a city to bond, to watch the floats and bands," she said while helping her son Kamren, 3, with the light-up sword she bought him from a vendor along the parade route. With sunny skies and temperatures near 80, finding shade was paramount to many of this year's parade attendees. Near Broadway and South Preston Streets, Karina Vera and Richard Keefer were looking to escape the sun to watch the parade with their three children. Louisville residents for the last five years, this was their first time at the parade. Daughters Ellie, 6, and Marley, 5, were preoccupied with keeping their hair from blowing into the ice cream cones they were savoring. Both said they were most excited to see horses. 2022 Kentucky Derby: Watch experts give advice on top horses, what horses to avoid Further down Broadway, near Second Street, James Black was busy placing large rocks around the poles of the red tent he erected to give his family extra protection from the sun. Black, 60, said he was 9 the first time he saw the parade crawl through downtown Louisville. Story continues "It's awesome to see all these good folks out here from different towns and cities," he said before repositioning a rock to stop a wind gust from toppling the tent. Strong winds were responsible for more than just knocking a few sticks of cotton candy from the hands of seemingly inconsolable children. Powerful gusts were also to blame for the parade's namesake inflatable white-winged horse being unable to make the journey. This year's theme was "Loving Louisville," and parade-goers were treated to a procession of marching bands and dance troops, a 4-ton Idaho potato (it's not real, of course) on a big rig and riders on horseback followed by those unsung heroes tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear were among the parade's VIPs, along with the city's most famous rescue dog Ethan and Virginia Moore, the executive director of the Kentucky Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing who became a household face thanks to her work interpreting Beshear's daily COVID briefings into sign language. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Pegasus Parade: 2022 Kentucky Derby Festival Zoeller Pump event starts LAS VEGAS Megan Fox is going back to her action-movie roots. The actress, who broke out in Michael Bay's live-action "Transformers" film in 2007, is taking the lead as one of the fresh faces of the "Expendables" franchise. Fox appeared in a first look at the fourth installment, titled "Expend4bles," which premiered at film convention CinemaCon on Thursday. In the explosive new footage, Fox tackles Jason Statham over a couch, shattering glass and wrestling the macho Brit across a living room floor. Later, she cocks a gun and walks in step with her fellow "expendables," a motley crew of elite mercenaries played by Sylvester Stallone, Andy Garcia, Dolph Lundgren and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, another newcomer to the series. More CinemaCon: Jeff Goldblum responds to fan's thirst tweet, talks 'Jurassic World' sequel 'I actually got ridiculed': Megan Fox gets candid about 'misogynistic' Hollywood beginnings Megan Fox stars in next year's fourth "Expendables" movie with Sylvester Stallone. "This is one of the great action franchises," Jackson said in a pre-taped video message, teasing, "But this is my movie. I'm taking over." "Expend4bles" also debuted a giant new poster at CinemaCon, an annual gathering for movie theater owners and journalists, with the tagline, "They'll die when they're dead." 'Top Gun: Maverick' first reactions: Tom Cruise is 'our greatest movie star' in 2022's 'best film' Fox has starred in a diverse slate of projects in recent years, filling in for Zooey Deschanel on Fox sitcom "New Girl," playing a reporter in the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" reboot, and channeling Indiana Jones as host of Travel Channel series "Legends of the Lost." Story continues She's also starred in a handful of films with her fiance Colson Baker, better known as rapper/punk rocker Machine Gun Kelly. They first co-starred together in last year's "Midnight in the Switchgrass," meeting on the crime thriller's set in 2020 and falling in love. The Bat is back: Michael Keaton returns as Batman in first look at 'The Flash' movie with Ezra Miller "It was more of the quiet moments between the scenes where all the magic was happening," Fox told USA TODAY last year. "But the first day I felt crazy. That energy was really overwhelming and super chaotic. I was having all these feelings and I wasn't sure what they were, I just knew something intense was happening." 'Midnight in the Switchgrass': Megan Fox dispels Lala Kent rumor, revisits her 'magic' meeting with Machine Gun Kelly Fox and Baker are set to appear in two more movies together this year, "Taurus" and "Good Mourning." "Expend4bles," meanwhile, will open in theaters next year. Contributing: Bryan Alexander This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Megan Fox: 'Expendables 4' first look finds her tackling Jason Statham Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler is planning to propose spending $3.9 million to add 28 unarmed public safety specialists to the Police Bureau. That would bring the total to 62, which is more than three times the current number, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Wheeler said the goal is to free up sworn police to handle higher priority calls. The Police Bureau is confident it can fill the jobs, noting that 89 people have applied. The additional funding also would cover 14 more vehicles for the public safety specialists. The specialists handle 33 types of calls, including cold stolen vehicle calls, cold theft calls, calls about recovered stolen vehicles or other property, suspicious subjects, vandalism and non-injury accidents. They also help police with traffic detours, conduct searches for missing persons and attend neighborhood meetings. Scroll down to continue reading More news from KIRO 7 DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP Earlier this year, the city budget office recommended an outside evaluation of their work. An evaluation has since found in an average shift, a public safety specialist can save 4.6 hours of patrol officer time through the calls the specialist can handle. Portland would do well to significantly increase the number of PS3s (public safety specialists), to expand their working hours, and to grow the calls/tasks they are trained and authorized to handle, the review said. The first public safety specialists were hired in June 2019. They have 200 hours of training during a five-week academy and ride with a field training officer for four to eight weeks. The mayors request is expected to be released Tuesday as part of his requested city budget for the next fiscal year. As the third month of the primary severe weather season peak begins, AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring multiple threats for storm development across the south-central United States in the coming days. On Friday and Saturday, a potent storm produced strong-to-severe thunderstorms across the country's center, which prompted tornado warnings across at least seven states. One tornado carved a path of destruction from Sedgwick County into Butler County in Kansas shortly after 8 p.m. central time Friday. Teams from the Wichita National Weather Service office were sent out on Saturday and Sunday to gather data and estimate the possible rating of the tornado. Meteorologists are tracking an area of low pressure that emerged from the central Rocky Mountains Sunday evening. The storm has the potential to produce a multiday threat of severe storms from far eastern New Mexico to portions of Missouri and Arkansas. On Sunday afternoon, the storm threat began to develop along the New Mexico and Texas border through the Oklahoma panhandle and is forecast to advance eastward throughout the overnight hours. Several severe hail reports were recorded in Texas and New Mexico on Sunday afternoon, including a report of baseball size hail near Lovington, New Mexico. Tennis ball size hail was also spotted near Andrews, Texas, which is located northeast of Odessa. Later in the day, baseball size hail was reported near Coyanosa and Stockton, Texas. The cell that brought severe hail to Stockton later produced a confirmed tornado in McCamey, Texas, according to the National Weather Service. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP "A warm front to lift northward across the state of Texas with a dryline setting up across far eastern New Mexico. As the front lifts northward, it will open the door for Gulf moisture to surge back along the dryline," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer. As moisture from the Gulf of Mexico collides with the piece of energy diving out of the West, it will provide the spark needed for thunderstorm development. Story continues Storms that erupted Sunday night produced reports of hail, damaging wind gusts and multiple accounts of tornadoes touching down. "Regions from eastern New Mexico to western Texas are currently facing exceptional drought, so they will take any rain they can get; however, some of that rain can be quite heavy," stated Bauer. Some cities impacted by the violent storms on Friday and Saturday will once again be within the hot zone for potential severe storm development as storms transition eastward on Monday. "Rain and storms will be ongoing in the morning across the I-35 corridor from Wichita to Oklahoma City. This activity is expected to push eastward later in the morning and can allow the atmosphere to destabilize going into the afternoon," according to Bauer. Depending on how quickly the rain clears during the early morning, another disruptive evening could occur on Monday from southeastern Kansas to central Oklahoma. The risk for renewed rounds of downpours, travel disruptions, hail, and even the threat of tornadoes can impact cities such as Wichita, Kansas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, explained Bauer. From early to midweek, the area of low pressure that can produce storms on Sunday and Monday across the southern Plans is expected to track farther east into the Ohio Valley by Tuesday, bringing with it the threat for more severe weather. Storms can turn severe throughout the afternoon hours on Tuesday as they track from Arkansas to Ohio and bring threats of downpours, hail and damaging wind gusts. Meanwhile, back in the Plains, more rain, and severe weather is possible midweek. "Yet another storm following a similar path through the interior West on Wednesday can bring the chance for severe thunderstorms back into the forecast for the region," noted Bauer. Once again, thunderstorms will be capable or producing hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. More rounds of downpours is also set to target the area, which could help make another small dent in drought conditions across the region. For the latest weather news, check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform. Finland and Sweden appear to be edging closer to joining NATO, a move that leaders and experts see as the best way to confront Russia as it escalates its rhetoric on nuclear weapons. The conflict in Ukraine has forced the two Nordic nations to reconsider their absence from the alliance forged after World War II, which commits members to defending one another if attacked. Mr. Putin is proving NATO relevant and necessary, said Sean Monaghan, a visiting fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. If NATO didnt exist, youd have to invent it. Finland in particular but also Sweden are very stoic on these matters and see Russia with clear eyes. And thats why I think ultimately they will join NATO because theyve seen Russias revisionist threat has been building. And now it has boiled over with the invasion of Ukraine, and theres kind of no way back, and the best way for them to secure themselves against the threat posed by Russia is to join NATO. As politicians and poll results in the two countries have reversed course on the prospect favoring joining NATO after decades of abstaining Moscow has renewed its threat of using nuclear weapons. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russias Security Council and former president of Russia, wrote in a Telegram post on Thursday that there can be no talk of non-nuclear status for the Baltic if Finland and Sweden join NATO, adding that the balance must be restored. He said that should Finland and Sweden become part of the alliance, Moscow would need to seriously strengthen the grouping of land forces and air defense, deploy significant naval forces in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. Its a particularly concerning threat to Finland, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia. Finnish Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen said Friday that it is highly likely her country will join NATO, calling Russias brutal war in Ukraine a wake-up call to us all. Story continues That eagerness could also put more pressure on Sweden, which would be left as the only Nordic country outside the alliance and which would break its longstanding practice of neutrality by joining. The fact that these countries were not on track to join NATO three months ago and now they are is definitely a response to Russian aggression. Russia should realize its aggression against Ukraine has spooked a lot of countries, even to the point that a country like Sweden, which has a 200-year history of nonalignment, is now looking at actually joining NATO, said Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO who also served as a special envoy on Ukraine. Finlandization was coined as a word to describe the Soviet Unions insistence that Finland not exercise its own choices on security. Now theyre going to do it anyway. So in that sense, these are definitely responses to Russian aggression, and its probably good for Russia to realize that, he added. NATO expansionists are hopeful the two countries will formally signal their intention before NATOs June meeting in Madrid, where members could sign an accession protocol that would also need to be individually approved by each countrys legislative body. Experts say they are likely to be welcomed into the alliance. They have advanced, modern militaries and are seen as security providers versus security consumers, Monaghan said. But beyond the practical defense implications, the move would also send a significant message. This takes place within the context of what President Biden has called the contest between autocracies and democracies. So certainly membership would project an image of Western solidarity, transatlantic solidarity and I think would be an injection of democratic values into NATO, so that would be visible to Russia as well, said Gene Germanovich, an international defense researcher with the Rand Corporation. Once newcomers are invited by NATO members, each of the 30 member countries would have to go through their own process for approving the treaty, a task that can last years but one that experts are hoping with proper motivation could take as little as a few months. Volker said he was hopeful Sweden would complete its own internal decision-making prior to the June summit. NATO summit leaders want to be able to make this decision once and then they want to close any gray zone between going to be a member of NATO but not yet a member of NATO and ultimately becoming a member of NATO they want to close that gap as quickly as possible, he said. But there are a few potential sticking points. Leo Michel, a former director for NATO policy at the Department of Defense, said Hungary is the international player most likely to slow walk the ratification, while any opposing word from former President Trump, a frequent NATO critic, could complicate getting consensus in the U.S. Senate, where a two-thirds vote for approval is needed. Given the closeness of Viktor Orban in Hungary to Putin, I could imagine at least that Hungary might be slow to ratify, said Michel, now a fellow with the Atlantic Council. Given the way Trump treated NATO Im a little bit nervous that they will get all of the necessary Republican votes. Maybe they will in the end [but] I actually dont think it will be easy, he said. If he finds this something else to attack the administration on, there may be some people who listen to that and dont want to go crossways with him, he added. Its not clear how Russia might respond to a NATO expansion, though experts view ground action as unlikely. If you look at Russias current predicament, from a conventional forces perspective theyre very occupied needless to say in Ukraine, so it would be difficult to redirect substantial forces to the North, Germanovich said. But Russia would seek to punish alliance members via other means such as disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks as well as potentially acting on its nuclear threats. Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that theyve faced so far militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons, CIA Director William Burns said in a speech Thursday. While weve seen some rhetorical posturing on the part of the Kremlin about moving to higher nuclear alert levels, so far we havent seen a lot of practical evidence of the kind of deployments or military dispositions that would reinforce that concern, Burns said. But we watch for that very intently, its one of our most important responsibilities at CIA. Joining NATO would show Finland and Sweden do take Russia seriously, even as they buck any pressure from Putin. Presumably Mr. Putin will be unhappy with Finland and Sweden joining NATO. One of the purported reasons for going into Ukraine was to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, so if Finland and Sweden do join, hell have only have himself to blame, Monaghan said. And there will be quite some kind of poetic justice, as it were, if NATO could prove the open-door policy that Putin wanted to slam shut, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Texas kicker Cameron Dicker will begin his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams. After not hearing his name called in the 2022 NFL draft, he quickly found a home with the Rams as an undrafted free agent. Its unclear what his signing bonus is at this time, but he was widely viewed as the best kicker available once Cade York was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round. Former Texas kicker Cameron Dicker is signing with the #Rams, per source. A new home for Dicker the Kicker in L.A. Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 30, 2022 The New York Post ranked the top specialists in the 2022 NFL draft and Dicker was viewed as the No. 2 kicker, landing just behind LSUs Cade York. What makes Dicker even more attractive as a draft prospect is his ability to double down as a punter and kicker if needed. Dicker finished his collegiate career at Texas as the programs career leader in total points as a kicker. He accumulated 386 points in 49 games, which also ranks as the third-most among any position in Texas history. The former Longhorn landed fourth in program history with a career field goal accuracy at 75.9 percent, making 60 of 79 field goals over four years. Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions. Western state officials are sounding an early alarm about a coming wildfire season that could be exacerbated by an ongoing drought, warning that conflagrations that were once confined to hot and dry summer months are both starting earlier and continuing later into the year. Months before the worst of fire season begins, massive blazes have already devastated parts of the West. More than 173,000 acres have already burned in New Mexico, a greater area of land than has burned over the entire year in most of the last decade. In December, a huge blaze destroyed hundreds of homes in neighborhoods between Denver and Boulder, Colo. Today, two fires are burning in national forests between Prescott and Flagstaff, Ariz. The early burns come after a year of almost constant fire, from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. They are part of a decades-long trend of higher temperatures, drier atmospheres and, as a result, worsening disasters as the climate changes. Each year has gotten more and more challenging, said Hilary Franz, Washingtons commissioner of public lands. Its getting hotter and drier. In many states, there is little relief in sight. Californias Department of Water Resources reported in April that the snowpack stood at just 38 percent of average, an indication that the record drought is on for another year. Recent rains across the West offered a temporary reprieve, but fire experts have warned that spring rains can have the perverse impact of spurring the growth of shrubs and grasses, which burn easily and spread fire more widely. In Arizona, as our temperatures begin to warm up, that grass crop is quickly dying out and any ignition source into that fuel bed can start a fast-moving wildfire, said John Truett, Arizonas fire management officer. Across the West, the number of acres burned has risen precipitously in recent years. More than 10 million acres have burned in three of the past seven years, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, based in Boise. For generations, Americas approach to wildfires has been about suppressing conflagrations after they begin, policies that have allowed buildup of combustible fuels, such as dead trees and undergrowth, on neglected forest floors. In some places, the drought has left those fuels drier than the average piece of paper, meaning they are more likely to burn, and to burn quickly, when they are exposed to lightning or human-caused fire. In recent years, state governments have been trying to change that pattern, adding fire fighters and foresters, bolstering fuel cleanup efforts and reinforcing rural communities that extend into what fire experts call the urban-wildland interface, the nexus between combustible forests and human settlement. We are vastly improving our year-round fire response, expanding our arsenal of world-class firefighting tools, and continuing to activate every tool we have to help our communities prepare for and respond to the threat of wildfires and climate change, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said last week. Temperatures are creeping back up and that means Arizona faces a heightened risk of wildfires, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said in a statement last month. At the state level, were going to do all we can to protect Arizonans and try to mitigate any lasting damage to our communities. States are getting new help from the federal government, after the bipartisan infrastructure law passed last year directed $3.3 billion to wildfire management projects. The bill included half a billion dollars for thinning projects and another half a billion for prescribed burns meant to limit the threat of fires that spin out of control. For some states, the tools most critical to preventing small fires from growing out of control are new aircraft. Federal wildfire-battling fleets are already stretched to a breaking point during the worst of fire season, shuttling between major fires throughout the west based on which blazes are the most threatening. In Washington, the fire-fighting fleet has grown from 15 aircraft to 35, including some surplus helicopters still studded with bullet holes from their service during the Vietnam War. Stationed at bases across the Cascade Mountains, those aircraft helped keep 94 percent of the fires that erupted last year to less than 10 acres. The moment there is smoke in the air, our aircraft are up and flying. The moment theres a spark, Franz said. We need more air resources. We need every state to have more air resources. Battling wildfires is made all the more complicated by the patchwork nature of Americas Western public lands. Much of the West is owned by the federal government including 80 percent in Nevada, more than 60 percent of Utah, Idaho and Alaska, and more than 40 percent of California, Oregon and Wyoming. Other shares are owned by the states, by tribal governments and by private landowners, creating an overlapping puzzle of responsibility that is not always clear in the heat of the moment. When federal fire officials are occupied elsewhere, the onus to control fire on public lands often falls to state governments that are already overtaxed. Making matters worse, wildfires are treated differently under federal emergency management plans than are other types of natural disasters, potentially leaving states on the hook for defending federal land until Congress or an administration acts. Federal land are half our problem, Washingtons Franz said. If we are not helping them, we will not see a reduction in our catastrophic fires. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Weather Alert ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM PDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Overnight temperatures expected to drop into the low to mid 30s with sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 to 32 in the cold prone areas of these zones. * WHERE...In Washington, Yakima Valley. In Oregon, Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Sensitive plants and vegetation should be protected. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing. && Spring Roll Dream', a short animated film by Vietnamese director Mai Vu, is set to be screened at the Cannes Film Festivals category for works by film-school students. The ninth-minute animated work is a graduation project of Mai Vu a student of the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in England. It was nominated in the La Cinef, a category that honors works by students from film schools across the world. There were 1,528 submissions in this category, but only 16 were selected for nomination. The stop-motion short tells the story of a Vietnamese family in the U.S. The main character is Linh, a single mother building a stable life for her son Alan. But that balance is disrupted when her father Sang visited from Vietnam. During one meal, he insists on making Vietnamese spring rolls for his grandson but Linh wants mac and cheese instead. From here, the conflict arose between Sang and Linh. Thats when "Linh is confronted with the past and culture she left behind and the question of where it belongs in her family's new life". The character of Sang was inspired by a lonely old father who wants to connect with his children and grandchildren but only knows how to express his love by cooking for them. "During the process of finding an idea for my graduation film, I wanted to tell a story about a man. I got the inspiration for the film from my father and family," Mai said. The key contributors to the project were Mais university mates. Due to distance involved and Covid-19, many parts of the film had to be done online. NFTS provided 9,000 ($11,300) for the film and it was mainly used to buy materials, pay for studio expenses, voiceovers and collaborators. Since making a stop motion film requires a lot of work and production time, the crew could only produce one minute of film a month. Mai came up with the idea for "Spring Roll Dream" in her first days in the Directing Animation class of NFTS. She completed the film earlier this year. During over two years of making the film, the filming process took nearly eight months. Mai said: "Going to Cannes is an honor for me and the people who made this film. This is a rare opportunity. I hope to bring the perspective of Vietnamese to friends from other countries". She was born in HCMC and has been working in animation since 2011. From 2012-2015 she directed more than 70 episodes of Xin Chao But Chi (Hello Pencil), the first stop motion animated series made in Vietnam. In 2020, she went to the UK to study animation at the NFTS and graduated in March this year. The Cannes festival will be held from May 17 to 28. The best three short films in the La Cinef category will receive awards. A driver checks fruit quality at the border with China in Lang Son Province in December 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Vietnamese exporters are finding it difficult to ship their products to China, where tightened Covid-19 measures are doubling transportation time and quadrupling costs. Since the beginning of this year mango exporter Thanh Tung of the southern province of Dong Thap has been unable to export to China and only been able to sell his fruits domestically. He blamed it on the stringent restrictions, with some cities locked own. "Many farmers have stopped harvesting mangoes as prices have fallen to very low levels and there are no buyers". Another exporter in the southern province of Long An, who asked not be identified, said the transportation time to China has doubled due to delayed customs procedures. He has stopped exporting to China and is looking for other options. The recent lockdowns in Shanghai and other Chinese cities have brought fresh challenges to Vietnamese exporters who were already facing difficulties in sending their goods across the border since the end of last year. Forty six cities are currently under full or partial lockdown, affecting 343 million people, Reuters reported Friday. Bloomberg said containers in Shangha port have to wait 12.1 days before trucks come to pick them up, three times the time it used to take at the end of March. Vo Quan Huy, director of banana export company Huy Long An, said a shortage of containers causes his export orders to be delayed by days. His employees have to work even at night as container arrival schedules are unpredictable, he said. The cost of shipping the fruit to China has nearly quadrupled from a year ago to VND7,500 per kilogram, he said. "We made profits in the first four months, but margins have largely been eaten up by the rising costs". Yet he is not trying to find other markets, and is instead looking for ways to cut costs. "We cannot switch to a new market whenever difficulties arise. We need to learn to adapt". China was Vietnams second biggest export market behind the U.S. in the first quarter at $13.7 billion. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Make your house a home For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas sign up now! The country's two largest manufacturers, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor reported a reduction in dispatches to dealers in March due to a scarcity of electronic components. Tata Motors, Skoda, and Kia India, on the other hand, reported their highest monthly wholesales in history last month. Toyota Kirloskar Motor claimed its March dispatches were the greatest in the last five years, while Mahindra & Mahindra started its March passenger vehicle shipments were also up significantly. The countrys largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said its domestic dispatches in March declined 7 per cent to 1,43,899 units from 1,55,417 units in the year-ago period. For the full financial year 2021-22, the company posted a total sales of 16,52,653 units, a growth of 13 per cent over 2020-21. "The shortage of electronic components had some impact on the production of vehicles in FY 2021-22. The company took all possible measures to minimise the impact. As the supply situation of electronic components continues to be unpredictable, it might have some impact on the production volume in FY 2022-23 as well," MSI noted. Also read: Kerala public transport hikes fares; check increased Bus, Auto, Taxi fares here Last month, sales of mini cars, including Alto and S-Presso, fell to 15,491 units against 24,653 in the same month last year. Similarly, sales in the compact segment, including models such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, increased marginally to 82,314 units against 82,201 cars in March 2021. Utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, declined to 25,001 units from 26,174 vehicles in the year-ago month, MSI said. Rival Hyundai Motor India said its total sales declined by 14 per cent to 55,287 units in March, compared to the same month last year. The company had dispatched 64,621 units to its dealers in March 2021. Tata Motors said its passenger vehicle sales in March were the highest ever in a month. The company reported wholesales of 42,293 units last month, up 43 per cent, from 29,654 units in March 2021. "We posted the highest ever annual, quarterly and monthly sales, supported by a strong demand for our New Forever range and agile actions taken on the supply side," Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD Shailesh Chandra said in a statement. Mahindra said its passenger vehicle dispatch rose 65 per cent to 27,603 units last month in the domestic market against 16,700 units in March 2021. "Demand continues to be strong, even as we remain watchful of the global supply chain and take appropriate action, as required," M&M CEO (Automotive Division) Veejay Nakra noted. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported total wholesales of 17,131 units in March, its best-ever monthly sales in five years. Last month, the company's dispatches rose 14 per cent compared to 15,001 units in March 2021. "We have been witnessing tremendous demand from the market, and our March wholesales stand testimony to the current demand trends. Not only that, but it also reiterates the kind of popularity all Toyota models enjoy in their respective segments and the fact that we have been able to offer products basis our customers' expectations," TKM Associate Vice President (Sales and Strategic Marketing) Atul Sood said. Automaker Kia reported its best-ever monthly sales in March at 22,622 units. The company said its wholesales last month increased by 18 per cent to 22,622 units compared to the same month last year. "Our growing sales number can be attributed to our recently launched Carens, which has won Indian customers' hearts. We look forward to this outstanding positive trajectory continuing, backed by our revolutionary products and quality customer experience services," Kia India VP and Head of Sales & Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said. Similarly, Skoda Auto reported a five-fold increase in its sales at 5,608 units in March compared to 1,159 units in the same month last year. This is the highest ever sales volume clocked in a month by the automaker in its two-decade history in India. The previous monthly high for the company was recorded in June 2012, when it had dispatched 4,923 units. "The concerted efforts of the entire team to ensure the successful roll-out of the INDIA 2.0 project are bearing fruit. This project is not only about new platforms and products, but an entire rejuvenation of our business processes, enhancing the ownership experience, widening the reach of our network, getting closer to our customers and a variety of value-added services," Skoda Auto India Brand Director Zac Hollis said. MG Motor India reported a 14.5 per cent decline in retail sales in March at 4,721 units, hit by supply chain constraints due to the new COVID-19 variant and the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage. The company had retailed 5,528 units in March last year. Nissan India also reported a 25 per cent decline in domestic wholesales at 3,007 units in March. The company registered 4,012 units in domestic wholesales in March 2021. With inputs from PTI A Boeing 747 jumbo plane originally priced at 235 million ($295 million) owned by Saudi crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is getting scrapped for not being used for many years. The customized private jet was supposed to be used by the Prince, however, he died before the aircraft was delivered to him in 2012. The all-white 747-8 was parked in Switzerland till it rusted as the Saudi royal family denied taking possession of the jet. The plane was being outfitted with a sumptuous VIP cabin in Basel, Switzerland, but with the prince passing away, the plane was left without an owner. Now the jumbo jet is being taken to the famous boneyard in Arizona, USA for scrapping and dismantling. The flight is now taking a flight to Pinal Airpark in Arizona, USA, a world-famous aeroplane boneyard where obsolete planes are dismantled for scrap. This flight can possibly be the last flight for the Boeing 747. The plane's 42 hours of flight time make it practically new; a conventional Boeing 747 is supposed to fly for about 100,000 hours before being decommissioned. The plane took off from Basel, where it had spent the previous ten years, completed on Friday, April 15, and landed in Arizona 11 hours later, according to flight monitoring data. Also read: Mumbai airport sees growth in passenger movement as government resumes international flights However, just three days before the flight to Arizona, the plane was repurchased from the Saudi royal family by its manufacturer, Boeing, indicating that the plane may be given another chance. However, despite its popularity and capability, Boeing just announced that it will stop producing world-renowned aircraft later this year. The jumbo jet, often known as the 'Queen of the Skies,' has long been a favourite of American presidents and, when first introduced in 1970, proved to be the key to inexpensive mass-market air travel in the United States. Live TV #mute NEW DELHI: The crescent moon for the Islamic month of Shawwal was not sighted on Sunday evening, therefore clerics across the country announced that the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in India on May 3. Lucknow's Markazi Chand Committee said that the Shawwal crescent was not sighted on Sunday evening hence, May 2 will be observed as the last day of Ramzan and Eid ul-Fitr will be celebrated on May 3. "Marzaki Chand Committee Farangi Mahal, Qazi-e-Shahar Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahli Imam Idgah Lucknow has announced that today is the date 29 Ramzan-ul-Mubarak 1443 H. There is no moon of Shawwal on May 1, 2022. So tomorrow is 30th roza and Eid-ul-Fitr will be on May 3, 2022. Eid-ul-Fitr namaz at Indgah Lucknow will be held on 03 May 2022 at 10 am," Marzaki Chand Committee said in a statment. Office of Chief Kazi to the Government of Tamil Nadu said in a statment also said that the Eid-ul-Fitr will be on May 3. "The new moon for the month of Shawwal 2022 (1443 H) was not sighted on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Therefore, Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid) will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 3, 2022," it said. The Executive members of Ruyat-E-Hilaal Committee of Karnataka announced that the crescent was not sighted anywhere across the country and hence the Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on May 3. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims around the globe to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. Ramzan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to Islamic belief. Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which involves rigorous fasting for about 30 days.During this month, Muslims do not consume food or water from dawn to dusk. They eat Sehri (a pre-dawn meal) and break their day-long fast with 'Iftar' in the evening. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan. The festival is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated by sharing a delightful dish Seviyan (Vermicelli) that comes under different varieties like Hath Ka Seviyan, Nammak Ka Seviyan, Chakle Ka Seviyan and Laddu Seviyan. All these variants can be used in the dish called Sheerkurma, which is also made on Eid and distributed among friends and relatives. Live TV An Okinawa Praise Pro electric scooter caught fire in Hosur, Tamil Nadu on April 30 while the owner was driving the EV. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), battery maker, and dealer shared exclusive details about the incident and the company is not to be blamed this time. It has been discovered that the e-scooter, namely the Okinawa Praise Pro which was purchased last year, had not been brought for service for many months, as reported by IANS. "At the time of delivery, customers are informed about EV scooter usage, battery maintenance, and regular preventive services, and the same is also clearly stated in the companys owners manual. We conduct vehicle health checkup camps and awareness campaigns at regular intervals to ensure the smooth running of the vehicle," the dealer told IANS. Also read: Tata Nexon EV facelift to launch on May 11, expected to get 400 km battery range "Despite repeated reminders to the customer in the form of phone calls, this scooter has not been brought in for a regular service checkup for months," it added. The recent reminders were dated April 11, 18, and 26, as per the company records. Samrath Kocher, Chief Executive Officer of Trontek Electronics Pvt. Ltd., who supplies batteries to Okinawa Autotech, stated that the battery quality and manufacturing standards follow all the regulatory guidelines as per the norms. "This particular vehicle did not turn up for service for many months despite several reminders for Service checkups by CRM," an official spokesperson from Okinawa Autotech stated. "As a responsible company, we are regularly doing service and awareness campaigns with our dealer partners to increase awareness and educate them on the usage of Okinawa scooters and the upkeep of the batteries," he said. Also read: Kerala public transport hikes fares; check increased Bus, Auto, Taxi fares here For service initiatives, we have a strategic partnership with My TVS and over 700 local authorized garage owners to provide customers with convenient service at any time and from any location. Besides, we, as a responsible brand, have always followed the world-class manufacturing process and are certified as an IATF-16949:2016 company to deliver defect-free products to our customers," he further added. Based on the discussions with the above stakeholders and the verification of all facts, it can be concluded that because EV is a new technology, it is important for customers too to understand `How to Take Proper Care` of vehicles and maintain them regularly. For the larger vision of green and clean energy for the next generations, it is the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, including OEMs, dealers, customers, and even society, to take responsible action so that these types of incidents can be avoided and the trust in EVs can be cemented. (With inputs from IANS) Live TV #mute Lviv: Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, going to the station to meet people displaced by the war with Russia before later leaving after air-raid sirens sounded. Jolie, 46, is a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, which says more than 12.7 million people have fled their homes in the past two months, which represents around 30 percent of Ukraines pre-war population. During the visit to the station, Jolie met volunteers working with the displaced, who told her that each of the psychiatrists on duty spoke to about 15 people a day. Many of those in the station are children aged from two to 10, according to volunteers. "They must be in shock ... I know how trauma affects children, I know just having somebody show how much they matter, how much their voices matter, I know how healing that is for them," she said in reply. At one point during her visit to the station, she tickled a small girl dressed in red, who laughed out in delight. She also posed for photos with the volunteers and some of the children. Later on, air-raid sirens started to sound, and Jolie together with her aides walked quickly out of the station and got into a waiting car. Last month, in her role as special envoy, Jolie visited Yemen, where millions of people have been displaced by war. Aurangabad: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said there is no need for making face masks compulsory in the state as of now, but if there is an increase in new COVID-19 cases, then face coverings will be made mandatory. Tope was speaking to reporters in Aurangabad on Saturday, when Maharashtra reported 155 new coronavirus cases, as against 148 on Friday. "The figures are growing in small spaces which is alarming. Hence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (recently) held a meeting with chief ministers of states and told them to be on alert. As of today, there is no need for restrictions. But, if the cases go up, we will have to impose restrictions and make masks compulsory," he said. Tope said they have currently decided to "wait and watch". "We need to pay attention to the vaccination against COVID-19 in age group of 12-14 and 15-17 years. There are some challenges in this as schools are now closed. If any protocols are issued by the Centre for 6-12 years age group, we will implement them on a fast pace," Tope said. The minister also said that though the vaccination is not mandatory, "we have to show people the advantages of getting inoculated and convince them to take the jabs". Maharashtra had done away with all the COVID-19 related restrictions on April 2 on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa, the Marathi New Year. However, Tope had then urged people to wear masks voluntarily to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra Maharashtra on Saturday (April 30) reported 155 new coronavirus cases and one pandemic-related death, the state health department said. It took the caseload in the state to 78,77,732 and death toll to 1,47,843. There are 998 active cases in Maharashtra now. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region -- comprising Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and neighbouring areas -- reported 115 infections during the day. The Pune division -- which comprises Pune, Solapur and Satara districts -- recorded 27 new cases. The lone death was reported from Mumbai. Maharashtra's recovery rate is now 98.11 per cent while the death rate is 1.87 per cent. Live TV New Delhi: Amid the threat of the fourth wave of Covid-19, West Bengal on Saturday reported 55 new coronavirus infection cases. This number raised the tally in the state to 20,18,260, a bulletin issued by the health department said. The death toll remained unchanged with no fresh fatality due to the disease reported from any part of the state, the bulletin stated. As many as 24 recuperated from the infection since Friday, pushing the total recoveries in the state to 19,96,693. As per the revised data, the number of active cases rose to 366 in the last 24 hours, which is up from 335 the day before, according to the department. As many as 25,055,522 samples have been examined in the state thus far, including 13,697 since Friday. Meanwhile, a health official on Friday said that the Covid-19 situation in Bengal was normal with a very small number of people testing positive daily. "The situation in the state is absolutely fine at the moment. There has been almost no death in the last few weeks. Also, the number of new cases is very paltry," he said. "But, we will still suggest people maintain the safety protocols since there are regions in the country where we are noticing a slight rise in the number of cases. We have to keep ourselves protected," he added. New Omicron variant found in India The health department of Bihar on Thursday detected a new variant of Omicron in the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS). The new variant BA.12 is 10 times more dangerous than BA.2 which was detected during the third wave of Corona in the country. Prof Dr Namrata Kumari, the HOD of the microbiology department of IGIMS, said: "Keeping in view the rising Covid cases, we had started genome sequencing of samples of Omicron variant of Corona. There were 13 samples tested and one of them had BA.12 strains. The remaining 12 samples have BA.2 strains." The BA.12 variant was first detected in the US. Live TV Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Japan PM Fumio Kishida (L) before the talks on May 1, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy PM Pham Minh Chinh and his visiting Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Their talks, held Sunday after a welcome ceremony for Kishida headed by Chinh at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. After the ceremony, they saw 22 cooperation agreements signed between the two sides. At a press conference after the talks, Kishida, who greeted everyone in Vietnamese, expressed pleasure at visiting Vietnam for the first time as the PM of his country. After serving for many years as general secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Union, he said he "has a predestined relationship with Vietnam". He said the two countries would strengthen cooperation to achieve economic recovery post-Covid-19 in areas such as supply chain diversification, digital transformation, human resource exchanges, and energy transition by Vietnam. Japan would work closely with Vietnam to soon complete HCMCs metro line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien), and expand defense and security ties, including cybersecurity, he said. Chinh said the two sides have "agreed on specific directions and measures to take their strategic cooperation relationship to a new level". Speaking about the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, the two leaders called on all parties involved to exercise restraint, not use or threaten to use force, comply with international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully implement the Declaration of the Parties on the East Sea, maintain and promote a favorable environment for negotiations, and achieve a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea. Referring to the Ukraine situation, they said they respect the basic principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, and related parties should not use or threaten to use force in international relations. Chinh said Vietnam has expressed its comprehensive view on the situation in Ukraine and provided aid of US$500,000 to it through international humanitarian organizations. Kishida appreciated Vietnam's decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Vietnam and Japan, who established diplomatic ties in 1973, have had a strategic partnership since 2014. Japan is Vietnams biggest official development assistance provider, the third biggest tourism market and fourth largest trade partner. Bilateral trade last year was worth $42.7 billion, and Japan has invested $64.4 billion in Vietnam, third behind only South Korea and Singapore. Vietnamese make up the biggest expatriate population in Japan at over 450,000. Besides, there are over 51,000 Vietnamese students in Japan, the second biggest group. Chinh visited Japan in November last year, and was the first foreign leader Kishida met after taking office. New Delhi: Fire fighting operations are still going on to douse the blaze that broke out in Delhi's Bhalswa landfill site earlier this week. The landfill, which caught fire on April 26, in North Delhi continued to burn for the sixth day on Sunday (May 1, 2022). Although the massive fire has been controlled to an extent, some areas of the Bhalswa landfill site are still burning. Some areas of the Bhalswa landfill site in Delhi are still burning, smoke emission continues A massive fire broke out at the landfill site on April 26th evening. pic.twitter.com/ymMtJ8YYd6 ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022 A massive fire that broke out at the Bhalswa landfill site on Tuesday has not completely dozed off yet. Several videos showed the blaze churning out dense plumes of smoke and turning the sky hazy grey. The officials said the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. An official had said rising temperatures lead to the formation of extremely flammable methane gas at the dumping yards. Meanwhile, the residents living near the landfill have registered a complaint against the North Delhi Municipal Corporation with the police on Friday. The residents filed the complaint at the Bhalswa Dairy police station, demanding legal action against North Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, Deputy Mayor Archana Dilip Singh and North MCD standing committee vice-chairman Vijay Kumar Bhagat. Three incidents of fire have been reported this year at east Delhi's Ghazipur landfill site, including one on March 28 which was doused after over 50 hours. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Ahead of his trip to Berlin, Copenhagen and Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his visit to Europe comes at a time when the "region faces many challenges and choices". In a departure statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday (May 1, 2022), the prime minister said that through his engagements, he intends to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with his European partners, "who are important companions in Indias quest for peace and prosperity". PM Modi is scheduled to visit Berlin, Germany on May 2 at the invitation of Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany following which he will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark from May 3-4. On the way back to India, he will make a brief stopover in Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. This, notably, will be the Prime Minister's first visit abroad in 2022. "My visit to Berlin will be an opportunity to hold detailed bilateral discussions with Chancellor Scholz, whom I met at G20 last year in his previous capacity as Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister. We will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), a unique biennial format which India conducts only with Germany," the Prime Ministers departure statement said. "The long-standing commercial ties between India and Germany form one of the pillars of our Strategic Partnership, and Chancellor Scholz and I will also jointly address a Business Roundtable with the goal of energising our industry to industry cooperation, which will help strengthen the post-Covid economic recovery in both countries," he added. "Continental Europe is home to over one million persons of Indian origin, and Germany has a significant proportion of this Diaspora. The Indian Diaspora is an important anchor in our relations with Europe and therefore I will take the opportunity of my visit to the continent to meet our brothers and sisters there," he said. In Denmark, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral engagements with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and will also participate in the Second India-Nordic Summit. "From Berlin, I will travel to Copenhagen where I will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Frederiksen which will provide an opportunity to review the progress in our unique Green Strategic Partnership with Denmark, as well as other aspects of our bilateral relations. I will also participate in the India-Denmark Business Roundtable as well as interact with the Indian community in Denmark," he said. On the way back to India, PM Modi will make a brief stopover in Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. "President Macron and I will share assessments on various regional and global issues and will take stock of ongoing bilateral cooperation. It is my firm belief that two countries that share such similar vision and values for the global order, must work in close cooperation with each other," the Prime Ministers departure statement added. New Delhi: Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, the IIT graduate accused in the Gorakhnath Temple attack case was linked to the sympathisers of the terrorist outfit Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and was influenced by their idealogy, ANI reported quoting Prashant Kumar, Additional director general of police (Law and Order), Uttar Pradesh Police. According to the officer, the accused had the intention to carry out a big operation after snatching the weapon at Gorakhnath Temple, of which UP CM Yogi Adityanath is also the chief priest. UP ATS ISIS , ISIS ISIS ADG L&O UP @PrashantK_IPS90 pic.twitter.com/nM6NkxWeIp UP POLICE (@Uppolice) April 30, 2022 Sharing the developments in the investigation, Kumar said that the accused sent money and ammunition overseas via several bank accounts to ISIS. We have investigated the accuseds social media and did data analysis of his e-devices, his various social media accounts like Gmail, Twitter, Facebook and E-wallets was conducted," said the police officer." Accused sent over 8 lakhs to ISIS The accused, via his bank accounts, sent around 8.5 lakh Indian Rupees to support ISIS terror activities via organisations related to ISIS supporters in different countries in Europe and America. He sent various arms - AK47, M4 carbine and other missile technology, via the internet," he added. The Gorakhnath Temple attack case is being investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad. Abbasi took oath of ISIS in 2020 Abbasi had sworn allegiance to terror organisation Ansar-ul-Tauheed in 2013 which merged with the ISIS in 2014, adding he took oath for the ISIS in 2020, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad said. Criminal history Notably, Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, who is an IIT graduate, is not a first-time offender but had been arrested before in Bengaluru for propagating ISIS ideas. "He was arrested by Bengaluru Police in 2014 for being in connection with ISIS propaganda activist Mehdi Masroor Biswas, the ADG said. Gorakhnath Temple Attack Accused Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi on April 3 forcibly tried to enter the Gorakhnath Temple premises and attacked on-duty police personnel with a sharp weapon. He conducted a lone wolf fatal attack at the southern gate of Gorakhnath temple and attempted to snatch the rifle of security officials on duty. His intention was to conduct a big operation after snatching the weapon, the ATS added The Anti-Terror Squad during the course of its investigation analysed various devices and social media handles possessed by the accused. He was influenced by terror organisations, radical preachers and ISIS-terrorism promoters. "The accused was interrogated in detail by ATS during seven days` custody remand since Tuesday morning. He was shifted to Lucknow after a special ATS court in the state capital granted seven days` custody remand for further interrogation. The accused was earlier lodged in Gorakhpur jail after being remanded in judicial custody for 14 days after his police custody remand ended on April 16. Live TV Srinagar: A 'hybrid' terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (May 1), police said. Kulgam Police along with 34RR arrested the LeT terrorist who was in contact with Pakistan-based terrorists as well as local terrorists of LeT and was tasked to execute terror incidents, the police said. According to the J&K police, the hybrid terrorist was also involved in providing shelter, logistics and other support to the terrorists including transporting arms/ammunition and explosive material to the terrorists in Kulgam. Incriminating material including a pistol, a pistol magazine, 51 9mm rounds and two hand grenades were recovered from the accused. He was also in contact with PoK-based terrorists and was working under their command and guidance. More arrests and recoveries are expected in the case, the police added. ALSO READ: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists arrested with arms, ammunition in J&K's Baramulla Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Indian Navy has released a notice to recruit Pharmacists, Firemen and Pest Control workers in the force and has invited applications for the same. The job application needs to be submitted in offline mode on or before June 26, 2022. The Indian Navy is looking to fill a total of 127 posts under this recruitment programme. Candidates can check registration, application, important dates and other details at the official website of the Indian Navy- joinindiannavy.gov.in or scroll down. BOI Recruitment 2022: Apply for over 690 officer posts at bankofindia.co.in, details here Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Last Date to apply The last date to apply is June 26, 2022 Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Vacancy details Fireman - 120 Posts Pest Control Worker (Erstwhile Begary) - 6 Posts Pharmacist - 1 Post Indian Railway Recruitment 2022: Apply for 26 technical posts at konkanrailway.com, interview begins on May 10, details here Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Eligibility For Pharmacist posts - Candidates should have passed class 10th from a recognized board Pest Control Worker (Erstwhile Begary) - 10th passed from a recognized Board; Ability to read, speak Hindi/Regional Language. For Fireman posts- Candidates should have passed matric from a recognized Board. Candidates must pass a specified physical test. Physical eligibility Height without shoes 165 cms provided that a concession of 2.5 cms height shall be allowed for members of the IST. Chest (Unexpanded)- 81.5 CMs and on expansion should be 85 cms. The minimum required weight to apply is 50 kg. Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: How to apply Go to the official website of the Indian Navy- joinindiannavy.gov.in On the homepage, look for career selection and click on the relevant link Download the form and take its printout Fill out the form, attach a picture and send the same to the address mentioned below Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Selection Process Candidates will be selected on the basis of the Physical Fitness Test, Provisional Appointment Letter, and Document Verification. Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Age-limit Age should not exceed 56 years Live TV The security forces claimed to have arrested a terrorist associate and recovered a pistol, two grenades from his possession in Kulgam district of South Kashmir. Confirming the arrest, IGP Kashmir said that terrorists associate was identified as Yamin Yousuf Bhat, son of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat from Gadhama. He was arrested by security forces along with arms and ammunition. The recovery included a pistol, two grenades and 51 rounds, he said. He said that the affiliation and involvement of the arrested person is being ascertained. Live TV A complete curfew will be imposed in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, where violent clashes were reported during the Ram Navmi celebrations, on May 2 and May 3 on the occasion of Eid and Akshaya Tritiya in a bid to avoid any communal mishap, reported ANI. "Eid prayers to be offered at home. Also, no event on Akshaya Tritiya and Parshuram Jayanti will be allowed to organize in the district," said Sumer Singh Mujalda, Additional District Magistrate, Khargone. Relaxations The Additional District Magistrate further informed that relaxation will be given on May 1 between 8 am to 5 pm. Apart from this, shops will be allowed to remain open during the curfew period and the students appearing for exams will be given a pass for commutation. However, decisions can be altered if conditions demand, said ADM. The moves come in view of the violent communal clashes during the Ram Navmi processions last month. On April 10, Kharogone city witnessed violence following a stone-pelting incident during a Ram-Navami procession. In the violence that erupted on April 10, several people, including police personnel, were injured when groups of people pelted stones at each other during the procession. The stone-pelting started at the beginning of the procession leaving around four persons injured, including a police inspector. Khargone Ram Navmi violence probe Meanwhile, police have arrested a man for supplying a pistol to a person, who used it for firing at Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Choudhary during the violence on Ram Navami in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone, an official said on Saturday. Six other persons involved in making weapons were arrested along with him and a total of 17 pistols were recovered from them, he said. HC questions MP govt for demolition The Madhya Pradesh High Court's Indore bench has sought a reply from the state government about the demolition of an allegedly illegally constructed bakery and a restaurant in Khargone, following the violence during a Ram Navami procession in the city on April 10. Live TV BJP MP Guman Singh Damor on Sunday said he had been organising delisting rallies across Madhya Pradesh for the past few days seeking that tribals who convert to any other religion must not be given reservations mandated for Scheduled Tribes. The Lok Sabha MP from Ratlam-Jhabua constituency, himself a tribal, said Article 342 of the Constitution speaks of reservations for STs but is silent on those (tribals) who convert to other religions, while Article 341 of the Constitution is clear that members of Scheduled Caste communities will be deprived of reservations if they convert. "We have been organising delisting rallies in all tribal-dominated districts, including 22 such districts of Madhya Pradesh. Our demand is that any ST who converts to another religion should be deprived of reservation benefits (in government jobs and admission)," he said. "I have held three rallies in Jhabua, Alirajpur and Ratlam to create public awareness about delisting such people who are enjoying reservation benefits even after religious conversion,? Damor added. The aim was to create awareness so that laws to this effect can be passed in the Parliament, adding that similar delisting efforts were made in 1970 but in vain. Hitting back, state Youth Congress chief Vikrant Bhuria tweeted a clipped video of Damor and said the latter should be "ashamed as he himself is an MP from an ST reserved seat". Bhuria demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan clarify their stands on this statement, adding that Damor's move was making it clear that "the BJP's love for tribals and the deprived classes was just a gimmick". After several others tweeted the clipped video uploaded by Bhuria, Damor, who shared the video in in its entirety, threatened legal action. Reacting to Damor's statements, Jhabua Christian Diocese public relation officer Rocky Shah said some people wanted to achieve their vested interests by linking this delisting campaign to Christians. Live TV New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday (April 30, 2022) extended support to the Uniform Civil Code and said that "everybody wants UCC". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader underlined the need for the implementation of UCC in the state and said that the introduction of the legislation is necessary to give justice to all Muslim women. "Everybody wants UCC. No Muslim woman wants her husband to bring home 3 other wives. Ask any Muslim woman. UCC is not my issue, it is an issue for all Muslim women," Sarma was quoted as saying by ANI news agency. "If they are to be given justice, after the scrapping of Triple Talaq, UCC will have to be brought," he added. #WATCH | "Everybody wants UCC. No Muslim woman wants her husband to bring home 3 other wives. Ask any Muslim woman. UCC not my issue, it's issue for all Muslim women. If they are to be given justice, after the scrapping of Triple Talaq, UCC will have to be brought," says Assam CM pic.twitter.com/tdp2Y5J5vi ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2022 Differentiating between the indigenous Muslims and the migrant Muslims in Assam, the Chief Minister said that the former wants not to be mixed with the latter. "The Muslim community in Assam has one religion but culture and origin have two different sections. One of them is indigenous to Assam & has no history of migration in the last 200 yrs. That section wants that they are not mixed with migrated Muslims and be given a separate identity," he said. The Chief Minister further informed that the state government will take the decision on the identity of the indigenous and the migrant Muslims in Assam. The Uniform Civil Code, notably, is a proposal in India to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply to all citizens equally regardless of their religion, sex, gender, and sexual orientation. Currently, the personal laws of various communities are governed by their religious scriptures. The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution which lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday (April 30, 2022) reacted to the controversy around the use of loudspeakers at places of worship and called it "nonsense". The Janata Dal (United) president also said that his government does not interfere in religious practices. "Let us not talk about this nonsense. It is known to all that in Bihar we do not interfere in religious practices of any sort. Of course, some people think it is their business to make a fuss and they keep at it," Kumar was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI. His reaction came close on the heels of demands by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP leaders in the state that Bihar follow the "Yogi model" of adjoining Uttar Pradesh where thousands of loudspeakers have recently been removed from places of worship, citing health hazards posed by high decibel sounds. Meanwhile, he inaugurated a greenfield grain-based ethanol plant in Parora in the Purnea district and said it was a great moment for Bihar as the state's first ethanol plant started operation from Saturday. He claimed that the state is witnessing rapid industrial growth for the last few years and asserted it will soon become one of the leading ethanol producers in the country. "More ethanol plants will be set up in the state in the coming days. Bihar will soon become one of the leading ethanol producers in the country," he said. Kumar said that the Bihar government has been trying to establish more industries, especially ethanol units, since 2008-09 but did not get support from the then UPA government at the Centre. "Now, we have got clearance to open more ethanol plants in the state," he said. (With agency inputs) The first South Korean visitors arrive in Da Nang after the pandemic, April 29, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong The number of foreign visitors increased by 4.6 times to nearly 70,000 in April from the previous month when Vietnam opened its borders. There were arrivals from traditional markets such as Europe, America and South Korea and also new markets such as Mongolia, Kazakhstan and India. On April 29, Da Nang welcomed 220 South Korean visitors, the first to arrive after the pandemic. Earlier Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City received nearly 130 American visitors. On Saturday, the National Administration of Tourism released a promotional video with images of the countrys people and tourism attractions ahead of the SEA Games to be held next month, which, its deputy director, Ha Van Sieu, said is an opportunity to promote Vietnam's tourism to the region and world. In April, domestic tourism also performed strongly with the number of visitors rising by 16.7 percent from a year earlier to 10.5 million. New Delhi: Barjinder Singh Parwana, the mastermind behind the recent violence in Patiala, has been arrested, police said on Sunday (May 1, 2022). Parwana, a resident of Rajpura, was held by Police from Mohali, IG-Patiala Mukhwinder Singh Chhina said in a press conference. Chhina, who took charge on Saturday, informed that six accused have so far been arrested and that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered strict action to be taken against anti-social and anti-national elements. Barjinder Parwana, the main accused in the Patiala clashes has been taken into custody by police from Mohali. 6 accused have been arrested till now. CM has ordered strict action to be taken against anti-social and anti-national elements: MS Chhina, IG-Patiala pic.twitter.com/4ZROuG6667 ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022 Earlier on Saturday, the new IG-Patiala had said that Barjinder Singh Parwana is the main accused and one of the masterminds of the incident. He had stated that several police teams have been formed to nab him. Chhina had also said that out of a total of 25 accused, three have been arrested -- Harish Singla, Daljeet Singh, and Kuldeep Singh. The police has registered six FIRs in connection with Friday's incident which left four persons injured. On Saturday, mobile internet and SMS services were suspended in Patiala from 9.30 am by the state's home affairs and justice department till 4 pm. The AAP government in the state has also transferred Inspector General of Police (Patiala Range) Rakesh Agrawal, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh, and the Patiala superintendent of police with immediate effect. Various Hindu groups had given a call for a bandh in protest against Friday's incident. Several markets in Patiala city remained shut on Saturday. Representatives of some Hindu groups lifted their 'dharna' outside the temple and deferred their proposed protest march after police and district administration assured them of action within two days against those who were behind the disturbance and violence on Friday. The groups had clashed over the anti-Khalistan march, hurling stones at each other and brandishing swords. Police had to fire in the air to bring the situation under control. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday (April 30, 2022) said that people will give a befitting reply to those trying to tarnish the state's image. In a statement released ahead of Maharashtra Day, he said that the state will continue to march ahead "no matter how many crises" it faces. Maharashtra is known for communal harmony and its people will foil attempts to vitiate the atmosphere of brotherhood in the state, the Chief Minister said on the eve of the state's foundation day. Maharashtra, notably, was formed on May 1, 1960, and the state has been currently witnessing a political slugfest between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Recently, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had also sought to corner the Shiv Sena, which swears by `Hindutva', by demanding that loudspeakers on mosques be removed. Besides Raj Thackeray's `ultimatum' on loudspeakers, the state also saw a political row playing out when independent MP Navneet Rana and her husband and MLA Ravi Rana announced that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa in front of Uddhav Thackeray's private residence `Matoshree' in Mumbai. The couple, however, dropped the plan, but were arrested for `sedition' and `promoting enmity between different groups'. "The people of Maharashtra are capable of giving a befitting reply if anyone is hatching a conspiracy to hurt the pride of Maharashtra and defame it," chief minister Thackeray said as he greeted people ahead of `Maharashtra Din'. Maharashtra will continue to march ahead "no matter how many crises" it faces, and people will never forget the sacrifices of those who shed their blood for the cause of `Samyukta (united) Maharashtra', he added. He also hailed Maharashtra's icons Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar and others. "Today, unfortunately, the ideology of social revolution of these great leaders is being ignored by ending the harmony among castes and religions in Maharashtra for the sake of self-interest and ambition," Thackeray said. "Maharashtra is known for communal harmony, restraint and conducting itself with conscience," he added. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (May 1, 2022) greeted the people of Gujarat and Maharashtra on the foundation day of the two western states and lauded their accomplishments in diverse fields. Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed after the enactment of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960. "On Gujarat's Foundation Day, my greetings to the people of Gujarat. Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and several other greats, the people of Gujarat are widely admired for their diverse accomplishments," Modi, who hails from Gujarat, said in a tweet. On Gujarats Foundation Day, my greetings to the people of Gujarat. Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and several other greats, the people of Gujarat are widely admired for their diverse accomplishments. May Gujarat keep progressing in the coming years. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2022 May Gujarat keep progressing in the coming years, he said. In another tweet, the prime minister extended wishes to the people of Maharashtra on Maharashtra Day. "This state has made phenomenal contributions to national progress. The people of the state have excelled in diverse fields. I pray for the prosperity of the people of Maharashtra," he said. Best wishes to the people of Maharashtra on Maharashtra Day. This state has made phenomenal contributions to national progress. The people of the state have excelled in diverse fields. I pray for the prosperity of the people of Maharashtra. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2022 He also tweeted greetings for the people of the two states in Gujarati and Marathi. Live TV Chandigarh: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday (May 1) slammed Mann for not visiting Patiala after violence there when he should have been "most visible". In an apparent reference to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Warring said it bodes ill for a sensitive state like Punjab that its chief minister was "completely dependent on and subservient to someone else". "Even his (Maan's) pre-recorded messages, broadcast every now and then, have an external imprint. "Punjab cannot afford a chief minister who cannot act on his own and needs to be continuously programmed by someone else," the state Congress chief claimed. Two groups had clashed on Friday in Patiala over an anti-Khalistan march, hurling stones at each other, and forcing police to fire in the air to bring the situation under control. Visuals from Patiala are disturbing. I repeat, Peace & Harmony are most imperative in a sensitive border state like Punjab. This is not the place to carry out experiments. Earnestly appeal to the Punjab govt to ensure law and order is maintained. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 29, 2022 The Punjab police booked 25 accused by name so far in six FIRs registered in connection with Friday's incident which left four persons injured. "It is surprising that the chief minister is out of action, vanishing completely on a day when he should be the most visible and involved in the affairs of the state," Warring said in a statement here. "We understand that yesterday you (Mann) were scheduled to attend the chief ministers' conference in Delhi. But why did you not visit the city (Patiala) today?" he posed. Taking a swipe at Mann, Warring said, "Probably because your master is busy and away in Gujarat and you can't take a step outside or utter a word without his permission." Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma also hit out at the chief minister Mann for blaming two political parties for the violence in Patiala. Patiala Clashes: Mastermind arrested Police have arrested the alleged mastermind Barjinder Singh Parwana, Sharma asked which political party did Parwana belong to. "The Punjab Police is saying that Parwana is the mastermind while you (Mann) are blaming the opposition parties. Nothing can be more shameful than this," the BJP leader said. According to the police, Parwana, a resident of Rajpura in the district, is one of the masterminds of Friday's incident. He had been accused of provoking the Sikh radicals to move towards the Kali Mata temple on Friday. Mann on Saturday said the clashes in Patiala were between two political parties and not two communities. "This was a clash between two political parties and not between two communities. In Punjab, people live in peace. A probe is going on over who instigated the violence. No one will be spared," Mann had said in Delhi. DGP Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) April 29, 2022 Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang on Sunday said those trying to disturb the peace and communal harmony in the state would not be spared and added that the chief minister monitored the whole situation. Any activity that disturbs peace and brotherhood in Punjab will not be tolerated, Kang said. "Punjab does not need 'Khalistan' or such anti-Punjab narrative. Today Punjab needs to get back on the path of progress, our youth and farmers need to be saved, and Punjab's water and natural resources need our attention." "The Mann government is working tirelessly to take Punjab forward in the right direction, and to end mafia and corruption," he said. The clash in Patiala was the first major law-and-order incident in the state under the Bhagwant Mann government. Opposition parties had attacked the AAP dispensation of Punjab, alleging that law and order in the state has collapsed. Live TV Chandigarh: The Punjab School Education Board has banned three history books for allegedly distorting facts related to Sikh history. The books which have been banned are 'Modern ABC of history of Punjab', written by Manjit Singh Sodhi, 'History of Punjab', written by Mahinderpal Kaur and 'History of Punjab' by M S Mann, for class 12. These books have been published by three different Jalandhar-based publishers. The decision to ban these books was taken following a report by an inquiry committee. The committee was formed following a complaint by farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, who had said that these books contained some remarks which were not in accordance with Sikh history. PSEB chairman Yograj Singh on Sunday confirmed that the three books have been banned for distortion of facts. The school education department principally accepted the contents of the inquiry report with the directions that these books be banned for sale and not be taught in schools in the state of Punjab, he said. ALSO READ: Patiala clash key conspirator Barjinder Singh Parwana nabbed, total six arrested now The order of the state government has been conveyed to the Director, SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training), and all district education officers for its compliance with immediate effect, the official said. Yograj further said based upon the findings of the inquiry report, various follow-up action have been suggested or directed by the government to fix responsibility of various officers or officials who were at the helm of affairs at relevant time when these books were allowed to be notified by the board. Many organisations had earlier held protests outside the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) office, demanding that these history books be banned for distorting facts related to Sikh history. ALSO READ- Summer vacations 2022: States, UTs announce holidays as heatwave sweeps India- Check full list Live TV The Directorate of Medical Education of the Tamil Nadu government issued a notice to the Madurai Medical College and sought an explanation against the first-year students taking the Charak oath instead of the Hippocratic oath in the reception celebration. Madurai Government Medical College organised a welcome reception for the first-year students on Saturday. It was reported that during the oath-taking ceremony, the students, dressed in their uniforms, replaced the centuries-old tradition of Greek origin, the Hippocratic oath with `Charak Shapath`. The Directorate of Medical Education has sought an explanation from the principal of the medical college regarding the incident. The Hippocratic Oath is an ancient pledge of medical ethical conduct, taken by the medical students as an important step in becoming a doctor. During the ceremony, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister of Commercial Taxes P Moorthy, District Collector Dr S Aneesh Sekhar, and Medical College Principal, Dr A Rathinavel were present. Live TV New Delhi: Inspired by the movie popular movie The Kashmir Files, the convener of an educational institute in Karnataka has announced free education for children of Kashmiri Pandits, who left their homeland at the time of the exodus and settled across the country. Subramanya Nattoj, the convener of Ambika Mahavidyalaya in Puttur town in Dakshina Kannada district, made this announcement on Saturday. Moved by Vivek Agnohotris The Kashmir Files, which reflects upon the atrocities and plight Kashmiri Hindus, especially pandits suffered at the time of the exodus, Nattoj visited Jammu. His visit induced him to do something for the children of Kashmiri Hindus and Nattoj announced free education for Kashmiri Pandit students. In his institution, Kashmiri Pandits can avail free education from the sixth standard to graduation. The hostel facility will also be provided free of cost to such students. Nattoj said the institute has already got four Kashmiri Pandits admitted to the institute. "It will cost up to Rs 80,000 per student for a year to get an education in this institute. The other facilities would cost them Rs 50,000 annually. But all facilities would be freely available to the children of Kashmiri Pandits," he said. The Kashmir Files, a film directed by Vivek Agnihotri with veteran actor Anupam Kher in the lead role, revolves around the life of a Kashmiri Pandit family, which lost all their family members to the genocide in the early 90s carried out by Pakistani militants. The film sensitively portrays the barbaric assault on Kashmiri Hindus with some political angles like the Removal of Article 370. The film has received both negative as well as positive reactions from the critics and has triggered fresh demands for justice for the victims of the Kashmir exodus. (With inputs from IANS) Live TV New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday (May 1) said that the Uniform Civil Code should be implemented in the country to end the practice of polygamy. While talking to the media persons, the Assam Chief Minister said, "If Uniform Civil Code will not be implemented then polygamy system will continue in our society where a man marries 3-4 times curtailing the fundamental rights of women, our mothers, sisters." "Uniform Civil Code should be implemented for the greater interest of our Muslim girls and women, so that a man does not engage in polygamy," he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader underlined the need for the implementation of UCC in the state and said that the introduction of the legislation is necessary to give justice to all Muslim women. "Everybody wants UCC. No Muslim woman wants her husband to bring home 3 other wives. Ask any Muslim woman. UCC is not my issue, it is an issue for all Muslim women," Sarma was quoted as saying by ANI news agency. "If they are to be given justice, after the scrapping of Triple Talaq, UCC will have to be brought," he added. If Uniform Civil Code doesn't get implemented, polygamy system will continue; a man will marry 3-4 times, curtailing the fundamental rights of a woman. Uniform Civil Code should be implemented for the greater interest of our Muslim women: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, in Guwahati pic.twitter.com/32NCLyAxDx ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022 Why BJP is so keen to implement the Uniform Civil Code? Notably, in Bharatiya Janata Party`s 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, BJP promised the implementation of UCC if it comes to power. Earlier Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the state government will be examining the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. What is Uniform Civil Code? The Uniform Civil Code, notably, is a proposal in India to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply to all citizens equally regardless of their religion, sex, gender, and sexual orientation. Currently, the personal laws of various communities are governed by their religious scriptures. The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution which lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. Live TV New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh police have invoked charges under the National Security Act (NSA) against the principal of a school in the UP Board Class 12 English paper leak case. As per PTI, Ubhaon police station SHO Avinash Singh said on Sunday (May 1) that the stringent NSA has been slapped against Akshay Lal Yadav, the principal of Ma Lachhiyamurat Yadav Higher Secondary School. In connection with the Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education's English question paper leak case on March 30, the police have so far arrested more than 52 people, including three journalists six school managers and five school principals. The NSA has been invoked against three other accused in the case-- mastermind Nirbhay Narain Singh, Bhimpura Maharaji Devi Memorial Inter College manager Raju Prajapati and Ravindra Singh. The three journalists arrested in the case were recently granted bail. While Ballia District Inspector Of Schools (DIOS) Brijesh Mishra has also been arrested in the case. He was suspended with immediate effect after the leak of Class 12 English question paper came to light. As per reports, the paper was first leaked in Ballia and some students received the leaked question paper in their WhatsApp groups, leading to exam being cancelled in 24 districts on March 30. Uttar Pradesh minister in charge of secondary education Gulab Devi had assured strict action against the guilty. The Yogi Adityanath-led government had directed Special Task Force (STF) to probe the incident. (With agency inputs) Indian origin techies are undoubtedly dominating the world IT sector's scene. So much so, that foreign governments have now started trusting them in even the most sensitive positions related to their national security. In the same chain, Nand Moolchandani - a top name in US IT industry - has been appointed as the first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of US' Central Investigative Agency. Moolchandani is a man with more than 25 years of experience in Silicon Valley as well as the Department of Defense (DoD). The CIA expects Mulchandani to brings substantial private sector, startup, and government expertise to CIA. While CIA is a feather in Moolchandani's cap, this isn't really where his great journey starts. Prior to joining CIA, Mulchandani most recently served as the CTO and Acting Director of DoDs Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Moolchandani also co-founded and was CEO of several successful startups Oblix (acquired by Oracle), Determina (acquired by VMWare), OpenDNS (acquired by Cisco), and ScaleXtreme (acquired by Citrix). He has a degree in Computer Science and Math from Cornell, a Master of Science degree in Management from Stanford, and a Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard. A closer look at Moolchandani's illustrious career Prior to government service, Mulchandani was at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business, and remains a non-resident Fellow at Harvards Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Mulchandani also served as the Vice President of Market Development and Strategy for Citrix, a leading provider of desktop virtualization and networking infrastructure. He joined Citrix through its acquisition of ScaleXtreme, where Mulchandani was the CEO and co-founder. Prior to his tenure at ScaleXtreme, Mulchandani served in various capacities as CEO, co-founder, senior executive, and entrepreneur-in-residence for a number of technology startups and companies including the venture capital firm Accel Partners, OpenDNS (funded by Sequoia Capital and Greylock, acquired by Cisco), VMware, Determina (funded by Bessemer Venture Partners, Mayfield and USVP, acquired by VMware), and Oblix (funded by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, acquired by Oracle). Mulchandani started his career at Sun Microsystems as a compiler architect and holds a patent on dynamic code generation. Mulchandani holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from Cornell University, a Master in Science in Management from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. As the CTO, Mulchandani will ensure the Agency is leveraging cutting-edge innovations and scanning the horizon for tomorrows innovations to further CIAs mission. Since my confirmation, I have prioritized focusing on technology and the new CTO position is a very important part of that effort. I am delighted Nand has joined our team and will bring his extensive experience to this crucial new role, said Director Burns. I am honored to join CIA in this role and look forward to working with the Agencys incredible team of technologists and domain experts who already deliver world-class intelligence and capabilities to help build a comprehensive technology strategy that delivers exciting capabilities working closely with industry and partners, said Mulchandani. LAGOS, May 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 militants of the extremist group Boko Haram were killed during a recent operation on the fringes of Lake Chad by troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a spokesperson has said. In a statement reaching Xinhua on Sunday, Kamarudeen Adegoke, a MNJTF spokesperson, said troops of the regional joint task force attacked in the clearance operation some Boko Haram strongholds in the vicinity of Tumbun Rago, a town in the restive northeast Nigeria's Borno state and on the fringes of Lake Chad. "Despite strong resistance by the Boko Haram terrorists, the ground troops charged through several obstacles and cleared the mined routes, which made them come in contact with elements of the insurgents," said Adegoke. A battle damage assessment revealed at least 20 militants were killed in the operation, said Adegoke, adding two fleeing Boko Haram logisticians were also killed by the troops in a follow-up patrol in the area. He said the MNJTF's recent combined ground and amphibious operations have put a lot of pressure on the extremists, denying them "freedom of movement and action". He promised that this would be maintained by the hardworking troops. The MNJTF is a joint military effort created by countries including Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin to fight Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP), which threaten the stability of the Lake Chad region. Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government has set a target to provide at least one employment opportunity to every farmer family in the next five years. The government aims to provide training to 2,10,000 entrepreneurs and farmers in the next five years. Apart from focusing on increasing the income of the farmers, the Uttar Pradesh government also plans to establish them as `entrepreneurs`. This will not only increase their income but also provide more employment opportunities to the youth. According to the spokesman, the government has planned to set up 375 large food processing units. Also, 41,336 food processing units will be established/upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. ALSO READ | Uttar Pradesh: Seven arrested in UP`s Ayodhya for throwing objectionable items at Mosques Under the PMFME scheme, the government provides assistance to start their work in the food industry. Under this, small food processing industries can be started. The government wants the farmers to get a good price for their crops. For this, it will connect the farmers with the food processing industry. After food processing, there will be no possibility of crop damage and a good price of the product will also be available in the market. This will also generate many employment opportunities. Moreover, the government is also making arrangements to train the farmers and entrepreneurs to set up enterprises. Live TV New Delhi: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today in Lucknow at his official residence. The courtesy meeting between the two personalities took place this Sunday evening, the second time since the two met last year on October 2. Sharing their pictures on Instagram, Kangana captioned her post saying, "Today I had the great fortune of meeting Maharaj @myogi_adityanath ji after his tremendous victory in recent elections... It was a wonderful evening Maharaj ji`s compassion, concerns and deep sense of involvement never ceases to amaze me .. I feel humbled honoured and inspired..." Kanagana has been a vocal supporter of the personality of Yogi Adityanath, and had previously taken to social media for congratulating the UP CM on his landslide victory in the Assembly Elections 2022. The actor came in news recently when she opened up about an incident where she was sexually assaulted in her early days. The big revelation was made on Kangana`s reality show `Lock Upp` when contestant and former comedian Munawar Faruqui opened up about his encounter with sexual abuse. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kangana Ranaut`s upcoming film `Dhaakad` is slated to release on May 20. She is also set to feature in `Tejas,` which is releasing on October 5 this year, while she will also be soon making her digital debut as a producer with the film `Tiku Weds Sheru`. Washington: With the ongoing legal battle between Kim Kardashian and Blac Chyna, there finally seems to be some positive news for the self-made billionaire. On Friday, a court judge concluded that there is no evidence that Kim had a `responsible part in defaming Chyna,` therefore the defamation action was dismissed. As per court documents obtained by People, The Kardashian-Jenner family requested to have Kim removed from the lawsuit, "because Blac Chyna has neither identified an allegedly defamatory statement by Kim Kardashian, nor specified an instance where she ratified an allegedly defamatory statement by another party, the claim against her must be dismissed. "The document continues, "Chyna`s vague assertion on the record during her argument that Kim Kardashian `ratified those statements and encouraged her sisters to make them,` without specifying how Kim Kardashian ratified them and to whom, is woefully insufficient to maintain a claim." "Additionally, statements by other Defendants cannot form the basis of a defamation claim against Kim Kardashian because neither her mother nor her sisters ever acted as her agent," the document concluded. Chyna`s lawsuit alleges that Kim and Kylie had falsely told television producers and executives that Chyna had turned violent and attacked her then-fiance Rob Kardashian in December 2016, wanting to get her reality show, Rob & Chyna, cancelled. New Delhi: In many circumstances, children, like adults, require confirmation of identification, and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has a solution in place. Children under the age of five can have their own Aadhaar, which is known as Blue Aadhaar or Baal Aadhaar, where they can get an ID card, just like other Indian citizens. The Baal Aadhaar card, as its name suggests, is blue in colour, as opposed to the typical white Aadhaar card. Like ordinary Aadhaar cards, the Blue Aadhaar or Baal Aadhaar has a unique 12-digit number. They do not, however, require the child's biometric information. Important Features of Blue Aadhaar or Baal Aadhaar 1. Blue Aadhaar differs from normal Aadhaar in a number of ways, the most notable of which is that it does not require the child's biometric information. This registration is free of charge. 2. Parents must fill out a form to register their children for the event. They will next be required to present identification documents, such as a birth certificate or hospital discharge form, as well as a photograph. Parents can enrol their children for the blue Aadhaar card using their children's school ID, according to UIDAI. Aadhaar information from a parent is also necessary while applying for a Baal Aadhaar or Blue Aadhaar. 3. The UIDAI requires biometric information like as ten finger biometrics, iris and facial pictures of children beyond the age of five, hence a Baal Aadhaar becomes worthless when they turn five. After then, at the age of 15, another update is required, which is also free of charge. 4. The government launched the Blue Aadhaar card service in 2018 with the goal of tapping into the demographic of youngsters under the age of five. Apply for Baal Aadhaar Card or Blue Aadhaar Card Step 1: Gather all relevant documents, including any parent's Aadhaar card, the child's birth certificate, and proof of address. Step 2: To enrol in Blue Aadhaar, you must go to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, therefore make an appointment at your nearest kiosk. You can also pay a visit. Step 3: Because the parent's Aadhaar will be matched with the child's UID, you will be required to give your Aadhaar card. You will also be needed to provide a phone number, which will be used to provide the Blue Aadhaar card. Step 5: After all of this is completed, a photograph of your child will be taken at the Blue Aadhaar enrollment centre. Step 6: Following that, the confirmation procedure will begin. Step 7: You'll get a message when the verification is finished after you've checked the papers. Within 60 days of the completion of the verification process, your child will receive a Blue Aadhaar or Baal Aadhaar card. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly video address, on Saturday (April 30, 2022) urged the Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine. Zelensky switched to Russian in the video address and said Russia has been recruiting new troops with little motivation and little combat experience for the units that were gutted during the early weeks of the war. Zelensky also stated that even Russian generals expected that thousands of their soldiers would die and thousands more will be wounded in the coming weeks. The Russian commanders are lying to their soldiers when they tell them they can expect to be held seriously responsible for refusing to fight and then also don't tell them, for example, that the Russian army is preparing additional refrigerator trucks for storing the bodies. They don't tell them about the new losses the generals expect, Zelensky said. Every Russian soldier can still save his own life. It's better for you to survive in Russia than to perish on our land, he said. Ukraine allocates $4 bn for defence ministry Additionally, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday informed that Ukraine has appropriated billions of dollars to the defence ministry amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. According to a report in Xinhua news agency, the Ukrainian government has allocated 119 billion hryvnias (about $4 billion) for the ministry. "We are trying to provide maximum support for our fighters," Shmyhal said. The funds will be used to pay salaries to Ukrainian troops, and supply them with equipment, fuel, food, protective devices and weapons, Shmyhal added. Zelensky discusses defensive support with UK PM Johnson Zelensky has said that he had discussed defensive support for Ukraine with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Taking it to Twitter, Zelensky said that the two sides talked about the situation on the battlefield and the blocked city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine and necessary diplomatic efforts to achieve peace was another topic of the conversation. Earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian leader said he had discussed defense cooperation in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Xinhua news agency reported. (With agency inputs) Live TV Ousted Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been booked by the police along with 150 others pertaining to the Chor-Chor sloganeering against current PM Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabias Madina, reported PTI quoting officials. Among those booked by Pakistan Punjab Police, are some members of Imran Khans former cabinet, officials added. Punjab police on Saturday night registered an FIR against Khan, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and 150 others, including former federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Sheikh Rasheed, a former adviser to the prime minister Shahbaz Gul, former deputy speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Soori, and Khan's close aides in London, Anil Musarrat and Sahibzada Jehangir, officials said. The FIR has been registered under different sections, including 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Pakistan Penal Code. As per the FIR documents, Imran Khan sent over 100 of his supporters to Saudi to target Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation. Khan and other nominated leaders of the PTI had given directions to party workers in this regard, it said. About Shehbaz Sharifs hounding in Saudi, video clips circulated on social media showed some pilgrims shouting chor' (thief) and 'gaddar' (traitor) as soon as Sharif and other members of his delegation arrived at the Prophet's Mosque in Madina last Thursday. The Pakistani pilgrims also used abusive language against the delegation members. Madina police claim to have arrested five Pakistanis involved in the sloganeering. Imran Khan on the allegations Khan in a TV interview on Saturday had distanced himself from the pilgrims who hounded and chanted slogans against Sharif, saying he could "not even imagine of asking anyone to carry out sloganeering at the sacred place." There has been widespread condemnation of the incident. Live TV Warsaw: A top-level U.S. Congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the "ferocity" and resolve of Ukrainians face to face with their leader in a weekend visit to Kyiv undertaken in extraordinary secrecy. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia's war began more than two months ago. Only days earlier, Russia bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. Secretary-general was there. Pelosi and the half dozen U.S. Lawmakers with her met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides for three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment of the effort as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. "Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," Pelosi is seen telling Zelenskyy in a video of the meeting released by his office. "We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Thank you for your fight for freedom." "You all are welcome," Zelenskyy told the delegation. Our Congressional Delegation was honored to meet with @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv to salute his leadership and courage, to commend the Ukrainian people for their outstanding defense of Democracy and to say that we are with you until victory is won. pic.twitter.com/zkc588Qcrv Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 1, 2022 Pelosi told reporters in Poland on Sunday the delegation was proud to convey to Zelenskyy "the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage." She is set to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, a NATO ally, on Monday in Warsaw. The delegation's trip to Kyiv was not disclosed until the party was safely out of Ukraine. Nor were details given on how they got to the capital and back. A week earlier, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Zelenskyy traveled to Kyiv overland from Poland for talks with Zelenskyy. The members of the congressional delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraine's defenses, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. Military, humanitarian and economic support. Our Congressional Delegation traveled to Kyiv and met with @ZelenskyyUa to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine. Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 1, 2022 "This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny," said Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence committee. The trip came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraine's fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that now is almost drained. The measure is designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. Weaponry and other forms of assistance aren't going away. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committees, said he went to Ukraine with three areas of focus: "Weapons, weapons and weapons." "We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win," he said. "What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so." Scores of U.S. Lawmakers are trekking to the region to witness first hand the war's toll and shore up U.S. Troops in the broader region. Pelosi's delegation was notable for the seniority of its members. The trip also underscored Pelosi's stature as an ambassador on the global stage. The speaker is well known in Europe and elsewhere abroad, typically leads travel delegations and keeps close relations with allies overseas. Though all in the delegation were Democrats, the U.S. Congress has displayed a rare and, so far, lasting bipartisan resolve to back Ukraine as it battles Russia. Pelosi has branded the war a conflict between democracy and autocracy and vowed Washington will stand with Ukraine until it defeats the invaders. Pelosi came with Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the House Rules Committee; Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Crow and Schiff. "This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day," Meeks said. Crow said the U.S. "is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won." Schiff, as intelligence panel chair, said he was particularly focused on making sure Ukraine is getting the U.S. Intelligence support it needs to "defeat Russian forces." The delegation's visit followed those of several EU officials and European heads of state who have gone to show solidarity with Zelenskyy, starting with the March 15 surprise visit by the leaders of NATO members Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. More recently, U.N. Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. A missile strike rained down on the capital barely an hour after their joint press conference, an attack Kyiv's mayor said was Putin giving his "middle finger" to Guterres. The delegation was visiting southeast Poland and going later to the capital. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. "We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts," Pelosi said. McGovern said Russia's war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine and was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. "Putin's brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine," McGovern said. "It's also a war against the world's most vulnerable." He added, "I don't think that Putin cares if he starves the world." Live TV Azerbaijan-China relations are strategically important and have a lot of potential, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said here Friday. "I am very glad that the relations are developing very successfully," Aliyev said when answering a question about the cooperation between Azerbaijan and China during an international conference themed "South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation." Highlighting the cooperation in the field of transportation and transit, he said Azerbaijan "already started to receive cargo from China, but not in big volumes because we clearly understand that China has the diversified supply routes through different sources. And we just tried to make our route more attractive." "But recently we got several messages from Chinese companies that they want to increase the transportation of cargoes through the Middle Corridor," said the president. Calling these the new opportunities for Azerbaijan, Aliyev stressed the necessity of investing in the expansion of the country's transportation to handle potential cargo growth. The Azerbaijani leader also said his country's cooperation with China is not limited just to transit and transportation. "We are now in the process of creating the Alat Free Economic Zone, which will receive its first residents, I hope, next year. It is in a very good location, just next to the sea port, and has a big area. And the regulations there are very attractive for international companies," he said. "We would like to see Chinese companies as investors here," Aliyev noted. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio inspect the guards of honour at the welcome ceremony (Photo: VNA) Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 1 for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and a high-level delegation of the Japanese Government who are here for an official visit from April 30-May 1. Following the ceremony, the two Government leaders planted memorial trees in the compound of the Government Office. They then proceeded to the conference room to hold talks. This is the first visit to Vietnam of Kishida six months since he took office and five months after the official visit to Japan by PM Chinh. The visit by the Japanese PM takes place when the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is developing robustly across the fields. The two countries are actively preparing for activities marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023. During the visit, besides holding talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, PM Kishida is scheduled to pay respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, make cordial visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and have a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. He will also attend a conference on Vietnam-Japan cooperation in industrial reform and digital transformation. The visit is intended to deepen the Vietnam-Japan relations, promote the implementation of the outcomes of PM Chinhs visit to Japan, enhance political trust between the two countries and the good relationship between the two governments in the motto of Affection, Sincerity, Trust, and intensify result-oriented partnerships in all aspects, meeting the interests and aspiration of the two peoples./. Ihor Zhdanov, Information Defence Project , Open Policy Foundation Informational Defence of Ukraine provides a daily review of the military-political situation in Ukraine as of the past day of April 30th, based on an analysis of open sources. 1. The Armed Forces of Ukraine heroically restrain the enemy's attacks in the decisive battle for the Donbas. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the main goal of the enemy remains unchanged controlling the environment of the groups of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, establishing full control over the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson regions, ensuring the stability of the land corridor with the occupied territory of Crimea. In the Slobozhanskyi direction, a group of enemy troops continues to carry out air strikes and artillery shelling of Kharkiv. Because of the attacks of the Ukrainian Defence Forces in the Kharkiv region, control over the settlements of Verkhnia Rohanka, Ruska Lozova, Slobidske and Prylesne was restored. In the Izium direction, the occupiers, with the help of separate units of the 1st Panzer Army and the 20th Military Army of the Western Military District, the 35th Army and the 68th Army Corps of the Eastern Military District and airborne troops are trying to advance in the directions Izium Barvinkove and Izium Sloviansk. The enemy continues to concentrate forces and resources in this direction. Thus, the occupiers moved units of the 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Military Army of the Central Military District to the Volokhiv Yar settlement, and units of the 5th Separate Tank Brigade of the 36th Military Army of the Eastern Military District to Izium. In the Donetsk direction, the enemy's main efforts were focused on offensive operations in the Lymanskyi, Severodonetskyi, Popasnianskyi, and Kurakhivskyi directions in order to take full control of the settlements of Rubizhne, Popasna, and probably further attack on the Lyman, Sloviansk, and Barvinkove. In the Mariupol direction, the enemy continued to launch air strikes on Mariupol. The main efforts are focused on blocking units of the Defence Forces in the area of the Azovstal plant. The total combat losses of the enemy from February 24 to April 30 were: combatants - approximately 23,200 (+200) people were eliminated, tanks - 1008! (+22) units, armoured combat vehicles - 2445 (+27) units, artillery systems - 436 (+1) units, MLRS - 151 (+0) units, air defence - 77 (+4) units, aircraft - 190 +1) units, helicopters - 155 (+0) units, automotive equipment - 1701 (+6) units, ships / boats - 8 (+0) units, fuel tanks - 76 (+0), UAV operational and tactical level - 232 (+4), special equipment - 32 (+1), launchers TBM / BRBM (tactical ballistic missile / battlefield range ballistic missile) - 4 (+0). 2. Information summaries, reviews and assessments of foreign, Ukrainian intelligence and think tanks. According to CNN, a senior US Defense Department official believes that russia is trying to disrupt the ability of the Ukrainian military to "replenish its own reserves and strengthen." The United States also believes that although recent missile strikes have hit residential areas, they were intended for military production facilities. The official cited the example of russian attacks on power facilities that could interfere with Ukrainian trains. According to the official speaker, the russian strikes in Odesa may be aimed at holding back Ukrainian forces there and preventing them from strengthening their defenders in the Donbas. The official also said that russia had launched 1950 missiles at Ukraine since the invasion in February, and that most of the munitions dropped on Mariupol were "dumb" munitions that did not have accurate guidance, indicating that russian forces still had difficulties in replenishing their high-precision ammunition. As the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom has reported in its review, russia hopes to overcome the problems that previously deterred its invasion by geographically concentrating combat power, reducing supply lines, and simplifying command and control. According to the UK intelligence, russia still faces significant challenges. russia was forced to unite and redeploy depleted and fragmented units from unsuccessful offensives in northeastern Ukraine. Many of these units probably have weakened morale powers. The shortcomings of russia's tactical coordination remain. Lack of skills at the unit level and incessant air support did not allow russia to make full use of its fighting force, despite local improvements, according to the UK intelligence. 3. The russian occupiers are violating international humanitarian law and committing genocide against Ukrainians. International and national investigation into the genocide of the russian occupiers against Ukrainians. According to the police, on April 29th, a pit with the bodies of three men was found in the Bucha district, they were brutally slaughtered by russian soldiers. russian invaders are launching missile and bomb strikes on civilians, towns and villages. On the night of April 30th, the russian army fired missiles at the Dnipropetrovsk region, in the Donetsk region russians attacked with missiles, planes and artillery, the Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions sustained shelling losses. In the morning, a rocket has "arrived" in the village of the Synelnykivskyi district in the Dnipropetrovsk region. As far as has been informed, there were no killed and injured people. Kharkiv: shelling of the city continued at night, in particular in the easternmost residential area of Saltivka, one person was injured. During the day, the occupiers have continued shelling the settlements of the Bohodukhivskyi, Iziumskyi and Lozivskyi districts. The Luhansk region: 6 massive artillery attacks during the day. Burning of 20 houses and 2 schools in Hirske and 10 in the village of Horikhove. The Donetsk region: during the past 24 hours, russians fired on 12 settlements: Mariupol, Lyman, Avdiyivka, Siversk, Mykolaiivka, Velyka Novosilka, Pryvillia, Soloviove, Raihorodok, Novoselivka, Shandryholove, Vremivka. During the day, the occupiers have killed four civilians, including a child, and wounded 8 civilians, including children. Because of the shelling by the russian occupiers in Dobropillia, 7 people were injured, including three children. The Kherson region: there are explosions, many houses were destroyed and the citizens were injured. The situation in the villages bordering Mykolaiiv, Snihurivka, Zelenodolske and Kryvyi Rih remains critical. The Odesa region: in the afternoon of April 30th, russian troops launched a missile strike on the Odesa region, damaging the airport's runway. The russian occupiers kill and abduct civilians, hold them hostage and torture them. On April 30th, a teacher from Kakhovka, school principal Viktor Mykhailovych Pendalchuk (b. 1977), was abducted from his home by the russian military. 4. Evacuation of civilians, exchange of prisoners. On April 30th, 40 people left cities in Luhansk region, but the day before, two buses with volunteers travelling to Popasna had come under fire - people disappeared from the first evacuation bus, and the second bus with humanitarian aid also disappeared. According to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, the Ukrainian authorities managed to save 14 Ukrainians from russian captivity, including a servicewoman at 5 months of pregnancy, after the eighth exchange of prisoners. 5. Political and socio-economic situation in Ukraine, economic losses due to the russian aggression. Restoration of infrastructure in the occupied territories. Work on the restoration of gas supply in 117 settlements of the Brovarskyi, Vyshhorodskyi, Fastivskyi and partially Buchanskyi districts of the Kyiv region has been completed. 6. International support and assistance to Ukraine. Political support for Ukraine. The White House has privately told Indonesia that russia cannot be admitted to this year's G20 summit, although the president announced on Friday that president putin had accepted the invitation. In a phone conversation with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the French President Emmanuel Macron promised to "strengthen Ukraine's support in defence armaments and humanitarian aid." Military assistance to Ukraine. The United States has trained two groups of 50 Ukrainian instructors, who will then teach colleagues how to use US artillery. This was stated by a senior official of the US Department of Defense, CNN reports. The United States has also trained a group of about 15 Ukrainians on the US radar systems provided to Ukraine, and other groups are planning to join the training. Humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Estonia is sending a team of demining specialists to Ukraine, which will constantly assist Ukrainian colleagues on a rotating basis. 7. Statements, provocations and fakes of the russian aggressors. The russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov has said that any cargo of weapons to Kyiv from abroad, which is on the territory of Ukraine, is a "legitimate goal" for russia. russian media RIA Novosti, TASS, Interfax reported on the shelling of a village in the border with Ukraine, in the Bryansk region of russia. According to the governor of the region Aleksandr Bogomaz, the russian air defence systems detected a plane of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the sky over the Bryansk region on Saturday morning. Thus allegedly russian air defence didn't allow penetration of the Ukrainian plane into the territory of the Bryansk region, and two shells hit on the settlement of Zhecha. The People's Deputy of Ukraine, Chairman of the Mejlis Refat Chubarov has said that in the Crimea on April 30th, under the control of the FSB, the local occupation authorities "convene" a "congress of representatives", on which, due to the lack of a significant number of Crimean Tatar collaborators, the students of the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, as well as the employees of budgetary state organisations, including school teachers, will be obliged to participate. The only purpose for which the FSB of the russian federation organises this "congress" is to imitate the support of the Crimean Tatars for putin's policy and a special military operation against Ukraine. The Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police reported that the special services of the russian federation, due to their criminal connections, were preparing provocations and riots in Odesa, especially for the anniversary of the tragic events of May 2nd. They intended to destabilise the situation in the region by inciting riots, organising mass protests and riots aimed at overthrowing the state system of Ukraine. 8. Political and socio-economic situation in russia, the impact of international sanctions on it. New sanctions and restrictions against russia. Germany does not plan to pay for russian gas in rubles now or in the future. The Minister of Finance Christian Lindner stated this, writes European Truth (Yevropeiska Pravda). *** The Open Policy Foundation (hereinafter - the Foundation, http://openpolicy.org.ua ) is a well-known public organisation that conducts analytical research and information campaigns, in particular on Ukrainian and foreign policy, protection of the rights of young people from the temporarily occupied territories to receive higher education in Ukraine. With the beginning of the russian aggression, the Foundation's experts, together with other leading Ukrainian analysts, have joined a team to implement the Information Defence of Ukraine project. Experts of the project prepare daily reviews of the military-political situation in Ukraine in Ukrainian, English, and Russian, the first review was released on February 26th, moderate the telegram channel Information Defence of Ukraine, https://t.me/info_defense_ua . For almost three months, we have been working on a volunteer basis, free of charge in the conditions of hostilities, sometimes under the sounds of air attack sirens. If you like our reviews and want to continue to receive a quality analytical product that describes the objective picture of the Ukrainian-russian war, we ask you to provide charitable assistance to our team. Help in UAH: you can transfer the money to the Oschadbank card 5304 0999 9952 1978, on the name of Ihor Zhdanov. Help in USD: you can transfer to the account 1. Beneficiary name (exact name of bank account holder): Ihor Zhdanov ( ) 2. Beneficiary city and country: City Kyiv Country Ukraine 3. Name of bank: Acc. 04-095-334 PJSC State Savings Bank of Ukraine 4. IBAN number: UA513226690000026207001378162 6. Swift number: COSB UA UK KIE 7. Full address of bank (street, city and country): Hospitalna str., 12 G, Kyiv, Ukraine 8. Other information (Bank code, ABA number, BSB number): Intermediary bank: Citibank NA, New York, Swift: CITIUS33 Thank you for each of your donations, it is very important and necessary for us. Glory to Ukraine! Cairo governorate started on Thursday the operation of new automated garbage trucks in an experimental phase in southern Cairo, replacing traditional manual collection methods. Egypt recorded a daily average of eight coronavirus infections over the past week, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population announced on Saturday, with the countrys daily infections dropping to their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic. U.S. first lady Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to western Ukraine on Sunday, holding a surprise Mother's Day meeting with the nation's first lady, Olena Zelenskyy, as Russia presses its punishing war in the eastern regions. Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US counterpart Antony Blinken discussed on Wednesday different aspects of Egypt-US strategic relations as well as a number of regional and international issues, commemorating the centennial of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Egyptian foreign ministry said. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1922, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry. There is a lot of history, but, I hope, a lot of good history we can actually make together in the months and years ahead, Blinken told the media before the meeting with Shoukry in Washington DC. During the meeting, Blinken presented a gift to Minister Shoukry: the copy of a letter from former US President Warren G. Harding to King of Egypt Ahmed Fouad I recognising Egypts independence and sovereignty and the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Blinken also gave Shoukry a letter from former US Secretary of State Charles Hughes to Egypts former Prime Minister Abdel-Khalek Tharwat Pasha congratulating him on Egypts independence. During the meeting, Minister Shoukry asserted the importance of continued consultation and coordination between the two countries in different areas of bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. The strategic partnership that exists now between Egypt and the United States over four decades has been mutually beneficial, and I believe there is much more work for both of us to do to further strengthen the relationship, and also to deal with the various challenges that I believe we can only meet through the continuing of our cooperation and our interaction, Shoukry said before the meeting. The meeting also dealt with human rights issues and the two countries perspectives on the matter, with Shoukry stressing the importance of dealing with human rights through a comprehensive perspective that considers the differences between societies. The two officials also discussed the latest developments internationally and regionally and agreed to continue to work and coordinate to face the challenges in the region as well as to limit the negative impacts of current crises, whether regionally or internationally. Shoukry's last visit to Washington was in November 2021, when he and Blinken kicked off the first round of the US-Egyptian Strategic Dialogue under the administration of US President Joe Biden. This is the second day of the Egyptian FMs visit to Washington, which kicked off on Tuesday with meetings with US officials, businessmen and think tank members, including Senior Adviser to the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate David Thorne. Shoukry also had a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Washington on means of boosting economic and trade ties between the two countries and the comprehensive development boom in Egypt. Given Egypts upcoming hosting of the 27th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27), scheduled to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, the meeting tackled the US companies' efforts to achieve sustainable development in Egypt, particularly in the renewable energy sector. The total two-way trade in goods between the United States and Egypt was $8.6 billion in 2019, according to the US Department of State. Search Keywords: Short link: RABAT, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan King Mohammed VI granted pardon to 958 prisoners on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr festival, the kingdom's Justice Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, will be celebrated on Monday in Morocco. The statement said that 29 prisoners convicted of extremism and terrorism are among the pardoned people, noting they have participated in an initiative launched by the Moroccan government to rehabilitate terrorists. Of these prisoners, 23 were released, while six got reductions in their sentences. The current level of disagreements between Cairo and Washington is within the normal range given the path of a century of diplomatic relations. Over the weekend, the Egyptian embassy in Washington hosted an Iftar to mark the centenary of Egyptian-American relations. In a set of speeches delivered by Egyptian and American officials, current and former, the strategic nature of relations between the two countries was thoroughly underlined in a way that seemed to sideline the concern shared in the diplomatic quarters over the current level of disagreements between Cairo and Washington. According to an Egyptian diplomatic source, this is for a reason. He argued that the core of disagreement today in the relations between Egypt and the US relates essentially to the issue of Egypts internal political affairs what they call human rights and what [Cairo] considers strict internal affairs. In a meeting between Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his American counterpart Anthony Blinken in Washington a little more than a week prior to the celebration of the centenary of Egyptian-American relations, this issue was very much on the table, according to Cairo-based foreign diplomats. In a tweet, Blinken marked 100 years of strategic relations between Egypt and the US. The US secretary of state also posted two letters sent in 1922 establishing the start of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The first telegram is a letter from former US President Warren G. Harding to King of Egypt Ahmed Fouad I recognising Egypts independence and sovereignty and establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, dated 26 April 1922. The second is a letter from then-US Secretary of State Charles Hughes to Egyptian Prime Minister Abdel-Khalek Tharwat Pasha congratulating him on Egypts independence, also dated 26 April 1922. Egyptian official sources agree. They also agree that there were views and concerns that the foreign minister of Egypt heard from his American counterpart and also from members of the Congress and think-tankers that he met with during his three-day visit to Washington. However, they add that it would be misleading to suggest that the talks were exclusively or even mostly focused on this file. The sources argued that the regional developments, especially on the Palestinian-Israeli front, Libya and Syria were paramount. In over 100 years of bilateral relations, the regional issues were always far more significant and consequential than anything else; this is nature of these relations, the same Egyptian diplomat said. On 28 April, to mark the centennial of diplomatic ties between Cairo and Washington on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gifted his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry with two letters marking the start of relations between the two countries in the 1920s. Prior to this, on 14 April, while Shoukry was in the US capital for diplomatic talks, Blinken had already gifted Shoukry with a copy of both letters. The website of the US State Department also marked the centenary. The United States established diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1922, following Egypts independence from its protectorate status under the United Kingdom, it wrote. The United States and Egypt share a strong partnership based on mutual interests in Middle East peace and stability, economic opportunity, and regional security, it added. Throughout this century of relations there was only one time when Egypt severed diplomatic ties with the US. In 1967, to reprimand the overt American bias towards Israeli aggression on Egypt, Gamal Abdel-Nasser decided to cut diplomatic relations with the US. This dramatic shift marked a contrast with Nassers earlier attempts at rapprochement with Washington during the early years of the Free Officers rule of Egypt starting in 1952. In a previous interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Abdel-Raouf El-Ridi, one of Egypts longest serving ambassadors in Washington, said that it was never true that Nasser was always trying to pick a fight with the US. The US, he said, was just too biased to Israel. However, only a few months after the October Crossing in 1973, Anwar Sadat launched a new phase of Egyptian American relations with an exceptional welcome to the historic visit of US President Richard Nixon to Egypt in 1974. The political career of Republican President Nixon was shortly undercut after the visit due to the Watergate scandal following the release of the Pentagon Papers. Sadat carried through his plan of establishing what is now called the strategic relationship with the US in a close dialogue that he established with Democratic US President Jimmy Carter who was elected to office right after the presidency of Gerald Ford, who had taken over from Nixon. Upon the signing of the Camp David Accords, between Egypt and Israel with US mediation, Egypt became a recipient of generous economic and military assistance. According to the US State Department website, since 1978, the United States has provided Egypt with over $50 billion in military and $30 billion in economic assistance. US assistance to Egypt has played a central role in Egypts economic and military development and in furthering the US-Egypt strategic partnership and regional stability, the US State Department website wrote. According to several Egyptian diplomats who spoke on several occasions over the past 30 years, Egypts role in promoting regional stability was always key to the Egyptian-American relations in a way that was more significant than any disagreements on human rights. In the late 1990s, upon his posting as the ambassador of Egypt to the US in the late 1990s, in an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Nabil Fahmy, later the foreign minister of Egypt in 2013, said that Egyptian-American relations should be conducted away from the agreements or disagreements over Egyptian-Israeli relations. According to a retired Egyptian diplomat who had served in Washington twice during the second administration of Democratic US President Bill Clinton and the second administration of Republican US President George W Bush, it was only around the time of Bushs second administration that the issue of human rights and freedoms in Egypt became central to the bilateral relations. At the time, he argued, the US, traumatized by the 9/11 attacks, decided that the way out of terrorism was to fast-track democracy in all Muslim majority countries, including the Arab countries. However, according to several diplomats who served in Washington over the past three decades, Middle East peace remained and will always remain much more consequential to Egyptian-American relations than anything related to democracy or human rights. This, they said, is a cross-partisan practice. They agreed that it might have been more explicit with someone like former Republican US President Donald Trump. However, they insisted that it was always the case with other US presidents. They noted that in the spring of last year, Democratic US President Joe Biden had two consecutive phone calls with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi over a few days when Egypt was mediating a ceasefire to put an end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The phone call came at a time when the disagreements on human rights and democracy practices in Egypt were still unresolved, following an election cycle in the US where Biden had made an issue of referring to the human rights situation in Egypt. Today, Egyptian government officials insist that notwithstanding the fact that other regional players have become involved in promoting Arab-Israeli peace, Egypt remains a quintessential player in this respect. According to one official, during most of his years as Palestinian president since 2004, Mahmoud Abbas would tell US interlocutors who made unreasonable offers on a possible deal with Israel, if Egypt would agree to this, then I would agree to it. Egypt and the Palestinian presidency, he added, might not always see eye-to-eye today, but at the end of the day it is very clear for Washington that Egypts support is a must for any possible Palestinian-Israeli deal. This diplomat agreed, however, that the effective suspension of Palestinian-Israeli talks had contributed to the current sense of distance in relations between Egypt and the US. Still, he added, the US is very keen to engage Egypt on many other regional files, including stability in Libya, the war against terror especially in Sinai on the borders with Gaza and Israel, the promotion of energy cooperation around the Mediterranean and the situation in Sudan, East Africa and Sahel and Sahara zones. Today, government sources insist that the US is still providing considerable support to Egypt on many fronts, including Egypts water security and economic stability. They refer to the role that the US ambassador in the Democratic Republic of Congo played last year during DRCs presidency of the African Union pushing the three-way talks of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). According to a New York-based diplomat, the US supported Egypt twice in its request to hold two UN Security Council sessions on the GERD. According to Egyptian diplomats, in talks with the top Egyptian officials, US officials have underlined their support for Egypts water security. Government sources also refer to the current support that the US is giving Egypt for its demand for a fresh loan from the IMF to help overcome economic difficulties coming as a result of long economic slowdown due to the pandemic and the war on Ukraine. These sources say that there were always be a room for disagreements between Egypt and the US be it on governance, Israel or other foreign relations issues like Egypts decision not to denounce Russias war in Ukraine. However, they add, that what is at stake is a lot more significant. What is at stake, they say, is the stability of one of the most consequential countries in the Middle East/Mediterranean regions and the stability of these regions and that of East Africa. Search Keywords: Short link: More than 11.1 million school pupils have been examined as part of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's initiative for the early detection of anemia, obesity and dwarfism among primary school students, the Ministry of Health and Population said on Sunday. The initiative, which was launched in February 2019, aims to examine 15 million Egyptian and non-Egyptian primary school students living in the country, Spokesperson for the health ministry Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar said. The initiatives target is to cover a total of 29,444 public and private schools, with the initiative set to continue its work until the end of the school year in all governorates across the country, according to Abdel-Ghaffar. A total of 2,400 medical teams have participated in the initiative. Each team consists of three personnel: a nurse, a laboratory technician and an administrator, Abdel-Ghaffar noted. He added that each team member has been trained on examination protocols, diagnostics and infection control standards. The initiative comes under the umbrella of the larger 100 Million Healthy Lives presidential initiative for the early detection and treatment of many serious diseases. Under the larger campaign, Egypts health ministry launched in March an initiative for the early detection and treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - liver cancer, the sixth most prevalent cancer in the globe. The initiative is an extension of efforts to screen for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that was launched in 2018, also under the umbrella of the 100 Million Healthy Lives presidential initiative. In July 2020, the health ministry announced that Egypt has become the first country to succeed in becoming free of HCV thanks to the national initiative to end the infectious disease that ended in April 2019. Egypt is also considering launching an initiative for the early detection of autism in children aged two and older, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said early in April. The country also launched an initiative for the early detection of genetic diseases in July 2021, managing to screen 98,000 new born infants so far, according to the health ministry earlier this month. Egypt screened over 22 million women as of February 2022 as part of the larger presidential initiative to support womens health. The initiative aims to screen 28 million women over 18 years of age. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts celebration of Labour Day is an opportunity to highlight the progress made by loyal Egyptian workers in building the new republic, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a recorded speech aired Sunday on the holiday, which is observed worldwide on 1 May. The new republic term has been mentioned repeatedly by the president since it was introduced for the first time in March last year with the inauguration of the New Administrative Capital (NAC). El-Sisi said that the relocation of the governments headquarters to the mega-city will be a declaration of a new republic. [Labour Day] is also an occasion for us to foresee the future of our children together with a new spirit full of hope and to work together, as with work nations are built and civilisations are established, El-Sisi said. El-Sisi congratulated male and female workers as well as the Arab and Islamic nations on the occasions of the three-day Eid Al-Fitr, which starts this year on Monday. During his speech, El-Sisi hailed the Egyptian workers as the nation builders, hope givers and makers of the future of the coming generations, vowing to support their rights and stand by their side. You are the solid foundation of this society, its main means of survival and continuity, and its driving force towards growth and prosperity, he added in his speech. The state is aiming toward an important phase of work and production to reach new horizons for the future of the dear nation, El-Sisi said, affirming that this requires Egyptian workers to continue the right path that we have started. Withstanding global crises The president shed light on the situation of Egyptian workers during global crises, including coronavirus and the latest international developments that have a direct impact on global economic growth, referring to the Russia-Ukraine war. Egypt is part of the world and is affected by what [the world] is affected by, the president said. The state, therefore has taken preventive measures that aim at protecting the Egyptian economic system from disruption in light of the recent global developments, El-Sisi affirmed. The successive achievements and mega projects that have been established in Egypt during the past seven years have become a major reason for withstanding challenges and crises, the president said. He added that all the states national projects without exception aim first and foremost at improving the quality of life and achieving a decent life for Egyptian people. In wake of the coronavirus, Egypt has also attached great importance to digital transformation of all the states services and sectors, the president said. He noted that in-person work has been significantly harmed by the repercussions of the pandemic. Millions of workers in the world have lost their jobs and new types of work have emerged that depend entirely on modern technology; the winner during that period was the one who made the best use of modern digital developments and kept pace with their speed, the president stated. El-Sisi highlighted the states initiative to provide support and required social protection to the neediest during the pandemic, including by economically empowering and providing cash grants to irregular workers. This is in addition to securing job opportunities for them and working to integrate them into the formal work sector. The wages of regular workers in distressed companies have also been paid through the workers emergency fund, El-Sisi said. Also, the state has provided support to businesses amid the pandemic by issuing a package of exemptions and monetary benefits to ease the burden on their shoulders, he added. These measures were praised by international organisations and bodies, which considered Egypts response to be a model internationally, the president said. We all overcame this crisis in a stronger and more solid manner, El-Sisi stressed. Curbing unemployment, raising wages The state has intensified its efforts to curb unemployment, including by expanding the implementation of national mega projects, establishing the Egyptian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), and designing rehabilitation and training programs for job seekers, the president said. To ensure that this is achieved, I instructed the government to quickly complete the national strategy for employment, which aims at securing new job opportunities for youth and ensuring an increase in jobs in line with the economic growth, El-Sisi said. The president explained that this strategy will cope with the new reality of the labour market, keep pace with sudden economic changes and modern technological transformations, and effectively address future jobs. El-Sisi also spoke about the states keenness to raise the minimum wages of workers at state institutions as well as in the private sector. The National Council for Wages has reached a consensus on setting the minimum wage for workers in the private sector for the first time in Egypt in many years, El-Sisi noted. In January, El-Sisi ordered raising the minimum monthly wage for public sector employees from EGP 2,400 to EGP 2,700 in the state budget for the fiscal year 2022/23. The National Council for Wages also announced in December that Egypt would mandate a minimum monthly wage of EGP 2,400 for the private sector with a monthly bonus worth three percent of the employees insurance. Women empowerment Concerning women empowerment, the state has carried out many reforms related to working women, El-Sisi said, adding that he has urged the government to set a supportive framework to empower women in the labour market, support them to join future jobs and protect them in their workplace. It has been clear that empowering women economically and enhancing their participation in the labour market helps accelerate the country's economic growth, contributes to increasing national income and doubles development rates, El-Sisi said. Egypt has taken several steps over the past several years to boost women empowerment in all fields, including economically. The unemployment rate among women decreased from to 17.7 percent from 24 percent in 2020, Chairwoman for the National Council for Women (NCW) Maya Morsy said in October. The state has also worked to ensure womens access to various positions and increase their representation in official bodies, including parliamentary chambers, the judiciary and municipalities. Since 2014, the representation of women in parliament has increased to 28 percent, in the Senate to 14 percent, in ministerial posts to 25 percent and in diplomatic posts to 56 percent, Morsy said in a speech before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in Geneva. Egypt has also adopted a series of procedures and policies to protect women against violence. The countrys constitution has included more than 20 articles regulating the issues of citizenship, equality and criminalising violence and non-discrimination, Morsy said. Search Keywords: Short link: Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal before Europe's peak summer tourist season. Greece's civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test, or a recent recovery from the disease. Under a decree passed by Italy's health ministry, the country did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms, and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus, or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. Some indoor mask mandates also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces, and stores. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas, and in all health care and elder care facilities. ``It was needed,'' said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident who was having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. ``We have waited more than two years.'' At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with similarly maskless friends. ``It's much better,'' Bichler said. ``Let's say it's a return to life, a free life.'' Public health officials say masks still remain highly recommended for all indoor activities, and private companies can still require them. As of Sunday, visitors to Italy also no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated and user-unfriendly online form required at airport check-in. Even with the restrictions increasingly going by the wayside, public health officials urged prudence and stressed that the pandemic was still not over. Italy is reporting 699 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and is recording more than 100 deaths per day, with a total confirmed death toll of 163,500. But hospital capacity remains stable and under the critical threshold. Given the virus is still circulating, ``we should keep up the vaccine campaign, including boosters, and keep up behavior inspired by prudence: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever there's a risk of contagion,'' said Dr. Giovanni Rezza, in charge of prevention at the health ministry. Italy was the epicenter of Europe's outbreak when it recorded the first locally transmitted case on Feb. 21, 2020. The government imposed one of the harshest lockdowns and production shutdowns in the West during the first wave of the virus and maintained more stringent restrictions than many of its neighbors in subsequent waves. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian film critic Ahmed Shawky was chosen last week to head the jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) competition at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival. Though Egyptians have been part of the FIPRESCI jury panel competition in the past, this is the first time one will chair the panel. Shawky will head a panel that includes a number of film critics from all across the world: Mariola Wiktor (Poland), Nathalie Chifflet (France), Emanuel Levy (USA), Simone Soranna (Italy), Jihane Bougrine (Morocco), Magali Van Reeth (France) Bidhan Rebeiro (Bangladesh) and Youssoufa Halidou Harouna (Niger). Launched in the 1920s, the FIPRESCI committee is among the most influential film criticism committees internationally. The committee is responsible for awarding the best film at numerous festivals, including at Cannes since the festivals launch in 1946. The upcoming Cannes International Film Festival is scheduled to take place between 13 and 24 May 2022. Shawky is an Egyptian film critic, programmer and screenwriting developer. He writes about film for numerous Egyptian and regional publications. He has also published six books about Egyptian cinema. A FIPRESCI board member and the vice president of the African film critics federation (FAAC), Shawky is also as a programmer for many film festivals. Shawky was appointed an acting artistic director of the Cairo International Film Festival in 2019, and a year later he was appointed its artistic director. Soon after the appointment he resigned from the post amid calls for his removal because of inflammatory past posts on social media Shawky is also one of two Egyptian names to head the 75th festivals juries, with the other being Yousry Nasrallah who will chair the Short Film Jury, a panel in charge of selecting one of nine films in competition for Short Film Palme dOr Search Keywords: Short link: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's president before heading to Poland for talks with officials there on Sunday. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia's war began more than two months ago. Her visit to Kyiv on Saturday marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Moscow. ``Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine,'' Pelosi said in a statement released Sunday. Footage released by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office showed Pelosi and other US legislators in Kyiv. In a video later released by Pelosi's office, the speaker and Zelenskyy both thanked each other for their support in the war. ``We'll win and we'll win together,'' Zelenskyy said. Pelosi added: ``We are here until victory is won.'' The full congressional delegation included Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Schiff, of California who chairs the House Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the House Rules Committee; Jason Crow of Colorado; Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts. ``You all are welcome,'' Zelenskyy told the delegation. Pelosi told Zelenskyy: ``We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom.`` ``We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done,'' Pelosi added. The visit wasn't previously announced. The delegation continued its trip to southeast Poland, and Pelosi said they would later visit the capital, Warsaw, to meet with President Andrzej Duda and other senior officials. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24. ``We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts,'' she said. In a news conference in Poland, Pelosi said she and others in the delegation applauded the courage of the Ukrainian people. She added that the delegation brought Zelenskyy ``a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership.'' Schiff said the US lawmakers had a three-hour meeting with Zelenskyy and his administration, talking about sanctions, weapons, and aid assistance. Schiff promised that intelligence sharing would continue between Ukraine and the US. ``This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny,'' Schiff said. ``And in that struggle, Ukraine is on the front lines,'' McGovern said Russia's war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine, saying it was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe. ``Putin's brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine,'' McGovern said. ``It's also a war against the world's most vulnerable.'' He added that Ukraine is a ``breadbasket of the world.'' ``I don't think that Putin cares if he starves the world,'' McGovern said. Search Keywords: Short link: The latest bombshell from business daily Calcalist alleged that Pegasus was used against a son of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, activists, senior government officials, businessmen and others. Calcalist had previously alleged that the controversial malware, which can turn a phone into a pocket spying device, was used by police against leaders of an anti-Netanyahu protest movement. Hours after Monday's report emerged, Bennett promised that his government "won't leave this without a response. "Things allegedly happened here that are very serious," he said in a statement that also credited Pegasus as "an important tool in the fight against terrorism and severe crime". "But they were not intended to be used in phishing campaigns targeting the Israeli public or officials - which is why we need to understand exactly what happened." As Bennett pledged action, Minister for Public Security Omer Barlev said he would ask the justice ministry to authorise a government commission of inquiry. Barlev said that, if approved, the probe would be led by a retired judge who would question anyone necessary in the political, legal and security system to uncover "violations of civil rights and privacy". Pegasus is a malware product made by the Israeli firm NSO at the centre of a months-long international scandal following revelations that it was used by governments worldwide to spy on activists, politicians, journalists and even heads of state. Israel had come under fire for allowing the export of the invasive technology to states with poor human rights records, but the Calcalist reports have unleashed a domestic outrage. President Isaac Herzog suggested the credibility of key Israeli institutions was at stake. "We must not lose our democracy. We must not lose our police. And we must certainly not lose public trust in them. This requires an in-depth and thorough investigation," Herzog said in response to the Calcalist report. 'Shocked' Calcalist said dozens of people were targeted who were not suspected of any criminal conduct, and without police receiving the necessary court approval. They include senior leaders of the finance, justice and communication ministries, supermarket magnate Rami Levy, mayors, and Ethiopian-Israelis who led protests against alleged police misconduct. In another revelation set to rock Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, Calcalist also reported that key witness Ilan Yeshua, former chief executive of the Walla news site, was a target. Avner Netanyahu, one of the premier's sons, was also on the list. "I truly am shocked," he wrote on Facebook. Netanyahu is accused of seeking to trade regulatory favours with media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage, including on Walla. He denies the charges. His lawyers on Monday demanded the trial be halted until the latest revelations were probed. The trial also suffered a blow last week when multiple Israeli broadcasters reported that police may have used spyware on Shlomo Filber, a former Netanyahu ally turned state witness. Those reports, which Netanyahu described as an "earthquake", did not mention Pegasus. Pegasus is a surveillance program that can switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data. NSO has consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the multi-stranded Pegasus scandal, stressing that it does not operate the system once sold to clients and has no access to any of the data collected. Four days of hearings into the Myanmar military's deadly 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya are scheduled to open Monday afternoon at the International Court of Justice amid a dispute over who should represent the country in court. Representatives of Myanmar are scheduled to address judges to outline why they believe the case that was filed by the African nation of Gambia, representing a group of Muslim nations, should be dropped. But members of Myanmar's National Unity Government urged the court not to accept representatives of the military rulers. "We do not believe that the International Court of Justice will want to allow the military to appear before them as if they speak for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar," said the unity government's foreign minister, Zin Mar Aung. "It would be a most profound injustice to the Rohingya if the military were to be both their abusers and have any voice in the court.'' The shadow administration said it has contacted the court to withdraw Myanmar's preliminary objections to the case, but it remains to be seen whether the court will recognize the unity administration. The shadow administration is made up of a diverse group of representatives including elected lawmakers who were prevented from taking their seats by the military takeover. It says it is the country's only legitimate government but no foreign government has recognized the unity group. The dispute at the world court in The Hague reflects a broader struggle in the international community over whom to accept as Myanmar's legitimate rulers in the aftermath of the coup. Southeast Asian foreign ministers held their annual retreat last week without their counterpart from Myanmar, who was blackballed from participating but allowed to attend online as an observer. The military launched what it called a clearance campaign in Rakhine state in 2017 after an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled into neighbouring Bangladesh and security forces were accused of mass rapes, killings and torching thousands of homes. In 2019, lawyers representing Gambia at the ICJ outlined their allegations of genocide by showing judges maps, satellite images and graphic photos of the military campaign. That led the court to order Myanmar to do all it can to prevent genocide against the Rohingya. The interim ruling was intended to protect the minority while the case is decided in The Hague, a process likely to take years. Former pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi represented Myanmar at the 2019 hearings, but she now is imprisoned after being convicted on what supporters call trumped-up charges. Last year's military takeover in Myanmar sparked widespread peaceful protests and civil disobedience that security forces suppressed with lethal force. About 1,500 civilians have been killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Akila Radhakrishnan, president of the Global Justice Center, said this week's International Court of Justice hearings "are laying the groundwork for accountability in Myanmar, not only for the Rohingya, but for all others who have suffered at the hands of the military.'' The International Court of Justice rules on state responsibility for breaches of international law. It is not linked to the International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague, which holds individuals accountable for atrocities. Prosecutors at the ICC are investigating crimes committed against the Rohingya who were forced to flee to Bangladesh but have not yet filed any indictments. Germany says it's making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of Russian crude oil imports by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europe's largest economy has reduced the share of Russian energy imports to 12 percent for oil, 8 percent for coal and 35 percent for natural gas. Germany has been under strong pressure from Ukraine and other nations in Europe to cut energy imports from Russia that are worth billions of euros, which help fill Russian President Vladimir Putin's war chest. "All these steps that we are taking require an enormous joint effort from all actors and they also mean costs that are felt by both the economy and consumers," Habeck said in a statement. "But they are necessary if we no longer want to be blackmailed by Russia." The announcement comes as the whole European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil following a decision to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. Germany has managed to shift to oil and coal imports from other countries in a relatively short time, meaning that "the end of dependence on Russian crude oil imports by late summer is realistic," Habeck's ministry said. KYODO NEWS - Apr 18, 2022 - 22:51 | All, Japan, Coronavirus A panel of experts at Japan's health ministry approved Monday the use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the U.S. biotechnology firm Novavax Inc. The ministry plans to give the green light at an early date for the use of what will be the fourth COVID-19 vaccine available in Japan. It will be produced and distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. The government has agreed to purchase 150 million doses of the vaccine from the Japanese pharmaceutical company, which filed with the ministry for its approval in December. Only COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc. are currently available in Japan. Novavax's vaccine will be the first protein-based one. It can be administered to people aged 18 or older in two shots spaced three weeks apart. The vaccine also may be used for mixing and matching booster shots. Hong Kong: Stout labour surmounts challenges Chief Executive Carrie Lam Today is Labour Day. This is also the last Labour Day that I celebrate with the labour sector in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Had it not been for the epidemic, the Government would have organised a large-scale reception as in the past to celebrate this international festival together with different sectors of the community as well as people who care about labour affairs and took the occasion to salute our workers. Especially following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic in the last two years or so, workers of all trades have led a difficult life. Yet, workers on the frontline have held fast to their duties and co-operated with the Hong Kong SAR Government in its anti-epidemic work to safeguard peoples health. On this important day dedicated to the labour sector, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each and every worker on behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Being a capitalist economy and with the public sector accounting for only a quarter of the entire economy, the Government needs to be proactive to formulate practicable policy measures and necessary legislation in order to better safeguard labour rights. In taking forward this work, the Government inevitably encounters divergent stances and views of the employers and the employees, and where the majority of employers in Hong Kong are small and medium-sized enterprises, the impact on their business is a factor we have to give due consideration. Despite the unprecedented challenges that the current-term Government has faced, with the joint efforts of various parties, we have made exemplary achievements in respect of labour rights. I still remember when I conducted the consultation exercise for the 2021 Policy Address last year, a veteran union leader told me in private that they had never imagined that so many problems that had beset the labour sector for more than a decade could have been resolved within one term of Government. On this Labour Day, let us review these hard-earned results: (a) the five-day statutory paternity leave has been implemented since January 2019, enabling fathers to share the work of caring for the newborns and take care of their wives after childbirth; (b) the statutory maternity leave has been lengthened from 10 weeks to 14 weeks since December 2020 with the Government, under an exceptional arrangement, reimbursing employers for the additional statutory maternity leave pay, subject to a cap of $80,000 per employee; (c) a bill on the abolition of the offsetting arrangement under the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System was introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) in February 2022 to strengthen retirement protection for employees. The Government has committed to allocating tens of billions of public funds to subsidise employers, in particular the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to help them adapt to the policy change; (d) to enhance retirement protection for employees, the HKMC Annuity Plan was launched in mid-2018. The Government has pledged to pay the five per cent MPF contributions for low-income workers who are exempted from MPF employee contributions when the eMPF Platform comes into full operation in 2025; (e) the Employment Ordinance was successfully amended in July 2021 to increase progressively the number of statutory holidays from 12 days to 17 days to be on par with the number of general holidays, enabling over 1 000 000 employees to enjoy the same holiday arrangement. The first newly added statutory holiday will be the Birthday of the Buddha on May 8 this year; (f) a new procurement policy for government service contracts has been implemented from April 2019. The new arrangements include increasing the weighting of wage levels of non-skilled workers during tender assessment, directly resulting in the wages of those workers of the awarded contracts being increased by over 20%; (g) the Labour Department established a dedicated division in September 2020 to enhance protection of foreign domestic helpers and provide better support to their employers; (h) on enhancing occupational safety and health, the Labour Department has issued a number of guidelines, launched an online complaint platform and strengthened surprise inspections. It will also launch the Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work for workers of the construction industry to facilitate the speedy recovery of injured employees; (i) on strengthening employment support, the Government has introduced various schemes to provide retention allowance for the elderly, young people and persons with disabilities, and increased the allowance for employers under the Work Orientation & Placement Scheme to encourage them to employ more persons with disabilities; and (j) the Government has provided employment support to ethnic minorities through the Employees Retraining Board, and injected $2.5 billion into the Employees Retraining Fund in 2020 to increase the quotas of the First-Hire-Then-Train Scheme and Love Upgrading Special Scheme. Although there are only two months to go before the end of the current-term Government, the work on support for labourers continues: (a) the Policy Innovation & Co-ordination Office will process at full steam applications received under the Temporary Unemployment Relief Scheme and the 2022 Employment Support Scheme; (b) we are making an all-out effort to have the bill on the abolition of the offsetting arrangement under the MPF System passed by LegCo before June 30 so as to enable the next stage preparatory work to proceed immediately thereafter; (c) we will introduce into LegCo legislative amendments to raise the ceilings of the ex gratia payment items under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund and adjust the levy rate of the business registration certificate to make good use of the fund to benefit both employees and employers; and (d) we will introduce into LegCo a bill to raise the penalties of occupational safety and health breaches to enhance the deterrent effect against illegal acts. With mutual respect and understanding between the employees and the employers on the Labour Advisory Board, the support of LegCo, and the unflagging efforts of the Secretary for Labour & Welfare and his team, the current-term Governments work on labour affairs has borne fruit. Resilient and industrious, workers in Hong Kong have been rising to new challenges brought about by the citys developments over the past decades. Looking ahead, I have every confidence that the labour sector will continue to join hands with the Government to bolster the economic development of Hong Kong. I wish all our workers a happy Labour Day! Chief Executive Carrie Lam issued this article titled Celebrate Labour Day together, Protect Labour Rights & Promote Hong Kongs Development on May 1. This story has been published on: 2022-05-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. NEW DELHI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave early on Monday for a tour to three European nations, namely Germany, Denmark and France, announced Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday. This will be Modi's first overseas visit this year. "PM will share India's perspective on Ukraine during his three-nation tour," said Kwatra. "India's stance over the Russia-Ukraine war has been quite clear. We have always maintained that there should be cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, and that the path to the resolution goes through diplomacy and dialogue," Kwatra said. In his statement prior to his departure, Modi said that his visit to Europe comes at a time when the region "faces many challenges and choices." "Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India's quest for peace and prosperity," he said. Modi will be visiting Berlin on May 2 at the invitation of Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz. "I will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark from May 3-4 at the invitation of Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to hold bilateral engagements and also participate in the Second India-Nordic Summit. On the way back to India, I will make a brief stopover in Paris for a meeting with President of France Emmanuel Macron," added the Indian prime minister in his statement. In Denmark Modi will take part in the second India-Nordic Summit along with prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway. "We will take stock of our cooperation since the First India-Nordic Summit in 2018," said Modi. The India-Nordic Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region. On the sidelines of the summit, Modi will also meet with leaders of the other four Nordic countries and review the progress in India's bilateral relations with them. Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitization and innovation, Modi said, adding "The visit will help in expanding our multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region." KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 11:12 | Feature, All, Japan Japan has decided to require listed companies to disclose in their annual securities reports the ratio of women in management positions, in a bid to increase female leaders in the country's male-dominated corporate world. The Financial Services Agency's move to oblige about 4,000 firms, mostly listed, comes as investors are paying more attention to how women are promoted and help their companies perform better. The agency aims to make the disclosure mandatory possibly in fiscal 2023, starting in April next year, through a Cabinet Office ordinance revision. Under the Japanese financial watchdog's plan, the listed companies must now also disclose details such as the average pay by gender and the ratio of male workers who took child care leave. Currently, the securities reports require stating information such as the number of employees and their average age. Under law, companies are penalized for making any false statements. The plan was presented in late March to a working group of an agency panel tasked to improve information disclosure to investors. Japan has lagged behind other major economies in achieving gender equality in management-level posts. It ranked 120th among 156 countries in the overall gender gap rankings in 2021, and 117th in economic participation and opportunity, according to the World Economic Forum, a Swiss-based think tank. Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed that the female manager ratio in Japan stood at 13.2 percent in 2021, below the 30 to 40 percent seen in the United States and European countries. The government has failed to meet a goal in 2003 of filling around 30 percent of leadership positions in Japan with women by 2020. In a policy review in 2020, the government pushed back the date to "as soon as possible within the 2020s." Gender wage gap has also been an issue of concern, with labor experts attributing this to women working fewer years in continuous employment than men as well as a small number of women in management positions tied with higher salary. Women working full-time earned 251,800 yen in monthly salary on average, which is 74.3 percent of the 338,800 yen by men in 2020, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Japanese companies had been obliged to disclose the salaries for women and men, but this was struck off from the year through March 1999 to simplify the securities reports. But the entries of salaries of women and men will once again be required, as this has become one of the barometers for investors in assessing corporate value. The FSA has said research showed a company tends to perform better when it has a higher female manager ratio. Britain and Germany seek the disclosure of the female manager ratio and set goals for it. Businesses have also become more proactive in putting women in executive or managerial positions. According to Waris Co., an employment agency matching companies with candidates for female executives, the number of companies who want to have their first female board member has increased from two years ago. "With the reorganization of the Tokyo stock market, companies are trying to make themselves more attractive to investors," said Miwa Tanaka, co-CEO of Waris. On April 4, the Tokyo bourse was reorganized from its four sections into three trading segments -- Prime, Standard and Growth markets -- to lure more foreign investment through stricter listing standards and corporate governance. The bourse operator has urged the top-tier Prime Market listed companies to improve corporate governance such as by having outside directors make up one-third of board members and enhancing transparency by offering information to investors in English. By Masakatsu Ota, KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 10:47 | All, World Russia's betrayal of its nuclear security assurance to Ukraine will overshadow the future of the international order underpinned by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a senior U.S. official suggested during a recent interview with Kyodo News. "Russia's action in Ukraine will no doubt impact the atmosphere of the NPT Review Conference, so we certainly cannot ignore the invasion by a nuclear weapon state of any nonnuclear weapon state, betraying the security assurances given when a nuclear weapon country joined the NPT," Eliot Kang, assistant secretary of state in charge of international security and nonproliferation, said. The NPT, which took effect in 1970, will have a review conference in August at the United Nations' headquarters to promote nuclear disarmament, strengthen nuclear nonproliferation and enhance peaceful use of nuclear energy. The conference, originally scheduled in 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming session will be crucial after the last session in 2015 left a clear division between nuclear weapon states and nonnuclear states that wanted to accelerate a total ban of nuclear weapons by creating the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. "With regard to nuclear, I mean, this is very serious. For example, in the January 3rd Joint Statement, the leaders of the five nuclear weapons states issued a statement on prevention of nuclear war, to which President (Vladimir) Putin himself agreed that nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences," Kang said. The statement was agreed on by the leaders of the five nations recognized as nuclear weapon states by the NPT -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, all permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. The statement was intended to affirm their commitments to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation ahead of the review conference previously scheduled in January. "We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought...We remain committed to our...NPT obligations," the statement said. "We all affirmed that the nuclear weapons, for as long as they continue to exist, should serve defensive purposes, to deter aggression and prevent war. Well, Russia's reckless statement about raising its nuclear alert levels has undermined the credibility of Russia's commitment to this statement." Kang insisted. Right after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces to adopt a posture of "special combat readiness," signaling to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the potential use of nuclear weapons if the Western alliance directly participates in the war. "Russia should be held to account and admonished for the irresponsible use of their escalatory rhetoric, threatening rhetoric, and undermining the progress," Kang said in reference to Putin's repeated indication of the potential use of nuclear weapons. Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum and joined the NPT in 1994, agreeing to abandon all of the nuclear weapons piled up on its territory before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. At the time, it had the world's third-largest nuclear stockpile. At the same time, the United States, Britain and Russia pledged to guarantee Ukraine's territorial integrity under the memorandum. China and France subsequently extended similar assurances to Ukraine. In 1995 when the NPT was permanently extended, the five nuclear weapon states unilaterally declared basically not to attack nonnuclear states with their nuclear weapons. "Any nuclear use by Russia would strike at the heart of the NPT by, obviously, violating norms against use that have held for the entirety of treaty, now, 52 years in history," Kang said. "It is to avoid circumstances such as this that the United States is both upgrading our conventional deterrence in Europe and promoting, at the same time, arms control and risk reduction measures, consistent with the purposes of the NPT." Even though the war has made the future prospect of arms control and nuclear disarmament much more uncertain, Kang indicated the strategic importance of continuing communications between the two nuclear superpowers. "Clearly, arms control is in the mutual interest of the United States and Russia, and also it's in the interest of all parties that are concerned. So, despite these serious ruptures and disturbances in the relationship, you can't get around the fact that we need stability and predictability. And we certainly hope the Russians will cooperate." KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 18:11 | All, World, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday affirmed respect for the sovereignty of states and warned against the use of weapons of mass destruction as the war in Ukraine continues. Kishida and Chinh, however, did not single out Russia's military aggression in Ukraine in a joint press conference after their meeting in Hanoi, apparently taking into account Vietnam's traditional ties with Russia since the Soviet era. "We confirmed that countries must abide by the principle of respecting the independence and the sovereignty of states," Kishida said. "In any region, changing the status quo by force is intolerable." The two agreed on the importance of an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and the provision of humanitarian aid, Kishida said, as he hailed Chinh's pledge to offer $500,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine through international organizations. It marked Vietnam's first offering of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Kishida also said the two leaders affirmed they "strongly oppose threats and uses of weapons of mass destruction and attacks on civilians." Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of the possibility of "lightning-fast" retaliatory strikes if a third country intervenes in military operations in Ukraine and poses threats to Russia. Putin said Russia possesses weapons others do not have and that his country will "use them if needed." "There are many countries that have not taken the same steps as the Group of Seven nations in relations with Russia," Kishida told reporters, in reference to the seven advanced democracies of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. "It is important to gain their (countries other than the G-7) understanding and cooperation as much as possible," Kishida said. "I appreciate Vietnam announcing humanitarian aid to Ukraine for the first time as a positive first step." In the run-up to the meeting, the focus was on whether Japan and Vietnam could agree to work together over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Tokyo is stepping up sanctions on Moscow in coordination with other G-7 nations, but Hanoi abstained in a U.N. vote in March on a resolution condemning Russia's attack on its neighbor. With Japan taking a tough line on Russia with other G-7 countries, Kishida is seeking to push forward collaboration with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, most of which -- including Vietnam -- have so far stood aloof from actions against Moscow. Speaking at the press conference, Chinh said the two sides discussed global issues including the situations in Ukraine and in the South China Sea. "We are committed to strengthening ties for maintaining peace and stability in the region," he said. Kishida also said the two agreed to strongly oppose attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea at a time when the region faces an increasingly assertive China. He called Vietnam an "important partner" in realizing Japan's vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. On the bilateral front, the premiers agreed on enhancing cooperation in Vietnam's maritime security and on Japan's Self-Defense Forces helping the Southeast Asian country strengthen cybersecurity skills. They also decided to set up a website for Vietnamese people seeking to train in Japan under the country's technical internship program and allow them to directly access information on job offers and the sending organizations. The program for transferring skills to developing countries has come under international scrutiny for issues including brokers charging excessive fees to those applying for the program. Japan also vowed to provide 19 billion yen ($146 million) to Vietnam for improving its disaster management capabilities by launching observation satellites. Before heading off on his eight-day tour covering Southeast Asia and Europe starting Friday, Kishida said the trip is aimed at building peace. Kishida was in Hanoi on the second leg of his five-nation trip that will also take him to Thailand, Italy and Britain. He arrived in the Vietnamese capital from Indonesia on Saturday. Kishida and Chinh last held a meeting when the Vietnamese prime minister was invited to Japan in November after Kishida became prime minister the previous month. KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 11:58 | All, Japan Over 40 percent of Japanese companies are raising prices within a year amid rising material costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a survey by a credit research firm showed. In the Teikoku Databank Ltd. survey of 1,855 companies in Japan conducted in early April, 43.2 percent of the firms said they raised prices this month or plan to do so by the end of March next year. When combined with the companies that have already increased prices between October and March, the percentage reaches 64.7 percent of the total, Teikoku Databank said. However, 16.4 percent said they are unable to pass on the higher costs to customers even though they want to. Only 7.4 percent had no plan to increase prices within a year. A growing number of Japanese companies are selling their products at a higher price in a country that has experienced years of deflation, as the pandemic and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine have caused the cost of everything from wheat to crude oil to rise. "We cannot keep running the company unless we raise prices" as various costs are increasing, a food manufacturer in Hokkaido, northern Japan, said, according to the survey. While some industries such as steel, chemical goods and food manufacturing are relatively willing to pass on higher costs, those that face severe price competition, such as transportation companies and hotels, remain hesitant, the research firm said. "We have many rivals, so a price hike would lead to a loss of orders," a transportation company based in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, was quoted in the survey. The depreciation of the yen is another challenge for Japanese companies as it boosts import prices and leads to higher production costs. "More and more companies will be forced to raise prices for the time being as pressure on corporate earnings remains strong," Teikoku Databank said. KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 21:31 | All, Japan Japan is considering establishing talent development programs involving industry, academia and government sectors across the country to boost domestic development in semiconductors and batteries, government sources said Sunday. The programs, which will be based on a framework established in the Kyushu region in March, aim to secure human resources for industries becoming increasingly important in an era of digitalization and decarbonization, as demand for such professionals around the world grows, according to an official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint chip-making venture established by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Sony Group Corp., as well as Kyushu University and nine local governments from all seven prefectures in Kyushu, are among those involved in the program on the southwestern main island. The Kinki region of western Japan is aiming to develop talent in the field of storage batteries, which are needed to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, with Panasonic Holdings Corp. expected to join the program. The programs in the Tohoku and Chugoku regions, in northeastern and western Japan, respectively, are expected to focus on semiconductors, while the Kanto region centering around Tokyo and the Chubu region of central Japan will focus on artificial intelligence and other types of digital technologies. Industry ministry bureaus in each region are overseeing the development programs, which will be tailored to the needs of companies, and launches are expected to be made from summer through fall. The government has also established a subsidy program to support the construction of new manufacturing facilities, with TSMC's new plant in Kumamoto Prefecture expected to be the first recipient. The Kumamoto factory plans to hire more than 1,000 people, with shipments scheduled to begin in December 2024. The industry ministry plans to compile a national strategy for storage batteries around the summer to strengthen support for development. KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 09:23 | All, Japan The idea of partially classifying Japan's national defense guidelines, under a major policy review into the country's security by year-end, is being floated to better deal with increased regional security threats by China and Russia, government sources said Saturday. Making the revised version of the National Defense Program Guidelines, a 10-year defense buildup policy, confidential would be in line with the mostly classified U.S. National Defense Strategy and enable Japan to be more specific in its strategy toward contingencies also involving North Korea, the sources said. The guidelines, which are now publicly available, are one of three documents the government is reviewing by the year-end, with focus on the politically sensitive issue of whether Japan can acquire capabilities to attack enemy bases in counterstrike given its exclusively-defense oriented policy under the war-renouncing Constitution. The two others to be updated are the National Security Strategy and the midterm defense buildup program, which specifies development plans and costs every five years. The possible move to classify portions of the guidelines follows recommendations by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as well as by some of the security and diplomacy experts invited to the government's closed-door hearings, bearing in mind the regional security challenges, the sources said. China has been intensifying its maritime assertiveness in the East and South China seas, including the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands, as well as stepping up its military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February, has raised concerns over its unilateral attempts to change the status quo, which could reverberate in Asia amid tensions over Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that China regards as its territory. Concerns also remain high over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. The LDP recently proposed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is party president, that the guidelines be scrapped altogether and a new national defense strategy in sync with the U.S. defense strategy, which has some portions declassified, be drawn up. The party also called for the Self-Defense Forces to develop counterstrike abilities aimed at disabling enemy weapons. "Having a document similar to the (U.S.) National Defense Strategy is requisite," in strategically dealing with possible contingencies involving China, Russia and North Korea, said an LDP lawmaker well-versed in defense issues. The U.S. defense strategy was sent to Congress earlier this year and its declassified summary released, whereby Washington says it prioritizes China over Russia as a greater threat to its national security. Critics, however, fear that it may be hard in the future to review Japan's security strategy, should the guidelines fall under the 2014 secrecy law. The law stipulates that violators will be punished if they leak sensitive information that is designated as a state secret and withheld from the public. KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2022 - 18:26 | All, World, Japan Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Sunday indirectly urged his Mongolian counterpart Batmunkh Battsetseg to join international pressure on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine. In a meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Hayashi told Battsetseg that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine violates international law and shakes the foundation of international order also in Asia, and therefore global solidarity is strongly required, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Battsetseg "gave explanations based on Mongolia's position," the ministry said, apparently reflecting Ulaanbaatar's reluctance to align with Western nations that have imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia. Besides conveying that position, it was not known how she responded to Hayashi's request, except saying it is important to immediately bring about a cease-fire and ease the tense situation in Ukraine, according to a Japanese government official. Mongolia, a landlocked country in East Asia sandwiched by China and Russia, has long been highly dependent on the two big powers in terms of energy supplies, trade and even electricity especially in the western part, according to the Japanese ministry. In early March, Mongolia abstained from voting on a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, which ended up being adopted with the approval of 141 out of the 193 members of the United Nations. After their first in-person meeting as foreign ministers, Hayashi and Battsetseg signed an agreement for 260 million yen ($2 million) in Japanese aid to host young Mongolian government officials at graduate schools in Japan. Given that Mongolia has close ties with North Korea, the ministers agreed to maintain their cooperation in dealing with Pyongyang's missile and nuclear development, as well as the issue of its abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s. Later Sunday, Hayashi visited the Shine Mongol Harumafuji School, founded in 2018 with support from Harumafuji, a Mongolian-born former sumo wrestler who rose to the sport's highest rank of yokozuna. The Japanese foreign minister also had talks with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene. Hayashi is on a five-day trip from last Thursday, during which he also visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. On Monday, Hayashi will meet with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh before leaving for Japan. KIEV, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has appropriated billions of U.S. dollars to the defense ministry amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Friday. The Ukrainian government has allocated 119 billion hryvnias (about 4 billion dollars) for the ministry, Shmyhal said on Telegram. "We are trying to provide maximum support for our fighters." The funds will be used to pay salaries to Ukrainian troops, and supply them with equipment, fuel, food, protective devices and weapons, Shmyhal said. TEHRAN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's parliament speaker said on Sunday that the United States seeks to cause insecurity in Afghanistan and to push the country into an unprecedented crisis. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made the remarks in an address to the parliament in reaction to recent developments in Afghanistan, according to the legislative body's website. He accused Washington of using the Islamic State (IS) militant group to compromise Afghanistan's security and create an "ethnic-religious sedition" in the country. The Taliban caretaker government is responsible for ensuring security in Afghanistan, but has so far failed to fulfill the duty, said Qalibaf. He emphasized that the formation of an inclusive government representing all Afghan ethnicities and groups is among the prerequisites for ensuring lasting security in Afghanistan. Violence has escalated in Afghanistan in the past months since the United States pulled its troops out of the country, including a series of terror attacks reportedly staged by the IS opposing the Taliban in recent weeks. In the latest attack on Thursday, at least nine civilians were killed and 13 others wounded in twin blasts in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of Afghanistan's northern Balkh Province. MOGADISHU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said it has handed over weapons captured during security operations against al-Shabab to the government as part of efforts to degrade the militants. The AU mission said the handing over of machine guns, rifles, and several rounds of ammunition recovered by its forces and the Somali National Army (SNA) in the Lower Shabelle region, aims to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. "The Somali government and ATMIS shall document and register all weapons and military equipment captured during offensives or in the course of carrying out their mandate," deputy head of ATMIS, Fiona Lortan said in a statement issued on Saturday in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. She noted that the handover complied with the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) protocol, which outlines procedures for the storage and management of weapons. Under the procedures, all seized weapons are recorded, photographed, and inspected before their destruction or redistribution. Lortan noted that the recovery of the weapons and the handover are significant achievements in efforts to flush out the militants who have engaged the government and AU forces in nearly daily attacks in a bid to topple the government. Keith Katungi, the commander of ATMIS Uganda contingent said the recovery of weapons from al-Shabab aims to control their widespread use. "This exercise shows the achievement of our objective to degrade and deny al-Shabab freedom of action and freedom of movement," Katungi said. Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, SNA commander of land forces, hailed the cooperation between ATMIS and SNA in efforts to restore peace and stability, ahead of the anticipated transfer of security responsibilities to Somali security forces. "Our collaboration weakens the enemy and encourages our forces - both ATMIS and Somali Security Forces," Bihi said after receiving the cache of weapons. Deje de molestar sexualmente a los ninos y deje de enganar a los padres Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Evidence continues to pour in that insidious, widespread sexualization of children is taking place. As a journalist who has tracked some of this over the years, I have heard from parents whose political and religious views span the spectrum. Many contact me and are enraged, fuming over what they see happening to their kids. Such parents feel like they are going crazy. I usually assure them that, no, they are not being paranoid. What they are watching unfold with their very own eyes is real. I have compiled a sample of what has become a disturbing cultural trend. At some point it must be asked: How much do parents have to witness before they can know that these are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern? Dare we call this grooming problem systemic despite how legacy media talking heads and others are posturing over the technical definition of grooming? Here are 12 examples Ive observed: In 2020, game and toy company Hasbro had to remove a new troll doll from the shelves after consumers found a button located in the crotch area of the doll that, when pressed, elicited gasps and giggles. That same year, it was discovered that when LOL dolls are bathed in ice water, tattoos of pizza slices, bondage gear, and other sexually perverse messages and imagery appeared on their small, baby-like bodies. Also that year, 11-year-old girls appeared twerking in skimpy outfits in the movie "Cuties" on Netflix. The American movie cover for that film was notably salacious and markedly different from the European cover. More recently, as has been highlighted by parents in many counties nationwide, so-called "queer" books featuring lurid prose and graphic illustrations of minors fellating adults are stocked in public school libraries of middle schoolers. And then we have drag kids, young boys like Desmond is Amazing who infamously strutted and gyrated down a runway in front of a cheering audience on ABC's "Good Morning America." Another boy who goes by the drag name "Lactatia" was prominently showcased by Elle magazine. In some photos, both of these young boys appear dissociated and anorexic. Desmond has been seen performing in a nightclub where rowdy men threw dollar bills at him. He has also been seen being interviewed by extremely shady men in front of a painting containing the word "Rohypnol" (the date rape drug). Meanwhile, Lactatia has been pictured posing suggestively in racy undergarments and alongside naked men with small pasties covering up their genitals. When did this become acceptable? What happened to child safeguarding? Then there is Teen Vogue, which in 2017 published an article pushing abusive sexual deviance aimed at young girls, or as the magazine calls them, "non-prostate owners." As a result of similarly-themed content found in online porn, troubling figures have emerged in medical journals showing how young girls speak to physicians about internal damage to their bowels. Sex education in schools is the Grand Central Station of Groomlandia. It promotes the nonsensical yet sinister "gender unicorn" and gender-bread person," as well as video instruction materials from groups like AMAZE featuring creepy cartoons and confusing, innuendo-laden messages. Not to be outdone, Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues" featured a Pride parade last summer with a cartoon beaver sporting bilateral mastectomy scars and a pink and blue transgender armband. In case youre wondering, beaver is crude slang for female genitalia. Consider the layers to that and remember that the target age demographic for this show is 3 to 5-year-olds. In June 2021, The Washington Post ran an op-ed from a "gendervague" contributor who explained why she thinks kink belongs at Prideand why it's important that her children see it. To no one's surprise, some academics are openly promoting (in oh-so-nuanced academic-speak, of course) the idea that child rape is fine. Perhaps the best example of this is SUNY-Fredonia philosophy professor Stephen Kershnar who has published a book called Pedophilia and Adult-Child Sex: A Philosophical Analysis and was recently seen on video yukking it up about all the boundary-breaking he has accomplished (thank you, LibsofTikTok!). For those interested in further reading on this, check out Gayle Rubin's "Thinking Sex," which is considered the founding document of queer theory. Or, if you can stomach it, take a peek at anything by Judith Butler. Be forewarned though, brushing your teeth with a blowtorch is probably more pleasant. And then, Disney. Need I say more? Finally, behold the edifice of "gender-affirming care. While not overtly pedophilic, no other movement breaks down a child's boundaries as much as this does. Fully embraced by the Biden administration, some "doctors" today are making confused children and their parents believe that kids can give informed consent and can make decisions that carry lifelong consequences, such as taking pediatric Lupron to block their normal puberty, which will likely render the child permanently sterile, particularly if combined with cross-sex hormones. JAMA Pediatrics has documented that gender-dysphoric females as young as 13 have had their healthy breasts amputated. Young people are being irreversibly disfigured at an alarming rate and will probably never enjoy sex. Most egregiously, the NIH has funded "research" on children where documents obtained by a FOIA request revealed that the age was lowered for the cross-sex hormone cohort inclusion criteria so that an 8-year-old child could receive the experimental drugs. J.K. Rowling was not speaking hyperbolically in August 2020 when she warned of a brewing medical scandal. To anyone breezily dismissing the mounting concerns of parents, or to those who might think that this is limited to the fringe of our politics, how many more anecdotes do you need before you see a pattern? When might you realize that these are not random one-offs? And before anyone asks, no, you will not hear me excusing grooming in conservative spaces or in religious settings. In my estimation, thats even worse because God's name and twisted theological claptrap are often used to cover it up. Yet when parents demand that their elected officials do something about this in the schools or in the wider culture, it is frustrating when they are told that they are not being "inclusive" enough or that it doesn't technically fit the precise definition of "grooming." Parse words all you want, if none of what I've listed here constitutes "grooming," nothing does. Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine and Matthew S. Nelson talk composing for "The Chosen" Please, let kids be kids. Stop sexualizing them. And for the love of God and all that is decent, quit gaslighting their parents. Workers install a China-donated solar panel at a house in Gwadar, Pakistan, March 14, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) "It was a complete set, not only the solar panel but also fans and bulbs and wires. I did not have to pay a single penny for it, and the installation teams quickly fixed the most valuable gift I have ever received from someone at my house," the 42-year-old Abdul Khaliq said. by Misbah Saba Malik ISLAMABAD, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Abdul Khaliq, a laborer from Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, used to suffer in hot weather and have his pre-dawn fast-breaking meals in darkness due to power outages during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. "Power outages are a suffering during other months too, but during Ramadan it is at their worst. Rich people of the district have other arrangements like solar panels to face the situation, but poor laborers like me had no choice, but to keep on suffering," Khaliq told Xinhua. This year during Ramadan, Khaliq met a pleasant surprise when one morning, staff from the district administration came to his doorstep to install a solar panel gifted by the Chinese government. During a ceremony held in Gwadar in July last year, the Chinese government signed with the Pakistani side a Memorandum of Understanding to donate 3,000 sets of solar systems for the Pakistani people in an effort to address climate change. Locals gather at a house with a China-donated solar panel installed in Gwadar, Pakistan, March 14, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) "It was a complete set, not only the solar panel but also fans and bulbs and wires. I did not have to pay a single penny for it, and the installation teams quickly fixed the most valuable gift I have ever received from someone at my house," the 42-year-old said. The Chinese aid not only light up thousands of houses but also strengthens the bond of Pakistan-China friendship in people's hearts. Athar Abbas Raja, assistant commissioner of Gwadar, under whose supervision units of solar panels are being installed, told Xinhua that they held a survey in the district and distributed the aid to the most underprivileged people. Workers install a China-donated solar panel at a house in Gwadar, Pakistan, March 14, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) "There are some people who were living in a bad condition, and could not buy the solar panels on their own, so with the support of China, we brought ease in their lives. The process is still underway, over 1,000 panels have already been installed and the remaining will be installed after the Eid al-Fitr holidays next month," Raja said. Talking about the electricity shortage in Gwadar, Raja said electricity in Gwadar is being bought from Iran and due to long transmission lines, there are power outages and people particularly the poor suffer a lot. The solar panel units were a much-needed solution to the people of Gwadar and they are joyous to receive them before the peak of summer when the electricity problem is at its worst, he added. The local official said Chinese companies have also been taking beneficial initiatives for the people of Gwadar who have got employment opportunities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) program, and are hopeful that with the industrialization process in the second phase of CPEC, their living standards will further improve as the Chinese people have successfully eliminated abject poverty in their own country and they know how to uplift the socio-economic structure. "Not only solar panels, the Chinese have also facilitated local fishermen's work in a big way by providing them with the state-of-the-art nets, and hundreds of local fishermen got benefit from it," Raja said. Workers carry a China-donated solar panel to be installed at a house in Gwadar, Pakistan, March 14, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Hameed Ullah, a leader of local fishermen from Gwadar, said many of the local fishermen have received costly nets which will help them in deep-sea fishing and make more money for their families. "The nets are so big and good. My own net was getting old and I was saving money to buy a new one which had to cost me over 50,000 rupees (about 270 U.S. dollars), which was a big money for me," he said. "I am overwhelmed that I just got the gift from the Chinese when I wanted it the most. Other fishermen are so happy too. With new nets, some are planning to engage their unemployed son or brother into the business and increase their family income." Pakistani experts believe that the Chinese help and generation of economic and business opportunities for locals are gradually transforming the lives of people. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, CEO of Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development, said the recent Chinese assistance to locals is an excellent example of boosting socio-economic development through bilateral cooperation, and it will help the Pakistani people not only overcome challenges of daily life, including hot weather, but also help create business opportunities. A hair washing festival was held in Wuying Miao Village in Rongshui in China's Guangxi on Friday. Women here have the tradition of keeping long hair. They use fermented rice water - the water after rinsing rice - to wash their hair. The natural shampoo keeps their hair healthy, smooth and shiny. CANBERRA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- From colorful ceramics to street food of various flavors, the Handmade Market was back to Australian capital after two and a half years. The market, recognized as one of Canberra's most popular events which was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic, was held on Saturday and Sunday with about 250 stall-holders this time. "Really very emotional," Handmade Managing Director Julie Nichols told Xinhua. "We're really excited that it's back. The support has been overwhelming." Budawang Pavilion of the Exhibition Park in Canberra became packed with people on Saturday, in which the gourmet food hall was teeming with scents of barbecue and pancake. In other halls, visitors were busy choosing their favorite clothes and artworks, chatting with stall-holders from time to time. "I have loved supporting makers through the Handmade Online Markets, but nothing beats being able to see and feel the handmade products with your own hands," long-time Handmade Market customer Carole said. "There is just something so special about holding a handmade product, while talking directly to the person who has made it." Louise Martiensen came from her LouiseM Studio in Sydney about 280 km away. In her stall visitors were picking up ceramic plates with floral patterns or watercolor dishes. "I'm really glad to be back at the handmade market in Canberra," she said. "Really missed it." She told Xinhua that a big part of her business was being able to sell at markets. "You can sell online, but it's not quite the same as being able to come out to the markets and talk to people and have them see the work and pick it up and feel it and touch it." Martiensen began coming to the Handmade Market in Canberra about six years ago. "There's just such a nice vibe in the air and it's so good to be able to re-connect with everyone," said the 34-year-old artisan. "It's good to see so many people in the room again. I know a lot of us are wearing masks now and being careful, but it does feel like life is coming back a little bit to normal." Wu Jiawen's food stall the "Little Wu Jianbing" selling Chinese pancakes saw a long queue of customers at noon. While talking with Xinhua, she was still busy cooking with two stoves. "I had been looking forward to the re-opening of the market for quite some time," said the Chinese stall-holder. Now with her own restaurant in the Dickson area, which is recognized as Canberra's China Town, Wu said she actually started her business in the market. In the past, the Handmade Market opened four times a year, and she came almost each time. "I have a special feeling about this market," she said. Maybe because Saturday was the first day after the market reopened, Wu's business was so good that she had already sold several dozen of pancakes before noon. Julie Nichols, the 54-year-old organizer, was happy to see people like Martiensen and Wu back. "We have 600 small businesses registered with us and these types of events and markets are what keep them going, like it's their bread and butter," she said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic has had very a big impact on the small businesses. The last time the market opened was in December 2019, after which they made three attempts. Once the organizer and businesses had announced the re-opening, but canceled it at the last minute. This was their fourth go, and they took several measures to help people stay safe. Visitors were asked to check in using the Canberra-safe app, and hand sanitizers were placed in different corners of the market. Tara Cheyne, minister for business in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), hailed the market as a "local business success story." "Previously the Handmade Market happened once per quarter and provided a great platform for local and regional makers to come together," she said in a statement. "This weekend Canberrans have a great opportunity to support local and regional makers at Handmade Market in person." Nichols said she hoped that Handmade Market could continue to grow. "So that we can support and keep doing what we do, which is connecting people who love handmade products to people who make handmade products." Photo taken on Sep. 22, 2021 shows an industrial area in Bac Giang province, Vietnam. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) "Bigger FDI realized capital reflects foreign investors' hope on Vietnam's economic recovery. The bigger amount of money means expanded production of economic sectors, creating favorable conditions for economic recovery amid the global pandemic and economic growth in the coming months," said Do Thi Thu, a lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam. Many free trade agreements, especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), have already taken effect, bringing trade advantages to Vietnam, and subsequently stimulating investment, including FDI in the country. HANOI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Along with smaller registered capital of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the first four months of this year, Vietnam has continued to see bigger realized capital that helps boost its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam licensed 454 new FDI projects with a total registered capital of 3.7 billion U.S. dollars between January and April, recording an increase of 0.7 percent in the project number while a decline of 56.3 percent in the registered capital compared to the same period last year, said the General Statistics Office. However, in the four-month period, 323 operational FDI projects increased their capital by roughly 5.3 billion U.S. dollars, posting a year-on-year surge of 92.5 percent. Meanwhile, realized capital of FDI projects surpassed 5.9 billion U.S. dollars, up 7.6 percent year on year. Employees work at electronics company in Van Giang district, Hung Yen province, Vietnam, on Feb. 20, 2021. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) In the first quarter of this year, realized capital of FDI projects stood at more than 4.4 billion U.S. dollars, witnessing a year-on-year rise of 7.8 percent, the highest growth in the last five years, said the office. Among the realized capital of over 4.4 billion U.S. dollars, more than 3.4 billion U.S. dollars, or 77.8 percent of the total, came from manufacturing and processing sectors; 8.6 percent from electricity, gas, hot water and air conditioning production and distribution; and 7.9 percent from real estate trading. Realized capital of FDI projects in Vietnam also increased remarkably in the 2012-2019 period, by an average nearly 10.4 percent a year. More and more foreign capital are being poured into manufacturing, processing, science and technology sectors. "Bigger FDI realized capital reflects foreign investors' hope on Vietnam's economic recovery. The bigger amount of money means expanded production of economic sectors, creating favorable conditions for economic recovery amid the global pandemic and economic growth in the coming months," Do Thi Thu, a lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam, told Xinhua on Saturday. Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2021 shows the train running on the China-constructed Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line, the first one of the type completed in the Southeast Asian country in Hanoi, Vietnam. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) The convergence of FDI, both registered capital and realized capital in manufacturing and processing sectors and some other industrial sectors is an important factor for accelerating economic restructure to the modernity and sustainability, contributing to enhancing the capacity of launching more value-added products and services in 2022 and the following years, she said. Nguyen Mai, head of Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, has predicted FDI realized capital would rise some 10 percent this year, while registered capital would increase by 10-15 percent. The country attracted nearly 31.2 billion U.S. dollars in total foreign investment in 2021, up 9.2 percent from 2020, with top foreign investors being Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China. Many free trade agreements, especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), have already taken effect, bringing trade advantages to Vietnam, and subsequently stimulating investment, including FDI in the country, he told local reporters. Contributing factors to continuous flows of FDI into the Southeast Asian country in general and bigger FDI realized capital in particular include stable, favorable investment and business climate, effective investment promotion campaigns at home and abroad, low labor cost, basic containment of COVID-19, timely resumption of international tourism from March 15, and more simplified entry-exit procedures for foreigners, according to officials and experts. Photo taken on Oct. 28, 2021 shows wind turbines of the Nam Binh 1 wind power project in Dak Song district, Dak Nong province, Vietnam. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) In late April, the Vietnamese government decided to allow foreigners to enter Vietnam using electronic visas through Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, expanding the list of such airports in the country to total nine, which include Noi Bai in capital Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat in the southern Ho Chi Minh City, Cam Ranh in the central province of Khanh Hoa, and Phu Quoc in the southern province of Kien Giang. Le Xuan Dong, head of market research and consulting services at FiinGroup, a leading financial data and analytics provider in Vietnam, said the country has recently adopted more measures to support enterprises, improve business environment and attract FDI, including a decision on promoting digital transformation and encouraging investments in high-tech projects and startups. At present, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is working on a specific set of criteria to attract more FDI, with focus on investment unit cost, labor, technology, technology transfer, connectivity and spillover effect, environment, and national defense and security. However, the existing measures are not still enough, Nguyen Mai said, who believes that Vietnam should center on speeding up administrative reform, and improving infrastructure. The country should establish more specialized research and development centers in order to make full use of foreign investment and foster high-quality human resources training, he added. Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2020 shows a photovoltaic power plant in Phu Hoa district, Phu Yen province, Vietnam. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) "Vietnam will face challenges in transitioning to higher-skilled jobs without continuing reforms in education, skills development, and a transformation of the labor market, which is characterized by slow growth of high-skilled occupations, high informality, and an aging workforce. Improving the quality of higher education will be an important step," the World Bank in Vietnam has recently said. Meanwhile, many experts have made a proposal concerning creating a specific legal corridor for more foreign-invested enterprises to become public companies and then list their shares on the local stock market. According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam currently has 34,815 valid FDI projects with a total registered capital of more than 422.8 billion U.S. dollars. But only eight foreign firms currently list shares on the Vietnamese stock market, accounting for 0.3 percent of market capitalization. "In the coming years, some Vietnamese sectors will attract stronger FDI, such as logistics, technology, financial services, utility, healthcare and education services, manufacturing and industrial real estate," Le Xuan Dong told Xinhua on Saturday. Foreign investment in environmentally friendly sectors are also encouraged by both the Vietnamese government and provincial authorities, he added. Vietnam's economy is expected to rebound to 6.5 percent this year and further expand to 6.7 percent next year, from 2.6 percent last year, thanks to high vaccination rates, trade expansion, and continued accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, the Asian Development Bank said in April. A child has an ice cream during a heat wave in Amritsar, Punjab state, northern India, on April 29, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Many Indian states are suffering an acute power supply shortage largely blamed on a lack of coal for power generation amid intense heatwave. by Pankaj Yadav NEW DELHI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Several Indian states have been facing intense heatwave with the temperature already reaching 46 degrees Celsius in the capital Delhi and surrounding states. Besides the weather condition, many Indian states are also suffering an acute power supply shortage largely blamed on a lack of coal for power generation. As per the data of the Central Electricity Authority, India currently needs 201,111 megawatts of electricity in power supply per day, which is expected to rise to 220,000 megawatts next month. Photo taken on April 22, 2022 shows an electricity tower in Nagaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam. (Str/Xinhua) According to media reports, nearly a quarter of the power plants in India are presently shut due to a lack of coal supplies. The most affected states include Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. According to Shailendra Dubey, an expert on India's power sector, the main cause of the paucity of power supply is the shortage of coal supplies. "Many power plants of the capacity of around 9,745 megawatts are facing scheduled shutdown due to shortage of coal, and power plants of around 23,503 megawatts are shut for other reasons," said Dubey. The Delhi government has already warned the local residents of increasing power cuts in the coming days, as it gets decreased power supplies from the power grids. With no power generation of its own, Delhi is dependent on other states for power supplies. People drink during a hot day in New Delhi, April 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Javed Dar) Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain reportedly said, "We should have a 21-day coal backup, but at many power plants, coal available is for less than a day." "There is a need of some strong steps to handle this situation," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on Friday. Meanwhile, the federal Railways Ministry on Friday ordered the cancellation of 42 passenger trains to facilitate coal shipment, which is aimed at ensuring a faster delivery between the power plants and the coal-producing regions in the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. Rural and remote areas are facing more power cuts, compared to urban areas. Power demand normally rises during summers as the need for running electronic appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators rises. People in villages in Uttar Pradesh told Xinhua that they were getting power supply for 4-5 hours a day, while residents in cities and urban areas were facing power cuts for up to eight hours a day. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said power cuts were leading to joblessness in the South Asian country. Children study under the light of candles at their home after a power cut in Nagaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, April 22, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Rejecting Rahul's estimates of inadequate coal stocks in the country, Power Minister R.K. Singh said there were enough coal reserves in the country, with a reserve stock of 22.3 million tonnes. Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi said on Twitter that coal companies have achieved the highest ever production in 2021-22, with 30 percent growth from captive mines. In April alone coal production has further increased by 27 percent and the supplies to thermal power stations by 14 percent over last year, Joshi said. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited on Friday said its two thermal power stations located in Unchahar and Dadri areas in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh were running at more than 100 percent capacity. These two coal-powered stations meet nearly 25-30 percent of Delhi's electricity demand. BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement Friday that the country has barred entry to the country for nine individuals from Iceland, three from Greenland, three from the Faroe Islands and 16 from Norway in a retaliatory move. The countermeasures were taken in response to the decisions made by Iceland, Norway, and the Danish autonomies of Greenland and the Faroe Islands to join the European Union's sanctions against Russia. - - - - Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov stated on Friday in a briefing that the Russian Aerospace Forces "have destroyed the production buildings of the Artyom missile and space enterprise in Kiev." In total, 142 aircraft and 111 helicopters, 634 unmanned aerial vehicles, 278 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,638 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 304 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,175 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,467 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation. - - - - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Friday that Ukraine has allocated 119 billion hryvnias (about 4 billion dollars) to the defense ministry amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The funds will be used to pay salaries to Ukrainian troops, and supply them with equipment, fuel, food, protective devices and weapons. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Pakistani President Arif Alvi signs a condolence book for the victims of a terrorist attack at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 30, 2022. A shuttle passenger van of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi was attacked on Tuesday, which has left three Chinese teachers killed. (Xinhua/Jiang Chao) ISLAMABAD, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will thwart any attempt to undermine its relations with China, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Saturday, after a terrorist attack killed three Chinese nationals in Karachi earlier this week. A shuttle passenger van of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi was attacked on Tuesday, which has left three Chinese teachers killed. During his visit to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the president expressed condolences to the Chinese side over the deaths of the teachers, and strongly condemned the attack, saying that Pakistan will spare no effort to fight against terrorism and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country. The victims were friendly ambassadors who promoted people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China, he said, adding that the terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan's development and the corridor construction cannot be achieved without the support of China, an "iron brother" of Pakistan, the president stressed. Pang Chunxue, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, thanked Alvi for his visit, and said that China strongly condemns the terrorist attack and has asked the Pakistani side to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. China will join hands with Pakistan to ensure the safety of the Chinese citizens, projects and institutions in Pakistan, combat terrorism and promote regional peace and stability, she added. BAGHDAD, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Two Katyusha rockets hit an air base housing U.S. military experts and agencies in Iraq's western province of Anbar on Saturday, the Iraqi military said. The two rockets landed in the evening in the Ayn al-Asad AirBase near the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the capital Baghdad, causing no casualties, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. The rocket attack came, although Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had confirmed on Dec. 29, 2021 the end of the combat mission of the U.S.-led coalition forces in the country. Ahmed al-Dulaimi, a colonel from Anbar Operations Command, told Xinhua that the Iraqi forces found two rocket launchers several km from the air base and the incident is under investigation. Also on Saturday, an Iraqi soldier was killed and another injured in a roadside bomb explosion near their vehicle on the highway near Trebil Border Crossing with Jordan, al-Dulaimi said. In the eastern province of Diyala, six mortar rounds hit a village at 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), wounding a woman and causing damage to several houses and civilian cars, according to a statement from Diyala Operations Command. Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have carried out deadly attacks against the extremist militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the Islamic State (IS) militant group in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Scientific research members launch a balloon carrying radiosonde at the Mount Qomolangma base camp on April 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) LHASA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists are mounting efforts to establish a meteorological monitoring station at an altitude of 8,800 meters on Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, on the China-Nepal border. If the station is established successfully, it will replace the one at an altitude of 8,430 meters set up by the British and U.S. scientists on the south side of the mountain in 2019, to be the world's highest of its kind, according to the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. Equipment weighing some 50 kg will be dismantled and distributed to mountaineers, each of whom will carry no more than 7 kg up onto the mountain for the establishment, said Zhao Huabiao, a researcher with the ITP. A scientific research member extracts microorganism from glacial meltwater at the Mount Qomolangma base camp on April 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Currently, the engineers in charge of establishing the station are still waiting for the perfect weather for mountaineering. Including the highest, eight elevation gradient meteorological stations will be set up on Mount Qomolangma, one of the main tasks in China's new comprehensive scientific expedition on the world's highest peak at the height of 8,848.86 meters. Three meteorological stations were established at sea levels of 7,028 meters, 7,790 meters and 8,300 meters, respectively, earlier this year on the north side of the mountain, bringing the total number of operational weather stations between the altitudes between 5,200 meters and 8,300 meters to seven. Last year, four stations at sea levels of 6,500 meters, 5,800 meters, 5,400 meters and 5,200 meters were set up. The new comprehensive scientific expedition on Mount Qomolangma is part of China's second scientific research survey on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which started in 2017. Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2022 shows a view of the Mount Qomolangma base camp. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Zhao said the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is facing a warming tendency along with global warming, and the higher the altitude is on the plateau, the more the temperature has risen. Such a conclusion is only based on the data of weather stations at sea levels below 5,000 meters and the estimated calculation in accordance with the remote sensing data, because weather monitoring data from high-altitude stations were missing in the past. The eight stations will collect the wind speed and wind direction data, as well as relative humidity on the north side of Qomolangma, and the elevation gradient meteorological station system is of great significance for monitoring the melting glaciers and mountain snow at the high altitudes, said Zhao. Scientific research members set up a wind lidar at the Mount Qomolangma base camp on April 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) The expedition team will also set up glacier radar and measure the thickness of snow and ice at the summit of the mountain, he said. A volunteer prepares food to be distributed to people in need at a charity kitchen in Damascus, Syria, on April 11, 2022. In war-torn Syria, charity kitchens have played a unique role in providing sustained relief for the displaced and the poor, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, the U.S.-led Western sanctions on the country has crippled their endeavors. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, April 30 (Xinhua) -- In war-torn Syria, charity kitchens have played a unique role in providing sustained relief for the displaced and the poor, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, the U.S.-led Western sanctions on the country has crippled their endeavors. Since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011, charity kitchens offering free Iftar meals during Ramadan have mushroomed in big cities including the capital Damascus, soon becoming a symbol of Ramadan in the country. When battles were largely over in major areas in 2018, sweeping economic sanctions from the West followed, strangling the country's reconstruction and plunging millions into dire situations. Najeeb Haj Bakri, a worker with the Ahel al-Kheir charity kitchen in Damascus, told Xinhua that the kitchen, which served those who suffered at the hands of extremists and terrorist groups in wartime, is now open to those struck by "economic terrorism." "Our role as a local society association in Syria is to show solidarity in the face of the economic terrorism as a result of the U.S. and Western economic sanctions. That's why today we are trying to do our best to deliver these meals," he said. According to Bakri, 2022 is a harder year as it has become so thorny to secure food items at a time when prices of wheat and other commodities were skyrocketing in the fallout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The kitchen also faces a funding shortage as many key donors are now themselves overwhelmed by the economic crisis, said Bakri. Saed Abdul-Ghani, supervisor of a volunteer team called We Were and Will Remain, told Xinhua that the costs of handing out charity food parcels have doubled from the previous year, while the needs of people and the number of families in need have grown. Against the backdrop of price hikes and food shortages, a food parcel worth 15,000 Syrian pounds (5.97 U.S. dollars) last year now costs 35,000 pounds, he said. "If we could distribute 200 iftar meals last year on a daily basis during Ramadan, this year we are barely able to distribute 100 only," Abdul-Ghani lamented. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria has called for a review of the implementation and impacts of multilateral sanctions currently imposed on Syria. The commission said in a report issued in February that despite humanitarian exemptions, more is required to mitigate unintended consequences on the daily lives of the civilians brought about by over compliance. "Where sanctions are not adequately reviewed, they can lead to further shortages and impede humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable populations," it said. Volunteers prepare food to be distributed to people in need at a charity kitchen in Damascus, Syria, on April 11, 2022. In war-torn Syria, charity kitchens have played a unique role in providing sustained relief for the displaced and the poor, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, the U.S.-led Western sanctions on the country has crippled their endeavors. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Volunteers prepare food to be distributed to people in need at a charity kitchen in Damascus, Syria, on April 11, 2022. In war-torn Syria, charity kitchens have played a unique role in providing sustained relief for the displaced and the poor, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, the U.S.-led Western sanctions on the country has crippled their endeavors. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Volunteers prepare food to be distributed to people in need at a charity kitchen in Damascus, Syria, on April 11, 2022. In war-torn Syria, charity kitchens have played a unique role in providing sustained relief for the displaced and the poor, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, the U.S.-led Western sanctions on the country has crippled their endeavors. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Volunteers prepare food to be distributed to people in need at a charity kitchen in Damascus, Syria, on April 11, 2022. In war-torn Syria, charity kitchens have played a unique role in providing sustained relief for the displaced and the poor, especially during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, the U.S.-led Western sanctions on the country has crippled their endeavors. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) KAMPALA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Relief agencies in Uganda say urgent funds are needed to cater to the critical needs of thousands of refugees fleeing fighting in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and sporadic clashes in South Sudan. UN refugee agency figures show that the number of refugees fleeing into the country since January has reached more than 50 percent of the anticipated 67,000 new arrivals by end of this year. Since January, Uganda has received over 35,000 refugees, a third of whom arrived in the past three weeks from the DRC, fleeing intense fighting in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office here. UNHCR and 44 other relief agencies in the country on April 29 launched an emergency appeal of 47.8 million U.S. dollars to cover a three-month initial urgent response for an influx of up to 60,000 refugees. Esther Anyakun, Uganda's Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugee said the funds are needed to provide urgent assistance to new arrival refugees, mainly women and children in dire need of protection. She said Uganda continues to offer safe asylum to people fleeing, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Joel Boutroue, UNHCR Representative in Uganda said the country's asylum policy must continue to be supported generously. Boutroue said the emergency funds will be used to cater for protection, food, shelter and essential household items. Funding will also support urgently needed healthcare supplies, and water, sanitation and hygiene services required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases, according to UNHCR. Francis Iwa, Executive Director of Care and Assistance for Forced Migrants, a local nongovernmental organization, said, "While the world's attention is focused on Ukraine, we urge for peace in the DRC. Failing this, interagency partners need additional resources and supplies to meet the humanitarian imperative of the people who have fled to Uganda." The funding appeal comes at a time when Uganda's response to the over 1.5 million refugees in the country is critically underfunded. An interagency report said as of the end of March, only 41 million dollars had been received against the country's refugee response plan of 804 million dollars in funding needs for 2022. PEACE EFFORTS There are ongoing regional efforts to pacify mineral-rich eastern DRC, which has faced decades of war. Regional leaders at a recent meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi directed all armed groups in the DRC to participate unconditionally in the political process to resolve their grievances. They also directed that a regional force be deployed to fight rebel insurgency in the country. Following regional initiatives, the DRC government is engaged in peace talks with the different warring parties in the eastern part of the country. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame at a recent meeting in Uganda said a regional approach is needed to address the Congolese situation. "This time we must insist on working together because these people have suffered a lot. I told President Kenyatta that if we don't come in as a region, Congo may become like Sudan," Museveni said. President Uhuru Kenyatta is Kenya's president and chairperson of the East African Community, a regional bloc bringing together Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, and DRC. "They need to talk without leaving anyone behind," Kagame said, noting that the Congolese security situation must be addressed once and for all. ADDIS ABABA, April 30 (Xunhua) -- Ethiopian security forces have arrested 89 suspects in connection with deadly violence in eastern Ethiopia city, local officials said on Saturday. In a press statement, Dire Dawa city administration communication bureau said the suspects are accused of involvement in deadly violence that occured on Friday. The statement said extremist bodies who wanted to disturb the harmony of the Christian and Muslim communites in the city instigated violence that left a four-year-old child dead and 22 security forces injured. The statement further said there was extensive property damage in the violence that broke out after Friday Islamic prayers. Tension has been rising across Ethiopia after deadly violence between the Christian and Muslim communities in northern Ethiopia city Gonder on Tuesday left at least 20 dead. The violence in Gonder city was triggered by a longstanding competing ownership of land around a cemetery by members of both the Christian and Muslim communities. Ethiopian Security forces have disclosed 373 suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the deadly violence in Gonder city. SEOUL, May 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export logged a double-digit growth last month, marking the highest April shipment, government data showed on Sunday. Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 57.69 billion U.S. dollars in April, up 12.6 percent from the same month of last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It was the highest April figure due to strong demand for major export items, such as semiconductors. Import advanced 18.6 percent from a year earlier to 60.35 billion dollars in April amid the higher global commodity prices. Caused by the faster growth in import than export, the trade deficit reached 2.66 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in red for the second straight month, after posting a deficit of 115 million dollars in March. SHANGHAI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has urged solid efforts to stay on the target of cutting off COVID-19 transmission in communities as epidemic prevention and control enter a critical stage in Shanghai. Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while heading a working group in guiding COVID-19 containment in the eastern Chinese metropolis from April 2 to May 1. Over 30,000 medical staff from 22 provincial-level regions were sent to Shanghai to control the COVID-19 spread, and the Chinese military dispatched more than 5,000 medical workers to assist the mission. About 399,000 infections have been identified from communities in the city. Data shows the epidemic situation is steadily improving and under effective control in the city. Newly reported COVID-19 cases in a single day have fallen from a peak of 27,000 to 7,189, and nearly two-thirds of the infections have recovered in the city. The vice premier stressed downgrading the control measures for communities without new infections for seven consecutive days to restore normal social order. Sun also demanded strengthening treatment and care for elderly patients, maximizing the cure rate, and reducing the fatality rate. The vice premier stressed strictly implementing regular epidemic control measures and urged efforts to prevent the virus from spreading to other regions. by Xinhua writer Zhao Wencai BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Once again, The New York Times (NYT) betrayed its ignorance of China. In a recent report on the COVID-19 fight in Shanghai, the American newspaper jumped to a conclusion that the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is being tested, because residents in Shanghai are volunteering to help each other out during "lockdown" in recent weeks. Such an argument is as ridiculous as it is malicious. In a stunningly far-fetched manner, the article tried to equate natural and warm-hearted mutual assistance with some kind of expression of discontent towards the CPC. Apparently, its authors were hardly touched by the love and care expressed by ordinary Chinese towards one another in their hours of difficulties. Perhaps that is because of U.S. media's die-hard habit of smearing China in every possible way. Indeed, Shanghai has been experiencing its most severe COVID-19 wave in the past two years. Its residents' life and work have been impacted by strict measures to contain the highly contagious Omicron variant. And at the early stage of the outbreak, some people encountered various kinds of inconveniences to get food supply and medical treatments. After all, meeting the daily needs of more than 25 million residents in China's biggest city in highly restricted conditions with no precedent to follow has posed a strenuous challenge. That is why the local authorities have on many occasions acknowledged their problems, and vowed repeatedly to improve their services. And instead of hurting the CPC's legitimacy, the fact that hundreds of thousands of local citizens volunteer to lend each other help and support testifies to the strength of the Party. In fact, many of the volunteers are either organized by the local authorities or working closely with neighborhood committees. And among those tens of thousands of volunteers the NYT mentioned, a large portion of them are CPC members. "Wherever there is a need, there must be a Party member," the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee said in a recent open letter to CPC members in Shanghai. "Our Party members must go deep into the community and the masses, stand by and work with cadres and the people in the front line." Official statistics show that more than 700,000 Party members in Shanghai have registered to join the city's anti-COVID fight, and a large number of CPC members have been working as volunteers in districts, towns and villages. In some communities, 90 percent of community volunteers are Party members. Anyone with some basic knowledge of the CPC's history would know that mobilizing the public to work with the Party in joint efforts to tide through hard times is both a tradition and a strength of the CPC, as the CPC has pledged that "everything is for the people and everything relies on the people." Today, there are more than 95 million Party members in all walks of life across China. They are both members of the big Chinese family and representatives of their fellow countrymen. According to a report by Harvard University, the Chinese people's overall satisfaction toward the central government has been above 90 percent for years. Any attempt to sow discord between the Chinese people and the CPC would be futile. The NYT's attack on China's dynamic zero-COVID policy would be no different. At the moment, the dynamic zero-COVID approach to containing the virus remains the most optimal choice for China. "If we are not firm about the dynamic zero-COVID policy, China may miss the best time to stem the resurgence of cases, which may lead to higher costs and unbearable consequences," said China's leading epidemiologist Liang Wannian. As China's economic center and an important link of the global supply chains, Shanghai can only minimize the impact of the pandemic on China and the global economy by putting the resurgence of COVID-19 cases under control and returning to normal as soon as possible. It is the broadest consensus shared by the general public in China. And from a global perspective, by strictly enforcing the dynamic zero-COVID policy, China is making a huge sacrifice to ensure the long-term economic viability of Shanghai in global trade and commerce, which would inject more certainty into the world economy. What also should be noted is that by citing people's self-reliance as evidence of public frustration, the NYT actually exposed America's monumental failure in battling the pandemic. Over the past more than two years, Washington has largely failed to shoulder its responsibility in leading the anti-COVID-19 fight, and left the American people to fend for themselves. The NYT should quit its biased coverage on China, and try to understand the country and its ruling party better. In 1936, when the prospect of the CPC-led social revolution was still unclear, Edgar Snow, an American journalist, ventured to north of China's Shaanxi Province, where the CPC and its military "the Red Army" were based and surrounded by resourceful and powerful enemies. Through comprehensive interviews and objective analysis, Snow made an accurate and foresighted judgment in his report that the social revolution "would eventually win." In a cave dwelling on the Loess Plateau, Snow asked then 43-year-old Mao Zedong: the enemies' "economic resources many times surpassed ours, and they received material assistance from the outside. Why, then, has the Red Army scored success after success ... and not only survived still today but increased its power?" "The explanation is that the Red Army and the (CPC-established) Soviet Government had created among all people within their areas a rocklike solidarity, because everyone ... was voluntarily and consciously fighting for his own interests and what he believed to be right," Mao replied. Eighty-six years later, Snow's professionalism and Mao's words about the CPC's successes can still offer some clues about how the Western mainstream media, including the NYT, can tell their stories of China and the CPC. NANNING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) went into effect four months ago, the deal has boosted freight train services along a land-sea trade corridor through western China. The RCEP is a mega trade pact between 10 ASEAN member states and its FTA partners, including China. On Wednesday, a freight train fully loaded with paper pulp, ceramic tiles, and other products, headed northward from the southern port city of Qinzhou. Two days later, it arrived in western China's Chongqing. The train traveled through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. It's a trade and logistics passage jointly built by Singapore and provincial-level regions of western China, with Chongqing as its center of operations. Since its opening in 2017, the number of TEUs transported from Chongqing through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor rose from less than 3,000 to 112,000 in 2021. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has become an important channel connecting western China with the rest of the world, and works as an important engine for the "dual circulation" of domestic and overseas markets. Produced by Xinhua Global Service A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid testing in Daxing District, Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported 51 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and four asymptomatic cases between 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, local authorities have said. A makeshift hospital located in Xiaotangshan Township in the capital's northern suburb was put into use on Sunday, and has received 12 patients, Li Ang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, told a press conference on Sunday. So far, 40 medical staff, including eight doctors and 30 nurses, are treating 12 asymptomatic cases and patients with mild symptoms in the makeshift hospital, Li added. Beijing on Sunday classified one area as a high-risk area and six others as medium-risk areas, bringing the total number of high-risk areas in Beijing to seven and medium-risk areas to 28. Gene sequencing of 158 infected samples collected since April 22 showed there are currently two transmission chains in Beijing, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal disease prevention and control center. "Most of the newly infected cases were found among personnel under closed-off management, and a small number of infected cases were found through community screening," Pang said. Nearly 22 million samples were collected during the third round of citywide nucleic acid testing in Beijing from April 29 to 30, in which eight tubes of mixed sampling for COVID-19 were found positive, according to Li. He added that two more rounds of nucleic acid testing would take place in Beijing between May 1 and 4. A senior resident gets a vaccination against COVID-19 aboard a mobile vaccination vehicle near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) Mobile vaccination vehicles are parked near a business center in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 30, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A woman gets a vaccination against COVID-19 aboard a mobile vaccination vehicle near a business center in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 30, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A resident gets on a mobile vaccination vehicle for observation after the COVID-19 vaccination near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A mobile vaccination vehicle is parked near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 30, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A man gets a vaccination against COVID-19 aboard a mobile vaccination vehicle near a business center in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 30, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A senior resident registers for COVID-19 vaccination aboard a mobile vaccination vehicle near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) Mobile vaccination vehicles are parked near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) In this aerial photo, mobile vaccination vehicles are parked near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) Residents are under observation after the COVID-19 vaccination aboard a mobile vaccination vehicle near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A senior resident registers for COVID-19 vaccination aboard a mobile vaccination vehicle near a residential neighborhood in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2022. The city of Nanjing has been optimizing the process of vaccination to provide more convenient services to citizens, with mobile vaccination vehicles dispatched to residential neighborhoods and business centers. (Xinhua/Li Bo) JERUSALEM, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Sunday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to wish him a happy Eid al-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid heightened regional tensions. Herzog expressed hope for "peace and stability in the region" on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, said a statement issued by Herzog's office, without elaborating on the content of the conversation. The Israeli president also spoke with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and wished them a happy holiday. Herzog's office noted that the president is expected to speak with more leaders in the next few days. It was the first official talk between Herzog and Abbas since the beginning of a wave of fatal violence between Israel and the Palestinians in March. The UAE and Bahrain agreed to normalize their ties with Israel in the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords which were signed in September 2020. The Israeli presidency is a largely ceremonial position. CHANGSHA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Wang Yong has underscored all-out rescue efforts after a self-constructed residential building collapsed in central China's Hunan Province. The incident took place at 12:24 p.m. on Friday in Wangcheng District in the provincial capital Changsha. Wang arrived at the site on Saturday to guide the rescue and emergency disposal work. All-out efforts should be made to save the injured, reduce casualties and handle the aftermath, said Wang. Wang stressed strict prevention of secondary disasters, as well as timely and accurate information disclosure. Inspections to defuse risks with self-constructed buildings should be arranged to prevent the occurrence of major accidents, he said. SOHR has reported that Unknown gunmen shot dead a soldier of the Damascus government forces on the Rakhm-Al-Maliha road. " An explosive device also exploded on a patrol of the Damascus government forces while passing on the Rakhm-Al-Maliha road, east of Daraa. After that, violent clashes erupted between unidentified gunmen and the Damascus government forces that lasted for about an hour before the gunmen left the area", SOHR added. This coincided with explosion of an explosive device in the car of Damascus government forces in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside, which led to death a soldier, amid a security alert in the area. A.K ANHA WASHINGTON, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) annual dinner returned on Saturday after two years of cancellations due to COVID-19. U.S. President Joe Biden attended the event and made remarks and jokes, with which he took a swipe at his predecessor Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and conservative-learning Fox News. "The Daily Show" host and South African comedian Trevor Noah also spoke at the gathering held at the Washington Hilton. The black-tie gala took place despite concerns it could be another COVID-19 super-spreading event. Dozens of individuals, including several senior Biden administration officials, tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the elite Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner in early April. Attendees of the WHCA event must provide proof of vaccination and a same-day negative COVID-19 rapid test. Biden skipped the dinner portion. Anthony Fauci, a top U.S. infectious diseases expert, had decided not to attend because of personal concerns about health and safety. "For real, people, what are we doing here? ... I mean Dr. Fauci dropped out. That should've been a pretty big sign," Noah said in his remarks. This year's dinner was the WHCA's first since 2019 and also the first in six years to have the presence of the sitting U.S. president. Trump, when he was in office, declined to go to the occasion amid a contentious relationship with the media, which he often derided as "fake news." Held for the first time in 1921, the WHCA's annual dinner is traditionally attended by the U.S. president and first lady, as well as senior government officials. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a tour of 3 European countries from May 2. Prime Minister Modi is on a visit to Germany-Denmark and Paris. Before leaving for a three-nation visit, Prime Minister Modi said, "My visit to Europe is taking place at a time when Europe is facing many challenges. I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are key partners in India's peace and prosperity. Prime Minister Modi is leaving on his first foreign trip of 2022 at a time when Russia has invaded Ukraine and this development has led to diplomatic turmoil all over the world, including India, and affecting the relations between the world's superpowers. Let us know that PM Narendra Modi will be on a tour of Europe from May 2 to 4 tomorrow. Due to this, he will visit Germany, Denmark and France. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra reported. He said that on Monday, Prime Minister Modi will attend the India-Germany IGC meeting in Berlin. Due to this, Prime Minister Modi will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This will be the first meeting of the two leaders. In Germany, Prime Minister Modi and the German Chancellor will also meet the top CEOs of India and Germany. The India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultation will also be attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On May 3, Prime Minister Modi will visit Copenhagen. This will be Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Denmark. Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with Danish PM Mete Frederiksen. Modi will attend the second India-Nordic Summit here. 'Maharashtra has gone ahead in controlling corona, it has disturbed the Centre', says CM Thackeray attacks the government After Punjab, CM Kejriwal arrives in Gujarat to seek a chance, says - 'If you give 5 more years to BJP...' If Congress forms government in 2023, we will restore old pension in every situation: Kamal Nath Ukraines Air Force Command reveals real identity of legendary pilot Ghost of Kyiv 1 May, 18:59 Ukraines Air Force Command said there was no singular Ghost of Kyiv (Photo:Security Service of Ukraine) Ukrainian Air Force Major Stepan Tarabalka, who died on March 13 during aerial combat, is not the legendary Ghost of Kyiv and did not shoot down 40 aircraft by himself, clarified Ukraines Air Force Command via Telegram messenger on April 30. On Apr. 29, the British newspaper The Times, citing Ukrainian sources, reported that the Ghost of Kyiv, the nickname for an ace pilot who allegedly shot down more than 40 Russian aircraft, had died in battle. The Times identified this pilot as 29-year-old Major Tarabalka. Tarabakla was confirmed killed in action by the Air Force on March 13, and was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Gold Star posthumously. However, the military says, he was not the Ghost of Kyiv. The Ghost of Kyiv is a legendary superhero whose myth was created by Ukrainians! It is rather a composite image of the pilots of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of Ukraine, protecting the skies of the capital, who suddenly appear where they are not expected! Air Force Command explained. The Air Force also denied various claims that have popped up in various news and social media outlets in recent weeks, including that Ukrainian pilots had been training to use U.S. F-16 fighter jets. However, Ukrainian pilots are not yet studying abroad on the F-16, no matter how much we all want it, the military said. The Air Force Command urged the Ukrainians not to indulge wishful thinking and to check their sources before spreading news. On the fourth day of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that a Ukrainian pilot, dubbed the Ghost of Kyiv, had already shot down 10 enemy aircraft. The fact that the Ghost of Kyiv is a fiction and is rather a group of pilots was also confirmed by Oleksiy Arestovych, a presidential advisor, in an interview with NV. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Kathmandu, May 1 A panel formed to find out ways to revive the Nepal tourism industry in the post-Covid scenario has suggested the government recruit tourism officers at key Nepali diplomatic missions abroad so that they can run tourism promotion activities there. To begin with, the panel suggests the officials can be placed at the missions located in the 10 countries that are sending the highest numbers of tourists in recent months. The committee submitted its report to Tourism Minister Prem Bahadur Ale at the ministry on Friday. Meanwhile, the committee has also suggested the ministry form a quick response team within the ministry that works 24*7 to respond to all problems in the sector to be reported by tourism entrepreneurs and workers. Other suggestions include appointing Nepal tourism goodwill ambassadors in different countries, ensuring well-behaving and trained personnel at international airports and major entry points and cooperation with local governments among others. So far, 2022 has hit Amazon where it hurts in the wallet. During the first three months of the year, the e-tailer suffered a $3.8 billion net loss, shocking analysts and Wall Street. It was the companys first quarterly loss in seven years and, it turns out, Amazon itself may be partly responsible. After reporting $116.4 billion in revenue, which limped over estimates of $116.3 billion and even showed a little growth, at 7 percent over the same time last year, analysts were left stunned by the financial stumble. More from WWD Amazon blamed the tanking value of its major investment in Rivian Automotive, a once-buzzworthy EV (electric vehicle) company whose initial public offering in November was hailed as the most successful IPO in several years. Rivian basked in the glow of its key investor and, thanks to a partnership deal, could boast that it was supplying EV delivery vans to one of the worlds top e-commerce platforms. But in recent months, its stock has been tanking, leaving investors agape as three-quarters of Rivians share value evaporated. For Amazon, which soaked a total of $1.8 billion into the start-up, the free fall resulted in a whopping $7.6 billion loss. The reasons for the downturn range from self-inflicted like a big price hike that triggered backlash from preorder customers to other complications, including component shortages. But Amazons own actions didnt help. Its supposed to receive 100,000 Rivian-made electric delivery vehicles, but confusion reigns, as its not clear when theyre coming and how many have been produced so far. What investors do know, however, is that Amazon isnt relying on that: Early this year, revelations surfaced that the company has been striking e-car deals with Stellantis, Daimler and others, shaking confidence in the start-up. Story continues It makes for a fascinating twist. Rivians marquee investor wound up undermining the business. Now its falling share value fueled by that and other woes came back to bite Amazon. Not that its alone. Ford Motor Company invested in the EV company as well, resulting in $5.4 billion in loss. But optimism over its strategic plans, and the fact that it beat revenue and earnings estimates, gave Ford some resilience. Thats not the case for Amazon right now. The last quarter looks particularly bad compared to last year. In the first quarter of 2021, pandemic-fueled online shopping and gains across other business units drove 44 percent year-over-year growth and $108.5 billion in revenue, with profits north of $8 billion. First-quarter 2022 projections essentially cut that in half, laying out expectations of $4.4 billion in profit that were ultimately unfulfilled. According to Amazon, the second quarter doesnt look much better. It forecasts slowing year-over-year growth between 3 and 7 percent, pegging revenue between $116 billion and $121 billion. Analysts thought it would come to $125.5 billion. Shares fell 10 percent in after-hours trading, and as of Friday, they still havent recovered. At least it has the Prime Day annual sales extravaganza to look forward to in July. According to chief executive officer Andy Jassy: The pandemic and subsequent war in Ukraine have brought unusual growth and challenges which paints Amazon as subject to the same broader challenges that have been plaguing the retail and technology sectors across the board. While thats true, its clearly not the full picture. Still, he tried to focus on the bright spots during the quarter, like Amazon Web Services, which has become a rather foundational part of the company. The cloud division outperformed Amazon as a whole, with $18.44 billion in sales blowing past the $18.27 billion expected and operating income soaring 57 percent to $6.5 billion. Jassy also painted a positive portrait of its consumer business, with high growth over the past two years prompting the company to double its fulfillment network. With that behind it, now its focusing on efficiencies like delivery speed. Performance has been improving, he said, even approaching levels not seen since the months immediately preceding the pandemic in early 2020. Its not clear if Rivians electric delivery vehicles are supposed to be part of that plan, and if so, when. The new Buy With Prime program could also be a pressure test on Amazons infrastructure, as offering fast shipping and other Prime perks to outside e-commerce sites looks like a major expansion. Notably, in only the second time Amazon broke out figures for its ad business, it apparently eked out a small victory which is conspicuous in a tough quarter for tech, in general. Ad sales of $7.88 billion may not have met expectations of $8.17 billion, but they still represent a 23 percent uptick over last year. Thats good enough to edge out Google (22 percent) and trounce Facebook (6.1 percent). Of course, as a retailer, Amazon faces challenges that go beyond tech sector concerns, like warehouse labor issues. Just weeks ago, workers in Staten Island, New York, voted in favor of forming a labor union, setting up a historic first for the company the arrival of its first official unionized workplace in the U.S. Now other warehouses are trying to unionize as well. Amazon is fighting it. LVIV, Ukraine (AP) Hollywood actor and United Nations humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, the Lviv regional governor said on Telegram. According to Maksym Kozytskyy, Jolie who has been a UNHCR Special Envoy for Refugees since 2011 had come to speak with displaced people who have found refuge in Lviv, including children undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station in early April. The attack in the eastern Ukrainian city appeared to deliberately target a crowd of mostly women and children trying to flee a looming Russian offensive, killing at least 52 and wounding dozens more. She was very moved by (the childrens) stories, Kozytskyy wrote. One girl was even able to privately tell Ms. Jolie about a dream shed had. He said Jolie also visited a boarding school, talked with students and took photos with them, adding she promised she would come again. According to Kozytskyy, Jolie also met with evacuees arriving at Lvivs central railway station, as well as with Ukrainian volunteers providing the new arrivals with medical help and counseling. The visit was a surprise to us all, he wrote. Plenty of people who saw Ms. Jolie in the Lviv region could not believe that it was really her. But since Feb. 24, Ukraine has shown the entire world that there are plenty of incredible things here. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was wrong to push through a law terminating the self-governing status the state government granted to the Walt Disney Company in the 1960s, because he did so to punish the company for criticising a controversial Florida law. Mr Hutchinson, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, also criticised the company for how it handled the recently passed law which purportedly prohibits classroom discussions of sexual orientation in early primary school grades. But he said Mr DeSantis, who many polls show is a front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination should former president Donald Trump choose to not pursue a second non-consecutive term, said he did not believe government should punish private businesses because officials might disagree with them. To me, that's the old Republican principle of having a restrained government, he said. "It's a fair debate about these special tax privileges. I understand that debate. But let's not go after businesses and punish them because we disagree with what they said. Asked if Mr DeSantis had overstepped by pushing the new law through the Florida legislature, Mr Hutchinson replied: "Well, I disagree with it I disagree with a punitive approach to businesses. The final night of Ramadan has arrived and Eid-Al-Fitr is fast approaching, as Muslims prepare for celebrations around the globe. Eid al-Fitr is calculated in accordance with the sighting of the new moon by the Saudi Arabia moon-sighting committee and is typically announced by local Mosques. The crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Struday 30th April, therefore Eid al-Fitr will now be marked and celebrated on Monday 2nd May. Why does the date change? Each year the Islamic Lunar calendar is typically shorter than the Solar calendar by 10-12 days and usually Eid and Ramadan rotate and are celebrated in different seasons of the year. However, the precise timings and dates change from country to country, depending on the geographical location. Festival of Breaking Fast Eid-Al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking Fast is the first of two Eids in the Islamic calendar and is typically celebrated after the Muslim fasting month, known as Ramadan. Many Muslims celebrate Eid by spending time with their loved ones, making unique dishes for this special day and connecting in prayer to commemorate and acknowledge the end of the fasting month. Its a way of showing gratitude and remembering Ramadan and the charitable sacrifices many Muslims made during the fasting month. This, as many Muslims believe, is in accordance with The Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). What is Ramadan and why do Muslims fast? Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, an act of worship that teaches patience, perseverance and charity. Its a means of Muslims making time for worship and becoming closer to God. Many Muslims fast to break away from bad habits, while also following the teachings of Islam, which is seen as a compulsory act of worship. However, many are exempt if they are unable to fast, such as the elderly, pregnant women, those who are physically or mentally incapable, those who have not reached puberty yet and women who may be menstruating. Ramadan takes place for 29-30 days, during which time Muslims wont eat or drink between dawn and sunset. Story continues How do Muslims celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr? Eid celebrations begin with special prayers at the mosque. Many Muslims dress in new garments, as it is believed that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) would wear his best cloak to commemorate this day. Communities members, family and friends also gather to share sweet treats, gifts and stories. Its a festival that celebrates the goodness of life and the blessings that came with the Holy month of fasting. Women welcome Eid by applying henna on their hands to mark the celebration, this has been a tradition for many centuries. Children are also commonly gifted with money or toys from elders. What does Eid mean and when is the second Eid celebrated? Eid-Ul-Adha is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice and is typically celebrated two months after Eid-Al-Fitr. Eid-Ul-Adha marks the completion of Hajj, The Muslim Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and is a reminder to many Muslims of the willingness and sacrifice Prophet Abraham made. Eid-Ul-Adha is considered as the bigger Eid celebration, where many Muslims complete their Hajj and sacrifice a sheep or goat. The meat is then shared equally between family, friends and those that are in need. Charity is a big part of the Muslim faith and one of the Five Pillars of Islam, so Eid is another reminder for Muslims around the world, to give even in moments of celebration. Eid is also a celebration of life, devotion and understanding of the Muslim faith. How can I take part in Eid if I am not Muslim? Everyone is welcome to celebrate! If you have Muslim friends or co-workers, be sure to just wish them an Eid Mubarak or Happy Eid. You can get involved by dressing up or just acknowledging the celebration that many are partaking in around the globe. (Bloomberg) -- Anglo American Plcs spinoff, Thungela Resources Ltd., has emerged as the worlds best-performing major coal stock. Its also one of the most profitable bets by a group of fund managers whove promised to reduce their financed greenhouse gas emissions. Most Read from Bloomberg Since its June listing, the South African company is up roughly 1,000% amid a rebound in demand for the dirtiest fossil fuel. Thungela Chief Executive Officer July Ndlovu has said hes planning to develop new coal resources, noting the company is now free of an owner that had questioned further investment in mining. Coals stunning ascent is the product of a post-pandemic energy crisis thats being turbocharged by Russias war on Ukraine. And with coal companies in Europe under pressure to shut down, those operating in emerging markets, like Johannesburg-based Thungela, are posting outsized returns. The $2 billion companys stock-price gains are multiples of the roughly 260% increase in coal futures over the past year. For the asset managers who purchased Thungela shares after its spinoff, the investment has been lucrative. It also raises questions about their stated commitment to accelerate the financial sectors transition to net-zero emissions. Abrdn Plc and Vanguard Group Inc. are among Thungelas biggest holders. Both got in from the start, though Abrdn confirmed it has since topped up its position to 4.7%. Vanguard holds an equivalent stake. In an emailed response to questions, Abrdns Peter Silver, an investment analyst, said Thungela currently plans to replace declining production at one mine and improve productivity at another. He also said Abrdn recently held a meeting with the mining companys management, at which other uses of its capital were discussed, without elaborating. Story continues Other asset managers holding Thungela stakes declined to comment, including Vanguard and Schroders Plc, which owns 1.5% of the company. Blackrock Inc., which holds 1.8%, referred to existing policies on its website. The three firms, as well as Abrdn, are signatories to the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, meaning theyve committed to support the goal of net-zero emissions by mid-century or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. A sizable proportion of the Thungela shares held by BlackRock and Vanguard are in passively managed index-tracking funds, data compiled by Bloomberg show. For the world to avoid catastrophic levels of warming, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has urged a halt to investment in and a rapid phase-out of coal mining. And the International Energy Agency has said there should be no new coal mines or mine extensions from 2021. Before we see an exit from coal in the real world, there has to be an exit from coal in the finance industry, Heffa Schuecking, director of German nonprofit Urgewald, said in an interview. If institutions making net-zero pledges arent even able to exclude coal developers, then Id come to the conclusion that such pledges are useless, she said. Thungela told Bloomberg that it plans to seek board approval for two projects to replace those that are either slated to close down or where production is declining. In its annual report, released last week, it lists another mine extension project and a potential new mine. Anglo sold its last shares in the mining company in March for about $115 million. How Thungela chooses to allocate its capital is between Thungela and its shareholders, Anglo said in a response to questions. Read more: Anglos Coal Retreat May Boost South African Fossil-Fuel OutputRead more: Carney Vows Hard Numbers as Finance Faces CO2 Reckoning GFANZ members have the option of complying with one of five different coal positions. For example, an asset manager can show a general commitment to phase out investments, according to its website. Or it can commit to immediately ceasing financial or other support to companies building new coal infrastructure or investing in expansion. (Michael Bloomberg, owner and founder of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, is co-chair of GFANZ). The alliance, which is now a year old, has been urged by nonprofits to tighten its guidelines for members. We have seen very few indications that the major members of GFANZ are serious about withdrawing financial services from the fossil-fuel industry, a group of more than 100 nonprofits wrote in a recent letter. Members actions on coal are shockingly inadequate.Thungela's biggest shareholder, South Africa's Public Investment Corp., has been increasing its stake in recent days. The fund manager, which oversees $152 billion of mainly government worker pensions, raised its holding to 12.6% on April 19 from 8% on April 7, according to a statement issued by the coal company to the stock exchange in Johannesburg. The PIC, which didn't respond to a request for comment, said on its website that it integrates ``environmental, social and governance principles as the fundamental principles of its investment process.'' Smaller fund managers also have invested in Thungela, while at the same time touting their commitment to environmental, social and governance principles. Fairtree Capital Ltd., which owns 3.1% of the coal producer, notes on its website that its reforestation support measures are helping protect South Africas only endemic parrot. Fairtree declined to comment when asked about its coal investment. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd., which oversees $40 billion in assets, has built a 3% stake in Thungela. In August last year, Neville Chester, a portfolio manager at Coronation, wrote in a note to clients ``that a 100% thermal coal operation is unlikely to find a home in many portfolios, which means that capital markets are, for all intents and purposes, closed to Thungela.In a response to queries this month he said the allocation reflects a bet that coal gains will continue. The merits of the investment case for Thungela are determined by our long-term view of thermal coal prices, he said. (Updates with Public Investment Corp. in third paragraph after page break, Coronation comment in third last paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Protests have continued in the city of As-Suwayda, intermittently since the beginning of last February, against the decisions and policies of the Damascus government, in which the demands have shifted from reforming the economic and service reality in the city to chanting Down with the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad and Suwayda is ours, and it does not belong to Assads home. And the demand for the implementation of UN Resolution 2254 stipulating the political transition in Syria, amid the governments marginalization of the protesters demands and its efforts to strike society and deepen the chaos and security that has spread in it after the outbreak of protests. The city of As-Suwayda lives in a state of chaos and lawlessness, as a result of the increase in killings and kidnappings, the spread of corruption and drug trafficking. As the Suwayda 24 network documented during the months of March and February, 16 people were killed and injured, most of them civilians, and 14 civilians were kidnapped and forcibly detained within the city, in light of the reality of service and living deteriorating in the region. 'The Damascus government will not respond' In this regard, the Secretary-General of the Syrian Liwa General Party, Malik Abu al-Khair, says: "The Damascus government, since 1970, has ignored the demands of the people of As-Suwayda and only made false promises to them. It has deprived As-Suwayda of any economic or agricultural advantages or any production lines for any economic activity. Anything that could contribute to an economic renaissance within the city, and decided to withdraw all the wealth of As-Suwayda and distribute it to other governorates such as Aleppo and Damascus. Malik Abu al-Khair ruled out the response of the Damascus government to the demands of the people of As-Suwayda, saying: "The government will not respond, because the basic custom upon which this system is based is to deprive the people of As-Suwayda of all their rights, leaving them with two options, either to emigrate or to volunteer in the army, security or other jobs, which they did not get their rights from, as the existing state policy is a sectarian policy towards the people of As-Suwayda. I expect more deprivation towards the people of As-Suwayda, specifically during the coming period. A programmed chaos that serves the agendas of the government and its loyalists Malik Abu al-Khair attributed the reasons for the deepening of chaos and lawlessness within the city to the spread of a group who work in the drug trade under the command of Hezbollah, the authority and the security services, such as the Popular Resistance faction. These are working to promote drugs and work with Iran and Hezbollah with all these the filth that occurs in As-Suwayda. On April 24, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a group of smugglers had failed to bring a large shipment of narcotics into Jordan from the Khebret Matota border area with Jordan in the eastern countryside of As-Suwayda, after they were surprised by an ambush by the Jordanian army, according to the Observatory, the narcotics were coming from the Lebanese-Syrian border, amid a noticeable escalation in the smuggling of narcotics on the Syrian-Jordanian borders during the recent period. ISIS is a weapon to intimidate the people of As-Suwayda Abu al-Khair noted that the Damascus government deals with a different framework with As-Suwayda, which has a Druze majority, but on the other hand, the process of targeting it is not difficult and all scenarios are open to a conflict. It is one of Hezbollah's tools in the Suwayda desert - the closest in the event of an escalation of action against the regime in the city." With the outbreak of protests in the city of As-Suwayda, the Damascus government rushed to send military reinforcements to the city, under the pretext of fearing the return of ISIS to the area. In some eastern villages bordering the Badia. ISIS mercenaries launched an attack on the villages of the eastern countryside of As-Suwayda in 2018, killing about 200 people, amid local criticism of the Damascus government forces, which left the people of the region to face the attacks on their own. ignite strife While other observers fear that the Damascus government will be able to ignite strife and strike society by using some of its affiliate factions and their loyalists in the city of As-Suwayda, in order to break the cohesion of the people of the region and keep them away from their goal of protests, especially after the formation of new factions that support the protesters and a political solution in the city. The local factions in As-Suwayda played a major role during the protests, as they sided with the protesters, and new factions were formed against the backdrop of tensions with the security services of the Damascus government. At the end of February, a faction called "Ahrar al-Jabal Gathering" was formed, comprising a group of activists, leaders of several local factions, civilian individuals, and activists within opposition political groupings. drugs. In this context, the Free Jabal Al-Arab Gathering in As-Suwayda threatened, on April 12, to wage war against the Damascus government if it did not stop its oppression of the people of the city. The statement stated, "We in the Jabal Al-Arab Ahrar Gathering stand against the Syrian regime, which practices a policy of marginalization and exclusion against everyone who wants reform in the state," explaining that "the Assad regime and its security services deliberately practice murder and chaos," stressing that it will fight those responsible for these practices. And all those who collude with them, pledging to stand by the people of As-Suwayda against the government so that they can achieve their demands, according to local press sites. Dozens of activists in As-Suwayda also formed a political movement inside Syria, characterized by the presence of youth in it. Since the announcement of its launch in the city in March of this year, it has included 46 young men and women with scientific qualifications and activists in society, and its goals are to form a political body It is based on dialogue and acceptance of others. Although the Damascus government did not act in the face of previous ISIS attacks on As-Suwayda, it did not stand idly by during the popular movement in the city. The faction is in conflict with other factions in the city, according to local media. On the possible scenarios that may occur between the factions in As-Suwayda, Malik Abu al-Khair explains that "the battle that may take place is a battle between the factions made up of the sons of As-Suwayda who reject all government policies and corruption, and between the factions or terrorist armed groups affiliated with the security services of the Damascus government and Hezbollah Those who work in kidnapping, looting, drug trafficking, facilitating the mechanism of smuggling them into Jordan, and protecting brothels. He added: "The Damascus government divided Syria into spheres of influence, turned it into a den for the drug trade, destroyed its cities, caused the displacement of more than 11 million Syrians, and turned Syria into a place of terror. People started fleeing from it. In short, the regime today is the main reason for everything that is happening in Syria And he is aware of this, and he realizes that his survival is based on a huge state of corruption and cannot fight or fix corruption, because his system in itself is a system of corruption, and it will not change the situation anything. Next period. The solution lies in the federal system At the conclusion of his speech, the Secretary-General of the Syrian Major General Party, Malik Abu al-Khair, considered that the best and best solution to end the Syrian crisis and its renaissance in the next stage is to implement the system and the federal solution in Syria by making each region rebuild itself in its own way with the presence of a government that sponsors this federal system and works For its success, far from the intervention of the central government, which has resulted in nothing but harm over the past decades of Syrias history. A ANHA US President Joe Biden (L) shakes hands with South African comedian Trevor Noah during the White House Correspondents Association gala at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2022. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) NICHOLAS KAMM/Getty Celebrities, journalists, members of Congress and top Biden administration officials including the president and first lady packed the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night at the Washington Hilton Hotel in the nation's capital. Daily Show host Trevor Noah headlined the first WHCD since the COVID-19 pandemic upended the annual event in 2020. But President Joe Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, took the stage to start the comedy routines, marking the return of a sitting president to the event for the first time since 2016. "This is the first time a president has attended this dinner in six years," Biden told the crowd, before taking a swipe at his predecessor, Donald Trump. "It's understandable. We had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID." For more on the White House Correspondents' Dinner, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. Biden, 79, also teased the members of the press in the audience. "I'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating that I have," he said. RELATED: Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson Attend White House Correspondents' Dinner Together The joke wasn't the only one about his poll numbers. Turning to the first lady, he said, "Jilly, how are kid? I think she's doing an incredible job as first lady. She doesn't pay much attention to the polls. Though she did say the other day, instead of introducing myself as Jill Biden's husband, maybe to introduce myself as her roommate." The president even acknowledged the phrase "Let's go Brandon," which some in the GOP use to insult him. "Republicans seem to support one fellow," he said. "Some guy named Brandon. He's having a really good year. And I'm kind of happy for him." Before turning the mic over to Noah, Biden told the Daily Show host he liked the label he gave him after he won the presidency. "He called me 'America's new dad,'" Biden said. "Let me tell you something pal, I'm flattered anyone would call me a new anything. You're my guy." Story continues WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian attendthe 2022 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images) Paul Morigi/Getty "It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nation's most distinguished super-spreader event," Noah, 38, said, joking about the gathering of nearly 3,000 in the ballroom, all of whom were required to show proof of vaccination as well as a negative COVID test taken on Saturday. "You might have noticed, I'm going to be telling some jokes tonight," Noah said, before taking aim at a number of political figures like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Kirsten Sinema and, of course, the president. He thanked Biden for having him at the event and said, "I was a little confused about why me. But then I was told you get your highest approval ratings with a biracial African guy standing next to you." Then Noah launched into an impression of President Barack Obama. Noah joked that Dr. Biden kept her teaching job as a professor because "she's still paying off her student debt." "I guess you should have voted for Bernie," he quipped. US President Joe Biden (L) shakes hands with South African comedian Trevor Noah during the White House Correspondents Association gala at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2022. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) NICHOLAS KAMM/Getty Noah jokingly wondered why people give President Biden a hard time when, since he's taken office, "Things are really looking up." "Gas is up," Noah said. "Rent is up. Food is up. Everything." RELATED: Wanda Sykes Recalls the Time She 'Shushed' Michelle Obama at White House Correspondents' Dinner The annual correspondent's dinner dates back to 1921 and has historically been attended by members of the White House Correspondents' Association as well as high-ranking government officials including the president and first lady. Under former President Trump, however, that tradition changed. During the first three years of his term, Trump snubbed the gathering, telling reporters in 2019 that it was "too negative." "The dinner is so boring and so negative, that we're going to hold a very positive rally ... everybody wants it," Trump said at the time. "The Correspondents' Dinner is too negative, I like positive things." Other notables in attendance included reality television star Kim Kardashian and Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, multiple cabinet secretaries and others. The annual event is put on every year by the WHCA. "The White House Correspondents' Dinner celebrates Americans' freedoms and the working people who bring the news to the world," Steven Portnoy of CBS News Radio, president of the WHCA, said in a news release. The WHCA added that the annual event is held in support of the White House press corps, scholarships for the next generation of aspiring journalists and awards that highlight significant work in journalism. "Our annual dinner is our main source of revenue to finance all of our work, including support of the journalists working to cover the president, events and programs to educate the public about the value of the First Amendment and a free press, and scholarships to help the next generation of journalists," said the WHCA. The United Kingdoms defense ministry said on Sunday that Russia is attempting to legitimize its control of the Ukrainian city of Kherson by installing a pro-Moscow government. The ministry also noted in a Twitter thread that Russian forces plan to transition the citys currency to the ruble. Recent statements from this administration include declaring a return to Ukrainian control impossible and announcing a four-month currency transition from the Ukrainian hryvnia to the Russian rouble, the ministry said. The Russian rouble is due to be used in Kherson from today. It added that Russia plans to implement a strong political and economic influence in the city. These statements are likely indicative of Russian intent to exert strong political and economic influence in Kherson over the long term, the ministry said. Enduring control over Kherson and its transport links will increase Russias ability to sustain its advance to the north and west and improve the security of Russias control over Crimea. British defense officials recently warned that a Russian fleet in the Black Sea can still strike Ukrainian and coastal targets despite suffering embarrassing losses in the area. Russias invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has killed thousands on both sides and led about 5.3 million refugees to flee the country. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two tries from Bristol prop Sarah Bern helped England claim the Grand Slam with a 24-12 victory over France in Le Crunch in Bayonne. England produced a dominant first-half performance to lay the platform for an emphatic 23rd successive victory in the final match of the 2022 TikTok Womens Six Nations that enabled them to add the championship to the Triple Crown. The Red Roses scored all their three tries before half-time to silence the capacity crowd at Stade Jean Dauger while centre Emily Scarratt, captaining the side in the absence of injured regular skipper Sarah Hunter, scored their only points in the second half through a penalty to add to her three conversions. Englands 10th successive triumph over their world number three ranked opponents confirms their position as favourites for the World Cup in New Zealand later this year. France, boosted by the return from injury of fly-half Caroline Drouin, got off to best possible start, capitalising on a knock-on by England fly-half Zoe Harrison to work number eight Romane Menager over for the games first try after just three minutes. Drouin added the conversion but England struck back eight minutes later when Bern forced her way over for her first try, with Scarratt landing the extras. Story continues Englands acting captain Emily Scarratt kicked three conversions and a penalty (PA Images/Mike Egerton) The Red Roses took full advantage of Frances indiscipline and malfunctioning line-out to pile on the pressure and it paid off after 16 minutes when second rower Abbie Ward profited from another rampant rolling maul to claim their second try. The French struggled to get out of their own half and fell further behind after 26 minutes when Bern peeled off a rolling maul to grab her second try and Scarratt kicked her third conversion to make it 21-7. The home side stemmed the tide but came up against a determined England defence, which managed to hold scrum-half Laure Sansus up over the line. Englands Zoe Harrison was shown a yellow card during the Six Nations decider (PA Images/Mike Egerton) England were temporarily reduced to 14 players three minutes into the second half when Harrison was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock on but they re-doubled their efforts to preserve their lead with the fly-half in the sin bin. The French then had centre Maelle Filopon sent to the bin for a deliberate knock on, an offence which enabled Scarratt to extend Englands lead to 24-7 with a penalty. Scarratt pulled off a try-saving tackle on replacement Emilie Boulard to snuff out any threat of a fightback, although prop Annaelle Deshayes did claim a consolation try after 66 minutes. Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce BOWLING GREEN, Ky., April 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Envision AESC, a world-leading Japanese electric vehicle battery technology company, along with Gov. Andy Beshear and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, announced today its $2 billion investment to build a new, approximately 3 million square foot, state-of-the-art gigafactory in the Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green, Warren County. The 30GWh plant will create 2,000 new, skilled jobs for the region, producing battery cells and modules to power the next generation EVs produced for multiple global automotive manufacturers. This project is not only the second-largest investment ever in Kentucky, but also the largest in history for South Central Kentucky. Governor Beshear, said: We are thrilled that Envision the worlds leading EV battery technology company has picked Team Kentucky. Envision is making the second largest economic development investment Kentucky has ever seen, investing $2 billion to build a new, state-of-the-art EV battery gigafactory in Bowling Green. Even better: This project will create 2,000 great jobs of the future for residents in the Warren County region. And with this investment Envision will generate a 30GWh site, which increases Kentuckys production to 116GWh, making the commonwealth the nations top producer of electric vehicle batteries. I am so grateful for the work that was started years ago through Chamber initiatives like SCK LAUNCH to ensure that our future workforce is prepared to meet the communitys growing talent demands, said Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon. Its this type of forward thinking that attracts world-class companies like Envision AESC. The economic impact of this project will generate $20 billion over the next decade and will also support approximately 5,249 new jobs in the community beyond those who will be working at their facility. At full employment, this project will generate over $233 million in new spending in the community annually. CEO of Envision AESC Group, Shoichi Matsumoto, said: We are pleased to partner with Kentucky and Bowling Green as part of our next phase battery strategy to power next generation EVs in the U.S. This major investment builds on our commitment to the U.S. market, supports growth of the electrification supply chain, and secures high value jobs for future generations in the region. This commitment takes us one step further towards our ambition to make high-performance, longer-range batteries for a diverse range of automotive manufacturers worldwide to support the EV transition. Story continues Envision AESC U.S. Managing Director, Jeff Deaton, said: The new plant will produce batteries for a growing number of electric vehicle manufacturers and create 2,000 new high value jobs in the region when at full capacity. The Bowling Green area has an outstanding automotive workforce today, as well as the future pipeline of talent needed, and we are excited to support this with new jobs in the high-growth electrification segment. The addition of this new facility will make Kentucky the new gigafactory capital of the United States, well positioned to meet the forecasted growth of EVs and attract future investment. The scale of this project is like nothing our community has ever seen before, said Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott. This announcement boasts the largest investment amount, jobs creation, and facility size in our history. Its phenomenal for the future of our region! Envision AESC is an innovative company doing amazing work world-wide, and we are ecstatic about their decision to locate in South Central Kentucky, said Ron Bunch, President and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. The collaboration of our community leaders is imperative to landing projects of this magnitude, and we are fortunate to work with the best. The newly announced facility marks the next stage of growth for Envision AESC, a global player in world-leading battery technology and smart, digitalized, low carbon battery plants. It will produce next generation battery cells with 30% more energy density than the current generation, reduced charging time and increased range and efficiency for EVs, powering up to 300,000 vehicles annually by 2027. These high-tech capabilities will increase the cost-competitiveness and technological expertise of EV battery production Kentucky and in the U.S., making electric vehicles more accessible and affordable for motorists. The gigafactory will also be powered by 100% renewable energy, supplied by onsite generation and supplied from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) ensuring the plant helps drive progress toward decarbonizing the states industrial sector. The investment by Envision AESC will generate a 30GWh site, which increases Kentuckys statewide production to 116GWh, making the commonwealth the nations top producer of electric vehicle batteries. Year to date, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has closed two economic development projects in South Central Kentucky, totaling over $2 billion in capital investment. Site Selection Magazine has ranked Bowling Green as Top Six Tier 2 Metro for nine consecutive years including a Number One Ranking in 2018 and a second place ranking this year. Additionally, Site Selection Magazine awarded the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce the prestigious Mac Conway Award placing it in the top twenty economic development organizations in the United States for performance in 2020. About Envision AESC: Envision AESC is a world-leading battery technology company headquartered in Japan and committed to research, development, design, manufacture and sales of high-power batteries and energy storage batteries. Envision AESC has 4,000 employees and 10 production plants in Japan, the U.S., the U.K., China and France. For the past 12 years, Envision AESC has produced high-performance, extended range batteries for more than 650,000 electric vehicles in 44 countries, achieving a record of zero critical battery malfunction. In June 2021, Envision AESC was again named on the Global Tier 1 Battery Companies list by Benchmark, a leading U.K.-based lithium-ion battery supply chain research organization. Envision AESC invests heavily in next-generation technology to drive innovation and works with its strategic partners to continually push the boundaries of performance, safety and efficiency. Its teams work with strategic partners to continuously improve the companys global leadership in product development, quality and sustainable processes. Find out more at envision-aesc.com/us/ About South Central Kentucky Economic Development: South Central Kentucky Economic Development is an entity of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, a nationally ranked 5-Star Accredited Chamber. Located at the center of a 34-state distribution area in the eastern United States, South Central Kentucky is a prime location for manufacturing and distribution facilities. South Central Kentucky is within a days drive of 60% of the nation's population, personal income, and manufacturing business establishments. Bowling Green ranks second in the United States for best manufacturing city. In the past decade, the region has captured over four billion in capital investment, creating thousands of jobs within the region. To learn more please visit https://www.southcentralky.com/ Contact: Ron Bunch President & CEO 270-901-4602 ron@bgchamber.com Nicholas Nair (center), Gavin Short (left) and Drake Brooks (right) died in the crash Friday night ( Provided) Three meteorology students have been killed in a car crash in Oklahoma while driving back from a storm chasing trip to Kansas where they had been documenting a tornado on social media. Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas, Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois, and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, died on Friday night when their car plowed into a semi-truck in Tonkawa, close to Oklahomas border with Kansas. Oklahoma Highway Patrol said that the three University of Oklahoma students were travelling southbound along Interstate 35 at around 11.30pm when their Volkswagen Tiguan hydroplaned and was struck by a truck. The college friends were trapped inside the vehicle for over five hours before emergency responders could retrieve their bodies. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver survived the collision and was taken to hospital for injuries, before being released. The three college students were returning from Kansas at the time after going, as part of a larger group, to chase the storms that had barreled into the state that day. Just hours before the tragedy unfolded, Mr Nair and Mr Short had posted videos on Twitter of a tornado in Herington, Kansas. Large dusty tornado 4 miles north of Herrington, Kansas. Filmed at 8:07 pm. We observed power flashes in the town, wrote Mr Short. Mr Nair captioned his video: Tornado on the ground passing Highway 77 around 8:10 PM. Four miles north of Herington, Kansas. A close friend of the victims and fellow meteorology student at University of Oklahoma said that they had all been so excited to cover the storms with Mr Brooks even seeing a tornado for the first time. Story continues They had a great day. They [called] their parents after and were telling them about how excited they were, Brayden Siau told KFOR. Drake actually saw his first tornado yesterday. He was still trying to process their sudden tragic deaths. Its just so sudden. Theyre just gone, I really dont know Its awful, he said. Friends were planning a vigil for the trio on Saturday night. The University of Oklahoma released a statement saying it was devastated by the deaths of the three students. The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students, it read. Each were valued and loved members of our community. At this time, we ask the public to respect the privacy of their families. The College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma also paid tribute to the students saying its members were deeply saddened by their tragic deaths. Our leadership and faculty stand ready to support each of our community members in the days, weeks and months ahead as we all grieve this unthinkable heartbreak, it said. The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, shared a video on Twitter on Saturday evening letting off a weather balloon with the students names on it. On this very sad day in the Norman weather community, our evening weather balloon launch is dedicated to Nic, Drake and Gavin OU meteorology students who died in a tragic traffic accident last night, the agency wrote. A powerful tornado tore through the Wichita area of Kansas that night, barreling into the path of almost 1,000 buildings, injuring several residents and leaving thousands without power. Firefighters survey the aftermath of the tornado in Kansas on Friday night (AP) The direct tornado strike began in Sedgwick County before travelling into Andover, flattening dozens of structures on its way, officials said. As of Sunday morning, officials were still working to determine the extent of the damage but around 960 buildings are known to have been in the tornados path. The National Weather Service has given the tornado a preliminary classification of EF3. No fatalities were reported but several people were injured, including one woman who suffered serious injuries in Sedgwick County. Over 20,000 homes and businesses across Kansas had been plunged into darkness as the power went out in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. The severe weather prompted Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to issue a state of emergency in the state on Friday night, saying we cant wait for the storm to hit before we respond. What is thought to be a Scythian gold helmet, displayed at a museum exhibition in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 9, 2021. (Brendan Hoffman/The New York Times) KYIV, Ukraine The heist started when a mysterious man in a white lab coat showed up at the museum. A squad of Russian soldiers stood behind him, with guns, watching eagerly. Using long tweezers and special gloves, the man in the white coat carefully extracted scores of special gold artifacts more than 2,300 years old from cardboard boxes in the cellar of a museum in Melitopol, a southern town in Russian-occupied territory, Ukrainian officials said. The gold items were from the Scythian empire and dated back to the fourth century B.C. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Then the mysterious expert, the Russian soldiers and the gold disappeared. The orcs have taken hold of our Scythian gold, declared Melitopols mayor, Ivan Fyodorov, using a derogatory term many Ukrainians reserve for Russian soldiers. This is one of the largest and most expensive collections in Ukraine, and today we dont know where they took it. This was hardly the first attack on Ukrainian culture since the war began. In Mariupol, the town that has been hammered for weeks by Russian forces, officials said that Russian agents broke into an art museum and stole masterpiece paintings, a famous sculpture and several highly valued Christian icons. Across Ukraine, officials said, dozens of Orthodox churches, national monuments and cultural heritage sites have been destroyed. In one town near Kyiv, Borodianka, Russian soldiers shot the bust of a famous Ukrainian poet in the head. On Saturday, Ukrainian officials said that more than 250 cultural institutions had been damaged or destroyed. But perhaps no cultural heist has been as brazen as what unfolded in Melitopol just a few days ago. According to Leila Ibrahimova, the director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History, the trouble started in late February, when Russian forces shelled the airport and took over the city. Soldiers went on a rampage, smashing into supermarkets, stores and homes. Story continues Most of the citys residents hid inside their houses. But a few museum workers, including Ibrahimova, made their way back to the museum. It is an elegant, three-story, stone building in the old part of town, home to 50,000 exhibits, from Soviet-era medals to old battle axes. But its prized collection was a set of rare gold ornaments from the Scythians, a nomadic people that founded a rich, powerful empire, centered in the Crimean Peninsula, that endured from around the eighth century B.C. to the second century A.D. It was the Scythian gold that Ibrahimova was most worried about. She and other staff members secretly hid it and some other historic artifacts in cardboard boxes, stashing the boxes in a dank cellar where they didnt think anyone would find it. We knew that any second someone could come into the museum with a weapon, she said. So they worked fast, she said, because the collection is priceless. In mid-March, Ibrahimova said Russian troops burst into her house with assault rifles, threw a black hood over her head and kidnapped her. After several hours of intense questioning, they let her go. Two weeks later, she left Melitopol for an area not under Russian control. But Wednesday, she received a call from a caretaker at the museum. The caretaker said Russian soldiers, along with intelligence officers and a Russian-speaking man in a white lab coat, had come to her house in the morning and ordered her, at gunpoint, to go with them to the museum. They commanded her to take them to the Scythian gold. The caretaker refused, Ibrahimova said. But the man in the white coat found the boxes anyway with the help of a Ukrainian, Evgeny Gorlachev, who was appointed by the Russian military as the museums new director, she said. A Russian crew filmed part of the robbery. We hid everything, but somehow they found it, she said. What was stolen: at least 198 gold items, including ornaments in the form of flowers; gold plates; rare old weapons; 300-year-old silver coins; and special medals. She said many of the gold artifacts had been given to the Scythians by the Greeks. In an interview on Russian television, Gorlachev said the gold artifacts are of great cultural value for the entire former Soviet Union and that the previous administrators of the museum spent a lot of effort and energy to hide them. For what purpose, no one knows, he said. But thanks to these people and the operational work carried out, residents of the city of Melitopol and not only Melitopol will be able to observe again a large collection of Scythian gold. He did not say when or where the artifacts would be displayed. Ibrahimova, who spoke by phone, sounded despondent as she spoke about the Russian invaders. Maybe culture is the enemy for them, she said. They said that Ukraine has no state, no history. They just want to destroy our country. I hope they will not succeed. Scythian gold has enormous symbolic value in Ukraine. Other collections of the artifacts had been stored in vaults in the capital, Kyiv, before the war broke out. But Ibrahimova said events unfolded too fast for her museum to spirit out their collection. For years, Ukraine has been locked in a complicated dispute with Russia over collections of Scythian gold that several museums in Crimea had lent to a museum in Amsterdam. After Russia seized Crimea in 2014, Ukraine pleaded with the Amsterdam museum not to return the gold. Russia demanded the museum do just that. A court has ruled in Ukraines favor, and the gold remains in Amsterdam. But historians said the looting of the artifacts in Melitopol is an even more egregious attempt to appropriate, and perhaps destroy, Ukraines cultural heritage. The Russians are making a war without rules, said Oleksandr Symonenko, a fellow of Ukraines Archaeology Institute and a Scythian specialist. This is not a war. It is destroying our life, our nature, our culture, our industry, everything. This is a crime. The caretaker who refused to help the Russians was released Wednesday after the gold was stolen. But Friday she was taken away from her house at gunpoint again, Ibrahimova said, shortly after the mayor, who is also in exile, announced the theft. She has not been heard from since. 2022 The New York Times Company OMAHA, Neb. A remake of Empire State of Mind with lyrics about Berkshire Hathaway, greeted shareholders this morning. (Im not sure if it was actually sung by Jay Z and Alicia Keys, but it sure sounded like it. Well try to get the lyrics for you at some point.) The song is a throwback fitting for a Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, which is the very definition of old-school. Picking up from what I wrote in today's Morning Brief, the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) meeting was both riveting and, well, dare I say SOP. The distinction is a matter of form and content. The form of the meeting is largely the same, (i.e. SOP), as back in 2019, the last in-person event. But the content, what Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger talked about, was pretty interesting. Ill start with whats the same, and thats simple the whole shebang. Walking into the convention center and the arena, the Berkshire gang is back. Many thousands of them, packing the hall and shopping (for Berkshire company merchandise) until theyre dropping. True, there were fewer Berkshire companies in the hall. Missing for instance was the usual big Coca-Cola display. (Wonder why that is?) Investors and guests fill the arena as they arrive for the first in-person annual meeting since 2019 of Berkshire Hathaway Inc in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. April 30, 2022. REUTERS/Scott Morgan There are other effects of supply chain pressure, such as no special edition Brooks running shoe (dang!). But supply chain strains didnt seem to impact Sees Candies; it looked like they had tons, in fact exactly 11 tons. Apparently shareholders had some serious cases of sweet tooth. Buffett told us that Sees had record sales on Friday. Anything not sold goes to Charlie and me, Buffett jokes. The (Jimmy) Buffett boat, (when two titans of industry meet) caught my eye. The boat, designed by chief parrot-head Jimmy Buffett and made by Berkshires subsidiary Forest River, goes for $200,000 with a 10% shareholder discount. Buffett said they sold 15 of them by late Saturday afternoon. The requisite intro video came on with greatest hits clips with stars from "Breaking Bad," "The Office," and "Desperate Housewives." Also included was a classic clip of Buffett from 1991 in front of Congress during the Salomon Brothers scandal, where he uttered the now famous (on Wall Street at least) words: Lose money for the firm, and I will be understanding; lose a shred of reputation for the firm, and I will be ruthless. I love Myles Udlands headline on that: "This is the moment America met Warren Buffett." Story continues The original video piece starring Bill Murray, a shareholder (and actor!) was about the past three pandemic years, and was a sort of an homage to "Groundhog Day." (Maybe "Caddyshack" next year?) BTW Bill Murray showed up for the meeting as did Apple CEO Tim Cook and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. OMAHA, NEBRASKA - APRIL 30: Actor and comedian Bill Murray walks through the convention floor at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder's meeting on April 30, 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska. This is the first time the annual shareholders event has been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Soon enough, Buffett and Munger why do they sometimes remind me of Randolph and Mortimer Duke from Trading Places? took the stage to loud and sustained applause. I dont think were hearing anything from the index funds, Buffett quipped. Buffett and Munger were joined on stage by Berkshire vice chairmen Greg Abel and Ajit Jain. The Fab Four looked to be in fine form. It feels good to be in person, Buffett said. Charlie and I are a combined 190 years old and I think were entitled to see shareholders in person. More jokes about age and dementia ensued. 'A few stocks got very interesting to us' CNBCs Becky Quick asked a question from a shareholder about why Buffett started buying stocks again (ie. HP, Allegheny and especially Occidental Petroleum), and Buffett launched into a 15-minute-plus soliloquy with occasional zingers from Charlie about banks and brokers, the market, his marriage and even the late mobster Bugsy Siegel. And the shareholders lapped it up. A woman looks at the screen with a live view of Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett (L) and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger (R) at the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska on April 30, 2022. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) In short: A few stocks got very interesting to us, Buffett said. Its important to understandthe market in the last couple of yearshas been extraordinary, sometimes efficient and other times almost totally a casino.and that existed to an extraordinary degree over the last couple of years. Wall Street makes a lot more money when people are gambling than when they are investing. Then Buffett went on to talk about and marvel about buying 14% of Oxy Pete as it's known, in two weeks. (Berkshire also bought billions of dollars of Chevron recently.) Later Buffett said he had some news. It was about Activision Blizzard and how BRK now owns 9.5% of the video game giant thanks to an arbitrage strategy, as it is being taken over by Microsoft. Charlie Munger had some great lines as usual: We now have computer algorithms trading with other computers. And people buying stocks who know nothing, being advised by people who know even less. Its an incredibly crazy situation. Continuing on that point, Munger said, All this activity makes it easier for us. We rely on it in fact, Buffett added. One thing Buffett talked to me at great length about, almost obsessively even, on a January phone call was how much he wished he could count and communicate with all these shareholders. "I dont know how many we have," he told me. "Ive tried to find out." To that point, Buffett today spoke of Broadridge, a services firm that bills him for communicating with his shareholders. Theyve told him they have 3.5 million BRK accounts. (There are probably quite a few more accounts than individual shareholders.) I was thinking about that as I looked down over the filled CHI Health Center, capacity 17,560. Assuming there are a few thousand people in overflow rooms, thats still probably below 1% of the total number of shareholders. Im sure thats not lost on Buffett. Hes sitting in a packed arena and only reaching a tiny fraction of his audience. And I could hear it in his voice when I spoke to him earlier this year. The great desire he has to speak with all of them. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube More Yahoo Finance coverage of the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting: A 35-year-old Spotsylvania man died after he was shot multiple times while leaving a county restaurant late Saturday, police said. Shawn D. Hastings died outside Fattys Taphouse in the 10100 block of Patriot Highway (U.S. 1) in the Cosner Corner area. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body, Spotsylvania Sheriffs Maj. Troy Skebo said. Jesse Dean Beebout, 34, of Caroline, was arrested Sunday morning at his home in Lake LandOr. He is charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Skebo said the shooting followed a dispute that started inside the restaurant. The reason for the dispute was not clear Sunday, Skebo said. Witnesses said that Hastings was shot in the parking lot after leaving the restaurant about 11:20 p.m. He died after unsuccessful life-saving measures were performed at the scene. The shooter left the scene, and witnesses gave deputies a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Skebo said that with the assistance of the Caroline Sheriffs Office and Virginia State Police, investigators identified Beebout as the suspect. A firearm was recovered during the arrest, Skebo said. Beebout was suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand that police said occurred during the shooting. Beebout was in police custody at a local hospital Sunday pending transport to the Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he will be held without bond. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Islamic State (IS) extremist group claimed responsibility on May 1 for a bomb attack on a passenger bus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the previous day. One woman was killed and three people were injured in the April 30 bombing, Kabul police said. No group has taken responsibility for an April 29 bombing at Kabuls Khalifa Sahib Mosque that left at least 10 people dead and 30 injured. The head of the mosque said more than 50 people were killed in the attack. Dozens of people have been killed in deadly attacks in Afghanistan that have marred the last two weeks of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends on May 1. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several bombings, many targeting the countrys Shiite and Sufi communities. On April 22, at least 30 people were killed in a blast at a Sufi monastery in Kunduz. Kabul police were on high alert on May 1, pledging to ensure security during the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP Officials say a tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and buildings, injured several people and left more than 15,000 people without power Colorado gubernatorial candidate Danielle Neuschwanger announces she's running on the American Constitution Party ticket on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Tailgate Tavern in Parker. Neuschwanger switched her registration to the small poltiical party after coming up short three weeks earlier in an attempt to qualify for the Republican primary for the race. Colorado Springs resident Walt Larimore, a retired family physician and best-selling author, chronicles the awe-inspiring story of his father, U.S. Army 2nd lieutenant Phil Larimore, and his WWII experiences in the new book, "At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse." Press Release May 1, 2022 On Labor Day, De Lima vows to continue fighting for workers' rights Re-electionist Senator Leila M. de Lima honored Filipino workers, whose hard work and service to the country were not hindered by the challenges brought about by the continuing global health crisis. In her message on Labor's Day, De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, vowed that she will continue fighting for the rights and benefits of workers. "Pagpupugay sa ating magigiting na manggagawa! Isa po kayo sa pinaka-hinagupit ng pandemya. Lalong pinabigat ang mabibigat na ninyong pasanin. Subalit tulad ng iba pang mga pagsubok, hindi kayo sumusuko para sa pamilya," she said. "Saludo po ako sa inyong sipag at tatag. Asahan nyo pong kasama ninyo ako sa pagsusulong ng inyong karapatan at kapakanan: Seguridad sa trabaho, sapat na sahod at benepisyo, at ligtas na kondisyon ng paggawa," she added. Labor Day is a regular holiday in the Philippines observed on May 1 of every year. In her previous statements, De Lima has repeatedly urged the government to seriously and swiftly address the concerns of Filipino workers who are struggling with contractualization and End of Contract (Endo) labor practices. At the campaign trail, Duterte promised to solve contractualization by putting a stop to the said practice in just a few months. It is one of his many promises that have been broken. On November 2021, De Lima expressed support for the labor covenant signed by Vice President Leni Robredo and the Alliance of Labor Leaders for Leni (ALL4Leni). The said covenant contains several labor-centered advocacies, such as promotion of quality jobs, providing a "living wage" incomes for the working people, social protection through public services, improving trade union and political rights, and consultation. This 18th Congress, De Lima filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1435 seeking to provide discounts for indigent job applicants in the payment of fees and charges for certain certificates and clearances issued by government agencies for employment application. The lady Senator from Bicol also pushed for the passage of SB No. 2148 seeking to grant ten (10) working days of paid COVID-19 leave for employees who contracted the virus and who, because of the nature of their occupation, cannot avail of a telecommuting program or work from home scheme. Last year, De Lima also pushed for the passage of SB No. 1123, known as the "Calamity Leave Law", which seeks to provide a five-day special emergency leave with pay for all workers in the public and private sectors directly affected by natural calamities or disasters in the country. A bridge crosses Fountain Creek, just one branch of the southern part of Fountain Creek Regional Trail. The bridge was moved to its current location as part of a project that renovated the trail. A teacher at Early Connections Learning Centers interacts with kids last year. Early Connections and other licensed child care and preschool centers and homes have faced teacher shortages. Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Cubans take to streets on Worker's Day for first time in three years Press Release May 1, 2022 Villar welcomes Pres. Duterte's enactment into laws her 5 measures for more protected areas Senator Cynthia Villar welcomes President Rodrigo Duterte's enactment into law of her five measures, declaring Mt. Pulag and four other sites in the country as protected areas (PAs). She thanked the President for signing Republic Acts (RAs) 11684, 11685, 11686, 11687, and 11688, which added Mt. Arayat in Pampanga, Mt. Pulag in Benguet, Naga-Kabasalan in Zamboanga Sibugay, Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur, and Banao in Kalinga to the list of protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). The NIPAS was established under Republic Act 7586, as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018. With this, Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, said there are now 112 protected areas in the country that have been so declared through legislation. "The signing of these laws would mean more forest lands; landscapes; ecologically rich, unique and biologically important areas that are habitats of threatened species of plants and animals; biographic zones and related ecosystem,whether terrestrial wetland or marine would be protected," noted Villar. "These areas would be given protected status by legislative action, in order to ensure their conservation," she added. Villar had pushed for the passage of the E-NIPAS Act of 2018, which strengthened the legal framework for the establishment, management and maintenance of all designated protected areas in the country or those that are identified to be ecologically rich and biologically important public lands. "Under the NIPAS Act, 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 a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas," said Villar. "I hope that all those concerned will get their acts together and strongly adhere to the provisions of these newly-enacted laws," further stated the senator. The laws cited that effective administration of these areas is possible only through cooperation among national government, local government units (LGUs), concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private entities and local communities. The laws also mandate to ensure the mobilization of resources for the institutional mechanisms, as well as the full scientific and technical support needed for the conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystems, culture and indigenous practices. Under RAs 11684, 11685, 11686, 11687, and 11688, "the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), upon the recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), may designate areas surrounding the protected areas for the purpose of providing an 'extra layer of protection' where restrictions may be applied." "In cases where the designated buffer zone would cover private lands, the owners thereof shall be required to design their development with due consideration to the protected area management plan," the laws further read. The laws noted that "the use and enjoyment of the protected landscapes must be consistent with the principles of biological diversity and sustainable development." Villar, ikinagalak ang pagsasabatas ni Pres. Duterte sa kanyang 5 panukala para sa karagdagang protected areas IKINATUWA ni Senator Cynthia Villar ang pagsasabatas ni President Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang limang panukalang nagdedeklara sa Mt. Pulag at iba pang lugar sa bansa bilang protected areas (PAs). Pinasalamatan din niya ang Pangulo sa paglagda sa Republic Acts (RAs) 11684, 11685, 11686, 11687, at 11688, na nagdadagdag sa Mt. Arayat sa Pampanga, Mt. Pulag sa Benguet, Naga-Kabasalan sa Zamboanga Sibugay, Tirad Pass sa Ilocos Sur at Banao sa Kalinga sa talaan ng protected areas sa ilalim ng National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). Itinatag ang NIPAS sa ilalim ng Republic Act 7586, na inamiyendahan ng RA 11038 o ang Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018. Dahil dito, sinabi ni Villar, chairperson ng Senate committee on environment and natural resources, na mayroon na tayong 112 protected areas sa bansa na idineklara sa pamamagitan ng legislation. "The signing of these laws would mean more forest lands; landscapes; ecologically rich, unique and biologically important areas that are habitats of threatened species of plants and animals; biographic zones and related ecosystem, whether terrestrial wetland or marine would be protected," giit ni Villar. "These areas would be given protected status by legislative action, in order to ensure their conservation," dagdag pa niya. Isinulong ni Villar ang pagpasa sa E-NIPAS Act of 2018, na nagpapalakas sa legal framework sa pagtatatag, pangangasiwa at pagpapanatili sa lahat ng protected areas sa bansa or yaong mga kinilala na "ecologically rich at biologically important public lands." "Under the NIPAS Act, 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 a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas," ani Villar. "I hope that all those concerned will get their acts together and strongly adhere to the provisions of these newly-enacted laws," sabi pa niya. Sinabi sa mga nilagdaang batas na posible ang epektibong pangangasiwa sa mga lugar na ito sa kooperasyon ng national government, local government units (LGUs), concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private entities at local communities. Itinatakda rin sa batas na siguraduhin ang mobilization resources para sa institutional mechanisms, pati na rin ang full scientific at technical support sa conservation biodiversity at integrity ng ecosystems, culture at indigenous practices. Sa ilalim ng RAs 11684, 11685, 11686, 11687, and 11688, "the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), upon the recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), may designate areas surrounding the protected areas for the purpose of providing an 'extra layer of protection' where restrictions may be applied." "In cases where the designated buffer zone would cover private lands, the owners thereof shall be required to design their development with due consideration to the protected area management plan," ayon pa rin sa mga bagong batas. Binigyan diin sa mga bagong batas na "the use and enjoyment of the protected landscapes must be consistent with the principles of biological diversity and sustainable development." Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. REIDSVILLE The Rev. Dennis Chapmon, a Reidsville native and pastor of Mount Hermon Baptist Church on Ashley Loop Road, recently spoke to the Reidsville Kiwanis Club about his experiences serving as a missionary for 15 years in South Africa. There were no churches available in the area where he served, so at first, services were held in private homes. His mission was to introduce the people there to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he said. He and his young family were living in Johannesburg at the time anti-apartheid crusader and humanitarian Nelson Mandela was released from prison. They were also there when Mandela was elected as the nations president. Chapmon said people of great wealth live in Johannesburgs gated neighborhoods and behind protective walls, while people living just next door to them struggled with poverty and lived in shacks. He told of how beautiful the country is, though troubled by heavy crime. The clergyman himself was held at gunpoint by gangsters who took him hostage to steal his VW van, then released him, Chapmon said, explaining he never recovered the van. On another occasion he walked into a market as it was being robbed and had a gun pointed at his head. But after talking calmly with the robbers, he was allowed to leave. As he left he heard a gunshot as the criminals shot a man just behind him in the shoulder. Heroic, Chapmon returned and tried to help the wounded man and get the police to come. In spite of the dangers in the country, however, Chapmon said he continued to bring the gospel to the people. Life lived on purpose is a life worth living, he said. The Kiwanis Club meets each Thursday at noon at the Main Street Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Visitors are welcome. If you want to treat your mom to a special meal, you may not have to go far. Thats because North Carolina is home to four restaurants that rank among the best in the nation for celebrating Mothers Day. The eateries that received the honor from the restaurant review website Yelp include: Webb Custom Kitchen in Gastonia Daniels Restaurant in Apex Tupelo Honey in Asheville Epic Chophouse in Mooresville To come up with the list of top Mothers Day dining spots, Yelp said it identified businesses in the restaurant category with a large concentration of reviews mentioning the holiday, then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews. The website also considered restaurants health grades and chose a maximum of three businesses in each metro area to ensure geographic diversity, according to the results published Thursday, April 28. Of the 100 restaurants that received national recognition, the highest-ranking one in North Carolina was Webb Custom Kitchen at No. 7. The eatery serves steak, lobster and other dishes in a former movie theater roughly 20 miles west of Charlotte. Tasting good isnt enough for us, as we strive to source as many ingredients as we can from as close to home as possible, the restaurant says on its website. In past years, some Mothers Day diners wrote online that they were fans of Webb Custom Kitchens food and customer service. Others couldnt get enough of the restaurant at other times of the year, helping it earn more than 4 out of 5 stars on Yelp. Also in the rankings, Daniels Restaurant which serves Italian cuisine from its dining room southwest of Raleigh landed in the No. 38 spot. Tupelo Honeys location on College Street in Asheville ranked No. 46, and the Charlotte areas Epic Chophouse ranked No. 77. The results come after Yelp and reservation website OpenTable named several North Carolina restaurants among the best places to eat in the country, McClatchy News reported in January. On the latest list, the nations top-ranking spot for Mothers Day was Cafe Monarch in Scottsdale, Arizona. Copyright 2022 Tribune Content Agency. WENTWORTH An unnamed prisoner died from a medical emergency on Friday morning while being booked into the Rockingham County Detention Facility, officials for the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. A sheriffs spokesman said the prisoner was going through the pre-booking process at the jail with a North Carolina probation/parole officer at about 11:30 a.m. when the prisoner became ill. No details about the prisoners symptoms or prior health history were available. The probation/parole agent, as well as other staff from the detention center, rendered first aid, but the prisoner died, the spokesman said in the release. The sheriffs office has referred all questions about the incident to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the case as a matter of standard protocol. An SBI spokesman was not immediately available. The sheriffs office said it will withhold the name of the prisoner until the next of kin can be notified. The death comes just days after Adrianna Blackwell of Rockingham County filed a federal complaint in Mecklenburg County alleging state correctional officials, as well as members of the sheriffs offices in Mecklenburg and Rockingham counties, failed to ensure the safety of her 17-year-old son. He was found hanging by a bedsheet in his Mecklenburg juvenile cell on Nov. 21, 2020. Ten days earlier, the youth, referred to at the time of his death by the N.C. Department of Public Safety as Desmond W., had been charged with first-degree murder in Rockingham County, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit refers to the late teen by the initials D.W. Within the complaint are multiple allegations that the two sheriffs offices and officials within the N.C. Department of Public Safety violated the inmates constitutional rights. Further, the complaint charges that the state, along with the Rockingham and Mecklenburg sheriffs offices, failed to adequately share the accumulating signs that Desmond W. was a suicide risk. If officials had done so, the youth would have been kept under a more restrictive suicide watch in the Mecklenburg jail, the lawsuit claims. The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office declined comment Monday, citing a pending legal matter. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Micheal Littlejohn of Charlotte and Abraham Rubert-Schewel of Durham. Desmond W. left a suicide note, which he had written with a pencil he should not have been allowed to have, according to the lawsuit. It read: tell my family Im sorry. It was followed by an acronym: IICSARNKM, short for If I commit suicide at least a real n had killed me, a rap lyric the youth had been heard repeating two weeks before when he was first jailed in Rockingham County, the lawsuit claims. In February 2021, three people under age 30 died after attempting to hang themselves at the Rockingham County jail. The deaths were the first suicides county officials could recall since the mid-1950s, officials said. The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report. GREENSBORO Two people were found shot Saturday night in the 2300 block of Randleman Road, police said. Officers responded about 7:45 p.m. for a report of a shooting and found two people with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said in a news release. EMS took both shooting victims to a local hospital. Police did not release details about possible suspects or a motive and said no further information was available Saturday night. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Tips can also be sent via the P3Tips app or website. KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy switched into Russian in his nightly video address to urge Russian soldiers not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expected that thousands of them would die. He said Russia has been recruiting new troops with little motivation and little combat experience for the units that were gutted during the early weeks of the war so these units can be thrown back into battle. He said Russian commanders fully understand that thousands of them will die and thousands more will be wounded in the coming weeks. The Russian commanders are lying to their soldiers when they tell them they can expect to be held seriously responsible for refusing to fight and then also dont tell them, for example, that the Russian army is preparing additional refrigerator trucks for storing the bodies. They dont tell them about the new losses the generals expect, Zelenskyy said late Saturday. Every Russian soldier can still save his own life. Its better for you to survive in Russia than to perish on our land, he said. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Ukrainian forces fight Russia's grinding advance in eastern Donbas region Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers evacuation from final holdout Some Ukrainians go back across front line toward homes, despite dangers Ukrainian women learn how to clear land mines at course in Kosovo Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: STOCKHOLM Sweden says a Russian military plane has violated Swedish airspace. The incident happened late Friday in the Baltic Sea near the island of Bornholm. In a statement Saturday, the Swedish Armed Forces said a Russian AN-30 propeller plane flew toward Swedish airspace and briefly entered it before leaving the area. The Swedish Air Force scrambled fighter jets which photographed the Russian plane. Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish public radio that the violation was unacceptable and unprofessional. In a similar incident in early March four Russian warplanes violated Swedish airspace over the Baltic Sea. Sweden and neighboring Finland are both considering NATO membership following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has warned that such a move would have consequences, without giving specifics. LONDON Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the progress of the U.N. effort to evacuate people from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol and offered the U.K.s continued economic and humanitarian support during a talk Saturday with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskky. The prime minister reiterated that he is more committed than ever to reinforcing Ukraine and ensuring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin fails, noting how hard the Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom, Johnsons Downing Street office said. He confirmed that the UK will continue to provide additional military aid to give the Ukrainians the equipment they needed to defend themselves, the statement said. The United Nations has been attempting to broker an evacuation in the port city where some 100,000 civilians remain. Up to 1,000 civilians are living beneath a Soviet-era steel plant in Mariupol, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, but the Russians put the number at about 2,000. A Russian rocket attack destroyed an airport runway in Odesa, Ukraines third-largest city and a key Black Sea port, the Ukrainian army said Saturday. In a Telegram post, Ukraines Operational Command South said there was no way that the Odesa runway could be used as a result of the rocket attack. Local authorities urged residents of the area to shelter in place as Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, citing army sources, reported that several explosions were heard in Odesa. Odesas regional governor said that the rocket was fired from Russian-occupied Crimea. Maksym Marchenko said there were no reports of any injuries. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, the countrys industrial heartland, and capture the countrys Black Sea and Sea of Azov coasts. KYIV, Ukraine Ukraines national grid operator says it has has restored reliable power supply in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, around the site of the 1986 nuclear reactor disaster. In the afternoon, the last necessary 330 kV power transmission line was put into operation, the state-owned Ukrenergo wrote in a Telegram post Saturday. According to the same post, Ukrenergo also restored another 330 kV line in the northern Kyiv region last night, helping stabilize the energy supply in the capital. It said the reconstruction of further transmission lines in and around Kyiv remains underway. KYIV The mayor of the eastern Ukrainian town of Popasna said in a video interview that two buses headed to the town to evacuate residents had been fired upon and that contact with the drivers had been lost. Yesterday we evacuated 31 people from Popasna. Many more people were waiting; for that reason we dispatched two more buses to the evacuation point, Mayor Mykola Khanatov said in an interview posted on the Telegram channel of Serhiy Haidai, the Ukrainian governor of the eastern Luhansk region. We know that (the buses) reached the town and then came under fire from an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group, Khanatov said. There is no contact with people who were inside the vehicles and were organizing the evacuation. Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, the country's industrial heartland. KYIV, Ukraine -- Another mass grave has been found in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, the scene of alleged mass executions of civilians before its recapture by Ukrainian forces in early March, the head of Kyivs regional police force said Saturday. On April 29, a pit with the bodies of three men was found in the Bucha district, regional police chief Andriy Nebytov wrote on Facebook. The victims were tortured for a lengthy period of time. Bullet wounds were found on the extremities of their bodies. In the end, each of the men was shot through the ear. This is another mass burial made by the occupiers in the Bucha district, the long-suffering district where more than a thousand civilians have been killed and tortured, Nebytov added. According to Nebytovs post, the burial site was found in the forest near the village of Myrotske, 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of the town of Bucha. Nebytov said the three bodies were being sent for a forensic examination, following a preliminary inspection by the Kyiv regional police. KYIV, Ukraine -- Seven Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians have been released in a prisoner swap Saturday with Russia, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on social media. Were bringing home 14 of our people: seven military personnel and seven civilians,Vereshchuk wrote on Facebook and Telegram. To me, this exchange is special: one of the female soldiers is five months pregnant. As of Saturday afternoon, the swap had not been confirmed by official Russian sources. NEW YORK Prices for Russian credit default swaps insurance contracts that protect an investor against a default plunged sharply overnight after Moscow used its precious foreign currency reserves to make a last-minute debt payment on Friday. The cost for a five-year credit default swap on Russian debt was $5.84 million to protect $10 million in debt. That price was just about half the price on Thursday, which at roughly $11 million for $10 million in debt protection was a signal that investors were certain of a Russian default. Despite the insurance contract plunge, investors remain largely convinced that Russia will eventually default on its debts for the first time since 1917. The major ratings agencies Standard & Poors and Moodys have declared Russia is in selective default on its obligations and earlier this week, the governing body over CDS contracts declared Russia in default. Ukraine evacuated more people Saturday in the eastern town of Lyman in the fiercely fought-over region of Donetsk, where at least half the residents have fled Russian shelling since the start of the war. About 20 mostly elderly people boarded a minivan amid the sounds of outgoing artillery and explosions in the distance. All the shops in the almost-empty town were closed and those who decided to remain rely on aid distributed by groups including the Ukrainian Red Cross. Those who remain say they are either too old, dont know where to go or dont want to leave their homes unattended. They seek shelter in their basements whenever the shelling starts. Meanwhile, in Dobropillya, further to the west, Russian shelling hit the town on Saturday, damaging buildings and slightly injuring seven people including three children, according to authorities. Ukraines deputy agriculture minister says Russian forces are seizing vast amounts of grain in territory they hold, while its president says the war-torn country is facing fuel shortages. Today, there are confirmed facts that several hundred thousand tons of grain in total were taken out of the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, minister Taras Vysotsky told Ukrainian television on Saturday. Ukraine is one of the worlds major grain producers and the Russian invasion has curtailed exports, pushing up world grain prices and raising concerns about severe grain shortages in importing countries. Ukraine is also facing fuel shortages as Russia destroys its fuel infrastructure and blocks its ports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday night. Fuel shortages have been reported in Kyiv, Dnipro and other cities. Vehicles can be seen lining up at gas stations and drivers in most places can purchase only 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of fuel at a time. Zelenskyy promised that officials would find a fuel supply system within a week or two to prevent a deficit but called it a difficult task after the refinery at Kremenchuk was hit by a Russian missile. But, Zelenskyy said, there are no immediate solutions. PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron has conveyed to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy his wish to actively work to re-establish the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine during his second mandate, in coordination with allies, the presidential Elysee Palace says. Macron assured Zelenskyy in their hourlong conversation Saturday that military material and humanitarian assistance would keep flowing to Ukraine, the Elysee said. France has so far sent 615 tons of equipment and aid, including generators for hospitals, ambulances and food. France has been coy about its contribution in defensive weapons, but Macron recently mentioned Milan anti-tank missiles and a delivery of truck-mounted Caesar cannons among consequential equipment. This support will continue to strengthen, the French president told Zelenskyy, according to the Elysee. Macron was re-elected president of France six days ago. During his first term, Macron held numerous conversations with both Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin since Russias invasion Feb. 24. LVIV, Ukraine Russias foreign minister says Moscow has evacuated over 1 million people from Ukraine since the war there began. The comments Saturday by Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua come as Ukraine has accused Moscow of forcefully sending Ukrainians out of the country. Lavrov said that figure included more than 300 Chinese civilians. Lavrov offered no evidence to support his claim in the interview. Lavrov also said that negotiations continue between Russia and Ukraine almost every day. However, he cautioned that progress has not been easy. Lavrov in part blamed the bellicose rhetoric and inflammatory actions of Western supporters of the Kyiv regime for disrupting the talks. However, Russian state TV nightly has had guests who suggest that Moscow use nuclear weapons in the conflict. LVIV, Ukraine The British military believes Russian forces in Ukraine are likely suffering from weakened morale. The British Defense Ministry made that assessment in a tweet Saturday as part of a daily report it provides on Russias war on Kyiv. It says Russia still faces considerable challenges in fighting. The British military believes Russian forces have been forced to merge and redeploy depleted and disparate units from the failed advances in northeast Ukraine. It offered no information on how it arrived at this assessment. However, analysts believe Russian forces that failed to take Kyiv at the start of the war have been redeployed without the time needed to properly rearm and restaff. The British believe Russia hopes to reorganize its effort and shorten supply lines. The ministry added: A lack of unit-level skills and inconsistent air support have left Russia unable to fully leverage its combat mass, despite localized improvements. WASHINGTON A senior U.S. defense official said Friday the Russian offensive is going much slower than planned in part because of the strength of the Ukrainian resistance. We also assess that because of this slow and uneven progress, again, without perfect knowledge of every aspect of the Russian plan, we do believe and assess that they are behind schedule in what they were trying to accomplish in the Donbas, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. militarys assessment. He said the U.S. believes the Russians are at least several days behind where they wanted to be as they try to encircle Ukrainian troops in the east. As the troops try to move north out of Mariupol so they can advance on Ukrainian forces from the south, their progress has been slow and uneven, and certainly not decisive, in any event, the official said. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to destroy the Donbas and all who live there. The constant brutal bombardments, the constant Russian strikes on infrastructure and residential areas show that Russia wants to empty this territory of all people. Therefore, the defense of our land, the defense of our people, is literally a fight for life, he said late Friday in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the cities and towns of the Donbas will survive only if Ukraine remains standing. If the Russian invaders are able to realize their plans even partially, then they have enough artillery and aircraft to turn the entire Donbas into stones. As they did with Mariupol. Zelenskyy said Mariupol, once one of the most developed cities in the region, was now a Russian concentration camp among the ruins. In Kharkiv, a major city to the north, the situation was brutal but Ukrainian troops and intelligence agents have had important tactical successes, he said without elaborating. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said about 20% of the citys residential buildings have been so badly damaged that it will be impossible to restore them. Zelenskyy said rescuers were still going through the rubble in Kyiv after Thursdays missile strikes. He expressed his condolences to the family of Vira Hyrych, who was killed in the bombardment. He said she was the 23rd journalist killed in the war. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appears to have dismissed the need for the United Nations to help secure humanitarian corridors out of Ukraines besieged cities, striking a tough line a day after the U.N. chief toured war-wracked Kyiv with that very aim. As an interviewer at Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV tried to ask Lavrov about U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposals for humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians, Lavrov cut him off. There is no need. I know, I know, an irritated Lavrov said. There is no need for anybody to provide help to open humanitarian corridors. There is only one problem humanitarian corridors are being ignored by Ukrainian ultra-nationals, he said. We appreciate the interest of the secretary-general to be helpful, he added. (We have) explained what is the mechanism for them to monitor how the humanitarian corridors are announced. During the hourlong interview, Lavrov also accused the West of sabotaging Russias peace talks with Ukraine. He claimed that thorny negotiations in Istanbul last month had been progressing on issues of Russian territorial claims and security guarantees until Ukrainian diplomats backtracked at the behest of the West. We are stuck because of their desire to play games all the time, Lavrov said. Because of the instructions they get Washington, from London, from some other capitals, not to accelerate the negotiations. When asked about the risks of war spilling into neighboring Moldova after a series of explosions rattled a breakaway border region within the country, Lavrov struck an ominous tone. Moldova should worry about their own future, he said. Because theyre being pulled into NATO. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. NAGS HEAD The federal government wants to know the potential impact of offshore wind farms in two newly identified portions of the Atlantic Ocean off the Outer Banks. In a federal notice published Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is seeking information from wind energy developers and ocean users like fishermen that the agency hopes to use to winnow down six potential areas between Delaware and North Carolina. Those include a 691-square-mile area wrapping around the northeastern border of an already leased area off of Kitty Hawk, as well as a 1,193-square-mile area that begins about 44 nautical miles off of the Outer Banks. Any eventual leases would join the already leased Kitty Hawk area and a site off of the Brunswick County coast that will be leased in May for generating wind energy off the North Carolina coast. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management identifies call areas, like the two new areas off of the Outer Banks, that the agency believes have potential for wind energy. Then it asks for feedback from developers and other parties who use the ocean before identifying a wind energy area and proposing a lease sale. Complicating matters off the North Carolina coast is a 10-year moratorium on offshore energy leases set to take effect July 1. While we are gathering information on the entire Central Atlantic Call Area, we would not propose leasing any areas while they are subject to any moratorium, Tracey Moriarty, a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management spokeswoman, wrote in a statement. She said sites identified as wind energy areas off of North Carolina might be available for leasing later than areas identified off of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. The agency is trying to assess commercial interest in the areas and work through the permitting process. They just cant lease the areas, said Katharine Kollins, president of the Southeastern Wind Coalition. The Biden administration has set a target of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy in the United States by 2030, while Gov. Roy Cooper has set targets for North Carolina of 2.8 gigawatts of offshore wind generation by 2030 and 8 gigawatts by 2040. Speaking at the recent International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, Cooper said it is important to create a pipeline of offshore wind projects off the North Carolina coast like the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is trying to accomplish. Theres going to be more to come, Cooper said. Were very excited about that. Adding new lease areas off of North Carolina comes with some uncertainty, Kollins said, particularly because the state doesnt have a mandate to develop wind power like neighboring Virginia. Coopers executive orders are suggestions, while Virginia law mandates 5.2 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2034. Clearly theres a lot of demand for new wind energy areas from developers so continuing to identify (sites) is absolutely a way to start meeting some of that demand, Kollins said. Used cooking oil available in large quantity for biodiesel about 1000 mt, origin is Nigeria, west Africa. Looking for buyers in Europe to export to their company. Send us your inqiury CHARLOTTE A white bullet-shaped robot with blue strobe lights roaming around uptown Charlotte is taking photos and videos of people, but its only doing it to provide security, the company behind the machine says. Knightscope deployed its K5 Autonomous Security Robot on April 7 to help guard one of the largest finance companies in the U.S., the California-headquartered security and robotics company said in a news release. The K5 ASR is a fully autonomous crime-fighting robot with tasks that include patrolling, preventing and protecting, Knightscope spokeswoman Donna Michaels said. Knightscope cant name the Charlotte company the K5 ASR is securing because it was deployed on a private campus, Michaels said. Its fleet of security robots is patrolling nationwide in five U.S time zones and has more than 1 million hours of service at health care facilities, corporate campuses, airports, storage facilities, rail and manufacturing plants, she said. William Santana Li, chairman and CEO of Knightscope, told The Charlotte Observer the K5 ASR is a unique combination of four technologies autonomous self-driving, robotics, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. The company was founded in 2013. It has worked since to develop the security robot technology, he said. How K5 ASRs work The K5 ASR assists guards in securing areas by being an additional set of eyes and ears, Li said. The robots have four 360-degree cameras with live-streaming and high-definition video capabilities, GPS, sonar, and live audio so guards can speak through them like a mobile public announcement system, he said. Think of it as a really interesting tool to give the guards and officers almost superhuman capabilities, Li said.The robot weighs 398 pounds, is 5 feet 2 inches and has a maximum speed of 3 mph, according to Knightscopes website. The K5 ASRs large size is meant to deter criminal behavior, Li said. If I put a police car in front of your home, criminal behavior will change, he said. Its just that psychological effect. Potential clients inquire about Knightscopes autonomous robots including the K1, K3, K5, K7 and KSOC after being shown virtual demonstrations, Li said. Clients dont pay for the robots; they pay for the management of the more than 90 terabytes of data it collects, Michaels said. Knightscope hosts a Robot Roadshow across the U.S. to give prospective clients an up-close look at its line of autonomous robots. The roadshow hasnt traveled to North Carolina yet, but is looking to in the near future, Li said. K5 ASRs are helpful Those who say Knightscopes robots are taking jobs away are incorrect, Li said. There are not enough officers and guards to continuously protect the hundreds of millions of Americans across 50 states, he said. The media and society is like, Oh the robots are coming and theyre going to kill everybody and take everyones jobs, Li said. Thats funny, but not truthful. Google is offering users a way to get their personal information removed from the search engine to counter potential harassment. Although the company previously had a removal process in place for sensitive information, like bank numbers or credit card information, that policy is being expanded. Open access to information is a key goal of Search, but so is empowering people with the tools they need to protect themselves and keep their sensitive, personally identifiable information private, Google shared Wednesday in a blog post. Now, users can request the removal of information like phone numbers and email and physical addresses. The availability of personal contact information online can be jarring and it can be used in harmful ways, including for unwanted direct contact or even physical harm, the company wrote. Heres how and what qualifies According to Google, the information must fall under a specific set of parameters. But put simply, any contact information that could lead to harassment is now able to be removed, along with identification documents, handwritten signatures and official records. You can submit a removal request by going to this Google help page https://support.google.com/websearch and clicking Fix problems & request removals. Then you can fill out a form in the Help Center specifying your request and where the information is present. The company will review your request, and you will get a notification via email of any action that has been taken regarding the removal request. Google says it will likely turn down a request if the information in question is newsworthy content. Additionally, if the information is available on government websites or on a matter of public record, it will not be removed. We generally aim to preserve information access if the content is determined to be of public interest, according to the search engine. If your request is approved, the information will no longer appear in any Google Search query but may still exist on the internet elsewhere. Maximizing access to information while empowering people to be in control of their sensitive, personally identifiable information is a critical balance to strike, Google said in the blog post. We believe these updates are an important step to deliver on that goal and give people the tools they need to protect their safety and privacy online. In a recent column, Leonard Pitts lamented the fact that we no longer share a common national identity. That is a legitimate concern, but when Pitts attempts to identify the source of the ailment, he misses the mark badly. I disagree with much of Pitts column, but here is the most brazenly, cartoonishly errant passage: What Americans have lost to be painfully accurate, what Republicans have trashed in pursuit of power is the willingness and ability to share a common national identity. Lets pause right there. For decades, Democratic partisans have been obsessed with diversity and multiculturalism. Under the diversity regime, the most important characteristics of a person are gender, race and sexual orientation. The rest of us have been compelled to not only tolerate, but also to celebrate, a maniacal focus on the superficial identity of every fellow citizen. Unfortunately, most mainstream journalists act as PR agents for the diversity regime. Anyone who dares to question the sacred tenets of diversity or multiculturalism is stigmatized as intolerant, bigoted or worse. From their perspective, questioning left-wing groupthink is the equivalent of hate. A decade ago, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that multiculturalism had utterly failed in her country. Pitts wrote that it is impossible not to consider the source here. We should all be alive to the grim historical resonance of a German chancellor declaring the idea of disparate cultures living side by side a failure. What, after all, is the alternative? Shall Germany officially declare itself a nation with room enough for one culture only? For the record, thats been tried already. And it didnt work so well, either. Only an ideological zealot could perceive Angela Merkel as only a slightly more moderate version of Adolf Hitler. Pitts seems to believe that citizens obtain reverence for our history and traditions from the mainstream media a notion laughable to moderate and conservative readers. The average Republican, he writes, trusts almost no mainstream source of information. As a result, Americans no longer proceed from the same baseline assumptions, are no longer driven by the same national aspirations, no longer understand the meaning and mission of their country in the same way. So, our aspirations and the meaning of our country are supposed to be derived from CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times and MSNBC? No wonder were in trouble. Shouldnt the splendor of American culture be taught in public schools? One can find many definitions of culture, but most are sprinkled with the terms common and shared. Heres a nice, simple explanation of a national culture from IGI Global, an academic publisher: The set of norms, behaviors, customs, and values shared by the population of a sovereign nation. I would suggest that a common language is essential, as is a fundamental understanding of our history, our form of government and our founding ideals. Reverence of those things is even better. These are not Republican notions, but American ones. One cannot simultaneously insist upon an oxymoronic multiculture and lament the lack of a common identity. We must choose one or the other. Outside of the progressive community, the choice is obvious. As Russell Kirk wrote in 1993, If Americas British culture is to be reinvigorated, its roots must be watered. The twentieth-century guardians of that culture must reject such silliness as the multiculturalist ideology, which does nothing more than gratify little ethnic vanities. Those who believe in a common culture, Kirk wrote, must resist those ideologues of multiculturalism who would pull down the whole elaborate existing culture of this country in order to make everybody culturally equal that is, equal in ignorance. Charles Davenport Jr. (cdavenportjr@hotmail.com) is a News & Record columnist. His article runs the first Sunday of the month. Yet another media outlet is asking, Why are the Russian people supporting Putins war? It seems as if Vladimir Putins favorability rating rises even as more and more dead Russian soldiers are shipped home. Never mind that this war, or as Putin calls it, a special military operation, exists solely to inflate his ego. This has little to do with drug-addled neo-Nazis, genocide, birds and reptiles trained to carry pathogens into Russia, or Ukrainians bombing their own cities and killing women and children. Facts aside, the people believe Putin. But asking the question why shows our own degree of haughtiness. Our elders referred to this as the pot calling the kettle black. We dont have the room to point our fingers, purse our lips or look accusingly at anybody else when our own people have issues ascertaining fact from fiction. Some of us are being led around like the rats following the Pied Piper. Consider this. Although President Biden won 7 million more votes and 74 more Electoral College votes than his opponent, a vast majority of Republicans still believe Donald Trump was cheated out of a second presidential term. And its not just the rank-and-file or those who attempted a coup on Jan. 6, 2021 who laud the Big Lie. Most Republican elected officials toe that line as well. Who cant handle the truth? No matter how the facts present themselves, those who should know better cling to the farce, and those wanting to get elected or stay elected beat a path to his country club door for his laying on of hands. Despite all, Trump remains their de facto 2024 Republican presidential front-runner. They are gullible and willing to say and do whatever they think will please him. Truth be damned. In fact, one of the Jan. 6 defendants used the Trump-Made-Me-Do-It Defense in court, claiming that election misinformation and pandemic-induced isolation led him to surf conspiracy-based internet sites that pushed him to storm the U.S. Capitol. Not enough? Consider this: Millions of Florida voters continue to follow Gov. Ron DeSantis delusions. He has waged a culture war attacking anything not white, male, Christian and straight. Hes banned books of all kinds, claiming that they are tainted by critical race theory, yelled at students wearing masks as a COVID safety precaution, and most recently set out to punish Mickey and Minnies parent company for daring to question his authority. DeSantis and the Florida House and Senate voted to strip The Magic Kingdom of its right to self-govern, which means building roads and providing services without asking permission of a county government. The truth is, before this change can take effect, the residents of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which governs Disney, would have to vote to support the change. And since most of the residents of Reedy Creek work for or are associated with Disney, its unlikely this will occur. DeSantis is having a temper tantrum, and the people who should know better those who know the truth and those who understand the process refuse to stand up to him. They are puppets in this DeSantis theater. CRT anyone? Still need more? Consider this. North Carolina ranks 47th in the nation in per-pupil spending on education, 33rd in teacher pay and 53% of our students in grades three through eight arent proficient in grade-level reading skills. Yet elected officials would have us believe that teachers are indoctrinating students with critical race theory and that books that mention anything other than heterosexual relationships are the major problems facing education. Heck, if we keep heading in this direction there wont be a need to ban books because the students wouldnt be able to read them anyway. Then again, maybe thats the goal. If you control access to information, you control the people. Or you might consider that U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who says he is a conservative, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a thug, racked up a litany of traffic violations, falsely alleged that there were Republican orgies and drugs in Washington, and most recently was pictured in two photos wearing womens lingerie, leads in the polls among a half-dozen Republican challengers. Or that a former Trump chief of staff, North Carolinas own Mark Meadows, who has demanded and rallied for election integrity, was most recently registered to vote simultaneously in three states North and South Carolina and Virginia. Did he vote in all three? Who knows? Meadows tri-state registration is actual election fraud, but you wont hear those state officials calling for voter ID laws or shortened early voting days antics in response. Its so much easier to convince people that Black and brown Americans are making the mischief, so lets go after them. Stop, and wipe away the orange tint of Trumpism. At this point, we are no better than the Russians or North Koreans or others living under authoritarian regimes. Like Putin, these people want power. Period. We know that two and two dont make five, and we must act like it. In the words of political commentator Fuad Alakbarov, Its either rule of law or the law of the ruler. I say we ditch the ruler. BRISTOL, Tenn. On a sunny Saturday morning, 326 students who make up the King University 2022 graduating class gathered at King Universitys oval to be celebrated by their friends, families and peers. In her commencement address, Shirley Hoogstra, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities president, evoked the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized how the graduates rose to meet the challenge faced by their community. You cared about the community and therefore made choices that were inconvenient to you that allowed your institution to remain open, and while it was certainly not exactly what you envisioned for your college year, you were given an invitation to rise to the challenge, Hoogstra said. Hoogstra then encouraged the graduates to take what they have learned at King and meet every challenge, expected or otherwise, they may encounter in the future with the same vigor, trust and vulnerability. Your King education has produced in you a devoted heart, a courageous mind and a purposeful soul. Now go somewhere and do something and that it will surprise you, and it will surprise the world, Hoogstra said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hong Kong: Voucher scheme adds operators The Government today announced that apart from the existing four Stored Value Facility (SVF) operators, two more operators have been selected to assist in implementing the 2022 (Phase II) Consumption Voucher Scheme. The six SVF operators are AlipayHK, BoC Pay, Octopus, PayMe from HSBC, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK. The Government is discussing with them the detailed arrangements including system design and will announce the second phase of the scheme as soon as possible. The target is to start registration in the middle of this year. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said that with the development of the market, the number of operators suitable for assisting in disbursement of vouchers has increased, thereby expanding the choice of SVFs. "When identifying the SVF operators, the Government has taken into consideration a basket of factors. Apart from the operator's relevant experience, we have also considered the popularity of their SVF or e-wallet, their technical capacity, the preparation time required, and consulted the Monetary Authority." Mr Chan noted that the participating operators have been requested to assist small business operators and sectors severely affected by the epidemic through rebates and promotional activities to the benefit of consumers and the relevant merchants. The operators will announce the details in due course, he added. This story has been published on: 2022-05-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. City, county and state officials, along with leadership from Jack Links, complete a celebratory groundbreaking at the future site of the Jack Links production facility at 720 Perry Parkway. Jack Links a global leader in meat snacks will open a manufacturing facility at 720 Perry Parkway, with plans to be operating at the end of 2023. The companys $450 million investment will create 800 jobs. A ceremony took place Tuesday at the future site of the facility a 120-acre plot in the I-75 GRAD-certified (Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development) site. "Governor Kemp has been phenomenal to talk to and work with, and Sonny [Perdue], youve been great to give me the assurance of all the commitments of the state, CEO Troy Link said. "The county of Houston wonderful people who weve gotten to know, and we look forward to getting to know each and every one of you more so on a first-name basis as we build this project out. "And the City of Perry, all the local business leaders this will be a strong partnership with all of you and the collaboration is really what got us here today and what we will continue to build on. Like Angie [Gheesling] said, [were] family owned and operated, and were just excited to join this business community and join the great State of Georgia and all the wonderful business leaders and community leaders that are here. Kevin McAdams, president of North American operations of Jack Links, shared some words following the CEO and added Perry was chosen out of more than 30 different locations. "There was a dinner that we had here back in November, and I remember going home and calling Troy [Link] the next day and saying: "I think our home long term is in Perry, Georgia, for this new facility, McAdams said. "So, were excited to be here. He said this is the companys largest venture so far as a business, and they have recently doubled their factory size in Alpena, South Dakota, as well as other expansions in Minong, Wisconsin, and Underwood, Iowa. For the Perry facility, the company is hiring immediately for a plant manager, human relations manager, food safety and quality director as well as a plant engineer. Governor Brian Kemp was featured as a guest speaker at the ceremony. "When I ran for governor, I promised to bring opportunities to all parts of our state, especially the rural communities that have been overlooked in the past, Kemp said. "Today is the latest fruit of our labor. Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson shared some words on the project, as well. He shared that the food processing industry grew by 233% statewide last year. "The most important aspect of long-term health and prosperity in our rural communities is economic investment and job growth, Wilson said. "It is particularly gratifying to see the work weve put in with partners across the state continue to attract generational investments into communities like Perry. Wilson continued, talking about a recent quail hunt where he, the governor and CEO Link assembled in South Georgia with other business representatives to hunt and get to know one another. Link brought a "very generous amount of meat snacks with him to share among the hunters. "Let me tell you, one of the things I saw on this trip I did not expect to see was how quickly a bird dog will peel off a bird to go find protein snacks, he said, laughing. "It was fantastic; I love to have a protein snack, but man, it can mess up a day of hunting, too. Chancellor of the University System of Georgia Sonny Perdue said he is excited to observe the growth of Jack Links here within the county. "Im proud to represent our whole scheme of education here in Houston County and in Georgia that continues to grow the economy and welcome new industry and jobs, such as this great company here, Perdue said. County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said the ceremony marked a bright day for Middle Georgia and wanted to thank the county residents. "Also, I always do this, and I think if I didnt do it, it wouldnt be right, Stalnaker said. "[I want to] thank the citizens of this county because without the citizens support and their financial resources of everything that all of us do in local government, we couldnt be here today. Perry Mayor Randall Walker shared some perspective following Stalnaker. "This is going to be an incredible partnership between Jack Links and this local community, Walker said. "We share many of the same values that make you successful in your worldwide operations. "Jack Link outlined these values best when he said: Keep it clean, treat everybody like family and do whats right. These values are reflective of the values of Perry and Houston County where much of our focus is on the quality of life for our citizens. Jack Links was founded in 1985 in Minong, Wiscosin, and operates multiple sites throughout the Midwest, along with facilities in New Zealand, Brazil and Germany. HICKORY Monthly guild programs for the Catawba Valley Quilters Guild (CVQG) are always something members look forward to with anticipation, and those planned for May are no exception. Carl Stevens, a popular award-winning quilter who grew up in Flint, Michigan, will present programs for both meetings. Stevens did not begin quilting until 2012 with what, in quilting lingo, is called a stack and whack." He next tried a paper pieced quilt and as some say, never looked back. Since then he has won numerous awards in North Carolina, Florida and Virginia. Very often his quilts are chosen as Judges Favorites in shows. Stevens now travels between Sparta, North Carolina, and Florida teaching his technique of paper piecing. In addition, he will present a demonstration on what he terms piping hot binding." The May meetings of CVQG will be held on Thursday, May 12, at 10 a.m. and repeated at 6 p.m., both on the lower level of Holy Trinity Church at 547 Sixth St., NW, Hickory. There is an open invitation for anyone wanting to know more about the guild and its activities and community work to attend a meeting free of charge. Dues are $20 per year, but the charge is pro-rated to $10 at mid-year. To learn some basics about CVQG before then, check out the website at catawbavalleyquiltersguild.com or Facebook. If you still have questions, call 828-381-7342 or 336-314-5906. The big guild event scheduled for 2022 is the upcoming quilt show to be held at the Hickory Metro Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22. Show coordinators Mary Bucy and Gigi Miller expect to hang at least 250 quilts for this show which is normally held every three years. In addition to the show itself, there will be demonstrations, 16 vendors, raffle drawings, Quilts of Valor presentations and The Lily Boutique, featuring gift items for holidays, the home, babies, and quilters. No examination of the Hickory areas history over the last 50 years would be complete without a peek into Robert C. Reeds photo archives. In his role as senior photojournalist for the Hickory Daily Record, Reed has chronicled all facets of life in the Catawba Valley the mundane and the memorable, the tragic and the triumphant, the calm and the chaotic. Visitors who come to the Hickory Museum of Art in the coming months will be treated to a sampling of Reeds work. Beginning May 7 and running through Sept. 11, the retrospective will feature well over 100 images from across six decades. Hickory Art Museum Executive Director Jon Carfagno said they felt Reeds work was a good fit for the theme of community they seek to highlight with their spring shows. Robert has told the stories of our region with such an authenticity and artfulness that we felt like it only made sense to have him be one of the center points of this season, Carfagno said. A Hickory native, Reed began freelancing for the Record while a student at Hickory High School in 1975. He was still a student when he took the photo that kickstarted his photojournalism career, a photo that will be featured in the exhibit. In January 1976, a white student tossed a biscuit in the cafeteria. Reed recalled the boy was aiming for his girlfriend but it landed on a table where a group of Black students were seated. The incident came at a low point in race relations in Hickory and a fight broke out in the cafeteria. Police were called in and school was canceled for the day. When Hickory Daily Record photographer Michael Patrick arrived at the school, he went over to Reed. Did you shoot anything? Patrick asked. Of course I shot, Reed said. Patrick replied: Youre coming with me. Lets go. Reeds photos were featured in the Record and were passed along to the Associated Press. Some time would pass before Reed was officially hired as a photographer but he credits that photo with helping him get his foot in the door at a time during the post-Watergate era when journalism was an in-demand field. While the incident helped Reed begin one career, it nearly ended another, namely his high school career. Reed said the superintendent at the time had threatened him with expulsion for taking and passing along the lunchroom photo. A phone call from Record publisher Mildred Gifford to the superintendent put an end to that, Reed said. Those who come to see the retrospective of Reeds work will be get a glimpse of the full spectrum of life in Hickory and surrounding region. There will be a taste of what Reed calls the bad side of my job the shootings, stabbings, fires and car wrecks that often make for compelling imagery. Getting those memorable shots can carry risks. About a decade ago, Reed was covering a standoff between a fugitive couple and Catawba County deputies when the couple drove around a barricade. Officers opened fire. They were getting close, Reed said. Luckily they stopped shooting when they saw that we were in the line of fire, which was a good day. An award-winning photo Reed produced that day is also part of the exhibit. Reed says the biggest story he has covered in his career is the murder case of Zahra Baker, a 10-year-old from Australia who was murdered in Hickory by her stepmother Elisa. The Zahra Baker saga is represented in the exhibit by a photo of Elisa Baker making her first court appearance. Reed calls it his Afghan girl shot, a reference to the famous 1980s National Geographic photo of the girl with green eyes. While he acknowledges the importance and reach of that photograph, Reed bristles at the idea it would define his legacy. Even though it went all over the world, I would hate to be remembered for that shot, Reed said. What would Reed like to be remembered for? He wouldnt be bothered if people associated him with another photo, also in the exhibit, taken in the late 1970s at the library in Hickory. Captured in the same era when the Hickory High cafeteria fight occurred, the image shows a young black boy resting his head in the lap of young white girl, their eyes fixed on a teacher reading a story. Reed chokes up recalling the photo. His eyes light when talking about an image of a girl in a box sledding down a hill by the Hickory Public Housing Authority. He hopes the exhibit will give people an opportunity to enjoy themselves while also learning about the moments that have defined the region. Noting that he has covered many generations in the area, Reed said visitors may even notice relatives or friends in some of the photos. Im hoping everybody will take away from this a major history lesson in the area of some of the good things, some of the bad things, some of the great things that people see every day, Reed said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The approach of former secretaries of state in writing their memoirs did not seem right for me, Madeleine Albright thought. According to former Secretary of State Dean Acheson, The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull. Given that she was a stateswoman (rather than a statesman), I didnt feel bound by his prescription, she wryly observed. As secretary of state, Albright honored the dignity of the office. But she also was herself. I could have shunned informal settings, dressed conservatively, and reined in my penchant for blunt speaking, she has written. But the job wouldnt have been as enjoyable and I would not have been able to accomplish as much as I did. Albright, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of State, recently passed away at the age of 84. As the first female secretary of state, she rose to a higher rank than any other woman in American history. Albright was a trailblazer in more ways than one, forging ahead in a male dominated space, balancing family and work life in a changing era, shifting U.S. policy priorities, and conducting herself in a professional yet open and at times vulnerable way atypical of high-level public officials. Being in the minority was the norm for Albright. As a first generation Czech immigrant/student with a serious streak, she did not fit in well at school. Even as a young adult at the all-womens Wellesley College (where she found herself better fitting in) she was still in a minority whereas most of the students were Republicans, she was a committed Democrat. During her career, she often found herself to be one of the only, if not the only, woman in the room. When she arrived in New York as ambassador to the UN, she set out to meet fellow female ambassadors. To her surprise, there were only six others out of the more than 180 countries represented at the UN (and included in the six were some not-so-heavy geopolitical hitters such as the small island state Trinidad-Tobago and tiny Liechtentenstein). She was the only woman at her first UN Security Council meeting. If I lived to write my memoirs, I would call the book Fourteen Suits and a Skirt, she thought (she later opted for the less cheeky Madam Secretary as the title for her first memoir). After leaving government, Albright created an international consultancy group called the Albright Group (TAG). Whereas there were many such firms run by men, there was only one other at time that was headed by a woman. On a return visit to the State Department, Albright was reminded, during her time as secretary of state, of walking down the halls lined with portraits of men and the diplomatic reception rooms that, except for two out of 40, were named after men. The two rooms named after women were both bathrooms. Being in the minority was not only a numerical disadvantage Albright also had to overcome well-established social norms. She had come of age at a time when women were expected to be demure. To be an effective ambassador to the UN she had to, as she has put it, overcome 60 years of social training. In sessions, rather than first listening to what others had to say and getting a feel for the room before speaking as she was accustomed to doing, she quickly realized that she would need to be proactively assertive and even willing to interrupt if necessary for her voice to be heard. There were double standards that Albright had to overcome to rise through the professional ranks. When she initially attempted to start a career as a journalist after college, she was told during an interview that she could not work at the same newspaper as her husband due to company policy and could not work for a rival paper because it could harm her husbands career. During a subsequent interview with Encyclopedia Britannica she was asked if she was going to get pregnant. It was an inauspicious start. After spending years raising three children, earning a Ph.D., and organizing fundraisers in Washington, Albright was hired for her first professional job at the age of 39 as a legislative assistant for Sen. Ed Muskie. Though she got along well with him, Muskie doubted whether Albright was suited for a job that she was later offered handling congressional relations because, he said, most members of Congress were men. Albright found Muskie to be unsure how to deal with professional women. When she was in the running to be nominated secretary of state, she ran up against old boys networks. One such rival camp publicly suggested that a female would not be able to work constructively with leaders of conservative Arab states. Albright found, once she became secretary of state, being female did not necessarily inhibit her on the world stage. Representing the United States, the most powerful country in the world, brought with it cache, she wrote in her memoir. Contrary to those who questioned whether Arab leaders would be willing to work with her as an equal, Albright found, for most part, such leaders to be gracious (aside from an incident during a meeting on Afghanistan in which Irans foreign minister did not speak privately with her or shake her hand as he later did with Colin Powell when Powell was secretary of state). Still, Albright felt that she had to stay attuned to gender stereotypes and to be careful not to play into them. During a speech in which she felt flushed under blinding lights, she feared how others would perceive her strength and fitness for office, given that she was a woman, if she passed out. She was initially wary about writing a book about the pins she wore symbolically while secretary of state (the practice began when she wore a serpent pin after a poem printed in the Iraqi press referred to her as an unparalleled serpent), worrying that she would not be taken seriously if she wrote a book about jewelry. As a mother and high-level public official, Albright was faced with, what she has called, the classic womens dilemma of juggling marriage, motherhood, and a profession. It was something that she wrestled with her entire adult life, she has noted, first in regard to herself and later through her daughters and in solidarity with others. Albright had always desired to be a wife and mother with a rewarding professional career. She married three days after graduating from Wellesley College in 1959 and quickly found how difficult excelling in both building a family and pursuing a career would be. She left good jobs as a result of relocating in support of her husbands career. While she was raising her three children, she was unable to work fulltime. It took her 13 years to complete her Ph.D. She struggled with the emotional pain of having a still-birth and her husband leaving her for another woman. Starting her career later in life, Albright found that she was often the oldest, or among the oldest, of those she worked with. As a senate staffer, she would go home immediately after work to attend to her familys needs while her coworkers would socialize and network into the evening. She doubted she would have the time to progress very far in her career given her late start. In her memoirs, Albright described the guilt associated with pursuing a professional career as a wife and mother of young children. Women often extend themselves too thin, she has noted, trying to do too much and inevitably feeling like they are failing at everything as a consequence. Guilt should be every womans middle name, she often said. The conclusion that Albright eventually came to, was not that women could not have it all, but that it might not be possible to have it all at once. She had a demanding schedule, of course, as secretary of state, often arriving early to work and staying late. Working such long hours without feeling guilty, she has written, was only possible because her children were adults by then. Albright has recognized that she likely would not have become secretary of state had her husband not have left her. After her divorce, though she struggled at first, she eventually learned how to be more independent and became more focused on her career pursuits. As a high level female public official, Albright shifted U.S. priorities and affected change on gender issues. She served as chair of the U.S. delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women. She founded the Albright Institute for training women to become global leaders at her alma mater Wellesley. Empowering women and promoting democracy were her two main goals during her time in office and after, she wrote in one of her memoirs. As a public figure, Albright displayed vulnerabilities that male colleagues, fearful of appearing weak, often have tried to conceal. She has admitted to saying things that she should not have during her career, such as referring to the United States as a deadbeat (when it came to paying UN dues), using the term assertive multilateralism, and blurting out her signature there is a special place in hell for women who do not support women line at a rally during the 2016 primaries, which some took as being directed at female supporters of Bernie Sanders. She regretted, during a time when she was coming under heavy criticism, of saying, Im not that smart, [but] I work very hard. It was something that a man would never say, her friends told her. Her biggest regret, she repeatedly has admitted, was not responding to the Rwandan genocide sooner. Albright revealed not only her professional regrets, but also her personal insecurities. When her fiance got cold feet before their wedding, she struggled to understand why before pointing the finger at herself perhaps Joe was not the problem; perhaps the problem was me. She felt inadequate as a role model to her female students at Georgetown due to having been divorced. After being attacked by the press, she admitted that her personal confidence level was down. She described herself as being indecisive and vulnerable initially after her husband left her. Albright had a natural proclivity to discount praise and magnify criticism about herself, as she put it. In the end, she concluded, there was no one tougher on me than me. Still, Albright remained positive. Feminism was not simply about patriarchy it was also about women forming mutually supportive relationships, she felt. After making it to the top, women should not, push the ladder of success away from the building. There is a special place in hell for women who do not support one another, she often said. Albright supported Hillary Clinton in her public pursuits. She pointed out that Clintons success could not simply be attributed to her husband, as some had alleged, given what Hillary accomplished prior to meeting Bill. If anything, Albright argued, marrying Bill slowed Hillary down. On election night in 2016, Albright wore a pin depicting shattered glass expecting Clinton to become the first female U.S. president. But it was not to be. Upon losing, Hillary defiantly declared that the glass ceiling now had eighteen million cracks in it. It would have had far fewer had Albright not earlier made a few dents in it herself. And for that, Id like to think, to flip Albrights motto on its head, there is a special place for her in heaven. David R. Dreyer is a political science professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Email him at David.Dreyer@lr.edu. This is Peter Hitchenss Mail on Sunday column News comes of a heartbreakingly cruel survey in which 200 people were deprived for nine days of the output of the BBC. To ensure they complied, their homes were plastered with NO BBC stickers and they were required to confess any lapses. During the experiment, they were given envelopes containing the small amounts of money they would have saved if they had not been paying for their TV licences. Many of the subjects had originally boasted that they would happily manage without the Corporations output. At the end of this traumatic period, most of them whimpered that, actually, they had been mistaken and would happily hand over the money. As the report says: Over two-thirds of the households that had initially said they would pay nothing or would only pay less than the full licence fee changed their minds and became willing to pay the full licence fee or more in order to keep BBC content and services. The terrible thing is that this may well be a true reflection of reality. I once had some neighbours, a pleasant Christian couple of great integrity, hard-working and conservative, who to their dying day cheerfully watched BBC TV programmes despite the increasing levels of swearing, semi-porn and political indoctrination they contained. Somehow they couldnt accept that an institution they had trusted all their lives was pumping electronic slurry into their living room every night. It was as if the grocers they had trusted all their lives had begun slipping packages of cocaine and marijuana into their weekly shop. It was absurd, so it couldnt be happening. Yet it was. I wonder how much they would have put up with before they eventually realised what was happening, if ever. I am lucky enough to be able to afford the BBC poll tax and have for years paid it by direct debit. I support the idea in principle. When I lived in the USA, I missed the BBC a lot, especially Radio 4, and readily gave cash to local public service radio stations. During my time in Moscow, I depended hugely on the BBC World Service short-wave broadcasts, often heard through a storm of static. I used to be almost the last conservative who actually supported the idea of a national broadcaster on the BBC model. But in the past ten years, and more so in the last two, I have found it almost impossible to listen to or watch anything the BBC transmits, not just because of the predictably Leftist politics but because it isnt any good. I watch University Challenge only to make notes on its ridiculous mile-long questions about astrophysics, women painters or the higher maths. The TV news is unbearable, apparently designed for simpletons. Radio these days is little better. I cannot remember a recent BBC drama which has not been poisoned by political messages, let alone one which was good. Recently I was able to see a bootleg version of a superb BBC TV series from 1970, a dramatisation of Jean-Paul Sartres Roads To Freedom. It made me sad to recall how good they used to be at this sort of thing. Yet the series is unavailable on any BBC platform. Im pretty sure this is because of the way it deals with such topics as abortion, drugs and homosexuality. Back in 1970 it would have been seen as enlightened. But 50 years of Cultural Revolution have made the BBC far more narrow-minded than the most bigoted prude of the 1950s. Thats why the day will soon come when I shall stop listening to it or watching it, at all. Shabby way to portray a heroic fight The Nixon era was one of the most thrilling periods of modern history. Daniel Ellsberg, the Julian Assange of his day, leaked the Pentagon Papers which showed that the US government had lied its head off about the Vietnam War and also knew it couldnt win it. Compare and contrast: major newspapers published his leaks and a proper judge threw out the case against Ellsberg, so that he became a national hero. Whereas, in modern Britain, Assange is in grave danger (unless you protest) of being sent off to rot in some concrete dungeon in the USA, and most journalists (to their shame) dont care a hoot. So how disappointed I am in Gaslit, a new, much hyped TV melodrama about this era. Maybe the characters involved really were that mad and that foul-mouthed but the sense of a great contest between good and evil, repression and liberty, is completely absent. I cancelled my subscription after one episode. I tried, but e-scooter menace is here to stay E-scooters will soon be a major curse. Because they appeal to human selfishness and laziness, they will be a huge commercial success once they become fully legal, as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps plainly means them to be. I tried quite hard to warn against this and was sneered at on social media for doing so. I was told it was not important. I wonder how many will think this when there are hundreds of thousands of them, often in the hands of drunken or drugged people, careering along pavements, unrestrained by absent police, smashing into children and old people, terrifying the blind, and providing perfect getaway vehicles. I was sure that Mr Shappss so-called trials were just a way of getting us used to them. There was never any serious intention to listen to the public or to examine their grave dangers. I can pretty much prove this. On March 3, I received a letter from Huw Merriman MP, chairman of Parliaments Transport Committee, in which he assured me that the trials were set to continue until November 30 this year. Yet Mr Shapps has announced that legislation to permit these death traps will be in the next Queens Speech on May 10, long before that date. Well, I tried. I hope those who attacked me have the grace to apologise when the reality becomes obvious. ********** During more than 40 years of active journalism, including a stint as a defence reporter, I have never once been prevented from writing anything by a so-called D Notice (nowadays they are officially DSMA Notices, if you care), until now. I used to scoff when people told me that such things were common, or that I was constrained in reporting by them. Now I cannot. ********** It is time to ask some very simple questions about the Ukraine crisis, which each day threatens to spread, very dangerously indeed. I never really believed there was a nuclear danger in the Cold War, which I lived through. Now I think there is one. Though this country is not actually at war with Russia, and has no defence treaty with Ukraine, politicians and other supporters of this conflict often refer to we when discussing it. Who is this we? What British national interest is served by deeper involvement in what is at root a Russo-American war? Must we yet again be the fifth wheel in Americas cart? How much are you prepared to pay in taxes for the munitions we send? If, as is horribly possible, British soldiers are drawn in, what British interest will they be dying or being injured for? Why is our Defence Ministry mounting a running commentary on the conflict? It is as if the Italian defence ministry had been holding press conferences on the Falklands War back in 1982. Is it because they wish to draw attention away from our very small Army and our shrunken, malfunctioning Navy? Yet our military experts speak from a position of assumed superiority. My name is Tahira. I am a Muslim girl from Afghanistan. On Aug. 22, 2021, my family fled Afghanistan because of war. We have lived in the United States for about eight months. While living in Afghanistan, my father worked in an electronics store and as a car mechanic. My mother was a math teacher in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. I have three sisters and two brothers. We had a wonderful life in Afghanistan before the Taliban took control of all the 34 provinces. My siblings and I went to school and my family was very close. I loved spending my time reading and writing. I enjoyed gaining knowledge about the world. As the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, the security and safety of all the people changed and became worse each day. The former president of Afghanistan cowardly fled and left the Afghan people alone. Sadly, the Taliban eventually took control of the capital city of Kabul and my family made the hard decision to leave our beloved country. When we arrived at the Kabul airport, we were so frightened by all the chaos and fear that surrounded the area. Foreigners and Afghans, which included men, women, children and even infants, were trying to escape Afghanistan. This was the only way out. As my family went through one airport entrance gate, the other gate was bombed. Unfortunately, hundreds of innocent lives were lost and more panic began to fill the airport. Many people were crying and bleeding. Others had lost sight of their family members and were frantically searching everywhere. I saw others laying on the ground dead or dying. Children were crying as they looked for their mothers. I could see the Taliban with their guns, ammunition and angry faces. It was the most horrifying sight I have ever witnessed. Finally, my family was able to safely get on a plane and escape. According to Talibans laws, girls must stay at home. They cant work or go to school. Many parents made the choice to leave their homes because of the future of their children. When my family escaped, we had to leave all our things behind. We didnt even have the time to pack our clothes and left with only the clothes we were wearing. My family suffered the pain of leaving our homeland, our dreams, our memories, our childhood and happiness. It was our sacrifice to migrate here to America. The Afghan people have suffered because of war for many years. There have been endless bombings and death that have made thousands migrate to other countries. However, the Afghan people are very zealous and are admired for their fight to survive. In my heart, Im hopeful peace will come. Afghans will continue to smile and never lose hope. We will keep fighting against the difficulties of hate-filled people. The Taliban does not care about Afghan women and will physically violate womens rights and even kill them. Afghan women will always fight back against this injustice. As an Afghan woman, I am strong and will not let the effects of war crush me. I am writing to let the world know we will rise, be powerful and succeed. We have words in Dari (Afghanistans Language) that say: We will win, we can, we are strong. I know if I fail today, I will always stand up again tomorrow. I now live in North Carolina, and Im studying at West Cabarrus High School. I am declaring that I will follow my dreams and never lose hope. I will work hard to make my future bright. I know I can be a successful woman. CASEY Motorcyclist Brett Cue could see a crowd of approximately 3,000 spectators 25 feet below him Saturday night as he prepared to jump his dirt bike off of the World's Largest Rocking Chair. What the Rockton resident said he could not see was the dirt ramp that had been erected below the rocking chair along the main street in downtown Casey for this special event. "I couldn't see exactly where I was going to be landing," Cue said of the angle of his jump. The 35-year-old professional motorcyclist, who had scouted the area beforehand, said he picked a point in the audience that aligned with where he knew the ramp was at and jumped in that direction. The jump went smoothly and Cue's bike rolled down the dirt ramp as the crowd cheered in celebration. Cue stayed on his bike for several minutes afterward to get photos with those in attendance and then headed to a nearby canopy, where he signed autographs for everyone in a long line of fans, including many children. Cue said he can "do a lot of cool stuff" with his dirt bike, but getting to talk to young motorcycle racing and jumping fans is one of his favorite things about this pursuit. "Things like that are so cool," Cue said after finishing the last autograph. The Oklahoma native said he first raced in the Casey area approximately 20 years ago as a teenager and has been a regular competitor at Lincoln Trail Motosports just west of town since then. Cue said he was helping lead a camp for young dirt bike riders a couple of years ago when he visited downtown Casey and first saw the "Big Things, Small Town" attractions there. Bolin Enterprises of Casey has led this collection of world's largest and just-for-fun giant objects as a tourism draw from for the community. Cue said he made a comment to Drew Jackson, director of operations for Lincoln Trail, about wanting to jump a dirt bike from the World's Largest Mailbox. He said Jackson ended up checking on the possibility of the mailbox before arranging a jump from the rocking chair, which is 56 feet tall from rockers to head rest. The jump was arranged in conjunction with the Vurb Shred Tour motocross competition that will continue through Sunday at Lincoln Trail. Fellow motorcyclist Troy "Smallz" Neault of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, had originally been scheduled to jump from the chair, too, but ended up focusing on wheelies and other trick riding with Cue beforehand on Main Street. Cue said he had expected the jump would be a relatively small event that would not get a lot of attention, so he was pleasantly surprised to see the crowd. Police, city workers and volunteers blocked the streets around the chair to create a safe space for the jump. Some downtown eateries stayed open late for the event and Rosie Jean's Sweet Tee & Jesus drink trailer was on hand. "They did it right. It turned out cool," Cue said of the event. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Achievers The North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners approved 125 individuals for North Carolina CPA licensure on April 21. Local individuals included: Jonathan Taylor Kane of Belmont; Ross Alden Pfaff III and William Randall Shields, both of Clemmons; Cathy Jo Baggenstoss and Christopher Allen Boothe, both of Kernersville; John Daniel Barut and Rachel Lyn Wells, both of Waxhaw; and Marcos Jose Melendez, Michael Thomas Seaback and James Caleb Swaim, all of Winston-Salem. Announcements Thomasville-based Southern Lights Candle announced its official launch this month with an introductory signature line of 10 hand-poured, small-batch, crafted Southern candle scents now available for shipping throughout the continental United States. Southern Lights Candles introductory line of 12 oz. Mason jar candles includes 10 scents such as George Peach and Carolina Sweet Tobacco. In addition to the current 12 oz. jar candle line, the company will soon be introducing new Southern scents in 9 oz. tumblers as well as a line of hand-cut soaps. Visit southernlightscandleco.com to shop and place an order. Awards Herbalife Nutrition, a premier global nutrition company, has announced that its innovation and manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem earned the North Carolina Department of Labor Silver Award for the sixth consecutive year, and its first Gold Award recognizing the companys commitment to employee safety and the facilitys safety track record. In 2020, the company earned the ISO 45001 certification for Occupational Health and Safety Standards from NSF-ISR at its North Carolina and California manufacturing facilities, a recognition of the companys achievements in protecting employee health and safety. * * * * Chief Justice Paul Newby presented the 2020 and 2021 Chief Justices Professionalism Award to six recipients, including the late David B. Freedman, on April 20 at the joint reception and dinner of the N.C. State Bar and the N.C. Bar Association at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. The recipients were honored with this annual award for their dedication and commitment to the principles of professionalism and public service in North Carolina. Freedman was an accomplished and respected attorney, having represented clients in a range of areas including civil, criminal and professional-practice proceedings during his 40-year tenure in the practice of law. Freedman taught criminal procedure and trial practice at Wake Forest University School of Law for 15 years and also lectured at Harvard Law School. * * * * Donate Life NC presented State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, with the James E. Holshouser Award recognizing North Carolinians who have made exceptional advances in organ, eye and tissue donation awareness during the organizations Gift of Life Gala in Cary on April 21. It was the inaugural award, named after the late Gov. James E. Holshouser, a kidney transplant recipient and prime supporter of transplant and donation awareness. April was National Donate Life Month. It is observed to honor those who have received transplants, recognize those who continue to wait, applaud donors and donor families, and express appreciation to registered donors for offering hope. * * * * Carrier awarded the 2022 Presidents Award for quality and leadership excellence in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry to Logan Heating and Air Conditioning. Carrier is part of Carrier Global Corporation, a global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. This award is given to Carrier factory-authorized dealers who demonstrate technical expertise while serving as leaders for the Carrier brand and raising the standard for equipment sales. The awarded dealerships are committed to service excellence and providing exceptional customer care. Logan Heating and Air Conditioning has been in business for 70 years, offering 24-hour heating and cooling expertise to its customers throughout Winston-Salem and the greater Triad, as well as Mooresville and surrounding areas. * * * * Novant Health has been recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality, by the Human Rights Campaign and one of Americas Best Employers for Diversity. Fourteen of Novant Healths hospitals have been recognized as Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This is the fifth time Novant Health has received systemwide recognition. In North Carolina, Novant Health accounts for nearly 80% of the states facilities garnering this distinction with each of the facilities receiving perfect scores. The medical centers designated as Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality are: Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital, Novant Health Clemmons Medical Center, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Novant Health Hemby Childrens Hospital, Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center, Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center, Novant Health Medical Park Hospital, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. For the fifth consecutive year, Novant Health has been named as one of Americas Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes, ranking 242nd in the nation. Of the 500 employers who made the list, 40 are hospitals and health systems, including Novant Health. * * * * Herbalife Nutrition, a global nutrition company, has been selected as one of Americas Best Employers for Diversity in the 2022 Forbes rankings and in the top 10 in its industry category of food, soft beverage, alcohol and tobacco. In February of 2022, the company was also recognized by Forbes as one of Americas best midsize employers. Military A King native is stationed at Naval Base Kitsap, homeport to west coast ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines. Petty Officer 2nd Class Bria Brown joined the Navy to continue a family tradition. Today, Brown serves as a legalman. All of my uncles had been in some form of the military, and my mom also served in the Navy, said Brown. I joined to follow in their footsteps. I also joined for the opportunities the Navy provides. Brown attended West Stokes High School and graduated in 2009. On the Move Blue Door Group Real Estate, a real estate firm headquartered in Winston-Salem, has announced that Dawn Gibson has joined the brokerage. Gibson earned a degree in housing and interior design from UNCG. Tucker Arnold of High Point, a senior pursuing a bachelors degree in Christian ministries from Bob Jones University, was hired before graduation as a employee at Clean Cut Lawn Services in Powhatan, Va. Hayward Holdings board of directors recently appointed Billy Emory as the companys principal accounting officer. Emory serves as vice president and chief accounting officer of the company, after having joined in October 2021. Upon Emorys appointment as principal accounting officer, Eifion Jones ceased serving in that capacity. Jones continues to serve as the companys senior vice president and chief financial officer. Send press releases to people@greensboro.com. This column will address how you assure you are properly reimbursed for your property damages if you are in a wreck thats not your fault. This is the second column in a series to assist readers in dealing with their personal injury and property-damage claims, sometimes without the need to hire an attorney in some circumstances. Property damage generally: The legal test of your damages is what was the value of your vehicle immediately before the wreck and what was the value afterward. The difference is generally the cost of the repairs. When the damage is more significant: You are also entitled to the reduction in value of the vehicle even after the repairs since it is now a significantly wrecked vehicle. If the damage is at least 25% of the value of the vehicle at the time of the damage, you are required by law to disclose that information later when you sell the vehicle. You should receive, therefore, payment for the permanent reduction in value, an additional 10-15% of the value of the vehicle, depending on the circumstances. If the repair estimate is greater than 75% of the value of the vehicle, the vehicle must be totaled. To determine the value of your vehicle, check the internet to see what similar vehicles are worth. If you bought your vehicle from a dealer, ask the dealer what it is worth. Another useful resource is www.nada.com. The age of the vehicle, the number of miles and the general condition of the vehicle are factored into the value. The older the vehicle is, the more difficult it will be to be paid much more for what you believe is the uniquely clean condition of your vehicle. What quality of parts? You are entitled to have your vehicle repaired with the same or similar parts you had before the accident. The insurance company is not required to pay for new replacement parts unless your vehicle is new. But they must use quality parts of the same make, model and year of your vehicle that fit and work well. And ask the insurance company to use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts if possible. If the repair process finds additional damage while the vehicle is being repaired, you are entitled to be paid for that damage, too. If your vehicle is totaled, you are entitled to the value of your vehicle at the time of the damage, less the salvage value, unless you let the insurance company keep the salvage and sell it. You are entitled to a rental vehicle for a reasonable period to locate another vehicle to replace the totaled vehicle. What if you have a lien on the vehicle? If your vehicle has been totaled, you are not entitled to have your vehicle loan paid off if the loan payoff is more than the value of the vehicle. If you borrow money to buy your vehicle and there is a lien on the title, consider purchasing GAP insurance, which will pay the difference between what the insurance company pays you and any balance remaining on the loan, should your vehicle ever be totaled in a wreck. Are you offered a fair settlement for your property damage? If you have worked with an attorney before, call and ask for some general courtesy advice about the fairness of the settlement offered, which your attorney should provide to you. If you do not know an attorney, contact the North Carolina Bar Association (800-662-7660) and an experienced practicing attorney will provide a 30-minute conference for no more than $50, which is generally well worth the cost. Remember: An informed choice is a smart choice. Next time: When should you hire an attorney? Or not? And what value will an attorney provide for their fee? Mike Wells is a partner with Wells Law, PLLC in Winston-Salem. Contact him at mike@wellslaw.us or 336-283-8700. Winston-Salem and the Triad appear increasingly to be the scene of an economic tug-of-war between Charlotte and the Triangle. Although the encroachments are being seen primarily in Lexington and Alamance County, some analysts and economists say that within a few decades the 10-county region may be absorbed into a mega-metropolitan area. Rob Gage, a senior vice president with Brennan Investment Group of Rosemont, Ill., said last week he recognizes that reality, though he believes the Triad will be able to maintain its identity because its culture is different from those of Charlotte or the Triangle. Until then, Gage said Winston-Salems and the Triads central location within North Carolina and along the East Coast, along with access to five interstates, makes it very, very attractive for capital investments. I dont have to tell you that North Carolina is on everyones radar for corporate relocations and business investment, Gage said. Specifically, when you look at Forsyth County and the Triad, you have the infrastructure, the highway system. Its as good here as it is in any part of the country. Brennan is putting its money where its mouth is with plans for a 110,163-square-foot speculative building at 4043 Reynolds Court. Brennan also bought in March the next-door 82,000-square-foot building at 4035 Reynolds Court. The affiliates paid a combined $2.95 million for two tracts. Brennan said that Whitaker Park fits its investment portfolio since it involves research, technology, manufacturing and distribution users seeking to locate near top research universities, major interstates, and populations with high-disposable incomes and high-educational attainment levels. The goal is having the 4035 Reynolds building available for a tenant by July and the speculative building by years end. Gage expressed confidence that both buildings would have tenants secured before opening, with the speculative building having between one and four occupants. Gage said the range of new jobs for the speculative building could be between 50 and 200. Another Brennan entrance point into the Triad came in November when it paid $16.3 million for a 324,650-square-foot distribution facility at 210 N. Pendleton St. in High Point from Mannington Mills. We really like in-fill locations that offer access to downtowns and interstates, and being able to offer modern buildings that have the flexibility to subdivide into multiple tenants, Gage said. Because most areas dont have a lot of new buildings near their downtowns, this project will allow our tenants to draw a labor force from both nearby and surrounding counties, as well as offering them the ability to make or distribute their products from a central location for the Triad and the state. Brennan background Since 2010, Brennan has acquired or developed $5 billion in industrial real estate in 30 states with 11 regional offices. The companys current portfolio spans 50 million square feet with another 37 million square feet in various stages of development. From a dollar perspective, new construction is typically a bigger expenditure, Gage said. Gage said Brennan has close to a 50-50 split in terms of adaptive reuse of existing buildings and new construction. We represent a variety of different investment groups, some of which like new investment and others favor reuse, Gage said. Gage said that while Winston-Salem and the Triad currently benefit from rental rates that are 20-30% lower than in Charlotte and the Triangle, the lack of facilities similar to what Brennan plans locally could serve to shrink the rate gap. One point that doesnt get made enough is that for companies who want to serve both markets with limited resources, you can do that in the Triad, Gage said. Theres always going to be people looking for an economic bargain. When you offer the quality of these buildings and the quality of this location, its compelling. WPDA foresight The nonprofit Whitaker Park Development Authority was created by Winston-Salem Business Inc., the Winston-Salem Alliance and Wake Forest University for the sole purpose of shocking a heartbeat back into the campus after Reynolds American Inc. pledged in 2015 to donate the 1.7 million square feet of space. Whitaker Park, named after former Reynolds Chairman John Whitaker, had more than 2,000 middle- and upper-middle class workers at its peak. A key crossroads came in April 2017 when Reynolds handed over the keys to WPDA for 120 acres and 13 buildings. Not included in the donation was the central property, where Reynolds has tobacco processing and warehousing operations. Those consist of 18 buildings and 100 acres. Virtually all of Whitaker Park will be redeveloped in the fashion we intended when the project began, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said last week. All of which has Bob Leak Jr., president and chief executive of WPDA, marveling at the phoenix-like status of Whitaker Park. Timing is everything in economic development, particularly a project as challenging and as rewarding as Whitaker Park, Leak said. We never saw this as a white elephant, but rather a unique opportunity for Winston-Salem. Don Flow, who was WPDAs chairman at the time of the 2017 donation, said were confident that this project will yield more than 10,000 good-paying jobs for the community, creating new energy and vitality to this historic site. This was the public sector, private sector, nonprofits, university coming together to accelerate the re-purposing of this property, Flow said. All of those groups not only believed in the future of Winston-Salem, but invested in it as well. WPDA praise Gage praised the WPDAs vision for the overall revitalization to include residential housing and retail for the more than 1,000 projected new employees to the campus. He cited the on-campus projects involving Cook Medical, Natures Value, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Harrison multi-purpose complex as convincing Brennan officials that its two tenant buildings would be viable options. We really like being a key part of a vibrant revitalization effort, Gage said. We also studied the demographics of the region, the commercial real estate activity on the rise, and what we saw were new buildings having tenant commitments before they were completed. We expect the same for our buildings. Gage also mentioned the regions quality of life, manufacturing workforce and educational systems. These things resonate when we go to investors in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, who can invest their millions of dollars pretty much anywhere, and they are making commitments to do it here, Gage said. They view your press clippings. They fly in and meet your people and they buy in because of the infrastructure, the relationships. Other projects Besides the Brennan projects, the Whitaker Park campus includes: *Cook Medical bought Building 601-1, which contains 850,000 square feet, in 2019. Cook plans to move its local workforce of 650 to the facility, as well as pledging to add 50 jobs over 10 years. *Natures Value paid $10.5 million for the 426,800-square-foot 601-11 building, where it plan to relocate its headquarters and consolidate production beginning in the first half of 2023. Natures Value has pledged to create more than 183 new jobs along with relocating 50 jobs from Lexington. *Second Harvest has opted for a start-from-scratch approach to its new 140,000-square-foot facility that is projected to begin operations by fall 2022. The project represents a planned $10 million investment. *Residential renovation work for Whitaker Park Lofts is underway on the historic Buildings 2-1 and 2-2 by developer Chris Harrison. The plan is creating 164 residential units. Mark Owens, president and chief executive of Greater Winston-Salem Inc., said the Whitaker Park projects have helped serve to invigorate interest in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. We have over 65 active projects, and I will be shocked if we dont have a lot of great tenants looking at this building before the walls are all the way up, Owens said. We need to keep telling the story, as exampled today, that Whitaker Park is open for business, we have options and were ready to go. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Spirit Gum Theatre Company will wrap its eighth season with Bess Wohls Small Mouth Sounds, starting Friday night, May 6, at Rhodes Arts Centers Mountcastle Black Box. The show, which opened in March 2015 at Ars Nova in New York City, features the setting of a silent retreat where six people seek answers under the direction of a Teacher who is heard but never seen. As these strangers confront internal demons, both profound and absurd, their vows of silence collide with the achingly human need to connect, the plays publisher states. The cast of Small Mouth Sounds consists of Lalenja Harrington (Teacher), Elliot Lerner (Rodney), Britt Stone (Alicia), Glenn Otterbacher (Jan), Jon Furr (Ned), Emily Emerson (Joan) and Linda Shillito (Judy). They are being directed by Cindy Gendrich, a Wake Forest professor of theater who has recently directed Men on Boats and The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the university. Gendrich didnt know the play and playwright before Spirit Gum came calling. But I fell in love with the play right away, she said. It felt like such a wonderful challenge to direct something with so little dialogue. And I loved the feeling, the story and the themes of the play. When Spirit Gum spoke to Gendrich about directing, back before COVID-19, she said, I already had a strong connection to it, but coming back to it after two years of pandemic and all kinds of other worries, it seems even more resonant. Furr, also a co-artistic director of Spirit Gum, spoke about this particular play choice for the company. Bess Wohl had been on my radar for a while. I thought we should include her, and I had heard really good and interesting things about this show specifically, he said. After I read it, I knew it was something we had to do and that Spirit Gum was the right group to do it, Furr added. Coming out of the pandemic, we wanted shows that were uplifting and affirming but were still challenging and on-brand for us. Harrington, meanwhile, faces the challenge of creating a character while out of sight. Over the past several years, she said, I have been deepening my embodied practices and exploring devised, improvisational and ensemble work. I was drawn to this piece because so much of the storytelling is so embodied. So, its a bit ironic that I got the role that I did, although I am really thankful for that now, she said. I have been tasked with being able to communicate a complexity of feeling through voice alone, which is an interesting task for someone who uses her body so much in her communication. That adaptation is a bit strange, Harrington said. I want to be sure that the audience and the rest of the cast are still able to get a feel for the Teachers rich inner life through just her voice. The playwright helps me out there. Some styles of writing can feel a little clumsy on the tongue, but this piece is a joy to play with vocally. Furr addressed the challenge facing the other six actors. Unlike other shows, you dont have a lot of dialogue to communicate your characters emotions, feelings, who they are and where they come from, he said. All of that has to come across in gestures, facial expressions, body language, and, to borrow from the plays title, small mouth sounds, like sighing. I, personally, feel like it helped me grow and stretch acting muscles I havent used in a long time, Furr said. It also required the cast to reach a significant level of connectivity much quicker than most shows, he said. Spending concentrated time with a small group, you naturally form close bonds. We found ourselves needing to connect on those levels almost from day one to begin communicating our relationships nonverbally for the audience. Gendrich feels that Small Mouth Sounds will present audience members with someone or something theyll recognize. This play, she said, is 90 minutes with seven wonderful characters, probably unlike anything youve seen in the theater before. And its fun, heartfelt, warm and comforting with, Ill bet, something that just about anyone can connect to. Harrington agreed. I think that audiences will appreciate the warmth and joy of the play, even amidst the painful moments. It is a joy to rehearse, and will be, I am sure, a joy to perform and watch. One of North Carolinas largest owners and operators of renewable energy facilities is seeking state approval to develop a $104 million solar farm on nearly 500 acres in Davidson County. The development, straddling N.C. 109 just south of the Denton town limits, would have a power capacity of nearly 80 megawatts and produce more than 179,000 megawatt-hours per year using 189,000 solar panels, according to an application filed with the N.C. Utilities Commission. That would be enough to serve the equivalent of about 16,000 homes for a year. In its application, Cypress Creek Renewables says it will either lease or purchase land from multiple owners. Combined, the tracts involved are valued at nearly $3 million, according to county tax records. The proposed site, about a mile south of Dentons downtown, is mostly farmland and forest, although rows of panels would abut the backyards of about a dozen homes, according to preliminary plans submitted to the state. Cypress Creek would sell the power generated to Duke Energy. The company said in its application that its targeting October 2025 to begin production at the site. In a review of plans for the project, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission expressed concerns for the size of the solar project and its potential impact on terrestrial and aquatic resources. The commissions recommendations included adding wildlife corridors on the site, creating buffers along streams and growing ground vegetation before panels are installed to minimize runoff and erosion. Cypress Creek says it has completed solar projects totaling 1,600 megawatts of capacity in 14 states, including North Carolina. A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Duke Energy Corp. and Sun Edison began operating a 17.2 megawatt solar farm in Davidson County in January 2021. The 200-acre facility is in Linwood, just south of Lexington. The company reported last week that its renewable energy capacity increased 20% in 2021. Wind and solar combined accounted for 9% of Dukes total capacity, up from 5.6% a year earlier. The company has set a target of 40% renewable energy by the middle of the century. Wind (nearly 3,000 megawatts in 2021) continued to outpace solar (almost 2,000 megawatts) in Dukes clean energy portfolio. Duke generated close to 54,000 megawatts across all sectors in 2021. John Deem covers climate change and the environment in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina. His work is funded by a grant from the 1Earth Fund and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. 336-727-7204 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Clara Johnston resisted for years the cajoling from family that urged her to share the remarkable story of a 75-year friendship formed through penmanship. Some of her reluctance, no doubt, was due to natural modesty. Its hard to get her to talk about herself, said her sister-in-law Marie Charles, one of those providing nudges to a kind former church secretary who knitted hundreds of caps and blankets for premature infants. But once Johnston started talking about her friend Pamela Davis and how a routine school assignment blossomed into something close to sisterhood, she seemed to enjoy the telling. I feel I know her as well as I do my sisters, she said in recalling the first (and only) time they met in person. Homework pays off Johnston remembers the assignment given to her and her fellow classmates at Courtney School in Yadkin County in 1945. A teacher named Mabel Wagoner gave students a list of overseas addresses gleaned from an international students society and told them to pick two. Write letters, put them in the mail and then report back. Johnston sent one to Switzerland and another to England. The one to Switzerland didnt get an answer, but Pam Davis then Pam Freeborn of London wrote back right away. I can remember coming home from school and the excitement of seeing an envelope with a foreign (American) stamp on it, Davis wrote in an email. She wrote back promptly. Neither girl had any idea what that one exchange of letters might turn into. When Johnston was asked if she recalled any details from Pams reply, she stifled a small laugh before answering. Remember that first letter? Im 92 years old, she said. I have no idea now. A good guess would be that it contained an introduction and a few details about living in England. It most likely didnt outline any big picture observations about living through the terror of World War II or the bombing of London in the Battle of Britain. We were teenagers, 15 years old, when we started this, Johnston said. To the best of her recollection, few others in the class had the same initial success or extended follow-up letters. Johnston remembered one other classmate who stayed in touch with a pen pal for a little while afterward. I asked her at a reunion whether shed kept up, she said. She said she did for two or three years before it stopped. Life and the responsibilities of adulthood no doubt required time and attention. But a girl from Yadkin County and her new English pen pal kept at it and developed a deep friendship through shared experiences that crossed cultural (and the occasional language) barriers (It took a minute, for example, to learn that an English biscuit would be a cookie in the United States.) For example, Davis wrote about having electricity but no refrigeration in her house. Food and drink were stored in a cold room. Johnstons house in Yadkin County didnt have electricity until she was in the fifth grade. And in the country, perishables were kept outdoors and underground in what she called a milk well. It was a hole in the ground with a shelter built around it, she said. It wasnt deep enough to hit water. Inside, a shelf with a hand-operated crank was built to raise and lower items below ground. That way you didnt have to bend way over, Johnston explained. Meeting in person In the beginning, the letters were of course handwritten and the pictures Johnston and Davis exchanged were in black-and-white. As their relationship developed and times changed, so, too, did their interactions. The women shared details of their lives both small and large, day to day things and such milestones as weddings and the arrival of children. Handwritten letters were augmented sometimes by congratulatory telegrams and eventually replaced by typewritten letters and email. Black-and-white photos gave way to color prints, too. Clothing and hairstyles hair color, too changed across the years. And until grandchildren, the women exchanged gifts. Johnston took care to select American items she knew Davis couldnt find in England; and Davis did likewise. The results include a thick stack of Read About books covering such topics as the bridges of London and English churches and artistic plaques and framed photographs that Johnston has arranged on what she calls her English wall. I learned a lot about England that I couldnt get out of textbooks, Johnston said. Davis remembers their relationship building the same way, bonding over similarities and then becoming close through sharing family milestones. I think I look upon Clara as a sister (being an only child myself) as much as a pen pal, Davis wrote. Their only in-person meeting in 1986 on a vacation Johnston took with her husband Jay, a Winston-Salem police officer, and another couple. Their traveling companions, Johnston said, were nervous about the planned face to face meeting and told her so. My friends were leery about it, she said. They were worried that perhaps Johnston might be let down after building the idea up in her mind for so long. Nonsense, she replied. Theyd grown close and when the time finally arrived, Johnston and Davis got along as if theyd known each other their whole lives. Which they had. The funny thing is, my friend started writing to her, too, and kept it up until her death, Johnston said. The photos Johnston carefully saved in her scrapbooks reflect the trip of a lifetime. Yet somehow in the excitement they forgot to take a photo together. I prefer being behind the camera, Johnston said. Davis was never able to make a trip to Winston-Salem herself, but her youngest son and his wife did and the Johnstons relished a chance to return the hospitality. As the years passed, the relationship remained a constant throughout lifes inevitabilities. Davis made sure to make a monetary contribution to a favorite cause after Jay Johnston passed away in 2003. Those things matter. Gestures made out of love and respect built over 75 years are comforting. And now with Davis declining health spelled out in a recent email Johnston has had time to appreciate even more an extraordinary friendship. My only regret is that I did not have the foresight to look up my English teacher and thank her for the privilege she gave me, Johnston said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When celebrities take to the Met Gala red carpet on May 2, there will likely be no shortage of corset boning and bustles. That's because the dress code for this year's event, hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, is "Gilded Glamour and White Tie," referencing the lavish era of American fashion in the last decades of the 19th century, when industrialization rapidly amplified the country's wealth gap. This Met Gala accompanies the second part of the Costume Institute's exhibition "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," which opened last September and guided the previous event's attire. And while there's seemingly always a degree of flexibility when A-list attendees interpret the theme ("What's more American than a T-shirt head-to-toe?!" said Kim Kardashian, after she took to the red carpet in an all-black spectral Balenciaga look), this prompt will give guests the chance to indulge their most decadent aspirations. "It is very embellished, very exaggerated, very structured," fashion historian and curator Kate Strasdin said of Gilded Age style in a video interview. "It feels so upholstered compared to the way that we think about dress now." The Gilded Age was a 30-year period during which industrialists and real estate magnates saw their fortunes ascend to staggering heights thanks to the rapid expansion of trains, factories, and urban centers. Famous family names including Frick, Astor, Carnegie, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt shaped the country's infrastructure, and the socialites of the era, including Caroline Schermerhorn Astor and Alva Vanderbilt, ruled New York society. For the elite, fashion became maximal, with lace and crystal trimmings and even bird wings milliners in the era used so many feathers, wings and stuffed dead birds in their hats that it caused the formation of the Audubon Society, for the protection of birds, in 1895, according to the organization. Under their derriere-enhancing gowns, American women wore complicated undergarments, including corsets, stuffed shoulder cushions, bustle pads, crinolines (a form of structured petticoat), and even steel springs to achieve the right shape, though the silhouettes were simplified by the end of the century. Menswear was highly formal too, with the newly popular tuxedo in the 1880s becoming standard dress for high-flying gentlemen. With a focus on American designers at the gala, some of them will no doubt rise to the grandeur of the challenge, like Moschino's Jeremy Scott, whose opulent takes on historical references have included sending 18th-century-inspired panniers down the runway. Celebrities may also call upon Christian Siriano or Pyer Moss for their over-the-top, highly structural couture pieces, or look back to vintage Alexander McQueen designs from across the pond that employed nod to the era, like caged crinolines. Corsets have already infiltrated the red carpet lately, with Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat and Dua Lipa all sporting them at the Grammys last month. Status symbols During the Gilded Age, you were what you wore, as Strasdin noted it was the period when branding from fashion houses was a novel concept. Many American women at the time bought their status-securing dresses from Paris from the pioneers of haute couture: Charles Worth, Jacques Doucet, Paul Poiret and Madame Jeanne Paquin, the latter of whom showed her innovative modern designs at the 1900s World Fair. According to Strasdin, American dressmakers wouldn't have their moment until World War I disrupted the supply of European goods to the US. "American women are having to actually travel there, so that's the first sign of enormous wealth to actually get yourself there for the fittings," she said. "So then it became like Instagram influencers now (the women would) come back with dresses that people knew they'd bought in Paris." At a time when "old money" scoffed at "nouveau money," like the Vanderbilts' newly amassed railroad fortune, it was important to be well connected with European culture. When Alva Vanderbilt, hoping to be accepted into the top rungs of society, threw a 19th-century rager for her newly completed midtown mansion, dubbed the Petit Chateau, photographs show she wore an elaborate Venetian-style gown meant to mimic Renaissance-era fashions. Meanwhile, her sister-in-law, Alice, wore a showstopping gown known as the "electric light" dress from Charles Worth's salon House of Worth. She paired the look with a handheld torch which she raised above her head in a posed picture to resemble the Statue of Liberty. "The gown itself (had) all sorts of embellishments that were designed to catch the light," Strasdin said. "And then she had an electric torch that was really cutting edge at the time. It's gone down in history as one of the iconic garments of the period." Corset wars But even as the fashion pendulum swung towards formal and elaborate, the underground Aesthetic Movement began encouraging women to dispose of their corsets in the 1870s, kicking back against industrial-age societal conventions. Its female bohemian members donned loose-fitting "artistic" dresses in public that were considered shocking for their association with undergarments. (The male Aesthetes, like Oscar Wilde, were also looked down upon for their so-called feminized sartorial statements.) Though the movement didn't change public dress codes widely for women, the silhouettes did somewhat catch on in the private homes of wealthy women. Enter the romantic leisurewear staple the "tea gown" an elaborate precursor to 2020's viral "nap dress" though, according to Strasdin, many tea gowns still hid "a robust boned bodice" underneath the fabric. Several of such gowns from Adelaide Frick, the wife of industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick, reside at The Frick in Pittsburgh, which houses a number of Gilded Age designs. The era's rich sartorial history already earned some attention earlier this year through the series "The Gilded Age," which debuted this past January on HBO (which is owned by CNN's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery). The show follows two young women who become entangled in New York society life, navigating the changing landscape of old money and new. The show's lead costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone, who outfitted actors Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Denee Benton and Carrie Coon according to their different social backgrounds and aspirations, told Variety in January her team was "lucky" to bring the era to the screen. "It's very much a period that gives us a lot to experiment with, and lots to draw from and lots to play," she said. This year's Met Gala attendees may not replicate the exact styles from a century and a half ago, but Strasdin finds the theme appropriate for its resonances today, including the impact of wealthy socialites (who make their fortunes off internet clout rather than steel factories) to the modernization of fashion houses. "It'll be great to see a nod to all the embellishment...and a celebration of that kind of exaggeration," she said. "And the whole exuberance of color and shape." "And maybe some crazy hats." ___ Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend At the international conference under the motto "South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation" held at ADA University, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev absolutely clearly defined the meaning of signing a peace agreement with Armenia, it will bring stability and long-awaited peace to the entire region, a political expert and editor-in-chief of Russias National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko told Trend. "The main thing here is the position that Armenia should take. We see rather contradictory signals that are coming today from the Armenian leadership, from Nikol Pashinyan's inner circle. On the one hand, commitment and readiness to sign a peace agreement are declared, but on the other hand, statements are simultaneously being made that can be interpreted as Yerevan's unwillingness to recognize Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. That is, the thesis about the security of Armenians is again pedaled, it is again said that Azerbaijan should give some explanations. But what explanations can be given here, when Pashinyan's signature is under the tripartite statement, under the subsequent Moscow and Sochi agreements, under the agreements in Brussels," he said. According to him either Armenia fully recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and renounces territorial claims forever, fixing it legally, including in the Armenian constitution, in a peace agreement, or again the normalization of the situation is postponed indefinitely. "All the same, I would like to hope that at least everything we hear today from Armenia is exclusively the echoes of the internal political struggle, where the opposition is trying to attack Pashinyan, and he is fighting back. Nevertheless, the peace agreement will be signed on all the proposals that were put forward by Azerbaijan in due time, including the recognition of territorial integrity in full," he noted. Speaking about the upcoming meeting in Brussels between representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Korotchenko expressed hope that Baku and Yerevan would be able to reach a final consensus on a peace agreement. "We expect a lot from this meeting, it is key. Russia welcomes the process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace settlement. The President of Russia and the Russian Foreign Ministry have always said that the Russian side welcomes such contacts, agreements," he added. 1. Yes. If inflation remains high and interest rates rise, the economy will be a major factor. 2. Yes. If the nation goes into a recession, it will be the issue on the minds of most voters. 3. No. Inflation will likely moderate by then; if so, the economy wont be a major issue. 4.No. All the turmoil involving Russia and Roe v. Wade will probably take center stage. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the economy will play with voters at this point. Vote View Results Killeen, TX (76540) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Near record high temperatures. High 93F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. By Trend EU realizes importance of partnership with Azerbaijan, Dimitrios Triantafyllou, professor of international relations department, faculty of economics, administrative and social sciences at Turkish Kadir Has University, told Trend. "Today, the European Union considers Azerbaijan its neighbor. The EU could accept Azerbaijan into its ranks. However, President Ilham Aliyev, speaking about the upcoming signing of an agreement with the EU, set more realistic goals for Azerbaijan," he said. According to him, the essence of the agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU is to ensure stability in the region, which will allow developing ties in the fields of energy and transport. "During the three-hour meeting, President Ilham Aliyev spoke about the foreign policy of Azerbaijan, his vision of the future, as well as the peace process with Armenia," the expert said. According to Triantafyllou, now, within the framework of the peace process, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia could create an economic union for the benefit of development in the region. This would contribute to the expansion of ties in the fields of energy and transport not only with Turkey and Russia, as with the closest neighbors, but also with the EU countries and with far-abroad countries, he noted. "Its difficult for society to find the right balance between the past and the future, but we must look ahead. All this takes time, but in the end its necessary to come to peace," concluded the expert. The Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the Zeylik settlement of the Kalbajar region from the positions of the state border in the Yukhari Shorja settlement of the Basarkechar region on April 20, the Defense Ministry has reported. According to the ministry, adequate response measures were taken by our units. There are no casualties in our personnel and equipment. At present, the situation in this direction is stable, the operational conditions are under the full control of our units. China is planning to increase coal production by a reported 300 million tons this year. Observers say the government hopes such a plan will renew the countrys slow-growing economy. However, critics say increasing coal production will hurt efforts to reduce climate-changing carbon emissions. The amount of the reported increase would represent seven percent of Chinas total coal production in 2021 --- 4.1 billion tons. China is one of the biggest investors in wind and solar energy. But recently its leaders called for more coal-burning power after economic growth fell last year. Power shortages caused power failures and factory shutdowns. Russias attack on Ukraine added to worries that foreign oil and coal supplies might be disrupted. Coal is important for energy security, government officials said at an April 20 meeting that approved plans to expand production. That information was reported by the business news publication Caixin. The ruling party also is building power plants to help grow Chinas economy. World governments have promised to try to limit warming of the atmosphere to 2 degrees Celsius above the level of pre-industrial times. Leaders say what they really want is a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Scientists say even if the world hits the 2-degree goal, the world still faces threats of higher seas, stronger storms and extinctions of plants and animals. Scientists also expect more people to die from heat, air pollution and infectious diseases. China is the top producer and consumer of coal. The Chinese government has avoided joining other governments that promised to end the use of coal-burning power. In a 2020 speech to the United Nations, president Xi Jinping said carbon emissions levels in China will reach their highest point by 2030. But he did not set a target for the amount. Xi said China aims to reach a state of carbon neutrality by 2060. In other words, it plans to remove as much pollutive carbon waste from the atmosphere as it adds. China produces 26.1 percent of worldwide emissions. That is more than two times the U.S. share of 12.8 percent, according to the World Resources Institute. The research business Rhodium Group says China produces more than all developed economies combined. China has large supplies of coal and produced more than 90 percent of the 4.4 billion tons it burned last year. More than half of its oil and gas is imported, and leaders see that as a risk. Chinas goal of carbon neutrality by 2060 appears to be on target. But Clare Perry of the Environmental Investigations Agency said using more coal could put that goal at risk, or at least slow it down and make it more costly. Promoting coal will make emissions much higher than they need to be by 2030, Perry added. China has spent tens of billions of dollars on building solar and wind farms to reduce dependence on imported oil and gas. China supplied almost half of worldwide investment in wind and solar energy in 2020. Still, coal is expected to supply 60 percent of Chinas power in the near future. Im Jonathan Evans. Joe McDonald reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Words in This Story emissions n. the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation solar adj. of, relating to, or caused by the sun disrupt v. to interrupt the normal course of extinction n. the process of no longer existing consumer n. one that uses economic goods By Trend The Russian Government has decided to remove restrictions on crossing the state border for citizens of Kyrgyzstan, as well as for Russian citizens to travel to Kyrgyzstan from May 16, 2022, the Russian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan said, Trend reports citing Kabar. Thus, the citizens of Kyrgyzstan will be able to enter Russia and through the land border crossing checkpoints, and the citizens of Russia will be able to go to Kyrgyzstan, including through the Russian-Kazakh border. According to the decree of Rospotrebnadzor, citizens of countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) entering Russia through land border crossing points may not present the results of PCR test. By Trend Ratings agency Fitch on Friday revised the outlook on Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to "positive" from "stable" following a similar action on the country, Trend reports with reference to Reuters. It also affirmed the PIF's rating at "A". Fitch had cited improvements in Saudi Arabia's balance sheet due to higher oil revenues as reasons for its outlook revision on the country earlier this month. The Rock County Medical Examiners Office has identified the man who was killed in a workplace shooting Tuesday afternoon in Janesville as Devon J. Hills, 30. Hills, of Janesville, died from trauma sustained in the shooting, the Medical Examiners Office said. Janesville police said Hills was shot by one of his coworkers at Precision Drawn Metals around 4:30 p.m. The suspect, Kevin L. Todd, 23, of Evansville, had just started a new job when he allegedly opened fire at the business, shooting and killing Hills and putting others in danger as bullets ricocheted around the room, police said. Todd claims he was being bullied by co-workers in the seven days that he had been working at the business, police said, but Janesville Police Chief David Moore says theres no evidence of that. Todd was arrested about 45 minutes after the shooting on a tentative charge of first-degree intentional homicide. Moore said the killing Janesvilles first homicide of 2022 is unusual because there was no clear conflict or prior police contact that preceded the violence. Todd had minimal contacts with law enforcement before the fatal shooting, and police are not aware of any history of violence, police said. Police believe Todd and Hills did not know each other before working together at the business. It was Todds seventh day on the job. Hills had been an employee for longer. Hills was still alive when emergency crews arrived, but CPR and other lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, Ratzlaff said. Witnesses identified Todd as the shooter and provided a description of him, police said. Police believe Todd fired a total of four times. Hills death remains under investigation by the Janesville Police Department and the Rock County Medical Examiners Department. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Here's how members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation voted on major issues last week. HOUSE AMERICAN FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT: Voting 404 for and 11 against, the House on Tuesday established (S.497) the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association in awarding research and development grants for fisheries. Voting Yes: Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, 1st District; Mark Pocan, D-Black Earth, 2nd District; Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, 3rd District; Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, 4th District; Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, 5th District; Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, 6th District; Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, 7th District; Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, 8th District AXIS ACT: Voting 394 for and 3 against, the House on Wednesday required (H.R. 7314) the State Department to provide Congress with periodic reports on whether China has provided support for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher PROTECTING SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN MATERIALS FROM AUTHORITARIANS ACT: Voting 414 for and 9 against, the House on Wednesday amended (H.R. 7372) the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 to require the president to create a working group with members from several agencies on the semiconductor supply chain in response to semiconductor supply chain obstacles created by Russias attack on Ukraine. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher UKRAINE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT: Voting 421 for and 4 against, the House on Wednesday passed a resolution (H.R. 496) opposing violations against religious freedom by Russia in Ukraine and directed the president to consider incidents occurring in Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher ASSET SEIZURE FOR UKRAINE RECONSTRUCTION ACT: Voting 417 for and 8 against, the House on Wednesday urged (H.R. 6930) President Joe Biden to seize assets from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and use the resources to support Ukraine. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher TRANSATLANTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ACT: Voting 366 for and 60 against, the House on Wednesday directed (H.R. 3344) the Department of State and other federal agencies to assist countries in central and eastern Europe to bolster telecommunications network security. Eligible projects aim to improve telecommunications networks, promote transparency and inclusivity and do not employ services or equipment from China, among other requirements. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Gallagher Voting No: Tiffany COUNTERING MALIGN RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA ACT: Voting 415 for and 9 against, the House on Wednesday directed (H.R. 7311) the secretary of state to submit a strategy to Congress on U.S. efforts to counter Russias activities in Africa. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher CARIBBEAN BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE AUTHORIZATION ACT: Voting 340 for and 86 against, the House on Wednesday authorized (H.R. 4133) appropriations for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative for projects including promoting citizen safety and promoting the rule of law in the Caribbean, among other priorities. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore Gallagher Voting No: Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany STOP IRANIAN DRONES ACT: Voting 424 for and 2 against, the House on Wednesday expanded (H.R. 6089) provisions requiring sanctions against people and entities who provide Iran with unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher GLOBAL MALNUTRITION PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT OF 2021: Voting 384 for and 44 against, the House on Wednesday advanced (H.R. 4693) interventions to prevent and treat world hunger. The bill authorizes the United States Agency for International Development to conduct activities to address malnutrition worldwide and to improve agency-wide coordination on efforts to address malnutrition. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Grothman; Gallagher Voting No: Fitzgerald; Tiffany TAIWAN WHO STATUS: Voting 425 for and 0 against, the House on Wednesday called (S.812) on the State Department to create a plan to assist Taiwan in regaining its observer status with the World Health Organization. The bill passed the Senate in August and will be sent to Biden next for signature. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Tiffany; Gallagher UKRAINE DEMOCRACY DEFENSE LEND-LEASE ACT OF 2022: Voting 417 for and 10 against, the House on Thursday passed (S.3522) a bill to make it easier for the U.S. to export military equipment to Ukraine. The legislation brings back a World War II-era law that allows the president to supply weapons to U.S. allies on lend or lease. Voting Yes: Steil; Pocan; Kind; Moore; Fitzgerald; Grothman; Gallagher Voting No: Tiffany SENATE LAEL BRAINARD NOMINATION: Voting 52 for and 43 against, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed (PN1529) the nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to serve as vice chair of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve system for a four-year term. She served on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System since June 2014. Voting Yes: Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison Voting No: Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh SHERILYN GARNETT NOMINATION: Voting 62 for and 33 against, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed (PN1478) the nomination of Sherilyn Garnett, of California, to be the United States District Judge for the Central District of California. Previously, Garnett worked as a judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California. Voting Yes: Baldwin Voting No: Johnson The Dane County Medical Examiners Office has identified the Edgerton woman killed in a crash early Thursday on South Whitney Way as Bonnie J. Monson, 84. Monson died from injuries sustained in the crash that occurred about 2:14 a.m. near the intersection of South Whitney Way and Endeavor Lane, the Medical Examiners Office said. She was the front seat passenger in a vehicle that crashed into a tree, Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said in a statement Monday, adding Monson had to be extricated from the vehicle. Monson died at a local hospital Thursday, the Medical Examiners Office said. The driver was a 57-year-old man who is in the hospital recovering from injuries, Fryer said. Police did not disclose the name of the man. Fryer said the crash remains under investigation and charges eventually will be filed. No further details were released. State journal reporter Emilie Heidemann contributed to this report. [Correction: The driver's age was incorrect in an earlier version of this story based on police information that was later updated.] Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. KYIV, Ukraine Sviastoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is helping defend the last section of Mariupol not occupied by the Russians, said he was glad evacuations had begun. Palamar hoped the evacuations from the Azovstal steel mill continue until everyone in the plant, civilians and soldiers, had gotten out. Its been difficult even to reach some of the wounded inside the plant, he told The Associated Press in an interview from Mariupol on Sunday. Theres rubble. We have no special equipment. It`s hard for soldiers to pick up slabs weighing tons only with their arms, he said. The Azovstal plant is strewn with mines, rockets, artillery shells and unexploded cluster ordnance, he said. Along with the Azov regiment, Palamar said, the plant is being defended by the 36th Marine Brigade, police officers, border guards, coast guard and more. Some of them guard the territory, some of them prevent attempted attacks, some of them are responsible for a ceasefire, some of them help to clear the rubble under shelling. He said the presence of children and civilians makes it harder to fight, and there are many injured people in the plant. Theres not enough water, he said, and the air smells of decomposing bodies. The fighters in the plant will continue to resist until they receive an order not to, Palamar said. The best solution in this situation is our evacuation. Does it make a sense to continue carrying this massacre? he asked. The standoff at the steel plant saved many lives, he believes. Because if we hadnt done this, the front line would be much bigger. The front line would be in another area. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Evacuations underway at steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol Pelosi leads delegation to Kyiv and Poland; vows US support Combat death puts spotlight on Americans fighting in Ukraine Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers evacuation Look for the orange vest: Ukrainians in Romania help others Germany vows to stop using Russian oil exports by late summer. Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: An explosive device damaged a railway bridge Sunday in the Kursk region of Russia, which borders Ukraine, and a criminal investigation has been started. The regions government reported the blast in a post on Telegram. Recent weeks have seen a number of fires and explosions in Russian regions near the border, including Kursk. An ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after explosions were heard, and authorities in the Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. An oil storage facility in Bryansk was engulfed by fire a week ago. The explosion Sunday caused a partial collapse of the bridge near the village of Konopelka, on the Sudzha-Sosnovy Bor railway, the report from Kursk said. It was a sabotage, a criminal case has been opened, said the regions governor, Roman Starovoit, according to TASS. He said there were no casualties, and no effect on the movement of trains. KYIV, Ukraine Four civilians were reported killed and 11 more were injured by Russian shelling in the Donetsk region on Sunday, the Ukrainian regional governor said that evening. The deaths and seven of the injuries were in the northern city of Lyman, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. One person also died in the city of Bakhmut from injuries received in the Luhansk region, he said. In the same post, Kyrylenko said that it was impossible to determine the number of victims in the bombed-out port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha, which is controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists. LVIV, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of waging a war of extermination, citing strikes against non-military targets on Sunday. Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that Russian shelling had hit food, grain and fertilizer warehouses, and residential neighborhoods in the Kharkiv, Donbas and other regions. The targets they choose prove once again that the war against Ukraine is a war of extermination for the Russian army, he said. He said Russia will gain nothing from the damage but will further isolate itself from the rest of the world. What could be Russias strategic success in this war?" Zelenskyy said. "Honestly, I do not know. KYIV, Ukraine Ukraines president is describing his hourslong weekend meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv as a powerful signal of support in a difficult time. In a televised address on Sunday evening, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his meeting with Pelosi included discussions of defense supplies to Ukraine, financial support and sanctions against Russia. Pelosi and a half dozen U.S. lawmakers met with Zelenskyy and his top aides for about three hours late Saturday to voice American solidarity with the besieged nation and get a first-hand assessment as she works to steer a massive new Ukraine aid package through Congress. Zelenskyy says Ukrainians are grateful to all partners who send such important and powerful signals of support by visiting our capital at such a difficult time. Additionally, Zelenskyy estimated that more than 350,000 people had been evacuated from combat zones thanks to humanitarian corridors pre-arranged with Moscow since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine in late February. Many civilians were evacuated Sunday from at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. KYIV, Ukraine A Ukrainian military officer says that Russian forces have resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the war-torn port city Mariupol immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. Ukrainian National Guard brigade commander Denys Shlega said Sunday in a televised interview that the shelling began as soon as rescue crews ceased evacuating civilians at the Azovstal steel mill. Shlega says that at least one more round of evacuations is needed to clear civilians from the plant. He says dozens of small children remain in bunkers below the industrial facilities. The commander estimates that several hundred civilians still are trapped at the site alongside nearly 500 wounded soldiers and numerous dead bodies. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. A video published earlier on Sunday by the Russian defense ministry showed people walking out of the steel plant, including a small group of women accompanied by two pet dogs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Sundays evacuations from Mariupol marked the initiation of a vitally need humanitarian corridor. BERLIN Germany says its making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of crude oil imports from Russia by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that Europes largest economy has reduced its share of Russian energy imports to 12% for oil, 8% for coal and 35% for natural gas. Habeck says those steps mean increased costs for the economy and for consumers. But he says the changes are necessary if Germany no longer wants to be blackmailed by Russia. The announcement comes as the European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil. The bloc has already decided to ban Russian coal imports starting in August. Weaning German off Russian natural gas is a far bigger challenge. Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany got more than half of its natural gas imports from Russia. KYIV, Ukraine The city council in the bombed-out southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol says Monday is the scheduled start date for a broad, U.N.-backed evacuation of its civilians, other than those sheltering at a steel plant. The city council also confirmed Sunday in a social media post on Telegram that some civilians were being evacuated Sunday from the Azovstal steelworks that is the last Ukrainian defense stronghold in Mariupol. City officials note the support of the Red Cross and say the wider evacuation of the strategic port city was delayed by security concerns. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant. The plant is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. KYIV, Ukraine The Ukrainian army says that a Russian offensive along a broad front in the countrys east has been stalling amid human and material losses inflicted by Kyivs forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Sunday in a Facebook post that Russian troops were trying to advance in the Sloboda, Donetsk and Tauride regions, but were being held back by Ukrainian forces that continue to fight village by village. Separately, Ukrainian intelligence officials accused Russian forces of destroying medical infrastructure, taking equipment and denying medical care to residents in several occupied cities and towns. In a Facebook post Sunday, Ukraines Ministry of Defense claims that ventilators and other equipment provided since 2014 by international donors and the government of Ukraine were removed from a hospital at Starobilsk in Ukraines eastern Luhansk region. The same post alleges that tuberculosis patients were denied medical care in the Kharkiv region at Volchansk while several facilities were used to treat wounded Russian troops. The accuracy of the claims could not be immediately verified. Ukrainian officials also said Sunday that internet and cellular communications were cut in a large area in the Russian-occupied Kherson region and part of the Zaporizhzhia region and blamed Russian forces. The London-based internet monitor Netblocks said the Kherson region lost 75% of internet connectivity beginning Saturday evening. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that an evacuation is underway of civilians at a steel plant in the bombed-out city of Mariupol. Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday that a group of 100 people are on their way from Azovstal steelworks to Ukrainian-controlled territory. He indicated that plans are underway for a Monday rendezvous with the evacuees at the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia that has previously been a staging post for those fleeing Mariupol. Zaporizhzhia is located about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from Mariupol. As many as 100,000 people are believed to still be in blockaded Mariupol, including up to 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the Soviet-era steel plant the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. DUSSELDORF, Germany German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to continue to support Ukraine with money, aid and also weapons, saying a pacifist approach to the war is outdated. Speaking at a May Day rally in Dusseldorf, Scholz said: I respect all pacifism, I respect all attitudes, but it must seem cynical to a citizen of Ukraine to be told to defend himself against Putins aggression without weapons. The German leader also warned that the war would have consequences for food supply, potentially leading to a worldwide hunger crisis. Soaring food prices and disruption to supplies coming from Russia and Ukraine have threatened food shortages in countries in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine The United Nations has confirmed that an operation to evacuate people from a steel plant in the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Mariupol is underway. U.N. humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told The Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to bring people out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done in collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He called the situation very complex and would not give further details. Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to be hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath the sprawling Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians. BERLIN German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has brushed aside criticism that his government is not doing enough to help Ukraine defend itself against Russias invasion. Even though Germany reversed its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, Scholz has been accused at home and abroad of being hesitant and slow in coming to Ukraines aid. In an interview published Sunday by newspaper Bild, the Social Democratic leader defended his governments approach. I make my decisions quickly and in coordination with our partners, Scholz was quoted as saying. I am suspicious of acting too hastily and Germany going it alone. Germany broke with tradition after Russias invasion on Feb. 24 to supply anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Ukraine. It has since agreed to provide Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Scholz has faced mounting pressure to send other heavy weapons including tanks and other armored vehicles. Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor late last year, said he wasnt bothered by opposition claims that hes too hesitant and timid. It is part of a democracy that you are robustly challenged by the opposition, he said. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has appealed again for a safe evacuation of Ukrainians trapped in the steel plant of Mariupol, saying he weeps thinking of their suffering and how their city has been barbarously bombed and destroyed. Speaking Sunday during his traditional noontime prayer, Francis urged all the faithful to pray the Rosary every day in May for peace. He noted that May 1 begins the month Christians dedicate to Mary, the mother of God and for whom Mariupol is named. He said: Even now, even from here, I renew the request that safe humanitarian corridors be arranged for the people trapped in the steelworks of that city. I suffer and cry thinking of the suffering of the Ukrainian population, especially the weakest, the elderly and children. He noted the terrible reports of children being expelled and deported and the terrible regression of humanity. WARSAW, Poland Polands armed forces said Sunday that military exercises involving thousands of NATO soldiers have begun. They are regular exercises aimed at improving the security of the alliances eastern flank but come this year with Russias war against Ukraine raging nearby. Due to those circumstances, Polands military appealed to the public on Sunday not to publish information or photos of the columns of military vehicles expected to move through the country in the coming weeks. It warned that ill-considered activity could harm the alliances security. Lets be aware of the dangers! the statement said. The Polish Army said in a statement that 18,000 soldiers from over 20 countries were taking part in the Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises that are taking place in Poland and eight other countries. The exercises are scheduled to run May 1-27. RZESZOW, Poland U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and vowed continued U.S. support to help Ukraine defeat Russia after leading a congressional delegation to Kyiv to assess Ukraines needs for the next phase of the war. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is next in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russias war began more than two months ago. She and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraines defenses so far and offering continued long-term military, humanitarian and economic support, vowing the United States would stand with Ukraine until it defeated Russia. This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: Weapons, weapons and weapons. He said: We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so. Pelosi said she was dazzled by Zelenskyys expertise of all the issues at hand and described him at their meeting as a remarkable master class of leadership. LONDON Russian cyber soldiers have launched a new offensive against foreign leaders, targeting social media platforms with a large-scale disinformation campaign that seeks to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine, according to research funded by the U.K. Paid operatives working from a factory in St. Petersburg use the Telegram messaging app to recruit and coordinate supporters who then flood the social media accounts of Kremlin critics with comments supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, the U.K. Foreign Office said Sunday. The so-called troll factory has developed new techniques to avoid detection by social media platforms, posting comments and amplifying pro-Kremlin content created by legitimate users rather than creating its own content, the Foreign Office said. Traces of its activity have been found on eight social media platforms, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The operation has targeted politicians and wider audiences in a number of countries, including the U.K., South Africa and India, the Foreign Office said. It is believed to have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and Britain for financing the Kremlins online influence operations. We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putins illegal war, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in the statement. The U.K. government has alerted international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations. LVIV, Ukraine Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to oil depots just across the Ukrainian border in Russia after suspected Ukrainian attacks. The photos from Saturday show damage at two sites in Bryansk. The blasts damaged multiple tanks, leaving the surrounding grounds charred. The explosions happened Monday. One hit an oil depot owned by Transneft-Druzhba, a subsidiary of the Russian state-controlled company Transneft that operates the western-bound Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline carrying crude oil to Europe. The second facility is a short distance from the other. Bryansk is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the border with Ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has met with Ukraines president. Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a Congressional delegation. Those with Pelosi included Reps. Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff. Zelenskyy told the delegation: You all are welcome. Pelosi later said: We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. The visit was not previously announced. KYIV, Ukraine Some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant that is the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the port city of Mariupol, a Ukrainian official and Russian state news organizations said. But hundreds are believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. The United Nations was working to broker an evacuation of the up to 1,000 civilians living beneath the sprawling Soviet-era Azovstal plant after numerous previous attempts failed. Ukraine has not said how many fighters are also in the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city. U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Saviano Abreu said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but he could not provide details of the ongoing evacuation effort because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation. LVIV, Ukraine U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says American diplomats are making plans to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. Blinken made the comment while speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. An overnight statement Sunday said Blinken told Kuleba that America plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. He said diplomats had been making initial visits to Lviv to prepare. The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Kyiv in February just before Russia launched its war on the country. The U.S. had been bringing diplomats across the Polish border each day to work in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, before stopping the practice. Lviv has largely been spared in the conflict, though a missile strike several days ago targeted a railroad facility near the city. The U.S. is one of Ukraines main backers in the war, providing billions in aid and weaponry. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Prosecutors in Idaho say they will seek the death penalty against a woman charged with killing her two youngest children and her new husbands previous wife. The prosecuting attorneys from Fremont and Madison counties made the announcement in court documents filed Monday, saying Lori Vallow Daybell will qualify for capital punishment if convicted because the slayings were exceptionally depraved and carried out for financial gain. Lori Vallow Daybells co-defendant and husband, Chad Daybell, is also facing a potential death penalty if convicted. The pair are charged with murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Both have pleaded not guilty. By Trend Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Italy Toyly Komekov and Director of the Department of International Relations of the Veneto Region (Italy) Annalisa Bisson discussed matters related to the organization of a business forum with the participation of representatives of trade and economic departments and business circles during a videoconference meeting, Trend reports with reference to Business Turkmenistan. The business forum will be attended by representatives of trade and economic departments and business circles of Turkmenistan and Veneto. The main areas of mutual interest of the parties were cooperation in industry, agriculture, in particular the introduction of modern Italian technologies for the manufacture and processing of textile products, as well as the creation of infrastructure for use in the water sector of the country. Veneto is one of the largest economic regions of Italy with a high standard of living. The region is well known for its innovative business, highly developed agricultural sector, food, design and engineering industries. Like most Idahoans, I grew up in a conservative family, deeply rooted in our faith and values. As a husband and father, I have endeavored to instill in my own family those same principles and virtues. As an entrepreneur, I have experienced how regulations can hamstring economic prosperity and believe deeply in a limited form of government that empowers individuals to create and grow businesses to solve community problems locally. I am a conservative Republican, through and through, and I know most of my fellow Republicans in Idaho value the same things I do: freedom, fairness, and the rule of law. As we Republicans prepare to cast our ballots in the approaching May 17 primary, I must speak up in warning about a dark and growing drift towards fringe, extremist power in our state. This drift is driven largely by those who openly denounce the Idaho Republican Party while seeking to take it over. They claim to be speaking for the people of Idaho while only serving their secret out-of-state masters. Leading their charge in Idaho is gubernatorial candidate Janice McGeachin, whose irresponsibility is outmatched only by her lack of regard for the rule of law. Consider: Janice McGeachin recorded a speech broadcast Feb. 26 at AFPAC, where she openly courted the most extreme fringes of societyincluding pro-Putin, QAnon conspiracy theorists, January 6 insurrectionists, and Holocaust denierson a national stage. McGeachin formed a committee for the sole purpose of harassing and targeting Idaho school teachers. After refusing to provide public documents under a public records request, she asked taxpayers to foot her ensuing legal bills for breaking the law. McGeachins relatively modest office budget has been decimated and mismanaged to the point where she has no staff and the state will garnish her wages for the remainder of the fiscal year. McGeachin has employed staff who brag about shooting law enforcement on social media. McGeachin continues to court people who use intimidation and violent threats to terrorize and expose private information about private citizens including judges, hospital workers, and police officers endangering their lives for just doing their jobs. Looking further down the ticket at McGeachins associates does not inspire much hope either. Consider also: Lieutenant Governor candidate Priscilla Giddings publicly revealed the name and face of a teenage legislative intern who has accused Giddings fellow Freedom Caucus lawmaker of sexual assault a craven example of playing politics with peoples lives. Early in her legislative career, Giddings threatened, accused and belittled colleagues who voted differently than she did. Her bully tactics have no place in our Statehouse. Attorney General candidate Raul Labrador has a long history of being ineffective. As our Congressman, he was unable to pass any meaningful legislation. Now, he wants to create more chaos by becoming an Attorney General who interprets the Idaho Constitution through a dangerously political lens for his own personal gain. Secretary of State candidate Dorothy Moon is unqualified for the job. She makes no secret of her admiration for militia members and extremists. She was the keynote speaker at the national John Birch Society 60th anniversary celebration alongside known domestic terrorists like Matt Shea. Dorothy made headlines for her emotional reunion with Ammon Bundy after he left the jail in Las Vegas, and asked the Idaho House of Representatives to give a round of applause for her friend Eric Parker, the Bundy Sniper and founder of the III% militia. Lastly, there is Branden Durst, the extremist candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, who is running as a Republican despite having previously been elected to the legislature as a Democrat. From domestic violence incidents, to being held in contempt of court, to cursing and insulting a state senator in the Idaho Capitol, at every turn, Durst expresses true disdain for our values, our school board trustees, and the notion that local people know what is best for their districts. While McGeachin is the most dangerous candidate in the Republican primary because shes seeking our highest state office, shes clearly not alone in espousing deeply dangerous views that threaten the rule of law in our communities and our very way of life. The only rules this group respects are the ones they write for themselves. In short, these five are the true Republicans in name only. They publicly pledge allegiance to conservative values and drape themselves in the flag while they hijack our party to extremes that have reckless disregard for the people of Idaho, the Constitution and our values. Their election puts the very future of our stateand the futures of our children and grandchildrenat grave risk. When you detest the very institutions you seek to lead, chaos and destruction always ensues. My fellow Idaho Republicans, the stakes could not be higher this May. Lets get back to electing qualified candidates who will solve real problems instead of manufacturing chaos, who are able to work well with other Republicans instead of dividing us further, and who share values with the law-abiding citizens of Idaho. Idaho is too great for anything less. Tommy Ahlquist is a former ER doctor, serial entrepreneur, and CEO of BVA Development LLC. He is a past candidate for Idaho Governor. He has four children with his wife, Shanna, and lives in the Treasure Valley. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Deputy County Administrator Dale Wagoner has received the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Wagoner, who will become Henry Countys Administrator on July 1, is now one of over 1,300 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program, a Henry County release states. There are over 13,000 members of the ICMA in 27 countries that included educators, students and other local government employees. The mission of the organization is to advance professional local government through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics and by increasing the proficiency of appointed administrators who serve local governments, according to the release. To become credentialed, a person must have significant experience and a college degree and have demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity, the release states. Mr. Wagoner is an exemplary example of what it means to be a leader in the public sector, states Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Adams in the release. His knowledge, work ethic and integrity makes him a vital asset in our local government and a true role model for our community. Wagoner has accumulated 30 years of local government executive experience, having served as EMS Coordinator, Interim Human Resources Manager, Deputy Public Safety Director, Henry County Public Safety Director and, since 2012, Deputy County Administrator of Henry County, according to the release. Wagoner also participates in the United Way of Henry County-Martinsville, Western Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council and the Henry County Community Policy and Management Team, the release states. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A soldier from Marion was killed and three others were injured in a military vehicle accident at Fort Bragg on Thursday. The 18th Airborne Corps said the incident happened at Fort Bragg. Officials in a news release shared few details about what happened but said soldiers received treatment at the scene before going to the bases Womack Army Medical Center, according to a story by The News & Observer of Raleigh. We are saddened by death of one of our own as a result of a vehicle accident ..., Maj. Gen. Brian Mennes, deputy commanding general of the 18th Airborne Corps, said in the Thursday news release. Our heart goes out to the Soldiers family and friends as we collectively mourn the loss of this Soldier. The deceased soldier was identified as 23-year-old Spc. Luis Hererra, who was assigned to Raider Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, according to online source americanmilitarynews.com. Herrera, who was from Marion, died from injuries sustained in Thursdays crash involving a Humvee. The soldier died at about noon on Thursday. Later that day, officials said an investigation was underway, according to WRAL.com. Three other soldiers were injured in the military vehicle crash Thursday afternoon on Fort Bragg, the XVIII Airborne Corps confirmed to American Military News on Friday. The three injured soldiers received treatment at the scene and were transported to Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) for further treatment. One soldier was released and the two others remain hospitalized for treatment and observation. Our thoughts and prayers, along with the Paratroopers of Geronimo 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, are with Spc. Herreras wife and loved ones as we mourn the loss of Luis, Capt. Daigoroh Abreu, Hererras company commander, said in a statement provided to American Military News. Big Lous presence was a gift to us all, and his radiant smile brought warmth to all who knew him. Herrera is survived by his wife, parents, family and friends. In the coming weeks, the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment plans to host a memorial for Herrera. Spc. Herrera was an exceptional Paratrooper and an engaged friend to all those who knew him. Luis was a Soldiers Soldier who always led by example and never missed a chance to leave a positive impact on those around him, said Col. Theodore Kleisner, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Our brigade was made better by the selfless service of Spc. Herrera. The leaders and Paratroopers of 1st Brigade Combat Team are committed to ensuring every resource is available to his family and peers to help them through this difficult time. Hererra enlisted as an infantryman in the Army in November 2017. He served on two deployments to Kuwait, and was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Parachutist Badge, according to the report by WRAL.com. The circumstances surrounding Thursdays military vehicle accident are still under investigation, according to the report by WRAL.com. His fellow soldiers have created a GoFundMe page to help with any costs that the family comes across during this sudden and tragic accident. As of late Saturday afternoon, the page raised $8,351 of a $25,000 goal. You can visit it at www.gofundme.com and searching for Luis Hererra Nathan Core. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Several treatments are now available to fight COVID-19 but tight timelines, unequal access and weakening effectiveness against new variants have limited their ability to blunt the worst of the pandemic. Antivirals Antiviral drugs, which suppress the ability of the virus to multiply in the body's cells, treat an infection in its early stages, reducing the severity and duration of symptoms. Last week the World Health Organization "strongly recommended" Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill Paxlovid over rivals such as Merck's molnupiravir. The recommendation was based on new trials showing Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospital admission by 85 percent, while molnupiravir has proved significantly less effective. Even China, which has spurned foreign vaccines, conditionally approved Paxlovid in February, and Pfizer hopes to produce more than 120 million doses this year. US President Joe Biden's administration said this week it would double the number of outlets where Americans can obtain the pills, which are reserved for at-risk patients. Vice President Kamala Harris, who tested positive for COVID on Tuesday, is taking Paxlovid, according to her press secretary. But even as production ramps up, the pill is still not being prescribed in large numbers in many countries. In France, where Paxlovid is the only approved antiviral, only 3,500 courses have been prescribed out of 100,000 rolled out over the first three months of the year. Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, said COVID treatments were "vital" to save lives and reduce pressure on hospitals. "These effective drugs have not been used enough, which is illustrated by the number of deaths still being reported," he told AFP. "The main obstacle remains logistics," he added. The treatment course for Paxlovid should be started within five days of symptoms appearinga tight deadline that requires everything to go smoothly. "People must think about doing a PCR test if they have symptoms or a risky contact, the doctor must prescribe the right medicine, the pharmacy must make it available within the short time required," Flahault said. Antivirals also should not be taken by patients already on a range of other medications, which can limit uptake. Other treatments Monoclonal antibodies, which target the spike protein of the coronavirus, can be used either as a preventative measure for unvaccinated at-risk people or for hospitalised patients who need an antibody boost. They have been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by up to 80 percent, but must be administered by injection or infusion in hospital. The main antibody treatments include AstraZeneca's Evusheld, Roche's Ronapreve, and GSK and Vir's Xevudy. But these treatments also require tight timelinesand they are struggling to keep up with new variants. "The monoclonal antibodies that were effective against the Delta variant are no longer effective against Omicron BA.1and the one that remained effective against BA.1 is no longer effective against BA.2," Flahault said. "It is rare in medicine that knowledge evolves at such a pace," he said, adding that it complicated prescribing such drugs. Several countries have essentially abandoned Ronapreve due to the loss of effectiveness against Omicron. And on Friday France's health authorities said they would no longer authorise Xevudy for patients with BA.2 because of the drug's "greatly reduced" effectiveness against the sub-variant, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of the country's infections. The US meanwhile has doubled the recommended dosage for Evusheld to address its weakening effectiveness. Unequal access, again As was the case for COVID vaccinations, wealthy countries have had far greater access to treatments than poorer nations. The inequity again sparked a debate about lifting waiving intellectual property rightsthis time with more progress. Last year Pfizer and Merck agreed allow some generic drugmakers to make cheaper versions of their drugs under a UN-backed scheme. Pfizer signed a deal last month with 35 generic drugmakers in Europe, Asia, and Latin America to supply Paxlovid to 95 countries. However last week the WHO called on Pfizer to go further, saying it was "extremely concerned" that for treatments low- and middle-income countries would again be "pushed to the end of the queue". It also called on Pfizer to be more transparent about prices, with reports that a full Paxlovid course costs up to $530 in the US. 2022 AFP A group of high school students visited the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse last week, and probably came away better educated than many state legislators. Even though they didnt get to sit in on the Portland General Electric Co. et.al. vs. NorthWestern Corp. et.al. case, their presence indicates they were studying basic American civics. Judging by Federal Magistrate Kathleen DeSotos questions from the bench last Tuesday, some separation-of-powers lessons need remedial coverage at the state Capitol. The case involved two bills from Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, that passed last year. SB 265 would rewrite a 40-year-old contract so that NorthWestern could have home-court advantage in arbitration disputes with its co-owners of two aging coal-fired power plants at Colstrip. Those co-owners questioned what right the Legislature had to rewrite a deal NorthWestern had signed, eyes wide open, back when coal was King in Montana. Now that the voters and ratepayers of those co-owners in Washington and Oregon have legally decided to end investment in future coal-burning, they have exercised their right to end the deal through arbitration, as specified in the contract. That would effectively close the plant, unless NorthWestern and current operator Talen Energy could find other investors. Thats not likely, as Talen is already seeking loans to fund its bankruptcy proceedings. Nationwide, about half of the coal-fired power fleet has retired. In 2022 alone, operators will shut down about 15 gigawatts of coal-generated electricity due to age and increasing uncompetitiveness with natural gas or renewable energy production. SB 265 moved the site of arbitration from Spokane to Helena, changed Washington law to Montana law, and switched a single arbitrator with demonstrated expertise for a three-person panel with no specified backgrounds. The lead attorney on the NorthWestern side argued that legislatures make such venue and rule decisions all the time. DeSoto pointed out the new rule was vastly different than what everyone originally agreed to. If that was OK, she asked, could the Legislature just make a law prohibiting the Colstrip closure? Why not force a private business to ignore its own contract, its own local laws and its own best interest with the stroke of a governors pen? Wed all love to wiggle out of deals gone bad. In this time of catastrophic climate change, there are a lot of deals committing ourselves to burning fossil fuels that we must find ways of breaking. But when we ratepayers and taxpayers and voters actually have a deal that allows such an improvement signed by all the owners in good faith then the rule of law should not be subject to a change of rulebook. Which made the debate over SB 266 even more incredible. This bill gave the Montana Attorney General power to levy daily $100,000 fines against any Colstrip co-owner who refused to pay its operating costs without consent of all the owners. That wasnt in the original deal, which only required a decision by a majority of the owners (the ones currently suing NorthWestern). DeSoto called SB 266 an incredibly broad statute. Its wording appeared to make even advocating against payment an unfair or deceptive practice in the conduct of trade subject to $100,000 fines. Several lawyers in the audience dropped their jaws when the NorthWestern lead attorney replied it was the courts prerogative to clarify the law. For example, a judge could declare that conduct did not include advocating. DeSoto called that rewriting the statute. In other circles, thats also called judicial activism, or legislating from the bench. Some in those circles have demanded big changes in the way judges are selected and the way courts manage their internal affairs to better reflect the will of the legislative or administrative branches of government. In civics class, thats the chapter on separation of powers. Its unfortunate the high school students didnt get to watch all this in real time last week. They wouldnt have found a seat every bench was filled. But the only elected official in the room was the mayor of Colstrip, who was there as a friend of the court arguing in favor of letting NorthWestern break a deal he wasnt party to, to force private businesses to save a near-bankrupt industry for his local benefit. DeSoto said that sounded like the definition of economic protectionism. Those who insist on the rule of law and judicial independence ought to review the transcript for some pointers on the consequences of sloppy legislation. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend Turkey and Saudi Arabia have demonstrated a common will to develop bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and trust, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. We are determined to continue this effort for our common interests and the stability of our region, the president told reporters aboard the presidential plane on the return flight from a trip to Saudi Arabia. King Salman received President Erdogan Thursday evening with an official ceremony in the city of Jiddah. The two leaders held a closed-door meeting at Al-Salam Royal Palace. Erdogan also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Earlier, the president arrived in Saudi Arabia for a two-day working visit. Erdogan and Saudi Arabia's crown prince met to develop relations. The last time Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia was in 2017, when he tried to mediate a dispute pitting the kingdom and other Gulf countries against Qatar. Emphasizing the rift between Gulf countries and Iran, Erdogan said the different positions on the Yemen civil war is one of the most important sources of this disagreement. There is also the issue of the Houthis. Saudi Arabia's concerns on this issue continue, he said. On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi reported in an interview that after years of tensions, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia could be approaching a detente. Noting that Turkey has a lot in common with the Middle East countries, whose people are Muslim, Erdogan said Western powers intervene in the region and support terrorist organizations. Along with some European countries, one of the most power countries of the world sent truckloads of weapons to these terrorists, he said, referring to U.S. support to YPG terrorists in northern Syria. Twenty locations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across Charlotte, Western North Carolina and Northwestern South Carolina will be hosting a blood drive with OneBlood on May 12. The theme for the blood drive is Give as He Gave. Many individuals and families have recently remembered the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ through their Lent and Easter observances, said Matthew Harding, an area faith leader for the Church of Jesus Christ in North Carolina. We are inviting the community to come and donate blood on May 12 in honor of that priceless gift from the Savior. In addition to the satisfaction felt by saving up to three lives with each blood donation, donors will receive a free wellness checkup and thank you gifts from OneBlood including a limited edition Give as He Gave T-shirt and a $20 e-gift card. Generally, healthy individuals who are 16 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood. Blood that is donated today will be on the way to help a patient within two or three days, said Susan Forbes, senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations for OneBlood. The turnaround is fast, making the need constant. The blood drive planned at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Mooresville, 148 Lazy Lane, will be held from 2-7 p.m. For additional locations, times, and appointments for the Give as He Gave Blood Drive, visit oneblood.org/save. OneBlood is a not-for-profit blood center responsible for providing safe, available and affordable blood to more than 250 hospital partners and their patients throughout Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. To learn more about OneBlood visit www.oneblood.org. When Elon Musk bought Twitter, conservatives were ready to hold a ticker-tape parade. Free speech is making a comeback, proclaimed Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Fox News host Tucker Carlson exulted in this victory over liberals who are trying to control what we say and think. Gloated Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, The Left is terrified of free speech. But the rights unquenchable ardor for unbridled expression depends on who is speaking and who is trying to stop them. When Twitter de-platformed Donald Trump after the Capitol riot, that was censorship. When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis punishes Disney for daring to oppose his Parental Rights in Education law, though, thats what Disney should expect for opening its big mouth. The law he signed stripped the company of the special self-governing status it has had for 55 years, which enables Disney to handle many functions and obligations normally assigned to municipal governments. A conservative could see that privilege as a commendable way of preventing local bureaucrats from over-regulating an innovative corporation. But Florida Republicans were willing to do that only so long as Disney didnt step out of line. On the day DeSantis signed the Dont Say Gay bill, Disney said the law should never have been passed and that it should be repealed. The governor took great offense at the spectacle of a company that has long enriched the state presuming to question his wisdom. Not that he minds big corporations involving themselves in political matters. He did not object when Disney contributed more than $100,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis political action committee. But if the company is going to make its views known, they had better align with his. In their applause for DeSantis, conservatives have been unwilling to consider whether the anti-Disney measure contradicts the basic principles of free expression and whether it violates the First Amendment. If they did, they would realize the new law is guilty on both counts. The government does many things for its citizens that it is not required to do and is free to stop doing. Congress could abolish Pell Grants, which pay for college expenses. States can set conditions for eligibility for certain programs, such as requiring anyone getting unemployment compensation to look for work. But once the government has extended certain benefits, it may not withdraw them from a beneficiary for exercising a constitutional right. The federal government may not revoke a students Pell Grant, or a workers unemployment benefits, for making a speech in favor of, or in opposition to, abortion rights or gun control or President Joe Bidens immigration policy any more than it may put them in jail. The Supreme Court made this clear in a 1958 decision, among others. Back then, California granted property tax exemptions to military veterans, but only if they signed an oath that they did not advocate the use of force to overthrow the state or federal government. The court ruled the loyalty oath unconstitutional. In language that could have been written with the Disney episode in mind, the court said: To deny an exemption to claimants who engage in certain forms of speech is, in effect, to penalize them for such speech. Its deterrent effect is the same as if the State were to fine them for this speech. DeSantis and his accomplices made little effort to conceal their illegitimate motives. Youre a corporation based in Burbank, California, and youre going to marshal your economic might to attack the parents of my state? he said. We view that as a provocation, and were going to fight back against that. Said GOP Rep. Randy Fine: Its time for them to remember that we are not California. And they are a California company. And were not interested in their California values here in this state. But the First Amendment says Californians can preach their values in all 50 states. Same goes for Floridians who venture beyond their own borders. You cant pretend to be a champion of free speech while deploying the power of government to exact vengeance against people who disagree with you. Florida never had to grant a special taxing district to Disney. But having chosen to do so, it may not revoke it in political retribution. DeSantis and Co., who regard the guardians of Mickey Mouse as woke, immoral and hostile to Florida values, are entitled to trumpet their views till their tonsils fall out. But heres the thing about freedom of speech: Disney gets to do the same. Follow Steve Chapman on Twitter @SteveChapman13 or at www.facebook.com/stevechapman13. To find out more about Chapman, visit www.creators.com. The SABC is appointing independent inspectors to double-check the number and quality of government-subsidised set-top-box (STB) installations around the country, The Sunday Times reports. The publication spotted the broadcasters tender inviting companies to bid for conducting physical inspections of STB installations to confirm whether the work was completed correctly and that the boxes could receive the SABCs digital channels. These decoder-like STBs are necessary for households with no satellite TV and older television sets that dont have built-in digital tuners, as South Africa switches off old analogue TV signals province-by-province. State-owned signal distributor Sentech is currently on an aggressive installation drive across the country, aiming to install STBs in all qualifying households that registered before 31 October 2021. This was the deadline government proclaimed for those who wished to get their box before the original 31 March 2022 analogue switch-off date. Industry regulator Icasa and the Pretoria High Court have delayed this date to 30 June 2022. Indigent households who qualify for the box must have a combined income of less than R3,500. WE WERE TASKED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS @CommsZA TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH #GODIGITAL IN THE KZN PROVINCE. Honourable Minister @Khu_Ntshavheni my team heard your call. In a week weve assisted 105 families already. pic.twitter.com/aA1whEX0h3 ONeal (@OGNgwenya) April 9, 2022 So far, Sentech has switched off the SABCs analogue TV transmissions in five provinces. However, the four most populous provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape remain outstanding. The SABC has to authorise Sentech to switch off any of its analogue transmitters. However, it currently has no second layer or independent checks to ensure good quality of service and accuracy of numbers. The inspectors will also be required to remain in the area and determine whether Sentechs installers are still available to connect households that may have been left behind. In addition, they will be required to conduct surveys of 5% of qualifying households with questions that include the following: Why are registrations low or high? Has there been an awareness campaign? Have there been installers in your area? Where did you register, and when did you find out? Is the quality of service acceptable? How was your migration experience? The SABCs executive for corporate affairs and marketing, Gugu Ntuli, told The Sunday Times the broadcaster was not second-guessing Sentechs work. It only wanted assurances on the quantity and quality of STB connections as these factors could significantly impact audience losses where analogue switch-off takes place. The SABC, free-to-air broadcaster E-tv, and community TV stations like Cape Town TV rely on analogue broadcasts to reach a substantial proportion of their viewers. E-tv and Cape Town TV have expressed concern over leaving these viewers behind when the national switch-off occurs. E-tv took communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to court, hoping to delay the switch-off by 1518 months. Although the court delayed the switch-off by three months, much of the rest of E-tvs application failed. The court ruled that government had given indigent households enough time and notice to register for their boxes. Registration for subsidised STBs was initially opened in October 2015. Slow rollout The SABC intends to inspect the installations amid a slow STB rollout. Ntshavheni recently said that just over half of the 507,251 households registered by the deadline of 31 October 2021 had received their STBs by 25 April 2022, while installations had taken place at only 109,000 homes. The first STB installations were done in December 2015, which means it took the government more than six years to distribute them. Based on the ministers figures, Sentech would have to radically pick up the pace and distribute around 3,700 STBs per day from 26 April 2022 to meet the ASO target of 30 June 2022. Daily installations will have to be almost double that figure. Sentech is on an aggressive recruitment campaign to hire more STB installers. According to its advertisement, these installers will be rolling out STBs over the course of the next year. The ministers Twitter timeline shows that she has been personally involved in several installations in recent weeks. Political allies of energy minister Gwede Mantashe want Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter and COO Jan Oberholzer fired. That is according to the DA member Benedicta van Minnen, who spoke to Rapport following a heated exchange between the Standing Committee of Public Accounts (Scopa) and Eskom on Friday, 22 April 2022. Scopa chair Mkhuleko Hlengwa asked Eskom board member Busisiwe Mavuso to leave a meeting after she said the board and De Ruyter would not be a fall guy for the ANC-led governments failures. Mavuso stated that while they would account for their own mistakes, the current Eskom board and executive inherited the utilitys historical mountain of debt and generation problems. Hlengwa an IFP member and its national spokesperson and ANC Scopa member Bheki Hadebe took issue with her statements. Mavuso responded by saying she was only stating the facts, after which Hlengwa told Mavuso to behave herself or leave the meeting. She opted for the latter, but as she was exiting, Hlengwa fired a parting shot and accused Mavuso of engaging in politics of the gutter. With video footage of the occasion quickly trending online, Hlengwa came under fire from the public and opposition parties, with the DA calling for a parliamentary investigation into his conduct. After initially defending his stance, he announced on Tuesday that he would apologise to Mavuso following a meeting of the IFPs national executive committee (NEC), who had said he could have handled the situation better. The Sunday Times reported that certain members of the IFP felt he had shielded the ANC over its Eskom failures. The DAs Van Minnen said Eskoms presentation regarding progress at its Medupi and Kusile power plants was excellent. They also answered all Scopas questions thoroughly. She also explained that Eskom had only met 9 out of the 23 recommendations Scopa made to help turn the utility around because the remaining 14 were being handled on an ongoing basis. For example, Eskom has opened 104 criminal cases with the police, while only 12 people have been charged. Van Minnen told Rapport that Mavuso did not insult Scopa but appeared to be sick and tired that some members of the ANC created chaos in previous meetings with Eskom. She said it was evident that certain Scopa members had an agenda which included getting De Ruyter and Oberholzer fired from the utility. Van Minnen also agreed these members might have been supporting energy minister Gwede Mantashe on this front. Mantashe has been a staunch supporter of coal mining and coal power stations and seemingly resisted more renewable Independent Power Producers playing a more prominent role in South Africas electricity supply. His position goes against the vision of Eskoms current leadership, which is increasingly pushing for privately-generated renewables like wind and solar to supply the grid. Mantashe has also bumped heads with Eskom in the controversial Karpowerships saga, berating the utility for stalling the project as it refuses to sign any long-term power purchasing agreements without further clarity on gas costs. Energy expert Chris Yelland previously told MyBroadband that South Africas coal industry had powerful vested interests. There are many new black-owned companies which have mortgaged their future by buying up old coal assets the assets coal majors have been divesting themselves of, he said. For example, there was an entire industry of trucking coal from coal mines to power stations. Hong Kong: HK detects 300 COVID-19 cases The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 300 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 119 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 181 were identified via rapid antigen tests. Among the new cases, 22 are imported while the rest are locally infected. A total of 1,191,879 people have contracted the virus since the onset of the fifth wave of the epidemic, involving 9,100 deaths. Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Wing Shing House of Fung Shing Court in Sha Tin, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline. As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several housing estates in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Tong, the Housing Department and the respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2022-05-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Trend Turkeys air force has pulled out of a military exercise scheduled to be held in Greece next month, security sources said on April 30 saying that preparatory documents singled out Ankara, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily News. The military exercise dubbed "Tiger Meet" is intended to promote solidarity between the participating states fleets and is held annually. This year, it will take place in Athens between May 9 and 20. Turkish security sources said host countries draft a text each year made up of technical regulations ahead of the planned exercise and this year, Greece targeted Turkey in the said document. The sources accused Greek authorities of making additions into the document that "abuse disagreements between the two countries," without providing precise details. According to Turkish authorities, the additions were "intentional" and prompted the air force command to ask for changes. But Greece did not accept them, the sources said. Turkey decided to snub the event on the grounds that "Greece manipulates Tiger Meet for its political interests" and informed Greek authorities of its move on April 22, they added. Turkey on Friday accused Greek warplanes of violating its airspace over the Aegean Sea, which Turkish security sources said happened 30 times in 72 hours. Prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) covering 271 life-threatening conditions and 26 chronic illnesses are the biggest cost driver for medical aid schemes. This is according to Medshield Medical Scheme acting principal officer Alan Fritz, who spoke to personal finance journalist and educator Maya Fisher-French. Conditions and chronic illnesses falling under PMBs must be covered at cost, Fritz stated. However, the problem is not necessarily the range of care medical schemes must provide at cost, but specialist doctors that take advantage of the PMB regulations. There are specialists that charge as much as 700% of the medical scheme rate, and these are sucking the schemes dry, said Fritz. In its 2020 industry report, the Council for Medical Schemes reported that medical aids spend R866.02 on PMB per average beneficiary member. This sets a floor for the cheapest medical aid plan in South Africa they must charge at least R866.02 to cover the average cost of PMBs. Any additional care offered by even a basic hospital plan would mean additional costs. Reporting for City Press, Fisher-French said medical aids are becoming increasingly unaffordable for average South Africans. Basic hospital plans start at R1,500R2,000 per month for the main member, increasing to around R2,300 per month for a single parent with a child. South Africas medical tax credit makes these premiums more affordable for some members. However, the credit can only be claimed at the end of a tax year, and only applies to people who must pay tax. That is, those earning over R7,604.16 per month (R11,770.82 for people over 65, and R13,158.33 for people over 75). Although an advisory committee at the council is working on how schemes could provide low-cost benefit options, including considering a reduced set of PMBs, this has been ongoing for years. No deadline has been set, and no estimated completion date has been provided. In the meantime, medical insurance is filling the gap despite many insurers advertising their products as an add-on for basic hospital plans. According to Fisher-French, medical insurance does not have to provide full PMB coverage because it is not a medical scheme. This allows insurers to apply risk rating, waiting periods, and limited cover, making them more affordable. However, it is important to note that South Africas medical tax credit does not apply to insurance policies only to medical scheme contributions. New omicron sublineages show an ability to evade antibodies from earlier infection and vaccination, a South African laboratory study has found. The findings could signal a fresh wave of infections by the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the omicron variant that were discovered this month in South Africa. Blood samples from people who had been infected with the original omicron variant saw an almost eightfold drop in neutralizing antibody production when tested against the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages, the study, led by the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, showed. Samples from people who were vaccinated showed about a threefold decrease, according to the study. The low absolute neutralization levels for BA.4 and BA.5, particularly in the unvaccinated group, are unlikely to protect well against symptomatic infection, the researchers said in the study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed. This may indicate that, based on neutralization escape, BA.4 and BA.5 have potential to result in a new infection wave. The results of the study come amid a fresh surge of infections in South Africa, which was the first country to experience a wave of cases caused by omicron after the variant was first identified in the country and neighbouring Botswana. On Saturday, South Africa recorded 6,527 new cases and a test positivity rate of 21.5%. That compares with 581 cases and a positivity rate of 4.5% on March 28. We measured immunity against the #Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants by people infected with the original (BA.1) Omicron sub-lineage. Results consistent with these variants forming next infection wave. Manuscript submitted to medRxiv and available here:https://t.co/rGaEB9GdmS Alex Sigal (@sigallab) April 29, 2022 While hospitalisations are rising gradually, there hasnt been a noticeable increase in deaths, Waasila Jassat, a public health specialist at South Africas National Institute of Communicable Diseases, said on Friday. The study used samples from 24 people who had been infected with the original omicron variant but hadnt been vaccinated. It also tested the sublineages against samples from 15 vaccinated people, eight of whom had Pfizer Inc.s shots and seven whom had received Johnson & Johnsons vaccines. Africa Health Research Institutes laboratory, which is in Durban and led by Alex Sigal, was the first to test the original omicron variant against blood samples, showing Pfizers shot was less effective against it than against earlier variants. Prior to his death, 41-year-old Ruslan Borovik with the call sign "Baghdad" worked as the head of cultural projects at the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to ATO Veterans at the Kyiv City State Administration. Ruslan Borovik is a well-known military and decent patriot of Ukraine. The man has twice participated in missions in Iraq and bravely went through hell at the Donetsk airport in 2014-2015. And from the first day of the full-scale war, the fighter went to defend the homeland as part of the 95th separate airborne assault brigade. However, this week, a few days after his last birthday, Ruslan Borovik died in battle in the east The cyborg is well known in the capital: he actively supported the families of the fallen defenders in the war with Russia and worked at the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to ATO Veterans at the Kyiv City State Administration. Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Marina Honda recalls that Ruslan Borovik was an incredible man, a patriot, a wonderful father, and a professional photographer. "For the last few years, he has worked at our Center for Assistance to Participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, where he has helped the same veterans," said Marina Honda. - "Ruslana was only 41 years old. Unfortunately, the war takes away the best. Sincere condolences to family and friends. Rest in peace, Ruslan ". Now colleagues will post photos of a smiling and cheerful Ruslan and sign that "he promised to take care of himself." It hurts Why are the best taken away? Ruslana, you promised to take care of yourself, Yulia Tsepun , head of the territorial defense department at the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to ATO Veterans, wrote on her Facebook page. Ruslan's friends write that they could not have imagined Victory without a defender in advisory uniform on Khreshchatyk. Everyone is in pain "How now to imagine Victory and a parade without Ruslan, who walks along Khreshchatyk with a flag? How now to capture modern history without his photos? I just regret that there was so little time to talk. His positivity and inner light always revealed something best inside when meeting, journalist Andriana Bila wrote on her Facebook page . In his peaceful life, Ruslan Borovik was fond of photography. Years earlier, more than a hundred photos of the defender were presented at an exhibition in the Verkhovna Rada, he also exhibited his works in the Column Hall of the Kyiv City State Administration. Then the heroes of his photo were burned mothers who lost their sons, and soldiers who return to life after severe injuries from 2014 to 2015. Ruslan Borovik with his camera. Photo from the Facebook of the Hero Last autumn, Vecherny Kyiv journalists had the honor of talking to the Hero in person and making a joint material with him dedicated to the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. Balanced, smiling, with light in his eyes, reliable - that's how his family and colleagues knew him, that's how we remembered him. "I have seen two wars in my 40 years - in Iraq and in Ukraine. And if he went to Iraq due to lack of work, he joined the Russian-Ukrainian war consciously. Even during the Revolution of Dignity, he helped activists with money, medicine and clothes. And immediately after the annexation of Crimea, he went to defend the borders of Ukraine as part of the 95th Brigade. Until two months we were in reserve and constantly asked when we would be sent to the front. I remember an acquaintance of the colonel telling me: Don't worry, the war will be enough for your age. It's just beginning "I remembered those words" - Ruslan said then. Bright memory of a warrior who has a wife and two little daughters left We mourn with you. Heroes do not die! Read also: The total combat losses Russian army in Ukraine from 24.02 to 01.05 - plus 18 tanks and 300 persons Another russian Ka-52 Shoot Down by the Air Assault Troops of Ukraine in Kharkiv Region Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. My wife and I had been wanting to take a cruise down the Snake and Columbia rivers for some time, so we finally succumbed to the advertising by American Cruise Lines. We flew to Lewiston, Idaho and crossed the Snake River to Clarkston, Washington to board their good ship, American Harmony, for a seven-day 567 sailing-mile cruise ending in Portland, Oregon. The ship holds 186 passengers and, on our cruise, there were 109, and they were still staffing up, flying new employees to Portland and driving them to the ship wherever we were docked. Giving in to more advertising, we signed up for a pre-cruise, a day of jet-boating through Hells Canyon National National Recreation Area, which is the deepest river-carved gorge in North America, with an average depth of 5,280 feet. The trip lasted six hours and covered 112 miles round-trip. For those of you whove taken a jet-boat ride, you know how exhilarating they are. And fraught with danger -- well, dangerous if they accidentally slam into a sheer wall or sink or tip over. None of that happened to us but still, it could have. There are of course, travelers, with thalassophobia, a persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water such as, well, Hells Canyon. When I explained how deep the river was, several people got off the boat. Probably due to their thalassophobia, not to be mistaken with aquaphobia, which is fear of water itself. If you have that, do you ever shower? The cruise underway, needless to say, we heard a lot about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, sponsored by President Thomas Jefferson, who wanted to find the most direct route across the continent for the purpose of commerce. And there was Sacagawea, a member of the Hidatsa tribe, who was kidnapped at age 12 and became a slave for a Shoshone tribe. Later she was sold to an English fur trapper with whom she had a son, Jean-Baptiste. She hooked up with the expedition and was a major player throughout their journey. She lived a brave and noble life and died at 25. We docked at Les Dalles, at end of the Oregon Trail; it's a stretch of a river between high rock walls with rapids and dangerous currents. In French "dalles" means "slabs." The name could also come from the early French settlers who thought that the Columbia River rapids reminded them of gutters lined with flagstone. Whatever the origin, you rarely hear it said the same by locals nor visitors. There, we visited the National Neon Sign Museum. The owner is a neon sign fanatic. He bought an old two-story brick building to house his collection of neon signs hes restored over the years. He did mention that 40% of neon comes from Ukraine. His collection was a real flashback with signs like Sinclair Gas (Dino the Dinosaur), OK Used Cars, Dairy Queen and Jax Diner. We also docked in Stevenson, Washington, so we could visit Multnomah Falls, the second-highest year-round waterfall in the U.S. To get to the falls we had to go from Washington to the Oregon side of the Columbia River via the Bridge of the Gods. This bridge was built in 1920 of steel, and it had to be raised 40 feet when the Bonneville Dam was built. As our bus driver delighted in telling us, it is old, rusty, needs maintenance and worst of all, was built by the low bidder. He told us this as we started to cross over in a 10-ton bus. We successfully transited the bridge, however, and arrived at Multnomah Falls, which more than lives up to its reputation as a spectacular sight, cascading 620 feet down the a steep, green cliff side. On the seventh day we docked in Kalama Harbor, Washington, to take a five-hour Mt. St. Helens scenic drive so we could see the snow-covered crater left by the volcano, which last erupted in 1980. On April 11, deep into springtime, when we woke up to a foot of snow, and a temperature of 15 degrees at the visitors center, which was closed. The Forest Service ranger let the ship know that he wouldnt be up there to give us a 20-minute lecture while we stood around in the snow not being able to see anything. Kalama hadnt seen snow like that since 1935, and on top of that their power was out. Cindy, our cruise director, would make announcements throughout the day in a sweet but insincere saccharine voice. After six days I asked Amy, a 22- year-old wait-staff person, if, after listening to those announcements day in and day out, if she didnt want to go up to Cindys office, rip the mike out of her hand, and say, Listen up, all passengers need to go to the rear deck ASAP, where were going to have a mandatory swim across the Columbia River. Lets go! Whats holding you up? Move it!! Amy, a nice girl from Alabama, said, No, Jed, Ive never wanted to do that. Oh well, there you go. I never got my hands on that mike. We also docked in Astoria, named after Johann Jakob Astor, an entrepreneur par excellence who owned the Pacific Fur Company, trapping beaver pelts for felt hats. One of his men wanted to build a bell tower on top of the hill in Astoria, so Astor agreed to throw some money at the project. In 1926, the 124 feet high, 164-step Astoria Column was built. The column serves as a monument to the native people of the region. When we got to the top, we were supposed to have an unprecedented 360 angle view of Astoria, ships, bridges and Coast Guard cutters, except it was hailing and blowing like never before. We retreated and decided to visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which had big ship exhibits and an excellent 3d movie about our newest nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan. Most interesting was a Coast Guard open sea rescue ship, which, if swamped, will flip over and right itself and you're good to go IF you can hold your breath or scream out loud in terror for 30 seconds in bitterly cold, turbulent water. The Coast Guard has a training facility out of Astoria because they can count on storm-like conditions 300-plus days a year. All in all, we passed through eight dams and locks, four on the Snake and four on the Columbia River, with a total vertical drop of 730 feet. Going through the locks is always fun except when there are high winds, which is why this entire area is called Wind Alley. Its not a good thing to have your cruise ship banging against the lock walls, and at one point we were delayed going through the lock until the winds subsided. Finally seeing the huge Bonneville Dam was a real pleasure. Remembering that this was an American flagged ship, I was surprised to found out that you couldnt get French (American?) fries on board, that they had taken out all their espresso machines because they broke all the time, and, worst of all, their wine list was "red, white or rose." I asked nicely if we could burrow down a bit deeper, so they showed me the actual wine list. Remember that we were going through some of the most productive wine lands in the world, and their list was low end Bev-MO! When I asked to chat with the sommelier, this was a confusing word, and it turns out that there was no one on the entire ship who knew anything about wine. Fortunately for them, I then stepped up as the on-board expert and they found some bottles of Lodi Zinfandel. Each night they gave me a bottle which of course, I shared freely. Real estate is a booming business, and the number of people pursuing careers in the field is rising exponentially. That means that you have more competition than ever before. However, if you know how to effectively market yourself as an expert realtor, you can stand out among your peers and make a name for yourself in this industry. Here are keys to successfully marketing yourself as an expert on real estate: 1. Focus on your Sphere of Influence You want to make sure that your sphere of influence is filled with people who are interested in what you have to say or regularly see your advertisements, but you cant just reach out to anyone. You need to be selective about who you choose as a follower or subscriber. For example, if youre writing a blog, the potential readers should have an interest in real estate. If they dont, they are not likely going to become a follower and may even unsubscribe. Initially, the majority of your real estate transactions will emanate from people you know either professionally or personally. You must find out who these people are and start connecting with them. 2. Be Consistent with Your Marketing Even the most successful entrepreneurs still experience the occasional cold-start when a marketing campaign fails to generate results. This is no different with real estate professionals. Dont quit and go home if you realize that your efforts are not bearing fruit. There are plenty of other ways to start marketing all over again, but its best to keep moving forward. Instead of being discouraged, try something new instead. For example, if your blog is not bringing in any prospective buyers for some time, consider posting on Facebook or Twitter instead. Maintaining a consistent branding of yourself as a realtor is the key to success. For example, you can stay in front of your target audience even if you dont have a listing by only sharing your blog post on Twitter or Facebook and sending postcards, emails, and letters. In this way, as soon as you have a listing, your target market will be ready to act on it. 3. Leverage Both Free and Paid Marketing Similar to traditional advertising, you have to spend money on marketing opportunities if you want results. However, it doesnt mean that you should ignore free opportunities such as social media platforms or press releases. Instead of seeking out prospective buyers on your own, you can use online tools that can help your buyers find you. Here are examples of free and paid marketing options. Free Marketing Options which includes social media networks such as: Facebook/Instagram can be used in positing ads on your page, which will be significant in spreading awareness regarding your services. Additionally, you can also create posts that include links to your website where prospective clients can learn more about you. YouTube is important in positing videos as well as ads on your channel. The avenue is important because it allows you to share information about your company and its products. Press Releases through YouTube are another form of free publicity that you can use to get your name out there. You can also send press releases to local newspapers and magazines. Google My Business is also an effective form of free marketing through Google. It helps you build up a business profile where you can add photos, descriptions, and contact info. Additionally, you can include links to your website and social media profiles. Email Drip Campaigns are another great way to promote your services. They allow you to send messages periodically to your subscribers. These messages can contain useful tips, news, and updates. Additionally, they can include links to your site so that people can sign up for your newsletter. Paid Marketing Option Google Ads are important in the process because they allow you to target specific keywords that relate to your product or service. Once youve set up your ad, you can choose how much you would like to pay per click (CPC) or cost per impression (CPI). CPC is usually cheaper than CPI, but its worth looking into both options before deciding what works best for your business. If youre not sure whether or not you need to advertise, check out our guide to choosing between CPC vs. CPI. 4. Joining Professional Organizations (local Chamber of Commerce as an example) Marketing yourself as a realtor requires a lot of work, especially if youre just starting out. But, its one of the best ways to get ahead in your career. By joining professional organizations, youll gain access to resources that can help you grow your business. Some of these organizations include: Local Chamber of Commerce This organization provides networking opportunities for members. It gives them access to other professionals who can provide advice and guidance. Mortgage Bankers Association This organization offers training programs for new realtors. It also has a lending program that lets mortgage brokers connect with lenders. Such an organization is important because it helps you develop relationships within your industry. National Association of Realtors This organization has a variety of benefits, including education courses, mentorship programs, and even discounts on insurance policies. Additionally, this group has a referral program that rewards members who refer others to join. 5. Social Media Ads (Video and Photo) Social media advertising is another great way to market your business. You can post images and video content related to your services. There are many different platforms available such as Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. You can also make use of paid advertising campaigns. The benefit of these ads is that they reach more people than traditional methods. However, they do have their drawbacks. For instance, you dont know exactly who will see your ads. Also, you may be charged by the number of impressions your ad receives. 6. Real Estate Postcards Real estate postcards printing is a great way to promote your business. It allows you to create eye-catching cards that can be sent to potential clients. You can either print them yourself or hire someone else to do it for you. When you send them out, you can put your contact information on the back. The use of this means is advantageous because it helps people remember you when they need help selling or buying a house. Additionally, it makes it easier for them to share your card with others. Conclusion The consideration of the above steps is important because they all contribute to the success of your real estate business. Theyre all proven strategies to help you build your brand and increase your revenue. Ruben Rubinyan, several envoys discuss Armenia-Turkey normalization process Ambassador-at-large: Armenia 6-point document transferred to Azerbaijan includes Artsakh status, security issues 35 people apprehended so far during Tuesdays civil disobedience actions in Yerevan Japan imposes sanctions on 71 Russian companies Turkey plans to open consulate in occupied Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh Police apprehend opposition marchers near Lake Yerevan 26 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia past 1 week Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan court session is held behind closed doors Situation gets tense during Resistance Movement march in Zeytun district of Yerevan Over 200 injured in mass protests in Sri Lanka Unidentified Indians fire rocket-propelled grenades at police department Armenia premier heads for Netherlands on official visit Armenia ex-President Kocharyan, former-deputy PM and now MP Gevorgyan trial to reconvene Azerbaijan establishes new border protection organization New South Korean president urges North Korea to denuclearize Azerbaijan FM says he had 2 telephone conversations with Armenia counterpart Resistance Movement kicks off marches in Yerevan Azerbaijan FM says Armenia's proposals cannot be called proposals Azerbaijan MFA: Armenia authorities have not refused to normalize relations despite opposition protests Azerbaijan hopes to get 7 villages in Armenia Bayramov: Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed in Karabakh Azerbaijan FM speaks against Armenia opposition China's central bank cuts yuan against dollar to new low in a year and a half Azerbaijan ignores points added by Armenia on agenda of forthcoming talks Process of including Armenian church in UNESCO World Heritage List is discussed in Irans Isfahan Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD lying once again American Armenians stage demonstration outside Armenia consulate Newspaper: Notification to be sent to Armenia Patrol Guard Service head today Quake hits Georgia-Azerbaijan border zone, also felt in Armenia Biden signs Lend-Lease Act to defend democracy in Ukraine Newspaper: 44-day war military casualties parents are summoned for questioning at Investigative Committee EU considers additional funds for eastern countries for a deal to ban Russian oil Armenia PM to visit Netherlands Germany's finance minister warns that wage increases could further fuel inflation Ursula von der Leyen travels to Hungary to persuade Orban to support sanctions on Russia NEWS.am digest: Armenia marks May 9, Shushi liberation; Azerbaijan opens fire on Sotk gold mine Ursula von der Leyen says unanimous vote on key areas of EU policy no longer makes sense Resistance movement marches through central streets of Yerevan US First Lady meets with Slovak President North Korea urges citizens to strictly adhere to antiviral measures in connection with COVID-19 Armenian TV host dies after falling into river Javelin manufacturer to double production of anti-tank missile systems Sri Lankan Prime Minister submits his resignation to the President Marukyan: There should have been half million people on streets now if people really wanted change of power in Armenia Russia envoy to Armenia: Everyone should avoid steps that could aggravate situation Oil prices drop in Saudi Arabia after COVID-19 outbreak in China Armenia army general staff ex-deputy chief: I will say its a lie if someone says it was possible to win 44-day war Georgia condemns presidential elections in South Ossetia ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party official says authorities plan to divide Armenian diaspora Azerbaijan continues attempts to appropriate Armenian Dadivank Monastery Bitcoin is trading at a low since the summer of 2021 Armenia ambassador-at-large: Whoever says 'they want Artsakh to be part of Azerbaijan' probably wants it Turkeys Erdogan to attend Teknofest in Azerbaijan System Of a Down members welcome opposition Resistance Movement actions in Armenia (PHOTOS) Journalist attacked in Baku 19 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia in past 5 days Novak: Russia has already started selling oil to a number of new buyers Putin: NATO countries did not want to hear Russia Two Chinese ships enter Japanese territorial waters China assures Australia of peaceful intentions in cooperation with Solomon Islands Holy Etchmiadzin clergy visit Victory Park memorial in Yerevan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let us live for new victories Armenia ex-defense minister: Wedding at Mountains ideologically impossible after change of power NATO Secretary General urges Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine Karabakh negotiation process did not fail under Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan, says Seyran Ohanyan Armenia ex-defense minister: Resistance Movements breakthrough moment already passed Karabakh President visits Stepanakert Memorial on May 9 anniversaries Armenia Investigative Committee chief on including PM Pashinyan as defendant: We have just accepted proceedings Heavy snowfall recorded in Armenia rural community, in May! Karabakh President: Shushi is in captivity again, Artsakh must always be Armenian and impregnable Armenias Pashinyan to Russias Putin: Memory of great past obliges us to strengthen our inherited friendly ties Armenia PM arrives at Victory Park accompanied by enhanced security Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan: For stateless servile creatures, cost of peace is homage paid to enemy Azerbaijanis desecrate Armenian church in occupied Togh village of Artsakh (VIDEO) Armenia PM: Blood of our martyrs who gave their lives to Motherland should not be forgotten Armenia premier, president, others are at Victory Park Armenia marks May 9 Armenia PM visits Yerevan military pantheon Zelenskyy and German Parliament Speaker discuss heavy weapons supply to Ukraine Bloomberg: Hungary continues to block EU oil sanctions against Russia Israel to abolish mandatory PCR testing at airport as of 20 May US and G7 countries introduce new package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus Syrian President visits Iran Canada PM visits city of Irpin in Ukraine Armenia's ex-president Serzh Sargsyan is on France Square Ukrainian media report on US First Lady's visit to Uzhhorod, Ukraine Marine Le Pen still hopes to defeat Macron in parliamentary elections German Parliament Speaker arrives in Kiev German media reports Russian hacker attack on German government website Resistance Movement rally in Gyumri ends: next rally will take place tomorrow in France Square Armenia Ombudsman's Office to monitor rallies also in Gyumri Media: IS militants fire seven rockets at Tajik Armed Forces Rally of Resistance Movement in Gyumri Germany registers steepest rise in diesel prices among EU countries since February Minute of silence declared in Artsakh on 9 May in memory of those killed fighting for homeland Bloomberg: G7 leaders to discuss possible new sanctions against Russia Ex-security chief John Lee named new leader of Hong Kong Xi Jinping Delivers a Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 Resistance movement heads to Gyumri with car march Andy Warhol's portrait of Marilyn Monroe breaks all records at auction in New York The US has held top-level talks with the UK on how they can co-operate more closely to reduce the chances of war with China over Taiwan and to explore conflict contingency plans for the first time, Financial Times reported. Kurt Campbell, the White House Indo-Pacific coordinator, and Laura Rosenberger, the top National Security Council China official, held a meeting on Taiwan with UK representatives in early March, according to people familiar with the situation. It occurred during a broader two-day meeting with their respective teams on Indo-Pacific strategy. Three people familiar with the stepped-up engagement said the US wanted to boost cooperation with European allies, such as the UK, to raise awareness about what the administration regards as Beijings increasingly assertive attitude towards Taiwan, which it considers part of China. One of the people said the Taiwan meeting spanned everything from how the UK could do more diplomatically with Taipei to discussions about boosting deterrence in Asia. It also included talks about what role the UK would play if the US ended up in a war with China over Taiwan. By Trend No insurmountable obstacles are seen in the process of "fine-tuning" the agreement on reviving the Iran nuclear deal, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministrys Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Vladimir Yermakov said in an interview with TASS on Saturday, Trend reports. "In diplomacy it frequently happens that the finish line is the most difficult section of the road. We see no insurmountable obstacles in the process of fine-tuning the restoration package," Yermakov said. "The main thing is that all the involved parties should proceed from the good of the case, but not from the fleeting domestic political situation, which, as you know, is a variable. In this case, we certainly mean, first and foremost, our American counterparts. We hope that their statements and highest-level assurances about their willingness to return to the JCPoA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the Iran nuclear deal - TASS) will not remain pre-election slogans of a figure of speech," the diplomat stressed. Speaking about the resumption of the Vienna talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal, the diplomat pointed out that it is a sophisticated mechanism of cooperation at various levels, from a political to an expert one. "The contacts have been ongoing in several formats with varying degrees of intensity for a year. The delegations and capitals involved in this multifaceted work retain their interest in the JCPoA," he noted. Yermakov emphasized that the Iran nuclear deal has no reasonable alternative. "It is crucial that the current US administration will rectify the mistakes and violations made by its predecessors. Washington should strictly comply with Resolution 2231 of the UN Security Council. A carefully calibrated balance of interests, which the nuclear deal was built on, should be restored, whereas the root causes of the crises and setbacks in the implementation of the JCPoA should be eliminated. It is generally clear how to do it," he said. By Trend Spokesman for Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said that countrys trade with Tajikistan in the last Iranian 1400 (ended March 20, 2022) showed a 453% growth as compared to the same period of last year, Trend reports citing Mehr. Seyyed Rouhollah Latifi said on Saturday that Irans trade value with Tajikistan in past year exceeded $131 million, registering a considerable 453 percent growth as compared to the last years corresponding period. Iran and Tajikistan exchanged 139,249 tons of non-oil products, valued at $131,038,584, last year (from March 21, 2021 to March 20, 2022), showing a 489 and 453 percent hike in terms of weight and value respectively as compared to the same period of last year, Latifi opined. Islamic Republic of Iran exported 124,737 tons of products, valued at $91,600,929, to the Republic of Tajikistan, recording a 535 and 459 percent growth in terms of weight and value respectively as compared to the last years corresponding period. Elsewhere in his remarks, IRICA spokesman pointed to the import of products from Tajikistan and said that 14,512 tons of non-oil products, valued at $39,437,655, were imported into the country from Tajikistan, registering a 263 and 439 percent hike in terms of weight and vaalue respectively. Construction materials, agricultural products, foodstuff, various vaccines and medicines, detergents, shoes, cloths, glass tableware, electronic tools, toys, etc. have been among Irans exports to Tajikistan, Latifi added. The Armenian opposition rally convened by the Resistance Movement resumed at France Square in downtown Yerevan. The opposition has already set up tents at the square to spend the night there. Seyran Ohanyan, leader of the opposition "Armenia" Faction in the National Assembly and former defense minister of Armenia, stated that there should be a struggle in every community, and the basis of this struggle is unity. "We are fighting for the future of Armenia, Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], for our sovereignty, freedom, and independence. Our whole history has shown that there has never been a period when we did not fight for our independence, freedom," Ohanyan added, in particular. According to Ohanyan, the incumbent authorities say that Armenias neighbors are strong, and therefore Armenians need to comply with them to resist them. "No, this is not so (). We must continue the struggle until the end. Prior to the 44-day [Artsakh] war [in the fall of 2020], it was possible to negotiate in such a way that the country will not be engaged in the war. But they [i.e., the current Armenian authorities] intentionally or ignorantly played with the fate of the homeland. Was it possible to see to it that we do not lose the war? () it was possible. It was also possible to achieve victory; but they [i.e., the current Armenian authorities] did not give a damn," said Seyran Ohanyan. Mainland reports drop in confirmed new Covid cases A man with pinwheels for sale sits outside a public park in Beijing. Photo: AP Mainland China reported 8,329 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for April 30, the National Health Commission said on Sunday, down from 10,793 a day earlier. Of the new cases, 920 were symptomatic, down from 1,424 reported on Saturday, and 7,409 were asymptomatic, down from 9,369. Excluding imported cases arriving from outside the mainland, China reported 916 new locally transmitted symptomatic infections, down from 1,410 a day prior, and 7,340 new asymptomatic infections, down from 9,293. Overall new local cases of 8,256 were down from 10,703 a day before. Mainland China reported 38 new Covid-related deaths, all in Shanghai, taking its pandemic toll to 5,060. Saturday's figure was down from 47 a day earlier. Mainland China had 216,587 confirmed infections by April 30. (Reuters) PayMe and BoC Pay to join consumption voucher scheme PayMe and BoC Pay to join consumption voucher scheme The public will be able to use two more electronic platforms to collect their HK$10,000 consumption vouchers later on in the year, meaning there will be six platforms to choose from. The new ones are HSBC's PayMe and Bank of China's BoC Pay. People currently have the options of getting their money through the Octopus Card, Tap and Go, Alipay HK and WeChat Pay HK. The government said on Sunday that people can use the new systems in the second phase of the voucher scheme, which is scheduled to be launched this summer. Officials hope to announce details of the new entries soon with the hope to accept registration in the middle of the year. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the introduction of more operators can encourage healthy competition. "We hope the arrangements can suit different people, and widen the scheme's implementation. With the further development of the electronic payment market, hopefully we can bring more discounts to shops and the public," he said. Chan added on his official weekly blog that people have gotten used to electronic payments in their daily lives, as they can now buy food and other daily necessities without cash. More than six million eligible residents have already collected HK$5,000 worth of vouchers last month through the existing payment platforms. Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday vowed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be arrested in a case relating to hooliganism and sloganeering against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation visiting Madina earlier this week, media reports said. In a statement, Sanaullah said: "They will not be forgiven at all for what they did. Imran Khan will definitely be arrested," reported Geo News. Referring to the FIR registered against almost 150 people, including Imran Khan, the minister said that there is no justification for not filing a case against those who violated the sanctity of Roza-e-Rasool. The government will not create any obstacle if any citizens comes forward and seeks action in this regard, he added. The incident relating to the harassment of PML-N leaders at the holy mosque was pre-planned, he said, adding that people were provoked to do this. As per the planning, a group of people headed by Aneel Mussarat and Sahibzada Jahangir arrived in Saudi Arabia from the UK for hooliganism at the Masjid-e-Nabawi, he said. "This man (Imran Khan) is bent on misleading the new generation," he said and asked if anyone ever called for a protest on Chand Raat? Talking about the plot behind the incident, the minister asked: "Is there any need for proof after Sheikh Rasheed's press conference?" Sanaullah said that the Saudi government has decided to take action against the people involved in the incident, adding that some people will be deported from the Kingdom. Nobody can even think of taking personal animosity and politics to Masjid-e-Nabawi, he added, Geo News reported. --IANS san/ ( 278 Words) 2022-05-01-19:10:50 (IANS) The Border Security Force (BSF) claims that it has been successful in doing away with the illegal supply lines for Indian cattle in Bangladesh after a clamp down on the movement of smuggled animals across the International Boundary (IB) between the two countries. The illegal 'haats' or cattle markets that existed across the IB have also been wound up due to the lack of adequate supply from India. This has happened over the last few years and Bangladeshis, used to cheap beef during festivals, without considering how they were actually consuming cattle smuggled from India, are now feeling the pinch. "In Bangladesh, beef is no longer a cheap source of protein. Five years ago, the price of beef was Taka 350 per kg. This year, it has gone up to Taka 650 a kg. The increase in diesel prices is responsible to a certain extent but the biggest factor is the drop in supply from India. Earlier, we would go to the haats and get a few hundred heads of cattle before Eid. Nowadays, all we can procure is about 10-12. This should be a lesson for Bangladesh. It hasn't developed the cattle rearing industry to meet the country's demand for beef. Nearly half of the country's demand was met through cattle smuggled in from India," a trader in Jessore said. "We have succeeded in stopping cattle smuggling along the South Bengal Frontier. However, India and Bangladesh share a nearly 4,000 km long border. There are operational challenges. A few heads of cattle do get across. I would say that the figures have dropped by 98 per cent. Cattle smuggling used to be a lucrative business, even for Indians, till the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took up investigations. Some BSF officers have also been implicated and law will take its own course. So far as the BSF is concerned, we are mandated to stop all kinds of crime along the IB. This includes the smuggling of cattle. I think that we have done a commendable job," a senior BSF official said. Till recently, thousands of cattle heads, including old milch cows and young bulls made their way to the Indo-Bangladesh border from several states across India to be smuggled across. There is a logic that goes around that a milk trader can no longer afford to maintain a cow after she stops lactating. The bulls born are of no use anyway and can land up as prime beef on anybody's plate. There is another school of though though. The milk traders can seek a humane way to end the lives of their cows or bulls by euthanising them. After all, the livelihoods of these traders depended on the cows that they now wish to discard. "They can work out a solution with the government. The discarded cows and bulls roam the streets, waiting to be butchered. There can be set-ups where these animals can be euthanised and pass away with dignity. Their skins can then be used by our leather industry and the remains can be put into furnaces. That is the best way. How can a milkman who has grown rich by selling the milk of a cow want it to end up as a part of beef biriyani, either in India or Bangladesh? There is no religion involved here. It is about respect. We don't even want our old car to be shredded into pieces at a junkyard," the member of an animal rights group said. An official in the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs spoke on how the leather and ceramics industries in Bangladesh had been surviving solely on cattle smuggled from India. "We have information that there has been an impact on these industries in Bangladesh. That is what happens when industries depend on illegal imports," he said. --IANS jayanta/pgh ( 652 Words) 2022-05-01-20:31:12 (IANS) By Trend Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Pakistans newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the al-Salam palace, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation and promising opportunities as well as the ways of developing them in various fields, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. They also discussed regional and international issues. The meeting was reportedly preceded by a welcome ceremony hosted by the Kingdom to honor the new Pakistani leader. A suite of high-ranking ministers from the Kingdom representing the interior ministry, foreign affairs, commerce, energy, defense, media, and more were in attendance. Before meeting with the Kingdoms leadership, Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabias Medina to perform prayers at the Prophets Mosque. Before arriving in the Kingdom, Sharif said via Twitter that his visit seeks to reaffirm the bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the two countries. Sharif was elected as the new prime minister of Pakistan on April 11. His cabinet was sworn in last week during a brief ceremony in the capital Islamabad. After complaints against actor Bill Murray and the suspension of the production house over inappropriate behaviour on sets, Bill Murray has finally given his first statement after the incident. According to The Hollywood Reporter, While Speaking to CNBC on Saturday, the actor said there was a "difference of opinion" with a woman that he was working with that led to the complaint and production pause. "I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn't taken that way," he told the outlet. There were no further details shared by him on the same, however, CNBC revealed that Murray, who talked about the episode during an on-camera interview with the business network at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting, "was optimistic" that production would restart and that the occurrence would be settled among him and the lady. "As of now we are talking, and we are trying to make peace with each other," the actor-comedian, who is also reportedly a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder, said. "We are both professionals. We like each other's work. We like each other, I think, and if we can't really get along and trust each other, there's no point in going further working together or making the movie as well. It's been quite an education for me." Murray said he's been spending time since production was shut down thinking about what happened quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. For the unversed, the principal photography of the film had started at the end of March and nearly half of the movie had been shot before production was suspended. In addition to acting, Ansari is also writing, directing, and producing 'Being Mortal'. Searchlight is scheduled to release the film theatrically in 2023. The movie is based on Atul Gawande's 2014 nonfiction book, 'Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.' As per Variety, Gawande, a practising surgeon, describes his book as "about ageing, patients' anxieties regarding death and doctor's tendencies to fall back on false hope -- as having the potential to 'change medicine -- and lives." The book takes a look at the limitations and failures of modern medicine at the end of a person's life. The movie's plot details have not been announced yet. Thus, the roles that Ansari, Rogen and Murray will play in the film also remain unclear. (ANI) Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today in Lucknow at his official residence. The courtesy meeting between the two personalities took place this Sunday evening, the second time since the two met last year on October 2. Sharing their pictures on Instagram, Kangana captioned her post saying, "Today I had the great fortune of meeting Maharaj @myogi_adityanath ji after his tremendous victory in recent elections... It was a wonderful evening Maharaj ji's compassion, concerns and deep sense of involvement never ceases to amaze me .. I feel humbled honoured and inspired..." Kanagana has been a vocal supporter of the personality of Yogi Adityanath, and had previously taken to social media for congratulating the UP CM on his landslide victory in the Assembly Elections 2022. The actor came in news recently when she opened up about an incident where she was sexually assaulted in her early days. The big revelation was made on Kangana's reality show 'Lock Upp' when contestant and former comedian Munawar Faruqui opened up about his encounter with sexual abuse. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kangana Ranaut's upcoming film 'Dhaakad' is slated to release on May 20. She is also set to feature in 'Tejas,' which is releasing on October 5 this year, while she will also be soon making her digital debut as a producer with the film 'Tiku Weds Sheru'. (ANI) April is set to be one of the hottest summer months in India this year and as temperatures soar, the National Capital Region (NCR) is experiencing a rise in snake sightings because the oppressive heat has forced the reptiles to venture out of their natural habitat in search of cooler places. As many as five venomous snakes were rescued from Delhi-NCR this week itself, as multiple sightings of snakes, including venomous Cobras and Common Kraits, have been keeping the rapid response unit Wildlife SOS on its toes. Earlier this week, the unit was called in for an urgent rescue of a Common Krait found in a warden's flat at Mahi Mandavi hostel at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The highly venomous snake was spotted by a professor as it was slithering along the main door of his residence. Shocked by the sight, he immediately contacted Wildlife SOS' 24x7 helpline. A two-member team of trained snake rescuers was immediately sent at the location with necessary rescue equipment and the snake was carefully extricated and transferred to a transportation carrier. In another instance, a 5-foot-long Indian Cobra was rescued from a farmhouse in Garhi Harsaru, Sector 99, Gurugram. Another Indian Cobra was also found at BPTP Park Prime, Sector 66, Gurugram. The snake had made its way inside the ground floor lobby in search of respite from the glaring sun. This was followed by a call from an employee at a factory in Mundka in west Delhi where a five-foot-long Cobra was carefully extricated from the factory premises. A late night rescue call on Friday took the Wildlife SOS unit to a house in Chanchal Park, Najafgarh-Nangloi Extension in southwest Delhi, where a Cobra was found slithering around the balcony. Wasim Akram, Deputy Director, Special Projects, Wildlife SOS, said, "Snakes require external sources to regulate their body. Thus, during summer, they venture out in search of cooler places. When encountered with a snake, one must remain calm and immediately contact professionals to help with extrication." --IANS niv/arm ( 347 Words) 2022-04-30-22:24:01 (IANS) The shocking incident took place on Thursday when a 24-year-old woman sustained serious injuries after her stalker allegedly threw acid on her. The police have arrested the parents and brother of the accused Nagesh, who is still absconding. Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar paid a visit to the Siant John's hospital on Saturady where the victim is being treated. "The entire cost of treatment will be borne by the state government, including the expense of skin transplantation," he said. The minister also provided Rs 5 lakh compensation personally. "The government will ensure that the accused gets maximum sentence after expeditious trial in a fast-track court. The message has to reach the anti-social elements. The victim has suffered 35 per cent burn injuries and she is being treated in the ICU," he said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had called up his brother Ramesh Babu after carrying out the acid attack. Later, they locked their house in Bengaluru and fled. --IANS mka/arm ( 196 Words) 2022-04-30-23:08:06 (IANS) With Gujarat set to go to the polls later this year, the top BJP leadership from the state on Saturday held a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi. Taking a swipe at the meeting, Kejriwal asked if the BJP will dissolve the Gujarat Assembly next week and announce elections in the state. "Is the BJP going to announce fresh elections in Gujarat after dissolving the Gujarat Assembly next week? Are they so scared of AAP," Kejriwal tweeted. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, state minister Rajendra Trivedi, and principal secretary K. Kailashnathan were present at the meeting with Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. After sweeping the polls in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party is preparing to contest all seats in the Gujarat elections. Kejriwal is set to leave for Gujarat for a two-day visit on Sunday. --IANS avr/arm ( 193 Words) 2022-04-30-23:25:05 (IANS) Chief Minister further claimed that "it was a matter between two political parties which is being portrayed as an issue between two communities." "There's peace in Patiala as of now. Shiv Sena, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal were there and they were their workers who clashed with each other," said Mann. Meanwhile, Inspector-general of police MS Chhina on Saturday said that as many as six FIRs were registered and three accused were arrested in connection with violence in Patiala. "A law and order issue was created in Patiala, in connection with which the Patiala Police has registered 6 FIRs and 3 accused have been arrested, including Harish Singla. The main accused and the mastermind Barjinder Singh Parwana will be arrested shortly," said Chhina. Tension had gripped Patiala after two groups clashed outside the Kali Mata temple on April 29, brandishing swords and pelting stones at each other, at a rally in which four people, including two policemen, were injured. (ANI) "Our Bengaluru team has completed re-ailment at 11 PM. Train services will now operate as normal," assured the railways. The train services were interrupted after Parcel Cargo Express Train derailed at Yesvantpur Yard in the Bengaluru district of Karnataka. "At about 9.10 PM, a minor derailment of Parcel Cargo Express Train occurred at Yesvantpur Yard. However, Main Line is not affected and trains are running through, but with minor delay. Our team is at the spot to ensure speedy restoration," Railway authorities informed earlier. "Train no. 16580, 16516, 11005, 06244, 16230 will experience some delay as lines 3-7 are affected. Trains are dealt on line 1 and 2. Inconvenience is regretted. Further updates will follow," they had added. The reason behind the derailment has not been ascertained yet. The railway authorities have assured that "the cause of the incidence will be examined and remedial measures will be undertaken, to prevent recurrence (of such events)." (ANI) "48 Group- D Employees working in various departments like gangmen, trollymen, gatemen, OHE khalasis and other staff who work hard under difficult conditions to ensure the safety of the trains were felicitated," according to South Central Railway. SCRWWO president Jaya Mohan while praising the work of Group D employees said that they play a major role in the image branding of Indian Railways. "Group D staff of the Division played a pivotal role during the pandemic. It is our responsibility to honour the good work done by the staff and boost their morale in everyday work. Railways is a disciplined Organisation because of such Karmayogis Collective and relentless efforts," she said. (ANI) "Farmer unions under the banner of SKM will visit Lakhimpur Kheri to ensure justice for the farmers who died during the violence last year there," said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secretary, BKU (Punjab) while addressing a press conference here. He further informed that the farmers from other states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana will also visit Lakhimpur Kheri. "Farmer leaders will depart from Punjab on May 4 and will join other farmers from Rajasthan, UP, and Haryana on the way to Lakhimpur Kheri," he added. Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on October 3, 2021. Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra allegedly ran over the farmers who were protesting against the Centre's three farm Laws. He was arrested on October 9 and granted bail in February 2022. Ashish Mishra surrendered before the magistrate at the district jail last month, just a week after Supreme Court canceled his bail and asked him to surrender in a week. (ANI) The Airport Authority of India (AAI) inaugurated a new 'ambulift' (ambulance lift) facility at Rajkot Airport to facilitate passengers with reduced mobility, informed the Civil aviation Ministry on Saturday. To help Divyang passengers to board the main decks of all types of aircraft, AAI has equipped 14 airports across the country with ambulifts to facilitate passengers with reduced mobility under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan). The facility is presently operational at 14 airports namely Dehradun, Gorakhpur, Patna, Bagdogra, Darbhanga, Imphal, Vijayawada, Port Blair, Jodhpur, Belgaum, Silchar, Jharsuguda, Rajkot, Hubli. It is likely to be operational at Dimapur, Jorhat, Leh, Jamnagar, Bhuj, and Kanpur airports by the end of this month. The ambulifts can cater to six wheelchairs and two stretchers with an attendant at a time and are fitted with Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning system. The initiative taken up by AAI under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) of the Government of India will provide convenient air travel to flyers with reduced mobility and also help 'Divyangjan' at airports where aerobridge facility is not available. AAI has procured 20 ambulifts for the airports which are having scheduled flight operations of Code C and other advanced level aircraft but do not have aerobridge facilities. The ambulift has been manufactured indigenously under the 'Make in India' policy, the ministry said. Procured at a cost of Rs 63 lakhs per unit, AAI is providing ambulift facility at a nominal token charge to the operating airlines at its airports, the ministry said. (ANI) By Trend Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs ?f the Lithuanian Republic Mantas Adomenas held the 8th political consultations between the foreign policy departments of Kazakhstan and Lithuania, Trend reports citing Kazinform has learnt from the press service of the Kazakh MFA. The sides discussed in detail a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation. In particular, it was emphasized that there was a trustful political dialogue between countries, and positions on many issues on the international agenda were fully consistent. At the same time, mutual support on various international platforms has become a characteristic style of interaction between the two countries. One of the most important items of the consultations agenda was trade and economic cooperation. Lithuania is currently one of the ten major trading partners of Kazakhstan in the EU countries. In turn, Kazakhstan is among the twenty trading partners of Lithuania in the world. By the end of 2021, the volume of mutual trade amounted to USD 454 million. In January-February 2022, trade turnover increased by 267% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 169.4 million dollars, with exports of Kazakhstan increased by 312% and amounted to 153 million dollars. The participants of the consultations noted that cooperation in the transit transport sphere is a priority area of cooperation between the two countries. In particular, the parties considered the issue of interfacing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route with railway intermodal terminals in Kaunas and Vilnius, as well as the Klaipeda Seaport. This measure will make it possible to deliver Kazakh and transit cargo to the markets of the Baltic countries, Scandinavia and Western Europe. The sides also discussed the state and prospects of cooperation development between two countries in the field of medicine, education, IT-technologies and innovations. During a separate meeting with the leadership of the Seimas of Lithuania, Roman Vassilenko and the Lithuanian deputies considered the development and expansion of inter-parliamentary dialogue, supported at the level of parliamentary friendship groups in both countries. The parties noted with satisfaction the high intensity of bilateral contacts between the deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and the Seimas. During the meeting in the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), Roman Vassilenko called on Lithuanian businessmen to develop a trade partnership and widely use preferences for foreign investors in Kazakhstan. The LPK leadership and entrepreneurs confirmed their willingness to cooperate, expressing interest in expanding their positions in the Kazakhstan market. India had reported 3,688 COVID-19 cases on Saturday. The active caseload now stands at 19,092, which is 0.04 per cent of the total cases. A total of 2,876 COVID patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,25,36,253. The recovery rate is 98.74 per cent The country reported 40 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative death tally to 5,23,843. The weekly positivity rate stands at 0.68 per cent. As many as 4,71,087 COVID samples were tested in the last 24 hours. A total of 83.79 crore tests have been conducted in the country so far. As far as vaccination is concerned, 25,95,267 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered during this period. With this, the total number of vaccine jabs administered under the nationwide vaccination drive so far went up to 1,89,17,69,346. (ANI) President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the 61st session of Bodo Sahitya Sabha which will be held in Assam's Tamulpur district on Monday. The session will continue till May 4. Preparations for the 61st session of Bodo Sahitya Sabha are in full swing and the organizers are ready to welcome more than 1 lakh people during the session. "It is for the first time in the history of Bodo Sahitya Sabha that the President of India will attend the session of Bodo Sahitya Sabha. The reception committee is now ready to welcome more than 1 lakh people," Assam Minister for Handloom & Textile, Soil Conservation and Welfare of Bodoland, Urkhao Gwra Brahma said. This year, the session is focusing on 'Stop Food Waste'. The minister said, "The delegates of Bodo Sahitya Sabha will be around 4,000-5,000. We are trying to make all arrangements to make this year's Bodo Sahitya Sabha session successful. This year, we have taken a moto and trying to spread the message of 'Stop Food Waste'." The Bodo Sahitya Sabha was founded in 1952 and has been working for the development of literature, culture, and language. It is playing a leading role in maintaining coordination among different ethnic groups. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha is preparing more than 40,000 scientific and technical terms in the Bodo language. (ANI) Amid the ban on the export of palm oil by Indonesia, the government has assured that the country has enough stock of edible oils. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has said that the present stock of all edible oils in the country is around 21 LMT (lakh metric tonne) while another 12 LMT is in transit, arriving in May 2022 in the country. On the oilseeds front, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's second advance estimate released in February 2022 shows a positive picture of soyabean production for the year 20221-22 at 126.10 LMT, which is higher than last year's production of 112 LMT, the ministry said. As a result of the higher sowing of Mustard seeds by 37 per cent in all major producing states including Rajasthan in comparison with last year, the production may rise to 114 LMT in the 2021-22 season. The Department of Food and Public Distribution is monitoring the price and availability situation and meetings are held regularly with major edible oil processing associations to discuss a further reduction in the domestic edible oil prices to give relief to consumers. According to the ministry, palm oil constitutes roughly around 62 per cent of the total edible oils imported and are imported mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, while Soyabean oil (22 per cent) is imported from Argentina and Brazil and Sunflower oil (15 per cent) is imported mainly from Ukraine and Russia. Currently, international prices of edible oils are under pressure due to a shortfall in global production and an increase in export tax or levies by the exporting countries. India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world and this sector occupies an important position in the agricultural economy, accounting for the estimated production of 37.14 million tons of nine cultivated oilseeds during the year 2021-22, as per the second advance estimates released by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. A close watch is being kept on day to day basis on the prices of edible oils so that appropriate measures can be taken to keep a check on the prices of edible oil for ensuring that the prices remain stable and the interests of consumers are protected. Special teams have also been constituted by both Central and State Governments to prevent hoarding and profiteering under the Essential Commodities Act. (ANI) Assam Rifles on Sunday recovered a huge cache of weapons and war-like stores during an operation near Kelsih, 19 km South of Aizawl district. Acting on specific information of possible smuggling of Weapon and war-like stores WLS near village Kelsih, Aizawl Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), detained four individuals in an operation conducted near Kelsih of Aizawl district, as informed by the officials. "The Assam Rifles team noticed and intercepted two civil hired vehicles in general area Kelsih and spot-checking was carried out by the team. During spot-checking weapons and WLS were recovered and four individuals were detained. Use of such war like stores could have endangered the lives of innocent people and led to various illegal activities. This recovery has prevented the loss of precious lives", the as per a Press Release from Assam Rifles, The Assam Rifles troops recovered three Pump-action shotguns, five .22 rifles, seven Telescope sights, 20 boxes of Air pellets, 1 Bipod, 10 PDF flags, 3 PDF Badges, four boxes of Safety fuse (2000m/ 44 kg), 24000 sticks of Gelatin - 3000 kg, 100 kg (approx) Gunpowder, 2 Vehicle from the area. Assam Rifles, "Friends of the Hill People" over the years reckoned to fight against the anti-national activities. This operation is a huge setback for all anti-national activists. The operation's success would go a long way in the establishment of peace and harmony, it added. (ANI) The kingpin of the illegal coal transportation in Barak Valley, who fled from police custody on Saturday, was killed during an encounter with police at Lakhinagar area in Assam's Hailakandi in the wee hours of Sunday. He was identified as Abdul Ahad Choudhury. "The police had arrested Abdul Ahad Choudhury in the morning of Saturday and he fled from police custody as the police team had taken him to the hospital for medical checkup," said Gaurav Upadhyay, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Hailakandi district. Disclosing that they had set up checking point at the Lakhinagar area on the basis of secret information, the SP said, "He was armed and was riding on a motorcycle behind someone. When he saw the checking point, he opened fire." "We retaliated and rushed him to the hospital after he sustained bullet injuries, where the doctors declared him brought dead," Upadhyay said. He also informed that the police recovered one pistol and some live ammunitions from the site. "There are more than 60 cases against Abdul Ahad Choudhury registered with the different police stations," he added. (ANI) The victim's son found his father in his bed with his throat slit and knife injuries. The victim was brought dead at Sushruta Trauma Centre. Cash was reportedly stolen from the man's house in Civil Lines. A security guard said he had seen two people trying to flee. (ANI) Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey on Sunday said that despite initiating action against the people driving vehicles in the wrong direction, people are still not following the rules. "Action against people driving vehicles in the wrong direction was initiated with the thought that they will follow rules. But it didn't happen. There's no fear of law among people honking without reason," said the Mumbai police commissioner. "I will have to sit with Traffic Police and discuss it," he added. (ANI) The main accused and the key conspirator in the Patiala clashes, Barjinder Singh Parwana has been remanded to four-day police custody today. During the remand from May 1 to May 5, Parwana is likely to be interrogated about issues linked to the clash that erupted between two groups over the anti-Khalistani march in Patiala. He was arrested by police in Mohali on Sunday morning. The accused was brought to Mumbai by Vistara flight from Mohali airport at 7.20 am. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Patiala team headed by Inspector Shaminder Singh arrested him at the Mohali airport. Tension prevailed in Patiala after two groups clashed outside the Kali Mata temple on Friday, brandishing swords and pelting stones at each other, at a rally in which four people, including two policemen, were injured. Police registered six FIRs and arrested three accused in connection with the violence yesterday, according to IG, MS Chhina. "The 3 arrested accused are Harish Singla, Kuldeep Singh Danthal, and Daljit Singh," Chinna added announcing the names of the arrested persons in the matter. The IG also asserted that none of the accused in the matter will be spared and the ones with whatever connection with the incident will be arrested. Stones were hurled and swords were brandished as clashes broke out on Friday afternoon when the Shiv Sena was carrying out a march near Kali Mata temple in the city. (ANI) Karnataka government on Sunday signed an MoU with Israel-based ISMC Analog Fab Private Limited for setting up a semiconductor fabrication plant in the state with an investment of Rs 22,900 crore ($3 Billion). The company will implement the project over a period of the next seven years with employment potential for 1,500 persons, an official statement from the State Government stated. Additional Chief Secretary in the department of IT, BT Dr EV Ramana Reddy on part of Karnataka and Director of ISMC Ajay Jalan signed the MoU in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Bommai, in his address after signing the MoU, said, "Karnataka is already a pioneer in the IT, BT and R&D sectors and this MoU with ISMC would make the State a place to look forward to in semiconductor technology". "Karnataka has signed this major MoU when many other states are competing to draw investments in the Semiconductor Fab sector. Karnataka government understands that it is not just the concessions or incentives, it is the conducive ecosystem that is needed to draw the investors. The State has the best infrastructure and skilled human resources," the Chief Minister said. It is a major stride in the semiconductor sector. There are challenges ahead. The MoU would drive us to turn those challenges into opportunities, he added. Welcoming the deal, the Chief Minister said, "This MoU is a significant agreement amid the competition among various states to attract semiconductor fabs. Karnataka understands that it's not just the fiscal incentives that matter but availability of conducive eco-system and overall ease in operations are also important." Lauding the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bommai said that the Union Government has launched the Semiconductor Mission and it has spurred Karnataka to lead the march in this sector. The MoU has provided a forum for technology and cultural exchange between Israel and India, Bommai added and requested ISMC not just to set up the plant here, but bring the latest developments in the technology as it evolves with time to this plant in Karnataka. Minister for Higher Education, IT, BT CN Ashwathnarayan and senior officials were also present on the occasion. (ANI) Karnataka on Sunday signed an MoU with Israel-based ISMC Analog Fab Private Limited for setting up a Semiconductor Fab plant in the state with an investment of Rs 22,900 crore (USD 3 Billion) to emerge a front runner in semiconductor and IT hardware sector in the country. The company is set to fully implement the project over a period of next 7 years with employment potential for 1500 persons. Additional Chief Secretary in the department of IT, BT Dr EV Ramana Reddy on part of Karnataka and Director of ISMC Ajay Jalan signed the MoU. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who was also present there, said that Karnataka is already a pioneer in IT, BT and R & D sectors. The MoU with ISMC would make Karnataka the place to look forward to in semiconductor technology, he said. "Karnataka has signed this major MoU when many other states are competing to draw investments in the Semiconductor Fab sector. Karnataka government understands that it is not just the concessions or incentives, it is the conducive ecosystem that is needed to draw the investors. The State has the best infrastructure and skilled human resources," Bommai said. Asserting that there are challenges ahead, the Chief Minister said that the MoU would drive us to turn those challenges into opportunities. "The Union government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Semiconductor Mission and it has spurred Karnataka to lead the march in this sector," he added. (ANI) Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maden) has reported a record net profit of SR2.9 billion ($772.2 million) for the first quarter, up 246 per cent from the same period last year. Announcing its financial results for the first three months ended March 31, 2022, Maaden said its sales surged by 64 per cent to SR8.9 billion from the same quarter last year, while its ebitda stood at SR4.4 billion, up by 101% compared to last year. The Saudi group pointed out that its phosphate business contributed 70% to the group's ebitda for Q1, 2022 followed by aluminium and gold segment which contributed 24% and 6% respectively. Maaden said the increase in profit was mainly due to numerous projects and plans implemented as part of the 2040 Strategy, which aims to diversify its high-quality products and strengthen its customer relationships. This quarter, the mining company also reported sales from one of its new plant, Ammonia Project 3 which started commissioning activities in Q1. One of the world's fastest-growing mining companies and the Middle East's largest multi-product mining company, Maaden has been ranked among the world's top ten mining companies by market value.-TradeArabia News Service Actor-Producer Vijay Babu accused of sexually assaulting a woman has stepped down from the executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The actor will stay away from the Executive Committee of the organisation till he is proven innocent in the sexual assault case to save the association from 'disgrace'. "Vijay Babu has sent a letter saying that he did not want to bring disgrace to the organization of which he is an Executive Committee member amid the allegations levelled against him. He would stay away from the Executive Committee for the time being until his innocence is proved. His letter (request) was discussed by AMMA and it has been approved," says the official statement of AMMA released by general secretary Edavela Babu. Meanwhile, Kerala High Court on Friday refused to consider the anticipatory bail plea of Vijay Babu in connection with the sexual assault case. In the anticipatory bail plea, Vijay Babu alleged that the actor who has given a complaint against him is trying to blackmail him. Earlier this week, Ernakulam South Police registered a case against Vijay Babu for sexual assault on the actor's complaint. After that, police also registered another case against him for disclosing the complainant's identity through Facebook. Ernakulam South Police has registered the case on a woman's complaint. According to the police, the complaint was received on April 22. The complainant alleged that she has been sexually assaulted by Vijay Babu in a flat in Kochi. The offence was repeated by the accused more than once, she said in the complaint. The complaint said Babu committed the offence on the pretext of offering roles in movies to the woman. Earlier, the police also registered another case against him for disclosing the identity of the complainant through Facebook live via his official page. (ANI) Acting on the information received by Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mumbai at 2 am on May 1, Indian Coast Guard Ship C-404 was deployed for the rescue of crew members in the sinking ship, informed Southern Naval Command. "Maritime Rescue Subcentre Beypore telephonically contacted crew of distressed MSV and ascertained that MSV was under voyage from beypore to androth loaded with Construction Materials, Livestocks, Cows etc," reads the official statement. The Naval Command further informed that the vessel was sunken in position due to flooding in the engine room. "All crew jumped to a lifeboat and was drifting in area. C-404 reached datum at 0420 hrs, rescued all crew members and took them on board. All crew members have reported healthy condition," Command said. The rescued crew reached the Beypore harbour by 6:15 am. (ANI) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a three day tour of Europe, India on Sunday once again called for cessation of hostility in Ukraine and to resolving the conflict by means of dialogue and diplomacy. In a special briefing on Sunday, newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra underlined India's position on Ukraine. "Our position on Ukraine has been clear. First, there should be a cessation of hostilities; second, a solution must be found out through dialogue and diplomacy," he said, adding India's view has been known clearly to various countries. PM Modi on Sunday began his three day visit to Germany, Denmark and France amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine that entered its 67th day. The Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister's visit is to expand India's bilateral relations with them in the areas of clean energy,trade and investment, digital technology, and defence sector. Responding to a question whether the Ukraine crisis will figure in Modi's talks with the European leaders, Kwatra said: "When the Prime Minister interfaces with the leaders, naturally issues of regional and global importance would also figure in the discussions." He also said that the discussions on energy security will be one of the key areas of discussion during PM Modi's visit as it has assumed greater significance in the current global circumstances. About the changing elements of energy security, and its impact on developing countries like India, he also said: "I am sure this would constitute one of the elements in the overall discussions during PM Modi's visit to the three nations." So far, India has not publicly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been calling for the resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. --IANS ams/vd ( 302 Words) 2022-05-01-19:33:12 (IANS) For the first time, the President will attend and address the regional language literary meet in the northeast region, which presents a complex linguistic mosaic and jealously preserved over 200 dialects. President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to address the valedictory session of the 61st annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) in western Assam's Tamulpur on May 4. The three-day conference begins on Monday. The Assam government has sanctioned special casual leave to the state government employees who would participate in the conference to be held ay Kachubari in Tamulpur under Bodoland Territorial Region. "This would be a historic occasion as no President of India has ever attended any literary event of any language in the northeast region," BSS President Toren C. Boro said on Sunday. Over 4,000 delegates are expected to attend the three-day conference from different parts of the world. A large number of people speaking Bodo language livein Bangladesh, Nepal, Tripura, Nagaland and West Bengal besides Assam. The BSS has undertaken a massive campaign and arrangement to make the event successful. It has also released a theme song for the conference. Inspired by the Assam Sahitya Sabha (ASS), the BSS was formed in 1952 for the development of literature, culture, and language. It is playing a leading role in maintaining coordination among different ethnic groups. The influential ASS was formed in 1917 primarily to promote Assamese literature. The Bodos (or Boros), once were a powerful and dominant race in the entire northeastern India but are at present struggling for the bare existence. Racially, the Bodos, the earliest known ethnic group to inhabit Assam with their distinctive culture and linguistic traits belong to the Mongoloid stock of the Indo-Mongoloids or Indo-Tibetans, an official document said. The Assam government recognised the Bodo language as an associate official language of the state in 2020 after the signing of the Bodo peace accord between the Centre, Assam government and four Bodo militant outfits in January 2020. According to the Census 2011, there are around 14.16 lakh Bodo speakers in Assam (4.53 per cent) of the total population of the state. --IANS sc/vd ( 369 Words) 2022-05-01-20:31:13 (IANS) A man in Bihar's Darbhanga district stabbed his aunt multiple times, killing her, on Sunday afternoon after a tiff over a sapling of a papaya plant, police said. Ravi Kumar killed his aunt Vibha Devi following a heated argument between her and his mother on Saturday. The incident was reported from Subhankarpur locality under town police station in the district. As per the statement to the police, Priyanka Kumari, Vibha Devi's daughter, said that her mother Vibha had planted a sapling of papaya plant in a house and she used bricks to fence it so as to protect it from animals. "Ravi's mother objected to the fencing and it led to a quarrel between her and my mother on Saturday. On Sunday, Ravi came into the house and assaulted my mother... he pulled out the knife and stabbed her multiple times. She collapsed and went unconscious," Priyanka said in her statement to the police. After committing the crime, the accused fled from the spot using a motor boat to cross the Bagmati river. Local villager Raj Kumar alleged: "Ravi is involved in several criminal cases. He was also involved in illegal trade of liquor and local police knew about his activities. Actually, Ravi was under the protection of local police. Hence, he is openly selling liquor. He used to threaten anyone in the locality with dire consequences." A police official said: "We have registered an FIR against the accused. He is at large. We are making efforts to arrest him." --IANS ajk/vd ( 265 Words) 2022-05-01-21:30:26 (IANS) Saying that Pakistan will thwart any attempt to undermine its relations with China, President Arif Alvi on Saturday sought to reconcile the ties between the two countries by paying a visit to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad. Alvi said that the "hostile intent" of the country's enemies was behind the suicide attack in Karachi that killed three Chinese nationals. The Pakistani President made the remarks during a visit to the Chinese embassy where he expressed condolences to the Chinese side over the deaths of the teachers, and strongly condemned the attack, saying that Pakistan will spare no effort to fight against terrorism and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country, Xinhua reported. "The victims were friendly ambassadors who promoted people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China," Arif Alvi said, adding that the terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). On Tuesday afternoon, a vehicle exploded near Confucius Institute - a Chinese language teaching centre in Karachi University - in which four people including three Chinese nationals were killed. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been resisting the Chinese investments in Balochistan, especially under the CPEC has claimed responsibility for the incident. The Karachi suicide bombing is part of an intensifying Baloch pushback against the USD 54 billion CPEC. It also spotlights the larger and deeper struggle for Balochistan's freedom, Dawn reported. Pang thanked Alvi for his visit and said that China strongly condemns the terrorist attack and has asked the Pakistani side to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. (ANI) The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Saturday (local time) condemned the "continued heinous terrorist attacks targeting civilians in Afghanistan" while underlining the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism accountable. Issuing a press statement, UNSC condemned "in the strongest term... the attack against the Khalifa Sahib mosque in Kabul on 29 April, where early reports indicate that at least 30 people were killed and many more injured." "The attacks follow several other recent attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including in religious minority communities, across Afghanistan during the month of Ramadan," the UNSC press statement said. The UNSC "underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice," while urging all the states to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions. UNSC member countries also reaffirmed that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," while also saying that "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed." The most powerful organ of the UN also condemned "the attack against the Mawlawi Sekander mosque in Kunduz on 22 April which killed more than 25 people and injured dozens" as well as "the attack against two minibuses in Mazar-e-Sharif on 28 April which was claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), an entity affiliated with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and resulted in more than 9 people killed and several wounded". A series of deadly blasts have hit Afghanistan in the past few weeks, with the latest major blast targeted at a mosque on Friday afternoon in Kabul killing at least 30 people and injuring many others. The series of blasts and vulnerable security conditions, especially for the minorities has drawn worldwide condemnation, including from the United Nations (UN), the EU, US and others. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres too condemned the blast in Kabul on Friday, extending his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a swift recovery to those injured according to Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq. The Taliban which is under UN sanctions over terrorist activities took over Kabul in August last year and has established an interim government led by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, a prominent member of the first Taliban cabinet. The country has since been facing a humanitarian crisis with economic distress and food shortages. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday discussed the return of American diplomats to Ukraine as well as an aid of USD 33 billion to the war-torn country with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to follow up on their April 24 meeting in Kyiv," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a state department readout. "The Secretary emphasized the United States' robust support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's brutal aggression," the readout said. "The Secretary provided an update on plans for U.S. diplomats to return to Ukraine, including initial visits to Lviv this week and plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the Administration's April 28 request to Congress for USD 33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid to empower Ukraine to defeat the Kremlin's unconscionable war," the statement added. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden asked the US Congress for USD 33 billion in emergency supplemental funding to support Ukraine, including USD 20 billion for military assistance. The request comes on top of about USD 4 billion in military aid the Biden administration has already committed to Ukraine, USD 3.4 billion of which came after Russia launched its military operation in late February, Sputnik reported. Secretary of State Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv last week and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During their visit, Blinken and Austin said that US diplomats were going to return to Ukraine in the coming week. US diplomats, who relocated to Poland in advance of Russia's operation, conducted a day trip to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where many of Ukraine's decision-makers had relocated from Kyiv, media reports said. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, after recognizing the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as "independent republics". Russia claims that the aim of its special operation is to "demilitarize" and "denazify" Ukraine. In response to Russia's operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. The war in Ukraine which has entered its third month now has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with more than 5 million Ukrainian fleeing to neighbouring Western countries, according to the UNHCR data. The war has also resulted in almost 3000 civilian casualties as of April 28. The casualty figures include as many as 70 children, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNOHCR). (ANI) "High wind speeds across the area caused rapid fire spread east toward Las Vegas and south across Gallinas Canyon yesterday. The wind-driven run exceeded predicted rates of spread, causing many changes in evacuation and road closure status. This dynamic situation will continue today," the fire managers of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) said in a Saturday update on the Calf Canyon and Hermit's Peak fires. The two fires merged into one blaze a week ago. Since then, the fires have burnt 97,064 acres and are 32 percent contained, according to fire officials. In the past 24 hours, the fires have spread over 30,000 acres and 1,020 firefighters are now working on extinguishing the blazes. According to US media reports, evacuation orders have been issued in parts of New Mexico. (ANI/Sputnik) "The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday's deadly attack on the Khalifa Sahib Mosque in western Kabul during Friday prayers. He extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to those injured," Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said in a statement on Saturday. "Attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including mosques, are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law," he added. Friday's explosion damaged the mosque's roof, which caved in on worshippers. UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov said that the blast reportedly resulted in the death of at least 10 people, and injured up to fifteen. A series of deadly blasts have occurred in Afghanistan in the past days. On Thursday, two explosions killed at least nine people and injured over a dozen others in Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh province. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the twin blasts. On Saturday, Afghan police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said that at least one woman was killed and three other people were injured in an explosion in Kabul. (ANI) Saudia Cargo, one of the world's most dynamic cargo carriers, has achieved significant growth in e-commerce shipments this year, mainly due to the success of its cooperation agreement with Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, last year. Saudia Cargo said the agreement created a thriving "sky bridge" between Asia and Europe, allowing Saudia Cargo to benefit from the opportunities arising from the growing global e-commerce market, said the company in a statement. Saudia Cargo pointed out that it had increased the number of cargo flights it operates to destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America over the past few years to ensure that it continues to meet rising demand for e-commerce and deliver on Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" strategy for growth. Cainiao joined Saudia Cargo's flight program in March 2021, linking Hong Kong SAR to Liege Belgium, via Saudia Cargo's Riyadh hub, with 12 flights operated per week. The freighter flight enables Riyadh to become the model of an effective distribution hub in the Middle East thanks to the strong partnerships that the company has forged with local players, it stated. Saudia Cargo's Regional Director (Asia Pacific) Vikram Vohra said: "The agreement has allowed us to benefit from access to Alibaba's e-commerce platform as online shopping continues to soar, boosted in part by the Covid-19 pandemic." "The partnership with Cainiao, which offers logistic services to more than 200 countries, is central to our growth strategy for this decade and sets the template for future cooperation agreements. Cainiao has become a trusted and valued partner," he noted. Dandy Zhang, Commercial Director of Global Line Haul, Cainiao's Cross-border business: "As a global smart logistics company, Cainiao has been consistently enhancing its logistics services and efficiency to satisfy the booming demand for e-commerce in Europe and Middle East. Our partnership with Saudia Cargo has been fruitful, and we look forward to strengthening our cooperation in the long term." "The company has increased its haulage capacity from last year, adding and only improving its space and tonnage capacity to haul e-commerce goods on different routes, that are cared for by highly trained personnel who ensure the safest delivery. The number of flights from the Hong Kong market grew by over 30% alone," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan avoided condemning the hooliganism and sloganeering by the pilgrims at Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque against newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation, terming the whole incident as a "public reaction". Worshippers present at the Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque in Madina raised slogans against Sharif and his delegation. Although Imran Khan refrained from commenting on the issue, he broke his silence on Friday, reported the News International. "We are not asking the people to come out. It's the public themselves coming out to protest as they are in pain and anger, however, I can challenge they [the rulers] won't be able to show their faces in any public place," he said. Further, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan said that his government was thwarted wrongfully by a foreign conspiracy and that the present government was also involved in the matter, reported the News International. He even added that the sloganeering at the mosque was a "result of their deeds". "A bunch of crooks has been imposed on Pakistan and NRO-II is given through foreign conspiracy, therefore, what happened at Masjid-e-Nabavi was a result of their deeds," Khan said. Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI), refused to take on the blame for the misbehaviour. The PTI chairman stated that all the party members were busy in Shab-e-Dua when the incident took place, reported the News International. Meanwhile, Anil Musarat, a London-based Pakistani PTI leader, denied that he was neither responsible for organizing the protest nor did he provoke anyone to do so. Sahibzada Jehangir, another PTI leader, asserted that he visited Saudi Arabia just to perform Umra and had no connection with the pilgrim protest. Earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister went on a three-day official visit to Saudia Arabia with his delegation, seeking an additional package of USD 3.2 billion from the Arab country. Sharif's decision is to avert further depletion of Pakistan's foreign currency reserves. During his visit to the Masjid-e-Nabwi mosque, a group of pilgrims chanted slogans, calling them "chor". (ANI) Iran's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Zahra Ershadi made the remarks at a UN Security Council session on the situation of chemical weapons in Syria on Friday, according to Press TV. Iran strongly opposes the use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, and under any circumstances, she said. "We reiterate our call for the full, effective, non-political, and non-discriminatory implementation of the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention)," Ershadi was quoted as saying. The Iranian UN envoy also called for preserving the authority of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the intergovernmental implementing body for the CWC. "We welcome Syria's submission of its 100th monthly report to the OPCW on March 16, regarding activities on its territory related to the destruction of its chemical weapons and their production facilities," she said. "It is disappointing that certain states parties have politicized the Syrian chemical weapons issue, preventing the OPCW from confirming Syria's compliance with its obligations, which could have resulted in constructive dialogue and cooperation with Syria," Ershadi noted. (ANI/Xinhua) Several demonstrations and marches are planned in and around Colombo on Sunday to protest the economic situation in the country. "The demonstrations are likely to make travel to/from/within Colombo more difficult and cause road closures and traffic congestion throughout the day," the US Embassy said. Sri Lanka is facing one of the worst economic woes since gaining independence in 1948. It is grappling with food and electricity shortages, affecting many people, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, heating fuel, and gas. (ANI) The emergency meeting between officials from China's central bank and finance ministry, as well as foreign and domestic bank executives, was held on April 22. "If China attacks Taiwan, decoupling of the Chinese and western economies will be far more severe than [decoupling with] Russia, because China's economic footprint touches every part of the world," one of the people briefed on the meeting told The Financial Times on Sunday. Beijing had been put on alert by the ability of Washington and its allies to freeze the Russian central bank's dollar assets, the newspaper report said. According to the report, Chinese officials were worried that such measures could be taken against China in the event of a regional military conflict or other crisis. The newspaper specified that a possible trigger for US sanctions against China could be a potential invasion of Taiwan. China has repeatedly criticized the US for maintaining official contacts with Taiwan, saying that such actions infringe on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and provoke instability in the region. Beijing has also threatened to take the self-governed island with force. (ANI) Former Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq was arrested on Sunday at Islamabad airport in connection with the Masjid-e-Nabawi incident. In the Masjid-e-Nabawi incident, protesters had raised slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation, Geo TV reported. Ahmed confirmed his nephew's arrest, saying that he just landed in Pakistan after performing the Umrah when he was nabbed. He further said, "None of us was in Saudi Arabia, but cases were still registered [against us]. Residences are being raided after the registration of the cases." Ahmed said that people could harass them (PM and his delegation) whenever they wanted. It is worth mentioning that the former Interior Minister is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan's close aide. Meanwhile, yesterday, Saudi Arabia police arrested five Pakistani nationals for "abusing and insulting" members of PM Shehbaz Sharif's delegation at the Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH) in Madina. The spokesperson of the Madina Police said that the suspects have been referred to the competent authorities after completing the legal procedures, reported Geo TV, citing Saudi Publication Saudi Gazette. "Their actions contradict the sanctity of the place and impact the safety of visitors and worshippers," the Spokesperson was quoted as saying by Geo TV. A viral video is in circulation on social media platforms that showed hundreds of pilgrims raising "chor chor (thieves)" slogans upon seeing the delegation making their way to Masjid-e-Nabawi. In a video, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and member of the National Assembly Shahzain Bugti were seen along with others. According to the Pakistani newspaper, Aurangzeb indirectly blamed ousted Imran Khan for the protest. "I will not name this person on this holy land because I do not want to use this land for politics. But they have destroyed the (Pakistani) society," The Express Tribune quoted Aurangzeb as saying. This comes as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on his maiden three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. Dozens of officials and political leaders have accompanied the Pakistan Prime Minister on his visit to the Kingdom. (ANI) Amid the prevalent economic crisis in Sri Lanka, a fisherman from Rameswaram agreed to deliver essential commodities to the island nation. Jesa Raja, a fishermen leader at Rameswaram, said that he would be glad to provide essential items, including food to the economically-hit island country, reported the Daily Mirror. According to the fisherman leader, "when people are suffering there, we will be ready to help them." Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin is also seeking to supply basic commodities to Sri Lanka. Jesu Raja affirmed that once the centre confirmed Stalin's decision, the Chief Minister should take the help of mechanised boats in Rameswaram for ferrying the items. Agreeing to Stalin's proposal, the State government has agreed to deliver about 40,000 tonnes of rice worth Rs 80 crores, around 500 tonnes of milk powder for children worth Rs 15 crores, and essential medicines worth Rs 28 crores. These supplies would reach Sri Lanka only through the country's Indian High Commission, stated Stalin, in the Assembly, as reported by the Daily Mirror. Presently, Sri Lanka is facing one of the worst economic woes since gaining independence in 1948. It is grappling with food and electricity shortages, affecting many people, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, heating fuel, and gas. (ANI) In an apparent retaliation to the criticism of the armed forces at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) rallies, banners inscribed with slogans in favour of the military establishment were put up in different areas of Islamabad on Saturday, reported local media. However, it is not yet clear who put up these banners on poles, road dividers, and trees in different areas of the capital city, reported the Dawn newspaper. Notably, permission is required from the Directorate of Municipal Administration, Islamabad for displaying or hanging banners in Islamabad, however, police and the administration officials expressed their ignorance about the presence of the banners. According to the police, earlier also, officials of different government departments staged a demonstration in favour of the armed forces on Friday and over 50 officials of the National Assembly Secretariat also took part in the protest against those who were criticising the armed forces, according to the media outlet. Moreover, a group of Pakistan Secretariat's officials also staged a similar demonstration at Pakistan Secretariat, said the police. Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, wall chalking was found against Pakistan Army and its chief, following which a case was registered. According to the FIR, a police team during patrolling in the area of Bahria Town found provocative remarks on walls against the national security institutes. This comes as the Pakistani Army is facing rising public scorn to the extent that the Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and his influential public relations department are desperately trying to stem the tide of anger against the military. The social media campaign, spearheaded by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, has spread dissonance among the army leadership about General Bajwa's failure to protect the army's reputation, Islam Khabar reported. (ANI) While Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a three-nation tour, including France, Germany and Denmark on Tuesday, he is expected to address the Indian Diaspora in Berlin as well as Copenhagen. Apart from bilateral meetings with leaders of several countries, two power-packed events have also been planned. On May 2, PM Modi will be addressing the Indian community in a packed house of about 2000 people in Berlin. Sources aware of the development told ANI that Prime Minister Modi is expected to be at the venue for an hour and his address to the Indian Diaspora is expected to be for about 45 minutes. "We are very excited to have Prime Minister in our midst. Artists from all over the place have been brought in for cultural performances, which will be brief. People here are really looking to hear what the Prime Minister speaks about his vision," Rajesh Nair, one of the volunteers for the event, told ANI. A similar event on May 3 has been planned for Copenhagen where about 1500 people are expected to attend. The visit by Prime Minister Modi is his first in 2022 and also comes at a very crucial juncture amid the Ukraine crisis refusing to die down. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-nation visit will have a substantial and comprehensive agenda during his bilateral and multilateral meetings. PM Modi will embark on Monday for his three days visit to Germany, Denmark and France. Addressing a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said PM Modi will be leaving on a visit to three countries for bilateral as well as multilateral engagements. The newly-appointed Foreign Secretary informed that Prime Minister will hold wide-ranging interactions with political leadership in these countries. He will also engage with the Indian diaspora and the top industrialists and CEOs during his visit. "PM's three days and three-nation tour have an intense schedule with a substantial and comprehensive agenda, including wide-ranging interactions with political leadership with these countries, the Indian diaspora and the top industrialists and CEOs," he added. Kwatra said PM Modi will meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany. The two leaders will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). "The 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) will be followed by a high-level roundtable where PM and Chancellor Scholz will interact with the top CEOs of both countries. PM Modi will also interact and address the Indian diaspora in Germany," he said. In his departure statement ahead of the three-nation visit, the Prime Minister said his visit to Berlin will be an opportunity to hold detailed bilateral discussions with Chancellor Scholz. "I see this IGC as an early engagement with the new government in Germany, within six months of its formation, which will be helpful to identify our priorities for the medium and long term," he said. Noting the long-standing commercial ties between India and Germany, the Prime Minister informed that he will also jointly address a business roundtable with the goal of energising industry to industry cooperation, which will help strengthen the post-Covid economic recovery in both the countries. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France during his three-nation tour to Europe will carry forward the high-level engagement between the two countries post the French Presidential elections, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday. PM Modi's visit to France will be third on the list of the three-nation visit, which will also include Germany and Denmark. This visit comes a few days after Macron's victory in the French presidential elections. Speaking at a special briefing ahead of PM Modi's three-nation tour, the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary said PM's visit to France will carry forward the high-level engagement between the two countries post the French Presidential elections. Kwatra, who was holding his first press conference, noted that France is an important partner of India in Europe and currently holds the EU presidency. "President Macron has just won the elections. India-France friends and strategic partnership has seen a great momentum, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron, as also their close friendship," Foreign Secretary said. "Prime Minister's visit to France will carry forward the high-level engagement between the two countries post the French Presidential elections," he added. Kwatra said both countries have continuously nurtured and delivered on the ambition of their strategic partnership, particularly in the area of clean energy and environment, people to people ties, digital and manufacturing in high-end sectors. Answering a question on key areas of cooperation between the two countries, he said, "We're aware that in space of strategic partnerships, India and France have a substantial and comprehensive partnership. Elements of this partnership extend to those parts which are our key priorities. Our focus is on co-designing, co-production and manufacturing in India. PM Modi earlier today said that this visit will also give India and France the opportunity to set the tone for the next phase of the India-France Strategic Partnership. "President Macron and I will share assessments on various regional and global issues and will take stock of ongoing bilateral cooperation. It is my firm belief that two countries that share such similar vision and values for the global order, must work in close cooperation with each other," he said in his departure statement ahead of the three-nation visit. The Prime Minister noted that his visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices. "Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India's quest for peace and prosperity," he added. (ANI) Marking its first long-term mission, the UAE is launching a new space mission that will send an Emirati astronaut to the International Space Station for 180 days. For this the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a new strategic cooperation in human spaceflight with Axiom Space a leading human spaceflight and infrastructure company. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: "We launched the UAE Astronaut programme more than five years ago The UAE sent the first Arab astronaut on a historic trip to the International Space Station... Today we announce a new cooperation between the UAE and the US to send an Emirati astronaut on the first long-term mission aboard the International Space Station. New milestone HH Sheikh Mohammed added: Signing the agreement to send the first Arab astronaut in a long-term mission of 180 days to the International Space Station is a new milestone for the UAE space sector. The UAE will be among 11 countries in the world that carried out long-term space missions." HH Sheikh Mohammed said: Our space sector is constantly evolving. The new mission will add new experiences and knowledge to the Emirati astronaut and the scientific community as the UAE continues its ambitions in the space sector. The deal will further strengthen collaboration between the MBRSC and the American space agency NASA, as the two entities will collaborate extensivly over the duration of the 6-month mission. MBRSC currently has four Astronauts training at NASAs Johnson Space Centre in Houston, this training will prepare them for long duration human spaceflight. Extraordinary progress The agreement between MBRSC and Axiom Space was signed at the Embassy of the UAE in Washington, and Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman, MBRSC, and Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, Deputy Chairman, MBRSC, along with astronauts Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla all attended the signing ceremony. The agreement was signed in the Embassy of the US by both parties: Salem Al-Marri, Director General of the Centre, on behalf of the Centre, and Michael Suffredini, President and CEO of Axiom Space. In alignment with the announcement made by HH Sheikh Mohammed, Al Mansoori affirmed that the first long-term mission for Arab astronauts signifies the extraordinary progress made by the UAE National Space Programme. Vision and ambition This momentous endeavour has been made possible as a result of the vision and ambition of the leadership of the UAE. Al Mansoori commented: The six-month mission duration will allow for in-depth and advanced experiments to be undertaken in space. Up until now, long-duration missions have only been accomplished by a small number of countries. The UAE will now rise to the ranks of this elite group after having entered the sector merely decades ago. He continued: The agreement with Axiom Space, as well as the partnership with NASA are crucial milestones in this journey. They reflect the vision of the UAE, which positions space exploration as an opportunity for enhanced cooperation between countries and entities in pursuit of the common goals of scientific discovery, and a sustainable future for humanity. In the UAE, manned and unmanned space exploration programmes are progressing concurrently. This mission takes place alongside final preparations for the countrys lunar mission, and it will occur in the wake of the successful Hope Probe mission to Mars. Strengthening cooperation Salem AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC said: "With the aim of strengthening cooperation between the UAE and the US that involves prominent institutions such as Axiom Space in the space exploration sector, we are delighted to announce this important partnership that will help us further advance our space programme. This will pave the way for future initiatives that will contribute to strengthening the UAEs position as a leading nation in the world of space exploration. He continued: The cooperation with Axiom Space and NASA is of strategic importance to us, as it will kick off long-term, scientific research studies in space. This is a breakthrough moment for space missions in the UAE and the region. Michael T Suffredini, President & CEO of Axiom said: It is our great pleasure to sign the agreement with the UAEs MBRSC, marking the first time a US commercial company has made such a mission possible. Axiom is proud to provide MBRSC with a flight opportunity enabling the first long-term Arab mission to the ISS. Conducting experiments The planned space mission to the ISS will include an Emirati astronaut and his counterparts from the US. The team will be conducting experiments and managing the operations of the station. They will be welcomed onboard the space station by a team of Russian cosmonauts as well as American and European astronauts. On board the ISS, the Emirati astronaut will conduct a series of complex and advanced experiments, and in-depth public outreach and education programme requiring a longer stay of 180 days until September 2023. The results of his mission are expected to have significant impacts that will benefit the global space community. The results of his mission are expected to have significant impacts that will benefit the global space community. The mission marks another important milestone for the UAEs national space programme, where another Emirati astronaut will be sent to the ISS, which will be the longest amount of time that an Emirati or Arab astronaut has stayed in space. Historic feat It comes after the historic feat of Hazzaa Al Mansoori who reached the space station aboard the Soyuz MS15 spacecraft on September 25 2019. At the end of his flight, Al Mansoori returned to Earth eight days later bringing with him important data and information obtained from several scientific experiments he conducted during his stay. With the success of the new mission, MBRSC hopes to inspire a new generation of Emiratis who will choose a career in the space industry and carry out research that will contribute to consolidating our position in the international space sector, where only a few countries have so far succeeded. It is certain that the Emirati astronaut who will participate in the new mission will write a new chapter in the UAEs aspirations to explore new worlds and provide practical support and real experience to benefit future generations of Emirati astronauts, AlMarri added. So far, only a few countries have been able to send astronauts on long-term missions to the ISS, and the UAE is the latest country to join this elite list. Once the mission is completed, the Emirates will take the distinctive honour of being the first Arab country to undertake a mission involving a prolonged stay at the space station.-- TradeArabia News Service Engaging in a witty quibble with US lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she slammed him as a "billionaire with an ego problem", Tesla CEO Elon Musk told her to stop flirting with him. Taking to Twitter on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez said, "Tired of having to collectively stress about what explosion of hate crimes is happening because some billionaire with an ego problem unilaterally controls a massive communication platform and skews it because Tucker Carlson or Peter Thiel took him to dinner and made him feel special." Though the US lawmaker did not name anyone, Musk must have felt that the dig was directed at him as he replied, "Stop hitting on me, I'm really shy". However, Ocasio-Cortez did not hold back and replied, "I was talking about (Mark) Zuckerberg but ok." Notably, Musk is known for throwing ideas, sometimes light-hearted, on his Twitter timeline. His tweets often spark debates on various issues, including free speech that polarises the twitteratis. He has also been quite vocal about his political beliefs as he expressed his repulsion to the Left ideology on Friday. "The far left hates everyone, themselves included," he tweeted. However, he added, "but I'm no fan of the far right either. Let's have less hate and more love." Twitter on Monday confirmed the sale of the company to Tesla Chief Elon Musk for USD 44 billion. "Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," Musk had said in a statement. "I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential - I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it," he added further. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Denmark will provide India an opportunity to shape new elements of partnership in the field of skill development, shipping, agri-technology, and mobility, said newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday. In a special briefing on PM Modi's Europe visit, Kwatra said that following the conclusion of the German leg of his tour, PM Modi on May 3 will travel to Copenhagen on an official visit at the invitation of Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen. Notably, this will be the Prime Minister's first visit to Denmark, but his third summit-level interaction with his Danish counterpart. The discussions between both the leaders will focus on bilateral issues as well as issues of regional and global interest. PM Modi and Frederiksen will later also interact with the business leaders of both countries under the auspices of the India-Denmark Business forum. Kwatra further said that PM Modi would also pay a call on Danish Queen Margrethe II who would also host an official dinner for the Prime Minister. "Like in Germany, in Denmark too, the Prime Minister will interact with the members of the Indian diaspora during a community event," he added. The foreign secretary noted that the substance of the partnership with Denmark has many significant pillars that include a green-strategic partnership which is a model of cooperation that focuses on renewable energy, sustainability, and green growth. "There is also a joint action plan for five years essentially focusing on the specifics of this partnership besides the ongoing cooperation in the field of wind energy, water management, circular economy, shipping, and smart cities," he stated. "The visit will also be an opportunity for us to shape new elements of partnership in the field of skill development, shipping, agri-technology and mobility," he added. Kwatra informed that on May 4, PM Modi will participate in the second India-Nordic summit with the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. However, prior to the start of the summit, PM Modi will also hold bilateral summit meetings with the leaders of Norway, Iceland, Finland and Sweden. "While the specifics of discussion and the outcomes with regard to the Nordic countries and in the summit would emerge later as we continue with the visit, India's partnership with Nordic countries is structured around four to five clusters, including green partnership, the entire space of digital and innovation economy, economy trade and investment linkages, sustainable development, and partnership relating to the arctic region," said the foreign secretary, adding that the summit will provide an opportunity to take these agendas forward. Notably, India is the only country apart from the US with whom the Nordic countries have summit level meetings. PM Modi will embark on his three days visit to Germany, Denmark and France on Monday. The Prime Minister's three-nation visit will have a substantial and comprehensive agenda during his bilateral and multilateral meetings. (ANI) "I am grateful for the signal of strong support to Ukraine," Zelenskyy said after Pelosi landed in Kyiv on an unannounced visit. The video of their meeting was published on Telegram. The US House Speaker said visiting Congressional delegation salutes Zelenskyy's leadership and commends the Ukrainian people for their outstanding defence of democracy. "Our Congressional Delegation was honoured to meet with @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv to salute his leadership and courage, to commend the Ukrainian people for their outstanding defence of Democracy and to say that we are with you until victory is won," Pelosi tweeted. Pelosi said Congressional Delegation travelled to Kyiv to send a resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine. "Our Congressional Delegation travelled to Kyiv and met with @ZelenskyyUa to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine," she added. (ANI) Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Saturday sent letters to President Arif Alvi and Umar Ata Bandial, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), demanding the constitution of a separate judicial commission to probe his "foreign conspiracy" allegations. Imran Khan claimed that both the Chief Justice and the President were in possession of a letter handed over to Asad Majeed Khan, the former ambassador of Pakistan by Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State, as reported by Ary News. "The PTI government, as reflected in the last cabinet meeting, was of the view that there was a regime change conspiracy to remove PM Imran Khan from the office," he said. "This is a serious matter, which led to the removal of my government through engineered vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly with the shifting of allegiance of allied parties of my government to the Opposition and purchase of loyalties of some members of PTI," Imran Khan added, as reported by Ary News. Further, after sending the letter, Imran Khan urged the President to investigate the matter. He even added that it's the responsibility of the President to look after his people and protect them from foreign conspiracies. But, the apparent silence from the Presidency as well as the Supreme Court "are creating a sense of betrayal and helplessness amongst the people of Pakistan," said the ousted Prime Minister. However, noticing Imran Khan's claims, the National Security Committee (NSC) had discussed the contents of the "threatening" telegram with the Pakistan embassy in Washington and concluded that "there has been no foreign conspiracy" to oust Imran Khan's government. Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has staged several protests across the country against the United States for an alleged "foreign conspiracy" to oust the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan from power who has been unseated after the no-confidence vote initiated by the Opposition was carried in the National Assembly. (ANI) The newly-appointed Foreign Secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-nation visit will exchange India's perspective on the Ukraine issue. Addressing the special briefing, Kwatra said, "PM Modi will exchange India's perspectives on Ukraine during his visit to Germany, France and Denmark." He also said that the main purpose of PM Modi's visit is to strengthen the multi-dimensional partnership with key countries of Europe. Referring to India's stand on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Kwatra said that India several times has made clear its stand on the Ukraine issue. "India has on a number of occasions made its stand clear on the Ukraine issue and I will just single out a few key elements. Firstly, we've always maintained that there should be a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and second, the parts to resolution go through diplomacy and dialogue and I think these stand pretty much capture what we have to say about the Ukraine issue," he added. Earlier, Kwatra informed that PM Modi will be leaving on a visit to three countries -- Germany, Denmark and France -- for bilateral and multilateral engagements. On May 2, PM Modi will travel to Germany where he will be addressing the Indian community in Berlin. After Germany, he will be travelling to Denmark on May 3, which will be the Prime Minister's first visit to the country. Kwatra also informed that on May 4, PM Modi will participate in the second India-Nordic summit with the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. However, prior to the start of the summit, PM Modi will also hold bilateral summit meetings with the leaders of Norway, Iceland, Finland and Sweden. And at last, PM Modi will be visiting France. This visit comes a few days after Macron's victory in the French presidential elections. Kwatra said both countries have continuously nurtured and delivered on the ambition of their strategic partnership, particularly in the area of clean energy and environment, people to people ties, digital and manufacturing in high-end sectors. (ANI) Baku [Azerbaijan], May 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Armenia has violated a ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh by firing at the positions of the Azerbaijani military in the border region, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "On April 30 at 20:55 [16:55 GMT], the Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the village of Zeilik, Kyalbajar region from positions on the state border in the village of Yukhary Shorja, Basarkechar region," the ministry said. The Azerbaijani side took corresponding response measures, the ministry added. The decades-long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia escalated in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and left thousands of casualties on both sides. A trilateral ceasefire declaration was mediated by Russia in November of that year and the sides agreed to a deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the region. This caused a political crisis in Armenia, where many view the ceasefire as a defeat in the prolonged conflict and put the blame on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. (ANI/Sputnik) Islamic scholars at a gathering in Afghanistan's Paktia province called on the Taliban to reopen schools for girls, local media reported. Scholars issued a resolution comprised of five points calling on the Islamic Emirate to reopen the school for girls in grades 7-12, TOLOnews reported. "We, the religious clerics in Paktia, call on the Islamic Emirate to facilitate the grounds for the education of girls under an Islamic structure. Islam is committed to the education of girls but under an Islamic structure," they said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Taliban's Ministry of Education (MoE) said the Islamic Emirate is close to a solution for reopening the school for girls. "When we ask the Minister (of Education), he told me the issue is close and a proper solution will be reached in the near future and that the girls will return to the school," said Aziz Ahmad Riyan, a spokesperson for the ministry, according to TOLOnews. The Taliban regime which took over Kabul in August last year has curtailed women's rights and freedoms, with women largely excluded from the workforce due to the economic crisis and restrictions. Earlier, dozens of female students in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul took to the streets demanding the Taliban regime withdraw its decision to ban girls from attending school above the sixth grade. Chanting the slogans of "education is our absolute right," the protestors called for the reopening of schools for girls in grades 7-12 across Afghanistan, Tolo News reported. According to HRW, women and girls are blocked from accessing health care as well. Reports suggest that women and girls facing violence have no escape route. Allowing girls into schools and other educational institutes has been one of the main demands of the international community. The majority of countries have refused to formally recognize the Taliban amid worries over their treatment of girls and women and other human rights issues. (ANI) Earlier in the day, the regional ministry of health told Sputnik that one person died and five were injured in the crash. "One person died, six more were injured in the crash of the Mi-8 helicopter in Transbaikalia," the emergency services said. The message about the hard landing of the MI-8 helicopter was received at 11:05 Moscow time [08:05 GMT]. The helicopter was returning from extinguishing a fire near the village of Maklakan, the press service of the Transbaikalia government specified. (ANI/Sputnik) In one of the latest reports issued by the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, the three Gupta brothers have been held responsible for capturing the parastatal electricity supplier, Eskom and provoking South African natives against their former President Jacob Zuma. The Commission of Inquiry also reported that Zuma helped the three brothers namely, Ajay, Atul and Tony in capturing Eskom, headed by former Minister Lynn Brown where billions were looted. The looting led to bankruptcy affecting the finances, especially the infrastructure. This in turn caused load shedding in many parts of the country. The four volumes of the report also mentioned that the Guptas targeted Zuma because they were confident that if they were able to use the people of South Africa, the country, and Zuma's own government against him, their mission of advancing their businesses will be accomplished. Apart from using Zuma for their own benefit, the Gupta brothers had installed their own lackeys at key institutions as well. Following the order of Guptas, the former South African President even dismissed senior officials and competent Ministers at parastatal organisations as well. This resulted in Zuma's ouster by his own party, the African National Congress even before he could complete his second 5-year tenure as the President of South Africa owing to public demand. "The evidence proves a scheme by the Guptas to capture Eskom, install the Guptas' selected officials in strategic positions within Eskom as members of the board, the committees of the board and the executives and then divert Eskom's assets to the Guptas' financial advantage" the report read. Presently, Zuma is fighting off criminal charges that have been pressed against him and serving a 15-month long jail term, since he refused to testify at the Commission. "President Zuma readily opened the doors for the Guptas to go into the State-Owned Enterprises and help themselves to the money and assets of the people of South Africa," reads the report. It also mentioned that the former South African President, "would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them." Further, the report also stated, "When one has regard to all the evidence heard by the commission, it is quite clear that the Guptas were in control of the Eskom board. The president of the country, Mr Jacob Zuma, and Minister Brown were manipulating the situation at Eskom to advance the business interests of the Guptas," Meanwhile, the Guptas are supposedly in a self-imposed exile in Dubai. Criminal charges against them are still pending while the three brothers from India's Saharanpur are forbidden from entering the US and the UK. (ANI) Warsaw [Poland], May 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The Defender Europe 2022 (DE22) and Swift Response 2022 (SR22) military exercises will be held on the territory of nine European countries starting May 1 with the participation of 18,000 military personnel, the Polish Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "Between 1 and 27 May, the exercises Defender Europe 2022 (DE22) and Swift Response 2022 (SR22) with the participation of Polish soldiers will be conducted on the territory of Poland and 8 other countries. There will be approximately 18 000 participants from over 20 countries training together in both exercises," the ministry said in a statement. Apart from Polish troops, military personnel from the United States, France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom will participate in the exercises, according to the statement. The 5th Corps of the US Armed Forces is reportedly responsible for the command. DE22 and SR 22 are regular defensive exercises that are not related to the current geopolitical situation in the region, the ministry stressed. The troops will train in various combat situations, including long-distance marches, bridging rivers, and fire training, the statement said. (ANI/Sputnik) The UAE has achieved remarkable results in proliferating the role of innovation and promoting intellectual property while encouraging innovators and inventors. This came following the issuance of a federal law on the regulation and protection of industrial property rights in line with the Cabinet Resolution No (6) of 2022. Terming issuance of the new Executive Regulation as a vital development, Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said the new executive regulation complements the legislative system of IP Rights and patents in the country by means of developing transparent measures of patent applications, speeding up the granting of these patents, and increasing their numbers in the upcoming stage. "The regulation assists in providing a comprehensive legislative environment that encourages innovation and patent applications in the UAE. It will further project the UAE as a top destination for innovators in various fields - including technology, new economy, research, and development," he noted. "Moreover, it will promote its position as a competitive and attractive environment for fundamental investments, hence boosting the pillars of the new economic module based on knowledge and innovation. It will also promote the UAEs leadership in global competitive indexes, such as the Global Innovation Index (GII), the Global Entrepreneurship Index, and Global Competitiveness Index," he stated. The regulation further lays the legal foundation for companies and individuals to bring forward their latest ideas and innovations, he added. Al Falasi said through this regulation, various procedures, conditions, requirements, and disciplines regarding industrial property applications have been clarified. It further illustrates various roles and stages through which the application goes, starting from the stage of application to the registering of the industrial property right, along with its consequent rights, privileges, and objections. This comes in line with the best international practices in the field, especially those relating to patents, industrial projects, Utility Certificates, integrated circuits, and the protection of undisclosed information. According to him, the Executive Regulation additionally considers key provisions stipulated in international agreements relating to industrial property rights, guaranteeing the speed, flexibility, and effectiveness of the inspection and registration of industrial property applications, and providing protection for owners of inventions. It further offers extra flexibility and concessions for patents and industrial property for entrepreneurship, SMEs, startups, academic institutions, as well as facilities and companies - including departments for research, development, and innovation, and international companies. All of which are set to effectively benefit from the industrial property services offered by the Ministry of Economy by registering patents for its activities.-TradeArabia News Service Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners'on Sunday warned of fresh fuel shortage from Monday due to the recent anti-government strikes in the country that had resulted in the suspension of fuel transport operations. The Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners Association (CPPBOA) issued the warning on Sunday while speaking with the local Sri Lankan media, Daily Mirror. The private fuel bowser owners had demanded a 60 pc revision in fares against the increased fuel prices. After no revision in the transportation costs, the association withdrew from operations as of midnight. To address the issue of fuel scarcity gripping Sri Lanka, the Power Ministry on Monday issued new guidelines. Kanchana Wijesekera, Sri Lankan Power Minister said that new guidelines for fuel transportation were issued to prevent fresh fuel scarcity, reported Daily Mirror. The Ministry is to increase the capacity and the frequency of the fuel carried by the railway fuel transport wagons from 40 pc to 100 pc to the rural depots. He has also advised cutting short the new licence issuing process expeditiously to one week from one month, as per the media outlet. It also decided to annul the operating licence of the transporters who fail to report for duties in the next two days and to take legal action and cancel the licence of the individuals who obstruct others who volunteer to come forward to fuel distribution work. A decision was also taken to increase the number of government-owned bowsers. Presently, Sri Lanka is struggling with acute food and electricity shortages, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is unable to buy sufficient fuel and gas, while the people are being deprived of basic amenities as well. (ANI) After Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution seeking permission to supply rice and essential medicines as aid to Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that Tamil Nadu Government's assistance can supplement what is being provided by the Govt of India and informed that Sri Lanka prefers inclusive distribution. This comes as the resolution piloted by Chief Minister MK Stalin was unanimously passed by the house, including the opposition AIADMK and the BJP. Jaishankar in a letter addressed to CM Stalin said that the mission in Colombo was consulted over Tamil Nadu's request. The Ministry in a letter stated, "MEA offers that Tamil Nadu Government's assistance can supplement what is being provided by the Govt of India. The Government of Sri Lanka's preference is for inclusive distribution." On the proposal by the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide humanitarian assistance to the Island nation, Jaishankar noted the TN government can direct TN Chief Secretary to coordinate with the Government of India for supplying the relief material. The EAM said, "You may wish to direct TN Chief Secretary to coordinate with Government of India for supply and distribution of humanitarian relief material to Sri Lankan Government. Relief material will be shared with Government of Sri Lanka to be distributed appropriately in the current circumstances." Presently, Sri Lanka is struggling with acute food and electricity shortages, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is unable to buy sufficient fuel and gas, while the people are being deprived of basic amenities as well. (ANI) Calling the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son, Hamza Shehbaz a "fake chief minister", Punjab Governor Omer Cheema on Sunday said that his official residence was "captured" on Saturday to hold Shehbaz's oath-taking ceremony. Cheema made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Lahore. He also said that "the oath-taking of Hamza Shehbaz was illegal after I rejected the resignation of Usman Buzdar," reported the Express Tribune. Cheema maintained that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former CM Buzdar's resignation could not be accepted by the ex-governor as it was addressed to the Prime Minister instead of the governor. Hamza Shahbaz was elected as the new chief minister with 197 votes on April 16, just a few days after the ouster of PTI chairman Imran Khan's government. A day later he was scheduled to take the oath but Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema "postponed" the oath-taking ceremony as he ruled his election controversial due to the ruckus that took place in the Assembly, the report said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again sent a summary for the removal of the governor of Punjab to President Dr Arif Alvi, according to reports. According to the law, 10 days after the summary of removal is sent the Punjab government would stand dismissed, following which the premier will send advice to the president for the appointment of a new governor. Currently, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema has 10 days left and will be removed from office after this time period is over. (ANI) Former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) and a key leader before the Taliban takeover last year, Abdullah Abdullah left Afghanistan on Saturday evening to spend a few days with his family, media reports said. "As I leave the country for a few days to be with family during Eid-ul Fitr, I want to offer prayers for the souls of all martyrs who fell victim to terror, while I wish my compatriots Eid Mubarak as we end this Holy season," Abdullah said in a tweet. Apart from the chairmanship of HCNR, Abdullah had held other key portfolios in the Afghan government including being the Foreign Minister of the country, as well as the chief executive, under the presidency of Ashraf Ghani. "Our country, men & women, need to come together to participate in national mechanisms to decide about the future based on fundamental rights & essential Islamic & national values we hold dear as our nation goes through challenging times. I look forward to a participatory process that will offer solutions soon," Abdullah further said in the tweet. Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah are among Afghanistan's political figures who have remained in Afghanistan even after the fall of the previous government, although there have been reports in recent months of them being under house arrest and banned from travelling, Tolo News reported. Most of the people, who were associated with the Afghan government left the country after the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August last year fearing a crackdown by the new Taliban regime. The Taliban regime has sought the return of the former government officials and intellectuals, seeking their cooperation to 'rebuild the country'. Recently, the Taliban cabinet set up a special commission called the "Return and Communication Commission" to address the return of politicians and figures from the previous government, the report said. "The commission's task is to reach out to Afghan politicians living abroad and gain their trust so that they can return to Afghanistan and contribute to Afghanistan's political structure," Ahmad Munib Rasa, a political analyst was quoted as saying. (ANI) Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday (local time) arrived in Honduras as part of her ongoing eight-day visit to South America where she is expected to hold talks with the country's leadership as well as take part in other events. "Delighted to arrive in Honduras, looking forward to productive meetings with Honduran leadership, address to @UNITEC_hn students under #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, the curtain raiser event for IDY 2022 & foundation- laying ceremony of Jamastran Valley Irrigation Project funded by GOI," Meenakshi Lekhi said in a tweet. MoS Lekhi is expected to call on the President of Honduras, Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento. She will also meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras, Ambassador Eduardo Enrique Reina to discuss various bilateral, regional and international issues, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement. During her visit, MoS Lekhi will address the students at Universidad Tecnologica Centroamericana (UNITEC) or Central American Technological University, as part of her visit under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, which commemorates 75 years of India's independence. The MoS will also attend the curtain raised event for the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2022, as well as attend the foundation laying ceremony of the Jamastran Valley Irrigation Project that has been funded by the Government of India. Lekhi has been on an official visit to Panama, Honduras and Chile since April 28, and the visit is scheduled to culminate on May 5. This is her first visit to these countries. Earlier she had visited Colombia in September last year. (ANI) May 1Editor's note: This story is part of a Dayton Daily News investigative project titled Billions in COVID aid: Where it's going. Go here for more on this project, including searchable databases showing how your community spent CARES Act funds and now much it is getting in American Rescue Plan funds. Local elected officials deciding how to spend hundreds of millions from the federal American Rescue Plan said they are focusing on sustainable projects that will benefit those who need it most. The Dayton Daily News surveyed area residents and statewide advocacy groups on the left and right, and took their suggestions, questions and concerns to local government officials. This is part of a new project tracking how billions of dollars in COVID relief funds are being spent locally. Among dozens who responded to an online Dayton Daily News survey, recurring concerns included who will decide where this money will go and how will they make sure it is going to people who really need it. "Is it being truly spent to address the needs of our community?" a respondent from Springfield asked. The American Rescue Plan Act allocated $718.7 million combined to the 230 governments in our nine-county region. Fifty-three counties, cities and townships received more than $1 million; 11 received more than $10 million. Dayton received the most, $138 million. Elected officials city councilmembers, county commissioners, township trustees, etc. ultimately will decide how the money is spent. Some restrictions exist, but not many. The money has to be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. "Our overarching goal is we want to look back 50 years from now and still tell you how these dollars were spent in our community, we want projects that will have a long-term lasting impact for our community," said Bryan Heck, city manager of Springfield, which received $44.2 million, the second most for an area city. Story continues Policy Matters Ohio, a liberal think tank, recently released a "menu" of ways state and local leaders could make a lasting impact with ARPA funds. "This money is not a normal, regular course of business investment in communities," said Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio executive director. "These funds were designated for some specific purposes, to make impacts on communities and the lives of people who were hardest hit by the pandemic, and treating this as business as usual goes against those stated purposes." Recommendations from her group include expanding child care, promoting alternatives to armed policing, providing hazard pay to front-line employees, providing paid leave for public employees, and expanding job training through apprenticeship programs. The Buckeye Institute, a conservative think tank, says the money should be used for one-time projects like infrastructure, water and sewer projects, and expanding broadband. It also advocates expanding the state's Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison program to reduce prison overcrowding. "You're seeing a surplus of funds coming in to fill a hole that wasn't really a hole," said Rea Hederman, vice president of policy at the Buckeye Institute. "What you don't want to do is take a one-time amount of money and use it for permanent spending programs." Was community input sought? People who took our survey asked how local leaders are surmising what the public wants as they decide how to spend this money. "What has (each) community wanted? Have they been surveyed?" asked Annie Sonner of Darke County. Darke County Commission President Matt Aultman said they created an ARPA committee consisting of himself and other county office holders that holds monthly public meetings attended by village and township officials, as well as the public. The next meeting is in June. He encourages anyone interested in discussions of how the county will spend its $9.9 million to sign up for meeting notices and attend. "You have your sleepless nights thinking about this stuff," he said. "It's a transformative amount of money that you have to look at the impact more than one or two years down the road." Most of the local governments that received the largest amounts of ARPA funds didn't do a significant campaign to seek out specific public input. Dayton did the most on this front. City leaders conducted an online survey from June 28 to July 9, solicited project proposals in September and October, and held public presentations in December before adopting a plan Dec. 15 to spend $138 million. The city contracted with consultant Guidehouse Inc. to help develop and administer its plan under a contract that runs through 2026 for up to nearly $2.1 million. "From the get-go we said we've got to use these dollars in an effective and strategic way, we included citizen and resident input, and I'm committed to being involved at every stage of this to really make sure it does have an impact," City Commissioner Darryl Fairchild said. Still, the city has been criticized for a process some say was confusing and rushed. Resident Sade Dike criticized the city for not releasing demographic information about survey respondents, and organized a petition asking the city to extend the deadline to apply for funds for community projects. Policy Matters Ohio endorses a process called participatory budgeting as governments consider how to use ARPA funds. In Cleveland, for example, a group called Participatory Budgeting Cleveland or PB CLE is proposing Cleveland award them $30.8 million of the $512 million it is receiving. That number is significant because Cleveland's poverty rate is 30.8%. PB CLE would then conduct an intensive public input process to determine how the community wants the relief money spent. "There is not a rushed timeline on this and I hope our local government elected leaders look at it that way and really invest in that engagement with the community," said Daniel Ortiz, one of the leaders of PB CLE. The decision process Local county governments were some of the largest recipients of ARPA funds, and by and large didn't do surveys or community forums. Several formed special committees that hold public meetings to discuss how the money will be spent. Montgomery County's $103.3 million is the second-largest ARPA award in the region. "The process was to survey elected officials and agency directors and have them develop a list of priorities they would like to use the funding for, based on the ARPA guidelines that were established at that time," said county spokeswoman Deb Decker. "Once every department created their lists, and it was determined the requests met federal requirements, the items were weighted based on impact and the level it improved public service." Most of the county's money will be used to fund and improve county facilities and operations. "We believe these types of investments will benefit all county citizens," Decker said. Warren County Commissioner Dave Young they are deciding how to spend $45.6 million said surveys and community forums don't necessarily reflect what the community needs or wants. "You only get the super-interested parties that might have a vested interest in money flowing to this area or that," he said. "We're the elected representatives." Clark County ($26 million) and Miami County ($20.8 million) commissioners mentioned forming committees similar to Darke County. Butler County ($74.4 million) reached out to service agencies and asked them to submit proposals, which were ranked by county commissioners and are now being vetted through a process that will include public meetings, Butler County Commission President Don Dixon said. "We will have a public discussion about it," he said. Greene County ($32.8 million) hired consultant The Greentree Group for up to $250,000 to help prioritize projects. "We used a consultant so everyone was arms length from what the decision making process was. We took the politics out of the process," said Greene County Commission President Tom Koogler. "It's a one-time shot, and we want to make sure we are going to get the biggest bang for our dollars." Greentree in January submitted a report ranking unsolicited community projects based on criteria including sustainability, whether it meets federal guidelines, and whether it's realistic. Top ranked projects were grants to United Way of Greater Dayton for emergency response; providing $1 million to Wright State University School of Medicine for a simulation center; and $46,190 for Michael's House upgrades and operations. Equity, sustainability, transparency Several survey respondents expressed concerns about whether the money would go to people who really need it. Policy Matters Ohio notes that the U.S. Treasury's guidance emphasized using the money to assist disadvantaged communities that suffered a disproportionate impact from the pandemic. The Health Equity Network of Ohio in April released a health equity assessment tool that governments can use to assess how projects impact the health of communities, taking into account determinants of health such as income, education, family, housing, food security and access to transportation. "Policy decisions impact the determinants of health and ultimately the health of a community and should be considered in the decision-making process," the tool's authors wrote. Dayton's plan specifies assisting targeted ZIP codes and minority-owned businesses. Other communities say they have initiatives that will help disadvantaged populations in other ways. Butler County is looking at working with food pantries, homeless shelters and senior centers, Dixon said, as well as job training and creation. "We're not trying to just make sure they have the basic shelter and food and clothing today, it's to help them move forward so they can get out of the poverty position into job training and a job earning money and being on their own," he said. Springfield is looking at addressing homelessness and a lack of affordable housing, Heck said. "A large portion of the dollars are committed to that," he said. He also said that paying for water and sewer projects with ARPA money, like Springfield and many other local government are looking at, will keep utility costs lower, benefitting all residents. Warren County is looking at helping working families access child care. Clark County is exploring creating a facility to divert people with mental health and addiction issues into treatment instead of jail. Montgomery County said its construction contracts will benefit minority vendors, and it is improving services and facilities for several county programs that assist vulnerable populations. Local officials unanimously insist that projects and programs being paid for with ARPA are either temporary or will be self-sustaining so they won't need to cut services or increase taxes to pay for it when the one-time federal money is gone. Finally, as local leaders make these decisions, advocates and residents say transparency is key. "Leaders need transparent accounting for every penny that they spend," said a survey respondent from Bellbrook. Some governments, such as Clark County and Miami County, have launched websites listing each project, its cost and the voted resolution authorizing it. "We're trying to be as transparent and open to the public as we can," said Miami County Commission President Ted Mercer. Loading... The allure of taking to the open road has never been more apparent. In April, the travel tip website The Vacationer anonymously polled 1,096 Americans to find out a bit more about their summer vacation plans. According to the results, nearly 80% say they're planning to take a road trip. And sure, a domestic, all-American road trip sounds great, but why not dream a little bigger? Why not consider a road trip further afield? Need some inspiration? We suggest looking into New Zealand, where the country's natural grandeur is best explored by car. There are many beautiful sights to see in New Zealand, but if an epic road trip is up your alley, the Great Coast Road is an adventure that is well worth the journey. The Great Coast Road isn't only great in name. It's made its way to the top 10 coastal drives in the world, according to Lonely Planet, and is a favored tourist destination revered for its stunning scenery. Think Big Sur, but in the South Pacific, with wild crashing waves to the right and lush rainforests to the left. This scenic stretch of State Highway 6 can be explored in either direction, but a popular option is to start in Westport and venture south along the coast to Greymouth, where the road seamlessly blends into the environment. Sunset at Motukiekie Beach, West Coast, New Zealand Getty Images There are plenty of salty vistas along the way, which are excellent places to stop and take in the views and get a blast of fresh ocean air. "Typically, the drive takes around 90 minutes, but our recommendation would be for you to slow down and enjoy the journey," Sarah Handley, general manager of Tourism New Zealand in the Americas and Europe, tells Travel + Leisure. "There are so many beaches and nooks and crannies that you may want to take the whole day." Fox River beach, State Highway 6, Paparoa National Park, West Coast, New Zealand Dora Dalton/Getty Images Some road-trippers veer off to Cape Foulwind to see the seal colonies and catch a surf break at Nine Mile Beach, while others set Charleston's historic goldfields as their first port of call. Story continues One of the most popular stops on the drive is the Paparoa National Park, which is a short 35-mile drive south of Westport. The park is home to one of New Zealand's Great Walks, the Paparoa Track, where you can do a multi-day, lodge-based hike. But if you're doing a day trip, set out on the Truman Track, a 30-minute round trip hike through a magnificent subtropical rainforest that leads out to the Tasman Sea. There are waterfalls, panoramic coastal views, and rare native plant life, including the national fern, nikau palms, and rimu. Venture five minutes more south by car, you'll encounter the most-visited natural attraction in the West Coast region: the Pancake Rocks, located at Dolomite Point near Punakaiki. These ancient limestone rocks (formed 30 million years ago) are a geological wonder, appearing like an actual stack of pancakes jutting out into the ocean. You can also catch a glimpse of the stunning Putai Blowhole as it blasts sea spray up into the sky. Scenic view of sea against sky during sunset, Punakaiki, New Zealand Michael Murray/500px/Getty Images After navigating your way through Punakaiki, continue along the coast, where you can pull over for a swim at one of the picturesque beaches. And if all of this driving has worked up an appetite, head to the vibrant foodie haven of Hokitika, which is 23 miles south of Greymouth. Gatherer Wholefoods & Bar is a great option, with a variety of Mexican-influenced, plant-based fare. If you happen to be there in March, there's the famed Wildfoods Festival, where you can try adventurous local cuisine, including pukeko and huhu grubs. As of May 1, vaccinated travelers from visa waiver countries can visit New Zealand, so it's an excellent time to consider a visit and embark on an exhilarating road trip unlike any other. An employee handles packages at the Amazon's Bretigny-sur-Orge warehouse in France. THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images Amazon is ending its paid time off policy for US employees diagnosed with COVID-19. The company told employees on Saturday that workers with COVID-19 will receive up to five days of excused, unpaid time. Amazon also said it was changing some COVID-19 policies as part its "safe return to normal." Amazon announced to its employees on Saturday that the company is ending its paid time off policy for employees with COVID-19 and is "returning to standard sick leave policies." Amazon employees in the US will now receive up to five days of excused, unpaid time after receiving a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, according to the company announcement that was viewed by Insider. As of early January, Amazon had offered employees up to one full week of paid sick leave for employees diagnosed with COVID-19. Prior to that, the company had granted employees two full weeks of paid time off for COVID-19. An Amazon spokesperson told Insider that "employees are still able to use their sick time if needed as well." Amazon will also no longer excuse any time for employees who are waiting for test results given that rapid testing is "widely available," according to the announcement to employees. In its announcement to employees on Saturday, Amazon said it was changing several of its COVID-19 policies as part of "our safe return to normal where we can." "The sustained easing of the pandemic, ongoing availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and updated guidance from public health authorities, all signal we can continue to safely adjust to our pre-COVID policies," the company said. Amazon also announced it was ending its vaccine incentives and discontinuing its practice of sending site-wide notifications of positive COVID-19 cases in its facilities, unless required by law. The policy changes come amid a recent push for unionization at some Amazon warehouses, where workers have sought better working conditions, including pay, safety improvements, and benefits like sick leave. Just one day prior to Saturday's announcement, an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island finished its union drive, and the National Labor Relations Board is expected to count the ballots next week. Read the original article on Business Insider Rep. Ayanna Pressley said it is a "tremendous victory" that President Biden is considering some student loan debt relief. Biden said last week that he will have an "answer" on student debt cancellation in the coming weeks. While he hasn't committed to specifics, Biden responded favorably to forgiving $10,000 per borrower. President Joe Biden said last week that he will have an "answer" on the question of student-loan forgiveness "in the next couple of weeks," a move Democratic lawmakers are praising. "All we know is that the President has expressed an openness to cancel some debt," Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts told Yahoo Finance. "That in and of itself is a tremendous victory, and so I believe we are closer than ever before to seeing some of this hardship alleviated." About $1.6 trillion in federal student debt is owed by some 40 million people, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Biden administration recently extended a pause on federal student-loan payments until August 31. In his comments on Thursday, Biden said he is not considering the $50,000 debt reduction that some Democrats, including Pressley, have called for. However, he recently expressed support for debt forgiveness in the range of $10,000, Insider previously reported. "The fact that President Biden is expressing an openness to some sort of debt cancellation is really a testament to the vigilance of this broader movement, the same movement that decisively elected him," Pressley said, adding that Democratic leaders who have continued to push Biden also deserve recognition. "Any relief that we can provide people in the midst of unprecedented economic hardship as we begin to round the corner and head into a recovery from this pandemic induced recession would make a difference," Pressley added. Progressive lawmakers have pushed the president to prioritize canceling student debt before the 2022 midterm elections, though he could face legal challenges if he makes sweeping changes through executive action. "Any time is a good time to impact the lives of Americans," Pressley told Yahoo. "Democrats win when we deliver, and we have to deliver in ways that are impactful, tangible, and transformative, like canceling student debt. So this is good policy, and it is also good politics." Read the original article on Business Insider Bill Murray has addressed the complaint of inappropriate behaviour that was made against him on the set of Being Mortal, which led to the suspension of the films production in April. Production on Aziz Ansaris directorial film debut was halted, with an email from Searchlight Pictures to the cast and crew on 20 April announcing the decision. It is not known what the exact nature of the complaint was or who made it. In an interview on CNBC Television on Saturday (30 April), Murray said: I had a difference of opinion with a woman Im working with. I did something I thought was funny and it wasnt taken that way. He added: The movie studio wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out and investigate it and so they stopped the production. Murray said he has been in contact with the woman he offended. As of now were talking and were trying to make peace with each other, he said. Were both professionals. We like each others work we like each other, I think. If we cant get along and trust each other, theres no point in going further working together or making a movie Its been quite an education for me. Ive been doing not much else but thinking about her for the last week or two. Actor Bill Murray comments on the allegations of inappropriate behavior that led to production of the movie "Being Mortal" being halted: "I had a difference of opinion with a woman I'm working with ... I did something I thought was funny and it wasn't taken that way." pic.twitter.com/YSG6u0uMqe CNBC (@CNBC) April 30, 2022 Murray said he has not been in discussions with the studio, Searchlight Pictures, about the complaint, saying: Just with her and the people that are helping her. First things first. The letter from Searchlight Pictures read: Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it. Story continues After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time. We are truly grateful to all of you for everything youve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production and are working with Aziz and Youree to figure out that timing. Youree Henley is producing the film. Being Mortal is based on surgeon Atul Gawandes 2014 book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. As well as directing, Ansari who directs his own Netflix show Master of None has written and will star in the film, alongside Keke Palmer and Seth Rogen. The film was priginally scheduled for a 2023 release. Hyatt has officially announces the promotion of Guillaume Besson from Director of Sales to Director of Sales & Marketing at Andaz Dubai the Palm. Meanwhile, Guillaumes strong second hand Maria Diaconu has taken on the role as Director of Sales from her previous position Associate Director of Sales. After completing his BBA at the Glion institute of Higher Education in 2014, Guillaume started his career at Hyatt in Paris. Guillaume knows the values of Hyatt like no other. Starting as a Sales Executive at Hyatt Regency Dubai, Guillaume was soon promoted to Sales Manager. Then moving to Grand Hyatt where he was promoted to Director of Sales in 2019. Since June 2020, Guillaume has led the Sales & Marketing Department as Director of Sales at Andaz Dubai the Palm. Guillaume is a front-runner for the Andaz values and ensures these are reflected in all aspects of the business; marketing campaigns, sales pitches, down to the strong team he surrounds himself with. Humbled by the opportunity to further develop the business, working together with our clients and partners to achieve even more significant milestones for our property. Eager to continue working with an inclusive, innovative and diverse team guided by the Hyatt Care Principles, said Guillaume Besson. Similarly, to Guillaume, Maria Diaconu has been a strong leader within the Hyatt brand for the past 8 years. Starting her career in the sales department at Grand Hyatt Dubai in 2014, Maria quickly moved up to Sales Manager in 2017. Marias drive to continue to develop and grow the leisure sales team was further recognized with a promotion to cluster ADOS for both Grand Hyatt Dubai and Andaz Dubai the Palm in 2020. The promotion to Director of Sales, comes to no surprise as Maria brings a vast amount of experience to the sales department both nationally and internationally. I am excited about the new role allowing me the opportunity to continue to position Andaz as a leading lifestyle boutique hotel on Palm Jumeirah together with the vast range of multicultural colleagues, all whilst bringing the Hyatt purpose of care to every aspect of our business, said Maria Daiconu, Director of Sales, April 2022 The collective wealth of knowledge from both Maria and Guillaume will continue to drive sales and incorporate the unique and authentic spirit of Andaz Dubai the Palm. Continuing to strengthen the position of the property and highlight the key pillars of the property: sustainable, creative and local and ensuring the mission to deliver distinctive experiences for our guests is brought to actualization. TradeArabia News Service Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday about sending additional aid to Kyiv, as Russias invasion grinds into its third month. The discussion came days after President Biden asked Congress to authorize $33 billion to support Ukraine over the next five months in its fight against Russia, and after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) said on a trip to Kyiv this weekend that the U.S. would support Ukraine until the fight is done. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the Administrations April 28 request to Congress for $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid to empower Ukraine to defeat the Kremlins unconscionable war, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. Blinken during the call also underscored the U.S.s support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias brutal aggression, and updated his Ukrainian counterpart on plans for American diplomats to go back to Ukraine including visits to Lviv this week and individuals returning to Kyiv as soon as possible. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Ukraine on April 24 to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials. The assistance to Ukraine is expected to receive support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, however it could become tangled up with the administrations push to move more COVID-19 funding through Congress amid GOP resistance. An administration official told reporters this past week that the administration thinks it certainly makes sense for COVID-19 aid and Ukraine assistance to move together in legislation. On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed the idea, telling reporters Im all for that. I think its very important. We have emergencies here. We need to have the COVID money, and time is of the essence because we need the Ukraine money. So I would hope that we can do that, she added. Story continues Negotiations are currently focused on the Senate, with the House on recess until next week. Pelosis trip to Kyiv with a group of lawmakers on Saturday marked the first official congressional delegation to visit Ukraine since the invasion began on Feb. 24. The group headed to Poland on Sunday, where the lawmakers are slated to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and senior officials. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An Alabama corrections officer and an inmate who is facing capital murder charges went missing Friday after the two allegedly left the jail to go to court for a mental health evaluation that was never scheduled. The inmate, Casey Cole White, and Lauderdale County Sheriff's Assistant Director of Corrections Vicki White left the jail at about 9:41 a.m. local time but never showed up at the courthouse and did not return to the detention center, Sheriff Rick Singleton told reporters Friday. Investigators have confirmed that there was no mental health evaluation or any court appearance scheduled. Authorities said it is not yet clear whether Vicki White, who is not related to Casey White, was helping him escape or whether she was kidnapped. "Were looking at all angles," Singleton said. "Did she assist him in escaping? Thats obviously a possibility. Was she kidnapped en route to the courthouse and taken against her will? Thats obviously another angle were looking at." Singleton said the corrections official had told the booking officer she was going to take the inmate to the courthouse and then seek medical attention because she wasn't feeling well. Her patrol vehicle was spotted parked at a local shopping center shortly after 11 a.m. local time. Then, at about 3:30 p.m., the booking officer reported to another administrator that they had been unable to get ahold of White on her phone and realized that neither she nor the inmate had returned, prompting them to initiate the search, Singleton said. The sheriff said White had worked for the department for 25 years and was considered "an exemplary employee," adding that she had been voted Supervisor of the Year and Corrections Employee of the Year multiple times. "Every employee in this office is shocked that shes missing and that this has happened," he said. "She is very well respected and liked by her coworkers." Transporting the murder suspect alone as White did was a "strict violation" of the sheriff's office policy, which requires two sworn deputies to escort such inmates to court, Singleton said. He noted that since she oversees the detention center's operations, it's likely that her subordinates "didn't question" her when she said she was taking the inmate to court alone. Story continues When asked whether the two interacted much or had any kind of relationship, Singleton said investigators were looking into that "to see if something else was going on there" that they weren't aware of. Casey White was being held on capital murder charges in connection with the 2015 death of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway, according to WHNT. White confessed to killing Ridgeway in 2020 while serving time in state prison for other crimes, the station reported. On Saturday, Singleton said his office had contacted the FBI, US marshals, and other law enforcement agencies to assist in the search. The Marshals Service has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Casey White's capture. Investigators are searching video footage from the detention center, the courthouse, and the shopping center where the patrol car was located, he said. Regardless of whether Vicki White assisted the inmate, Singleton said, they believe the corrections official, who was armed with a 9 mm gun, is in danger. Casey White is "considered armed and extremely dangerous," the sheriff warned. "Our hope and prayer is that we get him before somebody gets hurt," the sheriff said. Dozens of first responders and members of the community climbed the 43-story Museum Tower in uptown Charlotte on Sunday morning. It was part of a tower climb hosted by Tunnel to Towers to honor first responders for their service. The nonprofit was started to honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001. Adults paid $50 to join. First responders paid $30, and kids under 17 paid $20 to raise money for the organization. The money raised will be used to support the families of first responders and military heroes hurt or killed in the line of duty. READ MORE: Foundation pays off mortgage for family of fallen Watauga County sergeant Tunnel to Towers previously paid off the mortgage of Chris Ward, a sergeant with the Watauga County Sheriffs Office, who died in the line of duty when responding to a welfare check call when someone inside the house opened fire. Reporter Gina Esposito spoke with Wards family on how the foundation changed their life and allowed the family to continue to live in the home where they shared so many memories with Ward. Tunnel to Towers also paid off the mortgage of fallen CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin, who also lost her life in the line of duty while responding to the scene of a crash. Fore more information on the foundations work, visit their page. (WATCH BELOW: Benefit ride for fallen CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin raises money for her family) Chinese officials are meeting with banks to figure out ways to protect overseas' assets. The country is said to be concerned the US could impose sanctions similar to those on Russia. China is said to hold around $3.2 trillion in foreign reserves. China is reportedly taking steps to protect its overseas assets, amid fears the country could one day be subjected to sanctions similar to those imposed on Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has provided tough lessons for China, which is itself involved in a long-running dispute with Taiwan. China has long rejected its neighbor's claims to sovereignty, fuelling speculation it will one day invade and annex Taiwan entirely. The US and other Western nations have imposed sanctions against Russia in a bid to stop Putin's war in Ukraine. Sanctions include a SWIFT ban, a full blocking on large Russian financial institutions, measures targeting Russia's sovereign debt, and even sanctions against oligarchs and their families. According to the Financial Times, Chinese officials recently held an emergency meeting with domestic and foreign banks to discuss how the state might protect its assets, should it ever face similar penalties. People familiar with the conference, which took place on April 22, told the FT the meeting was made up of officials from China's central bank and finance ministry, executives from dozens of local and international lenders such as HSBC, and representatives from other domestic banks operating in China. One source told the newspaper: "If China attacks Taiwan, decoupling of the Chinese and western economies will be far more severe than [decoupling with] Russia because China's economic footprint touches every part of the world." China and Russia are working on a homegrown alternative to the SWIFT payment system Russia's System for Transfer of Financial Messages, and China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System. According to the South China Morning Post, China has $3.2 trillion in foreign reserves. The FT reported that senior regulators including Yi Huiman, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Xiao Gang, who head the CSRC from 2013 to 2016, asked bankers how they could protect their overseas assets. Story continues "They are watching with great interest to see how effective sanctions applied to Russia might be effectively applied to China," Douglas H. Paal, a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Insider in March. "If there is an invasion of Taiwan, China would expect the US to summon as broad a range of sanctions as possible." Andrew Collier, managing director of Orient Capital Research in Hong Kong, told the newspaper the Chinese government was right to be concerned "because it has very few alternatives and the consequences [of US financial sanctions] are disastrous." Insider approached China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON (AP) Dressed in full fatigues, Sgt. Michael Ray Forbes stuck out on 14th Street, a bustling and deeply gentrified strip of downtown Washington dotted with restaurants and clubs. He approached Phillip Wallace, a 26-year old in torn jeans munching a doughnut, chatted him up a bit, exchanged phone numbers and handed him a pamphlet about joining the District of Columbia National Guard. Now I'm not going to be burning up your phone bothering you about this, Forbes said in parting. But you've got my number and you know where to find me if you're interested. Wallace replied, Yeah sure, definitely. But he didn't seem to be paying full attention. The interaction, however brief and halting, represents a new era for the D.C. guard a quietly critical force that has frequently found itself at the center of intense political debate, most recently over the historic security breakdown on Jan. 6, 2021. It took about three hours for members of the D.C. guard to respond to Capitol during the insurrection by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, a delay that local officials blame on their lack of authority to deploy the guard. The whole issue has become meshed with Washington's ongoing quest for statehood. For more than a decade, the D.C. guard offices have been a semi-hidden presence sheltered inside the D.C. Armory behind security checkpoints in an area of southeastern Washington with almost-zero foot traffic next to the abandoned hulk of RFK stadium. But in March, the local guard opened its first proper recruiting office in the city since 2010. The commander, Maj. Gen. Sherrie McCandless, describes the move as a new push for visibility and an emphasis on the guard's local connections at a time when many residents might be ripe for recruitment. Its very much a walking city and its very much an oral-tradition kind of town, McCandless, a former F-16 pilot, said. Were coming out of the pandemic. People are more mobile again and frankly a lot of people are trying to figure out whats next. Story continues Recruitment chief Lt. Col. Amber Ellison says the sales pitch to potential recruits is that the guard offers many of the same benefits of full-time active military discipline, education, lasting connections and training in highly marketable skills for a fraction of the commitment. Theyre looking to recruit a specific slice of the population 17-35-year-olds who see the appeal of a partial military commitment. You can serve your country and still keep your civilian job, said recruiter Sgt. Jessica Jones, a officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. Guardsmen are expected to devote one weekend a month, plus a two-week training stint every summer, with a six-year commitment plus two inactive years. For that, the entry-level pay rate starts at about $230 per month, plus myriad bonuses and enhancers depending on experience, education and specialization. You dont have to move," Ellison said. "You dont have to quit your job. You dont have to quit college. Theyll be serving the city in which they live and protecting the nations capital. So far, spontaneous walk-ins to the new storefront are still rare and recruiters like Forbes and Jones make most of their contacts at high school and college job fairs or booths at large public events. But they say that for those who are intrigued by the initial proposal, the new storefront is an ideal, accessible location to make an appointment for the follow-up pitch. I just tell them my own story and exactly what I've learned and how I've benefitted, Forbes said. Once they learn what it's about, it sells itself. And the renewed visibility gives them a chance to field basic questions from curious newbies. I hear the 'Am I going to war?' question a lot, Jones said. And women ask if theyll have to shave their heads. The 2,200 strong D.C. guard contingent is regularly deployed in a supportive role traffic control and security around Metro stations during the multiple D.C.-specific events like the State of the Union address. It is also key in the air defense of the nation's capital, with its own squad of 20 F-16s at Andrews Air Force Base. And D.C. guard pilots fly congressional delegations on overseas trips. In recent years, the guard has become an emotionally charged topic as a symbol of a D.C.'s entrenched status as less than a state. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C.'s top local elected official, must submit requests to deploy the guard to the Army secretary. The mayor says she operates as a de-facto governor, but is denied governor-specific authorities like National Guard control. Meanwhile the mere presence of the federal government makes the district a far more likely location for civil disturbances that might merit National Guard deployment. One of those disturbances, the Jan. 6, 2021, riot when Trump supporters overran the Capitol building, served as a real-time example of those limitations. Bowser warned days in advance of the potential for violence. And when it became clear that the U.S. Capitol Police were overmatched by the crowds, Bowser couldn't immediately deploy the D.C. guard. Instead crucial time was lost while the request was considered inside the Pentagon, and protesters rampaged through the building. The issue had also flared up months earlier, in summer 2020, when violent protests against police brutality and systemic racism erupted in Washington and other cities. Trump accused Bowser of losing control of the capital and flooded Washington with a massive wave of guardsmen and federal agents. Asked about the significance of the D.C. guard's new visibility push, Bowser curtly stated, It would be more significant if they worked for the chief executive of the city. She added, But we enjoy a great relationship with the commanders. For the people in uniform, the debate over their chain of command is irrelevant. McCandless said that whether she's taking orders from a governor, the Army secretary or the mayor, the mission is the same. All of my peers who work for governors, they have pretty much the same experience that I do, she said. Photograph: Greg Nash/AFP/Getty Images Joe Manchin has recorded an ad for a Republican in a West Virginia US House election, in which the Democratic senator trumpets his opposition to Joe Bidens Build Back Better domestic spending plan. Related: The Right review: conservatism, Trump, regret and wishful thinking David McKinley has always opposed reckless spending because it doesnt make sense for West Virginia, Manchin said. Build Back Better was the centrepiece of Bidens agenda, a $1.75tn package meant to boost health and social care and combat the climate crisis. Biden needed Manchins vote to get it through a Senate split 50-50 and controlled via the vice-president, Kamala Harris. After lengthy negotiations Manchin sank the plan dramatically, using an interview with Fox News Sunday to say he was a no. The White House responded angrily. Manchins stances on Build Back Better and issues including voting rights protections have since made him a boogeyman among progressives. In a new book, This Will Not Pass, two New York Times reporters describe meetings in which Senate Republicans sought to persuade Manchin to switch parties and thereby hand them control of the chamber. In response, Manchin said: I am who I am, Im a West Virginia Democrat. A former governor and the only Democrat in major elected office in the state, Manchin has now released a 30-second ad in support of McKinley, who because of redistricting is challenging another sitting Republican, Alex Mooney, in a 10 May primary. In the ad, Manchin says: Ive always said, If I cant go home and explain it, I cant vote for it. And that is why I opposed Build Back Better. For Alex Mooney and his out-of-state supporters to suggest David McKinley supported Build Back Better is an outright lie. Many observers have said Build Back Better would have benefited West Virginians, who live in one of the poorest states in the union, prey to the fossil fuel industry in which Manchin prospered. Manchin has suggested parts of the plan could win his support. No visible progress has been made. Story continues In the ad, Manchin also says: Alex Mooney has proven hes all about Alex Mooney. But West Virginians know David McKinley is all about us. Mooney who counts among his roles in Washington co-chairmanship of the bipartisan Congressional Rugby Caucus tackled the ad on Twitter. It was, he said, further proof that David McKinley is a complete and total RINO, meaning Republican in Name Only. Mooney also pointed to a Biden domestic policy success, writing: Joe Manchin and David McKinley both supported Joe Bidens $1.2tn non-infrastructure bill. They also supported the sham January 6 witch hunt investigation against Donald Trump and his allies. Manchin even voted for Trumps impeachment. All 50 Democratic senators and seven Republicans voted to convict Trump in his second Senate trial, for inciting the deadly Capitol attack. Trump was acquitted and remains free to run for office. His endorsements are highly prized. He has backed Mooney. Mooney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. McKinley did not immediately comment. A spokesman for Manchin told the Hill: The ad speaks for itself. DEVILS LAKE Brandon Padilla remembers when the rodeo scene was a community staple. Padilla was six years old when he started seizing the reins within the rodeo realm. Then, at 18, Padilla transitioned to bullfighting. The Devils Lake Rodeo Club was formed in April by Brandon Padilla, who has a long history with rodeo and bullfighting. At 29 years old, Padilla now wishes to bring the rodeo back to the local roots. And so, the Devils Lake Rodeo Club was formed in April of 2022. "That is what got this back going again," Padilla said. "I am in the rodeo industry, and so I know people to get a hold of and how to get stuff lined up a little better." Of course, the rodeo industry was never a one-off event in the community. After all, the Lake Region Rodeo Club helped put on events in the area for close to 30 years. However, burnout eventually resulted in the group's disbandment. "It was here for years, and now it has been gone for [seven-eight] years," Curt Teigen said. "I think it is something that is missed here, and it attracted a lot of people into the community for it. It was just a good community attraction, and we hated to see that go away." Teigen, 58, was another rodeo mainstay when the event was in its heyday. From doing sound to helping take the ropes off the livestock, Teigen has been around the rodeo lingo for more than 20 years. Teigen an administrator for the Devils Lake Rodeo Club understands the importance of forming a local club. After the dissolution of the former club, the Abrahamson Rodeo Company attempted to manage local events. However, as a company located more than 100 miles away, that proved strenuous in and of itself. The Devils Lake Rodeo Club will act as a local outlet for rodeo events. "Then, the Abrahamson Rodeo Company tried to keep it going as their own production, and that was a little difficult to do from 100 miles away, so Brandon [Padilla] came into my office, and we agreed that the only way it was going to happen was if we had a local rodeo club to head our base on, and then the club will just hire the Abrahamson Rodeo Company to come in and produce the show," Teigen said. Story continues Since the formation of the new club, Padilla and Teigen have been hard at work in herding together local support. To do so, Padilla has made it a habit of going door-to-door from business to business. From constant in-person conversations to over-the-phone discussions, Padilla has reached out to over 100 businesses. So far, more than 20 have responded in full. Sharpening logistics behind gathering material and necessities to put on a rodeo has also been a need. With a tentative three-day rodeo scheduled for Sep. 9-11 at Burdick Arena, Padilla and Teigen will need to procure more support and additionally count on volunteers to aid in the two-day rink-to-rodeo conversion when the time comes. Volunteer work is also needed to run the event itself, and Padilla is no exception. Although he is the club president, he is also a volunteer. Padilla works full-time for the City of Devils Lake. "It is definitely not an easy task to put on an event of this size and nature," Padilla said. "It's around-the-clock work. I work 40 hours a week at my day job, and I probably put in 25-30 hours a week into this rodeo stuff." Padilla is excited to bring back rodeo events to local community. Nevertheless, the newly-formed Devils Lake Rodeo Club has a goal in sight. Between now and the inaugural three-day event in September at Burdick Arena, Padilla and Teigen will continue to work toward reeling in more community support. To Teigen, the club's first goal revolves around getting on its feet and staying stable. While burnout might have been a plaguing issue in the past, Teigen believes that the club will find a way to push through with Padilla at the helm. "I had my doubts at first because I have seen people come and go," Teigen said. "But Brandon here has really, pardon the pun, taken the bull by the horns, and he has just run with it. At first, I had my doubts, but I have no doubt that now it is going to happen. There is a lot of good support in the community from sponsors and people stepping up, and we have hardly heard a single no from anybody. I think it's going to happen." Padilla, meanwhile, recognizes what a successful rodeo event can bring to the community. Padilla remembers when local rodeos brought in more than 350 contestants from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana and even Canada. From his gained experience in the rodeo industry, Padilla believes a similar mark can be reached during the event in September should more support continue to pour in. Even still, Padilla's goal with the club is simple. Padilla's goal with the club is not only to bring a former community venture back into the present but also to provide an influence that helped him find his love in the industry all those years ago. Padilla could not be more eager. "Really excited," Padilla said. "This rodeo is what got me to where I'm at in the rodeo industry today. I am just excited to give that opportunity to another six-year-old that might have the same dream as I did." John Crane is a sports/general assignment reporter for the Devils Lake Journal. Feel free to contact John via work phone (701-922-1372), cell phone (701-230-4339), email (jcrane@gannett.com) or Twitter (@johncranesports) with any story ideas. This article originally appeared on Devils Lake Journal: Devils Lake Rodeo Club ready to lasso community support ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports After Jarvis Landry was released by the Browns in March, there was word that the team was interested in bringing him back on a different contract. The lack of a new deal over the last couple of months was a strong suggestion that conversations about such a deal were not fruitful and theres now a [more] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP Nancy Pelosi, in a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for fighting for freedom. "Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," Pelosi told the Ukrainian leader. The representative's visit to the warzone was not previously announced by official US sources. During an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, in a video posted to the Ukrainian leader's Twitter account, thanked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for fighting for freedom. "We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, that we are on a frontier of freedom and that your fight is a fight for everyone," Pelosi said in the video. "And so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done." Other US officials, including Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Jim McGovern, and Rep. Jason Crow, joined Pelosi on the unannounced visit to Kyiv. It is unclear how long the congressional representatives will be in Ukraine. Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Bill Keating did not enter Ukraine, according to a representative for Pelosi's office. They will, however, travel with the delegation to Poland and Warsaw. In a press release posted early Sunday morning, Speaker Pelosi said: "Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine. Our meeting with President Zelenskyy began with him thanking the United States for the substantial assistance that we have provided." "He conveyed the clear need for continued security, economic and humanitarian assistance from the United States to address the devastating human toll taken on the Ukrainian people by Putin's diabolic invasion and our delegation proudly delivered the message that additional American support is on the way, as we work to transform President Biden's strong funding request into a legislative package," Pelosi's statement continued. "Our delegation conveyed our respect and gratitude to President Zelenskyy for his leadership and our admiration of the Ukrainian people for their courage in the fight against Russia's oppression." Read the original article on Business Insider Oxygen An Arizona mom who was allegedly gunned down by an ex-boyfriend she feared was able to call for help just before her shooting death. A 911 dispatcher who answered Maria Guadalupe Godinez Ramirez's call on the night of May 1 heard gunshots over the phone, Apache Junction Police spokesperson Al Bravo told KSAZ-TV. When police arrived in the area of Old West Highway and Colt Road a few minutes later, they discovered Ramirez, 28, gravely injured in her car. The victim had multiple gunshot wounds an News Vietnam Vietnam confirms additional 3,717 Covid-19 infections Dubai-based budget airline flydubai has announced the launch of flights to Izmir in Turkey starting from June 26 with a three-times weekly service. Flights to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB) on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. With the start of flights to Izmir, flydubais network in Turkey will grow to four points including Ankara (ESB), Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) and Istanbul Airport (IST). The Dubai low-cost carrier will also operate summer seasonal routes to Bodrum (BJV) and Trabzon (TZX) from June 23 to offer passengers more options to travel this summer. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey located on the Aegean coast. It is known for its archaeological sites, rich heritage and its pleasant coastal climate. Its central location provides access to the most mesmerising coastal villages and beautiful beaches, ideal for a day trip to unwind and get away from the citys urban atmosphere. CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith expressed delight at seeing its network in Turkey further grow with the start of flights to Izmir. "During the busy summer period, we will operate 24 flights a week to Turkey, providing passengers with more opportunities to experience different cities in the country whether they are travelling for a city break or beach holiday. The new direct flights will help stimulate trade links between Dubai and one of the busiest cities in Turkey," he noted. As per the schedule, the Dubai budget carrier will operate flights from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) thrice a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Emirates will codeshare on this route offering passengers more options for connections through Dubais international aviation hub.Return Business Class fares from DXB to ADB have been priced at AED 8,900 onwards and Economy Class Lite fares from AED 1,900. Jeyhun Efendi, Senior VP (Commercial Operations and E-commerce) said: "We are committed to making travel more accessible and providing more choice for our passengers. We are confident that Izmir will be a popular choice for passengers from the UAE and GCC." "We look forward to welcoming our passengers on board and we hope they enjoy the flydubai experience whether they are travelling in Business Class or Economy Class," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Daily Beast ReutersRussian authorities in Ukraines occupied city of Donetsk are tossing the bodies of their dead soldiers in a secret dump by the thousands and charging their loved ones money to find them.Thats according to a new audio recording released by Ukraines Security Service on Tuesday, which is purportedly an intercepted telephone conversation between two Russians discussing how one of their missing friends was finally found.In the two-and-a-half minute recording, an unidentified man tells his Former Maryland mens lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt has reportedly signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Bernhardt, whos expected to play wide receiver and returner, went undrafted after helping lead Ferris State to an NCAA Division II national title last season. He was a star option quarterback in high school but turned down Division I scholarship offers in football to play lacrosse at Maryland. Bernhardt left the program last year as the Terps all-time leader in career points and goals. He was twice a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the sports best player, and won the 2021 award after leading the nation in goals (71) and points (99). Maryland won the national championship in 2017, when Bernhardt started as a freshman, made it to the national semifinals in 2018 and advanced to the final last year. Bernhardt used his extra year of NCAA eligibility at Ferris State, where hed initially committed to play football in 2020 before returning to College Park amid the coronavirus pandemic. As a graduate transfer quarterback for the Bulldogs, he passed for 1,322 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed for 1,421 yards and 26 touchdowns. Ferris State went 14-0 and defeated Valdosta State, 58-17, in the national championship. Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis attends a panel in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2019. Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Retired Admiral James Stavridis said severe missteps have led to deaths among top Russian officers. Stavridis said Russia has so far displayed "amazing incompetence" in its invasion of Ukraine. "In modern history, there is no situation comparable in terms of the deaths of generals," he said. James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander for Europe, said on Sunday that the "amazing incompetence" of the Russian military in invading Ukraine has led to an unprecedented number of deaths among generals and other high-ranking officers. Stavridis made the observation about the Russian forces during a WABC 770 AM radio interview with New York businessman John Catsimatidis. "In modern history, there is no situation comparable in terms of the deaths of generals. Here, on the Russian side, in a two-month period, we've seen at least a dozen, if not more, Russian generals killed," he told Catsimatidis. Stavridis noted that "not a single general was lost in actual combat" while the US engaged in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. "It's not just the generals being killed," he said of the Russian military, but pointed to its dysfunctional logistical practices and middling battle plans, along with the loss of its Black Sea flagship Moskva. "It's been a bad performance by the Russians thus far," he added. Top Russian military leaders who have reportedly been killed include Vladimir Petrovich Frolov, the deputy commander of the 8th Army; Vitaly Gerasimov, the first deputy commander of the 41st Army; and Sergei Sukharev, a top paratroop commander of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment. Stavridis blasted Russia for committing war crimes throughout the country, starting with "the illegal invasion of a neighbor and a democracy" and escalating the battle to include the "massacring" of civilians. The commander said that Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, who was installed by Moscow to lead the conflict, is "well known to Western intelligence as the 'Butcher of Syria.'" Story continues Dvornikov led Russian forces in Syria in 2015, and human rights groups are closely monitoring his efforts. Stavridis then said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "creating the expansion of NATO by his unwarranted attack on a neighbor," noting that "more nations may join NATO as a result of this, notably Sweden and Finland, which [have] very capable militaries." "It's not just the NATO alliance. It's the democracies around the world," he added, pointing to Japan's strong opposition to Russia's actions. Last month, retired Gen. David Petraeus a former Central Intelligence Agency director who led the 101st Airborne Division during the War in Iraq in 2003 and commanded US forces in Afghanistan echoed similar sentiments, telling CNN that Russian military forces were "surprisingly unprofessional" in fulfilling their mission in Ukraine. "They clearly have very poor standards when it comes to performing basic tactical tasks such as achieving combined arms operations, involving armor, infantry, engineers, artillery and mortars," he said. He added: "We have known for decades that the Soviet system, now the Russian system, has always lacked one of the key strengths of US and Western militaries, which is a strong, professional non-commissioned officer corps." Read the original article on Business Insider Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony to Congress is shown on a screen outside of the Fox News headquarters on July 24, 2019 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images The New York Times reported that Fox News executives seek to highlight "grievance" in the network's coverage. The driving narrative, an employee suggested, was one that made viewers believe they're in danger. "They're coming for you, the Blacks are coming for you, the Mexicans are coming for you," the employee told The Times. Executives at Fox News indicated to employees that they wanted to push a narrative that focused on "grievance," according to a report published Saturday by The New York Times. One current Fox employee said the network execs had a goal to highlight "the grievance, the stuff that would get people boiled up." The driving narrative, the employee suggested, was one that made viewers believe they're in danger. "They're coming for you, the Blacks are coming for you, the Mexicans are coming for you," the employee told The Times. Media Matters, a nonprofit media watchdog, has published reports accusing Fox News of fearmongering across a variety of issues, from terrorism at the southern border to critical race theory to the coronavirus pandemic. Polls have previously indicated that people who watch Fox News are likelier to believe former President Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. They're also more likely to believe in vaccine misinformation. The influence Fox News, as the most-watched cable news channel in the US, has is felt widely, even in federal office. President Joe Biden has in private referred to Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch as "the most dangerous man in the world" and "one of the most destructive forces in the United States." According to The Times report, the network leverages viewer data to make decisions about its coverage. As Insider's Kelsey Vlamis reported, Fox News host Tucker Carlson relies on comprehensive "minute-by-minute" data that informs the network how viewers respond to different coverage. Story continues "He is going to double down on the white nationalism because the minute-by-minutes show that the audience eats it up," one former Fox employee who worked with Carlson told The Times. Fox reporters who covered Trump unfavorably consistently received low ratings, The Times reported. As did left-leaning guests. "They're all obsessed with the minute-by-minutes," another former Fox employee told The Times. "Every second that goes on that network now gets scrutinized." When reached for comment, a Fox News Media spokesperson referred Insider to the following statement published in The Times: "FOX News Media has grown through strategic innovation, redirecting investments in journalism to encompass more than 50 percent of the budget while expanding our footprint beyond one legacy linear network to eight thriving platforms. As a result, we've doubled our audience, achieved unrivaled results, and have become the destination that more Democrats and Independents choose for their news coverage while our competitors have lost dramatic levels of viewership. We couldn't be prouder of our entire team, whose commitment to excellence in journalism and opinion has led FOX News Media to all-time ratings records and delivered the best in class to our viewers." Read the original article on Business Insider Courchevel, France. Neil Emmerson/Getty Images Few Russian tourists have visited the Alpine ski resorts of Courchevel amid the Ukraine war. Their absence is keenly felt by a ski school where 90% of its Russian clients canceled bookings. The owner of Ski5 Star told Insider he is not hopeful about Russian reservations next year either. The owner of a ski school nestled in the French Alpine resort of Courchevel said the majority of his high-profile Russian clients canceled bookings as a result of the Ukraine war. Filippo Casaccia of Ski5 Star, a private ski instructor and concierge service, said his company is popular among Russian oligarchs and ultra-wealthy Arabs, including the latter country's royal family. Before the war, business was steady, Casaccia said. But then his Russian clients got hit with sanctions. He told Insider that his ski school experienced a cancelation rate of 90% from its Russian customers as a result. Casaccia says his business was saved, however, by his wealthy Arab customers. "We've been lucky because we still work with Arabs, which compensates the missing Russians," he added. Wealthy Russians have appeared to desert luxury Alpine ski resorts ever since Russia invaded Ukraine. Their disappearance, especially in the exclusive neighborhood of Courchevel 1850, has left high-end chalet operators concerned. One told Insider there was a noticeable absence of requests for next year from Russians, who tended to book the more expensive properties, which can cost up to $250,000 a week. Five-star hotels in Courchevel have also felt the impact of fewer Russian visitors. The head of reservations at Six Senses Residences and Spa, Angela Lavandier, told Insider that almost all its big-spending Russian guests forwarded their deposits for use the next ski season after the war broke out. Some Russians even struggled to pay their hotel bills, according to Casaccia. He said some of the Courchevel-based hotel staff he knew mentioned that there were at least one million dollars in outstanding bills from Russian customers. Story continues Russian oligarchs have reported the hardships they endure in the face of Western sanctions. Sanctioned oligarch Petr Aven told the Financial Times last month that he was struggling to pay bills and didn't "understand how to survive," amid the penalties levied against him. In Casaccia's case, his Russian clients gave very general reasons for canceling. He added that there had been no Russian reservations for next year and that he and his team were "not positive" about the outlook. "I think it'll take more than a year until they come back," he said. "The situation will not be stabilized by next winter." In absence of rich Russian customers, Casaccia said his team will be working to expand their customer base, with a focus on building relations with a recent influx of Brazilian clients. "We discovered a lot of Brazilians this winter since they couldn't go to America due to COVID-19 regulations, and so they were attracted to ski resorts in Courchevel," said Casaccia, adding that he anticipates there will be even more Brazilians arriving next year. Read the original article on Business Insider Kateryna Tyshchenko - Sunday, 1 May 2022, 18:53 Russian troops are attempting to advance on the Slobozhanskyi, Donetsk and Tavriia fronts, but have not succeeded so far and are suffering losses. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, information as of 6 pm on Sunday 1 May Details: On the Slobozhanskyi front, Russian troops fired on the positions of Ukrainian Defence Forces from mortars near the villages of Udy and Prudianka. Russian occupying forces also suffered losses near the town of Staryi Saltiv. On the Izium front, Russian troops also attempted to advance, but they did not succeed and suffered losses of personnel and equipment. On the Donetsk and Tavriia fronts, they also attempted to completely capture Rubizhne and Popasna, but likewise failed and suffered losses. The Russian occupiers' assault on Ozerne and Mariinka was unsuccessful, and they suffered losses near the villages of Vremivka and Zelene Pole. On the Pivdennyi Buh front, units of Russian troops are fighting to reach the administrative border of Kherson Region in order to create favourable conditions for an offensive on Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih. The Russian troops are currently focusing their main efforts on the Kryvyi Rih front. They fired on the Ukrainian positions near Tavriiske, Osokorivka, Trudoliubivka and Kniazivka. On the Mykolayiv front, Russian troops are regrouping. They deployed UAVs to conduct air reconnaissance in the east of Mykolaiv Region and northwest of Kherson Region in order to determine the positions of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On the Siverskyi front, Russian troops shelled the Ukrainian troops' positions near the village of Senkivka. They deployed UAVs to conduct air reconnaissance in order to determine the positions of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Sumy front. It is possible that Russian troops may conduct demonstrative action along the state border of Ukraine, and also resume the shelling of Ukrainian units and [military and civilian] infrastructure in the border areas of Chernihiv Region. On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, Russian troops were not active. There is still a threat that they might launch missile strikes on Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure from Belarus, and also carry out provocations in areas near the state border of Ukraine in order to later blame them on Ukrainian defence forces. The trial for the man accused of murdering missing smalltown Georgia teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead nearly 17 years ago will begin Monday. After a five-year wait, Ryan Duke will stand trial on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, and concealing a body. Jury selection will begin Monday at the Irwin County Courthouse in Ocilla, Georgia. The process is expected to last for about a week and half. The trial itself is expected to last a month or longer judging on the amount of evidence and testimony expected to be presented by prosecution and defense. SC EX-LAWYER ALEX MURDAUGH FRONTED $110K TO PURCHASED GEORGIA FUNERAL HOME IN 2020: COURT DOCS If convicted, 36-year-old Duke could face maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. In what is considered the largest case in the history of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 30-year-old Grinstead was reported missing from the rural town of Oscilla in October 2005 after failing to show up to work one Monday morning at Irwin County High School, where she taught the eleventh grade. A former Miss Georgia contestant, she had helped coach young women for a local pageant and attended a barbeque with friends that weekend. She was pursuing her doctorate degree at night before her disappearance. Fox 5 Atlanta reported that deputies found no signs of struggle or forced entry when they came to conduct a welfare check at the home where Grinstead lived alone. Her car was in the driveway and her door was locked with her dog, cat and cell phone still plugged in charging inside. Court documents allege Duke climbed in through a window to burglarize the home. Once inside, prosecutors say he climbed into bed with Grinstead and strangled her to death before asking a former high school classmate, Bo Dukes, to loan him his truck to help him move the body. Dukes, who is not related to Duke, was sentenced in 2019 to 25 years in prison for his role in helping to conceal the murder. In court, prosecutors played a video of his confession in which he admitted that he helped Duke burn the body until "it looked like it was all ash." Small, burned bone fragments were found in a field in 2017. Grinstead was declared dead in absentia in December 2010. The case has received newfound public attention in recent years from the Up and Vanished podcast. Asked about billionaire Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "We're all watching with a great deal of interest because there have been our share of complaints about the way it's been running." No one knows who said it first. Its first printed citation dates to the early 1960s, but Groucho Marx, Samuel Goldwyn, or George Burns may have been first to quip: The most important thing is honesty. Once you can fake that, youve got it made. Or its early variant: The secret of success is sincerity. Fake that and youre in. The modern Republican Party didnt invent this recursive recommendation, but they have learned lately how to apply it shamelessly. Politicians of every stripe have used fake sincerity when campaigning, but its only recently become a governing principle. Ever since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, Republicans have declared their intent to repeal and replace but with no real plan to do either, even when they have the governing majorities in place. President Donald Trump insisted that he had an alternative plan that was cheaper and better in every way. But there was no plan. More:Put an end to COVID mask mandates and see what happens Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted that his high principles would not allow him to bring Merrick Garlands nomination for the United States Supreme Court to a floor vote, because a presidential election was only eight months away in 2016. When the shoe was on the other foot, he pressed to get Amy Coney Barrett confirmed after early voting had already begun in 2020. You know all this. Its been written about endlessly. But its worse than youve been told, and my ilk contribute to the problem. Republicans have weaponized cynicism. They have glorified their guile as proof positive of two things. First, everybody does it. Voters havent caught Democrats lying as often, which only demonstrates how much better the Democrats are at doing it ostensibly because theyve had so much more practice. Since every politician lies, wouldnt you rather vote for one who doesnt do it so well? More:Fear and chaos at Eugene City Council middle housing work session Second, their willingness to wangle the truth is offered as evidence of their determination to deliver results at any cost. Voters have willingly endorsed this logic. The end justifies the means. Apparently every woman named Ruth must be a Democrat, because Republicans proudly proclaim their ruthlessness. And their voters love it. Story continues Journalists, on the other hand, hate hate hate the lies, the duplicities, the cynicism. So they can easily be goaded into writing at length about each and every deception. Many news outlets have made fact-checking into its own beat, cataloguing every fib and fabrication uttered. To which the Republicans snicker, recalling another classic syllogism, Theres no such thing as bad publicity. Every mention of the stretched sophism includes a retelling of the original assertion, often with a bend-over-backwards explication of the kernel of truth hidden inside the treachery. When journalists exposed inconsistencies, they feel good about themselves. They are fulfilling their mission to get the truth on the record. Meanwhile, they also have amplified the audacity that got the process started. Cynical lawmakers and their supporters have accepted this arrangement as a win-win. Its difficult to expose a lie without repeating the lie in the process. Columnists and late-night comedians have become unwitting handmaids in this endeavor. And the more they do it, the easier it gets. Expose rank hypocrisy often enough and it becomes a template and then a trope. They practically write themselves. Were suckers for the man bites dog story. Its interesting because its a surprise. Elected leader caught lying fit neatly into that category for generations. But its become variations on a theme a fugue of falsehoods. We sometimes even repeat the offenders greatest hits of previous perjuries, as I did in the first third of this column. Where is Ruth when we need her? The ruthless are running the show now. Don Kahle (fridays@dksez.com) writes a column each Friday and Sunday for The Register-Guard and archives past columns at www.dksez.com. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: GOP hypocrisy has become strategic and shameless A Granite City man has been charged with two counts of murder and other charges in connection with the death of a Knox County Sheriffs deputy who was struck by a vehicle that was fleeing police officers. The 34-year-old deputy, Nicholas Weist, was setting up spike strips north of Galesburg in an effort to slow the suspects vehicle when Weist was fatally struck on Friday, authorities said. Daylon K. Richardson, 22, of Granite City, was arrested after his vehicle crashed in a field near where Weist was struck, police said. Along with murder counts, Richardson was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated fleeing and eluding, according to a news release from the Illinois State Police. The State Police extend our heartfelt prayers, support and love to the Knox County deputys family, friends and the Knox County Sheriffs Office. There is no safety or justice without the law, there is no law without law enforcement, and there is no law enforcement without brave souls like this Knox County deputy, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said in a statement. Kelly, the former states attorney for St. Clair County, said his agency and others will work to pursue maximum justice under the law. Weist joined the Knox County Sheriffs Department in May 2018 as a road deputy, according to a statement by Knox County Sheriff David L. Clague. Clague said other officers made life-saving measures, but Weist died at the scene. About 8 a.m. Friday, police officers responded to a 911 call of a suspect with a gun at Circle K gas station on East Main Street in Galesburg, which is northwest of Peoria. Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, Clague said in a news release. But the vehicle did not stop and the driver continued traveling north on U.S. 150. Weist was fatally hit as he began setting up the spikes at the intersection of U.S. 150 at 150th Avenue in nearby Henry County north of Galesburg. Story continues Richardson was arrested after a brief foot pursuit after his vehicle crashed. He was being held in the Henry County Jail with no bond. The Galesburg Register-Mail reported that Illinois State Police Capt. Christopher Endress said Richardson had previous charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and mob action in Southern Illinois. Madison County online records show that a Daylon Richardson had those charges pending against him. The mob action charge was filed in connection with a Pontoon Beach case in July 2020 and the other two charges were filed in connection with a Granite City case in March. How far off is Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Hormel Foods The model We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.15b US$1.15b US$1.19b US$1.24b US$1.30b US$1.34b US$1.38b US$1.41b US$1.44b US$1.48b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.21% Est @ 2.83% Est @ 2.55% Est @ 2.36% Est @ 2.23% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 5.3% US$1.1k US$1.0k US$1.0k US$1.0k US$1.0k US$981 US$957 US$932 US$906 US$880 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$9.8b Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.5b (1 + 1.9%) (5.3% 1.9%) = US$44b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$44b ( 1 + 5.3%)10= US$26b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$36b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$52.4, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 21% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Hormel Foods as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Hormel Foods, we've compiled three essential factors you should assess: Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Hormel Foods that you should be aware of. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for HRL's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Airport International Group has announced that the low-cost carrier, Wizz Air, recently began direct flights from Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) and four European and Middle Eastern cities at a rate of two weekly flights per destination. The four different routes, which kicked off between March and April, included Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport), Milan (Milan Malpensa Airport) and Vienna (Vienna International Airport) - in addition to Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi International Airport), whose inaugural flight was welcomed with the customary water arch salute and Airport International Group representatives. "We are delighted to have Wizz Air expand its direct routes via QAIA this year, linking Amman to major cities across Europe and the Gulf region," stated Airport International Group CEO Nicolas Claude. "Having more affordable flights to global destinations is paramount to increasing traffic at QAIA and making the kingdom more accessible for tourists, who can now visit for leisure or business and enjoy Jordans diverse local tourism offerings," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Pet costume contests, raffles, goodies, and lots of furry friends are just some of the things planned for the Humane Society of Greater Daytons Furry Skurry 5K. The annual race hopes to celebrate animals while helping to find homes for the homeless animals at the humane society. The event kicks off with a 5k race that you can do with your furry friend, the race will be followed by a one-mile walk open to everyone. >> Volunteers repair landscape damaged by Memorial Day tornadoes The race will take place on May 14 at Eastwood MetroPark in Dayton. All of our programs and services are funded through donations by individuals, companies and grants. This is why events such as the Furry Skurry 5K are so critical to our organization. Your support is helping us impact thousands of animals right in our community, Brian Weltge, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton said. Children, dogs, and superhero costumes are all welcomed, the humane society said. Registration for the race is now open on their website. Memphis Police released photos of a suspect and vehicle possibly involved in a fatal shooting in Orange Mound. On April 24, officers responded to a shooting at Club Memphis, in the 2700 block of Park Avenue. When police arrived, a man identified as Vincent Lasane Jr. was laying on the ground with a gunshot wound. RELATED: One dead after shooting in Orange Mound, police say He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Surveillance footage showed a light-colored four-door sedan with rims, identified as the suspected shooters vehicle. This is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH. You can also submit your tip at http://www.crimestopmem.org. If an arrest is made, you could receive cash from Crime Stoppers of Memphis and Shelby County, Inc. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: Kateryna Tyshchenko - Wednesday, 27 April 2022, 20:52 Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, believes that the rate of Russia's "demilitarisation" in regions that share a border with Ukraine will continue growing in the coming weeks. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, on Telegram According to Syniehubov: "Today the invaders continued shelling Kharkiv neighbourhoods and the rest of the [Kharkiv] Region from artillery, mortars, and multiple rocket launchers. Unfortunately, 1 person was killed and 3 civilians were wounded, 2 of whom are in critical condition, in the enemy shelling of Kharkiv. 3 people were wounded in the shelling of Chuhuiv district, including a 14-year-old child." Details: Syniehubov also reported that Russian troops are continuing an offensive in Barvinkove, Velyka Komyshuvakha, and Kurulka on the Izium front. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding the defence and inflicting losses on the Russian army. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took 5 Russian occupying soldiers prisoner. Syniehubov said that "The detained invaders are disoriented and demoralised. They are currently testifying about the crimes committed by their leaders. The occupiers are complaining about exhaustion due to heavy losses, prolonged participation in hostilities, poor security, and their commanders' indifference to their lives." Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan will return to Australian soap opera "Neighbours" for its finale after an absence of more than 30 years, the soon-to-be axed show's creators said Sunday. The Australian stars both launched their careers on the long-running programme, which announced in March that it will cease production next month after nearly 37 years on small screens. The show struggled to find a new home in Britain -- where it has enjoyed a cult following for decades -- after current broadcaster Channel 5 said it would not continue to carry it. Before global stardom beckoned, Minogue anda Donovan won popularity as an on-screen couple in the soap in the late 1980s and were secretly a real-life item at the same time, although their romance did not last. "We are thrilled that Jason and Kylie have come home to play a very special part in our series finale," the soap's executive producer Jason Herbison said on Twitter. "Scott and Charlene are the ultimate 'Neighbours' couple and it would not feel right to end the show without them," he added, referring to the names of their on-screen characters. "It has been an emotional experience for them, for us and I'm sure it will be for our viewers." Melbourne-based "Neighbours", which also launched the careers of Margot Robbie and Russell Crowe, announced nearly two months ago that it would end production. A generation of Brits grew up watching characters such as Minogue's Charlene Robinson and her on-screen beau Scott Robinson, played by Donovan, as well as an ensemble cast that over the years included Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia and Liam Hemsworth. The pair had already prompted speculation about a possible return after posting images on Instagram of what appeared to be a "Neighbours" script. Minogue -- known internationally simply as Kylie -- first shot to fame through her time on the soap from 1986 to 1988, before she went on to a pop career. Story continues The star teamed up with Donovan for 1988 duet "Especially For You", which sold more than a million copies in Britain alone and topped the charts across Europe and Australasia. Donovan's career since then has seen him star in musicals and speak frankly about his struggles with drug addiction. The duo reunited on stage in 2012 -- for the first time in over two decades -- when they sang the 1988 smash hit at a show in London. jj/har LOS ANGELES (AP) The Edmonton Oilers have had Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together for seven seasons. They've won exactly one playoff round in that stretch and that was five years ago. The Los Angeles Kings haven't won a playoff series since they raised their second Stanley Cup in 2014, and they're back in the postseason Monday night for the first time in four years. Both teams desperately want to overcome their recent disappointments by recapturing the success of their franchises' glory days. They've first got to get past each other in an opening-round series that pits Edmonton's world-class offensive talent against Los Angeles' defensive tenacity. Im excited to be back, and excited for this group to be in this position and get the experience, said Kings captain Anze Kopitar, one of the three healthy remaining members of Los Angeles championship teams along with Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown. The Oilers are the higher seed, but that was also the case in their two playoff series over the previous two seasons and both times, Edmonton was routed. The Kings' defensive play against McDavid and Draisaitl seems to be the obvious key to the series, because while McDavid and Draisaitl are two of the greatest players of their generation, Edmontons lineup around them and newcomer Evander Kane is hardly awe-inspiring. Everyone has bought in on their side, McDavid said Sunday. They play a really structured game and dont give up a ton, and we certainly understand its going to be low-scoring games, tight checking, one-goal games. Los Angeles chokes the neutral zone with its 1-3-1 formation and attempts to stifle all offensive creativity. The Kings' top two centers, Kopitar and Phillip Danault, are both superb defensive players leading the effort to frustrate the Oilers, who scored a whopping 51 more goals than LA in the regular season. It makes a world of difference," said Kings coach Todd McLellan, McDavids coach for the first 3 1/2 seasons of his career in Edmonton. Kopi has won a couple of Cups. Phil has been to the finals as recently as last year (with Montreal). ... They get game management. They get situations. Its not just their skills. Their brain to understand whats going on around them and anticipate is maybe their best skill. Story continues BEHIND THE BENCH The coaches in this series know each other well: Jay Woodcroft was McLellan's assistant in San Jose and Edmonton. McLellan has led a team to the playoffs for the eighth time in his 13 full seasons with three franchises. He did strong work to get the still-rebuilding Kings to this point, honing their defensive focus and coaxing a combined 100 points out of newcomers Danault and Viktor Arvidsson for an unimpressive offensive team. While McLellan has ample playoff experience, Woodcroft is heading to his first NHL postseason after a promising start to his head coaching career. He sparked the Oilers to a 26-9-3 surge after taking over for the fired Dave Tippett in early February. They come from the same style of coaching, McDavid said. Woody definitely learned a lot from Todd. I think he definitely has taken some things from Todd, but hes put his own touch on things as well. We obviously dont play the same system, so they believe in some different things. BROWN OUT The postseason is a hockey farewell for Brown, who announced his impending retirement late in the regular season. The former Kings captain has spent his entire career with Los Angeles, raising the Cup twice and establishing himself as a dependable two-way forward who plays a tremendous physical game. NET GAINS Both teams have goalies who are turning back time. Quick appeared to be nearly done with the Kings last season while playing mediocre hockey and essentially losing his starting job which he had held since late 2008 to Cal Petersen. The 36-year-old Quick has improbably rejuvenated his career this season, going 23-13-9 with superior numbers to Petersen while playing his unorthodox, entertaining style of netminding to perfection. Edmonton appeared to be seeking a new goalie at the trade deadline, but couldn't find a deal. Mike Smith has obviated those concerns down the stretch, with the 40-year-old winning nine of his final 10 games and looking quite sharp. DEFENSIVE HEALTH Darnell Nurse is a key Oilers defenseman, but he hasn't played since getting hurt April 22. He participated in a full practice Sunday, but his status for the series hasn't been revealed. More crucially, the Kings must finish the season without Drew Doughty, their cornerstone defenseman and the fourth remaining member of their championship teams. The former Norris Trophy winner is out for the season after wrist surgery. THEY'VE GOT HISTORY These franchises once swapped Wayne Gretzky, and the Smythe Division rivals met in the postseason seven times from 1982-92. They haven't met in the playoffs since. Their first postseason meeting in 1982 was highlighted by the Miracle on Manchester Los Angeles' comeback from a 5-0 deficit after two periods for a 6-5 overtime win in Game 3 of a series eventually won by the Kings. Gretzky then led Los Angeles to a series win in 1989 after going down 3-1 to the Oilers. ___ More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Apple's value chain in China, an emblem of the country's global role as a source of labour and assembly, has been hit hard by strict lockdowns in Shanghai and neighbouring provinces, raising the risk that the US tech giant may accelerate a shift of its operations away from China, say analysts. While it is hard to put an exact figure on the losses resulting from the disruption to transport and production along Apple's extensive value chain in China, chief financial officer Luca Maestri told a conference call on Thursday that Covid-19-related lockdowns and a chip shortage would reduce the company's revenue by up to US$8 billion in the June quarter. Maestri said this was "substantially larger than" the impact in the previous quarter and also warned about the likely knock-on effect of reduced consumer demand in China due to lockdowns. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Apple's close links with China have, historically, been underpinned by two main factors. First, the country is an ideal assembly centre for the California-based tech giant, thanks to its advanced infrastructure, skilled labour force and efficient logistics services. Components from Taiwan, South Korea and elsewhere are assembled into iPhones and iPads on factory floors in China for the whole world to buy. Secondly, China itself is the second-largest market for Apple, thanks to the country's growing middle class, which has become increasingly affluent over the past decade, say analysts. But this positive alignment of factors is now under threat. China's strict lockdowns in Shanghai and Jiangsu province - key financial and manufacturing centres - since the end of March to tame the highly-infectious Omicron variant of Covid-19, have raised doubts about the country's position as an integral part of global supply chains for Apple. Story continues The situation has become more acute for China given that other countries - particularly Vietnam and India, which are returning to normal after Covid-related disruption - are eyeing a bigger share of Apple's value chain. Apple CEO Tim Cook has maintained smooth relations with Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Apple CEO Tim Cook has maintained smooth relations with Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE> According to calculations by the South China Morning Post, more than half of Apple's 192 suppliers with an internal manufacturing site for the company, including Foxconn, Pegatron, Quanta, Wistron and Compal, have production facilities in lockdown-hit Shanghai and Jiangsu. Moreover, two Foxconn factories in Shenzhen had to suspend operations for days in March amid a local brief lockdown, while the largest iPhone assembly compound in Zhengzhou has been short of labour as Covid-19 restrictions have made it hard for migrant workers from other areas to reach the Foxconn factory there. For lesser-known suppliers or subcontractors in Apple's value chain, it has been even harder to maintain normal levels of operation. Foxconn had to suspend operations at two plants in Kunshan last week after one worker in its closed-loop was found to be infected with Covid-19. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF Securities who follows Apple, said lockdowns in the Yangtze River Delta region would roughly lead to a 30 to 40 per cent drop in shipments this quarter for Apple, although the shortfall could be narrowed to 15 to 25 per cent if other suppliers step in. Delivery times for Apple MacBook Pros have been delayed by up to five weeks as the sole assembler, Quanta, has been forced to suspend operations due to the Shanghai lockdown, said Kuo. Apple had already started to consider reducing its reliance on China but the recent lockdowns have accelerated the process, said Kuo. Relocating some production facilities from China is "no longer a proposal but an action plan", added Kuo. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its plans for China in the face of lockdown-related disruption. The Covid-19 lockdowns come at a time when geopolitical pressure is rising for an economic decoupling between China and the United States. Former US President Donald Trump pushed for the reshoring of US manufacturing and the Biden administration has been working with regional allies to reduce supply chain reliance on China. Two of the four campuses of Foxconn in Kunshan, located on the north of the city, went into strict lockdown on April 20 after the Apple supplier reported confirmed Covid cases. Photo: SCMP/Ann Cao alt=Two of the four campuses of Foxconn in Kunshan, located on the north of the city, went into strict lockdown on April 20 after the Apple supplier reported confirmed Covid cases. Photo: SCMP/Ann Cao> Apple, under chief executive Tim Cook, has maintained a smooth relationship with Beijing despite some sporadic consumer boycotts of Apple products in China. Cook heads up the advisory committee for the economic management school at Tsinghua University, which gives him access to China's national leaders. Tech media outlet The Information reported at the end of last year that Cook signed an agreement with Chinese officials, estimated to be worth about US$275 billion, to help China develop its technological prowess and to head off state action which would have hobbled Apple's devices and services in the country. In Thursday's conference call, Cook said Apple was likely to move more production capacity back to the US considering the ongoing challenges. "Our supply chain is truly global ... we do a lot in the US and we'll probably be doing even more here as more chips are produced here," he said, without giving more details. Other options for Apple could include India, where land and labour are much cheaper than in the United States. With roads and ports clogged in China due to lockdown, iPhone production in India surged by 50 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022. This was aided by a decision to assemble the iPhone 13 in a Foxconn factory near Chennai, according to Indian media reports. And China remains critically important for Apple as a consumer market. "China growth remains the fuel in the engine [for Apple]," Dan Ives and John Katsingris, analysts at New York-based Wedbush, wrote in a recent research report. But the analysts added that supply chain issues have already cut the sale of around 15 million units of iPhones over the past few quarters. Meanwhile, there is little sign that China is about to give up on its "dynamic zero" policy approach to Covid-19. For those industrial enterprises allowed to resume production, strict quarantine rules remain in place, which could translate into additional costs, reduced efficiency and fresh uncertainties down the line. "The best case [for full resumption] is June," said Kuo. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Kateryna Tyshchenko - Sunday, 1 May 2022, 21:35 Russian troops have captured an evacuation bus driver in Popasna and recorded a propaganda interview with him. Source: Serhii Haidai, Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, on Telegram Details: Haidai said that on 29 April a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group shelled an evacuation convoy in Popasna using a grenade launcher. Several units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have since attended the site of the incident, but have found only one damaged bus there - there were no people in it, only blood stains. Another bus which was delivering humanitarian aid and was going to collect people for evacuation on the way back has not been found. There has been no contact with the driver, either. According to Haidai: "And so today, after 2 days of searching, Mykhailo Pankov was found. The Russians had filmed a propaganda interview with him and played it on the main Ruscist TV channel. The occupiers forced him to say that the Ukrainian government is not evacuating people, that they left their people to fend for themselves. These are the lies that the Russians live by. They kill, they lie, and they destroy. I understand that Mykhailo had no choice. The footage says it all." Earlier: On 29 April 2 buses manned by volunteers were heading for Popasna when they came under Russian fire. The passengers of the first evacuation bus have disappeared, as has the second bus which was carrying humanitarian aid for the residents of Popasna. An 18-year-old man faces charges that he enticed two teen girls online, twice meeting one at her school to sexually abuse her, Utah authorities reported. Samuel Shermen Cryder faces numerous charges, including several felonies, following his arrest Thursday, April 26, the Davis County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. A 14-year-old girl told investigators that she met Cryder on social media before he twice came to her junior high school to restrain and sexually abuse her, KSTU reported. He wouldnt let me leave, she told investigators, according to the station. I felt I couldnt be saved. Detectives are working to identify a second teen girl whom Cryder is also accused of victimizing, sheriffs officials said. Investigators found multiple explicit photos on Cryders phone, KUTV reported. Sheriffs officials ask that anyone with information call 801-451-4150 and reference case number D22-4210. Teacher accused of choking 12-year-old gets reassigned from school, NY officials say Teacher accused of being intoxicated in high school class arrested, California cops say Teacher mistakenly sent his boss video of teens undressing, California officials say Mr. Wang Chao, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends, The gate of China-US relations was opened in 1972. 50 years ago, President Richard Nixon paid a historic visit to China. Then in the same year, Senate Majority Leader Michael Mansfield and Minority Leader Hugh Scott, and House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and Minority Leader Gerald Ford followed in President Nixons footsteps, and led two consecutive visits to China. These were the first China trips by the US Congress, and they have also been marked in the annals of history. In Senator Mansfields report to the Congress about the visit, he wrote: It is difficult to look at China, today, free of the distortions of national disparities, especially after two decades of separation. But the distortions can be tempered by perspective. It is possible, for example, to judge a bottle as half full or as half empty. If China is measured by some of our common yardsticks, whether they be highway mileage, the number of cars, television sets, kitchen gadgets, political parties, or newspaper editors the bottle will be seen as half empty. If China is viewed in the light of its own past, the bottle is half full and rapidly filling. Representatives Boggs and Ford also said after their trip, it is in the interest of our peoples and in the interest of international peace for us to learn to live together in peace and mutual respect. These remarks, though made 50 years ago, are still resonating and relevant today. Ladies and Gentlemen, The China-US relationship is at another historical juncture, just like 50 years ago. It is in a new round of mutual exploration, understanding, adaptation and balancing. In the context of severe and complex China-US relations, we should not set eyes on our differences only. Rather, we should bear in mind our common interests, and show strategic vision, political courage and diplomatic wisdom. We should learn from history, overcome difficulties and challenges, rebuild trust, and take China-US relations back to the right track. We need to take a strategic and long-term view, look far and wide, follow the trend of the times and the call of the people, and see China-US relations as mutually dependent and beneficial. We must avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation caused by individual events, and make China-US relations free from the Thucydides Trap or the tragedy of great power politics. We need to strengthen communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, respect each other, and treat each other as equals. People should not use American yardstick to judge China, or follow the ideological and binary narrative of Democracy versus Authoritarianism, or over-simplify China-US relations as competition. We need to promote cooperation in various fields and expand common interests. Recently I visited Americas West Coast and also some Midwestern states. From all the forums on energy, the environment, sustainable development, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges that I attended during the trips, I felt keenly peoples passion for developing cooperation with China, from economic and trade ties, to people-to-people exchanges, and to climate change cooperation. I could tell that they all support investment from China, they welcome Chinese students, and they look forward to exporting more agricultural products to China. We need to manage differences and prevent crises. The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations, and concerns Chinas core interests. The one-China principle is the unshakable political foundation of the China-US relationship, and a red line not to be crossed. We hope that the US will honor its 50-year political commitments on Taiwan, stop hollowing out the one-China principle, stop emboldening or abetting Taiwan independence separatist activities, and stop playing the Taiwan card in China-US relations. Only in this way can we truly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and avoid major crises between our two countries. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the way for China and the United States to get along. This was the case 50 years ago, and they are still the basic principles for our relations today and in the years ahead. Our commemoration of the historic visits 50 years ago is just to draw experience from history, ensure China-US relationship will stay the course, and realize its sound and stable development for the next 50 years! Thank you! A 75-year-old man who went overboard from a 32-foot boat Saturday in Port Gardner Bay was rescued from the water. At 10:43 a.m., Everett firefighters said they were called for a report of a man overboard northwest of the Naval Station Everett Pier. According to MyEverett News, police launched Marine 2 and firefighters responded on Marine 1. A Coast Guard Auxiliary crew was also called, and they pulled the man out of the water into their boat. The man was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center to be checked out. Officials did not provide any word on his condition. Firefighters said the mans wife and the boat were taken back to the marina. More news from KIRO 7 DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP Viktor Gjergji, owner of Viktor's Payless and Grocery, on the Westside of Jacksonville. He operates a local discount retailers and purchases goods from government auctions and seizures, unclaimed freight, and overstocks from other retailers. The first time some customers discovered Viktors Payless and Grocery was when the pandemic hit two years ago and owner Viktor Gjergji had plenty of supplies on the Jacksonville's Westside that were scarce in other places. Advertisements might have lured new customers there, but what they couldnt have expected to find was an entire strip shopping center filled with all sorts of discounted merchandise ranging from clothes and nonperishable groceries to furniture and mattresses. Gjergji is considered an accidental entrepreneur. He used to work for someone who sold discounted merchandise at 6612 San Juan Avenue. But more than a decade ago, when the former owner walked away from the business, Gjergji took over. A grocery store is just part of the strip shopping center at 6612 San Juan Ave., owned by Viktor Gjergji. The first thing that he did was to start filling the empty space after the former owner sold everything. Gjergji started purchasing goods from government auctions and seizures, unclaimed freight and overstocks from other retailers. He now buys from wholesale liquidators nationwide, as well as returns from retailers like Wayfair, Costco, BJs and Walmart. Of course we felt the impact of the pandemic, he said. But we werent affected as bad as some businesses because were a one-stop shop that offers something for everyone. We have customers that range from people who have a low income to judges, lawyers, and business people that include millionaires, he said, noting that his goal is to serve everyone, whether it's a struggling college student or high-net worth homeowner. Gjergji's businesses are among those that had only a brief lull in business due to the pandemic. With signs that say $9.98 all clothes, and items that range from cleaning supplies, diapers and beauty products to massage chairs, sinks and designer-brand furniture and rugs, its easy to see why Gjergji confidently says that people from all walks of life are able to find something that fits their needs. Its hard to imagine that Gjergji is among a surprising number of accidental entrepreneurs. Most entrepreneurs will tell you that starting a business is something they always felt destined to do. But thats not the case for people like Gjergji who can be found among the ranks of the self-employed. Story continues A third of business owners never planned on starting their own company, according to a study of entrepreneurs by The Recruit Venture Group. And despite challenges like raising money and finding customers, only 1 percent regret their decision, and 12 percent said they wish theyd started their business sooner. Gjergji said he grew up in Albania, a communist and brutal regime. In his early 20s, he was part of a student revolution and escaped to Yugoslavia where he lived in a refugee camp for nearly two years. "I was granted political asylum and sponsored by Lutheran Services. That's how I moved to Jacksonville in 1991," he said. "It's the reason I support that organization to this day. I also support other nonprofits because it's important to help organizations that help others. You have to give back." While most people don't know his reasons for getting into the business, several customers recently said they've shopped at the location for years because it's a neighborhood business with lots of variety. Tewanna Witsell, said she lives on the westside and often shops at Viktor's Liquidators and Viktor GJergji's other two adjacent stores. Tewanna Witsell, who lives near Viktors, said she stops by Gjergji's three stores frequently because inventory changes constantly and she never knows whats going to be there. Ive bought several pieces from here, including high-end sofas and mattresses. Viktors has great stuff and you never know whats going to be here. Inventory changes all of the time," she said. "When Im looking for something in particular I stop by once a week, and I grab a snack on the way out of the door. Gjergji said he enjoys passing on discounts to consumers, but he also takes pride in helping nonprofits like homeless shelters and churches. It's a place where you just don't know what you'll find because the items are so diverse. "I never know what I'm going to get, because I buy a lot of things in bulk," he said while opening a box filled with Lysol wipes in a backroom of the grocery area. "Most of the time we don't even know what's in containers that include furniture. I never know what's coming. That's what makes this business so unique and interesting." Viktor Gjergji, the owner of Viktor's Payless Salvage & Furniture, says he offers a huge variety of items and unheard-of deals on furniture brands such as Stanley and Broyhill. But he said that he takes pride in offering high-end furniture and brands that include Drexel, Barclay Butera, Pulasky and Collezione-Europa. "Not everyone can afford to buy fine furniture," he said. "But they can here, because we sell it for a fraction of what it costs at retail." The strip shopping center is about 60,000 square-feet, Gjergji said. He started out with one small area but continually added on, most recently taking over a space formerly occupied by Family Dollar. The strip center has three stores, including Viktor's Payless Salvage and Furniture, and Viktor's Liquidation. Viktor Gjergji, owner of Viktor's Payless and Grocery, says he never knows what he will receive each week. He purchases items that range from furniture to nonperishable groceries from sources that range from unclaimed freight to overstocks from other retailers. Samantha Wallace, 50, owner of Wallace Roofing, said she's lived in the Lakeshore Hyde Park area her entire life, and she appreciates Viktor's offerings. "Why pay so much more for the same thing that's marked up at a furniture store or a big box retail store," Wallace said. "Why pay retail? Im all about the sale." This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Marcia Pledger: Why Viktor's Payless and Grocery excelled in the pandemic Police and protesters clashed in Turkey and France during May Day rallies on Sunday, as tens of thousands marched across the world in support of workers' rights. Turkish riot police detained scores of demonstrators in Istanbul, pinning some of them to the ground and dragging them away from the rally, which the governor's office said was unauthorised. And rallies in Paris quickly turned violent as youths clashed with police on the sidelines and buildings were vandalised, though unions said more than 200,000 people joined demonstrations across France and most were peaceful. May 1 is a public holiday in many countries and Sunday saw events on every continent. European rallies sparked the most controversy with Turkish protesters gathering at Istanbul's Taksim Square, an area synonymous with anti-government protests, chanting "long live labour and freedom, long live May Day". City officials said the group refused to disperse and 164 were detained, with government-approved rallies elsewhere in Turkey passing off peacefully. French ministers denounced the violence in Paris and prosecutors said 50 people had been arrested. Martine Haccoun, a 65-year-old retired doctor, told AFP she came to protest in the southern city of Marseille to show re-elected President Emmanuel Macron "that we didn't give him a blank cheque for five years". She said many voted for Macron simply to stop far-right challenger Marine Le Pen. - 'Not slogans' - While scuffles were reported in Italian cities including Turin, thousands gathered in London and cities across Germany with no sign of trouble. In Spain, around 10,000 people joined a demonstration in Madrid and dozens of other cities also held well-attended rallies. Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz of the communist party said she wanted to show solidarity "with the workers of Ukraine, who today aren't able to protest". In the Greek capital Athens, more than 10,000 joined rallies against a background of spiralling inflation. Story continues Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took to social media to promise a raise in the minimum wage by 50 euros a month. "We honour the working people not with slogans, but with acts," he wrote on Twitter. Kenyan Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta similarly used his May Day speech to promise a 12 percent hike in the minimum wage, though activists said it was not enough to keep pace with inflation. - 'Pull by his ear' - The mood was uglier in Sri Lanka, where the opposition showed rare unity in calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign over the country's worst-ever economic crisis. "It is time for us to pull him by his ear and kick him out," former legislator Hirunika Premachandra said at a rally in Colombo. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was also feeling the heat, being forced to leave an event when miners stormed the stage he was due to speak at and chanted "Cyril must go". However, other leaders were able to harness the energy of the crowds. Xiomara Castro, the new president of Honduras, was greeted by thousands chanting her name, and she responded by telling them she would govern for them and put an end to a "dark era" of corruption and drug trafficking. Elsewhere in Latin America, one leftist-organized group in Buenos Aires protested repaying International Monetary Fund loans, while another group of pro- Argentina government demonstrators praised current policy. There were also two separate marches in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, with hospital workers and other basic service employees calling for a "dignified salary" at one demonstration. "People, listen, join the fight!" they chanted. President Nicolas Maduro addressed the crowds at a separate pro-government march elsewhere in the city, blaming United States sanctions for his country's "economic storm" and announcing "Venezuela is headed for prosperity". Thousands of May 1 demonstrators in Chile took to the streets only days after the government announced a 12.5 percent rise in the minimum wage, which is set to reach 400,000 pesos ($470) per month from August. President Gabriel Boric has said his goal is to raise it to 500,000 pesos by 2026. May Day came too soon for many in China to enjoy what is usually one of the year's busiest holidays. A series of lockdowns sparked by rising Covid cases meant restaurants and tourist sites were deserted during what is usually a frenetic period. "Obviously it's bad in terms of our own self-interest, but it's necessary overall for the good of the country," said a young waiter at a deserted restaurant near the Forbidden City in Beijing. burs-jxb/har/caw/st By Dominique Vidalon and Noemie Olive PARIS (Reuters) -Police fired tear gas to push back black-clad anarchists who ransacked business premises in Paris on Sunday during May Day protests against the policies of newly re-elected President Emmanuel Macron. Thousands of people joined May Day marches across France, calling for salary increases and for Macron to drop his plan to raise the retirement age. Most were peaceful but violence broke out in the capital, where police arrested 54 people, including a woman who attacked a fireman trying to put out a fire, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter. Eight police were injured, he added. Clashes with police broke out at the start of the march near La Republique Square and when it reached La Nation Square in eastern Paris. "Black Bloc" anarchists ransacked a McDonald's restaurant on the Place Leon Blum and trashed several real estate agencies, breaking their windows and setting garbage bins on fire. Police responded by firing tear gas. About 250 rallies were organised in Paris and other cities including Lille, Nantes, Toulouse and Marseille. Overall 116,500 people demonstrated across the country, including 24,000 in the capital, the interior ministry said. In Paris, trade unionists were joined by political figures - mostly from the left - and climate activists. The cost of living was the main theme in the presidential election campaign and looks set to be equally prominent ahead of June legislative elections that Macron's party and its allies must win if he is to be able to implement his pro-business policies, including increasing retirement age to 65 for 62 "It is important to show Macron and the whole political world that we are prepared to defend our social rights," Joshua Antunes, a 19-year-old student said. He also accused the president of "inactivity" on environment issues. 'RETIREMENT BEFORE ARTHRITIS' Marchers carried banners reading "Retirement Before Arthritis", "Retirement at 60, Freeze Prices" and "Macron, Get Out" Story continues "The government has got to deal with the purchasing power problem by raising wages," Philippe Martinez, the head of the hardline CGT union, told Reuters before the rallies. Macron won a new five-year presidential term after beating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in last Sunday's runoff vote. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who came third in the first round of the presidential vote, attended the Paris march. He wants to rally a union of the left, including the Greens, to dominate parliament and force Macron into an awkward "cohabitation", but so far this has not materialised. "We will not make a single concession on pensions," Melenchon said before the march started. He said he still hoped an agreement to build a new union of the left could be reached by Sunday evening. Unlike in previous years, Marine Le Pen did not lay a wreath in Paris at the statue of Joan or Arc, whom her party uses as a nationalist symbol. She was replaced by the Rassemblement National Interim President Jordan Bardella, who said Le Pen was preparing for the legislative elections. Le Pen urged voters in a video message to elect as many deputies from her party as possible in June so that she could "protect your purchasing power," and prevent Macron from carrying a "harmful project for France and the French people" The parliamentary elections will be held on June 12 and 19. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, additional reporting by Yonathan Van der Voort, Noemie Olive, Sarah Meyssonier, Caroline Pailliez; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Andrew Heavens) Meghan Markles Netflix project has gotten the boot. The streaming giant dropped "Pearl," the working title of an animated series that was created by the Duchess of Sussex through Archewell Productions, Deadline reported on Sunday. The production company, set up by the former American actress and her husband, Prince Harry, aims to offer original programming such as documentaries, features and scripted shows. "Pearl" was meant to be Archewells first animated series. Last summer, it was announced that the 40-year-old was teaming up with Elton Johns husband David Furnish to create "Pearl" for Netflix. The duchess was going to serve as an executive producer alongside the Canadian filmmaker. The show was described as a "family series that centers on the adventures of a 12-year-old girl who finds inspiration in a variety of influential women throughout history." PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE MAKE FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE IN EUROPE SINCE STEPPING BACK AS SENIOR ROYALS It was announced last summer that the Duchess of Sussex was working on an animated series for Netflix. NDZ/Star Max/GC Images "Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome lifes daily challenges," Markle announced in a statement. "Im thrilled that Archewell Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix and these incredible producers will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history." Its noted that Netflix has been canceling and ending production on several titles, including two childrens animated shows that were also in production, "Dino Daycare" and "Boons and Curses." "Pearl" was still in the development stage at the time it was axed. There are still productions in development from Archewell Productions, including the upcoming documentary "Heart of Invictus," which focuses on Harrys Invictus Games and its athletes. Markle will also remain busy. Her Spotify podcast, "Archetypes," is set to premiere this summer. Story continues A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex didnt immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast is expected to premiere this summer. Getty Markle became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince, 37, in May 2018 at Windsor Castle. The couple welcomed a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs departures from royal duties began in 2020 over what they described as the British medias intrusions and racist attitudes toward the former "Suits" star. The family now lives in the coastal city of Montecito, California. In the wake of quitting royal duties, they gave an explosive TV interview to Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, in which the couple described painful comments about how dark Archies skin might be before his birth. The duchess talked about the intense isolation she felt inside the royal family that led her to contemplate suicide. Buckingham Palace said the allegations of racism made by the couple were "concerning" and would be addressed privately. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in California with their two children. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images In June of that year, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The name pays tribute to both Harrys grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose family nickname is Lilibet, and his late mother, Princess Diana. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's biggest opposition party on Sunday proposed installing solar panels for free onto residential housing, staking out its renewable energy credentials as it seeks to challenge the ruling party of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Marko Cortes, leader of the center-right National Action Party (PAN), said the plan was to have state power utility Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and the government put panels for free on all homes, "starting with the poorest." "People wouldn't pay anything, or would pay a lot less for their electricity bill," Cortes said in a video on Twitter, urging the government to adopt the plan. Lopez Obrador, a popular president who has dominated Mexican politics since taking office in December 2018, suffered a reverse in Congress last month when the opposition united to vote down a constitutional overhaul of the power market. The president's plan sought to tighten CFE control of the market at the expense of private companies. That caused friction with investors in solar and wind power generation as well as manufacturers with commitments to use more clean energy. The PAN pitch comes ahead of six gubernatorial elections in June, and as the opposition starts gearing up for the 2024 elections, when Lopez Obrador's successor will be chosen. Cortes said the solar panels would be paid for by a subsidy currently going to CFE, and be free for people in the lowest energy consumption bracket. The first phase of the initiative aimed to reach around 5 million households, he said. Lopez Obrador, a leftist resource nationalist, argues past governments skewed the power market in favor of private capital at the expense of Mexico's state power companies and consumers. Critics dispute this, and argue his policies violate Mexico's international trade accords, and will cause more pollution due to the degree to which CFE relies on fossil fuels from cash-strapped state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex). Opposition politicians say the government's policies have left the door open to them to make the case for renewable energy, and with it, more business investment in Mexico. (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Marguerita Choy) A dog leash. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images A Michigan sheriff's corrections deputy was arrested on accusations of torturing and killing the dog he adopted. The dog, Habs, had been trained in obedience by inmates and named after a veteran who died by suicide. Jacob Wilkinson was charged with one felony count of second-degree torturing or killing of an animal. A Michigan sheriff's corrections deputy was arrested and charged by authorities last week in connection with torturing and killing an adopted dog last year, officials said. Michigan Department of Corrections officer Jacob Wilkinson and charged with second-degree torturing or killing of an animal, a felony that carries a seven-year prison sentence, MLive reported. Wilkinson was arraigned on April 26 before Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman. Wilkinson adopted the pup, Habs, in September 2021. Habs was trained with inmates at the Saginaw Correctional Facility in the prison's veterans block. Prisoners there spend four to six months helping train canines, according to MLive. Originally named Randy, he has renamed Habs after a veteran who died by suicide. Habs was found in a ditch in Tittabawassee Township on March 24 with bullet holes in his head and with his legs duct-taped, MLive reported. Investigators believe he may have been killed in September. After finding Habs' body, investigators used his microchip to trace him back to Wilkinson, who had since moved on from working at MDOC to a new job as a corrections deputy with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, MLive reported. Wilkinson admitted to investigators that he killed Habs after the dog nipped at him while he was trimming Habs' nails. He then tied and muzzled Habs with duct tape, shot him, and left him in a ditch, where snow covered Habs' body for months. While Habs didn't meet the qualifications to become a service dog, he did complete obedience training, Saginaw County Animal Care & Control Director Bonnie Kanicki said, per MLive. Kanicki noted that Wilkinson became familiar with Habs throughout the training process. Story continues Following a necropsy, investigators determined Habs had been shot three times in the head with .22-caliber bullets, Kanicki told the MLive. "It just shocks the conscience," Kanicki told the outlet. "That dog suffered greatly." Wilkinson has since been fired from his post as a corrections deputy at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. According to a Facebook post from the office, he was fired on April 22. He had been hired by the office on January 31. "We're going to hold our own accountable," Sheriff Christopher Swanson said, adding that Wilkinson never disclosed in his hiring interview or psychological evaluation that he had tortured an animal. "A service dog that has been trained by people that are training this dog to help counsel and work through issues that is completely innocent. That dog nipped at him, and he tortured it, and he killed it, and he left it for dead," Swanson said. "He confessed to everything. He was immediately terminated." Read the original article on Insider The Daily Beast Lauderdale County SheriffAlabama jail guard Vicky White fatally shot herself as she and escaped murder suspect Casey White were being chased by law enforcement in Indiana on Monday, ending an extraordinary 11 days on the run that captivated the nation.Weve captured them, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding said in Evansville, Indiana, a five-hour drive from the Florence, Alabama, lockup the pair had vanished from.Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, Vicky Whites former boss, told re Apr. 30Mississippi State's celebration of a quick two-run lead in the top of the first was short-lived on Saturday at Missouri. Bulldogs starter Preston Johnson loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batters in the bottom of the first then gave up a grand slam his only hit allowed in the inning to Fox Leum, the Tigers designated hitter. That set Missouri on its way to only its sixth SEC win, a 19-8 decision to draw even in the weekend series. The Bulldogs, seeking their third-straight conference series win, will have to wait another day to make that happen. Game 3 is Sunday at 2 p.m. Mississippi State (25-19, 9-11 SEC) won the opener in grand fashion on Friday, a 13-4 decision in which it produced a season-high 20 hits. Second baseman RJ Yeager doubled, homered twice and drove in five runs on Friday. Yeager homered again in Game 2, his third of the weekend and 15th of the season. But the chaos he helped unleash on Missouri in Game 1 was set upon the Bulldogs less than 24 hours later. Missouri (23-17, 6-14) scored in each of the first six innings and totaled 17 hits. In his four-inning start Johnson gave up nine earned runs on eight hits, two walks and hit two hit batters. The Tigers had four home runs. They began the day as one of only three SEC teams to have scored fewer than 100 runs in conference play and needed 18 runs to get there. Missouri poured it on in the sixth with nine runs on seven hits against three different MSU pitchers. PARRISH ALFORD is the college sports editor and columnist for the Daily Journal. Contact him at parrish.alford@journalinc.com. On March 22, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisaid Muse Ali in Islamabad on the sidelines of the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation upon invitation. Wang Yi said, Somalia is an important country in the Horn of Africa with a sound endowment for development. Due to geopolitical and other factors, Somalia's national development has been disrupted, and the improvement of people's livelihood has a long way to go. China supports various factions in Somalia in strengthening coordination, focusing on development and revitalization and maintaining political and social stability. China and Somalia are good friends and old friends. We have always supported Somalia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, never interfered in its internal affairs, never sought geopolitical interests and never participated in the major-power rivalry. We are ready to continue to contribute to Somalia's peace, stability and development. Abdisaid said, Somalia and China have strong historical relations and China is a reliable friend of Somalia. He thanks China for its long-term support and assistance and looks forward to continued support from China in realizing peace, security and development. He hopes to learn from China's experience in state governance, especially the experience in poverty alleviation. Wang Yi said that prioritizing development and improving people's livelihood are important elements of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping, and China is ready to deepen exchanges of state governance experience with Somalia within the framework of the GDI. China will push for the implementation of the nine programs of cooperation with Africa in Somalia and is stepping up the implementation of emergency food aid to Somalia. China is ready to continue providing humanitarian material assistance and personnel training, and strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as agriculture, fishery, health and capacity building. Abdisaid introduced the current situation in the Horn of Africa and the African Union Mission in Somalia. He spoke highly of China's efforts to promote unity and cooperation in the Horn of Africa and agreed to hold the Horn of Africa peace conference. Wang Yi said, China is willing to continue to contribute wisdom and strength to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since the war began in February when she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday. Her unannounced trip to Kyiv comes on the heels of last week's visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Accompanying Pelosi was a delegation that included Democratic representatives Adam Schiff (Calif.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), and Jason Crow (Colo.). Our Congressional Delegation was honored to meet with @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv to salute his leadership and courage, to commend the Ukrainian people for their outstanding defense of Democracy and to say that we are with you until victory is won. pic.twitter.com/zkc588Qcrv Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 1, 2022 The Ukrainian president and the American speaker discussed continued U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine, according to CNBC. Zelensky also awarded Pelosi with the Order of Princess Olga. The decoration named for the 10th century Princess Olga of Kyiv "is bestowed upon women who have made outstanding contributions to the Ukrainian state," The Washington Post explains. The delegation's next stop was Poland, where they met with Polish President Andrzej Duda. At a news conference in Poland on Sunday, Pelosi encouraged Western countries to stand up to Russian aggression: "Do not be bullied by bullies. If they're making threats, you cannot back down. We're there for the fight, and you cannot fold to a bully." You may also like Russia's offensive in the Donbas is 'not succeeding,' Ukrainian military says 7 cartoons about the Republican war on Disney The S&P 500 is down 13.8 percent in 2022, the worst year-to-date performance since World War II The Recount Piers Morgan, the English broadcaster, and journalist said that though sentiments were high on both sides regarding Roe v. Wade, it was not the right way to behave. While speaking on Fox & Friends, the English writer discussed the relevance of the demonstrations outside Supreme Court justices homes and churches as a fallout of the draft opinion leak last week. Morgan criticized the arson attack on the anti-abortion building in Wisconsin. (Reuters) - Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he told the European Union's top diplomat on Sunday that the bloc's next round of sanctions must include an oil embargo on Russia. "I also emphasized there can be no alternative to granting Ukraine EU candidate status. We paid separate attention to further safe evacuation from besieged Mariupol," Kuleba wrote on Twitter after his call with Josep Borrell. (Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrives at the 2022 Invictus Games in the Hague, Netherlands. (Peter Dejong / Associated Press) Netflix has scrapped an animated series created by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the latest in a series of cost-saving moves after losing 200,000 subscribers in its first quarter. The Los Angeles Times confirmed Sunday that the streaming giant has decided not to move forward with "Pearl," a feminist children's series executive produced by the former Meghan Markle via Archewell Productions. (The retired TV actor and her husband, Prince Harry, signed a major production deal with Netflix in 2020.) In July, the duchess was "thrilled" and "delighted" to announce that Archewell had partnered with Netflix for "Pearl," about a young girl inspired by "extraordinary women throughout history." Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome lifes daily challenges," Meghan said in a statement at the time. "I have been eager to bring this special series to light." The cancellation of "Pearl" comes shortly after Netflix laid off an undisclosed number of marketing employees, several of whom voiced their frustration this week on social media. The streamer has been scrambling to cut costs after estimating that it would lose an additional 2 million subscribers in the current quarter. Netflix recruited me seven months ago only to lay me and a bunch of other talented people off today, wrote Evette Dionne, a former Netflix editorial and publishing manager on Twitter. "Im going to take time off to just exist, so please get in touch if youll have editing and content strategy opportunities." "Netflix just laid off me and my brilliant team members," tweeted H. Drew Blackburn, who wrote for Netflix's pop culture website, Tudum. "Continue to cancel your subscriptions!" Though "Pearl" is no longer in development at Netflix, the company still has various Archewell projects in the works including "Heart of Invictus," a documentary series about the Invictus Games executive produced by Prince Harry. Story continues Other animated series recently dropped by Netflix include "Dino Daycare," created by Jeff King, and "Boons and Curses," created by Jaydeep Hasrajani. "Our whole crew just got laid off from 'Boones and Curses' over at Netflix," tweeted animation director and storyboard artist Ian Laser. "The work we did was amazing. So sad no one will get to see the beautiful things we were working on." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Olha Hlushchenko - Sunday, 1 May 2022, 00:58 Serhii Bratchuk, Spokesman for Odesa Regional Military Administration, said that Odesan air defence equipment "is doing its job very well," having shot down 7 Russian planes. Source: Serhii Bratchuk during a 24/7 national joint newscast According to Bratchuk: "After 18:00 yesterday [on Saturday, 30 April] explosions were heard in the city. A missile strike was launched on our airportUnfortunately, we have some 'incomings' and the runway is destroyed and won't be able to operate. It won't be able to receive aircraft. At this moment in time, it cannot be repaired. Rescue work is still underway." "Odesan air defence equipment is doing its job very well. Odesa is winning 7:0 on enemy planes shot down. I'd like to say that we know where the cruise missiles were launched from and where they came from to Odesa; from the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea to be precise. These were Oniks cruise missiles launched from Bastion coastal defence missile system." "I'd like to remind you that Russia also deployed these missiles in Syria." An image of passengers on a "Pedal Pub" in 2008. Joey McLeister/Star Tribune via Getty Images A "pedal pub" overturned in midtown Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday evening. Two people were critically injured, and three others were in serious conditions, fire department officials said. Fifteen people in total were injured, officials said, and all passengers were hospitalized. A 'pedal pub' overturned in midtown Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday evening, injuring 15 people, officials said, NBC News reported. Two were critically injured, and three others were in a serious condition, an Atlanta Fire & Rescue spokesperson said, per NBC News. The remaining ten people had minor injuries, the spokesperson said. All the passengers were hospitalized, they added. "This was a single-vehicle accident," Atlanta police officer Steve Avery said, per NBC News. "A 'pedal pub' with multiple passengers was trying to negotiate a turn but was apparently going too fast and turned over," he continued. A witness told Fox 5 Atlanta reporter Rob DiRienzo that she saw the "pedal pub" flip onto its side. "Immediately, the public came out, running out of their cars, taking it back up and saving people that were lying underneath because I guess they were stuck," the witness said. Other onlookers intervened, she recalled. "I saw this man on the street. He started diverting traffic, pointing with his whole hand, instantly," the witness said. "It was an amazing intervention of the public." Pedal Pub Atlanta did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. According to the company's website, each pedal pub holds up to 15 people for a two-hour tour of the city. They are allowed to bring onboard alcoholic beverages, excluding hard liquor, and individuals are not allowed on board if they show up drunk. Read the original article on Insider Speaker Nancy Pelosi has concluded a secret visit to Ukraine this weekend, becoming the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the war-ravaged country since Russias brutal invasion began in February. Pelosi led the previously unannounced trip with a small group of senior House Democrats, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). The group met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials in Kyiv, the countrys capital. A video posted on Zelenskyys Twitter account showed the lawmakers walking the streets of Kyiv before being greeted by the Ukrainian leader outside the presidential palace. Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, the group said in a statement. When we return to the United States, we will do so further informed, deeply inspired and ready to do what is needed to help the Ukrainian people as they defend democracy for their nation and for the world. The short trip carried immense security risks as Russian forces continue to attack civilian areas across Ukraine. Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency, is now the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the battered nation. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done, Pelosi told Zelenskyy during their meeting. Her travel follows a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who entered the country via train and met with Zelenskyy in a windowless underground bunker in Kyiv on April 24. The Pelosi-led trip marked the first official congressional delegation to Ukraine since the invasion began. While other groups of lawmakers plan to travel to nations bordering the conflict like Poland during the upcoming House recess, none planned to travel directly into the active war zone. Story continues President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have not yet traveled to Ukraine, though some other Western heads of state, including U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have made the journey. Other U.S. lawmakers have made unofficial visits, however. Two Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and Ukraine-born Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, visited cities in the outskirts of Kyiv that are now sites of war-crimes investigations. Pelosis visit comes just days after Biden asked Congress to approve an additional $33 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, including $20 billion for military aid a massive assistance package and one that underscores the long-term nature of the U.S. commitment. Congressional leaders have vowed to act on the request quickly, but the exact legislative path remains unclear . This is historic, Pelosi said of the proposed aid package at a press conference Friday. We hope to as soon as possible pass that legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a Congressional delegation to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Pelosi is now the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit Ukraine during the war, a trip that comes as Russia's refocused military campaign in the country's east struggles to make significant gains. We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, Pelosi said during a meeting with Ukrainian officials, according to a video posted to Zelenskyy's official Telegram account early Sunday. Your fight is a fight for everyone, and so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. Zelenskyy said he was very grateful for this powerful signal of support. Image: (AP) Those with Pelosi on the trip, which was not previously announced, included Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif. The surprise visit adds to growing momentum for the West's support for Ukraine as Russia's invasion struggles and both sides appear to be settling in for a prolonged conflict. The trip is the second major visit from American officials in the span of a week. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Zelenskyy last Sunday and made fresh promises of military and diplomatic support. The U.S. and many countries in Europe have pledged to send a variety of defensive weapons to help Ukraine hold off Russian advances. Russia has not taken those developments lightly. Escalating rhetoric from the Kremlin and state media, combined with a move to cut off gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria, have pushed analysts to worry that Ukraine is now just one part of a multi-front struggle between Russia and the West. Pelosi said in a statement posted to the speaker's website that the trip was meant "to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine." The delegation will now keep traveling in Poland to meet with President Andrzej Duda, it said, adding that the trip would help inform coming legislation meant to further support Ukraine. President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday for a new $33 billion Ukraine aid package. "[Zelenskyy] conveyed the clear need for continued security, economic and humanitarian assistance from the United States to address the devastating human toll taken on the Ukrainian people by Putins diabolic invasion," Pelosi said, "and our delegation proudly delivered the message that additional American support is on the way, as we work to transform President Bidens strong funding request into a legislative package." Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) secret visit to Kyiv on Saturday demonstrated a remarkable show of U.S. support for the embattled Ukrainians, providing further proof that Washington policymakers are both bracing for a lengthy conflict and prepared to furnish help for the long haul. The surprise excursion marking the first visit inside Ukraine by members of Congress since Russian launched its invasion more than two months ago featured a long discussion between Pelosi and her delegation, which included six other prominent House Democrats, and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky about the status of the fight, the nature of Western assistance and the expectations of whats to come. Pelosi afterwards promised that U.S. support will endure until victory is won. Do not be bullied by bullies, she told reporters afterwards. If theyre making threats, you cannot back down. But if the three-hour meeting substantiated the strong relations between the two democratic allies and the commitment of the United States to defend Ukraine from the imperial designs of Russian President Vladimir Putin it also highlights the boundaries of Western involvement. While the U.S. has already approved more than $13 billion in military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine since the Feb. 24 invasion and the Biden administration last week requested $33 billion more, which Congress appears ready to approve the United States and its NATO allies have also refused to confront Russian forces head-on for fear of escalating the fight with the volatile Putin, who controls the worlds largest nuclear arsenal. The hands-off approach, illustrating the limitations of Western military might in the age of nuclear arms, has persisted even as more and more atrocities conducted by Russian forces have come to light, including the purposeful targeting of civilians. Zelensky on Sunday was diplomatic in his meeting with Pelosi and the Democrats Youre all very welcome, he said in a brief video posted by his office on Twitter but hes also been forceful in expressing his frustrations with the U.S. and other NATO countries for what he considers an insufficient response to Putins unprovoked aggression. His calls for the West to help secure a no-fly zone over Ukraine, for instance, have been rebuffed as too risky. Story continues Still, as the conflict has evolved, and Russia has stepped up its attacks on the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, the Biden administration is ramping up the assistance, including the recent decision to provide increasingly sophisticated weapons systems to help Ukrainian forces weather the onslaught. Pelosis visit is only the latest confirmation of the U.S. commitment to the fight, at least when it comes to amenities and economic help, and on Sunday she framed the battle as a type of proxy war pitting the liberties of Western democracy against the forces of tyranny embodied by Putin. We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, she told Zelensky. Joining Pelosi on the trip were several other prominent Democrats: Reps. Jim McGovern (Mass.), who heads the Rules Committee; Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs panel; and Adam Schiff (Calif.), chair of the Intelligence Committee, who stressed the importance of providing Zelenskys forces with the latest information gathering from U.S. intelligence agencies. The suffering is senseless, and the entire world is on edge as Putins assault on Ukraine and democracy continues, Schiff said in a statement. Filling out the roster were Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.), who heads the Appropriations Committees subpanel on foreign operations; Bill Keating (Mass.), chair of the Europe subcommittee on Foreign Affairs; and Jason Crow (Colo.), an Army veteran who also sits on the Intelligence and Armed Services panels. Sundays visit comes on the heels of several other high-level trips to the region by Washington policymakers. Last week, two leading members of Bidens cabinet Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Blinken visited Kyiv, where they also met with Zelensky. And over the Easter recess last month, at least three groups of lawmakers visited the Poland-Ukraine border, including one led by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and another by his Republican counterpart, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Each of those groups featured lawmakers of both parties, unlike Pelosis more recent venture, which included only Democrats. Aside from the billions of dollars in funding, Congress has also moved to help Ukraine in other ways. Last week, the House sent legislation to Biden that eliminates some of the bureaucratic red tape surrounding foreign assistance, empowering the administration to deliver aid to Kyiv more quickly. And the Democrats visiting this weekend promised that more help is forthcoming, including the $33 billion Biden recently requested. [Zelensky] conveyed the clear need for continued security, economic and humanitarian assistance from the United States to address the devastating human toll taken on the Ukrainian people by Putins diabolic invasion and our delegation proudly delivered the message that additional American support is on the way, Pelosi and her delegation said in a joint statement. The group of Democrats is traveling next to Poland, where they plan to meet with President Andrzej Duda early Monday morning. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday paid tribute to journalists who have died or been jailed in the line of duty, defending a free press and praising those in the media who courageously report on "humanity's wounds". Speaking to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his weekly address and blessing, Francis noted that May 3 will be the United Nations World Press Freedom Day. "I render homage to journalists who pay in person for this right," he said, citing statistics that 47 journalists were killed and more than 350 jailed last year. He did give the source of the statistics. UNESCO, the U.N. organisation that sponsors World Press Freedom Day, said earlier this year that 55 journalists and media workers were killed in 2021. "A special thanks to those who, with courage, keep us informed about humanity's wounds," the pope said. Last month Francis honoured journalists killed covering the Russia-Ukraine war, saying he hoped God would reward them for serving the common good. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says it has confirmed that at least seven journalists have died while covering the war in Ukraine and is investigating whether others were killed because of their work. Reporters Without Borders, which is based in Paris, says it has documented a number of attacks directly targeting journalists wearing "Press" arm bands in Ukraine. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, the highest-ranking transgender person in the U.S. government, claimed during a recent interview with NPR that "there is no argument" about "gender-affirming care" among pediatricians and doctors who specialize in adolescents. Levine made the comments ahead of a Saturday speech at Texas Christian University during which Levine blamed the high rate of suicidal ideation among transgender-identifying youth in part on "harassment, scapegoating and intentional abuse," according to prepared remarks given to NPR. "The language of medicine and science is being used to drive people to suicide," Levine also claimed. "There is no argument among medical professionals pediatricians, pediatric endocrinologists, adolescent medicine physicians, adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, etc. about the value and the importance of gender-affirming care," Levine told NPR. THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES RAISE ALARM ABOUT SCOPE OF NEW CANADIAN CONVERSION THERAPY BAN According to definitions laid out in a fact sheet from Levine's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in March, "gender-affirming care" includes social affirmation at any age, puberty blockers during puberty and hormone therapy starting during early adolescence. Irreversible surgery is "typically used in adulthood or case-by-case basis in adolescence," according to the agency. Rachel Levine, nominee for Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services, testifies at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Feb. 25, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Tom Brenner-Pool/Getty Images BABYLON BEE CEO WON'T HELP TWITTER ERADICATE OBJECTIVE TRUTH BY DELETING SATIRICAL RACHEL LEVINE MESSAGE In response to the HHS fact sheet, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo released a different fact sheet refuting the claims of the HHS regarding the treatment of minors with gender dysphoria. Citing a "lack of conclusive evidence, and the potential for long-term, irreversible effects," the Florida Department of Health advised against social transition, puberty blockers, hormones and surgery as treatment options for children and adolescents. Levine dismissed the Florida guidance as "based upon political considerations" and "not appropriate." "We need to stand against that both from a medical and public health point of view," Levine said. Father Georgy Edelshtein is keen to debate those who disagree with his opposition to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. "I'd like to see one or two of my opponents sitting right here," the 89-year-old says, pointing to an empty armchair in his living room full of gilded icons. The white-bearded priest in a black cassock is one of the few Russian Orthodox priests to have spoken out against Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. In a quavering voice, but without hesitation, he explains: "I'm afraid I am a bad priest. I've never been against all wars but I've always been against any land-grabbing, aggressive war." Ukraine "is an independent state and let them build their state as they see necessary," he tells AFP in his house in the hamlet of Novo-Bely Kamen on the banks of the River Volga in the Kostroma region, a six-hour drive from Moscow. Since Russia launched its military action on February 24, only a handful of priests from the Russian Orthodox Church led by Moscow Patriarch Kirill -- which counts some 150 million believers across the world -- have spoken out openly against the Kremlin's military campaign. Kirill has given a series of increasingly bellicose sermons, calling for Russians to "rally around" the authorities to help conquer "enemies" he accuses of trying to destroy historic unity between Russia and Ukraine. Since he started heading the Church in 2009, Kirill has sought closer ties with President Vladimir Putin's government, backing conservative values over Western liberalism. The Russian Orthodox Church was severely restricted and under KGB control in the USSR. Even after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union it has never encouraged criticism of the authorities, but some priests are nevertheless speaking out. - 'Blood on hands' - On February 25, a day after the military operation began, Edelshtein signed a letter written by a priest friend, Father Ioann Burdin, that was posted on the website of Burdin's parish church in the village of Karabanovo in the Kostroma region. Story continues "The blood of Ukrainian residents will remain on the hands not only of the rulers of Russia and soldiers carrying out this order. Their blood is on the hands of each of us who approve this war or simply remain silent," said the post, which was later deleted. Metropolitan Ferapont of Kostroma, a highly placed monk, condemned the letter, saying that only two priests out of 160 in the region opposed the operation. But their protests did not stop there. On March 6, Burdin preached about the human cost of the ongoing fighting. The very same day he was summoned for questioning by investigators. On March 10, he was ordered to pay a fine of 35,000 rubles ($489/450 euros) for "discrediting" the armed forces, punishable by up to three years in prison for a repeat offence. Four people testified against him in court. "During the sermon, Father Burdin... told us that he was going to pray for Ukraine," a female parishioner said according to court documents seen by AFP. - 'Satanist' - Burdin, 50, continues to condemn the military action. "For me, the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' is unconditional," he told AFP at his house close to Kostroma. He says few priests oppose the conflict because many are susceptible to "propaganda", combined with the fear of sanctions and prosecution. Burdin, who teams his black cassock with a baseball cap and has a Telegram channel, says police have photographed his house and car. Edelshtein says that Burdin is "braver than me, I am retired." He did not face any state sanction for signing Burdin's letter and had already largely retired from the Church, while still allowed to hold services. Edelshtein had a Jewish father while his mother was a Polish Catholic. He converted to Orthodoxy in 1955, hoping to escape the Soviet system. Yet Church leaders were "lackeys of the Communist regime," he says, and "Satanist" Joseph Stalin revived the current Moscow Patriarchy. The two priests do not present themselves as dissidents, however, and in the name of Church unity say they are not calling for believers to disobey the Patriarch. "If a person commits a personal sin, he himself rebels (against God), not the whole Church with him," Burdin says. His recent setbacks have hit him hard, nonetheless. In early April he withdrew from active service and is thinking about whether to stay in the Church. The son of a priest, he was ordained in 2015 after a career in journalism. "If I'm within the Church but censoring myself as I speak, if I'm silent about a sin being a sin, and about bloodshed being unacceptable, then I will just gradually, without noticing, stop being a pastor," he says. bur/kjm Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters The revenge political attack on Disney by Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, for opposing his dont say gay law violates the partys mantra of restrained government, his counterpart in Arkansas said. Related: Democratic senator Joe Manchin cuts ad for West Virginia Republican DeSantis and Asa Hutchinson could be rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. On Sunday, Hutchinson laid out his position on CNNs State of the Union. I dont believe that government should be punitive against private businesses because we disagree with them, the Arkansas governor said, referring to the law DeSantis signed last week dissolving Disneys 55-year right to self-government through its special taxing district in Florida. Thats not the right approach to me its the old Republican principle of having a restrained government. Critics have criticised DeSantis for escalating his feud with the theme park giant, his states largest private employer, over the dont say gay law, which bans classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in certain grades. Many educators believe the law is hurtful and insulting and threatens support for LBGTQ+ students in schools. Equality advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against it. They are abusing their power and trying to scare Floridians and businesses away from expressing any support for that community, a Democratic state representative, Carlos Guillermo Smith, has said. Hutchinson appeared to have no problem with DeSantis going after the LGBTQ+ community. The law that was passed is to me common sense that in those grades, those lower grades, you shouldnt be teaching sexual orientation, those matters that should not be covered at that age, he said. [But] lets do the right thing. Its a fair debate about the special tax privileges, I understand that debate. But lets not go after businesses and punish them because we disagree with what they say. I disagree with a punitive approach to businesses. Businesses make mistakes, [Disney] shouldnt have gone there, but we should not be punishing them for their private actions. Story continues Disney struck back at DeSantis this week by informing investors that the state cannot dissolve its status without first paying off the companys bond debts, reported by CNN to be about $1bn. Related: Bidens top border official not worried about Republican impeachment threats The dispute centers on an entity called the Reedy Creek improvement district, established by Florida lawmakers in 1967 to allow Disney to raise its own taxes and provide essential government services as it began to construct its theme park empire. DeSantiss law seeks to eliminate all special taxing districts created before 1968. Analysts predict families in two counties that Disneys land covers could face property tax rises of thousands of dollars each if Reedy Creek is terminated next summer. DeSantis insisted during a Fox News town hall on Thursday that Disney would be responsible for paying its debts. Without providing details, he promised additional legislative action to fix the issue, CNN said. By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly LONDON (Reuters) -Russia should confiscate property owned by Westerners in response to a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden to transfer the frozen assets of Russia's elite to Ukraine, Russia's most senior lawmaker said on Sunday. Biden on Thursday stepped up support for Ukraine, asking Congress for $33 billion to help Kyiv, and to allow the U.S. state to seize more assets owned by Russian oligarchs and give the proceeds to Ukraine. Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said the sumptuous yachts and villas of Russia's oligarchs had not helped Russian development but that the West appeared to be engaged in simple "theft". "It is right to take mirror measures towards businesses in Russia whose owners come from unfriendly countries where such measures were taken: confiscate these assets," Volodin, who often voices the Kremlin's views, wrote on his Telegram channel. "The proceeds from the sale should be used for the development of our country," he said. "A dangerous precedent has been created: it should hit the 'States like a boomerang." Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine prompted the United States and its allies to impose the most severe sanctions in modern history on Russia and Moscow's business elite, steps President Vladimir Putin casts as a declaration of economic war. Putin has repeatedly cautioned that Moscow will respond in kind, though thus far the Kremlin's toughest economic response has been to cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria and demand a new payment scheme for European buyers of gas. After the West imposed sanctions on Russia, the $1.8 trillion economy is heading for the biggest contraction since the years following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union amid soaring inflation. A significant transfer of Russian assets has begun, as the Russian state gains even more influence over the economy, many major Western investors - such as energy giants BP and Shell - exit, and oligarchs try to restructure their business empires. Story continues As so many Western owners either sold their Russian stakes or shuttered their businesses, it was not immediately clear which specific assets in Russia could be under threat. Russia has proposed putting companies that have left Russia into external administration, and Kremlin chief Putin has said Russia will now look eastwards to China and other countries after what he casts as the West's perfidy. Volodin singled out Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and the United States as countries which were engaged in the "theft" of Russian assets. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Guy Faulconbridge in London; Editing by William Mallard, Alexandra Hudson) Russian officials said on Sunday that weapons that were provided by the U.S and its allies were targeted at a military airfield near the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. In a statement through the social media platform Telegram, Moscows defense ministry said its forces used high-precision Onyx missiles to strike the airfield. Odesa regional governor, Maksym Marchenko, said in a video posted online that the attack was launched from the Crimean Peninsula, according to Reuters. The news service noted that Russias defense ministry also said that it has launched an attack in the Kharkiv region, shooting down two Ukrainian Su-24m bombers in the process This comes as Speaker Nancy Pelosis office said on Sunday that the California Democrat and other U.S. lawmakers the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid Moscows ongoing invasion of his country. When later asked during a news conference in Poland about the U.S. sending additional aid to Ukraine without provoking a response from Russia, Pelosi said that the U.S. should not be bullied by bullies. Let me speak for myself. Do not be bullied by bullies. If theyre making threats, you cannot back down. Thats my view of it, Pelosi said. President Biden announced last month that the U.S. would send another $800 million military aid package to Ukraine forces, intended to fight off invading Russian forces in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine. Russias invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has killed thousands on both sides and led about 5.4 million refugees to flee the country. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Roman Petrenko - Sunday, 1 May 2022, 10:11 Kakhovka City Territorial Community in the Kherson region, which is currently under Russian occupation, says a member of the City Council and the head of a local "dacha" village, Ihor Protokovylo, have been abducted by the Russian military. Source: Nova Kakhovka City Council on Facebook Details: According to the latest available information, on 19 April the Russians took Protokovylo from his house. His current location is known. Earlier, it was reported that on 30 April, a Kakhovka school principal was also abducted by the Russian military. A pair of Russian priests have spoken out against Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine despite the risk of prison or, worse, angering the Russian church. The church has backed the states "special operation" in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Churchs leader, has remained a vocal proponent of Putins war, saying that God is on Russias side even as Russian soldiers allegedly commit atrocities against civilians. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES But some priests have started to speak out despite the incredible risk they face by doing so. Father Georgy Edelshtein, 89, spoke with AFP, expressing his disappointment with the state and claiming he has been a "bad priest." "I've never been against all wars but I've always been against any land-grabbing, aggressive war," Edelshtein said. He supported Ukraines independence and right to "build their state as they see necessary." Only a handful of priests have found the voice to speak out against the war, and therefore speak out against Kirill. The patriarch has called for Russians to "rally around" the state and accuses "enemies" of trying to destroy historic unity between Russia and Ukraine. The church maintains a distinctive interest in the Ukraine war: The Russian Orthodox Church obtained the right to ordain the top bishop of Kyiv effectively putting it in control of the church there for almost 300 years. GERMANY WILL SUPPORT RUSSIAN OIL EMBARGO AFTER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING DEPENDENCE: REPORT The Ecumenical Patriarch head of the orthodox churches maintained that the power was temporary and in 2019 formally recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as independent of the Moscow patriarch. Kirill fiercely opposed the move as "illegitimate." Many monasteries and parishes in Ukraine remain under Kirills purview, even if the parishioners remain unaware of the fact. But Edelshtein and Father Ioann Burdin have stood in opposition to their leader, saying "the blood of Ukrainian residents will remain on the hands not only of the rulers of Russia and soldiers carrying out this order. Their blood is on the hands of each of us who simply remain silent." Story continues RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE IS JUST AMERICA'S FIRST CHALLENGE The priests wrote their comments in a letter posted online, which has since been deleted, AFP reported. "For me, the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' is unconditional," Burdin, 50, explained, adding that opposition carries the risk of sanctions and prosecution. He remains active while Edelshtein has retired. "If a person commits a personal sin, he himself rebels (against God), not the whole Church with him," Burdin said. "If I'm within the Church but censoring myself as I speak, if I'm silent about a sin being a sin, and about bloodshed being unacceptable, then I will just gradually, without noticing, stop being a pastor." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Trolleybus in Tiraspol Read also: Day 67 of Putin's war. Zelensky confirms evacuation from Azovstal, another blast in Belgorod reported OC South says that the Russians spread an image of a faked front page of the Transnistria newspaper, which calls for unity with Russia and reportedly appeals to the Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin to protect against the attack of the Armed Forces, and was meant to go into publication on May 2, the anniversary of a fire in Odesas Trade Unions Building during clashes between pro- and anti-Maidan protesters in 2014, which killed 48 and injured another 200 people. "On the eve of May 2, a campaign is underway to destabilize Odesa, the border regions, with attempts to incite pro-Russian forces. The publicity of this provocation undermined the actions of enemy forces," OC South said. According to Ukrainian daily newspaper Segodnya, the editor-in-chief of the actual Transnistria newspaper, Alexander Karasyov, called the front page image a fake. Earlier, a series of explosions occurred in several areas of the unrecognized territory, including at the self-proclaimed Ministry of State Security in the unrecognized capital of Tiraspol. Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate accused Russian special services, in concert with the Kremlin-backed local authority, of organizing the attack against themselves. Read also: Ukrainian intelligence calls explosions in Russian-backed Transnistria a false flag In response, Ukraine has strengthened border controls between the unrecognized territory and Ukraine, and Ukrainian defense forces along the border have been activated. Consequences of shelling by Russian troops in Luhansk region Read also: Day 67 of Putin's war. Zelensky confirms evacuation from Azovstal, another blast in Belgorod reported Six intense artillery strikes were launched against Severodonetsk and Lysychansk each, with Rubizhne and areas near Popasna being shelled three times each. 12 houses were damaged beyond repair. Five of those are residential high-rises in Severodonetsk, with two more in Rubizhne, said Haidai. Two more private homes were set on fire there (in Rubizhne); the council hall, an apartment building, and a school were destroyed in Komyshuvakha; a gas pipe was damaged in Lysychansk. One man was reported to have been killed by Russian attacks in Novodruzhesk. After capturing Novotoshkivske, Russia is focusing on assaulting Orikhove. Read also: More than 70% of Russians support war against Ukraine, according to survey Intense small arms urban fighting street by street is ongoing (in Orikhove), Haidais message reads. He reported that a Russian assault, advancing under the cover of artillery and tank fire, attempted to attack the hamlet of Vilne, but was pushed back. Additionally, Russian air strikes struck the villages of Katerynivka and Nyzhne, and 70% of the village of Zolote-3 has been destroyed. The New Orleans Saints are opening up talks with Kansas City Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu again following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL draft. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, the Saints will resume talks with Mathieu and make an aggressive push to sign him after failing to draft a safety. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mathieu had already taken a bit of an informal visit with the Saints during a recent trip to Louisiana, but nothing was imminent after the visit. Having spent his college years in Baton Rouge at Lousiana State University and growing up in New Orleans, this was the spot that always made the most sense for Mathieu. He even told WAFB-TV that it would be great to represent my city and state by playing for the Saints. After failing to land a safety during the draft, the Saints now are expected to re-visit their talks with free-agent Pro-Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu and make an aggressive push to try to add him to their roster, per sources. Mathieu was born and raised in New Orleans. Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 1, 2022 Brett Veach left the door open for Mathieus return to Kansas City ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, but having taken safeties in Round 3 and Round 7, it seems rather unlikely that will be an option for the Chiefs. Mathieus manager also denied the accuracy of Veachs statements, saying the team still hadnt made any sort of offer to Mathieu. Its worth noting that a deal between the Saints and Mathieu would need to be struck by Monday at 4:00 p.m. ET in order for him to count toward the compensatory pick formula. New Orleans will be cognizant of the deadline and are unlikely to put pen to paper before then. List Washington Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), called on Congress to swiftly approve President Biden's request for an additional $33 billion in security, economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, warning parts of the country have a "desperate need" for the aid. In an interview with "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Power said prior supplemental funding packages from Congress are being used to meet humanitarian needs in Ukraine, where the conflict with Russia could push millions of people into poverty and create a global food crisis. "There are vast swaths of Ukraine that have been newly liberated by Ukrainian forces, where there is desperate need, everything from demining to trauma kits to food assistance, since markets are not back up and running," Power told "Face the Nation." "And so that assistance is flowing. And it's also flowing to third countries that are feeling these huge cascading effects of Putin's war, like the spiraling food prices, like the lower supplies of fertilizer, wheat, grain." Transcript: USAID Administrator Samantha Power on "Face the Nation" While the Biden administration has used the money already approved by Congress to send weapons and humanitarian assistance into Ukraine as it continues to defend itself from Russia, Power said the burn rate is "very, very high as prices spiral" in Ukraine and elsewhere. "That's why this supplemental is so important," she said. "It entails both humanitarian assistance, $3 billion of humanitarian assistance to meet those global needs, which are famine-level, acute malnutrition needs. And it includes very significant direct budget support for the government of Ukraine, because what we want to ensure is that that government can continue providing services for its people." Russian President Vladimir Putin, she continued, would like to see the Ukrainian government go bankrupt and not be able to meet the needs of its people. Story continues "That would weaken Ukrainian solidarity, and Putin wants nothing more, of course, than to strengthen his bargaining hand here as he exerts military pressure and financial pressure at once," Power said. "We can't let that happen." Mr. Biden on Thursday requested the additional $33 billion for Ukraine, most of which would go to additional military and security assistance for the country and Eastern European allies. The president's request also included $8.5 billion in economic assistance to help Kyiv maintain government functions, while $3 billion in humanitarian assistance would support resources to address worldwide food security needs. The president said $3.5 billion in drawdown authority for Ukraine in a bipartisan omnibus spending package passed by Congress in March has nearly been exhausted, underscoring the need for lawmakers to swiftly approve more funding. Power said the security assistance has been "the means by which the Ukrainians have been able to fight back and hang on as long as they have." "We have exerted all kinds of diplomatic pressure vis-a-vis the countries that have retained influence with Putin," she said. "You know, everything from Turkey to Israel to India to China. And Putin doesn't care and is defying the will of the world to allow civilians to be evacuated, to allow food and medicine to get in there. And it is a travesty." In the more than two months since Russia invaded Ukraine, its military has suffered numerous setbacks, including failing to seize control of Kyiv. But the war shifted to a new phase last month, with Putin's forces focusing its efforts in Ukraine's east. Roughly 100,000 people are believed to be trapped in Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine, and Power said humanitarian groups have been unable to get food into the city. But USAID is "indirectly" on the ground assisting human rights activists, journalists and others in Ukraine. "We're sort of turning our previous programming, which was very extensive all across Ukraine, into programming that is suited for this moment through our Ukrainian partners who are working inside Ukraine," she said. "We are super eager to get back into Ukraine, to be able to see that work up close, and to be in a position again to channel, for example, the new supplemental funding we hope will be coming to those partners who urgently need it." Birx says U.S. should prepare for summer COVID-19 surge in South Moderna's chief medical officer says kids' vaccine data will be ready for FDA by June Kinzinger says he "would love" for Pence to testify before January 6 committee BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday rejected criticism that Germany was not showing leadership in western efforts to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons to repel Russia's invasion, saying that he'd rather be cautious than make hasty decisions. Scholz is under pressure at home and abroad to supply Ukraine with heavy arms such as tanks and howitzers and support an immediate EU embargo on Russian energy imports to strip President Vladimir Putin of hard currency that helps him finance the war. "I take my decisions fast and in concert with our partners," Scholz told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper in an interview. "I find hasty actions and maverick German efforts questionable." In a U-turn, Germany approved on April 26 the delivery of "Gepard" anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, a step backed by 55% of Germans who in an opinion poll said Europe's biggest economy should supply Ukraine with such arms. However, the decision did not help reverse public perception of Scholz as being indecisive and lacking leadership. An opinion poll published in Bild am Sonntag showed that 54% were unsatisfied with Scholz's handling of the crisis. His approval rating fell to 32%, the poll showed. Fearing Russia could broaden the war to countries other than Ukraine, some of Germany's partners in the NATO military alliance had expressed discontent with Scholz's initial hesitancy on arming Ukraine. Others like Poland are unhappy with Germany's opposition to an EU embargo on Russian gas imports. The Greens and Free Democrats, junior coalition partners to Scholz's Social Democrats, are more keen on providing more military assistance to Ukraine. Scholz has had to balance their demands with those of left-leaning members of his party who say delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine risks provoking a Russian military response in a third country and sparking a broader conflict. Moscow calls its actions a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression. (Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) -A missile attack targeted an oil refinery in Iraq's northern city of Erbil on Sunday causing a fire in one of its main tanks that was later brought under control, the Iraqi security forces said in a statement. A missile also landed in the outer fence of the refinery without causing any casualties, the statement added. Earlier on Sunday, the anti-terrorism authorities in Kurdistan region said six missiles landed near the KAR refinery in Erbil, adding they were launched from Nineveh province. The security forces said they found a launch pad and four missiles in the Nineveh Plain after the attack and defused them. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said the armed forces will pursue the perpetrators of what he called a "cowardly attack", while discussing the security situation in a phone call with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, the prime minister's office said on Twitter. Three missiles also fell near the refinery on April 6, without causing any casualties. Sources in the Kurdistan Regional Government told Reuters then that the refinery is owned by Iraqi Kurdish businessman Baz Karim Barzanji, CEO of major domestic energy company the KAR Group. In March, Iran attacked Erbil with a dozen ballistic missiles in an unprecedented assault on the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region that appeared to target the United States and its allies. Only one person was hurt in that attack. (Reporting by Ali Sultan in Erbil and Mahmoud Mourad in Cairo; Additional reporting by Omar Fahmy, Editing by Hugh Lawson and Daniel Wallis) JHVEPhoto / iStock.com Along with McDonalds and Burger King, Wendys makes up the Big Three of U.S. fast-food burger chains. The Ohio-based company has more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide that serve up its famous square burgers and Frosty milk shakes. Wendys fans who qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can use their SNAP electronic benefits payment (EBT) cards at participating Wendys restaurants, though their choices are very limited. See: Does Taco Bell take EBT Food Stamps? Find: Does KFC Accept SNAP EBT Cards? Only select Wendys locations in a handful of California counties accept SNAP EBT cards for purchases, according to a 2021 Frugal Reality article. The Wendys website does not offer details on which of its locations accept SNAP EBT cards for payment. SNAP is a federal program designed for families who need financial help buying food. Consumers used to pay with food stamps but now use reloadable EBT debit cards. Although SNAP is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program itself is administered at the state level. Under the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), qualified SNAP recipients can purchase food at SNAP authorized restaurants using their EBT cards, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Participating restaurants must offer meals at discount prices. In some cases, the program lets recipients buy food in the deli sections of participating grocery stores. The idea is to help SNAP recipients get hot prepared foods at restaurants something many are unable to do at grocery stores. To participate in the RMP, a restaurant must be located in a state that has an RMP, get approval from the state and provide a signed agreement to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and be authorized by FNS to accept SNAP benefits. As GOBankingRates previously reported, seven states have opted into the RMP. It is widely available in Arizona and California, while five other states Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island and Virginia offer the program in select cities or counties. Story continues As well, New York has passed a law that lets state social services agencies apply to the federal program. Learn: Do Wawa Convenience Stores Take SNAP EBT Food Stamps? Explore: Does Food Lion Accept SNAP EBT Cards for Groceries Online or Just In Stores? To use your EBT card at Wendys, you must live in California and qualify for the CalFresh RMP per your state requirements. Wendys does not accept EBT cards for online, in-app delivery, or pickup orders placed via DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, or Grubhub, according to Frugal Reality. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: SNAP Usage: Does Wendys Accept SNAP EBT Food Stamps? Sri Lanka's fractious opposition showed rare unity Sunday, joining together to demand embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign over the country's worst-ever economic crisis. Main opposition party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) staged a mass rally at Independence Square in the capital Colombo, where speaker after speaker called for the ouster of Rajapaksa and his powerful ruling family. "For over a month, the president has been barricaded in his official residence," former legislator Hirunika Premachandra said. "It is time for us to pull him by his ear and kick him out." Months of lengthy blackouts, skyrocketing inflation and acute shortages of food, fuel and pharmaceuticals have sparked numerous anti-Rajapaksa protests across the country. Premachandra, who kicked off the wave of demonstrations by staging a sit-in outside the president's private home in mid-March, urged all parties to unite and topple the government. The JVP, the country's main leftist party, held its own rally outside a Colombo railway station, insisting the government should step down and allow an early election. "Gota go home, go home Gota," chanted tens of thousands of JVP activists waving red flags. Several minor opposition parties also demonstrated in Colombo and provincial capitals. But while Gota's ruling SLPP coalition skipped its customary May Day rally, the president issued a statement asking all political parties to "overcome the challenges we face." "Instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what we need to do now is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief," Rajapaksa said. Elsewhere in the capital, thousands of activists laid siege to Rajapaksa's sea-front office for the 23rd straight day, calling for his resignation. The president reportedly told dissidents within his coalition government on Friday he was willing to consider forming a unity government, but that neither he nor his brother Mahinda, the country's prime minister, would step down. aj/stu/cwl adamkaz / Getty Images If you're thinking about relocating to somewhere cheaper in retirement, you're not alone -- many Americans lack sufficient retirement savings to afford the cost of living in their home states after their working years are over. The pandemic also affected some people's savings and retirement plans. Moving to a more cost-effective area can help stretch your funds further in retirement, alleviating some uncertainty about your financial future. See: Budgeting 101: How To Create a Budget You Can Live With Read More: 40 Money Habits That Can Leave You Broke To help you choose the perfect place to retire, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find the top 10 states where you can live out your golden years for less than $45,000 annually The study analyzed factors like groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare and the overall cost-of-living index in each state, all of which contribute heavily to your yearly expenses in retirement. These indices were then multiplied by the average annual expenditures of Americans aged 65 and older, which provided the final ranking of the top 10 states. The figures quoted in this article are per household. The most recent Census lists the average number of people per household as 2.5. To prepare for retirement, take a look at places to live that will cost you less than $45,000 annually. William Reagan / Getty Images/iStockphoto 10. Indiana Annual expenditures: $43,107 Early retirement might be possible in Indiana, a state where retirees can retire without paying exorbitant costs. Housing, in particular, is a steal at $7,763 annually. Utilities only run $3,745 per year, as well, and the cost of living index is 90.6. DavidByronKeener / Getty Images/iStockphoto 9. West Virginia Annual expenditures: $43,059 Early retirement is also a good possibility in West Virginia, where overall costs are pretty low. The annual housing cost is $7,793, and annual grocery bill only $4,057. Amdizdarevic / Shutterstock.com 8. Iowa Annual expenditures: $42,774 In addition to low housing costs, retirees in Iowa will be happy to find that other costs such as utilities are reasonable, at just $3,609 per year, and healthcare costs are only $6,661. Story continues Shutterstock.com 7. Missouri Annual expenditures: $42,726 Early retirement is definitely possible in Mississippi, the state where retirees spend only $7,962 annually in housing. Retirees will also find a reasonable food bill, at only $3,994. Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6. Tennessee Annual expenditures: $42,345 This southern state treats retirees well across many categories. With healthcare at just over $6,000 per year, utilities at just under $3,500 and transportation costs at $3,326, it's easy living. Posnov / Getty Images/iStockphoto 5. Georgia Annual expenditures: $42,250 Georgia makes it easy for retirees to call this lovely state home, with an annual housing cost of just $7,377. Other expenses won't break the bank either: Utilities come to $3,424 annually and transportation to $3,326. Ron_Lane / Getty Images/iStockphoto 4. Oklahoma Annual expenditures: $41,822 Oklahoma should be on many retirees' radar as a place to enjoy your golden years without worrying about money. The annual housing cost is just $7,470, with utilities at $3,598 each year and healthcare at $6,301. Shutterstock.com 3. Alabama Annual expenditures: $41,822 The South really has cornered the market on affordable places to retire. Alabama is another winner in low housing costs, the third most affordable on the list, with just $6,950 in annual housing cost. Shutterstock.com 2. Kansas Annual expenditures: $41,156 You won't find many hills in Kansas, but retirees will find affordable housing, at just $7,198 annually, and lower overall expenses. Utilities come to just $3,791 per year, and groceries to just $3,855 annually. Shutterstock.com 1. Mississippi Annual expenditures: $39,633 The number one most affordable place to retire on the list is Mississippi. Even if you can't spell it, you can retire here, paying only a comfortable $6,574 annually in housing costs. Groceries will only run $3,876 per year. Utilities another $3,420 and health costs are just $6,315. dszc / Getty Images/iStockphoto States Where Your Retirement Will Cost Less Than $45,000 a Year The best places to retire on less than $45,000 per year are concentrated in the South and the Midwest. Mississippi, Kansas and Alabama captured the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri filled out the middle ranking states where your retirement will cost the least each year. Rounding out the bottom of the rankings are Iowa, West Virginia and Indiana. More From GOBankingRates Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: To find every state where retirement costs less than $45,000 per year, GOBankingRates first referenced data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2020 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find (1) the national average total annual expenditures for consumers 65 years and older. Then, GOBankingRates used cost of living index data for 2021 from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center to find (2) the cost of living index score of every state. Multiplying factor (1) by factor (2) for every state, GOBankingRates was able to estimate (3) the total annual expenditures for a consumer 65 years or older living in each state. Supplemental data was included on each state's cost of living index score and estimated annual spending in the following five necessities categories: grocery, housing, utilities, transportation, and health. All data was collected on and up to date as of February 24, 2022. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: States Where Your Retirement Will Cost Less Than $45,000 a Year Ukrainian pilot However, military expert Serhiy Grabsky believes that the loss of first-class pilots may be more impactful. Russia's war against Ukraine - the main events of May 1 "The enemy simply has more physical aircraft, Grabsky told Radio NV on May 1. Read also: Ukraine military plane crashes in Kyiv Oblast, casualties reported We are now waging desperate air battles. In terms of the number of planes, we actually destroyed more than five air regiments. But it's not about planes, it's about crews. The enemy is suffering from quality losses for its aircraft, because its first-class pilots have been knocked out. Read also: Ukrainian military shoots down a Su-25 attack aircraft and nine Russian UAVs That is why, in his opinion, Russia has decreased its previously intensified of air raids against Ukraine. "Historically, Russia has not attached much importance to the air force, he explained. The Russian backbench, in relation, to pilots is very small. And it takes five to seven years of hard work and tens of millions of dollars to train a great pilot (not just takeoff and landing). And the fact that we shot down at least one aircraft every day shows that our air defense system and our air force continue to operate and protect our skies. A student has accused her Tennessee Christian college of disciplining her after she came forward to report she had been choked and raped by a male classmate, according to a report. Mara Louk filed a complaint Wednesday against Visible Music College with the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that the college had accused her of violating school rules forbidding premarital sex with another student, her ex-boyfriend. Louk denies the accusation she engaged in sexual intercourse with her former partner. She said the college, located in Memphis, threatened to expel the now-former student if she refused to sign a confession and finish the school year online. FORMER IDAHO LAWMAKER FOUND GUILTY OF RAPING INTERN According to court papers, school officials also would not remove her attacker from her classes because he had not been arrested, and they would not open a Title IX investigation, which protects students from gender-based discrimination, because the reported assault took place off-campus. "I just felt like, why did I even speak up?" Louk told NBC News. "Thats truly how I felt for a long time because everything seemed to keep getting worse." In her complaint, Louk urges the DOE to determine if the school violated the Clery Act, a federal campus safety law requiring administrators to inform students of their rights and assistance options when they report sex crimes. She also asked the department to evaluate whether the school discriminated against her under Title IX. In November, a classmate who was not identified in the complaint came over to her apartment to play board games. The complaint states that this was the first time the two of them had been alone together and that he sexually assaulted her that night. Louk told a school administrator about the alleged rape the following day. She and her attacker had shared classes together, and she wanted to ensure she would not be harassed on campus. In a statement, Visible said it had not received official word from the DOE. "We are aware of the recent story including a former student," the college said in its statement. "As of Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m., we have not received an official complaint from the Department of Education and therefore cannot respond with any further information at this time. However, we would like to assure everyone that we are taking this situation very seriously and addressing the matter with the utmost care, as we have been since Fall 2021." Visible president Ken Steorts told NBC the school had not seen a copy of Louk's complaint but that it "will cooperate with any investigation of the allegations made in the complaint." Elon Musk acquired Twitter last month. Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Texas lawmaker Tan Parker has urged Elon Musk to move Twitter's HQ to Texas, per Fox News. Currently, Musk's Tesla, SpaceX, and the Boring Company all operate in the state. Parker said he would "roll out the red carpet" should Musk move to relocate Twitter. A Texan lawmaker has told Fox News he would "roll out the red carpet" if Elon Musk were to relocate Twitter's headquarters to the state, pending the multi-billionaire's takeover of the social media giant. Twitter's board of directors has accepted Musk's offer to buy the company outright for $43 billion, but the takeover has yet to be officially approved by shareholders, and faces a host of other regulatory hurdles. Speaking on Saturday, Texas congressman Tan Parker told Fox News that Musk should "absolutely" consider relocating the company to the state, which is already home to Musk's other firms Tesla, SpaceX, and the Boring Company. Twitter HQ is currently based in San Francisco, California. Musk quit California for Texas in late 2020, after local COVID-19 restrictions forced Tesla to temporarily close its only US car factory in the San Francisco Bay Area. The electric automaker officially completed its move to Texas in late 2021. The state is also home to SpaceX's Starbase rocket production facility. "Elon made a tremendous decision, the right choice, when he brought Tesla to Texas, when he brought SpaceX to Texas. I think it's no different in his decision making here for Twitter, he realizes that Texas is the most business friendly state in America, that we are open for business," he said. Parker added that he would "roll out the red carpet" should Musk make the move. "I believe it's a very good probability that he will bring the headquarters of Twitter," he said. Musk has been responsible for a hectic few weeks over at Twitter. At the start of April, he bought a 10% stake in the company, automatically becoming its biggest shareholder, for almost $3 billion. Weeks later, his offer to buy the company outright for $44 billion was accepted by the firm's board, prompting despaire among some of its employees. Story continues At a recent TED 2022 conference, Musk said he wanted to acquire the platform because it will be important to the "future of civilization." He said he didn't care about Twitter's econmic value, but wanted to create an "inclusive arena for free speech." Texas Governor Greg Abbott backed Parker's push for Musk to move Twitter to the state, tweeting: "@elonmusk. Bring Twitter to Texas to join Tesla, SpaceX & the Boring company." Read the original article on Business Insider Crime scene tape and police on the scene of Thursdays fatal shooting (ABC12) A mother shot and killed a suspected burglar who was trying to break into her home in Texas while her three children were inside, according to authorities. The burglary gone wrong unfolded at around 10pm on Thursday night in the southeast side of San Antonio when the man allegedly entered the backyard of the womans home through an opening in a fence from a local park, reported ABC12. The intruder then tried to enter the home through the laundry room at the back of the house. Police said the woman, who is in her 30s, was home alone with her three children at the time and heard the man breaking in. She grabbed a gun and shot the intruder twice in the chest. Local residents described hearing two gunshots ringing out in quick succession The first thing we heard was a gunshot and it was one, one neighbour told ABC12. And then maybe within a minute a second one popped up. Police were called to the scene to find the man sitting on a chair in the womans backyard bleeding from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on route. The mother and her three children were not harmed in the altercation. Neither the suspected intruder nor the homeowner have been publicly identified by police. Police said the incident is still under investigation but no charges are expected to be brought against the woman. The Independent has reached out to San Antonio Police for further comment. Numerous men have dropped dead around Catherine Shelton. She's never spent a day in jail. Is she responsible for any of their deaths? Journalist Jenna Jackson has been trying to find an answer to that question for years. 2002: A journalist's obsession begins Producer Jenna Jackson in her attic, going through her files on Catherine Shelton. / Credit: P+R Creative Group More than 20 years ago, "48 Hours" producer Jenna Jackson started researching an infamous Texas woman named Catherine Mehaffey Shelton and got hooked. Catherine Mehaffey Shelton Catherine Mehaffey Shelton / Credit: CBS News Archives Strange things have happened to the men in the former defense attorney's life: an ex-boyfriend found beaten to death, a former lover shot in the back, a contractor found dead and naked in one of her homes; these are just a few of the incidents that have added to the mystery surrounding Catherine Shelton. Help from some experts Lisa Andrews, left, Brian Benken, center and Jenna Jackson sort through case files. / Credit: CBS News Jenna Jackson enlisted help from defense attorney Brian Benken and former prosecutor Lisa Andrews to sort through the many accusations. Benken and Andrews are both "48 Hours" consultants. Death 1: George Tedesco George Tedesco was an ex-boyfriend of Catherine Shelton. / Credit: CBS News Archives The first death of a man linked to Catherine Shelton was that of Houston anesthesiologist George Tedesco. He and Shelton had once dated, but when the relationship ended, Shelton sued him saying they were "common law" married and she had a right to half his assets. January 15, 1979: Tedesco found dead Jenna Jackson and Brian Benken look at the garage where George Tedesco was found beaten to death. / Credit: CBS News On the day George Tedesco was scheduled to appear in court in a dispute with Catherine Shelton, he was found brutally beaten to death in his garage. Investigators found a tire iron on the premises that they believed to be the murder weapon. After his death, Shelton broke into the crime scene to get back property she said belonged to her. Among the things Shelton admitted to taking: a TV, pottery, $140 in cash, her driver's license, and an antique sword. Tedesco's family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Catherine, but it never made it to trial. Gary Taylor Gary Taylor / Credit: CBS News Archives Later on in 1979, a Houston reporter named Gary Taylor who covered the courthouse says he began a relationship with Catherine Shelton. Story continues After a matter of weeks, Taylor says, he tried to break up with Shelton and she became furious. Taylor says she even once put a pistol on her bedside table, he thinks, just to remind him who was boss. Taylor went to his friends in the DA's office who were still investigating Tedesco's unsolved murder. It was suggested that he and his roommate could secretly record Shelton on the phone. But when Shelton found out that Taylor was working with the DA, tensions escalated further. Taylor's roommate called Shelton and got her reaction on tape. On the tape, Shelton is heard screaming, "he's got to beg for my mercy." January 17-18, 1980: Gary Taylor goes to Catherine's house Catherine Shelton's home in 1980. / Credit: CBS News In early 1980, the situation turned violent. Gary Taylor's home had been burglarized. Catherine Shelton did not admit responsibility for the burglary, but Taylor says she told him she could help him get his belongings back if he came to her house. Once in her house, Taylor says Shelton told him there was something for him in her bedroom closet. Taylor says when he stepped into the closet, the lights went out and he heard a gun click. Shot fired The chair Gary Taylor used during the altercation at Catherine Shelton's home. / Credit: Trial evidence Gary Taylor says he could see Catherine Shelton standing in the bedroom holding a gun pointed at the closet. He says he grabbed a chair and charged at her. Shelton fired a round that went through the chair and grazed Taylor above the ear. Taylor says he threw the chair at Shelton and ran down the hallway toward the door. Gary Taylor shot in the back Gary Taylor was shot in the back. / Credit: Trial evidence "When I got to the door I stopped, I clicked the deadbolt, I opened the door. And that's when I felt the shot in the back," says Taylor. Catherine Shelton was arrested. She said she shot Taylor in self-defense. April-June 1980: Catherine Shelton on trial Catherine Shelton was arrested for shooting Gary Taylor. She claimed she shot him in self-defense. / Credit: Harris County Sheriff's Department In April 1980, Catherine Shelton went on trial for shooting Gary Taylor. The trial resulted in a hung jury, split along gender lines. The seven men said guilty. The five women said she was not guilty. At a second trial, Shelton claimed Taylor held a gun on her and said she was trying to get away from him. She was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years. However, her conviction was overturned on appeal. Rather than go through another trial, Shelton pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and got probation. She was temporarily barred from practicing law. She would later convince a judge to set aside her conviction. May 5, 1980: Death 2 | Tommy Bell Tommy Bell / Credit: CBS News Archives Tommy Bell was a former client of Catherine Shelton's who was named with her in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by George Tedesco's family which never made it to trial. Bell was found shot to death in his home. Bell's roommate told investigators Bell had been playing Russian roulette by himself in his bedroom. 1981: Marriage and a move to Dallas Catherine and Clint Shelton. / Credit: CBS News Archives In 1981, Catherine married a man named Clint Shelton and they moved together to Dallas. In 1988, Catherine Shelton got her law license back and opened a practice. This period of Catherine's life was relatively quiet, but that would change in 1999. June 8, 1999: Death 3: | Chris Hansen Chris Hansen / Credit: CBS News Archives Chris Hansen was a client of Catherine Shelton's. She had reportedly been helping Hansen by doing some immigration work for him. Hansen was in the United States from Canada. In 1999, Hansen was doing some contracting work in Shelton's new home she had yet to move into. On June 8, Hansen was found hanging naked in the Shelton house where he had been working. According to newspaper reports at the time, his death was ruled an accident by autoerotic asphyxiation. The falling out Marisa Hierro / Credit: CBS News Archives Marisa Hierro was a former employee at Catherine Shelton's law practice. When she left the job, Hierro started her own immigration consulting business. Shelton, she says, was not happy about it. The two accused each other of scamming their respective clients. According to Hierro, Shelton also started threatening her. "She's screaming, 'You won't live to see Christmas.' I mean, she said it exactly like that," says Hierro. Shelton denies ever threatening her. Hierro says she feared for her safety because of what happened to Chris Hansen. Hierro says she knew him and that about 30 days before his death, he had told her about a conflict he was having with Catherine. December 20, 1999: Death 4 | Michael Hierro Michael Hierro / Credit: CBS News Archives Marisa Hierro and her husband Michael pulled into their driveway one December night and were met with gunfire. Marisa says she saw two masked figures: a larger person a man holding a gun and a petite blonde woman giving orders. Michael Hierro was shot dead. Marisa Hierro was shot in the arm and badly injured. Marisa told police Catherine Shelton was responsible and that she had recognized her voice as the woman giving orders. However, Catherine had an alibi and maintained that she was innocent. DNA found near the Hierro crime scene Police found two latex gloves and a mask made out of pantyhose in a Porta Potty on a construction site near the murder scene. Clint Shelton's DNA was on the mask. February 25, 2000 Clint Shelton spoke to Clint Shelton was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for shooting the Hierros. "48 Hours" spoke to him a few years into his sentence. "I did not murder or attempt to murder anyone," said Clint Shelton. "And I was not there that night." Catherine Shelton has never been charged in connection to the crime. December 20, 2001: Marisa Hierro sues for wrongful death / Credit: Dallas County District Court Marisa Hierro sued Catherine and Clint Shelton for wrongful death in 2001. That suit never went to trial. Catherine Shelton countersued saying Marisa Hierro had falsely accused her and Clint for the crime and that all of her claims were untrue. Marisa didn't show up for trial, so Shelton won by default. The judge ruled that Hierro libeled Catherine Shelton by accusing her of murder and awarded her millions of dollars in damages. August 27, 2017: Death 5 | Sam Shelton The deaths of men with links to Catherine Shelton did not end there. In 2017, a 70-year-old veteran named Sam Shelton no relation was living in Shelton's home. She says he was unwell and had no family to take care of him. When Hurricane Harvey blew through Houston, Catherine Shelton says Sam died of natural causes inside her home. Catherine Shelton ran into trouble when, after he had died, she signed Sam Shelton's name on a lease application to try to rent a house. Catherine claims her intentions were good; she says she was trying to get a new house for Sam's nurse and her family who had lost their home in the storm. 2022: Catherine Shelton in her own words Jenna Jackson with Catherine Shelton in 2022. / Credit: CBS News Catherine Shelton sat down with Jenna Jackson again recently to discuss these cases and to set the record straight. "I have never killed any human being I have never paid anyone to kill any human being, promised anyone that I would pay them to kill another human being, offered anyone anything of value," says Shelton. Catherine Shelton was charged with a felony for fraudulent use of identifying information. She is currently facing trial scheduled for this summer. Surging gas prices lead to increases in everyday costs Water shortage emergency declared in greater Los Angeles area Birx says U.S. should prepare for summer COVID-19 surge in South Under a scorching sun at a trading post in Malawi, Chikumbutso Chekeni and his wife head to their tobacco sheds to dry their newly harvested leaf. Nambuma, 35 kilometres (20 miles) northwest of the capital Lilongwe, used to be a thriving farming town, buoyed by vast tobacco farming businesses. Today, even during harvest season the town is sleepy, leading some farmers to think about switching from tobacco to the newly legalised marijuana. Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries but a major tobacco producer, ranking first in the world for burley and seventh for overall production. No other economy is more dependent on the leaf. Government statistics say over 70 percent of the nation's export income comes from tobacco. "The main challenge we face as farmers is the issue of low pricing, which is really killing us," said Chekeni, who has been farming tobacco for 22 years. Returns from tobacco, dubbed the 'Malawi's Green Gold', have dwindled over the past decade due to declining global demands driven by anti-smoking campaigns. Despite the low prices, he sees no other option but to continue farming. This is the only business he knows. This year has particularly been bad. Low volumes and low prices at the auction floors in Lilongwe forced the Tobacco Commission to cut trade to three days a week. Even on those three days, sales last only an hour. "The future of tobacco farming is bleak," said grower Yona Mkandawire. "By now we should have a lot of tobacco in the warehouses and more trucks at the receiving bay, but there is a lot of empty space here." Despite a sharp decline of tobacco earnings over the years, Malawi's government still calls it a "strategic crop" and defends the country's continuing investment in its production. Last year tobacco earned Malawi $173.5 million, down 27 percent from the year before, the Tobacco Commission said. - 'Malawi Gold' - Story continues Tobacco Commission chief executive officer Joseph Chidanti Malunga told AFP that this year's harvest will be 50 million kilogrammes short of what the buyers are looking for. But he insisted Malawi needs tobacco because it's the only crop earning foreign currency. "We cannot abandon this no matter how," he said. "All we do now is to make sure that we produce tobacco that is compliant with what the customers want." During the first week of sales, prices were down more than 20 percent from last year, according to local media. The price drop has seen some farmers try out new crops, including the recently legalised cannabis. Malawi legalised cannabis farming for medicinal and industrial use in February 2020. Falice Nkhoma, who is part of the Tilitonse Cooperative for Cannabis Growers, has dumped tobacco because of falling prices. "I have been growing burley tobacco from 2014... but with very little benefit because the prices were always low," said Nkhoma. She has little to show for producing the so-called green gold. "So this year, when I heard that some people would be growing cannabis, I was really excited. I have bought the seeds, and hopefully cannabis farming will bring me good returns," she said. It's about time Malawi diversified its economy, said Betchani Tchereni, economics professor at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences. "We just have to restart the economy. If it's soya, then let's do soya. If it's cannabis, then let's concentrate on cannabis," he said. But cultivation licences could be prohibitive for some aspiring farmers. Growers, who operate in groups of around 30, have on average to cough out $10,000 per collective in farming licence fees alone. Easing the process of obtaining cannabis licences would give farmers an immediate boost. "It takes just about three months to mature, and then boom, we have the forex," said Tchereni. "Licences can't be this expensive." Cannabis growing is not new in Malawi, but has yet to develop to industrial scale. According to a 2011 World Bank report, Malawi's hemp, known locally as 'chamba' or 'Malawi Gold' is among "the best and finest" sativas in the world. str/gs-sn/bp/je Toxic Brew Company and SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center are hosting an event today to launch SICSA: Lexi, a specialty Belgian Golden Ale that will benefit dogs and cats in need. >> Volunteers repair landscape damaged by Memorial Day tornadoes The specialty beer is named after a Toxic Brew Company family members rescue dog, Lexi, according to the Facebook event page. A portion of proceeds from the beer will support rescue pets at SICSA in honor of Lexis memory. The event will take place at Toxic Brew Company at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Daily Show host Trevor Noah didnt discriminate when it came to the receiving end of his roasts during Saturdays White House Correspondents Dinner. The comedian went after President Joe Biden, Democrats, Republicans and members of the media from CNN to Fox News. The headliner took the stage after the event's two-year pandemic hiatus to deliver the traditional WHCA dinner roast, quipping that it was his great honor to speak at the nations most distinguished super-spreader event. Here are 15 of Noahs best lines. It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nations most distinguished super spreader event. Did none of you learn anything from the Gridiron Dinner? The second someone offers you a free dinner you all turn into Joe Rogan. Im not doing this just for the attention. All right? Im a comedian, not Kyrsten Sinema. By the way, give it up for Kyrsten Sinema. Whoever thought wed see the day in American politics when a senator could be openly bisexual, but closeted Republican? Thats progress. We all saw what happened at the Oscars. Ive actually been a bit worried about tonight. Im not going to lie. What if I make a really mean joke about Kellyanne Conway, and her husband rushes up on the stage and thanks me? Ive just got to say, this is so exciting. To be at this swanky party full of Washingtons most powerful people. Its not as exciting as Madison Cawthorn made it sound, but its still very sexy. Trump said he won the election, but everyone was just able to look at the numbers and see that he was wrong. Thats why Ron DeSantis is one step ahead first you ban the math textbooks, then nobody knows how to count the votes. Boom. My man! The great chef Jose Andres is here tonight. Whenever theres a disaster anywhere in the world, chef Jose is there, which I guess is why hes sitting at the CNN table tonight. The real reason that its such an honor to be here tonight is that we all get to be in the same room as the most powerful man in the United States. So lets give it up for Joe Manchin, everybody. Even as first lady, Dr. Biden continued her teaching career. The first time a presidential spouse has done so, ever. Congratulations. Now, you might think its because she loves teaching so much, but its actually because shes still paying off her student debt. Im sorry about that, Jill. I guess you shouldve voted for Bernie. I think everyone will agree that it's actually nice to once again have a president who's not afraid to come to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and hear jokes about himself. I'll be honest, if you didnt come, I totally would have understood because these people have been so hard on you, which I don't get. I really dont. And I think ever since youve come into office, things are really looking up. You know, gas is up, rent is up, food is up, everything. President Bidens lack of a filter does get him into hot water sometimes. Last month, he caused a huge international incident saying that Vladimir Putin should be removed from power. It was very, very upsetting to Russia until someone explained to them that none of the stuff Biden wants actually gets done. What about Maggie Haberman? For four years, it was exclusives on the Russia investigation, corruption, the president doesnt read his daily briefings, on and on. Now look at her. She spends all day fighting with random people on Twitter like a common political reporter. Youve ruined her Mr. President. Jen [Psaki], its nice that youre willing to come over here and risk getting Covid for like, what, the 10th time now? Let me ask, how do you keep getting Covid, Jen? Like your boss hooked us all up with free tests. Does he not have your address? Whats going on there? Im really excited because the kings of cable are here. Fox News in the house I know Fox has a bad reputation I can even feel you tense up now when I talk about them. They really do crush it. You know, I think they get a bad rap. Because it's a mixed bag. They actually have really good journalists, it just depends on when you watch. Fox News is sort of like a Waffle House. Yeah, its relatively normal in the afternoon, but as soon as the sun goes down, theres a drunk lady named Jeanine threatening to fight every Mexican who comes in. Apparently, Jeff [Zucker] got fired after he tried to keep his workplace relationship secret, which is weird because if he really didnt want anyone to know about it, he could have just made a show about it on CNN plus. Its so sad. CNN+, gone but forgotten. You know who I blame? You know who I blame, CNN? John King your magic wall can predict how every person in the country is going to vote in every county, but it couldn't give you a heads up that nobody wanted more CNN? The release of Trevor Reed, an American prisoner held by Russia, in exchange for a convicted Russian drug smuggler, has shown that Washington and Moscow are still able to negotiate on some issues even after Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Related: Ex-marine Trevor Reed freed from jail in dramatic US-Russia prisoner swap The exchange on the tarmac of a Turkish airport on Monday morning, has also focused attention on the plight two other Americans left behind in Russian jails, held on flimsy or spurious grounds most likely as bargaining counters. One is Paul Whelan, a former marine who was arrested in 2018 in a Moscow hotel, where he had gone to attend a friends wedding. He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years hard labour. The other is Brittney Griner, a basketball star who was detained in a Moscow airport on 17 February, a week before the Ukraine invasion, and accused of having cannabis oil in her possession. A court has ordered her held until 19 May, pending investigation. For both, the news of Reeds release brought mixed emotions: it showed that such deals are possible, but also the regret that they were excluded on this occasion. As I do everything in my power to get BG home, my heart is overflowing with joy for the Reed family, Griners wife, Cherelle, wrote on Instagram. I do not personally know them, but I do know the pain of having your loved one detained in a foreign country. That level of pain is constant and can only be remedied by a safe return home. For the Reed family, that day is today. In a call from a penal colony, Whelan telephoned his parents and asked: Why was I left behind? While I am pleased Trevor is home with his family, I have been held on a fictitious charge of espionage for 40 months, he said, according to his twin brother, David. The world knows this charge was fabricated. Why hasnt more been done to secure my release. Reflecting on the double-edged lessons from Reeds release, David Whelan said: Its a fog of war experience. You dont really have any idea whats possible, and then with Trevors release, you start to get a little bit of clarity that the US government is willing to take certain actions and how they might go about those actions. Story continues The other benefit is that the fact that the exchange happened means that the US and Russian relationship, as damaged as it is, still has enough diplomatic life that they are able to spend a couple of months working out an arrangement like this, Whelan added. Related: The sting: an American drugs bust in west Africa | Yudhijit Bhattacharjee The potential downside for the Whelan and Griner families is that, by exchanging Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for conspiracy to bring drugs into the US, Washington has traded someone designated as a bargaining counter by Moscow. US press reports of the months of negotiations leading up to the Reed release said that the Russians had insisted on Yaroshenko. Joe Biden said after the exchange that negotiations that allowed us to bring Trevor home required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly. According to David Whelan, the Russian officers who oversaw his brothers detention made clear from early on that they hoped to swap him for Yaroshenko or Viktor Bout. Bout is a notorious Russian arms dealer, nicknamed the merchant of death, who was arrested in Thailand in 2008, extradited to the US, and sentenced in 2012 to 25 years for conspiracy to kill US citizens, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and providing aid to a terrorist organisation. A source involved in hostage negotiations said that the Reed-Yaroshenko exchange opened the way for a possible swap of Bout for Whelan. There is often a staggered process in these types of cases that is designed to build confidence, the source said. You get him out, they do the trade, everybody sees that it worked, you wait to see what the blowback is, and then youve already cut the deal for when the second trade will happen. David Whelan however, made clear that his family is not pushing for any such deal. My personal man-on-the-street perspective is that it would be crazy for the US government to exchange the merchant of death for Paul, who is, at best, a hapless tourist, he said. The evidence used against Paul Whelan was a computer flash drive, which the prosecution said contained state secrets, and which he said was used to frame him. He was given the drive by an acquaintance and had assumed it contained just wedding photos. Whelan has now been held for 40 months, the last 20 of which have been in a labour camp in Mordovia, about 300 miles east of Moscow. For the whole of that time, his brother said, he has been roused from sleep every two hours at night and photographed, on the grounds he is a flight risk. The decisive factor in the decision to prioritise Reed and exchange him for Yaroshenko was his failing health. He had been in the same cell as a prisoner with tuberculosis and had been coughing up blood. His family also conducted a high-profile pressure campaign, pressuring the White House to give his parents a public meeting with Biden. The stock advice given to families of kidnap victims used to keep silent during negotiations, but now the hostage-taker is more likely to be a state than a rogue group, the landscape has changed. If the key to resolving your hostage crisis is to influence a government, then going public may be the best strategy Joel Simon Going public is an excellent way to influence states and a really poor way to influence terrorist groups or non-state actors, said Joel Simon, former head of the Committee to Protect Journalists and author of the 2019 book We Want to Negotiate: The Secret World of Kidnapping, Hostages and Ransom. So if the key to resolving your hostage crisis is to influence a government, then going public may be the best strategy. While a few years ago, families would largely find themselves leading a public campaign more or less alone, there is now an expanding group of former hostages willing to help. On Trevor Reeds release, his family immediately declared they were transferring their efforts to Whelan and Griner. That wasnt the case six or seven years ago, said Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post journalist who has held on trumped-up charges for 544 days by the Iranian authorities. Theres much more of a community which is the lone silver lining in this whole thing. Because without that community, I dont think were going to solve this problem. Former President Donald Trump. Evan Vucci/AP Donald Trump frequently pushed for "reciprocity" when helping governors deal with crises. Trump, for example, expected reciprocity when he agreed to dock a ship in California with passengers infected with COVID-19. Reciprocity was "one of his favorite words," California Gov. Gavin Newsom told the book's authors. Former President Donald Trump often asked for and expected "reciprocity" from state governors who asked the White House for assistance, according to a new book. The revelations about Trump's interactions with various state governors were published in an upcoming book called "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future," written by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns. Trump, when approached by governors, demanded that they help him out in exchange for federal aid, according to an excerpt of the book obtained and reviewed by The Hill. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump called him to talk about a cruise ship in the San Francisco Bay that had held passengers infected with the coronavirus. Trump permitted the ship to dock so the passengers could receive treatment. After the decision to dock the ship, he told Newsom he'd wait around for "the reciprocity," according to The Hill, citing the book. "He used to say that even privately that was one of his favorite words," Newsom told authors Martin and Burns. "It says everything and nothing at the same time." Another anecdote published in the book detailed how Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont called the White House for help in August 2020, following a tropical storm that caused thousands of people in the state to lose power. "There's something you want to ask me about FEMA?" Trump told Lamont, according to the book. "Well, ask me nicely." He's also made similar demands of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Insider's Alia Shoaib reported. Story continues For instance, as states geared up to battle the coronavirus pandemic, Trump told governors that he would cut federal funding for most states that deployed the National Guard, The Hill reported. Governors who wanted full coverage of all costs had to "call me and ask me nicely," the book says, according to The Hill. "President Trump's comments, his rhetoric and his almost flippant attitude in some contexts made it difficult for a governor like me to really push the seriousness of the medical emergency that we're in," Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson told the authors. Read the original article on Business Insider Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard suggested that former President Barack Obama is behind the effort to establish a Disinformation Governance Board, which she likened to George Orwell's famed "Ministry of Truth." "Biden is just a front man," Gabbard said on Twitter Sunday. "Obama, April 21: social media censors 'dont go far enough,' so the government needs to step in to do the job. Six days later, Homeland Security rolls out the 'Ministry of Truth' (aka Disinformation Governance Board)." REPUBLICANS ACCUSE MAYORKAS OF DISCREDITING 'LEGITIMATE CRITICISM' WITH 'DISINFORMATION' BOARD, DEMAND INFO Gabbard, a Democrat, was referencing Obama's speech at Stanford University last week, where he argued tech companies have a hard time moderating content on their own and called for more oversight. "Now the good news is that almost all the big tech platforms now acknowledge some responsibility for content on their platforms, and they're investing in large team of people to monitor it," Obama said during the speech. "Given the sheer volume of content, this strategy can feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole." Obama said he believes employees at the companies "are sincere" in trying to moderate violent content and hate speech, but argued more needs to be done to help the companies limit such posts. Former President Barack Obama Getty Images "But while content moderation can limit the distribution of clearly dangerous content, it doesn't go far enough," Obama said. Obama's comments come after the Biden administration created a Disinformation Governance Board to be run by the Department of Homeland Security, with the goal of combating online disinformation. "The goal is to bring the resources of (DHS) together to address this threat," said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Wednesday. Mayorkas added that the board would be heavily focused on limiting the spread of disinformation ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, but critics have raised concerns over the free speech implications of the board. "The Federal Government has no business creating a Ministry of Truth," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said last week, using the same nickname for the board as Gabbard. "The Department of Homeland Security's 'Disinformation Board' is unconstitutional and unamerican, and I'll be introducing a bill to defund it." Douglas Sacha/Getty Images Two suspects died after jumping into a river during a police chase in Chicago. Authorities were pursuing the two as well as three others following reports of a carjacking. Local news reported that the suspects jumped into the Little Calumet River. Two people reportedly died after jumping into a river to escape officers during a police pursuit in Chicago, Illinois, over the weekend. The incident occurred early Saturday morning just after 4:30 a.m. while authorities were chasing a white Rolls Royce following reports of an armed carjacking, the Chicago-Sun Times reported. Illinois State Police said troopers and officers continued to track the vehicle until the five suspects parked and hopped into a black Infiniti, according to the report. During the chase, the car eventually crashed, and authorities were able to arrest three people who have yet to be identified, the outlet reported. According to NBC Chicago, the remaining two suspects leaped into the Little Calumet River to avoid getting taken into custody. The Chicago Police Marine Unit arrived at the scene around 5:10 a.m. to search for the duo in the river and recovered their bodies, the report said. The suspects were transported to a local hospital and were pronounced dead as a result of their injuries. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that they were identified as 27-year-old Amos Gibson and 21-year-old Curtis Hicks by the local medical examiner. An investigation into the incident is underway. Read the original article on Insider The enemy was going to shoot down a passenger plane above Russia or Belarus (illustrative photo) Read also: Day 67 of Putin's war. Zelensky confirms evacuation from Azovstal, another blast in Belgorod reported The SBU says that the attack had been planned by members of Russias general staff, using a U.S.-made Stinger MANPAD. A number of Russian agents were tasked with obtaining a Stinger system and smuggling it to Russia. This group included two individuals with dual citizenship, as well as one local Ukrainian collaborator, and coordinated by Alexander Marine Tyuterev a Russian citizen employed by the Main Directorate of Russias General Staff. Tyuterev is wanted for his earlier involvement in plotting a series of attacks in Odesa oblast. To achieve their goals, these enemy agents attempted to gain the trust of members of Ukraines Armed Forces by divulging accurate information about the movement of Russias so-called kadyrovtsi regiments units under the personal command of Putin vassal and Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. Read also: Ukraine military plane crashes in Kyiv Oblast, casualties reported After establishing their patriotic volunteer fighters bona fides, the Russian espionage group planned to leverage this relationship into getting a hold of a foreign-made MANPAD system. The SBU says it apprehended the entire cell in a special operation. Detailed investigation of the foiled false flag attack is ongoing, and the perpetrators are expected to face criminal charges. Read also: SBU reveals Russian invaders chatting about hell in Chornobaivka During the course of the investigation, it became apparent that Russian security services have degraded substantially. In particular, Marine Tyuterev was shown to have been misleading his superiors about his alleged successes in Ukraine. He ordered his agents in Ukraine to fabricate evidence of a successful covert attack in Ukraine: they were manufacturing staged video and photo evidence of a supposed attack on a Territorial Defense Force checkpoint. STORY: "We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom...Your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," Pelosi said in a video released by the Ukrainian President's press office on Sunday (May 1). On Friday (April 29) U.S. Pelosi said she hopes to pass a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine requested by President Joe Biden "as soon as possible." "We hope to as soon as possible pass that legislation," Pelosi told her weekly news conference. Moscow calls its actions a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression. Ukraines ambassador to the U.S. on Sunday said "Ukrainians will not surrender" and that Russias war in Ukraine will only end when Moscows forces fully withdraw. As the Russian aggression in Ukraine entered its 67th day, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova appeared on ABCs "This Week," saying, "This war was started by Russians, it has to be ended by Russians." RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES "For us there is no question that we will win. You know, we have to win and we will win," Markarova said. "The question is, how many of the great Ukrainians we will lose winning this war?" The ambassador said the world is united around Ukraine and thanked the U.S. for leading support for the country as it looks to end the conflict. "We are trying, and we are doing everything possible on the battlefield, but also on the diplomatic front to stop this war as soon as possible," Markarova said. "But regardless of when they will make a decision, Ukrainians will not surrender," the ambassador said. "Ukrainians will not give up. We are tired after this horrible destruction. We are mourning the people we have lost. But we will not stop, and we will defend our country to the victory." When asked if a diplomatic solution would require Russia to completely withdraw from Ukraine, Markarova said, "I do not think there could be any other solution." "It's a very black and white situation," the ambassador continued. "It's Russia that crossed the border first in 2014 and now in 2022 again." Markarova maintained that Ukraine needs to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty following Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its bloody invasion that began in February. Numerically, Russias military manpower vastly exceeds Ukraines. In the days before the war began, Western intelligence estimated Russia had positioned near the border as many as 190,000 troops; Ukraines standing military totals about 200,000, spread throughout the country. Overall, the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel. Russia also has a much larger air force and navy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Olha Hluschenko - Sunday, 1 May 2022, 01:50 The Ukrainian Armed Forces have destroyed a Russian Repellent-1 radio-electronic combat station, 3 anti-aircraft installations, a Strela-10 rocket launcher, a communications system, and have killed 42 personnel in the southern operational area. Source: Southern Operational Command Quote: "In the Mykolayiv-Kherson area, active fighting continues. The enemy, having failed to any progress, has dug in in its positions and is continuing to employ artillery and mortar fire. "Its renewed attempts at reconnaissance with the use of drones has resulted in the loss of two more Orlan-10s in the Mykolayiv region. Our units' aimed strikes were destructive. "In the Kherson region, our defenders destroyed a 'Repellent-1' enemy radioelectronic combat station with artillery fire '. "Another attack on enemy installations on Zmiyinyy Island destroyed three anti-aircraft installations, a Strela-10 rocket launcher, and a communications system - a server room containing telecommunications equipment." Details: The Southern Operational Command reports 42 Russians killed in action. Odesa suffered another rocket strike, this time from the territory of occupied Crimea. 3 Onyx rockets were launched from a Bastion rocket launcher and hit an airstrip. No casualties were recorded. However, the airstrip was rendered unusable. Russia continues its destabilisation efforts in and around Odesa on the eve of 2 May, which marks eight years since the tragic events in 2014 when over 40 people were killed in the city during an attempted pro-Russian coup. Ukrainian intelligence services have obtained copies of the newspaper Pridniestrovye which have been pre-printed for 2 May and which feature an alleged official appeal from residents of the unrecognised Transnistrian Moldovan Republic to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "protect them from attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces." "Publicising this provocation discredits the enemy actions," says Southern Operational Command. Russian ships continue to blockade northwestern areas of the Black Sea and to threaten the entire territory of Ukraine with rocket strikes. Reuters NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, France (Reuters) - The Russian military's failure to seize the Ukrainian capital was inevitable because in the preceding years they had never directly faced a powerful enemy, according to a former mercenary with the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group who fought alongside the Russian army. Marat Gabidullin took part in Wagner Group missions on the Kremlin's behalf in Syria and in a previous conflict in Ukraine, before deciding to go public about his experience inside the secretive private military company. He quit the Wagner group in 2019, but several months before Russia launched the invasion on Feb. 24 Gabidullin, 55, said he received a call from a recruiter who invited him to go back to fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Sophia Procter with her Thomas and Friends Munchy Play product (Munchy Play) Sophia Procter was communications manager at British Airways for nearly a decade, running the airlines consumer PR including work on the London 2012 Olympic Games. Shortly after the now-43-year-old returned from maternity leave in 2017, a corporate reshuffle saw Procter face redundancy. Having just invented a kids plate with a play track around the edge to lure her fussy son to eat more, she decided to use her redundancy package from BA to start a business of her own. I came up with the idea for Munchy Play after a long day at work. I had just picked my son up from nursery, and had mum guilt for not spending time with him, so tried to make it up by cooking a nourishing meal. Except, like many 18-month-olds, he had lost all interest in mealtimes. This particular day Id made him a curry from scratch, but he refused to come to the table. I realised he was having too much fun with his toys and the dinner table was boring. So, I grabbed the trains and track he was playing with, and put it around his plate. In that moment everything changed. He not only came to the table, but sat there and ate. That was my lightbulb moment. When I took redundancy in 2017, I went straight into developing Munchy Play, whilst freelancing to help fund it. When I looked at what was involved in launching a new product from intellectual property rights, to buying steel machinery I realised it was a sizeable sum. I invested all of my redundancy and some of my personal savings to get it off the ground about 50,000. Having a great idea is one thing, and bringing it to life is quite another. The first thing I did was due diligence lots and lots of research checking the idea didnt exist, before protecting it with design rights and intellectual property. Next, I approached trade bodies to find a British manufacturer: even if it cost more, I thought that parents trust British products, I wouldnt have the worry of supply chain problems, and I was keen to invest in our economy. Story continues Once I found the right manufacturer, they told me Id need CAD designs from which the steel machinery would be made, so I created a prototype and took it to the streets of London, thrusting it into parents hands for feedback! Naively, I thought Id have it done in less than a year. But as I was creating a blueprint from scratch, there was a lot of back and forth, testing and failure. It took three years to make it happen. Along the way though, l was spurred on by some great people. I received mentorship from Innovate UK and the Inventor in Residence at the British Library. I was finally ready to launch with a few thousand plates ready to ship in March 2020. Well, we all know what happened next. I had no choice but to press pause on the launch. I continued freelancing, helping small businesses with crisis PR. Then, around May, I realised that there was an opportunity here. Parents like me were stuck at home, exhausted from home schooling and childcare, looking for any kind of light relief especially if it could be delivered to their door. So I decided to overhaul the business plan to focus on selling online, and launched Munchy Play in June 2020. Launching in the middle of a global pandemic was definitely not easy - but I took full advantage of all the support out there. Amazon and Enterprise Nation had launched programmes to help start-ups, which I joined. This got me on BBC Breakfast news! Joe Wicks office used to be near mine, so I dropped off some plates for his kids, and a few weeks later he used them on his Instagram account. When we won Small Business Sunday an initiative hosted by [entrepreneur] Theo Paphitis to support small businesses, our social media went into overdrive and it gave us credibility too. Six months after launching, I approached Mattel as a licence partner, and weve been working together ever since. Launching the Thomas & Friends collection last year was a major moment. Weve now sold 10,000 plates. The next milestone is getting into High Street retail. Customers keep asking us when we will be in John Lewis, Smyths Toys, Argos, Hamleys, Ocado and even on QVC. I would really love to see that happen. Were launching a new car plate range and expanding into global markets especially USA is something Id like to look at as our company grows, possibly with the support of investors in the future. Taking redundancy was a tough choice, however it was the right one. It enabled me to launch an award-winning product and gave me the freedom to work flexibly, something Im grateful for as a mother. The Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, which is regularly attacked by Russian invaders According to the President, his team, along with UN representatives, are working to evacuate the rest of the civilians that have been trapped, hiding beneath the factory, for weeks under constant Russian shelling. The evacuation of civilians from Azovstal has started, the President wrote. The first group of about 100 people is already heading to the government-controlled territory. Tomorrow we will meet them in Zaporizhzhya. The head of the Ukrainian delegation at peace talks with Russia, David Arakhamia, said that the evacuees included women, children, and the elderly. Our heroic lads from Azov are holding out, Arakhamia commented in a video address. The next stage of the operation is to rescue everyone else. There are still a lot of people left and a lot of problems. This was the first ceasefire at Azovstal for two days now. Earlier, a UN representative announced the start of the evacuation of civilians from the besieged facility. According to Saviano Abreu, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the organization is conducting a safe passage operation for civilians from Azovstal. It began on April 29 and is now being coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine, and Russia. Read also: Day 67 of Putin's war. Zelensky confirms evacuation from Azovstal, another blast in Belgorod reported During a Russian bombing attack on April 28, an operating room in the tunnels under the factory collapsed, increasing the number of injured at the facility to around 600 individuals. On April 30, the deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, Svyatoslav Palamar, said that an evacuation convoy had arrived in Mariupol, evacuating 20 civilians from Azovstal, who had been rescued from under the rubble they were bound for the city of Zaporizhzhya. Mariupol has been blockaded by Russian invaders for two months. Russians have systematically targeted the citys infrastructure. Water, power, heat, and communications has all been destroyed and cut off. Preliminary estimates put the number of dead in Mariupol at 22,000. Story continues Read also: Massive Russian bombing run collapses makeshift operating room underneath Mariupols Azovstal Additionally, Russians have been operating at least 13 mobile crematoriums in the city, and have forbidden residents from burying the dead. Local and authorities and journalists in the area have both reportedly discovered at least three mass graves. At least 1,000 civilians are believed to have been hiding in underground shelters underneath the Azovstal steelworks plant, which has been constantly bombarded by Russian attacks. In total, according to estimates by the Ukrainian authorities, around 120,000 civilians may be left in Mariupol. Read also: Ukraine to punish all Russian war criminals, Zelensky vows Russia has regularly disrupted humanitarian corridors and violated agreements with the Ukrainian side, opening fire or deceiving and forcibly abducting Ukrainian citizens to Russian territory. Subways in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv stopped operations following the launch of attacks by Russian troops. Stations, as deep as 105 meters underground, became temporary bomb shelters as citizens brought in blankets and tents to protect themselves from Russia's threat of nuclear attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with CNN that "all of the countries of the world" should be prepared for the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use nuclear weapons in his war on Ukraine. The war has shown the international community that any country can suddenly become a field of battle. Japan, located next to Russia, China and North Korea, is no exception. Subway systems in Japan are among the most advanced in the world, and people ride them more often than in most other countries. The systems are still growing, and in many major cities are connected to underground shopping malls, maximizing the use of space in crowded urban areas. But whether Japanese can use them as shelters is open to question. Most subway stations in Japan are unsuitable as shelters because they lie at a shallow depth. "Tokyo has only a limited number of facilities that can be safe shelters, such as stations on the Toei Oedo Line that lie more than 40 meters underground," said Mitsuru Fukuda, professor of risk management at Nihon University. Facilities designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for use as shelters in case Japan is attacked include no subway stations. Although some other local governments, such as the prefecture of Osaka, do include subway stations among their designated shelters, none are deeper than 30 meters. In short, Japan does not have subways running as deep under the ground as those in Ukraine. In the 2017 election for the House of Representatives, the governing Liberal Democratic Party adopted the first-ever campaign pledge to "secure emergency shelters by making use of existing underground space in addition to the reinforcement of underground shelters." But momentum toward the prompt construction of underground facilities resistant to blasts from nuclear and other explosions has failed to grow. ...continue reading We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The cooperation agreement, signed in February 2019, between Morocco and Spain to fight all forms of crimes and terrorism, has come into force starting this Saturday, April 30, 2022. Under the agreement, the two countries authorities will cooperate in combating kidnapping, drugs & human trafficking, illegal immigration, sexual exploitation of children, as well as the production, distribution or possession of pornographic material involving children. They will also coordinate actions against extortion, theft, illegal trade in arms, ammunition, explosives, radioactive substances and biological or nuclear materials. The scope of Moroccan-Spanish cooperation includes also the fight against money laundering, economic & financial crimes, forgery & fraudulent use of identity documents, cybercrime, illegal trade in art and artifacts and crimes against natural resources and the environment Spain is committed to foster its energy cooperation with Morocco, spokesman for the Spanish government Isabel Rodriguez said, after the start of the reverse flow of gas using the Maghreb-Europe pipeline. Spain had announced few days ago that it will start pumping gas- bought by Morocco in the international LNG market- using the pipeline, much to the dislike of Algeria which made a hysterical warning to Spain not to re-sell Algerian gas to Morocco, in a reaction that is reflective of a regime blinded by hostility to Morocco. The Algerian reaction was not only unnecessary in view that both Spain and Morocco said they will not pump Algerian gas through that pipeline, but it was also mirroring the defeat of Algeria and its failure to use the gas to blackmail its neighbors. We have a commitment with Morocco, a neighboring country, which has many economic, social, political and security ties, and with which we should build alliances and we will also work on energy, Rodriguez told radio Cadena Ser. We have close interests in the maritime field as well as in commercial and border areas, Rodriguez said. Asked about Spains support for Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara she said we cannot turn our backs and wait another 40 years. In a statement in Rabat, Spokesperson for the Moroccan Government said Morocco and Spain are steadily moving towards the implementation of all the elements contained in the joint statement, adopted during the visit head of the Spanish Government paid to Morocco early April, pointing out that the energy sector is one of the main axes of the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Tobruk-based Libyan House of Representatives has accused Algeria of interference in Libyas sovereign affairs after the Algerian President declared support for Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, that the parliament replaced with Fathi Bashagha as the countrys interim leader. Yusuf al-Agouri, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, published a scathing statement on Saturday targeting what he perceives as Algerian interference in Libyan politics, reported the news outlet Libya update. Algerias actions deny the autonomy of our elected representatives, and threaten the internal unity of Libya itself, Al-Agouri stated as he lamented Algerias recognition of Dbeibehs government. According to Libyan lawmakers, Algerias explicit support for one half of the political divide in Libya is putting undue stress on the already strenuous process of political reconciliation following a lengthy and gruesome civil war, the media said. The Algerian President invited Dbeibeh to Algeria on April 24. During the visit, he expressed Algerias support for the outgoing premier. Despite a fragile peace truce maintaining relative stability in the war-torn country, Libya remains divided over the process towards democratic reconciliation to truly end its decade-long conflict. The two main factions remain politically and geographically divided between the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, and the Libyan House of Representatives in Tobruk. Nancy Pelosi and members of a House delegation walk with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday, April 30. Photo: Handout/Ukrainian Presidency Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi traveled to Kyiv and met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. Pelosi, who was accompanied on the unannounced symbolic visit by a delegation of several House Democrats, is now the senior-most U.S. official to meet with Zelenskyy in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. The move also came days after Biden asked Congress to authorize another $33 billion in aid for Ukraine, which continues to defend against Russian forces in the countrys south and east. Foreign aid military and financial continues to pour into Ukraine to bolster its defense and help alleviate the humanitarian crisis triggered by the invasion. On Saturday, the Institute for the Study of War concluded in its latest analysis that Russias main offensive in eastern Ukraine has stalled, and that its forces appear increasingly unlikely to achieve any major advances there. Meanwhile in the Russian-occupied parts of southern Ukraine, Russian forces have been consolidating its control. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Russian occupation authorities are swiftly integrating these areas into Russia, appointing collaborationist administrations and introducing Russian documents, education programs and currency. In the almost entirely Russian-occupied (and largely destroyed) southern city of Mariupol, a small group of Ukrainian troops continue to hold out inside the subterranean Soviet-era bunker system of the Azovstal steelworks, but the facility has been under heavy bombardment for weeks. Over the weekend, a small number of civilians who were sheltering in the plants bunkers were finally able to leave the city via evacuation corridors. We didnt see the sun for so long, one of dozens of evacuees told Reuters on Sunday. The evacuation effort is supposed to resume on Monday. A comparison of the height of Russian control (18 March) and the most recent control. pic.twitter.com/AzvUvCqX2H Ukraine War Map (@War_Mapper) May 1, 2022 Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine, Pelosi said in a statement on Sunday. Speaking with reporters in Poland, she said that the delegation had shared with Zelenskyy a message of unity from the Congress of the United States and appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage. House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Gregory Meeks, House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, and House Rules Committee chair Jim McGovern were also part of the delegation. Zelenskyy announced the meeting after the delegation concluded its roughly three-hour visit and left the country: @SpeakerPelosi . . , ! pic.twitter.com/QXSBPFoGQh (@ZelenskyyUa) May 1, 2022 Last weekend, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their own secret trip to Kyiv, where they announced the U.S. would supply hundreds of millions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine and that the U.S. would soon be reestablishing its diplomatic presence in Kyiv. Blinken also later claimed that Russia was failing in its war aims. The prime ministers of the U.K., Spain, and Denmark, as well as E.U. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, have also made trips to Ukraine over the past month. Last Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a much higher-profile visit to Kyiv, and on the same day, Russia conducted missile strikes targeting the capital. One of the missiles struck a 25-story apartment building in the city, killing Ukrainian journalist Vira Hyrych, who worked with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and lived in the building. As NPR reported, since Russia has rarely targeted Kyiv since abandoning its failed effort to take the capital in early April, the timing of the strikes was suspicious, particularly since Guterres had just met with Russian president Vladimir Putin two days prior in Russia. Ukraine said the strikes were a Russian postcard meant to humiliate Guterres and the U.N. A U.N. spokesperson said it was shocking that it happened close to us. Tim Dodge has a Ph.D. in history, but hes best known in Auburn as Dr. Hepcat. On Tuesday night, Dodge hosts the Golden Oldies radio program on WEGL 91.1, Auburn Universitys station. Spinning including a lot of blues, gospel, country and calypso, he takes requests from listeners and the obituaries of musicians long gone. The show airs from 7-9 p.m., and those living out of the Auburn area can tune in online at www.weglfm.com Dodge, 65, is an AU librarian and researcher whos been hosting the show for nearly 25 years. He said his love for older music dates to his early childhood. When I was a kid, I had an old soul, said Dodge, a native of New Hampshire. My classmates liked what was hot at the time, like the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, but it did not appeal to me. I preferred music from the 1950s. When I first discovered that music, I thought, Wow, this is the stuff I like. It just sounded so darn good. And as he got older, he realized he wanted to be behind turntables playing older music for a broad audience. While attending Swarthmore College in Philadelphia as a history major, he joined the schools radio station. After graduating, he took a job at Barry College in Miami and hosted a blues show for the campus station before moving back to New Hampshire. Despite his experience in radio, Dodge never took a full-time job in it because he only wanted to play the music he was interested in. He kept playing older music just for fun. In July 1992, he headed south with his wife, Karen, to take a job at Auburn University. Naturally, Dodge asked if he could host a show on WEGL, but university policy at the time required radio hosts to be students. Disappointed, Dodge thought his days on the radio were over. Then Peter Branum, the host of Golden Oldies and a doctoral student, invited him on the show as a guest. Later, Branum informed Dodge that he was leaving Golden Oldies to host a folk music show, and that the policy had changed about student-only hosts. Would he like to be the new host of Golden Oldies? That was 1998. It was my time, Dodge said. I had been gone from the radio for so long, and I even questioned if I still had it when it came to playing records. But I was back and better than ever. Nearly 25 years later, Dodge continues to garner rave reviews from listeners near and far. I love this shows programming, probably because it reminds me of my father, said Kelly Weigand, 48, a librarian at Auburn. We often play cards with my mother and husband, and when hes in charge of the music, it is always something from that era. Dave Gamble, a listener in Virginia, said he carves out time every Tuesday to listen to the show and get his fix of Fats Domino, Frank Sinatra and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Every time I tune in, it takes me back to my childhood, the naive time and fun times back in the 50s, said Gamble, whose grandfather gave him a phonograph and records when he was 5 years old. I would listen to those songs when I was with my parents, and I remember those artists performing those songs on American Band Stand and The Dick Clark Show. They are oldies but goodies. Dodge is also winning over a new generation of fans. When I am listening to the show, it feels like I am sitting in the past even though I am in the present, said J.P. Williams, 22, a senior at Auburn. It the music that my grandparents always talk about listening to. When you listen to music like that, you cant help but to be in a good mood. Gamble agrees. He praises Dr. Hepcats knowledge about the music industry and says each weeks show sticks with him. I can hear the classic tunes in my head for the rest of the week, Gamble said. Dodge said he plans to host the show for at least another five years and then retire on July 15, his official starting date as a university employee. In the meantime, hell keep on playing the music thats near and dear to his heart. Music from those days is disappearing, and I want to keep it alive and expose it to the world while I have the chance, Dodge said. Many people who created it are dying, and some people have never heard of it, and you do not hear it regularly on commercial stations. I feel like I have to do this. How did this girl not change her name before trying to be famous Reply Thread Link Her parents knew what they were doing giving that name just close enough to be similar, but not the exact name. Reply Parent Thread Link Sounds good. Reminds me of sth Normani would make. Reply Thread Link Lol I thought of Normani too!! Although its a bit more upbeat-ish Reply Parent Thread Link Wrong sis. Edited at 2022-05-01 10:54 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link The way i said Halle Betty?? No no. Hailey Bieber?? before I got it right. Im going back to sleep. Reply Thread Link I like her voice and how chill it sounds, but i'm side-eyeing her for that tweet lol what's next, posting an instagram pic with the caption "felt cute today, might delete later" ahah Reply Thread Link Give it to me Reply Thread Link She's a cat person? Gonna follow her now. Lol! Reply Thread Link Yes. We met him almost a year ago. He is so sweet. He ignores Chloe, but adores her also. https://instagram.com/p/CYcpwHuPJbq She's a cat person?Yes. We met him almost a year ago. He is so sweet. He ignores Chloe, but adores her also. Reply Parent Thread Link He looks photoshopped into that first one Reply Parent Thread Link It makes me love her even more lol Reply Parent Thread Link I like it Reply Thread Link it sounds good-T! Reply Thread Link It sounds very nice! Not excited about the inevitable oversexed MV but it sounds nice. Reply Thread Link having so much fun in the maldives working on new music cant wait to put it out for you all pic.twitter.com/NMYXdkq0dA Halle (@HalleBailey) January 30, 2022 Edited at 2022-05-01 03:53 pm (UTC) Love how this sounds. She posted another snippet a few months ago that sounded so good too, I hope her solo work is more along that line. Reply Thread Link OP you forgot the meow meow meow tag Reply Thread Link i was scrolling fast and for some reason in the title i read hailey bieber instead of halle bailey and got so confused about her releasing new music because i didn't know she had released anything before and was about to comment "please don't" before the actual name clicked in my head. sometimes ontd does read, but wrongly and badly. Reply Thread Link I was ready to say no, I dont want it, just give me more Chloe x Halle but ok this is actually good! I am not at all into Chloes solo music career right now though Reply Thread Link This is why she's Ariel...this sounds like a siren. Love it, I need it as a nice change of pace from her sister. Reply Thread Link I don't know Chloe X Halle personally, but all the times they have said how horrible it is when people compare them, I am going to take a chance and say that insulting one to compliment another is no compliment at all. Just saying you like something is enough. Reply Parent Thread Link Hmn I think you might have read into my comment a bit more than intended. I didn't insult anyone. They obviously have two different styles, just based on what Chloe has released and what Halle has teased. You can like something at one moment and then want something else that you like at a different time. Which is what I meant by "change of pace". Edited at 2022-05-02 01:27 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link halle, my baby!!!! Reply Thread Link Chinese state media is using the situation as an opportunity to claim the status of the U.S. dollar is at risk. The first shipments of Russian coal and crude oil, paid for in yuan, will arrive in China in April and May, respectively. Chinese state media used the opportunity to denigrate the United States, claiming that the international status of the U.S. dollar is at risk. However, financial expert Albert Song believes that it will not affect the U.S. dollars status as the leading global reserve currency. Fenwei Energy Information Service Co., Chinas leading information and service provider to the coal and coke industries, revealed that several Chinese companies purchased Russian coal in Chinese currency in March, and the first shipment would be made in April. This is also the first shipment of Russian commodities paid in yuan to arrive in China after Russia was sanctioned by Western countries. Fenwei did not specify on which date the shipment was expected to arrive. In addition to coal, Chinese buyers also used yuan to purchase Russian crude oil. The first ESPO (Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean) crude oil will be delivered in May, according to a commentary published in early April on Cngold.org, a Chinese online media outlet about investing. Citing the purchases from Fenwei, the article stated that payments in U.S. dollars will become less popular. Russia announced that it would only accept payments in rubles for Russian oil and natural gas, which turned the United States and European countries from those who impose sanctions to those who are subjected to sanctions, the commentary said. Chinese yuan seized the opportunity and began to reveal its potential in global trade payments. Now that coal and oil paid for in yuan will arrive in China, the international community [will] become green-eyed [at our success]. On April 23, Albert Song, a researcher at Tianjun, a politics and economics think tank, told The Epoch Times that the recent Chinese purchases of Russian commodities in yuan will not affect the international status of the U.S. dollar, because these are only bilateral trades between China and Russia, not multilateral trades involving other countries. Song has 27 years of professional experience in Chinas financial industry, focusing on research in Chinas politics and economics. According to data released by Chinas General Administration of Customs in mid-April, the quantity of imported coal and lignite to China dropped 39.9 percent year-on-year in March and 24.2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. However, Russian imports not only retained the top spot in Chinas coking coal imports in March, the quantity more than doubled year on year. Chinas total imports from Russia are also growing significantly. The latest mid-April report from the General Administration of Customs showed that in the first quarter of 2022, its total imports from Russia increased to $21.73 billion, a jump of 31 percent year-on-year, ranking second only to Indonesias 31.4 percent. Related: Can Lebanon Repair Its Failing Energy Sector? When touting the growing influence of the Chinese currency, the article on Cngold.org also revealed that the Chinese regime is currently negotiating with Saudi Arabia, planning to use the renminbi to price crude oil, in part. Song disagrees with the commentarys conclusion that the Chinese yuan is an emerging star on the international market. The most important thing is that a countrys sovereign currency is recognized by many countries. Although the Chinese Communist Party claims that the renminbi is on the path of internationalization, the share of the renminbis international payments over the years has only been 3.2 percent because it is a government-controlled currency and cannot be freely exchanged. It is therefore a currency with poor credit, to begin with, Song commented. China Wary of Sanctions On April 7, the European Union announced the fifth round of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on coal imports from Russia. The toughest sanction so far is to cut Russian banks from the global financial system. After Visa and Mastercard suspended services in Russia, Russian banks indicated that they planned to issue cards using Chinas UnionPay system. As Chinas largest credit card brand, Unionpay cards are issued in over 70 countries and regions. However, Russian news agency RBC reported on April 20 that Chinas UnionPay refused to cooperate with Russian banks for fear of being sanctioned, leaving Russia with fewer options for a credit card provider for its global business. China UnionPay chooses not to cooperate with Russian banks, for fear that itself will get implicated in the sanctions. The CCP needs the New York Clearing House interbank payments system to obtain dollars. Sanctions against China will block it from earning foreign exchanges through exports, Song explained. He further elaborated that there are three driving forces for Chinas economic growthforeign trade, investment, and consumption. All three are in decline. If additional sanctions are imposed on China, it will be an unbearable situation for Chinas economy, he said. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Abu Dhabis national oil company ADNOC is implementing its diversification plans at a staggering speed. Recently, it announced new major renewable energy projects and investments worldwide, and now the Abu Dhabi giant has re-entered the petrochemical sector in full force. ADNOC has acquired a 25% equity stake in global petrochemical giant Borealis from sovereign wealth fund Mubadala. The acquisition fits perfectly into ADNOCs ongoing investment strategy to expand its downstream footprint around the world. With the acquisition of the strategic 25% stake in Austrian petrochemicals producer Borealis, the company not only strengthens its foothold in the downstream sector but also acquires major new openings in the European and American markets. ADNOC is stepping out of the shadow of its compatriot Saudi Aramco, which has been very active lately in acquiring major new markets in Europe, especially in former Russian-held positions in eastern Europe and the Baltic. In a reaction to the press, ADNOCs CEO and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sultan Al Jabr, stated that the acquisition is a reaction to the expected growth of the global chemicals and petrochemical sectors, due to consumer-led growth. The Abu Dhabi giant will be a co-shareholder with Austrian oil and gas company OMV, which is a strategic operator in eastern and central Europe already. OMV, the Vienna-listed company, will hold the remaining 75% in Borealis. No specific financials have been given. In 2020, Mubadala sold 14% of its stake in Borealis to OMV for around $4.68 billion. That sale price would value the 25% acquisition (at 2020 prices) at around $8-8.5 billion. No specifics have been given by Mubadala on the divestment, but cooperation between the sovereign wealth fund and ADNOC is well documented. Borealis is a major producer of compounds such as polyethylene and polypropylene. ADNOC and Borealis (aka OMV) have long worked together, especially via the Abu Dhabi Borouge facility. At present ADNOC plans to expand its current 4.5 million tons of downstream capacity (Borouge) by 300%. ADNOC and partners are currently implementing a $45 billion downstream investment plan, of which a Borouge-Borealis $6.2 billion project to set up a 4th plant at Borouge is part. The new facility in Ruwais will receive feedstock from ADNOC, producing polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as benzene and butadiene. Last week, news emerged that ADNOC and Borealis are targeting an IPO for Borouge. Sources stated that both parties want to sell a 10% stake in the JV, targeting $2 billion, which would value Borouge at present at $20 billion. Indicators are there that the new IPO could be announced in May. Even though global markets are reeling from the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Chinese COVID lockdowns, the Middle East has been very successful lately with its IPOs. Dubais utility IPO at the start of this month raised $6.1 billion. Related: OPEC+ Seen Sticking To Current Production Arrangement ADNOCs hunger for expansion is insatiable. In recent weeks, the OPEC producer also showed its eagerness to expand substantially in global LNG markets, as it bought two new LNG tankers from China, to be delivered in 2025. The new vessels are going to be built at Chinas Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. The tankers will be bigger than all current ADNOC LNG vessels. Abu Dhabi is very eager to increase its LNG market share, especially as potential gaps left by Russia will need to be filled in Europe. The fall-out of the Russian disaster is expected to push global LNG consumption up by 60%. The new LNG vessel order follows after the acquisition by ADNOC in the last two years of 16 ocean-going vessels. Abu Dhabi wants to double its LNG production in the coming five years to 12 million tons. To support that ambition, ADNOC is currently assessing bids from engineering companies to build a new LNG export terminal. The 2-train 10 million tons per year facility will be built in Fujairah. Part of the feedstock will come from the Hail and Ghasha sour gas scheme. At present, even though Abu Dhabi exports LNG, the state is importing around 1.8 billion cubic feet per day of gas from Qatar via the Dolphin pipeline. To support and feed the new Fujairah plant, a new 52-inch gas pipeline from Habshan, with a transport capacity of 2 BCF, is also being planned. ADNOCs plans are vast and aggressive, especially in light of the global LNG investment boom and the production expansion strategies of competitors. In light of the ongoing energy transition, investments in major gas markets, such as Europe and the USA, do come with a level of risk. Still, to take charge of its future, and to take advantage of current market developments, ADNOCs monetization of its natural resources is a prudent move, especially if revenues are going to be invested in emerging technologies and other future-proof economic sectors. The drive for LNG and other products will need to be based on Abu Dhabi maintaining strong geopolitical and economic ties in both the east and the west. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A new Defense Intelligence Agency report indicated that China and Russia are aligning forces and plan to "undercut Americas space dominance. Nelson highlighted a particular instance where their lack of cooperation could have resulted in catastrophe. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson criticized China for lacking transparency and willingness to cooperate with the US. Beijing has pushed for closer ties with Russia to displace US' global leadership in space. "We want cooperation that has not been forthcoming from the Chinese government (but) it takes two to tango," Nelson told reporters. "We simply haven't had any transparency from the Chinese." Nelson's said after China launched its space station in 2021, one of the boosters careened back toward Earth. He said Chinese space officials shared no tracking data of where the booster was projected to land. "When they put up their space station they did not reserve enough fuel to control where it came down and thank the Good Lord it came down in the Indian Ocean. (But) it could have come down in Europe, it could have come down in Saudi Arabia. It could have come down in Greece," he said. Nelson added there's a lack of transparency regarding Chinese activity in space. He noted NASA is restricted from working with the Chinese government or any China-affiliated organizations unless approved by Congress. There's been hostility and shadiness between both countries in space. NASA banned China from being a member of the International Space Station (ISS) program. Nelson then pivoted to Russia and said NASA had "the Good Housekeeping seal of approval from the White House" to extend a space partnership with Russia "despite the horrors that we are seeing with our eyes daily on television of what's happening in Ukraine." The good news, he said: "I see that professional relationship with astronauts and cosmonauts and the ground teams in the two respective mission controls, I see that continuing." Meanwhile, a new Defense Intelligence Agency report indicated that China and Russia are aligning forces and plan to "undercut the US and allied global leadership in the space domain." So China ignores NASA, and Moscow and Beijing move closer together in an emerging space race against the West. It's a sign the world's old economic order is fracturing as a new bipolar world appears from the ashes. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Maggie and David Convy remember their stays at Camp Foster on Lake Okoboji in Iowa as summertime bliss. For 10 straight years, they attended with the same group of friends from all over the Midwest. They would spend the week singing songs and playing games and pranks. Life was so good, the then-Maggie Rudersdorf said. The pair stayed friends, and even though David lived in Kansas City, Missouri, and Maggie in Omaha, she summoned up the courage to ask him to Marian High Schools senior prom. David drove up after taking the ACT and stayed in one of my brothers bedrooms, she said. My dad made his famous waffles in the morning before David went back to KC the next day. They stayed in touch when David went to Kansas State and Maggie to Marquette, and then reconnected in 2018 when Maggie attended a nursing conference in Denver, where David was living. Sparks flew. It was like we had never left each other, they say. David then visited Maggie in Chicago shortly after, and Maggie then made the move from Chicago to Denver. They met back at Camp Foster again for another big moment. The proposal. They were visiting Davids grandparents and after a long day of swimming and boating, they made the all-to-familiar drive to camp. They walked around reminiscing and even found both their names written in paint on the mess hall walls. Davids name is engraved on a canoe paddle in the dining hall for winning the foster fling two years in a row. Then they stopped at the chapel, the heart of the camp. Its where every morning started with announcements and evening talent shows were held on the center stage. David and I sat in the back row talking about how we always used to eye one another from across the aisle, hoping to catch a sudden peek or laugh about the time we danced in the talent show, Maggie said. We stood up to walk out and David took my hand, got down on one knee, and pulled out a beautiful ring he had made with a family heirloom diamond, asking me to be his wife. It was a surreal moment. They drove back to Davids grandparents house to find all of Davids family and Maggies parents ready to surprise them and celebrate. A banner read It was always you. Champagne toasts followed, with tears of happiness and lots of laughter. We ended the night watching fireworks over Lake Okoboji, she said. It was beyond magical. Magical ride They knew they wanted to get married in the mountains its where their love story really started to flourish. They often took weekend trips to Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone to explore everything the mountains had to offer. David always says, you just feel different in the mountains, Maggie said. Its a dreamy, magical and romantic place thats exactly what our vision was for our wedding. Lots of candles, greenery, elegant, and mountain rustic feels. We both love to ski the back bowls of Vail, walk the village of Vail sipping warm cocktails and dancing at The Red Lion. We wanted to share this love with our friends and family in the same place we rekindled our love. Its been a magical ride to fall in love at 8,150 feet. The couple married in November, because they wanted a wedding during ski season so everyone could celebrate and then hit the slopes. They invited 200 and about 140 were able to attend. Winter wonderland Waking up to some gently falling snow the day of the wedding was just one of several special moments. There was also their first look at the creek next to the chapel, the tears in Davids eyes as Maggie walked down the aisle with her dad and a special Irish hand blessing by both their mothers. Their favorite came after the ceremony, when the newly married couple went back to their room and took a moment to take it all in. This was really special sitting by the fireplace sipping champagne looking at our wedding rings, Maggie said. It was a once in a lifetime moment, with butterflies of excitement in our stomachs and so much love in our hearts. Then came their first dance to At Last by Etta James, one of their favorites and 20 years after their first meeting a camp. David said in his final speech to everyone, the only way you could describe this day is as a fairytale. Masking up COVID-19 didnt make things easy. Maggie says she can laugh now about wearing N95 masks to go to her final bridal dress fittings, nail appointments, flower meetings, etc. They had to change a few plans, with last-minute cancelations or family members who were ill. Overall we cant help but think it really helped us appreciate the celebration together even more with a new perspective, they say. This whole situation together has really made us enjoy this time in our lives where we can focus on everything were truly thankful for. Keeping organized To stay organized, they got a large binder to keep all their wedding contracts, emails and contacts. Binder separators kept each element separate. If marrying later in the day, consider a first look. The day goes so fast, and that gives you lots of photos, videos and memories as a couple. David says make it easier by surrounding yourself with easy-going people. They participated in a Pre-Cana retreat in Denver, giving them uninterrupted time to sit with each other and talk about their goals and dreams. The reception location in Vail offered a full-service coordinator to help with planning. That was incredibly helpful to pass off all vendor information and not have to stress about coordinating, Maggie said. She helped so much with planning. She was incredible. Etsy was also a great source for ideas. The trip said it all Their favorite gift was having both sides of their immediate families in Vail as well as so many of their friends make the trip. Davids four grandparents were all in attendance. Their maid of honor, Katie Williams Huerter, also attended Camp Foster with them. Maggie wrapped her wedding bouquet with pearls from her late grandmother that have been passed down. Maggies cousin Kay, who passed away from cancer two years ago, also wore them at her wedding. So these pearls are incredibly special, she said. Maggie also wore a wedding diamond from her other grandmother. Together at last During their planning, they would step back to remember the why. Navigating the planning process in such unprecedented times was stressful, but it constantly kept them in check about what the wedding day is truly about spending the rest of your life with your best friend. I specifically remember looking up at David and getting butterflies in my stomach, thinking to myself, Its David Convy. I cannot believe I am marrying my Camp Foster crush, Maggie said. David always says, the hard part of finding each other was over and now we get to spend forever together (even if he had to wait 15 years to finally kiss me). Omaha World-Herald: Wedding Essentials See the latest wedding trends, photo galleries and ideas to help inspire your big day. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Japan hold talks Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio discussed in depth the Vietnam-Japan bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern at their talks in Hanoi on May 1. Prime Ministers Pham Minh Chinh and Kishida Fumio in a joint photo ahead of their talks in Hanoi on May 1 (Photo: VNA) The two government leaders expressed their joy at the great strides in the Vietnam-Japan relationship and reached overall agreement on the major orientations as well as measures to deepen cooperation in all aspects, thus opening up a new development stage in the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries. They reached consensus on continuing to enhance political trust through maintaining high-level visits and contact and the effectiveness of cooperative and dialogue mechanisms. PM Chinh appreciated the visit of PM Kishida, which he said reflects the importance that the Japanese government attaches to the relations with Vietnam. He reiterated Vietnams consistent policy of considering Japan a leading important and reliable strategic partner. The Japanese PM re-affirmed that Japan treasures its relations with Vietnam and values Vietnams increasing role and position in the region and the world. He also affirmed that Japan will continue to work with and support Vietnam in socio-economic development, including in key infrastructure, receiving Vietnamese trainees and students, and assisting the Vietnamese community in Japan. The two leaders welcomed the outstanding progress in implementing outcomes of PM Chinhs official visit to Japan last November, with the completion of an update document on the progress of cooperation in eight aspects, namely health care (including COVID-19 prevention and control), investment-trade, ODA-infrastructure, people-to-people exchange, environment-climate change, judicial affairs, defence-security, and culture-education. According to the document, most agreements and projects reached during PM Chinhs visit to Japan are making good progress, such as the observation satellite, the metro line No1 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-Laos connectivity enhancement, the initiatives on digital transformation, technology renovation and supply chain promotion, support of COVID-19 prevention and control, defence-security, settlement of copyrights violation and resumption of commercial flights. They agreed to promote collaboration in post-pandemic economic recovery, including in trade, investment, agriculture, energy and the environment. The two countries will work to early reach and effectively implement a programme on new-generation ODA loans with flexible and preferential conditions along with streamlined procedures for strategic infrastructure building, transport infrastructure, digital transformation, response to climate change, health care. They will speed up procedures so that Japan can declare opening up its market for Vietnams longan in September this year while continuing to facilitate the export to Japan of Vietnamese pomelo, avocado and rambutan. The PMs also agreed to increase cooperation to help Vietnam participate deeper in regional and global supply chains, accelerate digital transformation and the building of digital government, digital economy and digital society, and realise its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. The two sides will push ahead with collaboration in security-defence, UN peacekeeping operation and war consequences settlement in Vietnam. The two PMs also vowed to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and tourism, and coordinate to organise activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the two countries diplomatic relations in 22023. Exchanging views on regional and international issues, they agreed to coordinate closely at international and regional forums such as ASEAN, Mekong and the UN, and in responding to global challenges like climate change and epidemics, as well as in implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Regarding the Ukraine issue, PM Chinh said Vietnam attaches special importance to the humanitarian issue and announced that Vietnam will provide 500,000 USD in aid to Ukraine through international humanitarian organisations. The decision was welcomed by PM Kishida. On the East Sea issue, the two government leaders underlined the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of aviation and maritime activities, and of settling disputes and differences by peaceful means, including full respect for diplomatic and legal processes, no use of force and no threat of the use of force, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They also pointed to the significance of the full, comprehensive and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early completion of an effective and substantial Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) that is legally binding and in accordance with international law. Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the exchange of 22 cooperation documents between ministries, agencies, localities and enterprises of the two countries. They jointly chaired a press conference on the main outcomes of their talks. PM Kishida is making an official visit to Hanoi from April 30 to May 1. WASHINGTON Rioters who smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, succeeded at least temporarily in delaying the certification of Joe Bidens election to the White House. Hours before, Rep. Jim Jordan had been trying to achieve the same thing. Advertisement Texting with then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, a close ally and friend, at nearly midnight on Jan. 5, Jordan offered a legal rationale for what President Donald Trump was publicly demanding that Vice President Mike Pence, in his ceremonial role presiding over the electoral count, somehow assert the authority to reject electors from Biden-won states. Pence should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all, Jordan wrote. Advertisement I have pushed for this, Meadows replied. Not sure it is going to happen. The text exchange, in an April 22 court filing from the congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6 riot, is in a batch of startling evidence that shows the deep involvement of some House Republicans in Trumps desperate attempt to stay in power. A review of the evidence finds new details about how, long before the attack on the Capitol unfolded, several GOP lawmakers were participating directly in Trumps campaign to reverse the results of a free and fair election. Its a connection that members of the House Jan. 6 committee are making explicit as they prepare to launch public hearings in June. The Republicans plotting with Trump and the rioters who attacked the Capitol were aligned in their goals, if not the mobs violent tactics, creating a convergence that nearly upended the nations peaceful transfer of power. Texting with then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, a close ally and friend, at nearly midnight on Jan. 5, 2021, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan offered a legal rationale for what President Donald Trump was publicly demanding that Vice President Mike Pence, in his ceremonial role presiding over the electoral count, somehow assert the authority to reject electors from Biden-won states. (John Raoux/AP) It appears that a significant number of House members and a few senators had more than just a passing role in what went on, Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, told The Associated Press last week. Since launching its investigation last summer, the Jan. 6 panel has been slowly gaining new details about what lawmakers said and did in the weeks before the insurrection. Members have asked three GOP lawmakers Jordan of Ohio, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California to testify voluntarily. All have refused. Other lawmakers could be called in the coming days. So far, the Jan. 6 committee has refrained from issuing subpoenas to lawmakers, fearing the repercussions of such an extraordinary step. But the lack of cooperation from lawmakers hasnt prevented the panel from obtaining new information about their actions. The latest court document, submitted in response to a lawsuit from Meadows, contained excerpts from just a handful of the more than 930 interviews the Jan. 6 panel has conducted. It includes information on several high-level meetings nearly a dozen House Republicans attended where Trumps allies flirted with ways to give him another term. Among the ideas: naming fake slates of electors in seven swing states, declaring martial law and seizing voting machines. Advertisement The efforts started in the weeks after The Associated Press declared Biden president-elect. In early December 2020, several lawmakers attended a meeting in the White House counsels office where attorneys for the president advised them that a plan to put up an alternate slate of electors declaring Trump the winner was not legally sound. One lawmaker, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, pushed back on that position. So did GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Louie Gohmert of Texas, according to testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former special assistant in the Trump White House. Despite the warning from the counsels office, Trumps allies moved forward. On Dec. 14, 2020, as rightly chosen Democratic electors in seven states Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin met at their seat of state government to cast their votes, the fake electors gathered as well. They declared themselves the rightful electors and submitted false Electoral College certificates declaring Trump the true winner of the presidential election in their states. Those certificates from the alternate electors were then sent to Congress, where they were ignored. The majority of the lawmakers have since denied their involvement in these efforts. Advertisement Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia testified in a hearing in April that she does not recall conversations she had with the White House or the texts she sent to Meadows about Trump invoking martial law. Gohmert told AP he also does not recall being involved and that he is not sure he could be helpful to the committees investigation. Rep. Jody Hice of Georgia played down his actions, saying it is routine for members of the presidents party to be going in and out of the White House to speak about a number of topics. Hice is now running for secretary of state in Georgia, a position responsible for the states elections. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona didnt deny his public efforts to challenge the election results but called recent reports about his deep involvement untrue. In a statement Saturday, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona reiterated his serious concerns about the 2020 election. Discussions about the Electoral Count Act were appropriate, necessary and warranted, he added. Requests for comment from the other lawmakers were not immediately returned. Less than a week later after the early December meeting at the White House, another plan emerged. In a meeting with House Freedom Caucus members and Trump White House officials, the discussion turned to the decisive action they believed that Pence could take on Jan. 6. Advertisement Those in attendance virtually and in-person, according to committee testimony, were Hice, Biggs, Gosar, Reps. Perry, Gaetz, Jordan, Gohmert, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, and Greene, then a congresswoman-elect. What was the conversation like? the committee asked Hutchinson, who was a frequent presence in the meetings that took place in December 2020 and January 2021. They felt that he had the authority to, pardon me if my phrasing isnt correct on this, but send votes back to the States or the electors back to the states, Hutchinson said, referring to Pence. When asked if any of the lawmakers disagreed with the idea that the vice president had such authority, Hutchinson said there was no objection from any of the Republican lawmakers. In another meeting about Pences potential role, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis were joined again by Perry and Jordan as well as Greene and Lauren Boebert, a Republican who had also just been elected to the House from Colorado. Communication between lawmakers and the White House didnt let up as Jan. 6 drew closer. The day after Christmas, Perry texted Meadows with a countdown. Advertisement 11 days to 1/6 and 25 days to inauguration, the text read. We gotta get going! Perry urged Meadows to call Jeffrey Clark, an assistant attorney general who championed Trumps efforts to challenge the election results. Perry has acknowledged introducing Clark to Trump. Clark clashed with Justice Department superiors over his plan to send a letter to Georgia and other battleground states questioning the election results and urging their state legislatures to investigate. It all culminated in a dramatic White House meeting at which Trump considered elevating Clark to attorney general, only to back down after top Justice Department officials made clear they would resign. Pressure from lawmakers and the White House on the Justice Department is among several areas of inquiry in the Jan. 6 investigation. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the panel from Maryland, has hinted there are more revelations to come. As the mob smashed our windows, bloodied our police and stormed the Capitol, Trump and his accomplices plotted to destroy Bidens majority in the electoral college and overthrow our constitutional order, Raskin tweeted last week. When the results of the panels investigation come out, Raskin predicted, America will see how the coup and insurrection converged. Last August, we watched Afghans running alongside planes in a desperate attempt to escape the Taliban. Since February, weve seen Ukrainian refugees flee by train, bus and foot to escape the advancing Russian army. Forty-seven years ago, my mother was just like them: She was 18, running frantically through an airfield alongside her parents and siblings, desperate to escape Saigon. After traveling many days by boat to the Philippines and nearly starving the family was eventually flown to Guam and then the U.S. They resettled in Lafayette, Indiana, where White Americans at a Baptist church sponsored them. Volunteers provided furniture, helped them set up their home, taught them how to navigate American life and, eventually, became their closest friends. It was in this fertile soil of love and hospitality that my mothers Christian faith sprouted and her new life began. This kind of community support can be the difference between whether a refugee family struggles or thrives in America. And the need for it is more urgent than ever. America has a proud tradition of welcoming refugees, but our resettlement infrastructure was largely dismantled under the last administration. The arrival of 65,000 new Afghan refugees and likely more from Ukraine is straining the system. We desperately need funding, programming and volunteers to help families whove been forced to restart their lives from scratch. Its why Im calling on my fellow citizens and people of faith to step forward and help. Many of the Afghans moving into our neighborhoods served alongside the U.S. military and protected our men and women in uniform. I wanted to help them, as theyd helped us. So in November 2021, I volunteered with Refugee Empowerment Center to help resettle Afghans here in Omaha. I was paired with two young families married couples in their early 20s. The men are cousins who worked as security guards for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Their wives had just finished high school and were hoping to start a family. They told me that they had to leave Kabul, because they feared retaliation from the Taliban. Since I first met them last November, Ive visited them every few weeks at the one-bedroom apartment they share in North Omaha. Every time I see them, the simple things have made my heart swell: how they first wrapped themselves in blankets against the cold and, later, how their eyes lit up in Target when they saw the bounty of puffy jackets and winter boots. In these moments, I often think of Gods faithfulness and provision for my own family when they found sanctuary in America. I still remember the lunch when I introduced my husband and four children to the two young Afghan couples. They were sweet, asking my kids questions and regaling us with stories in their limited English. We laughed our way through the language barrier, which helped my children see how deeply knit humanity really is, despite the customs the cultures that separate us. These couples are so young and when I look in their eyes, I sometimes see glimpses of my mother. She was a few years younger than them when she landed on U.S. soil, scared and so uncertain about her future. She didnt know that a few volunteers from the local church would change her life. Or that shed go on to meet my dad, who fled communist China and would become a doctor for the U.S. Army. She certainly didnt know that she would raise five happy, healthy American children who were also guided by their faith. I hope the same for my Afghan friends and for the tens of thousands of refugees who are making their way here today. Our welcoming support can make these American dreams come true. So please join me in this work. Bring your families, your faith communities and your neighbors. We can make a difference together. Jennifer Liu is a family physician at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. As grocery shoppers know, beef has been getting more expensive these days up $1.34 per pound over the past four years. But what you might not realize unless you read an article last week by The World-Heralds Henry J. Cordes is that only a tiny fraction of that increase has gone to farmers and ranchers. Producers received less than 2 cents of that $1.34 rise in beef prices since 2017. Instead, retailers got about 32 cents and meatpackers got the lions share of the increase: $1 or nearly three-fourths. Cattle producers in Nebraska and elsewhere contend that whats happened to prices in recent years shows a fundamental problem: an overly concentrated meatpacking industry where the biggest companies have too much market power, hurting both producers and consumers. Some 85% of the more than 30 million head of cattle raised for slaughter each year in the United States are processed by just four leading meatpackers. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and a bipartisan group of other senators are pushing her bill that would require beef packers to buy more of their cattle in open, competitive markets. The Senates agriculture committee held a hearing on the bill last week. As Cordes wrote, packers argue there is nothing inherently wrong with cattle markets, attributing the price changes to natural supply and demand forces and market disruptions like the pandemic. And in fairness, producers did see an increase in cattle prices last year after three years of declines. But Fischer said the overall trend is a problem, with meatpacking consolidation making it hard for markets to operate properly. Lawmakers have been talking about this long before COVID-19, she said. You cant blame the pandemic for everything, she said. Its a result of 85% of meat going to four packers. Its the result of continued consolidation. And with those dominant packers often buying cattle from individual producers through private transactions, that prevents the cattle market from being open, competitive and fair. Fischers Cattle Market Transparency Act would require more public disclosure of what packers are paying for their cattle and also require the packers to buy more cattle through competitive cash markets. Her legislation strikes us as a reasonable approach to ensure that the cattle market will operate fairly. As we said in October: Its in the interest not only of cattle producers but of the general public itself that the market operate fairly, transparently and efficiently. Otherwise, the market can be subject to distortion and possible manipulation, harming producers and consumers alike. Its a good sign that Congress is taking a careful look at the issue. Fischer says she is pleased with the apparent momentum behind her bill, which now has a total of 19 co-sponsors in the Senate, including nine Republicans and 10 Democrats. Cattle producers shrinking share of the beef dollar compared to packers was the subject of a series of stories in The World-Herald last year. Fischer highlighted those stories at last weeks hearing, and emphasized how important the issue is to Nebraska. It is the economic engine of my state, she said, noting that the livestock industry contributes $13.8 billion to Nebraskas economy annually. Its important for Nebraska to have that sector of the economy succeed, and that wont happen if meatpackers are always in the drivers seat. Producers face a take it or leave it market, Fischer said. That is the reality. Bloomington-Normal Galleries, museums Some cultural institutions are open or making plans to reopen under current COVID restrictions. Check with each facility for indoor, online or outdoor programing. Open facilities have face covering, distancing and other guidelines in effect; see websites or call for details. Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio; 101 W. Monroe St. Suite 201, Bloomington; Open First Fridays 5-8 p.m. and by appointment; 309-825-4655; angelambrose.com. David Davis Mansion; 1000 Monroe Drive, Bloomington; open for tours, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; groups of 10 or less; $10 per person; $100 minimum; daviddavismansion.org; 309-828-1084. Eaton Studio Gallery; 411 N. Center St., Bloomington; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays; 5-8 p.m. First Fridays, or by appointment or ring bell; eatonstudiogallery.com; 309-828-1575. Illinois Art Station; 101 E. Vernon Ave., Normal; Gallery open Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; illinoisartstation.org; 309-386-1019. Inside Out: Accessible Art Gallery & Cooperative; 200 W. Monroe St., Bloomington; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; by appointment Sunday-Tuesday; and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. First Friday; insideoutartcoop.org; 309-838-2160. Jan Brandt Gallery; Normandy Village, 1100 Beach St., Building 8, Normal; by appointment; janbrandtgallery.com; 309-287-4700. Joann Goetzinger Studio and Gallery; 313 N. Main St. Suite A, Bloomington; open first Fridays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m., also by appointment; masks and social distancing required; 309-826-1193. Main Gallery; 404 N. Main St., Bloomington; 12-5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays; By chance or appointment at 309-590-6779. McLean County Arts Center; 601 N. East St., Bloomington; open; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, 12-4 p.m. Saturday; masks and social distancing required; mcac.org; 309-829-0011. McLean County Museum of History; 200 N. Main St., Bloomington; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; closed Sundays, until further notice; reservations at education@mchistory.org or 309-827-0428; mchistory.org; 309-827-0428. Merwin and Wakeley Galleries; Illinois Wesleyan University; Bloomington; open; 12-4 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7-9 p.m., Tuesday evening; 1-4 p.m., Saturday through Sunday; iwu.edu/art/galleries; 309-556-3391. Prairie Aviation Museum; 2929 E. Empire St., Bloomington; opens April 2; hours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; prairieaviationmuseum.org; 309-663-7632. University Galleries of Illinois State University, Normal; open; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday; 309-438-5487; galleries.illinoisstate.edu/about/visit/. Central Illinois Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; advance reservation required; adults $15, seniors $12, under 5 free; presidentlincoln.illinois.gov; 217-558-8844. Art Center at Greater Livingston County Arts Council; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday; 209 W. Madison St., Pontiac; pcartcenter.com; 815-419-2472. Contemporary Art Center of Peoria; Riverfront Arts Center, 305 S.W. Water St., Peoria; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; peoriacac.org; 309-674-6822. Dickson Mounds Museum; 10956 N. Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown; open, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; free; illinoisstatemuseum.org; 309-547-3721. Illinois State Museum; 502 S. Spring St., Springfield; open, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Monday-Friday, free; illinoisstatemuseum.org; 217-782-7386. Lincoln Heritage Museum; Lincoln Center at Lincoln College, 300 Keokuk St., Lincoln; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sundays, Mondays and on Lincoln College breaks; $4-7; museum.lincolncollege.edu; 217-735-7399. Peoria Art Guild; 203 Harrison St., Peoria; open; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday or by appointment; peoriaartguild.org; 309-637-2787. Peoria Riverfront Museum; downtown riverfront Peoria; open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday and Friday; 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday; adults $11, seniors, students $10, ages 3-17 $9; peoriariverfrontmuseum.org; 309-686-7000. Simpkins Military History Museum; 605 E. Cole St., Heyworth; Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m.; Free admission (donations accepted); Private tours, call first; 309-319-3413; Open House, 1-5 p.m., March 19, marking 63 years of collecting military items. Time Gallery; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday; Closed Sunday; Clock Tower Place Building, 201 Clock Tower Drive, East Peoria; 309-467-2331. U of I Krannert Art Museum; 500 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign; open; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Thursdays until 8 p.m. when classes are in session; closed Sunday and Monday; kam.illinois.edu; 217-333-1861. Exhibits "Community: African American Experience During Migration"; through Spring 2022; Owens Gallery; "American Verses: Terry Adkins, Mark Bradford & Kerry James Marshall"; through Spring 2022; Owens Gallery Annex; "Cinderella, Snow White & Pinocchio"; Classic Disney Art from the Collection of Steve Spain; Oberhelman Gallery; through May 8; "OP Art: Illusions from the Permanent Collection"; Experience Gallery, through May 8; "Moon"; Experience Gallery, through May 8; "Uncovered: The Ken Burns Collection"; Galleries 1 & 2; through June 5; Peoria Riverfront Museum. "Sacred/Supernatural: Religion, Myth and Magic in European Prints, 1450-1900"; through May 15; "To Know The Fire: Pueblo Women Potters and The Shaping of History"; through Sept. 3; "Latina Community 'Voces'"; through July 9; U of I Krannert Art Museum. "Marlene Gregor"; Armstrong Gallery; through May 13; McLean County Arts Center. "2022 Honoring the Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans"; through Nov. 12; Simpkins Military History Museum. "Edgewise"; second floor gallery; through Sept. 3; Illinois State Museum. "Student Annual"; through May 8; University Galleries. "High Energy/Soothing"; LAI Group Exhibit; through May 6; Lincoln Arts Institute. "Shahrbanoo Hamzeh"; Brandt Gallery; through May 27; McLean County Arts Center. "Mike Baur and John Boylan"; through June 17; Gallery 3R; "Jill King: New Horizons"; through June 17; Preston Jackson Gallery; Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. Australia: I'd like to visit Australia because I want to see kangaroos and see them kick. I'd also like to see koala. It is really going to be easy to see them because they are always found in the trees. Sivansh Parasa Grade 1, Benjamin Africa: There are a lot of places that Id like to go. I would like to go to Africa because I want to see elephants. I would also like to go there to try new food. I would like to go there to see new stuff that they make. Henry Modine Grade 2, Benjamin Cairo, Egypt: I'd like to go to the capital of Egypt, Cairo. My first reason is that it contains a really amazing wonder of the world (WOW) called the Pyramids of Giza. They consist of three humongous pyramids. The second reason is that there is a really big river called the Nile River. It is the longest river in Africa and the second longest river in the world. Nagpavan Parasa Grade 4, Benjamin A water park: I would like to go to the water park because I want to see my grandma swim and I also want to learn how to swim. My sister has gone to the water park before. She said it was fun, so I wanted to try! Daniela Guerra Cruz Grade 3, Bent Go to the beach: I like the beach. It is fun to lie in a hammock and build a sandcastle. It is fun to go to the beach. Krimzyn Hilgenbrinck Grade 1, Epiphany All around the world: I want to go to Arizona, Florida and Mexico. I want to see places. I want to see all the places in the whole entire world. Bellah Davis Grade 2, Glenn Many places: Id like to visit Hawaii, Florida, California, Disney, Disney World, Italy, Colorado, Russia and Spain. Why I want to travel so much is because I like to see other places in the world. Hazel Overberg Grade 1, Grove Venice, Italy: Id like to visit Venice, Italy. There are water roads. They use boats. I also want to see the glass blowing. I wonder if they use special glass. Case Dohman Grade 2, Jefferson Park A friend's house: I would like to visit Camela's house. She lives in Bloomington. If I visit Camela, we will play and go swimming in her pool. Ismael Abreu Arias Grade 3, Northpoint Chicago: I would like to visit Chicago. I would ride a bus to different car shows. Chicago has big buildings. Sai Itte Grade 4, Northpoint The zoo: I would love to visit the zoo. I want to see all of the animals. My mom wants to go with me. Haleigh Beard Grade 5, Northpoint The woods: Id like to visit the woods. My friends and I love to visit the woods. List of things you might need: food, binoculars and a walkie-talkie. You can birdwatch, explore, play or you can go for a nature walk. There is a lot of stuff to do in the woods. Kamber Scharfenberg Grade 2, Parkside New York City and Australia: I like to go places! I want to go to New York City. I will see the Statue of Liberty. I also want to visit Australia. I want to see kangaroos! Annabelle McClure Grade 1, Prairieland The Bahamas: I want to go to the Bahamas because it has a certain water park, Atlantis! It has a shark tunnel. It also has a wave pool. Atlantis is huge and has huge water slides. And in conclusion the Bahamas seems like a really fun place to go. Connor Cox Grade 3, Prairieland Paris: I would love to visit Paris because I really want to see the Eiffel Tower. I would also love to visit Italy. Italy seems such like a pretty place. I really want to go see the beach in Mexico. The last place I would like to visit is Alaska; I dont know why but I just want to. Xitali Bucio Hernandez Grade 5, St. Mary's England: Id like to visit England because I researched it. It looked really fun and Id like to try the food there. I think it would be really fun to learn more about the animals that live there. Jazlyn Darnall Grade 3, Sheridan Canada: I want to go to Canada. I also want to go to Harry Potter World. Hudson Morefield Grade 1, Sugar Creek Disney Land: I would like to visit Disneyland because it is the happiest place for everyone. There is a big castle, parks, theme parks where parents and children can have fun together. There are famous Disney characters with fun rides and roller coasters. There are resorts to stay the night. It is a tourist attraction. A lot of people visit Disneyland in the summer. Kaj Lal Grade 2, Benjamin The beach: I like to go the beach. I get to play in the sand. I get ice cream. I get to swim in the water. I love my grandmas apartment the most. Stavroula Delis Grade 1, Epiphany My teacher's house: If I could go anywhere, I would choose Mrs. C's house. She has an Xbox with games. Mrs. C has farming equipment and she can show me all of the special tools. LT Howard Grade 4, Northpoint The Children's Discovery Museum: I want to visit the Children's Museum. I would dress up and play pretend house. My mommy, daddy, papa and nana would join me. Anna Coffman Grade 5, Northpoint Disney World: I want to visit Disney World. Disney World has so many games and rides. I love the concession stands, mostly the candy. I really want to go to the castle. I want to get lots of prizes. I also want to go shopping to buy toys and clothes. Emae VanCalbergh Grade 2, Parkside Ireland, Disney and the beach: I would like to visit many places. I love Ireland because you can learn Irish dances. I love Disney World because you get to meet Dumbo. I love the beach because I get to play in the sand, make sandcastles and see the sharks. I cant wait to see these places. Ellie Brienen Grade 1, Prairieland Japan: I want to go to Japan because I want to see the Sakura trees. Then I want to go to France and England to see the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben. Finally I want to visit India to see the Taj Mahal. These are the places I want to see. Alex Mosher Grade 3, Prairieland Mexico: I would like to go to Mexico because in most places it looks really nice. Ive only been to three places in Mexico. I would like to explore more cities and stuff. Gio Magallanes Grade 5, St. Mary's Likes to travel: I like to travel. My favorite place I have been to so far is Wisconsin. I love the root beer. I like to go to the ice rink too. I love to go places. Laylah Morales Grade 3, Sheridan See Mickey Mouse: I would like to go to Disney. I would want to see Mickey Mouse. Harper Pettit Grade 1, Sugar Creek California: First, I would like to visit California so I could visit the Golden Gate Bridge. Next, I want to visit Gradys Family Fun Park because there are boats there. Last, I would like to visit India again because my family lives there. Abhiraj Pathak Grade 2, Benjamin The ocean: I want to go to the ocean. I want to play hide-and-seek in coral. The ocean is cool. Do you like the ocean? I do! Lev Jaster Grade 1, Epiphany South America: I would like to visit South America. I would to explore South America. South America has different animals that some North America does not. South America is so cool. I want to visit it. Lainey Swanson Grade 2, Jefferson Park Washington, D.C.: Id like to visit Washington, D.C. It has the Martin Luther King Jr. monument. Kind did a speech and he helped Black people. He worked for equality for all people. Khaydon Hall Grade 2, Parkside Wisconsin Dells: Have you ever visited Wisconsin Dells? They have a water park! They have a kids water park and a big kid water park. They have an arcade. There is laser tag! Finn Ritchart Grade 1, Prairieland Hershey, Pa.: I would like to visit Hershey, Pennsylvania, because I love the Hershey bars! I would love to see Milton Hersheys town. I would love to get an awesome souvenir from there. It would be so amazing to go there someday. Maddie Hamelau Grade 3, Prairieland Germany: I would like to visit Germany because I have family that lives there. I would really like to see them. It is also a cool place to visit in general, the animals that live there are pretty cool. I would love to have food from there. It is really good. Sophia-Phillips-Ohmart Grade 5, St. Mary's New York: I would go to New York. Its a big place. I like hot dogs and the trees and open air, good food and fun places. Aliciah May Grade 3, Sheridan The ocean, Disney and a roller coaster: I want to go to the beach. I want to go or Disney World. I want to go in the ocean. I want to go on a kids roller coaster. Zoey Birchler Grade 1, Sugar Creek BLOOMINGTON Graduating Illinois Wesleyan University students turned their cap tassels and a new page in life at Sunday afternoons commencement ceremony. Although they left campus in that moment for greater opportunities, theyll be carrying with them a lifetime of memories made with friends and faculty found on the Bloomington campus. Just ask Carlo Chavez Linarez. Hes a Peruvian who said he got his political science degree at Wesleyan with the help of his goofy friends. We will always try to help each other, especially because we were taking astronomy and I hate science, he told The Pantagraph. I went with five of my friends we didnt know physics at all but we were just helping each other, trying to see how to save each other, and we were able to pass the course. Chavez Linarez said he will always remember how they helped one another. His proud mother, father and other extended family members traveled from Peru to celebrate his honors Sunday. As for Janiyah Williams, she said commencement day felt surreal to her. I spent a lot of long nights at State Farm (Hall), the philosophy major said. And they sure paid off. Williams said shes graduating with magna cum laude honors, with plans to go into law. This is going to be one of the most memorable days of my whole life, she said. I'm proud to be here. I'm just honored to have my family here, which is going to always be something Ill look back on. Her mother, Cetrina, was so proud, she began to tear up before the ceremony began. It was just a journey that Ill never forget and seeing her (here) is amazing, the mom said. There were some graduates who returned to walk the stage after completing their degree in December. One was Sarah Ziwiski, who majored in finance with a minor in math. She said shell most fondly think of the connections she made her junior and senior year. I had amazing roommates that made my junior (year) and senior half-year, Ziwiski said, adding her adviser, Robert Irons, was phenomenal. Maria Poehls, who locked in her degree in marketing, said she stayed at home for a semester during COVID, and will always cherish coming back to senior year and seeing other people again. All the people I've met along the way have their own special parts of my heart, she said. She added she was feeling every single emotion that day before the ceremonies. Its the perfect balance of happy, sad and nervous all at the same time, Poehls said. Matthew Fritsch left IWU on Sunday with a degree in physics. The Tinley Park man said graduating is a big enough accomplishment for me, but added hes very glad he made new friends at school, too. That was something he has struggled with, Fritsch said, but thats exactly why I chose Illinois Wesleyan, because its a small school. Excellent opportunity. Fritsch added hell remember playing string bass for the jazz ensemble, and the euphonium for another ensemble. His father, Jerry, was present for the ceremony, and noted how it was tough for his son to go away for school. You did a great job and Im really proud, he told his son. Presidential comments In giving her welcoming remarks at commencement, IWU President S. Georgia Nugent noted how graduates and faculty amazingly adjusted to the new reality that formed during the pandemic. She then called on her own studies of stoic philosophy, drawing parallels from ancient Rome to the experiences of COVID. Nugent said the stoics had a very simple tenet: There are things that are within your control, and there are things that are outside your control. And, there is no point in devoting your time and your thoughts to those things outside your control. She later said: The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NORMAL The mother of an Illinois State University alumnus who was killed while driving for Lyft in Champaign-Urbana is trying to start an endowed scholarship in his honor. Kristian KP Philpotts, who was 29, was shot in January. He had graduated from ISU in 2016 as a pre-veterinary student and from Eastern Illinois University with a pre-vet masters degree. He had planned to attend vet school at the University of Illinois, his mother, Marla Rice, said. Rice hopes to establish memorials to Philpotts at all three schools, possibly including trees, benches or pavers, she said. One of the largest ways she hopes to ensure a lasting legacy is through an endowed scholarship at ISU. He was so close to becoming a veterinarian, and I wanted to help others, because he loved to help others, Rice said. She has set up a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $25,000 to establish the scholarship. So far she has raised more than $12,500, helped along by an anonymous $10,000 donation, the GoFundMe page shows. The GoFundMe is titled The Dr. Kristian 'KP' Philpotts Scholarship. Rice started the fundraiser about two weeks ago. The $25,000 amount is the minimum ISU uses to created endowed scholarships, said Toni Burningham, director of development for the College of Applied Science and Technology. She has been working with Rice on establishing the scholarship. A $25,000 endowment would be able to set up a scholarship of around $850 a year to start and would grow from there, Burningham said. The endowment also stays open for future donations toward the principal. "(It) is a wonderful way to give back; his memory will always be here," Burningham said. "It's an open fund, so anybody can give to it at any time." Rice hopes to raise the money by this summer. It is something on my shoulders until this is done, she said. ISU spokesman Eric Jome said Philpotts' death was a tragedy and that university staff have been in contact with Rice and are looking to support her efforts. Burningham said in working with Rice, it has become clear how important the scholarship is to her and would have been to Philpotts. Getting his bachelor's degree at ISU was a transformational time for Philpotts, Rice said. "ISU was the beginning of a lot of different experiences for him," she said. Philpotts had a life-long love of animals, she said. While at ISU, he had a chance to take classes and work on the university farm. At EIU he would "rent" animals from pet stores and set up miniature petting zoos for preschool students. He also participated in an annual toy drive for pre-K students. Along with animals, Philpotts was also dedicated to his fraternity, Iota Phi Theta Inc., Rice said. He restarted the chapter at EIU, which had been dormant for 27 years. The ISU scholarship would go toward a student in a field connected to animals, with a preference for students in the pre-vet program, Rice said. If no one from the program applies, it could go to another field in the agriculture studies department. Just as long as theyre dealing with caring for animals in some kind of way, Rice said. Two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old have been charged in Philpotts death, in an apparent attempted robbery, The News-Gazette reported in March. Rice is frustrated with Lyfts safety features, saying the company should do more to prevent these sorts of dangers to their drivers. This incident is heartbreaking, and families should never have to experience such a traumatic event, Lyft said in a statement to The Pantagraph. We care deeply about the safety of our drivers and are always looking for more ways to protect them from crime. We've built safety into the Lyft experience from the beginning, and we will keep investing in technology, policies and partnerships to make our platform as safe as it can possibly be. Existing Lyft safety features include real-time tracking, which includes reaching out to drivers and passengers if the vehicle goes off-route or is stopped for an abnormal amount of time. Rice says Lyft did try to contact her son, but he had already been shot and could not respond. (His death) is something I feel could have been avoided, she said. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter:@connorkwood Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MINNEAPOLIS President Joe Biden saluted his friend of five decades Walter Mondale on Sunday, traveling to the University of Minnesota to remember the former vice president and Democratic Party elder whose memorial service was delayed for a year due to the pandemic. Mondale died in April 2021 at age 93. He is credited with transforming the office of the vice presidency which Biden himself held for eight years under President Barack Obama expanding its responsibilities and making himself a key adviser to President Jimmy Carter. Advertisement Mondale was a giant in American political history, Biden said of Mondale, known to friends as Fritz. He added that Mondale was one of the toughest, smartest men Ive ever worked with both as Senate colleagues and as a mentor when Biden was Obamas No. 2 and then later as president. Biden emphasized Mondales empathy, recalling his own promise during the 2020 presidential campaign to unite the country. Thats something the president has strayed from a bit in recent weeks, as he seeks to draw a starker contrast between his administration and congressional Republicans who have opposed it on nearly every major issue. Advertisement It was Fritz who lit the way. Biden said. Everybody is to be treated with dignity. Everybody. Biden added of Mondale: He united people sharing the light, the same hopes even when we disagreed, he thought that was important. Its up to each of us to reflect that light that Fritz was all about. Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale and his running mate, Geraldine Ferraro, wave as they leave an afternoon rally in Portland, Ore., Sept. 5, 1984. Mondale, a liberal icon who lost the most lopsided presidential election after bluntly telling voters to expect a tax increase if he won, died April 19, 2021. He was 93. (Jack Smith/AP) The invitation-only, 90-minute service Sunday inside a stately campus auditorium featured plentiful organ music. Biden, who received a standing ovation, said he spoke with Mondales family beforehand and got emotional himself. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith called Mondale a bona fide political celebrity who still dedicated time to races large and small back in their home state. Minnesota civil rights icon Josie Johnson spoke of what a good listener Mondale was and how he championed inclusiveness. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar described once being an intern who climbed under chairs and a table to carry out a furniture inventory when Mondale was vice president. That was my first job in Washington. And, thanks to Walter Mondale, this was my second, Klobuchar said of being a senator, noting that Mondale encouraged her to run and taught the pundits in Washington how to say my name. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota may be better known as Mondales home state than its moniker The Land of 10,000 Lakes, and praised Mondales intellect, humility, humor and optimism. Advertisement He embodied a sense of joy. He lived his life every single day, Walz said. At 91, he was still fishing for walleye. Unlike me, he was catching some. A booklet given to attendees for the afternoon of remembrance and reflection quoted from Mondales 2010 book, The Good Fight: I believe that the values of the American people our fundamental decency, our sense of justice and fairness, our love of freedom are the countrys greatest assets, and that steering by their lodestar is the only true course forward. Its back cover showed Mondales face next to the slogan, We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace, which Klobuchar described as being memorialized after the then-vice president said them at the end of the Carter administration. Mondale was a graduate of the University of Minnesota and its law school, which has a building named after him. During Sundays remembrance, Biden wiped his eyes as a performance of Tomorrow from the musical Annie played, and the service closed with the universitys marching band, which sent people away with the Minnesota Rouser fight song. Mondale followed a trail blazed by his political mentor, Hubert H. Humphrey, serving as Minnesota attorney general before replacing Humphrey in the Senate. He was Carters vice president from 1977 to 1981. Mondale also lost one of the most lopsided presidential elections ever, to Ronald Reagan in 1984. He carried only Minnesota and the District of Columbia after bluntly telling voters to expect a tax increase if he won. But he made history in that race by picking Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, of New York, as his running mate, becoming the first major-party nominee to put a woman on the ticket. Advertisement Mondale remained an important Democratic voice for decades afterward, and went on to serve as ambassador to Japan under President Bill Clinton. In 2002, at 74, he was drafted to run for the Senate again after Sen. Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash shortly before the election. Mondale lost the abbreviated race to Republican Norm Coleman. BLOOMINGTON For communities of color, its never too late or too early to start learning about water safety. Around 75 children signed up for the Jack and Jill Swims Water Safety event hosted Saturday afternoon at the Bloomington-Normal YMCA. Over 100 people total were in attendance, including family members and friends. Lashonna Harden, co-chair of the Bloomington-Normal Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, said they take pride in raising awareness of issues that affect the Black community. She explained that their Water Safety Initiative started after a 5-year-old Georgia boy fatally drowned in 2017, and that shook our organization. JJ chapter co-chair Roxanne Stewart added they looked at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Harden said those national statistics showed that Black youths ages 11-19 are over five times more likely to drown than white adolescents. Saturday's program arrived days after 19-year-old Dariyon Phelps, of Bloomington, died in an apparent drowning incident Sunday at White Oak Park. The co-chair said they started planning the event in 2019, and made it virtual last year. Addressing event attendees, Stewart said Phelps did not know how to swim, and his family reached to her to share his story and help others. Michael Cobarrubias, aquatics director for the local YMCA, said in a press release that drownings are the leading cause of unintentional deaths for children ages 14 and under. He added that the YMCA begins with water safety lessons before teaching swimming maneuvers. Those included never swimming alone, to throw something and dont go to someone struggling in the water, and how to wear a personal flotation device. Swimming instructors also taught kids to make a habit of asking parents before they jump in the water, as well as other ways to get in and out of the water safely. While singing the Humpty-Dumpty nursery rhyme, instructors went around one by one to pick up and splash kids in the water. While children of color were encouraged to attend, kids of all backgrounds were welcomed. Cobarrubias said the YMCA does not turn away families facing financial hardships. Games were offered at the event, like jumbo Connect 4, Jenga blocks, jump ropes, bean bags, hula hoops and more. Antoinette Harris, of Bloomington, brought her three kids to the event: Reese, 8, Ryleigh, 5, and Rebert, 11, who served as a junior life guard after attending the virtual event last year. The mother said its important they learn how to swim, adding that shes currently taking adult lessons. Growing up, Harris said she sat on the sidelines while the rest of her family had fun. Normals Michael Johnson brought his 10-year-old son. The father said it was a great community event, adding one intent of Jack and Jill is to show children they can have fun while learning. Nathan Brooks, 8, enjoyed a Jenga game. His mother, Cartina Brooks, of Bloomington, said its nice they had fun things for the kids, which helps provide structure and keeps them on the right track. Up to 100 kids were offered one month of Swim School at the YMCA for $10, as well as member rates on their second and third months. Plus, there was a raffle for three months of free swimming lessons and haircare products. Cobarrubias said the YMCA has revolutionized how swimming is now taught. He said they have free make-up days, and kids progress to the level of lesson once they make their three goals. That means they dont have to wait for a future planned sessions, and it offers families flexibility. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Today is May 1, known by many communities around the world as May Day, International Workers Day, or Labor Day, and is a national holiday in many countries. International Workers Day in the United States has roots in the May 1, 1886, general strike for the eight-hour workday, which culminated in the Haymarket massacre on May 4, 1886, in Chicago. Today seems as a good a day as any to spend some time digging through one local publication whose focus was the working-class struggle and activism: the Post Amerikan. The Post Amerikan, published from 1972-2004 right here in Bloomington-Normal, was the longest continuous publication of an underground newspaper in the United States. Though the paper claimed it was not published in accordance with a well-developed political theory, the paper tended to have a leftist and feminist perspective and did not allow any content they deemed racist or sexist. Content included a variety of topics such as incidents with local police, the LGBTQ community, local rallies and protests, perspectives on national and international current events, local politics and more. The publication was run collectively. Each issue listed upcoming meetings, encouraging people to not only read the paper but also to participate. To be a member of the staff, all you had to do was attend a meeting and do one of the many tasks necessary for the smooth operation of a paper like this, with the editors adding, Anyone can be a member of the Post staff except maybe Sheriff King. (McLean County Sheriff John King was accused of beating prisoners, particularly African Americans, at the McLean County jail in the early 1970s). No one on the staff was paid except for the one brilliant, dynamic, underpaid coordinator. That responsibility was shared, rotated among the staff. Decisions were made collectively by staff at meetings, and there was no hierarchy or editor. Each voice was equal. Early Post staff were mostly affiliated with Illinois State University, and the publication started in one of the staffers basements. In December 1973, their office was located at 114 North St. in Normal. Other offices included 108 E. Beaufort St. in Normal and the basement at 616 W. Monroe St. in Bloomington. The Post was funded by subscriptions, ad sales and community fundraisers. In 1972, the publication was distributed to 44 businesses in town and two out-of-town locations. Places listed include the U.S. Post Office at Center and Monroe streets in downtown Bloomington, Kmart in Bloomington, Eisners grocery store in Normal and the Alamo II near the ISU campus. In the 1980s it had a circulation of 3,000 papers. Every issue included a list of Good Numbers, which were phone numbers to local social service agencies, community centers, and LGTBQ resources. A wealth of social justice initiatives are documented in the volumes of the Post Amerikan, and luckily, the McLean County Museum of History holds an almost complete paper run. (We are missing some issues from the early 1990s, and the February/March issue from 2000 if you have these, please reach out!) In fact, because we have such a complete collection, we were approached in 2019 by Gary Fritz from Eastern Illinois University to digitize each issue and provide access to them online. You can search general topics in each issue in the database, and when you download an issue as a PDF you can keyword search inside of it to find people or places that interest you. For example, if you look at issues from the 1970s, you will find many articles about local police departments and officers. Post staffers had a campaign to expose undercover agents who were a part of the Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group (MEG). Post staff were morally opposed to the undercover agent tactics, stating, MEG agents take advantage of our trust in each other They gain our trust and betray us MEG physically breaks up our community, taking our people off the streets and locking them up in cages If we have a problem with abuse of dangerous substances, then the way to deal with it is through community, not through isolation. They also reported on instances of racism and sexism. One column in 1985 detailed the experiences of two workers in an unnamed local west-side Bloomington bar/restaurant. They claimed that employees once they were trusted were told to card all Black people and use an authoritarian tone to discourage groups of Black people from coming into the bar. If Black people did come in, they would likely wait a long time for service because bartenders were instructed to serve all the white people first. Women were also discriminated against, though not so overtly. Women were expected to be proper and ladylike in dress and behavior for good service. Post Amerikan writers also had a sense of humor. Take, for instance, an article called May Day is J-Day, where a tongue-in-cheek case is made to change cannabis laws by getting public officials to smoke cannabis. Everybody: send at least one joint to some public official along with instructions on how to smoke it They recommended not signing your name on the letter, unless youve got some kind of martyr complex. On a more serious note, that issue also included a column about the Posts stance on cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, opium, drug addiction and law enforcement. The Post was on the verge of ending production many times over the years, but it finally happened in 2004, when the last two staff members decided it was time to close up shop for good. As noted in a 2004 Pantagraph article titled "Passing of the Post," The Post didnt die this spring because it was out of money. It was always out of money No, the Post Amerikan folded because it lacked people to produce it. The entire digitized Post Amerikan can be found at https://thekeep.eiu.edu/post_amerikan/ Pieces From Our Past is a weekly column by the McLean County Museum of History. Torii More is curator of digital humanities for the museum. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Dinkels Bakery, open since 1922 and owned by three generations of the Dinkel family, who made countless cakes to celebrate and grieve over the decades, closed permanently at 5 p.m. Saturday in Chicago. I was here about 4:30 a.m., said Nicole Udrow, the first person in a line of 50 or so an hour before the doors opened at 7 a.m. I currently live up in the Edison Park area, but Im taking orders for the entire family from Dixon, Illinois, up to the Wisconsin border. She was hoping to get some homestyle cakes. Thats their famous buttercream cake with either a chocolate or vanilla filling, Udrow said. Every birthday, thats what we got. We didnt look forward to the presents; we looked forward to the Dinkels cake. Many customers have been coming to the Lakeview neighborhood bakery in the past few weeks for their final Dinkels cakes. Yesterday, there was a 65th wedding anniversary, said Luke Karl, general manager. Theyve been getting their cakes here their entire marriage, and probably before that, they were saying. Karl started working at the bakery in 2008. He got in for his final shift at 4 a.m. Todays just going to be a bake off, Karl said. Were trying to bake off as much Danish and coffee cakes and cakes and doughnuts as we can. At one point he was supposed to take over the bakery from owner Norm Dinkel, his former father-in-law. Theres always a chance, Karl said. He and I have a wonderful relationship. Dinkel sold the property at 3329 N. Lincoln Ave. on April 5. He announced the closing of the bakery the same day. Dinkel retains the business and all the family recipes, including their bestselling stollen, a golden mosaic of fruited bread. Three bakers were the first to arrive at 2 a.m. on the final morning. We have kolaches, Sergio Hernandez said, releasing a warm blast of buttery sweet aromas while pulling trays from a walk-in oven. We did three different flavors: raspberry, cheese and apricot. We still have some fruit coffee cakes in the oven. Hernandez, originally from Mexico City, has been baking for the past 20 years and started working at Dinkels about eight years ago. There are a couple of things that are my favorites, and Im gonna take for the family, he said. Kolaches, stollen and some of the doughnuts too my kids love them. Hes trying to find another place to work. These years were some of my favorite years, Hernandez said. I learned a lot in this place. I had nice co-workers. And Mr. Dinkel and Luke, theyre very nice people. Dinkel sold the property to Senco Properties. I have a three-month lease, he said. April was the bakerys final month in business, with the last lamb cakes beribboned and boxed for Easter. In May, well get the equipment auctioned off. And then in June, well get it cleaned up the way the new people want it. The sale did not include the bakerys iconic neon sign. I was going to tear it down, Dinkel said, only to find out that theres some significant value to collectors. So Im going to auction it off. Donley Auctions in Union will begin taking bids sometime near the third week of May. The proceeds will be donated equally between the Little Sisters of the Poor and Misericordia. This way, Im going to take care of the young and the old, Dinkel said. And I think thats a nice way to go out. His son, Eric Dinkel, came in from Denver to help on the final day. I grew up working here, he said. And worked here for a number of years in my 20s, then decided to be a teacher. He teaches high school science. The elephant in the room question is, why am I not taking over? Eric Dinkel said. I gave it a go, and I love it, but its just not my thing. I went into my moms business. She was a teacher, so I got into that world. Thats just where I resonate in this life. Hes been reminding his father theres something good about deciding what to do about your life, and not having it decided for you. Hes worked hard, Eric Dinkel said. Its time for him to take his retirement and start a new chapter. That new chapter includes writing a book about the history of the bakery, with recipes for professional and home bakers, possibly out for Christmas. Im not sure if were going to talk about the downs, Norm Dinkel said. But well talk about the ups. Its the end to an epic immigrant familys era of loves and losses that spanned more than a century. My grandfather, Joseph Dinkel, came over from Germany in 1905 or so, Norm Dinkel said. How did he end up in Chicago? I dont know. But he came over as a certified master baker. Joseph Dinkel got a job at Schulze & Burch Biscuit Company on the South Side and worked there for a number of years. Meanwhile, his wife, my grandmother, Antonie Dinkel, came over on her own dime, Dinkel said. Because the story had it that if she didnt like the United States, then she was going back to Germany. She didnt want to be obligated if he paid for her passage. She was a pretty independent woman. German bakery owners who did go back home to visit were gone for months at a time, because of the time it took to travel. My grandfather would come in and run their bakeries for them, he said. And in all cases when the bakery boss came back thats what they called bakery owners back then the bakery was running much better. Much better product and theyre making a lot more money. So my grandfather said, I think we can do this. In 1922, the couple took over a bakery and renamed it Dinkels. It stood across the street from where their business would go on to stand for 100 years. He baked, and she sold. In 26, they moved across the street, Norm Dinkel said. People said, Youll never be a success moving to the east side of Lincoln Avenue, because people dont like to shop when the sun is on that side of the street. This was way before air conditioning was ever around. My grandpa said if they want good baked foods theyre going to have to cross the street. And they did. He bought the building where the cafe is now in 1926 for $72,000, Dinkel said. But the Great Depression hit in 1929. My grandfather had borrowed a lot of money from Lakeview Bank, said Dinkel. So he went over to see the folks at the bank. Unlike today, they said, Hey Joe, we dont want to be in the bakery business. Were in the banking business. So you pay us out what you can, and well work it out together. And he did. Thats how the bakery got through the Depression. They were open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. In 1934, they expanded and built a new section. Around that time, the bakery was open on a Saturday night. A hold up man came in and shot my grandfather in the back, Dinkel said. My grandfather survived the bullet wound, but he lost interest in the business. I guess if you got shot in your own business, you might become a little hesitant. My father was going to the University of Illinois in Champaign, Dinkel said. He wanted to become a lawyer. He didnt want any part of the bakery business. His father, Norman Dinkel Sr., dropped out of college and eventually took over the bakery. My mother told me when Christmas came, everyone would work from 5 a.m. on Christmas Eve, and closed the store at 10 p.m., Dinkel said. And everybody would go get cleaned up, wear black tie, cocktails were served at midnight, and Christmas dinner was served at two oclock in the morning. Norman Dinkel Jr. was born at Ravenswood Hospital on April 11, 1944. In 1946, they built the existing store, and the neon sign went up. In the 50s and 60s, we would do 200 or 300 graduation cakes easily on a weekend, Dinkel said. But it was very easy back then. Youd use the school colors. Congratulations, Harry, Class of 62. That was it. He went to grade school at Queen of All Saints; high school at Northwestern Military and Naval Academy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; then Lake Forest College. He fulfilled his fathers original plan to become a lawyer. I went to Loyola law school, class of 69, Dinkel said. And then I practiced law for a couple of years." He worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Chicago as an enforcement attorney. Family businesses, theyre not easy, Dinkel said. I used to have terrible disagreements with my late father. If he were alive today, I would apologize profusely. In 1972, Norman Dinkel Sr. told his son to come into the bakery business or he was going to sell it. I talked to a couple of senior partners at law firms, Norman Dinkel Jr. said. I asked them, If you could lead your life over, would you want to practice law or own a business? And all those lawyers who owned their own law firms said, Actually, I think Id rather own my own business. So thats how I made the decision to get into the bakery business. He and his late wife, Holly Dinkel, raised two daughters and one son in the bakery. There are now five grandchildren in the family. Ive done it for 50 years, Dinkel said. I was icing cakes last week, and as much as I think I can still ice 100 cakes easily, the parts dont work like they used to. Hes had help from about two dozen employees. The succession plan was that my daughter was going to be the idea person, Dinkel said. And Luke, my former son-in-law, was going to be the implementer of those ideas. Unfortunately, they divorced, and she moved out of Chicago. Hes got the best baking instincts ever and a wonderful attitude, Dinkel said. I am so sorry that this is happening. It would have been much easier to have kept the business going, and I walked away from it. Im emotionally moved by all the customers and all their memories, Dinkel said, his voice breaking. All the family events that our little bakery became a part of. Its just overwhelming. On his 79th birthday April 11, he didnt celebrate with any of the cake that he and his family have made for 100 years. Nobody was here, he said. I had dinner all by myself in my house very late, because its been chaos at the bakery. Everybody in the family is flying in for the closing, Dinkel said. Were gonna have a little family party tonight. And were gonna have white rose cake, brownie torte, and black forest cake. Whats white rose cake? Its a combination of chocolate and vanilla cakes, white chocolate mousse, vanilla buttercream with chocolate ganache poured on top and one buttercream rose on top, he aid. Thats one of my favorite cakes. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 GRANITE CITY A Granite City man has been charged with two counts of murder and other charges in connection with the death of a Knox County Sheriff's deputy who was struck by a vehicle that was fleeing police officers. The 34-year-old deputy, Nicholas Weist, was setting up "spike strips" north of Galesburg in an effort to slow the suspect's vehicle when Weist was fatally struck on Friday, authorities said. Daylon K. Richardson, 22, of Granite City, was arrested after his vehicle crashed in a field near where Weist was struck, police said. Along with murder counts, Richardson was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated fleeing and eluding, according to a news release from the Illinois State Police. "The State Police extend our heartfelt prayers, support and love to the Knox County deputy's family, friends and the Knox County Sheriff's Office. There is no safety or justice without the law, there is no law without law enforcement, and there is no law enforcement without brave souls like this Knox County deputy," Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said in a statement. Kelly, the former state's attorney for St. Clair County, said his agency and others will work to "pursue maximum justice under the law." Weist joined the Knox County Sheriff's Department in May 2018 as a road deputy, according to a statement by Knox County Sheriff David L. Clague. Clague said other officers made life-saving measures, but Weist died at the scene. About 8 a.m. Friday, police officers responded to a 911 call of a suspect with a gun at Circle K gas station on East Main Street in Galesburg, which is northwest of Peoria. "Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop," Clague said in a news release. But the vehicle did not stop and the driver continued traveling north on U.S. 150. Weist was fatally hit as he began setting up the spikes at the intersection of U.S. 150 at 150th Avenue in nearby Henry County north of Galesburg. Richardson was arrested after a brief foot pursuit after his vehicle crashed. He was being held in the Henry County Jail with no bond. The Galesburg Register-Mail reported that Illinois State Police Capt. Christopher Endress said Richardson had previous charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and mob action in Southern Illinois. Madison County online records show that a Daylon Richardson had those charges pending against him. The mob action charge was filed in connection with a Pontoon Beach case in July 2020 and the other two charges were filed in connection with a Granite City case in March. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 GRANITE CITY A Madison County man charged with two felonies in March has been arrested in the Friday death of a deputy about 200 miles north of the Riverbend. Henry County State's Attorney Catherine Runty has announced that Daylon K. Richardson, 22, of Granite City, has been charged with two counts of murder, one count of unlawful possession of weapon by a felon and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding. Richardson is accused of fleeing police Friday and crashing into a Knox County Sheriff's Office deputy. The deputy was trying to deter Richardson by setting spike strips on U.S. 150 and 150 Avenue in rural Henry County near Alpha, just north of the Knox County line. The deceased deputy has been identified as Nicholas D. Weist, 34, who joined the department in 2018. According to authorities, at about 8 a.m. Friday Galesburg Police received a 911 call of a suspect with a gun at a Circle K gas station in Galesburg. Officers located a vehicle believed to be related to the incident and tried to stop it, but the driver fled north out of Galesburg on U.S. 150. Just inside Henry County, Richardson allegedly struck a Knox County deputy's vehicle before crashing in a field north of the collision. Richardson reportedly was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. The Illinois State Police are investigating the incident. On Friday, ISP Capt. Christopher Endress said Richardson had active warrants for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, crimes against persons and mob action "out of southern Illinois." In March, Richardson was charged in Madison County with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. On March 9 he allegedly was found by Granite City Police to have a .223 caliber rifle and driving a Jaguar X. According to court documents, he tried to flee a Granite City Police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit. His bail was set at $80,000. Richardson has a 2017 conviction for vehicular hijacking out of St. Clair County, making it illegal for him to possess weapons. Knox County District Attorney Jeremy Karlin said there is evidence a gun was fired from the fleeing vehicle during the pursuit, according to the Galesburg Register-Mail. ISP Director Brendan Kelly and Knox County Sheriff David Clague both expressed condolences to the deputy's family. "There is no safety or justice without the law," Kelly said in a released statement. "There is no law without law enforcement, and there is no law enforcement without brave souls like this Knox County Deputy." Richardson is being held at the Henry County Jail with no bond. His preliminary hearing has been set for 2 p.m. May 9. Assisting in Friday's pursuit and arrest were sheriff's departments from Knox, Henry, Warren, McDonough and Fulton counties, as well as Geneseo Police. Nearly 30 vehicles from area law enforcement agencies escorted the deputy's body to Watson-Thomas Funeral Home in Galesburg. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago May 1, 1922: Since Rev. Edgar DeWitt Jones left First Christian Church for Detroit, he has sometimes preached on the radio. Guy Carlton of Bloomington tuned in the latest sermon, and reported it came through perfectly: both the pastors voice and the music of the service. 75 years ago May 1, 1947: The Red Cross calls yesterdays storm a disaster because of loss of homes and other property. Losses are up to $100,000. ($1.177 billion in 2022 dollars.) Latest reports say Lake Bloomington is 19 inches over the spillway; Nine grain bins at Hendryx elevator were blown away. 50 years ago May 1, 1972: FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, 77, died tonight. Death was from natural causes, according to a Bureau statement. Hoover built the FBI into the nations top law enforcement bureau, and has been its only director since its founding. Its unknown who will succeed him. 25 years ago May 1, 1997: Judy Markowitz was sworn in as Mayor of Bloomington late Wednesday afternoon at the McLean County Museum of History. She took the oath of office along with seven City Council members and Bloomington Township Supervisor Mary Ann Dillman. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. Business activities at the Hamile Border in the Upper West Region are picking up slowly on Ghana's reopening of the borders with neighbouring countries. Importers from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania, who patronise the Hamile border had started coming in with goods and services. Mr Clever AttuhNdro, Second in Command at the Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at Hamile border post, in an interview with the GNA, said revenue collection was also picking up sooner than expected. He said sooner business would soon be at its peak, as vehicular movement had increased and importers had started bringing in cowhide, mostly from Guinea into the country. Mr Attuh-Ndro, who is also the Assistant Revenue Officer, said, We are now experiencing increase import volumes and we are okay now. He said smuggling across the border had reduced drastically and attributed it to the intensive education of the traders, especially agents and importers, on the need to avoid smuggling. The Second in Command appealed to people who want to buy vehicles to always feel free and come to CEPS to assist them to get issues solved, saying Dont fear CEPS; we are there and ready to serve you. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has, on Friday, April 29, 2022, cut the sod for a rubber plantation farm at Assin Nsuta in the Central Region. The 826-acre rubber plantation, is an initiative of the Anglican Diocese of Accra (ADOA), and supported by the Agric Development Bank (ADB), is expected to create jobs for the youth within the community. Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, Vice President Bawumia commended the Anglican Diocese of Accra for the initiative, and also highlighted the immense benefits will bring to the local community and the nation as a whole. "In this day and age when we are all seeking and asking for what they can benefit from the Government instead of what they can contribute, it fills me with great joy and gladness to see the Anglican Church in Ghana, specifically, the Accra Diocese become a change agent. Indeed, this is what practical Bible or Christian doctrine and principles are founded on That is: collaboration with the state to help citizens, especially, the poor and vulnerable members of society cope with daily challenges," Dr. Bawumia said of the Anglican Church. "I am told, a rubber plantation of this magnitude - covering 826 acres of valuable land is the biggest private-owned rubber plantation in the country." "This will contribute positively to climate change as well as provide jobs for many people especially the teeming unemployed youth in the community and beyond." "It is even unnecessary to overemphasize the importance of natural rubber whose immense benefits are well known. Natural rubber is harvested in the form of latex which is used for the production of tyres, mattresses, shoe soles, hot water bottles, balloons, rubber boots and seal rings and many more," Dr. Bawumia noted. "Production of these from raw material that can be sourced right here in our country opens a wide range of opportunities including, exportation for the country. The Vice expressed gratitude to the Chiefs and people of Assin Nsuta for ceding a large track of their land for this project. "They indeed deserve our high commendations." Dr. Bawumia also reiterated government's commitment to prioritizing the agriculture sector, which he stressed plays a significant role in the country's GDP. "The Agricultural sector as we all know, accounts for one-fifth of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It employs nearly half of the country's workforce and is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the country's poorest households. Hence, the need to focus on policies like the Planting for Food and Jobs to boost our Agricultural Sector." "Planting for Food and Jobs as we may be well aware has five modules of which, this rubber plantation aligns with four of its key precepts, namely; Food Crops Production and Job Creation (PFJ): where people work, their status is lifted and their personal economic lives get better and richer. Planting for exports and Rural Development (PERD): A double edge sword, bringing in revenue to the country and developing Assin Nsuta beyond what it is now. Greenhouse Technology Villages: Research into methodologies and sophisticated but safe measures of growing our food and living healthy." The Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Accra, Rt. Rev' Dr. Daniel Syivanus Mensah Torto, said the project is part of the Anglican Church's contribution to the development of the country. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Some mobile money merchants in parts of the Volta region have recorded a high increase in mobile money transactions with withdrawals topping the pact on Saturday. Scores of queues were seen in Ho, the regional capital and some parts including Akatsi South Municipality, Ketu South and Hohoe. Long queues built up with a pronounced development being the Mighty Gas Merchant joint near the Ho Teaching Hospital, where beyond 2030 hours people were still transacting business aside queues found at Ahoe Round-About area, Bankoe and SSNIT Flats enclave. They claimed the ongoing massive withdrawals from several wallets is because of the passage of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) in March by Parliament. At the SSNIT area, there were withdrawals of large sums with clients insisting their transaction went through before the E-Leevy came to effect at midnight with withdrawals and deposits ranging between GHC3,000 and GHC1,000. Some operators at the Central Market Square joints have claimed they do not see how clients would bypass the mobile money platform, saying there are there's no visible signs of clients doing that. Akpene Akakpo, alleges the people are so addicted to the mobile money platform, and it will be a shocker to see them not patronising it. They told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that their action was to avoid the deductions on their transactions by either emptying their mobile money wallets or make huge transfers before the implementation date. A cross section of mobile money users in Akatsi, who spoke to the GNA stated that the move to cash out their monies would help them to dodge the tax deduction. Mr Nutsugah Agbesi, a businessman, told the GNA the tax is multiplicative and would not be in the best interest of the ordinary citizenry. Mr Sedinam Dorsey Agozie, owner of Determination Empire, a popular mobile money merchant in Akatsi, disclosed to the GNA hundreds of Momo users were rushing to withdraw thousands of cedis in recent times with only few doing deposits. Other mobile money operators and I in town have been hit by some form of unusual withdrawals from the general public which is putting pressure on us, he said. However, some individuals also called for calm as the government continued to put some measures in place for the development. There was calm at the merchant joints across the region as the implementation kicks in today. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, March 31, 2022, assented to the Electronic Transaction Levy into law. The implementation of the levy commences today, Sunday May 1 as announced earlier by Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance. Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority has revealed some digital transactions that would not attract the 1.5 per cent levy to include remittances from Ghanaians abroad, cash-in and csah-out from mobile money accounts. It said payments of utility bills and purchases of airtime are exemptions provided the utility provider is registered with the GRA for income tax or VAT. The GRA further noted that withdrawals from ATMs are also exempted from the 1.5% charge. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) in the Central Region has called on government to implement all laws and policies on accessibility of public structures for Persons with Disability (PWDs). It also warned that it will not hesitate to evoke the powers of the court against government and contractors who failed to comply with the directive enshrined in the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715). The act directs that all public offices must be disability friendly after 10 years. But, Nana George Frimpong, the Central Regional President of GFD, observed that due to the lack of visionary leaders and their negative discriminatory attitudes, the act had not been fully implemented. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency ahead of the May Day celebration Sunday, he insisted that they had moved from the stage of reasonable accommodation to an era of enforcement. So, if there is a new public structure that is coming up and that structure is not disability friendly, it is up to us to draw the attention of those putting up building to make it accessible. If after dialoguing with them and they dont do so, we have every right to take them to the law court to be prosecuted, he said. He questioned how physically disabled persons were expected to function effectively without a friendly environment at their workplaces. He recounted that the Federation had confronted some authorities and contractors on several projects and their demands were eventually heeded to. Most of the contractors said they did not factor that into the original designs of the buildings. But after dialoguing and threatening to take them to court, most of them have modified their designs, he said. He was, however, quick to acknowledge that many buildings springing up were disability friendly, especially to wheelchair users. For example, the new administration block of the University of Cape Coast is just two storeys, but they have lifts which are working effectively and efficiently and this is what we are all praying for as Persons with Disability in this Country, he stressed. May Day, International Workers Day or Labour Day is an annual holiday observed on May 1 of every year in over 80 countries to commemorate the achievements of the labour movement. This years Workers Day falls today, Sunday and in Ghana, various labour groups across all regions are observing the day with march-pasts and durbars celebrate their efforts. Nana Frimpong in an interview, called for a major policy to institute sign language interpretation in all public offices. That, he argued, would enable employees who were deaf to communicate effectively and function efficiently at the highest level. In view of that, he said efforts must be made to train more people sign language as there were not enough people proficient in the language. If they are not there, that means the deaf person will always have to be writing on paper to communicate with employers and colleagues. If they are not literate enough, naturally, there will be negative discrimination against them because of the communication barrier, he said. The Central Regional GFD President also made a strong case for employers to install digital and assistive devices at the office to make PWDs work effectively and efficiently. He intimated that many employers were unwilling to introduce such devices because of the high cost involved, adding that, the absence of these is militating against our upward growth and development. Nana Frimpong indicated the Federation had established an IT training centre to train more PWDs to become IT proficient to enable them fit into the job market. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Biking around her Far Northwest Side neighborhood, Monica Dillons eyes sometimes linger past a nondescript parking lot east of OHare International Airport, squeezed between the Kennedy Expressway, some office buildings and a Marriott hotel. Plans to build a $91 million apartment complex with some affordable units on the Higgins Road lot west of Cumberland Avenue have stirred controversies stretching throughout Chicago, including City Hall. Advertisement The project being spearheaded by Glenstar OHare LLC has inflamed long-held arguments about affordable housing and segregation while also becoming a bit of a testing ground on aldermanic prerogative, the Chicago tradition that has given aldermen massive sway over development and other decisions in their wards. And just last week there was another update the Chicago City Council approved a first-of-its-kind measure making the seven-story building eligible for a special tax incentive under a 2021 state law meant to bolster affordable housing in areas that lack such options. Of the 297 units that will be built in the complex, 59 will be below-market. Advertisement Dillon, a founding member of the Northwest Side-based group Neighbors for Affordable Housing, has followed the twists and turns about the plan and supports it as a low-cost option for working-class Chicagoans, especially those who work at OHare. But she wonders what could have been for her adult daughter who five years ago wanted to stay closer to her family but eventually had to move because she couldnt find an apartment she could afford. I just wish there would have been some options here at the time, and I know were not the only family, said Dillon, 63. In terms of affordable housing, there really was none. But the plans have not been embraced by all in the 41st Ward and its neighborhoods filled with postwar bungalows and ranch-style homes. Though the complex would be located in a far stretch of the city next to offices and hotels bordering Park Ridge, residents say they fear it will congest traffic and overcrowd schools. John Frano, who lives about a mile away in Oriole Park, said the apartment complex will create too much bustle in a section of the city known for being more serene and spacious. I dont like traffic, said Frano, a 45-year-old Chicago police officer. I have nothing against affordable housing. I dont care if somebody lives in affordable housing. John Frano stands along the 8500 block of West Higgins Road near the proposed Glenstar O'Hare development on April 25, 2022, in Chicago. Frano opposes the project. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) While residents say their opposition stems from concerns about congestion and keeping the lot where the complex will be built zoned for commercial uses rather than residential, the issue of affordable housing still permeates much of the debate. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has made investing in affordable housing a cornerstone of her administration, including bringing it to areas of the city where it is missing. Indeed, the dearth of affordable units in parts of the city has even piqued the interest of the federal government. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating whether Chicago aldermen have used aldermanic prerogative over the years to shoot down certain projects and keep out poor people of color. While Lightfoot during her first term has had minimal success defeating aldermanic prerogative, one exception is the Glenstar development. Late last year, the City Council approved the plan over the objections of the wards alderman, who warned his fellow council members they were establishing a dangerous precedent that empowered any mayor to overrule local aldermanic control on development issues. Advertisement Last week, the project secured another victory when the City Council approved an ordinance designating the property as a low-affordability community. That classification makes the building eligible for a tax break initiative in which the Cook County assessors office offers reductions in assessment values for buildings that meet certain affordable housing requirements. Glenstars property qualified because the owner agreed to set aside at least 20% of units as affordable for 30 years. Under the plan, for the first three years after the project is completed, the Glenstar property will be eligible for a freeze in its assessed value, resulting in significant property tax savings. That incentive will then steadily decrease for the next 27 years. Liz Butler, an attorney representing Glenstar, said in a statement that the tax incentives will mean about $23.5 million in savings over 30 years, though it estimates the cost of providing the affordable units to be $52 million. The tax savings helps to partially offset the cost of the affordable component of the project, making it possible to provide these units, but by no means results in a financial windfall, Butler said. Housing committee Chair Ald. Harry Osterman, 48th, said during a hearing earlier this month that he hopes the first inning of this new law shows it will become a positive tool for creating more affordable housing. That sentiment was echoed by the citys Department of Housing Commissioner, Marisa Novara, who said the incentives are welcome in a city with profound segregation. But the alderman of the ward where the project will be located, Ald. Anthony Napolitano, 41st, said the Glenstar proposal will be a monstrous development. Advertisement Many of you here cheer the tax the rich philosophy, but now your yes vote is going to once again benefit a rich developer by supporting a tax break, Napolitano said during the committee hearing. Retired Chicago police Sgt. Salvatore Reina, a longtime owner of a two-flat in Oriole Park, said he opposes the Glenstar tax break partly because it feels unfair to smaller landlords like him. He added that he worries about having to bid against the potentially lower rents in the future complex. Ive owned my apartment building since 93, Reina said. I lived in it. I worked my butt off bringing this thing around. Am I going to get a tax break if I lower my rents? Reina said he thinks once the project breaks ground, the dominoes for similar large residential developments will fall, and the community will lose what he described as its residential charm. These neighborhoods are not made for massive multiunit buildings, Reina said. When you bring more people in, other issues are going to arise with that too. Who knows what they are? Some could just be quality-of-life issues. Dillon, the Neighbors for Affordable Housing member, said it is fitting the first development to benefit from a new City Council designation intended to promote affordable housing is in the 41st Ward, where she said discrimination and segregation has historically kept out low-income residents. Advertisement She cited Napolitanos recent attempts to stymie the Glenstar project via aldermanic prerogative as what she said was one example of why the ward remains mostly white. In response, Napolitano said Dillons remarks were pure nonsense and that the prime reservation over Glenstar is overcrowding. He added that there are hundreds of vacant units in the neighborhood. People just say whatever they can to make it a hot-button topic, Napolitano said. They dont ever care about what the residents of the neighborhood actually want. But Dillon said the result will be beautiful for a ward that is ready for change. After 150 years of no affordable housing, dont you think we should start with the 41st Ward? Dillon said. This is exactly the community we should be starting with to make up for all the units that were shut down by aldermanic prerogative and NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)-ism. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Advertisement ayin@chicagotribune.com President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said his government has been working to protect jobs and incomes despite the COVID-19 pandemic that hits the world. Speaking at this years May Day Celebrations, the president explained that it will not be prudent for the government to remove taxes on petroleum products despite many calls for such. According to him, the removal of taxes on petroleum will cause the government of some GH4 billion cedis in revenue. At this time, when we are determined to expand Government revenues in order to increase our capacity to finance our own development, can we afford to reduce tax revenues by four billion cedis? he questioned Indeed, some of the revenues from these same taxes on petroleum products are what is used to pay some of the salaries of the seven hundred thousand public sector workers on governments payroll, he argued. Prices of petroleum products selling at the pumps have increased significantly since the beginning of the year. But President Nana Addo has reiterated his government's commitment to mitigating the persistent hikes in fuel prices, cedi depreciation and general cost of living in the country. Government is also working hard to ensure reliable supply and availability of petroleum products, thereby preventing shortages, a phenomenon which is being experienced in some other neighbouring countries. By the same token, we are keeping the lights on in Ghana, he said. Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 and Beyond. #MayDay2022 1/4 pic.twitter.com/Dt7F0whkuG Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) May 1, 2022 Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 and Beyond. #MayDay2022 2/4 pic.twitter.com/wOkAe0bnOf Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) May 1, 2022 Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 and Beyond. #MayDay2022 3/4 pic.twitter.com/GKuMOxqP4h Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) May 1, 2022 Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 and Beyond. #MayDay2022 4/4 pic.twitter.com/gbtrwxGtom Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) May 1, 2022 Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has called on the New Patriotic Party to restore unity in the party. Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, who is also a former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku Constituency and former Deputy Health Minister, raised serious concerns over the ongoing constituency executives' elections by the party. The elections which commenced on Thursday, April 28, 2022, have been characterized by violent incidents. Some delegates at Okaikoi South constituency protested the elections, claiming hundreds of names have been removed from the party's register. The situation was controlled by the Police and the elections were peacefully held at the Okaikoi South, however four persons were arrested. Addressing the issue on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Dr. Okoe Boye stated emphatically that the NPP is its own biggest threat. Although, to him, it is a normal practice to find party delegates having their favorites and also sharing dissenting views; their disagreements shouldn't escalate into violence. He called for immediate resolution of the party's internal politics to prevent the party from jeopardizing their fortunes. "The biggest threat to the NPP's fortunes in the next elections is not the NDC. The biggest threat is how we manage our internal issues," he said and advised the party members to "act with love". 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. Featured Video Delegates of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) who thronged the auditorium of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) hall last Thursday to elect executives for the Bolgatanga Central Constituency were thrown into shock when one of them collapsed and died. The deceased, Paul Azika, 37, a government appointee of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, reportedly collapsed, the moment the results of the elections were announced and his preferred candidate, Awudu Asonga, lost the chairmanship to Kwame Anaba by just two votes. Mr Anaba emerged the winner with 355 votes while Mr Asonga secured 353 s while a third contender. Abdul-man Alhassan Amalba polled 77 votes of the 797 valid votes cast. Deceased Azika, a chief campaigner of Asonga, was optimistic that his candidate was going to emerge the winner in the chairmanship. However, when the results were declared, Azika collapsed, resulting in some of the delegates rushing him to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital for emergency medical care. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility. The shocking death of Azika has thrown party members into a state of mourning as they cannot fathom why a vibrant party member can pass on in such a tragic manner. They described it as a big blow to the party in both the constituency and the region. According to information gathered by Graphic Online, members of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly had scheduled to elect a Presiding Member (PM) for the assembly Friday after a failed attempt about two weeks ago but it had to be postponed due to Azika's tragic death. How it happened Confirming the incident to Graphic Online on Friday, the immediate past First Vice Chairman of the constituency, Thomas Ayoore Adams, said as a result of the delay in starting the election, voting and counting ran late into the evening. He stated that after the counting of Anaba's votes (the first on the ballot), it came to light that he had secured 351 votes, which gave hope to the supporters of Asonga that their candidate would win with a slim margin. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 " " Night falls in Chinatown, San Francisco, the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest in North America. John Elk III/Getty Images Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a celebration of the 22.6 million Asians and 1.6 million Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders living in the United States and the role they played in shaping American history. Although Americans have celebrated AAPI Heritage Month every year since 1992, when President George H.W. Bush signed legislation that permanently designated May as the commemorative month, it started out as a weeklong celebration in 1979 thanks to the efforts of a woman named Jeanie F. Jew. Jew was a board member of the Organization of Chinese Americans and a Capitol Hill staffer when she approached government officials about acknowledging and celebrating Asian Americans for their accomplishments. She took on this challenge after noticing the lack of Asian and Pacific representation during the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976. It was personal for Jew, as her great-grandfather had helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. Advertisement Jew enlisted the support of Ruby Moy, an administrative assistant to former New York Representative Frank Horton, and the two worked to gain support for a proclamation. Rep. Horton introduced a bill in 1977 that called for the first 10 days in May to be Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week, while Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution. The drafters chose the month of May to celebrate two historic events: The first Japanese immigrant arrived in the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869. About 20,000 Chinese workers took part in the building of this railroad and 1,200 died from explosions, avalanches and other disasters during its construction. " " Chinese railroad workers greet a train on a snowy day. Sketch by Joesph Becker/Wikipedia/Public Domain The two bills failed, but the drafters didn't let that discourage them. The legislation needed at least 218 members of Congress for the bill to pass the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee, so the sponsors got to work (the bill was revised to reflect the Census Bureau's designation of the community as "Asian/Pacific" instead of "Pacific/Asian.") Jew and Moy founded the Asian Pacific Congressional Staff Caucus, while Jew also founded and chaired the National Coalition for an Asian/Pacific American Heritage Proclamation. The Organization of Chinese Americans, Japanese American Citizens League and the Organization of Chinese American Women also advocated for the bill. Thanks to their persistence, 231 Congressional representatives co-sponsored it and it passed with massive support in both the House and the Senate. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the resolution declaring May 4-11 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, and the celebration started in 1979. Over the next decade, Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990 Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and in 1992 it became an annual celebration in perpetuity. President Barack Obama expanded the commemoration to include Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians in 2009 and so the month is now known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Now That's Interesting Before the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, it would take you half a year to get from New York to California. After the railroad was built, it took a week to go that same distance. Advertisement Originally Published: May 1, 2021 Mase a pit bull plays in the grass with Delonte Hillery in a park in Escondido, California. They're well-known stereotypes: rottweilers and pit bulls are aggressive, while Labradors and golden retrievers are extra friendly. But a genetic study published in the journal Science on Thursday involving more than 2,000 dogs paired with 200,000 survey answers from owners demonstrates that the widespread assumptions are largely unfounded. To be sure, many behavioral traits can be inheritedbut the modern concept of breed offers only partial predictive value for most types of behaviorand almost none whatsoever for how affectionate a dog will be, or conversely, how quick to anger. "While genetics plays a role in the personality of any individual dog, specific dog breed is not a good predictor of those traits," said senior author Elinor Karlsson, of UMass Chan and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. "What we found is that the defining criteria of a golden retriever are its physical characteristicsthe shape of its ears, the color and quality of its fur, its sizenot whether it is friendly," she added. Lead author Kathleen Morrill explained that understanding the relationship between breeds and behavior could be the first step in understanding the genes responsible for psychiatric conditions in humans, like obsessive disorders. "Although we can't really ask a dog themselves about their problems or thoughts or anxieties, we do know that dogs lead rich emotional lives and experience disorders that manifests in their behavior," she said on a press call. Implications for legislation The team sequenced the DNA of 2,155 purebred and mixed-breed dogs to search for common genetic variations that could predict behavior, and combined this info with surveys from 18,385 pet-owner surveys from Darwin's Ark. "What we found is that the defining criteria of a golden retriever are its physical characteristics -- the shape of its ears, the color and quality of its fur, its size -- not whether it is friendly," saud scientist Elinor Karlsson. The site is an open-source database of owner-reported canine traits and behaviors. Because existing stereotypes are so powerful, the team designed their questionnaires to account for owner bias. They established standard definitions for reporting traits such as biddability (dog response to human direction), dog-human sociability (how comfortable dogs are with people, including strangers), and toy-directed motor patterns (how interested they are in toys). Physical and aesthetic traits were also surveyed. In all, Karlsson and Morrill found 11 locations on the dog genome associated with behavior differences, including biddability, retrieving, pointing at a target and howling. Among these behaviors, breed did play some rolefor example, beagles and bloodhounds tend to howl more, border collies are biddable, and Shiba Inus are far less so. However, there were always exceptions to the rule. For example, even though Labs had the lowest propensity for howling, eight percent still did. While 90 percent of greyhounds didn't bury their toys, three percent did frequently. "When we looked at this factor that we called agonistic threshold, which included a lot of questions about whether people's dogs reacted aggressively to things, we weren't seeing an effect of breed ancestry," Karlsson added. A dog cowers from holy water as Archbishop Jose Gomez blesses animals during the traditional Easter eve Blessing of the Animals in Los Angeles. Overall, breed explained just nine percent of variation in behavior, with age a better predictor of some traits, like toy play. Physical traits, however, were five times more likely to be predicted by breed than behavior was. The idea runs counter to widespread assumptions that have informed legislation. For example, Britain has banned pit bull terriers, as have many US cities. Human disorders Prior to the 1800s, dogs were primarily selected for functional roles such as hunting, guarding and herding, the team said in their paper. "By contrast, the modern dog breed, emphasizing confirmation to physical ideals and purity of lineage, is a Victorian invention," they wrote. Modern breeds carry genetic variations of their ancient predecessors, but not at the same frequenciesexplaining the behavior divergence within breeds. The next steps, said Morill, would be digging more into compulsive behaviors in dogs, and connections to human obsessive-compulsive disorder. One intriguing finding was that dog sociability toward humans was "incredibly heritable in dogs," even though it wasn't breed dependent. The team found a location in dog DNA that could explain four percent of the sociability differences between individualsand that location corresponds to an area of the human genome responsible for long term memory formation. "It could be that understanding human sociability in dogs helps us understand how brains develop and learn. So we're kind of just scratching the surface," said Morill. More information: Kathleen Morrill et al, Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes, Science (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0639 Journal information: Science Kathleen Morrill et al, Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abk0639 2022 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Reptiles are in trouble: In fact, over 21% of reptile species are threatened with extinction worldwide, according to a first-of-its-kind global assessment of more than 10,000 species. The findings show that some reptiles, including many species of crocodiles and turtles, require urgent conservation efforts to prevent their extinction. "The results of the global reptile assessment signal the need to ramp up global efforts to conserve them," said study co-leader Neil Cox, of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. "Because reptiles are so diverse, they face a wide range of threats across a variety of habitats. "A multifaceted action plan is necessary to protect these species, with all the evolutionary history they represent." The study was published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature. Study authors say the top threats to reptiles come from agriculture, logging, urban development and invasive species, although they acknowledge that the risk that climate change poses is uncertain. In all, of the 10,196 species assessed, they found that at least 1,829 (21%) of species were threatened with extinction (categorized as being vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered). Crocodiles and turtles are among the most at-risk species, with 57.9% and 50% of those assessed under threat, respectively. Some good news: The research revealed that efforts already underway to conserve threatened mammals, birds and amphibians are more likely than expected to also benefit many threatened reptiles. Study authors say that many of the risks that reptiles face are similar to those faced by those other animal groups and suggest that conservation efforts to protect these groupsincluding habitat restoration and controlling invasive speciesmay have also benefited reptiles. "These study results show that reptile conservation research no longer needs to be overshadowed by that of amphibians, birds and mammals. It is concerning, though, that more than a fifth of all known reptile species are threatened," said Mark Auliya of the Zoological Research Museum in Bonn, Germany. In addition to turtles and crocodiles, reptiles in the study included lizards, snakes and tuatara, the only living member of a lineage that evolved in the Triassic period 200 million to 250 million years ago. "Many reptiles, like the tuatara or pig-nosed turtle, are like living fossils, whose loss would spell the end of not just species that play unique ecosystem roles, but also many billions of years of evolutionary history, said Mike Hoffmann, of the Zoological Society of London. "Their future survival depends on us putting nature at the heart of all we do." Another expert, Maureen Kearney, a program director at the National Science Foundation, said that "the potential loss of one-fifth of all reptile species reminds us how much of Earth's biodiversity is disappearing, a crisis that is threatening all species, including humans." Explore further Over 21% of reptile species at risk of extinction More information: Neil Cox et al, A global reptile assessment highlights shared conservation needs of tetrapods, Nature (2022). Journal information: Nature Neil Cox et al, A global reptile assessment highlights shared conservation needs of tetrapods,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04664-7 (c)2022 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. From The Post-Star in 1972: A nearly two-year volunteer effort convinced the state Department of Environmental Conservation to install a $50,000 ($345,557 in 2022 dollars) air-quality monitoring station in Glens Falls, The Post-Star reported on May 11. The location was expected to be on Dix Avenue, next to the WWSC radio station, in the vicinity of East Field. The Warren and Washington Counties Action for Clean Air Council, established in September 1970, advocated for the monitoring station. Ronald Newell, later a longtime Glens Falls city attorney, was chairman of the advocacy organization. The group set up temporary monitoring devices at seven locations around Glens Falls, Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, and volunteers collected results twice daily from August to October 1971 to document the need for a permanent monitoring station. In order to take on the responsibility of caring for the reading and daily transfer of bubblers monitoring the air pollutants at the stations and recording the results, some members had to begin their day at 6 a.m. They did this daily, seven days a week. Another group collected data at 5:30 each evening. At the movies: The 20th Century Fox movie The French Connection, winner of five Academy awards, was showing at The Paramount Theatre on Ridge Street, Glens Falls. May 15 VFW: Under the leadership of Membership Committee Chairman George Daley, Queensbury VFW Post 6196 increased membership from 132 to 173 members over a years time. May 22. Library Week: To celebrate National Library Week, Jeanne Hastings, owner of Stone Schoolhouse Studio and Art Gallery, donated a watercolor print of City Mouse and Country House to hang in the Childrens Corner at Caldwell-Lake George Library. May 2 French honors: Glens Falls High School students William Clark, Nelson Wagar, Jay Bobbin, Deborah Williams, Denise Lucas and Deana Elwell won regional honors in the National French Contest. May 17 Game show winner: Madelyn Belden Taylor, originally from Glens Falls, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Belden of Fifth Street, won $1,100 worth of furniture and other prizes on the television game show Lets Make A Deal. May 11 Sports trivia: Billy Collins (now the Glens Falls mayor in 2022) hit a bases-loaded triple for Big Sport in a Glens Falls Little League game at Crandall Park Recreation Field. Still, Big Sport lost to the Glennies, 7-4. May 19 Editorial: Of the making of political scenarios there is no end. The pundits, and others who in varying degree fall short of that distinction, never tire of trying to figure out what will happen at the national convention if this or that or the other happens between now and convention time. ... The various scenarios proposed are often quite ingenious, so long as one bears in mind the cardinal fact involved. This is that anyone, including the most prestigious and experienced pundits, or observers, may and will prove to be wrong. April 20 Quotable: Laughter is good exercise. When someone has a hearty laugh, the diaphragm shakes up and down and air is drawn into the lungs by means of long, deep intake and expelled in a series of bursts. During this time, 15 sets of facial muscles contract and the vocal cords come together and separate as tho they were in a dance. T.R. Van Dellen, March 22 Maury Thompson was a Post-Star reporter for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance history writer and documentary film producer who routinely researches historic newspapers of the region. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As critics of new state educational standards become increasingly visible and vocal, supporters of the standards have been difficult to find in Cape May County. The New Jersey Student Learning Standards Comprehensive Health and Physical Education have drawn sharp criticism from members of the public and elected officials. Attempts to contact groups willing to speak for the other side fell flat. That does not necessarily mean everybody hates the proposals. Advocates for LGBTQ rights say they are increasingly concerned about speaking in public, or even being out. I do feel like there is a climate nationally that has people pausing about their visibility, said Ann McCabe, one of the founders of Equality Cape May. I think that people dont trust that it is a safe thing to do. McCabe was uncertain about whether to use her name in an interview. Other sources asked to remain anonymous. McCabe has a rainbow flag in front of her house just outside Cape May and said people passing by have yelled slurs and abuse from the road. But she believes it is important to take a stand. Questions about state education guidelines raised at Ocean City meetings OCEAN CITY Long-simmering questions about how much children should learn about sexuality i You have to do this if theres going to be change, she said, You have to ask yourself, are you OK if you get death threats, even if one person feels triggered by positions or your existence? State data supports McCabes instincts. Matthew Platkin, New Jerseys acting attorney general, released figures this month showing 2021 saw the largest number of bias incidents since the state began keeping track almost 30 years ago. That includes spikes in bias incidents against LGBTQ people, up 64% over 2020, and anti-transgender bias incidents. Those were up 171%, Platkin said, from 17 incidents in 2020 to 46 last year. There could be other reasons for the increase, the Attorney Generals Office reported. For instance, people may be more comfortable reporting incidents to police. The state has worked to encourage reporting of incidents for years. But the statement also cites an increase in hate crimes and incidents of bias nationwide. Officials cited several factors, including COVID-19, backlash against Black Lives Matter protests and the rhetoric of the 2020 presidential election. For Sue Forrest, an Ocean City resident and retired teacher, there is a change in mood in recent years, at least in public spaces. After the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Fourteenth Amendment requires the recognition of same-sex marriages, she felt more comfortable speaking about her wife with people she did not know well. Tennessee lawmakers pass K-12 library oversight, end session Tennessee lawmakers have closed out the 2022 legislative session by passing a bill that lets a politically appointed panel remove books from public school libraries statewide through a new veto power over local school board decisions. The Republican-supermajority Legislature also worked out remaining differences Thursday on an education funding formula overhaul spearheaded by Gov. Bill Lee. They passed tougher campaign finance and ethics rules amid a federal investigation that has already seen one House Republican plead guilty and resign. Those proposals and many more will head to the Republican governor, who has never vetoed a bill. The election-year session began in January. We were feeling more at ease with ourselves and with society, she said Friday. Now we feel like were going backwards. As a teacher, she did not hide her personal life from the school administration but was careful to keep her life outside of the classroom private from students and most parents, in a way that would never be necessary for a woman married to a man. Forrest does not believe things are returning to those days when someones professional life demanded she remain in the closet. But there is subtle pressure not to stand out. She expects the pressure to continue, for some in society to continue to push back against progress made for gay rights and a more diverse society. Forrest plans to speak at an upcoming Ocean City Board of Education meeting. She said as more people are willing to be themselves in public, whether they are gay, transgender or different in any other way, it becomes more obvious that there is nothing to fear. Its human, she said. Some who have already spoken at local public meetings believe the educational standards are about indoctrinating children into a particular belief system. A recent speaker at an Ocean City school board meeting said the state was trying to take over the role that belongs to parents, infringing on moral lessons that are the purview of families, not the state. Disney's self-governing district says Florida can't dissolve it without paying off its debts Disney's district says that Florida's move to dissolve the district next year is not legal unless the state pays off Reedy Creek's extensive debts. Another person who agreed to be interviewed, but only on the condition of anonymity, said many who have spoken in favor of Black rights, on behalf of the LGBTQ community or for progressive causes in Cape May County have faced pushback in the conservative area. Some have gotten death threats, she said. For her, a turning point came when President Donald Trump visited Wildwood in 2020. A huge crowd gathered at the beachfront convention center. She was in a much smaller gathering, a protest next to the Boardwalk against the president. Many heading toward the main event paused to lean over the railing and yell at the protesters. I dont know why, but I wasnt expecting that level of verbal abuse, bordering on physical threats, she said. They might have felt justified, but for us it was intimidating. The anonymous speaker said she is in a privileged position. She is straight, white and has a family and a career. She believes she could face consequences for speaking in public, and that people in less secure positions could risk more. School library bill advances, sponsor suggests book burning Tennessee Republicans have advanced legislation that would place more scrutiny over what books are placed in public schools libraries just moments after the bills House sponsor said any inappropriate book should be burned. The measure is just one of several proposals introduced in Tennessee this year designed to impose more scrutiny and transparency in public school libraries amid a national spike in book challenges and bans. Republican Rep. Jerry Sexton introduced an amendment this week to a school bill that would give the states textbook commission veto power over what books end in school libraries. Sexton says he would burn any book deemed inappropriate for schools, but said that likely won't happen since he's not on the commission. Much of the discussion falls along party lines, even when those talking about it try to avoid presenting things in terms of progressives, Democrats and Republicans. South Jersey has seen openly gay Republican politicians. Cape May County has also seen public displays from progressives and conservatives, including gay rights and Black Lives Matter marches and parades of Trump supporters in vehicles. Last year, as straight and gay marchers walked the Cape May Promenade for gay rights, there were some derisive yells from the sidelines, but more visible support, including some strollers who joined the march with their families. Last winter, Equality Cape May participated in the long-running West Cape May Christmas Parade, a beloved tradition for generations. McCabe said she was bracing for some heckling from the crowd, but it never came. Instead, the group won third place in the civics division. She said there are a few people in every community who make people a little more tense about how visible they want to be, but the visibility itself is important. After the parade, we got a message from a young person, saying, Thank you so much for being out and being visible, McCabe said. It meant so much to me that you were in the parade. I spent my entire high school years being bullied about being in the LBGTQ community. No matter how far weve come, there are still young people that do not have a welcoming environment. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OCEAN CITY May began in Ocean City with people returning to the Boardwalk for a good cause. The 2022 Walk MS Ocean City was held Sunday. Scores thronged together at the Ocean City Civic Center to walk in the sunny, springtime weather and help raise money for multiple sclerosis treatment and research. It was the first time the event was held in-person in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with virtual-only walks organized in 2020 and 2021. Its a good turnout, so everybodys really excited, said Meghan McNamee, a manager with the National MS Society who helped organize the walk. There were 337 registered participants Sunday who collectively donated more than $50,000 to MS treatment and research. Those walking could choose to walk a 1-mile or a 3-mile course along the Boardwalk. For many walkers, the cause was personal. Bridget Peterson, a 38-year-old woman from Washington Township, Gloucester County, was diagnosed with MS when she was 31. Along with her extended family and friends, Peterson was walking to help raise funds to help other people with her condition. Having participated in several walks before in Ocean City and Philadelphia, Peterson said she was glad to have a warm day to finally come together for the cause again. The last couple years when it was in-person, was rainy. Its the first nice year, Peterson said. Well, I have it, so I want to raise money to get the cure going, (because) I dont want to have it anymore said Samantha Lepor, an Ocean View resident who also has MS, while explaining why she and her family came to walk. And to have a good day. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. It can result in muscular discoordination, speech defects and other symptoms. Lauren Fogarty Schwager, from Upper Township, who has been diagnosed with MS, was walking with her family. She said she was glad people had the opportunity to gather again Sunday and to show solidarity with others who have been diagnosed with the disease. Well, I have MS, so Im here to support everyone else who has MS and raise money for research for a cure, Fogarty Schwager said. Kristen Blizard, from Langhorne in southeastern Pennsylvania, also has MS and was among those walking along the Boardwalk. Jen Murphy, a friend of Bilzards from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, said she was walking in support of Kristen for MS research, noting that their children had grown up making their way up and down the boards. Its amazing to finally be together again and not have the masks and see our smiling faces, Murphy said. Added Blizard, Im just so glad that everybody comes out and supports the people that they love that are suffering with MS. Multiple teams consisted of people who have been diagnosed with MS and their friends and families. Shakera Woodson, of Egg Harbor Township, was walking with her mother, Renee Woodson, and cousin Nicole Galarza, both of whom have MS. We dont know exactly what theyre going through, but were here to support them, Shakera Woodson said. Jeremiah White, a 10-year-old nephew of Renee Woodson, had a simple explanation for why he wanted to walk Sunday. Family, White said. Several volunteer groups from the local community gathered to support the walk. Members of the Absegami High School Interact Club, an affiliate of the local Rotary Club, helped set up the event and gathered at the 1-mile mark on the Boardwalk to cheer on walkers with shouts and cowbells. The club was there to honor Tara Kubiak, an Absegami Spanish teacher who has MS and has a mother who also was diagnosed with the disease. The Abesgami Key Club also volunteered, helping set up and staff a water station. Ed Friend, an Absegami English teacher and Interact Club adviser, said he and the students were proud to be able to contribute to such a critical effort. Its such a great thing to see so many people come out for a positive cause like this and raise money for the eradication of MS, hopefully one day, Friend said. Harshi Harshe and Juhi Jha, Absegami sophomores from Galloway Township, said they were excited to give their support and said it fit into the mission of the Interact Club, which is oriented around supporting service projects. Were excited to see people and help out, Jha said. We are cheering the walkers on and just helping people with them and supporting a good cause, added Mahi Patel, an Absegami freshman from Galloway. Rita Carroll, of Philadelphia, is an aunt of Bridget Peterson, who has MS, and was the organizer of Bridgets Brigade walking team. She noted that they also had a friend who was diagnosed with MS last year join them. Were just hoping that this money raised can help find a cure, Carroll said. Its amazing how many people you find out have this. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHICAGO If Mary Lovelace had lingered at dinner a little longer, she might have missed him. Had she left the restaurant a couple of minutes earlier, she wouldnt have been next to Angelo Valenti when he collapsed. But luck intervened, and Lovelace a nurse at Loyola University Medical Center happened to be walking down a sidewalk in Scottsdale, Arizona, on March 24 at the exact same time that Valenti, of Highland Park, fell to the ground midconversation, going into cardiac arrest. As people yelled around her, Lovelace knelt on the brick pavers and gave Valenti whom she had never met CPR. She pumped on his chest for nearly eight minutes, until an ambulance arrived, helping to save his life. Thank God she was there because every doctor Ive seen since Ive gotten back starts off with, Do you realize how lucky you are? said Valenti, 58, now back in Highland Park recovering from the ordeal. To have a nurse right next to me, literally, was just a miracle. Each year more than 350,000 people in the U.S. experience cardiac arrest which is when the heart suddenly stops beating outside of a hospital environment, according to the American Heart Association. About 90% of those people die, but performing immediate CPR can double or triple a persons chance of survival, according to the American Heart Association. Cardiac arrest is different than a heart attack. It was only after Lovelace gave Valenti CPR that she learned they were both from the Chicago area, vacationing in Arizona that week. I just said, Angelo, someone was watching out for you, said Susie Cohn, one of Valentis friends, who was on vacation with him at the time and saw everything unfold. Shes from Loyola. Were all from Chicago. Shes on vacation. Were on vacation. Lovelace, also 58, had flown from Chicago to Arizona early that same morning, and was visiting with friends over dinner at a restaurant in a Scottsdale shopping center. Yawning over her meal, Lovelace told her friends that she had to get going. As she was walking out of the shopping center with her friend and her friends adult son, Valenti and his friends and family were heading toward Shake Shack for dinner. Valenti, his wife and two 15-year-old twin sons were spending spring break in Arizona with Cohn and her family, who are longtime friends, also from Highland Park. As he was joking and talking, Valenti bumped into Cohn. He then fell onto the adult son of Lovelaces friend, walking nearby. The next thing we knew, he was on this guys feet, Cohn said. I thought he was being funny. At first, Lovelace also wondered if it was a joke. She soon realized it wasnt. I looked down and Im like, Oh, gosh, Lovelace said. He was really gray already. Her training as a nurse kicked in immediately, and she started directing the people around her to call 911 and search for an automated external defibrillator. She dropped to the ground and started chest compressions. People were crying and yelling his name, and I completely blocked that out, she said. Lovelace who has worked as a NICU nurse at Loyola for 37 years had performed CPR before, but never on an adult and never outside of a hospital. When she performs CPR on babies, she uses two fingers to press down on their chests. With Valenti, she had to use both hands, and the force of her entire body, to keep his heart pumping. Im only 5-foot, 2-inches, Lovelace said. I knew I had to go harder. Just a couple of weeks earlier, Lovelace had participated in a CPR review class. A few minutes in, she felt one of his ribs break from the pressure. She heard him draw in a sharp breath. In my mind, Im like, Oh buddy, Im sorry, but thank goodness youre still breathing, Lovelace said. An ambulance soon arrived, and the emergency medical technicians took over from Lovelace, and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Cohn turned to Lovelace to ask her if he was being taken to a good hospital, and Lovelace replied that she wasnt from Scottsdale. Thats when they realized they were all from the Chicago area. They exchanged numbers, and Lovelace followed up with Cohn in the following days to see how Valenti was doing. Valenti said for the first day or so that he was in the hospital, he wasnt responding to his name. But eventually he came around, to the relief of his family and friends. Doctors in Arizona inserted a implantable cardioverter defibrillator in his chest to prevent another cardiac arrest, Valenti said. Hes still not sure exactly what caused him to go into cardiac arrest that day in March, though he did have a mitral valve repair years ago. Valenti said he felt fine all day, leading up to his collapse in Scottsdale. About a week after going into cardiac arrest, Valenti was able to fly home to Highland Park. He has no memory of falling on the sidewalk in Scottsdale, and doesnt recall much about the day before or after. But his friends and family have filled him in about what Lovelace did that day. Im pretty amazed, just to be here and talking, Valenti said. I feel like I have another birthday March 24. I died and lived through it and now every day I have is extra thanks to Mary. Recently, Valenti called Lovelace to say thank you. They talked about their families, their jobs and, of course, the day she came to his rescue. It was very powerful, and us talking to each other, it was a very emotional conversation, Lovelace said. Im glad I was there at the right time to do what I know how to do and what Ive been trained to do over the years. Valenti plans to have Lovelace and her family over this summer, once hes fully recovered. He said hes already feeling much more like himself, with more energy and less pain in his chest. I told her we are forever connected, Valenti said. I said theres definitely going to be Christmas cards every year. Theres a bond there now. She will never have to buy another bottle of wine the rest of her life, said Valenti, who works for a wine distributor. Cohn, who witnessed everything, said what happened has given her renewed faith in humanity, especially when the world is a little upside down right now. It just really goes to show, for me, how a nurse isnt just someone who works their job when they clock in at a hospital, Cohn said. She just didnt hesitate. She didnt think twice. She was just on top of this man that she didnt know. It just shows what a heart nurses have. Their instinct just kicks in and they save people no matter if it was their vacation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday he has introduced legislation that would give congressional authorization for President Joe Biden to use U.S. military force in Ukraine if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. Speaking on CBS Face the Nation, the Illinois Republican said the joint resolution would not be a mandate for the Democratic president but rather a measure that would provide an option for Bidens administration while also sending a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pursues war with Ukraine. Advertisement It just says if it is used, (Biden) has that leverage. It gives him a better flexibility. But also, it is a deterrent to Vladimir Putin. If Vladimir Putin wants to escalate with the west, he will. Its easy for him to do it, said Kinzinger, a six-term congressman from Channahon who is not seeking reelection. Prior to World War II, there were moments nobody ever wanted to get involved and eventually came to realize they had to. I hope we dont get to that point here. But we should be ready if we do, he said. Advertisement Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., questions witnesses during the House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 27, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Kinzinger, a U.S. Air Force veteran with missions in Afghanistan and Iraq who is a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, said in a separate statement that his introduction of the use-of-military-force resolution came after speaking with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and hearing his grave concerns over Putins use of chemical weapons. Kinzinger, in his TV interview, also said he hoped there would be broad congressional support for Bidens call last week for $33 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine through September. Look, we do have outliers and people that seem to show some Putin sympathy, but for the most part Congress is vastly and largely united on the issue of Ukraine. We recognize Ukraine is fighting for all of us, Kinzinger said, citing some Republicans who have questioned providing U.S. aid to the war-torn country. That $33 billion is significantly less than what we would have to spend if we took Russia on directly, so I hope we dont have any impediments to that at all. I wouldnt expect we do. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. One federal district court judge should not be able to halt a federal government policy for the entire country. Yet that is exactly what happened when Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, in Tampa, Florida, ended the mandate for masks on airplanes, in airports, and on other forms of mass transportation. Within minutes of her ruling, some airlines including for planes in midair announced an end of their mask requirement. News reports focused on Mizelles not qualified rating by the American Bar Association and her astoundingly narrow interpretation of the powers of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that, if upheld on appeal, will leave the agency without the authority to act against communicable diseases in the future. What seems to have escaped attention is the urgent need to eliminate the power of a single federal judge to issue a nationwide injunction to stop the federal government from enforcing a law or policy as to anyone in the United States regardless of whether a broad injunction is necessary to provide relief for the plaintiff in the case. This is not a partisan issue. There have been nationwide injunctions issued against policies created by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Critics of such injunctions include staunch conservatives, like Justice Clarence Thomas, who called them legally and historically dubious. More recently, federal appeals court judge Jeffrey Sutton, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote, All in all, nationwide injunctions have not been good for the rule of law. ... The sooner they are confined to discrete settings or eliminated root and branch the better. Nationwide injunctions impose restrictions on people who were not defendants in the lawsuit and in doing so, these rulings expand the power of the district courts beyond all reason. Although there is some dispute over the history, nationwide injunctions were unknown until the 1960s, rare until the 21st century, and have dramatically increased over the last decade. They have been used by liberal judges to block the militarys dont ask, dont tell policy on gay troops, and by conservative judges to enjoin the Obama administrations immigration policies. No statute or Supreme Court decision authorizes nationwide injunctions. It is a power that federal courts have claimed as part of their authority to prohibit unconstitutional or illegal federal government actions. Ordinarily, one district court judge has no legal authority to bind other judges, just as one federal court of appeals has no authority to bind courts of appeals elsewhere in the country. Yet that is exactly the effect of a nationwide preliminary injunction: Mizelle issued a mask ruling that applied to the entire United States. Of course, there is nothing to stop another federal judge from hearing a case on the same issue, coming to an opposite conclusion and issuing a nationwide injunction that would conflict with the one already in place. That would put the federal government in the impossible position of deciding which ruling to follow. Nationwide injunctions also encourage forum shopping. A party wanting to stop a federal policy for the whole country will file the lawsuit in a district court where the judges are most likely to be receptive. Not surprisingly, challenges to policies of Democratic administrations such as the Affordable Care Act and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals were filed in a federal district court in Texas with very conservative justices. And challenges to the policies of former President Donald Trump were often filed in federal courts in California, where there was a greater chance of a liberal judge being assigned to the case. The Supreme Court could end this practice by making it clear that a federal district court judges ruling has no effect outside of that district and that a court of appeals decision has no effect outside of its circuit. Alternatively, Congress could enact legislation restricting the power of the federal district courts to issue nationwide injunctions. Congress has broad authority to establish and structure the lower federal courts, including by making rules governing court proceedings. In fact, a few years ago, the House Judiciary Committee proposed the Injunctive Authority Clarification Act of 2018, which would have ended the practice of nationwide preliminary injunctions. Not surprisingly, when there is a Democratic president, conservative litigants seek nationwide injunctions to halt federal policies. And the reverse occurs when there is a Republican president, with progressives turning to the federal courts. Regardless of the politics, it makes no sense to give one federal trial court judge the power to make a rule binding for the entire country. Mizelles misguided mask mandate decision is only the latest example of a bad practice that undermines orderly judicial processes and should be rejected by both sides of the partisan divide. Erwin Chemerinsky is dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law and a contributing writer to Opinion. He is the author, most recently, of Presumed Guilty: How the Supreme Court Empowered the Police and Subverted Civil Rights. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Moline man who was being electronically monitored as a probationer in Rock Island County in February is charged in Scott County in connection with a Feb. 8 shooting at a Davenport residence and for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and recording the acts on his Apple iPhone, Davenport police said. Domingo Tomas Garcia, 18, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count each of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, sexual exploitation of a minor-cause to engage in prohibited acts, and third-degree sexual abuse. Each of the charges is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. Garcia also is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and sexual exploitation of a minor-filming. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Daniel Reeves, at 1:13 a.m. Feb. 8, Davenport Police were sent to the 3600 block of Johnson Avenue to investigate a shots-fired call. Several neighbors reported hearing shots fired, but officers did not immediately find a scene. At 7:46 a.m., a person called and reported their home had been shot. Officers went to the victims home in the 3600 block of Johnson Avenue and found five .45-caliber shell casings and located three bullet holes in the property. Inside the home, officers recovered two bullets inside the master bedroom. During an interview with one of the victims in the home, police learned that Garcia was upset at his ex-girlfriend and shot at the house thinking she was there. In checking this, officers learned that Garcia was being electronically monitored by Rock Island County. The GPS system showed that Garcia was in the area of the 3600 block of Johnson Avenue at the time of the shooting. According to the affidavit, also on Feb. 8, Garcia was found to be guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm in Rock Island County. The victim told Davenport officers that Garcia admitted to the shooting on Facebook. A warrant was obtained for Garcias Facebook account. On Feb. 9, Garcia sent a message to another Facebook user admitting to shooting at the house. A search warrant was obtained for Garcias Apple iCloud account on which were several photos and video of Garcia possessing firearms. Garcia also recorded and saved to his Apple iPhone 15 videos of sexual acts with a 14-year-old victim. The victim was positively identified. Garcia posted one of the sex videos on his Facebook account with the knowledge or permission of the victim. The age of consent in Iowa is 16. Garcia was four years older than the victim at the time. Moline police arrested Garcia at noon Friday. He waived extradition to Iowa. He was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for Friday in district court. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 8 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Each flower, each name, meant a life lost, but also one remembered. "Deputy Nicholas Weist," Tony Liston, the chaplain for the Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, read on Sunday as he stood before the Rock Island County Justice Center. "Knox County Sheriff's Office." Weist was killed Friday in Henry County while helping to catch a fleeing person. Then came Terry Engle, Hampton Police Department chief, who was killed in 2020 when his squad crashed. In the end, Liston read 50 names going back to the 19th century and belonging to numerous departments in the area. Each was the name of a law enforcement official killed in the line of duty in the Quad-Cities area. As each name was announced, Rock Island County Correctional Officer Kat Johnson held up a flower. Each flower all but one white and that last was pink was retrieved by a loved one of the person being remembered, or a fellow member of law enforcement. Flower in hand, the bearer approached a white disc edged in blue and with a huge blue star dominating its center. Each person fixed their flower to the disc. In the star were the words "Some Gave All." The annual event is organized by the QCLEOM and involves services at an area church and a final ceremony at the physical memorial, which is at the Rock Island County Justice Center in downtown Rock Island. There are 48 names already on the physical memorial. The oldest is Thomas D. Moore, who was a patrolman with the Muscatine Police Department when he was killed in 1869. The most recent is Engle. The other new officer was one who had been forgotten until research uncovered him, Liston said. Roy Liesveld was a Moline Police Department officer who contracted the Spanish flu in 1918 while driving other people to the hospital to be treated for the disease, Liston said. Both he and Weist will be added to the memorial, Liston said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Davenport Community School District awarded the 2022 Dooley Scholarship to a Central High School senior planning to attend Augustana College this fall. Maitreyi Shrikhande, who plans to study psychology and pre-medicine, was notified Friday that she will have $20,000 to help her to achieve her academic goals, according to a news release from the school district. Shrikhande said in the release that being a doctor had always been a goal and working in psychiatry had become a passion. The scholarship is an annual award given to a Davenport high school senior who wants to become a medical doctor. It is named after Dr. Thomas Anthony Dooley, who operated medical clinics in Vietnam and Laos. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On the heels of a spike in gun fire in 2020, and months after forming a closed-doors task force to address gun violence in Davenport, city officials say this summer they will start implementing a strategy that has reduced gun violence in other communities. Davenport is interviewing candidates to fill a coordinator position that will lead the violence-prevention strategy, called Group Violence Intervention, that engages people most likely to experience violence in their lives. Group Violence Intervention is a messaging strategy that city officials say has led to fewer homicides and gun violence in communities like Boston and Cincinnati. Cedar Rapids implemented it in the last year, and officials there say it has seen early successes. Mayor Mike Matson said the idea got support when it was floated by his violent crime task force, a panel Matson called together last summer that hasn't yet issued any written, public recommendations for addressing gun violence. City officials say the strategy pinpoints on a fraction of a percent of the population who are members of social networks, such as formal gangs or neighborhood posses, who commit violence together and are at high risk of committing or becoming victims of violence. The strategy uses community members, social service organizations and law enforcement to send a moral message against violence and to emphasize the legal consequences of violence and offer help escaping it. The coordinator, a two-year grant-funded position, would find and coordinate messengers, track data on the program and coordinate resources to address participants challenges, such as housing, physical and mental health care, and substance abuse, according to the City of Davenports job posting. City officials hope hire by mid-to-late May, and Davenport Police Major Jeff Bladel said the police department expects to provide training for its officers about the violence intervention strategy around the same time. In 2020, Davenport police responded to a record-high number of shots-fired calls, prompting Matson to form a violent crime task force, which alongside city staff would investigate ways to address violent crime, including the Group Violence Intervention strategy, used in other communities. In July, the Davenport City Council approved federal COVID-19 relief funds for a two-year $385,000 contract to National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College for technical help launching the citys new approach to violence intervention. In March, city, court and social service organization representatives attended a training workshop in New York City. We are right at the turning point now, where we are moving from education on the strategy into implementation," said Sarah Ott, chief strategy officer for the city of Davenport. Mirroring national trends, in the year after the record highs of 2020, the number of shots fired and gunshot victims in Davenport dropped in 2021. The number of confirmed shots-fired calls peaked in 2020 at 282 calls, according to data from a records request from the city. Fifty-six people were shot, eight died. In 2021, that number dropped to 208 confirmed shots fired calls, 50 people shot and six deaths. From January to March 21 of this year, nine people have been shot, and two people were killed, according to the records requested. The average age of victims ranges between 20 and 25 years old. In 2021, three of the six people who died from gun fire were under the age of 18. The coordinator position is funded for two years through American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief funds, Ott said. Eventually, Ott said city officials hope that the position finds a home under the umbrella of a community organization. Were going to have discussions with our community partners: Where does that position live long term?" Ott said. "Is it with the city? Is it with a service organization? Is it with a funding partner? Im not sure what that will look like. Our intent is not necessarily to just jettison it after two years. The city is asking for applicants with a bachelors degree in criminal justice, social services, public administration or a related area, and three years of experience related to the job duties. It also asks for candidates with strong project management, public outreach and multi-disciplinary coordination skills. How will this new strategy work? The GVI partnership communicates directly with group members, conveying a powerful community message about disapproval for violence and in support of community aspirations; concrete opportunities for both immediate and longer-term assistance and support; and clear prior notice of the legal risks associated with continued violence. The partnership then delivers swiftly on these commitments, a brief explaining the concept of the Group Violence Intervention strategy from the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College outlines. According to the college, even in communities with high rates of violence, very few people are involved in homicides and shootings. Typically, less than half a percent of a citys population contribute to as much as 70% of its homicide and gun violence, according to a 2015 analysis from the school. Despite this, law enforcement has traditionally used broad enforcement tactics, reducing trust and harming communities. Groups according to John Jay College, refer to social networks whose members commit violent crimes together and can include anything from national organized gangs, to neighborhood crews or posses that claim a particular block. According to the college, personal slights, peer pressure and a street code among groups drive cycles of retaliation. Young men in these groups face homicide rates 100 times that of the national average, according to a 2017 study. The Group Violence Intervention strategy, then, focuses acutely on those groups and brings messengers, such as a parent whose child died because of gun violence, to deliver an anti-violence message. According to the National Network, communication about the strategy could happen anywhere but gave two methods for structured communication. The first is a call-in, where law enforcement identify members of violent groups who can be compelled to attend the call-in because of terms of their probation or parole. The second are called custom notifications which are home or street visits that communicate the anti-violence messaging to specific people from people in who can be credible messengers. These flexible visits can be deployed quickly to help interrupt cycles of violence, address retaliation and active disputes, calm hot spots and address impact players including those who are not on supervision and difficult to reach, a pamphlet described. So, who would bring the messaging? It could be community moral voices, such as family members of children killed, ex-offenders or former group members, faith leaders and survivors of violence, according to the National Network. Support and outreach program providers, too, could include mentoring programs, trauma care providers, school and job help, and physical and mental health services. Organizations like Family Resources, a Davenport-based organization that offers free services to victims of violent crime, can connect people with services they may need such as therapy or safe and affordable housing, said Nicole Durbin, executive director of Family Resources and an attendee at the New York City workshop. Already, Durbin said, Family Resources arrives in neighborhoods after police respond to shots-fired calls, to offer services to families in the area. The Group Violence Intervention strategy, Durbin said, focuses on offering those support structures to people with proximity to gun violence to break cycles of violence. "It's going to take a lot of coordination and consistency and really demonstrating to the community that it's a partnership," Durbin said. "It's not just about law enforcement. It's not just about social services. It's about all of us saying we're not OK with people dying. You know, I don't care if you have a record ... . You still deserve to be alive, safe and out of jail. So how do we help you?" Durbin said moving forward with the new strategy would show where the Quad-Cities needed more services, like the number of licensed therapists. "In general, the amount of funding that we have for our survivor services is not enough to cover the needs that exist in our community," Durbin said. "So there will be a capacity issue ... . So it's a matter of thinking through what resources already exist and are helpful and do they have the capacity to continue to help, and what resources are we missing?" According to the National Network, the partnership emphasizes prevention over enforcement, but when enforcement is necessary, GVI capitalizes on the fact that groups are involved in a variety of criminal offenses. That means that the law enforcement partnership has a wide menu of options for delivering sanctions to the entire group in addition to pursuing individual perpetrators of violence. Collecting and investigating data on groups in Davenport Staff at the National Network at John Jay and the Davenport police are conducting an audit of the past five years of violent crime to identify whom to target. Major Jeff Bladel said in the past three years, the Davenport Police Department had investigated 24 homicides, 120 non-fatal shootings and 683 shots-fired calls. The numbers Bladel pulled, he said, may be different from ones provided in a records request because he pulled numbers from the gun crimes unit, which reviews each report and vets the shots-fired calls. But, gun crimes are being committed by a very small share of the population, Bladel said. When you come down from the 30,000-foot view, and you're looking at who is actually pulling the triggers in our community, it is a small group of individuals, Ott said. And so when you can focus on that, it seems much less overwhelming. It is manageable. This is something that our community together can really tackle. Whats next? The March workshop in New York City was attended by representatives from Davenport city administration, Davenport police, Scott County Sheriffs Office, the 7th Judicial District, correctional services, the Scott County Attorneys Office, juvenile court services, Davenport Community Schools, Scott County YMCA, Family Resources, QC Community Foundation and four community members, according to Ott. Ott and Bladel, in an interview in early April, said the city was planning outreach to social service organizations and putting together a framework for implementing the strategy in the weeks after returning from New York. We would want to start soon, but itll be a process, right? Probably the entire the two years moving, growing, and learning, and adjusting the strategy, Bladel said. And building capacity, Ott added. On the violent crime task force formed last summer Since Matson announced a violent-crime task force in June 2021 in the wake of a surge of shootings, the group has met five times, according to Matson, and does not have any upcoming meetings planned, nor has made any formal recommendations. Upon its formation, the 29-member task force, made up of city elected officials, staff, social service organization staffers, school officials and courts representatives, expressed unanimously the panel should be closed to the public to encourage frank and open discussions before trying to get community buy-in on recommendations, Matson said. The task force hasnt issued any formal recommendations, Matson said. However, city staff did float the idea of the Group Violence Intervention strategy with the panel, which fully supported the recommendation, he said. The panel did not formally vote. Otherwise, Matson said, the group focused on big-picture hurdles to tackling crime in the short and long term, including discussing education and housing challenges. City officials stress that the city's efforts will take some time to show results. We didnt get into this problem overnight, and were not going to fix this problem overnight, Ott said. But I will say that the mayor, our City Council, our police department, our city leadership is absolutely dedicated to addressing this. We cant do it alone. If you or a loved one have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or other violence, Family Resources has 24-hour toll free crisis line: 866-921-3354. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES Soon, 16- and 17-year-old workers at child care centers in Iowa will be able to work unsupervised, and all workers will be allowed to oversee more children, if Gov. Kim Reynolds signs into law legislation headed her way. The Iowa Legislature approved the bill last week with mostly Republican support. They said the proposal will help child care centers to address critical staffing shortages. Democrats warned that the legislation will not address the shortage in a meaningful way because most centers will choose to not take advantage of the loosened regulations. And in the cases where centers do, Democrats warned it could create dangerous scenarios. Workforce shortages have been brought up quite often over the last couple of months, and I think this is a good answer to that, Sen. Craig Johnson, a Republican from Independence, said during Senate debate on the bill. Its the option (for) an employer to utilize their workforce. Its an opportunity for more Iowans to go to work. Like many areas of the country, child care staffing, access and affordability are issues in Iowa. According to state figures, almost 1 in 4 Iowans live in a child care desert, which is an area with a shortage of licensed child care providers. The issue is more pronounced in rural Iowa, where more than 1 in 3 Iowans live in child care deserts. A family earning the states median income of roughly $77,000 would pay 15 percent of that income on child care at a licensed center, or 10 percent at a registered home, according to the states Child Care Resource and Referral. The national nonprofit advocacy organization Child Care Aware of America classifies affordable child care as 7 percent of a familys income. And 4 out of 5 child care centers nationally said they are experiencing a staffing shortage, according to a recent survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The legislation would address only the workforce issue at child care centers. In addition to allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work unsupervised, it would allow child care centers to operate with one worker for every seven 2-year-olds and one worker for every 10 3-year-olds. The measure does not contain any provision to encourage the establishment of more child care centers, lower costs to families or increase child care workers wages. The Republican majority Iowa Legislature did pass in 2021 legislation that allows more low-income Iowans to access the states child care assistance program. This is a workforce issue. This is not the only thing thats going to solve this problem, but its part of the issue, Rep. Ann Meyer, a Republican from Fort Dodge, said earlier this year during House debate on the proposal. Its opening up more possibilities to child care centers if they choose to take them. Most Democrats were staunchly opposed to the proposal, saying it does nothing to meaningfully address child care issues. Iowa parents deserve better, Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, leader of the minority House Democrats from Windsor Heights, told reporters last week. Just because we dont have enough child care spots, instead of just shoving more kids in a room with younger people, maybe we should be focused on opening more centers, partnering with more communities, making sure that across the state were opening up opportunities for affordable child care instead of just trying to make do with what we have. The legislation, House File 2198, was approved by both the House and Senate and is now awaiting Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signature to become law. It is the only child care bill that has passed both chambers and made it to the governor this session. That sort of sideways look at addressing the child care crisis is indicative of what (Reynolds) and Republican leaders continue to do, which is to make piecemeal, tiny steps in the wrong direction and then claim victory over one of the problems, Konfrst said. I promise you, Republicans (seeking votes) on the doors this summer will say they fixed Iowas child care crisis. And my question for everybody at the door is ask back, Oh yeah, why dont I have a spot for my kid? Why dont my neighbors have an opportunity to get child care so they can go back to work? Sen. Zach Wahls, leader of the minority Senate Democrats from Coralville, said its not just Democrats opposed to the proposal, but that child care centers dont want the changes, either. I would be mostly interested in what Iowa child care providers think. Theyre the ones who actually deliver this essential service to Iowa families and children. And what Iowa child care providers tell us is that these (staff to child) ratios are dangerous, they wont solve the problem. And many of them wont actually change their practice, because they dont feel like they can safely deliver that service, Wahls said. So I think that tells you everything that you need to know. There is no statewide organization representing child care centers that lobbied on the legislation, according to state lobbying records. The Iowa Alliance of YMCAs, Easter Seals, and the respite provider ChildServe registered in support of the proposal; among those registered in opposition are the advocacy group Save the Children, and the progressive advocacy organization Common Good Iowa. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Corvallis School Foundation is hosting a Spring Fling celebration and fundraising effort featuring the Big Sky Mudflaps on May 14. The Corvallis School Foundation (CSF) works to inspire, innovate and invest in opportunities for all Corvallis students. CSF Board Chair Harlene Marks said the Spring Fling fundraising event will directly benefit Corvallis Schools. "But maybe more importantly it's a chance for people to get out and have some fun while supporting a good cause," Marks said. The evening at the barn on the Teller Wildlife Refuge will feature a dinner buffet catered by the Wild Mare, desserts, raffles, the live music of the Big Sky Mudflaps and plenty of fun. Maureen Powell, a retired Corvallis arts educator and founding member of the Mudflaps, is super excited about the Spring Fling event to benefit the Corvallis School Foundation. It is certainly near and dear to my heart to help out the Corvallis schools, she said. It is always a good time to go out to the Teller and use that space. It is so beautiful out there and were hoping for a really nice day to be outside, but there is a barn so well take whatever comes. The Big Sky Mudflaps started playing together in 1975. Its been 47 years of enjoying playing for people and enjoying the music, Powell said. Weve been playing a long time, but it just feels like yesterday. Its always fun. It is a privilege and a treat at the same time. The musicians started playing in Darby at The Sawmill in 1975 where they would close the place down then go have breakfast, Powell said. For the first 15 years, the band did a lot of traveling, then dialed it back to just performing in the Northwest. Soon they chose to be a Montana band with limited traveling. Weve done lots of parties, weddings and events which are a whole lot of fun, Powell said. Every change that has happened with the band just made it more fun. Thats what works, we always have a good time playing together. Some of the members of the band will be just coming from playing Jazzoula, Missoula's Community jazz festival, and at the Paris Gibson Museum Art Gala in Great Falls. Im really excited to play for the Corvallis School Foundation, Powell said. Having worked out there I know Corvallis schools are a treasure in the valley and I cant wait to see everybody and play music for them. The event on May 14 is a fundraiser but also a celebration of the work by the Corvallis Schools Foundation. The Corvallis Schools Foundation was formed in 1998 and is a 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit. Gifts to the CSF provide resources to enrich and enhance the educational opportunities and experiences of Corvallis students. The CSF website says, The Corvallis School District has a reputation for quality for going the extra mile to meet the needs of all children. Support for the Corvallis Schools Foundation is a way for all of us to ensure that the tradition of excellence continues and reaches all students. Each year the CSF provides classroom grants to educators, which totaled $60,000 last year, and selects a special project for funding. The special projects have had a big impact on students. For the 2018-2019 school year CSF raised $13,000 the purchase microscopes for the 450 students in middle school science classes. In the 2019-2020 school year, CSF raised $47,500 to purchase quality musical instruments for Corvallis music programs from kindergarten through high school. For the 2020-2021 school year, CSF raised $28,000 to support outdoor science education for Corvallis students. For 2021-2022, CSF has selected the special project of enhancing hands-on science education by establishing a new comprehensive school-wide STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) program. The new curriculum will cover robotics, coding design, engineering, circuits, electricity, architecture and CSF will provide tools and equipment. CSF will also provide 20 compact stereo microscopes to support science lab activities and a sanitizing glassware washer to enable sterile experiments in science and agriculture classes at the high school. Tickets to the Spring Fling celebration and fundraiser cost $35 and can be purchased from a board member or by going to the website. "We're excited to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of the Corvallis Schools Foundation with the entire community," Marks said. "And having a band like the Mudflaps, with deep ties to the Bitterroot, makes it all the more special." For more information about the Corvallis Schools Foundation, or to purchase tickets to the Spring Fling check out the Foundation's website http://www.csfmontana.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A driver hit and killed a pedestrian on West Broad Street late Saturday, then fled the scene. When Henrico County police responded to the crash at 11:45 p.m., officers found the pedestrian unresponsive. Despite immediate attempts to save the victims life, the person succumbed to injuries by midnight. Witnesses said the driver was operating either a two- or four-door Honda with extensive front end damages, according to the police release. It was last seen headed westbound. While the investigation is ongoing, West Broad Street from Enterprise Parkway to Bethlehem Road will be blocked. No further information is known about the pedestrian. Another driver killed someone walking in a hit-and-run crash in Henrico County on Tuesday morning. The person killed was Thomas Sotos, 61, who died after he was taken to a hospital. In Tuesdays crash, police said they are searching for a pearl white 2015 Toyota Prius missing an inner wheel well and passenger side mirror cover. This is the latest in a slew of recent pedestrian deaths by drivers. A Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis of pedestrian killings found 2020 had been the deadliest year for pedestrians in the Richmond region in over a decade, with 32 deaths and 52 serious injuries across Richmond and surrounding counties, including Chesterfield and Henrico. Signs across the city reminding motorists that it is state law to stop for pedestrians are either entirely gone or showing significant damage, likely due to cars hitting them. At the end of January, The Times-Dispatch reported that the city had replaced at least 73 signs in the past year. The most dangerous corridor, according to Department of Motor Vehicles data, is Broad Street. Sixty pedestrians had been hit on that road in Richmond over the past five years. Anyone who has additional information about Saturday nights hit-and-run or the person driving a Honda with front-end damage can contact Henrico police at (804) 501-5000. First-time homebuyer Cammie Dare is happy with the house she recently bought in Richmonds North Side neighborhood, but the process of getting it wasnt easy. Dare, a 29-year-old advertising and marketing professional, spent eight months looking for her first home. She made offers on six houses before finally getting one in December, albeit at more than the price she had initially hoped to pay. I knew how crazy the market competition was for housing, so it was not necessarily surprising, but it was definitely discouraging, said Dare, who formerly rented in Richmond. It is frustrating when you get rejection after rejection. Every single offer I made, I would waive inspection and appraisal and do whatever I had to do because I knew how tough the market was. Dares story isnt unusual. Finding and buying a home in the Richmond region is a challenge these days, as prices continue to rise and the number of homes going on the market remains below the demand for housing. Industry experts say the imbalance is likely to remain for some time. The pace of new homes going on the market seems to have slowed for multiple reasons including the disruptions to construction caused by the pandemic and more retired people aging in place instead of selling homes. The number of new single-family home listings in the Richmond metro area declined about 11% in the first three months of 2022 compared with 2021, while the average sale price for a single-family home jumped more than 11% to $397,000 in the same period, according to the Richmond Association of Realtors. That data does not include town homes or condominiums. New listings of those types of housing were down 26% in the first three months of 2022 compared with the same period last year, while the average sale price was up almost 17% to nearly $338,000. An analysis of home sales data by the Richmond Times-Dispatch found that since 2017, average sale prices across the city of Richmond and Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties have shot up by more than $120,000, despite median household income increasing by less than $10,000 in that time period. Furthermore, the traditional starter home price point is rapidly vanishing from the market. In 2017, over 30% of home sales in the area closed for $200,000 or less. Now, less than one of 10 houses sells below that threshold, while twice as many homes sell for over $500,000. The situation we are in today is the situation we have been in for at least the last five-plus years, and that is demand is far outstripping supply, said Laura Lafayette, CEO of the Richmond Association of Realtors. That is particularly true in the first-time homebuyer market. I am talking about anything under $300,000. It is very hard for new construction to come out of the ground below that price point, Lafayette said. We just see a lot of folks who are living in the first-time homebuyer inventory but are not moving out of it. Richmond's hot housing market follows a national trend Across the U.S., homes spent an average of 25 days on the market in February, less than half as long as two years ago. And according to Bank of America, home prices are expected to increase 10% by the end of 2022. Serial robber gets 40 years in $43K robbery of VA-Horseplay betting parlor in Henrico, plus Colorado holdup A convicted serial robber with a gambling addiction was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Richmond to 40 years in prison for the robbery Compounding the issue are high mortgage rates. U.S. mortgage rates have been rising for the past two months, climbing to their highest level in more than a decade. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage was at 5.1% last week. The last time it went higher than recent weeks was in April 2010, when it reached 5.21%. By contrast, a year ago, the 30-year rate stood at 2.97%. The average rates in recent months are the fastest pace of increases since 1994, data shows. The market has been hot for years, but even during the pandemic, first-time homebuyers have had to be fast to make an offer in hopes of getting a home in their price range, said Jovan Burton, executive director of the Partnership for Housing Affordability. The Times-Dispatchs analysis found that prior to the pandemic, the average home was listed for slightly over a month before selling. But homes sold in 2022 have been on the market for an average of just 18 days. If you are looking, you are going to have to make a decision fairly quickly almost immediately upon seeing the property and pay well over asking price, Burton said. You may have to waive things like inspection and appraisals. What we are seeing is a lack of inventory, and sustained demand. The competition is being made more difficult by folks who are willing to pay for a property in cash and sight unseen. I think that will deter some folks from pursuing homeownership for the time being, he said. This isnt something that is just going to end or evaporate in the next few months or year or so. This is likely to be a sustained competitive market for a couple of years. Dare said she was looking for a house around or below $300,000, but she ultimately paid $342,000 for a 1,250-square-foot home with two beds and two baths. The asking price was $314,500. I had made offers for $370,000 for houses, and I am kind of relieved now that I did not get that, Dare said. Her new home is on a big lot, and I have a huge backyard. Dare said her original preference was for a house in the Tuckahoe area near the University of Richmond, but those houses were going for $80,000 to $100,000 over the asking prices with cash offers, and I just could not compete with that, she said. 'We have to think about a greater variety of products' Five years ago, less than one-third of buyers in the Richmond area paid above the asking price. Since the start of 2021, that figure has risen to nearly 65%. Lafayette of the Realtors Association attributes the current housing market conditions to multiple factors, including the disruptions caused to construction by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seniors also are choosing to stay in their homes rather than move into retirement communities, she said. We have seniors that are aging in place and not moving, Lafayette said. Some of them are not moving by choice, and some are doing it because they do not know what their next affordable step is going to be. We live in a region with a profound lack of affordable, professional care facilities. They [seniors] are staying put, because at the very least they do not have a mortgage on their house, she added. We have to think about a greater variety of products that allow people to build equity, Lafayette said. We have to think more strategically about design. We have to understand that you can have more dense development with quality housing that in no shape or way affects the property values around them. Dare, the first-time homebuyer, said she feels lucky to have had a good realtor to help her. For new homebuyers, I feel like we are competing with so many people that have New York City salaries and are working remotely and have moved back here during the pandemic, and other people that just want to rent out and have these all-cash offers. She has two pieces of advice for homebuyers: Find a good realtor that you enjoy working with, Dare said. That really just made the process so much better for me. My other advice is be patient that the right house will come around, she said. Easier said than done. jblackwell@timesdispatch.com (804) 775-8123 smcgoey@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6012 Twitter: @SeanMcGoey The Associated Press contributed to this report. John Reid Blackwell Follow John Reid Blackwell 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 Two adult eagles care for two eaglets in a nest in an undisclosed location in the Forest Preserve District of Will County. It is one of two eagle nests known to be in the preserves. (Bertrand Leclercq) The bald eagles have landed in Will County. They also have mated, nested and given rise to a new generation of eaglets. And those may be becoming more common happenings in the area. Advertisement The Forest Preserve District of Will County confirmed in late April that two eaglets were spotted in an undisclosed location within its boundaries. Bertrand Leclercq, a regular contributor to the Will County Wildlife Facebook Group, captured images of the eaglets. Leclercq, a 48-year-old originally from France and now living in Naperville, regularly hikes and takes photos across the Will County preserves. Advertisement I have a job that can be stressful at times, so when I have a day off, I go out and take photos in the preserves, Leclercq said. I like to look for bald eagles, especially. This winter, he was walking in a preserve when he saw a nest and a couple of eagles bringing branches to it. He decided to come back on a mid-April afternoon when he saw the eagles carrying fish back to the nest. He decided to wait for nearly two hours more than the National Audubon Societys recommended 330 feet from the nest. I always make sure Im not interfering with the animals, he said. I dont want the animals to see me. Bald eagle nests typically measure 4-5 feet wide and 2-4 feet deep, according to the district, making it hard to spot eaglets when they are first born. But Leclercq knows eaglets typically feed hourly, so he waited. His patience paid off when he saw two immature bald eagles, which remain mostly brown until they are 4-5 years old, at which point they showcase their trademark white heads. I was very excited, Leclercq said. An adult eagle brings fish back to the nest for its eaglets. The image was captured by Bertrand Leclercq, a regular contributor to the Will County Wildlife Facebook group. (Bertrand Leclercq) The nest is one of two known eagle nests within the district, though following federal regulations, the district never divulges locations to help protect the birds. The nest spotted by Leclercq also produced two offspring last year, according to the district. Nests may require maintenance but are often used year after year by eagles. An increasing number of immature bald eagles signals that the adult birds may be residents of the area rather than migrants, according to the district. It also signals that the preserves have good, clean water and a healthy fish population. Advertisement Apparently were meeting all their requirements if theyre having successful nests, said Bob Bryerton, an interpretive naturalist with the district. We get to see eagles now because were taking care of our habitat. Theyll build a nest, and if theyre successful there, if theyre getting food for the babies and getting everything they need and theyre not having to work super hard to do that theyll return and theyll nest again. Eagles have been rebounding since the 1970s, according to the district. Some even stay in Illinois year-round now, rather than going north during the summer. Though, many still migrate to the state in the winter. They are often found near open water, where they feed. They can get by on smaller lakes and water, but river corridors such as the Des Plaines and Kankakee bigger water, as Bryerton describes it tend to be popular for eagles. Along the river corridors, theyre a little more numerous, Bryerton said. Eagles have been on the rebound across the United States. The Forest Preserve District of Will County notes that the increasing prevalence of immature eaglets in the preserves is a sign the birds are calling it home rather than simply migrating through the area. (Bertrand Leclercq) Courtship typically takes place in January and early February in the Midwest, with eggs being laid at the end of February, according to the district. Eaglets start exploring outside of the nest roughly 10 weeks after hatching. At 12 weeks, they will start testing their wings, but remain in the area with their parents for the rest of the summer and into the fall. Eventually, though, they need their own territory, according to Bryerton. They do have to find their own space at some point, he explained. Their parents pretty much have that area established. Once theyre adults, theyre not going to share. Resources are pretty limited. Advertisement Northern eagles typically migrate south for open-water fishing during the winter, which is when they are often spotted in the Will County preserves. They can often be seen at Lake Renwick Preserve in Plainfield, McKinley Woods in Channahon, Rock Run Rookery Preserve in Joliet and Whalon Lake in Naperville. Leclercq said Channahon is one of his favorite spots to explore because he tends to see a lot of eagles there, but he knows of five or six nests across the Chicago area. He first became fascinated with the birds because they are a symbol of the United States. Its a very beautiful bird, big bird, he said. I think its the most captivating bird in the country. When he spots eagles or any other great sights in the preserves, he shares images with the Facebook group. He enjoys seeing what others post there, as well. Thats how I met a lot of people who share the same passion as me, he said. Thats how I got more interested, more involved with the wildlife in our area. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Bryerton said bald eagle sightings are more common than people may realize these days, with the population growing. There are more nests not only in the preserves but also the surrounding area. Bryerton started bird-watching in the early 1990s, when seeing a bald eagle was a super-big deal because of the rarity. Advertisement Since that time, the eagles have done really, really well, Bryerton said. I know Im seeing them on a more regular basis than they were in the past. Part of it is just knowing what to look for, Bryerton said. While eagles are big birds, the area also has hawks and vultures, so people often assume a big bird is one of those. But bald eagles look bigger and flatter when flying than most other birds in the area, Bryerton explained. It takes a little bit of practice to get the eye to spot the eagle, he added. Despite sightings becoming more common, Bryerton said it is still cool any time he gets to witness a bald eagle flying, sitting, tending to a nest or anything else. It never gets old, he said. I still get worked up. Its still amazing to see an eagle. I never get tired of seeing them. Its just cool that theyre here. Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Paige Quilter was 11 years old when her mother, Pat Quilter, decided she wanted to host her very own arts festival in her Richmond neighborhood. Now, 51 years later, Quilter is continuing her mothers legacy. Arts in the Park has returned to Byrd Park after two years hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. As Quilter looked over the crowd of thousands on Saturday, she couldnt help but recall the festivals humble beginnings. Theres a lot of people here whove been here all 51 years like myself, Quilter said. It really is a project of love around here, and we do a lot of good with it. Quilter said she and her childhood friends used to be the events runners some odd years ago. Theyd go from porch to porch helping vendors sell their art to friends and families to avoid breaking a city ordinance that prohibited money exchanges in public parks at the time. That made things kind of wild, Quilter said. As president of the Carillon Civic Association, Quilter and a host of volunteers helped organize more than 450 art vendors for this years event. Quilter said shes expecting more than 40,000 people from all over the country to partake in one of Richmonds premier art exchanges during its two-day run. This is one of the most serious places Richmonders come to buy art, she said. And people come here from all over the East Coast. Weve got people here from New York right now, North Carolina, South Carolina and more. Everyone is so excited its back, you know. The people need this. Although people have come and gone from the Carillon neighborhood, Quilter was excited to welcome both familiar and fresh faces to the Arts in the Park festival after some time away. Artists like Debi Dwyer have been selling goods at Arts in the Park for more than 17 years. Dwyer, who works with stained glass, said its heartening to come back to so many familiar faces. I have a lot of loyal customers that come back every year, which is super cool, Dwyer said as she polished one of her stained-glass figurines. It seems to be a place where people come, talk to artists and enjoy their family. Arts in the Park continues Sunday. Admission is free, and vendors open their tents between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Quilter said she hopes everyone gets an opportunity to receive the gift she and her mother have developed for the community. We formed Arts in the Park as a way to unite the community for a common goal, and that was to bring the love of art to the Richmond community, she said. It was a gift to our neighborhood, and it is a gift to the city. Veteran photojournalist Bob Brown has seen it all and done it all over a career spanning more than 50 years, and along the way hes won pretty much every award in Virginia journalism. He added another last week a month after his retirement from the Richmond Times-Dispatch when he received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Press Association. The award was presented virtually by the organization during its annual News & Advertising Contest. Brown, 84, joined Richmond newspapers in 1968 as a staff photographer and for more than five decades he chronicled life from every corner of Virginia. He also was a mainstay at the Virginia General Assembly, covering the legislature beginning in 1970. His coverage of the 2022 session ended just before his retirement on March 31. VPAs Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented only occasionally, is intended to honor a recipient whose lifetime of work in the newspaper industry deserves special recognition, said VPA Executive Director Betsy Edwards. Nobody fits the bill more than Bob, Edwards said. Hes a Virginia institution. I think he demonstrates that even though hes been at it for 50-some years, the need for great photojournalism hasnt changed. The technology may have changed, the way we distribute photos may have changed, but a great photojournalist is not passe. A great photojournalist is as important today as they were 50 years ago, and Bobs the epitome of that. Paige Mudd, local news director for the East Region for Lee Enterprises Inc. and former executive editor of The Times-Dispatch, described Brown as an impeccable journalist who has been generous with his time and skills to serve as a mentor to so many. Anyone who has worked with Bob or shared a meal, a drink, a joke or a wild story from the reporting trenches with him is a better person for it, Mudd said. I cant think of anyone more deserving of this honor. When asked for his reaction to the reward, Brown joked, I figured if I stuck around long enough Id get it. More seriously, he said, Its always good when youre honored by your peers. I really appreciate that. Its doubtful anyone enjoyed their work more than Brown, who often quipped, as he did Thursday, Its been like being paid for your hobby for 50 years. Over the years, he has collected many state and national awards for his photography, including in last weeks VPA contest in which he took home two first-place awards, a second and a third. He has been chosen Virginia News Photographer of the Year three times, and he was the first photojournalist inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. He also was the first photojournalist to receive the George Mason Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Virginia Pro chapter, and is a member of the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association Hall of Fame. He has been honored with resolutions in the General Assembly for being a witness to history. Before he retired, Brown said he knew he would miss being in the middle of stuff, and he has to some extent. But for someone whos been going full-tilt for more than 60 years he worked a decade in television production before joining the newspaper he has come to enjoy waking up every morning and, as he said, wondering if its Saturday or Sunday. He also has remained so busy around his Varina home, particularly with Lucy, his new Jack Russell terrier puppy that was a retirement gift from his wife, Evelyn, that he went several weeks without even picking up his cameras before slinging them over his shoulders to shoot a granddaughters wedding last weekend. For someone who rarely went anywhere without a camera hanging around his neck, I couldnt help but double-check for confirmation: So you really didnt pick up your cameras for weeks? Well, he acknowledged with a laugh, I may have picked them up to move them from one place to another. Chipotle Mexican Grill continued its swift expansion across the region with the grand opening of its fifth outlet in the Roanoke Valley. The newest restaurant, located off Orange Avenue Northeast along U.S. 460 near Bonsack, debuted at the end of March. The site features a Chipotlane, a drive-thru for digital orders, for easy pick-up of the fast-casual eaterys signature burritos and bowls. The drive-thru amenity was first introduced by the California-based chain in 2018 as it worked to boost its online ordering market share. The lanes are now included in a majority of new Chipotles. The newest local branch of Chipotle, whose restaurants are all company-owned, marks the fourth site opened in the region since 2019. Locations are now up and running in Valley View, Tanglewood and Salem. The first Chipotle in the valley was opened at Towers Shopping Center in 2011. The recent proliferation of the restaurant comes as its headquarters is pursuing an ambitious goal to more than double its footprint across North America. In February, company leaders announced the opening of their 3,000th location and set a target of eventually growing to 7,000 restaurants, up from a prior goal of 6,000, according to a CNN Business report. The newest local Chipotle, built at 3661 Blue Hills Village Drive, is part of a spate of new destinations going up around the Blue Hills Village shopping center. Starbucks opened at the other end of the center last year, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe was announced as a neighbor to the Chipotle. In a news release announcing the latest opening, Chipotle said its eateries employ an average of 25 people. The restaurants are hiring in Roanoke. The newest location is open from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Contact Alicia Petska at alicia.petska@roanoke.com The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation announces End of the Line, on exhibit from May 10 to June 25 in the Alexander Black House main galleries. End of the Line, a multi-media exhibition by Bill Ratcliffe, examines the final destination for most consumed goods the landfill. In the United States alone, an estimated total of 146 million tons of material went into landfills in 2018. Sites such as those featured in this body of work address aspects of the burial of solid waste, said Ratcliffe. This exhibit allows for the viewing of sites rarely seen by the general public. As Ratcliffe considers the spaces occupied by our waste, they represent the idea of a magical place called away where things can be sent and forgotten. With examination, these places may help us to heal from our obsession to consume at all costs. Ratcliffe, a native of southwestern Virginia, first worked in a darkroom in 1993, and went on to earn a BFA and MFA with a fine art photography concentration. He has since worked as a freelance photographer, exhibiting artist and photography instructor. He has exhibited in numerous solo, group and juried shows across the states, and his images have been published in magazines in the U.S. and the Philippines. He has received numerous awards for his photography. A reception for End of the Line will be held Friday, May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., and is open to the public. The Alexander Black House is located at 204 Draper Road SW in Blacksburg. Regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. To learn more, go to blacksburgmuseum.org, or call 443-1600. - Submitted by Janean Williams Elizabeth Prior, a graduate research assistant in biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech, is one of 100 doctoral candidates in the United States and Canada selected to receive a prestigious $20,000 P.E.O. Scholar Award from the P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Sisterhood. Prior was nominated by local P.E.O. Chapter AH in Blacksburg. Prior is a 2019 graduate of Auburn University with a B.C.E. in civil engineering, and she received a Certificate of Geospatial Information Technology, geography department, from Virginia Tech in 2021. Prior is working on a Certificate of Remote Sensing, forest resources and environmental conservation department, at Virginia Tech. She is pursuing a lifelong career goal of becoming a leader in watershed conservation data science and engineering using remotely sensed data to better understand and model surface water hydraulics. Prior is conducting research that utilizes UAS-based remotely sensed data for hydrodynamic modeling to understand and model vegetation flood dynamics. Prior has been awarded many scholarships and grants, including the Frank Woeste Scholarship, biological systems engineering department, Virginia Tech; the Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellow, Virginia Space Grant Consortium; and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, National Science Foundation. The P.E.O. Scholar Award program, established in 1991, provides substantial merit-based awards for women of the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university. P.E.O. Chapter AH has been a part of the Blacksburg community since it was organized in 1969. Blacksburgs Chapter AH has 41 members and is one of several P.E.O. chapters in the NRV. Sue Bentley, chair of the scholarship award committee, is excited and proud of our extremely accomplished nominee, Elizabeth Prior, who is already doing incredibly significant research investigating the impact that vegetation heterogeneity, structure and flooding have on floodplain roughness. P.E.O. has been celebrating women helping women reach for the stars for more than 150 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 116,000 women to date pursue educational goals by providing over $383 million in grants, scholarships, awards and loans. The Sisterhood also owns and supports Cottey College. Through membership, the P.E.O. Sisterhood has brought together more than half a million women in the U.S. and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education, while supporting and motivating them. In addition to the educational philanthropies, the P.E.O. Sisterhood provides a framework of support and community for all members. What started with a bond of friendship among seven women in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is now one of the oldest womens organizations in North America with close to 6,000 chapters. To learn more about P.E.O., its powerful educational philanthropies, and see stories of women who have benefited from the programs, visit peointernational.org. - Submitted by Jennifer Kiwus Its often a heartwarming moment for democracy when elected officials listen to public pleas and reverse course on something that looks like a done deal. In the case of the recently canceled sale of the taxpayer-owned Bedford County Nursing Home, that appears to be what happened. But it also might signify more. Lets take a look. The week before Easter, in mid April, the Bedford County Board of Supervisors appeared on the verge of selling the 191-year-old facility to a private company. Once scores of Bedford residents learned of the proposal, they jumped into action. Within a few days, they mobilized to turn out at a scant-notice special meeting slated for Easter Monday night and managed to prevent the sale. By the time they crowded into the supervisors meeting room April 18, the pending buyer had learned of the growing groundswell and decided to pull out. Nevertheless, nearly two dozen residents lodged objections anyway, as more than 100 others listened. They cheered when supervisors halted consideration that night. And the board formally tabled the sale at an April 25 regular meeting. One of five publicly owned nursing homes in Virginia, the facility dates to 1831. Its just south of the Bedford town limits, and bills itself as Central Virginias best-kept secret in senior living. It really is the Taj Mahal of nursing homes, said Beck Stanley, a former Bedford town councilman whose 97-year-old grandmother has lived there for six years. Its really nice, like going to a country club. Her condition and health have improved since she got there. Its also the only publicly owned nursing home in Virginia thats operated directly by a local government, County Administrator Robert Hiss noted at the April 18 meeting. Others, he added, operate under a public authority model overseen by appointed boards. Currently, the nursing home is running at about two-thirds its 90-bed capacity. It has struggled to attract skilled nursing assistants and licensed nurses. Although its self-supporting and has normally operated in the black, its likely to lose money in the current fiscal year, Hiss told the meeting. Like a number of nursing homes, Bedford Countys accepts federal payments from Medicaid currently, more than 80% of its revenue comes from the federal government, according to statistics cited at the meeting. But in January, that became a political thorn among Bedford Countys all-Republican supervisors. The sticking point arose after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Biden administration could require COVID vaccines for workers at health care facilities accepting federal money. The Bedford County supervisors felt that put them in a supremely uncomfortable position. Ive had a lot of people ask me, What was the catalyst? Whats changed? board Chairman John Sharp said at the April 18 meeting. The change was the vaccine mandate. We were forced with the decision: Are we going to be enforcers of this mandate? Or, do we need to extricate ourselves from this process? The way to do that was either to close the nursing home or sell the nursing home, he said. If it were not for that [Supreme Court] decision in January, we would not be here tonight, Sharp said. Mind you, selling the facility wouldnt save any employee from having to get a COVID vaccine. They would still be subject to the mandate. But the new owners would be in charge of enforcing it, rather than the supervisors. Whether thats decent justification for shedding a 191-year-old asset is another question. Stanley told me he first heard about the pending sale April 13 from nurses at the nursing home. Theyd learned about it two days earlier. In advance of the April 18 special meeting, they were worried, Stanley said. Denny Huff, executive director of the Bedford Community Health Foundation, said there was good reason for such concern. For-profit nursing-home operators generally provide less quality care than a nonprofit or ones managed by a [public] authority, he said. The typical first move of any private operator, Huff told me, would be to cut the number of beds for Medicaid-covered patients, because those produce the least amount of revenue. That would tend to impact the least financially able residents of the county. Stanley, who used to call himself a committed Republican but now considers himself a center-right moderate, said its an old political trick, to schedule a public meeting during spring break, when a lot of people are out of town or not paying attention. They scheduled a public hearing for the day after Easter, with the minimum number of days of public notice, he said. So to make sure the public was aware, he hit the phones April 13 and continued through the weekend. My girlfriend almost broke up with me, because I wasnt paying her any attention, Stanley joked. He enlisted others in a phone tree, an efficient way to contact many people in a short time. He sent out blasts on social media and contacted news outlets. Some opponents performed oppo-style research on Roanoke-based American HealthCare LLC, the interested buyer, and later shared information with supervisors. They opened the meeting with, we want to sell the nursing home because we dont want to enforce the vaccine mandate, and then 2 hours later all opined about how they changed their minds, Stanley texted me the night of the hearing. If that sounds exactly like democracy is supposed to work, Stanley sees a little bit more in what occurred. Especially in the context of numerous undercurrents of political craziness thatve infected politics and endangered democracy. This is a conservative community willing to trash their vaccine mandate bull---- talking points of Trumplore in favor of actually caring for people, he wrote in another text. Compassion and caring for others should always win out over political talking points, Stanley told me Friday. Here in Bedford, it has. Bravo. Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter: @dancaseysblog Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHRISTIANSBURG It has been three and a half years since Operation Crankdown entered Montgomery County courts and signaled a new phase in the countys drug prosecution efforts. Instead of snaring one or two dealers at a time, Montgomery County adopted a legal framework more usually seen in federal courts and went after dozens of defendants at once. Crankdown was aimed at breaking up a pipeline that brought methamphetamine from Georgia into the New River Valley. Small-scale drug sellers and users were indicted along with defendants who handled tens of thousands of dollars worth of meth. All were accused of playing some role in a drug conspiracy. In 2020, just before the final Crankdown defendants were sentenced, the Icy Roads case signaled a second round of the conspiracy strategy. Dozens more people were indicted and eventually convicted for involvement in another, similar meth pipeline that reached from Georgia into Virginia. After the last of the Icy Roads defendants was sentenced this spring, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt discussed the two meth conspiracy cases in an interview and emails. She said that the new tactic is here to stay. I dont know when but I suspect well do another one, Pettitt said. She noted the two-year spacing of the Crankdown and Icy Roads indictments. 2018, 2020 I guess maybe were due, Pettitt said. Defining a conspiracy Generally speaking, a criminal conspiracy is when two or more people agree or work together to do something illegal. But exactly what that means can vary with each situation. Many of the Montgomery County defendants protested at least initially that their actions did not rise to the level of a conspiracy, or that they were not part of any agreement to bring meth into Virginia. Some of the defendants who were arrested in Georgia said they did not know most of the others charged. Attorney Jimmy Turk of Radford noted that legally speaking, none of this matters. Conspiracies are a much broader concept, Turk said. Turk said that if he were teaching a class to would-be defense lawyers, he would tell them to focus on what their clients knew about the illegal activity in question because that could determine if a conspiracy charge would stick. Turk said that in a long legal career, he had seen one drug crackdown after another and was not surprised that Montgomery County turned to conspiracy charges. We clearly in Southwest Virginia have a meth problem I give Mary and her office a lot of credit for going that extra step and identifying the larger source of the drugs, Turk said. The Virginia Court of Appeals delved into the details of drug conspiracy definitions as it reaffirmed the convictions of Terry Wayne Miller, a 59-year-old from Pembroke who was charged as part of Crankdown. At an October 2019 jury trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Miller was found guilty of two counts of conspiring to transport meth into Virginia. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Through his attorney, Miller argued that the jury verdict should be set aside because there was not enough evidence to show he conspired with anyone. Judge Robert Turk agreed at a hearing in 2020 that it probably wasnt the most sophisticated conspiracy and called it kind of a neighborhood group of guys who got together to use and sell meth. Still, it met the definition of a criminal conspiracy, the judge said. Miller appealed. But an appeals judge noted that witnesses at the trial said Miller rode along with Aaron Wayne Hixon, 47, on several trips to Georgia to get meth, that he was present when Hixon sold meth from his garage on Hightop Road, and that Miller bought some of the meth himself and resold it to others. Like Turk, the appeals judge ruled that all of these showed ways in which Miller could be seen as a conspirator. Also, according to earlier appeals court rulings, any drug sale in which the buyer then resells some of the drugs can be a conspiracy, the judge wrote. As of last week, Miller was trying to continue his appeal and seeking to have a third lawyer appointed to represent him. Attorney Dave Rhodes of Christiansburg who like most of the regions defense bar represented defendants in Crankdown and Icy Roads, but not Miller said that working as a prosecutor earlier in his career taught him how wide-ranging a conspiracy case could be. Really you cant have a large-scale drug distribution without a conspiracy. Its not just an empty charge, Rhodes said. Pettitt recalled that some of the defendants said the only thing they did wrong was to use drugs. They dont think about, well, that came from somewhere, Pettitt said. Levels of culpability Of the 53 people charged in Crankdown and Icy Roads, all but two were found guilty. Charges were dismissed against one defendant after investigators talked to her in jail without her attorney being present, as legal rules require. And another defendant is to have her charges dismissed if she stays out of trouble for another year. Thirteen people ended up with suspended sentences. Eighteen were ordered to serve five or more years behind bars. The longest prison sentences went to three of the men at the heart of the drug pipelines. Hixon, whose repeated drives to Georgia in 2017 and January 2018 were the basis for the Crankdown case, was ordered to serve 18 years of a 100-year prison sentence. Thomas George Belcher Jr., 48, of Elliston, who launched the Icy Roads case with similar trips to Georgia between November 2018 and January 2020, got 20 years to serve of a 140-year sentence. But the longest active sentence went to the man who was Hixons meth connection in Georgia. Eric Jon Tollefson, 56, who lived with Hixons mother in Sylvester, Georgia, and who Hixon said introduced him to a meth dealer he called Tiny, was convicted in a 2019 jury trial and sentenced to 35 years behind bars. At the time of Tollefsons trial, Virginia juries still recommended sentences and judges usually imposed what a jury suggested. Last year, the General Assembly changed the law so that juries decide only guilt or innocence and sentencing decisions are left completely to judges. At the hearing where his punishment was pronounced, Tollefson said that given his age, a 35-year term was equivalent to a death sentence. He got into an exchange with then-Judge Marc Long that ended with Long telling him, Have fun in jail. In contrast, the Georgia connection in the Icy Roads case, Marcus Sentell Robinson, 39, of Macon, made a plea agreement that brought him five years to serve with, like many other defendants in both Crankdown and Icy Roads, years more of incarceration that were suspended but could be reimposed if he committed other offenses. Defense attorneys contacted for this article said that they thought Pettitts office handled the conspiracy cases well. But they acknowledged that fairness is a basic concern, especially when large numbers of people are accused of differing levels of involvement in criminal activity. I hope that people who are charged with similar crimes receive similar sentences, attorney Naomi Huntington of Radford wrote last week in an email. But, I also hope that people are treated as individuals, with their own stories and backgrounds, whose circumstances may call for additional leniency. Its difficult to maintain that balance when a case involves only a few people. But that challenge is only increased when there are dozens of defendants. Attorney Dennis Nagel of Christiansburg said that from a defense perspective, a primary concern in a conspiracy case is to separate an individual defendants role. In Crankdown and Icy Roads, a good percentage of the conspirators were essentially addicts at the front line, Nagel said. A defense lawyer wants to keep a defendant with relatively minor involvement, such as buying drugs or selling small amounts to support a habit, from being connected too closely to the bigger players actions, Nagel said. With Montgomery Countys meth conspiracy cases, I think there was a good job identifying the levels of culpability, Nagel said. The users are still here Pettitt said that the main downside of pursuing large conspiracy cases was the amount of time needed to build them. Besides investigators work, Crankdown and Icy Roads each took up most of an assistant prosecutors time for a couple years, she said. Pettitt called both cases successful. It is challenging to measure the effects of the operation, she wrote in an email. First, they occurred just prior to and during Covid. It is unknown what property and narcotics crime numbers would have been during Covid but absent Crankdown and Icy Roads. There was a significant decrease in property and narcotics crimes in Montgomery County following the operations. Second, the deterrent effect is difficult to measure, Pettitt continued. One of the goals was to disrupt supply chain and to discourage dealers Immediately following the operations, sources indicated large-scale dealers would not do deals in Montgomery County for fear of prosecution. The users were still here but they had to travel out of the area to obtain any quantity of methamphetamine. While not criticizing the conspiracy cases, Jimmy Turk, Huntington and other attorneys called for the legal system to do what it could to increase support for rehabilitation programs, including the drug courts active in Montgomery County and elsewhere. If large-scale prosecutions demonstrate anything about the nature of addiction to methamphetamine, Huntington wrote in an email, its how widespread and indiscriminate it can be. While these operations may disrupt a major supply line, addictions dont disappear simply because people are arrested. Vacuums are filled, and users find new sources. I have personally not noticed a long-term drop in the number of people I represent who have been charged with possession of methamphetamine after one of these major operations. People who are using need more than a jail cell to overcome their addictions, Huntington wrote. They need real treatment and support systems in order to move forward in their lives. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHRISTIANSBURG The Montgomery County School Board will choose between two firms to help in its search for a new superintendent. Board Chairwoman Sue Kass said the two search firms the elected body narrowed the pool down to will be given the opportunity to present themselves to the general public in an open session and tell us what they can do for us at a meeting Tuesday, May 3. The deadline to respond to the recent request for proposal was this past Tuesday. We were happy to have six groups to choose from, Kass said during a board meeting Tuesday night. The firm the school board ultimately chooses will conduct a search and identify potential superintendent candidates, a process prompted by boards unanimous firing of former district chief Mark Miear over a month ago. School officials declined to immediately disclose the names of the two firms, with district officials saying on Tuesday night that the companies hadnt responded to the invitation yet. Following their presentations at the May 3 meeting, each of the firms will take part in closed meetings with the school board. School system spokeswoman Brenda Drake said theyll go into closed session for negotiating purposes. Later in May, the selected consultant will work with the board and community to identify needs, according to a recently presented search timeline. The following month, the consultant, among other things, will conduct its search and identify the potential candidates. From July to August, the candidates to be screened will be selected and finalists will be identified with final candidates slated to meet with the community. The current plan calls for the board to hire a new superintendent in September. The school division has 180 days from Miears March 17 termination vote to complete the search process. School board member Penny Franklin noted on Tuesday night that a key component in the upcoming process is getting community input in what you feel we need to see in a superintendent. Miears firing in March has not been without its fair share of questions from the public and other elected officials in the county especially given the unanimous nature of the termination. School district officials, citing personnel reasons, have declined to discuss the reasons behind the former superintendents firing, as well as answer questions about severance. Miear, who was formally terminated without cause, has since his firing declined comment. Although a severance clause in the event of a without cause firing was written into Miears contract, exactly how that stipulation plays out has so far been unclear. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. You are here: China Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered search and rescue efforts at all costs after a self-constructed residential building collapsed in central China's Hunan Province. Xi made the instruction immediately after the incident, which took place at 12:24 p.m. on Friday in Wangcheng District in the provincial capital Changsha. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged all-out efforts to save the injured and prevent secondary disasters. Xi ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident and the disclosure of authoritative information promptly. Xi asked for a nationwide special campaign to defuse risks with self-constructed buildings to protect people's lives and property and ensure social stability. Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged swift efforts to rescue the trapped and ordered local authorities to address the risks in the construction sector, especially with self-constructed buildings used for operating businesses, to prevent major accidents. State Councilor Wang Yong and officials from central and local authorities have arrived at the scene, and the search and rescue efforts are still underway. Black drivers over a six-month period in Roanoke were more likely than their white counterparts to be stopped, searched and arrested by city police, a community group reported Saturday. That conclusion centered a seminar and conversation event titled Can Trust Be Built Between the Police and African American Community? The Equitable Policing Coalition put together the event, which drew more than 40 people to a Melrose Branch public library meeting room. Virginia Techs Race and Social Policy Center carried out the analysis of Roanoke Police Department traffic stops, looking at demographic information that the police department provided for stops during the second half of 2020. No one from the policy center spoke at the meeting on Saturday. The Rev. Kevin McNeil of Bethany Christian Church, the Equitable Policing Coalitions co-chair, presented findings including: Black drivers were more than 1.5 times as likely as white drivers to be stopped. They were more than twice as likely as whites to have their vehicles searched. And they were nearly 2 times as likely to be arrested. The findings further showed that police stopped Black drivers at 1.5 times the rate of Blacks in Roanokes population, while whites were stopped 0.85 times the rate of whites in the city population. It showed similar disparities for searches and arrests, with Blacks subject to police actions at a greater rate than predicted by their share of the citys population. The analysis covered 3,735 traffic stops, 615 searches and 125 arrests, along with 1,755 summons and 487 warnings. Other findings included that whites, who made up 62.4% of Roanokes population, were drivers in 53.1% of traffic stops; while Blacks, 29% of the city population, were drivers in 42.8% of stops. Asian American Pacific Islanders accounted for 0.9% of stops and a catchall group of Other had the remaining 3.2%. For searches, white drivers accounted for 49.3% of the incidents and Blacks, 48%. For arrests, whites had 46.4% and Blacks, 52.8%. Whites got 56.2% of summons and Blacks, 42.3%. Whites got 55.6% of warnings and Blacks, 39%. The findings were offered without a great deal of direct commentary although McNeil, who is Black, noted that two decades ago when he first moved to Roanoke, city police pulled him over more than 10 times, including once while he was backing into his own driveway, where he was questioned about what he was doing. The report was followed by breakout sessions where participants offered thoughts on police-community relations. The sessions were closed to reporters, but summaries presented afterward ranged from calls for residents and officers not to see one another as antagonists to questioning if policing is just todays version of the plantation overseer system of slavery times. Brenda Hale, president of the Roanoke NAACP branch, said that the use of excessive force by police that has prompted years of protests grew from a perfect storm. She described it as military recruiters trying to overcome staffing shortages by lowering standards, attracting waves of racists, then funneling them to post-military work in law enforcement. Were targets, Hale said. Saturdays event included a talk by retired Radford University criminal justice professor Bakhitah Abdul-Rauf, who recalled research that included attending a police academy in Florida and riding with officers, and said she learned to appreciate and recognize both sides more equally. Rauf, now a faculty associate at Radfords Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research, said that in her view, police need much more diversity training because too many new officers know little about different social, ethnic and racial groups. People are fearful of each other because they dont know each other and they use stereotypes as shortcuts, Rauf said. The Roanoke Police Department has its own analysis of traffic stop data though from 2018, not 2020 posted on the city website. That report, written by a police department criminologist and issued in September 2019, looked at 110,676 police-citizen contacts, including 11,284 traffic stops, and found that whites were disproportionately more likely to be given traffic citations and arrested, when compared to Blacks and to both groups share of the overall city population. Asians were far more likely to be given a traffic citation than their share of the population would suggest, the police report found but also noted that Asians were involved in less than 1% of the traffic incidents that were analyzed. The police departments conclusion from five years ago: Overall, the city is doing a good job of equitably policing in the city. Mayor Sherman Lea and three City Council members attended Saturdays event. Lea and two council members could not be contacted afterward, while Councilman Joe Cobb said that he had no immediate comment on the policing seminar because he had to leave early to conduct a memorial service. The city police department had no official representation Saturday, because organizers thought it might keep people from expressing themselves freely, coalition Co-Chairwoman Dorry McCorkle said afterward. We told the police wed rather they not come in an official capacity, McCorkle said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The results from a survey released in recent days by Virginia Tech convey two main messages. Commissioned in collaboration with Research!America, a nonprofit medical and health research advocacy alliance, the survey of 1,000 commonwealth residents was presented Wednesday to an audience filled with stakeholders in biotechnology research and development who had gathered for the Virginia Research and Innovation event that moved between the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. (Just to add a note of clarity: the school is a collaboration between the university and the Carilion Clinic health system, while the research center is entirely a Virginia Tech joint.) One of the surveys messages should be heeded by members of Congress, state legislators maneuvering to reach agreement on a budget, local government officials and business leaders. That message is that a majority of Virginia citizens broadly support biotechnology research in all its forms. I think it should be energizing and inspiring to all of you as you continue your great work, said Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley. The second message is one that companies and academic institutions working in the biotechnology sector need to ponder: only half of Virginias residents are even vaguely aware that federally funded biotechnology research is already happening in the commonwealth; has been happening, in fact, for many years. For Virginia Tech, that second result is especially perplexing. The public university came in third among institutes of higher education recognized by Virginia residents for their accomplishments in biotechnology research but that third place amounted to 6% of those surveyed. Incentive to raise awareness Taken in perspective, perhaps this is not surprising. Two other schools that came ahead in the poll, the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University (as Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands put it, The top two have had a 100 year head start, but were on a move to catch up fast) still didnt crack close to 50% name recognition among residents that knew biomedical research was happening somewhere in our state. As Fralin Institute Founding Executive Director Mike Friedlander pointed out, these results underscore a need to raise awareness with the general public about the cutting edge research happening every day not just at Riverside Circle in Roanoke, but also in Charlottesville, in Richmond, in Washington, D.C. Its their money that has paid for it. They deserve to know about it. I think what that says to us is that we forgot to share our story well, said Carilion Clinic CEO Nancy Agee. The problem it presents is how do we show that were really winning and making a difference? The Virginia Tech-Carilion partnership, she noted, has undertaken a lot of community outreach, an example that others in the industry could learn from. Certainly, both the biotechnology industry and state policymakers stand to mutually benefit from taking this measure of support into consideration. Theres probably a lot of people in the middle layer of politicians who dont really know much about this and dont really know how their constituents feel, Friedlander said. He hopes the survey can help those officials see, when weighing dollar amounts to distribute in support of research infrastructure and the like, that the people that vote for them care deeply about these efforts. The event Wednesday preceded the THRiVE 2022 statewide biotechnology conference held Thursday at Hotel Roanoke, organized by the Virginia Biotechnology Association. With a theme of Building the Bioscience Ecosystem to Shape the Future, the conference featured an opening address from Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, presentations from a smorgasbord of corporations and universities, and keynote addresses from Friedlander and Agee. Among the presenters: David Ayares, CEO of Revivicor, a company in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center that made major medical news earlier this year when the heart of one of their genetically modified pigs was transplanted into a human patient, who lived two months after the surgery. The hosting of such a conference in Roanoke is an accomplishment to crow about all in itself, a sign that efforts to bring the attention of the movers and shakers of the biotechnology industry to Southwest Virginia is moving in the right direction. Industrial growing pains John Newby, CEO of Virginia Biotechnology Association, acted as master of ceremonies at the Hotel Roanoke event and also participated in a panel during Wednesdays presentation. Virginia Bio has been around since 1992, Newby said an indication of how young this industry is. We have just over 280 members. Our members are from companies large and small. Our goal and our mission is to support primarily our young companies growth, so they can get these great inventions and ideas out into society to save lives. So we connect them with capital. We are the voice for them in front of legislatures, federal and state. At Wednesdays event, every speaker conveyed enthusiasm for the pursuit of research and the potential of budding collaborations, though any member of the general public that attended might have been challenged to keep up with the industry jargon and acronyms. Many members of both panel and audience were industry insiders who knew each other on a first name basis. That said, the industrys growing pains flared a little even in that cozy environment, perhaps eased into the open by familiarity. During a question and answer session, a couple of company representatives stood to complain directly to their academic counterparts on the stage about difficulties getting past gatekeeping systems to communicate and secure contracts. What you saw in real time was the tension between companies trying to use university technology and universities who are concentrated on researching that technology, with universities sometimes not understanding the needs of companies and companies not realizing in the other direction that universities have constraints and restrictions, Newby said. We need to make it easier for universities to make the technology and get it into the hands of companies. What a boon it is that the Star City is a place where these colleagues can gather to overcome these differences for the betterment of the world. With over 4 million acres having burned so far this year in California, we have not had any major fires in Santa Barbara County. But with all the hot weather we have had and no rain in months, we are still in danger. FILE PHOTO: The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York (Reuters) - Giant online retailer Amazon.com Inc will end its paid time-off policy for employees with COVID-19 from May 2, the company told U.S.-based staff on Saturday. The change follows the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and revised guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it said. The U.S.-based staff will now get five days of excused, unpaid leave following a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, Amazon told workers in a message it provided to Reuters. "We can continue to safely adjust to our pre-COVID policies," the company said, citing the sustained easing of the pandemic, the availability of vaccines and treatments, and updated public health guidance. The changes come amid a stream of challenges for Amazon after a recent effort to unionize some warehouses. In April, workers at its warehouse in New York City voted to form the first union. On Saturday, Amazon said it is halting site-wide notifications of positive cases in facilities, unless required by law, as well as efforts to encourage vaccination. In January, Amazon trimmed paid leave for workers with the virus to one week, or up to 40 hours. Before that, they got two weeks of paid time off for COVID-19. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma and Sabahatjahan Contractor in Bengaluru) 4125.44 61% 47.45 417.6% 434.2 4143.6 9.9% 468.3 4660.1 19.53% 454.114 426.12 FIT HON TENG3059.2 1.69 A 742 mood 51296 60 200 544618.2% 24 59 4313 10%6% 14% 2%3.1% 3% "It really shows the depth and the breadth of what the Journal is able to do," Miller said. "We are very proud of our staff. Our readers are fortunate to have such a noteworthy team working hard each day to keep them informed about Siouxland." PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Tesla CEO Elon Musk has laid out some bold, if still vague, plans for transforming Twitter into a place of maximum fun once he buys the social media platform for $44 billion and takes it private. But enacting what at the moment are little more than a mix of vague principles and technical details could be considerably more complicated than he suggests. Here's what might happen if Musk follows through on his ideas about free speech, fighting spam and opening up the black box of artificial intelligence tools that amplify social media trends. FREE SPEECH TOWN SQUARE Musk's feistiest priority but also the one with the vaguest roadmap is to make Twitter a politically neutral digital town square for the world's discourse that allows as much free speech as each country's laws allow. He's acknowledged that his plans to reshape Twitter could anger the political left and mostly please the right. He hasn't specified exactly what he'll do about former President Donald Trump's permanently banned account or other right-wing leaders whose tweets have run afoul of the company's restrictions against hate speech, violent threats or harmful misinformation. Should Musk go this direction, it could mean bringing back not only Trump, but "many, many others that were removed as a result of QAnon conspiracies, targeted harassment of journalists and activists, and of course all of the accounts that were removed after Jan. 6, said Joan Donovan, who studies misinformation at Harvard University. "That could potentially be hundreds of thousands of people." Musk hasn't ruled out suspending some accounts, but says such bans should be temporary. His latest criticism has centered around what he described as Twitters incredibly inappropriate 2020 blocking of a New York Post article on Hunter Biden, which the company has said was a mistake and corrected within 24 hours. OPEN-SOURCED ALGORITHMS Musk's longstanding interest in AI is reflected in one of the most specific proposals he outlined in his merger announcement the promise of "making the algorithms open source to increase trust. He's talking about the systems that rank content to decide what shows up on users feeds. Partly driving the distrust, at least for Musk supporters, is lore among U.S. political conservatives about shadow banning on social media. This is a supposed invisible feature for reducing the reach of badly behaving users without disabling their accounts. There has been no evidence that Twitter's platform is biased against conservatives; studies have found the opposite when it comes to conservative media in particular. Musk has called for posting the underlying computer code powering Twitter's news feed for public inspection on the coder hangout GitHub. But such code-level transparency gives users little insight into how Twitter is working for them without the data the algorithms are processing, said Nick Diakopoulos, a Northwestern University computer scientist. Diakopoulos said there are good intentions in Musk's broader goal to help people find out why their tweets get promoted or demoted and whether human moderators or automated systems are making those choices. But that's no easy task. Too much transparency about how individual tweets are ranked, for instance, can make it easier for disingenuous people to game the system and manipulate an algorithm to get maximum exposure for their cause, Diakopoulos said. DEFEATING THE SPAM BOTS Spam bots that mimic real people have been a personal nuisance to Musk, whose popularity on Twitter has inspired countless impersonator accounts that use his image and name often to promote cryptocurrency scams that look as if they're coming from the Tesla CEO. Sure, Twitter users, among them Musk, dont want spam, said David Greene, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. But who defines what counts as a spam bot? Do you mean all bots like, you know, if I follow a Twitter bot that just pulls up historic photos of fruits? I choose to follow that. Is that not allowed to exist? he said. There are also plenty of spam-filled Twitter accounts at least partially run by real people that run the gamut from ones that hawk products to those promoting polarizing political content to meddle in other countries' elections. AUTHENTICATE ALL HUMANS' Musk has repeatedly said he wants Twitter to authenticate all humans, an ambiguous proposal that could be related to his desire to rid the website of spam accounts. Ramping up mundane identity checks such as two-factor authentication or popups that ask which of six photos shows a school bus could discourage anyone from trying to amass an army of bogus accounts. Musk might also be considering offering more people a blue check the verification checkmark sported on notable Twitter accounts like Musk's to show they're who they say they are. Musk has suggested users could buy the checkmarks as part of a premium service. But some digital rights activists are concerned these measures could lead to a real-name policy resembling Facebook's approach of forcing people to validate their full names and use them in their profiles. That would seem to contradict Musk's free speech focus by muzzling anonymous whistleblowers or people living under authoritarian regimes where it can be dangerous if a dissident message is attributable to a particular person. AD-FREE TWITTER? Musk has floated the idea of an ad-free Twitter, though it wasn't one of the priorities outlined in the official merger announcement. That may be because cutting off the company's chief way of making money would be a tall order, even for the world's richest person. Advertisements accounted for more than 92% of Twitter's revenue in the January-March fiscal quarter. The company did last year launch a premium subscription service known as Twitter Blue but doesn't appear to have made much headway in getting people to pay for it. Musk has made clear he favors a stronger subscription-based model for Twitter that gives more people an ad-free option. That would also fit into his push to relax Twitter's content restrictions which brands largely favor because they don't want their ads surrounded by offensive and hate-filled tweets. WHAT ELSE? Musk has tweeted and voiced so many proposals for Twitter that it can be hard to know which ones he takes seriously. He's joined the popular call for an edit button" which Twitter says it's already working on that would enable people to fix a tweet shortly after posting it. A less serious proposal from Musk suggested converting Twitter's downtown San Francisco headquarters to a homeless shelter since no one shows up anyway" a comment taken more as a dig on Twitter's pandemic-era workforce than an altruistic vision for the building. Musk didnt return an emailed request to clarify his plans. - AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A shuttle passenger van of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi was attacked on Tuesday, which has left three Chinese teachers killed. During his visit to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the president expressed condolences to the Chinese side over the deaths of the teachers, and strongly condemned the attack, saying that Pakistan will spare no effort to fight against terrorism and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country. The victims were friendly ambassadors who promoted people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China, he said, adding that the terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan's development and the corridor construction cannot be achieved without the support of China, an "iron brother" of Pakistan, the president stressed. Pang Chunxue, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, thanked Alvi for his visit, and said that China strongly condemns the terrorist attack and has asked the Pakistani side to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. China will join hands with Pakistan to ensure the safety of the Chinese citizens, projects and institutions in Pakistan, combat terrorism and promote regional peace and stability, she added. Evacuations under way in Mariupol; Pelosi visits Ukraine ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) An operation to evacuate civilians from a steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is under way. The effort to bring civilians out of the sprawling Azovstal steel plant was being done Sunday with the International Committee of the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first group of about 100 people was headed to Ukrainian-controlled territory. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that she visited Ukraines president to show unflinching American support for the countrys defense against Russias invasion. Later Sunday, one of the defenders of the steel plant said Russian forces resumed their shelling of the plant as soon as the evacuation of a group of civilians was completed on Sunday. Evidence mounts of GOP involvement in Trump election schemes WASHINGTON (AP) Text messages and testimony released by the House Jan. 6 panel shows the deep involvement of some House Republicans in President Donald Trumps desperate attempt to stay in power. The evidence provides new details about how long before the attack on the Capitol unfolded in January 2021 several GOP lawmakers were directly participating in Trumps campaign to reverse the results of the election. The exchange of ideas happened in private calls and texts and at several White House meetings in the weeks leading to the insurrection. The majority of the lawmakers have since denied their involvement in those efforts. Combat death puts spotlight on Americans fighting in Ukraine A former U.S. Marine who died last week in Ukraine was believed to be the first American citizen killed while fighting there. An undetermined number of other Americans _ many with military backgrounds _ are thought to be in the country battling Russian forces beside both Ukrainians and volunteers from other countries, even though U.S. forces arent directly involved in fighting aside from sending military materiel, humanitarian aid and money. Russias invasion has given Ukraines embassy in Washington the task of fielding inquiries from thousands of Americans who want to help. Ukraine is using the internet to recruit volunteers for the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. Elon Musk's big plans for Twitter: What we know so far PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is buying Twitter for $44 billion to take it private, has outlined a mix of vague principles and technical details as he looks to make the platform "maximum fun! But what's in store if he follows through? Turns out that some of his bigger ideas about free speech, fighting spam and opening up the black box of artificial intelligence tools that amplify social media trends are still more intentions than actual plans. And implementing them is likely to be more complicated than he suggests. Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr holiday with joy, worry CAIRO (AP) Muslims are observing the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, typically marked with communal prayers, celebratory gatherings around festive meals and new clothes. This year, the feast comes amid a surge in global food prices exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Against that backdrop, many Muslims are still determined to enjoy the holiday and the easing of coronavirus restrictions in their countries. But for others, the festivities are marred by conflict and economic hardship. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, Islams holy month of fasting. Black doctors say they face discrimination based on race ATLANTA (AP) After Dr. Dare Adewumi was hired to lead the neurosurgery practice at an Atlanta-area hospital, he says he quickly faced racial discrimination that ultimately led to his firing. His lawyers and other advocates say hes not alone, that Black doctors across the country commonly experience discrimination. That can range from microaggressions to career-threatening disciplinary actions. Biases can become magnified in the fiercely competitive hospital environment, they say, and the underrepresentation of Black doctors can discourage them from speaking up. Some, including Adewumi, are fighting back. He has filed a lawsuit against the hospital system where he worked alleging employment discrimination based on race. Biden calls former VP Mondale 'giant' of political history MINNEAPOLIS (AP) President Joe Biden has saluted his friend of five decades Walter Mondale, traveling to the University of Minnesota to remember the former vice president and Democratic Party elder whose memorial service was delayed for a year due to the pandemic. Mondale died in April 2021 at age 93. He is credited with transforming the office of the vice presidency which Biden himself held for eight years under President Barack Obama expanding its responsibilities and making himself a key adviser to President Jimmy Carters administration. Biden said Sunday that Mondale was a giant in American political history. The Judds, Ray Charles join the Country Music Hall of Fame NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Ray Charles and The Judds joined the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, just a day after Naomi Judd died unexpectedly. The music played on at the all-star ceremony, featuring music from Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Trisha Yearwood. Naomi's daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, accepted the honor amid tears, holding onto each other and reciting Psalm 23 from the Bible together. Wynonna Judd said that despite her heart being broken, she will continue to sing. The posthumous induction of Charles showcased his genre-defying skill as a singer who exposed the genre to new audiences. The Hall of Fame also inducted two studio musicians, Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake. ESSAY: For a gay country boy, Naomi Judd did build a bridge Over their nearly three decade career, the mother-daughter duo of The Judds scored 14 No. 1 songs. For Jeff McMillan, an editor at The Associated Press, the Judds' music provided a lifeline of sorts throughout his life. That was apparent Saturday after Naomi Judd's death was announced by her daughters. McMillan writes in an appreciation that dealing with bullying as a pre-teen, the insecurities of the narrator of their song Mama He's Crazy was relatable. Love Is Alive provided comfort after McMillan's father died. Through health troubles and more, McMillan writes that the Judds' lyrics, and their own life stories, provided a source of kinship and strength. Marshals: Reward for info on escaped inmate, missing officer FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) The U.S. Marshals Service says it's offering up to $10,000 for information about an escaped inmate and a missing and endangered correctional officer who disappeared Friday after leaving a jail in north Alabama. The 38-year-old inmate, Casey Cole White, had been jailed on a capital murder charge in the Lauderdale County Detention Center. He and the assistant director of corrections, 56-year-old Vicky White disappeared after leaving the Lauderdale County Detention Center to go to a courthouse. Northern Alabama U.S. Marshal Marty Keely says Sunday that the inmate is believed to be a serious threat to the officer and the public. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MADISON, Wis. (AP) The number of Wisconsin state lawmakers hanging it up this year is near a modern-day high, and could even exceed the record set during World War II. The mass exodus comes amid uncertainty over legislative boundaries due to a redistricting fight, an ever-more partisan political environment and years of animosity between majority Republicans and minority Democrats. Thirty incumbents have announced they will retire, won't seek reelection or are running for another office. That's a quarter of the 118 lawmakers up for reelection. Thirteen Republicans and 10 Democrats in the Assembly are leaving; four Republicans and three Democrats in the Senate are out. The 30 departures ties with 2014 for the third-highest number of incumbent retirements since at least 1940, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau. Agency data shows 31 incumbents left in 1954 and 32 left in 1942 during the middle of World War II. The LRB's legislative turnover records date back only to 1940. University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist Barry Burden said legislative departures are often higher in redistricting years, when the Legislature redraws lawmakers' district lines to reflect population changes. This year's maps were delayed as Democrats and Republicans fought over them in court. The state Supreme Court didn't finalize the maps until earlier this month on the day candidates could pull nomination papers. The districts remained largely unchanged but Burden said the delay likely made it difficult for incumbents to plan. Burden speculated that Republicans also might be leaving because of internal dissension over election integrity. A vocal faction of the party believes Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump, even though recounts, court decisions and audits have confirmed that Biden defeated Trump by nearly 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. Republican Sen. Kathy Bernier, a former Chippewa County clerk and chair of the Senate elections committee, is retiring after 12 years in the Legislature. She took intense criticism for defending local clerks' elections performance and questioning Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' decision to hire former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to investigate the election. Gableman called on her to resign. She said she was ready to quit anyway, but the attacks made her decision easy. She said many Republicans believe as she does but are too afraid to stand up. "It just seemed to me something had to be said and something had to be done," she said. After getting the slings and arrows from people in my own caucus . . . they came to realize there was nothing they could say or do or no bill that they could write that would make the Trumpians happy. They just decided to keep quiet. They want to move on. I don't know if they can." Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke announced in January that he would not seek reelection. He ran afoul this winter of a faction of Assembly Republicans who demanded the body decertify the 2020 election results. Vos and the rest of the GOP leadership refused, saying it couldnt be done. Steineke called his decision just good timing after 12 years in Madison, but also said hes been dealing with criticism over his election stance that has at times been irrational. Somebody called (from) my district frustrated with the 2020 election, Steineke recalled. As we walked through all the issues he believed were wrong in the election, I explained every single one of them and what the reality was. He still couldnt accept that and then inferred elected officials are agents of foreign governments . . . Theres a segment of our citizenry that is incredibly frustrated and looking for an outlet and often times elected officials become an outlet for that frustration. Hanging over all of the departures is a partisan atmosphere that has grown more bitter, personal and sometimes abusive in recent years. This generation of lawmakers was on the front lines for the divisive battle over then-Gov. Scott Walker's public union restrictions, a fight that grew so intense that Democratic senators fled to Illinois in a futile effort to prevent passage. The night the Assembly passed the bill Democratic Rep. Gordon Hintz shouted You're dead! at a Republican colleague. Hintz is not seeking reelection. That leaves Christine Sinicki as the only Assembly Democrat who was present for the floor debate on the bill running again this fall. Senate Democrats never voted on the measure because they had left the state. The divide deepened after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeated Walker in 2018 but Republicans retained control of both legislative houses, leading to gridlock. The rancor has continued in the last two years as Republicans work to tighten voting laws, drawing protests from Democrats who say the GOP is trying to suppress their supporters' votes. I certainly understand the frustration some legislators on both sides of the aisle have, with the make-up of the Legislature and the tone of the debate, said Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach, who is retiring after 23 years. Were not talking about issues that affect districts. Why is Robin Vos spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on something thats not real? I got tired of trying to answer that when theres no answer. Or that the answer is theyre trying to keep the Trump people on board in the Republican Party and thats the only way to do it. Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1 Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, was born in West Branch, Iowa, grew up in Oregon, and graduated from Stanford University in 1895. Shortly after World War I broke out, he became the head of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, an international relief organization that provided food to Belgium during the time it was occupied. President Woodrow Wilson appointed Hoover to lead the Food Administration, shortly after the United States entered World War I; with that he became known as the food czar. American Relief Administration was created after the war; Hoover ran the organization. The purpose was to provide food for the people living in Central and Eastern Europe. His service to our country during the war time made him a favorite of many people, however he was unsuccessful in receiving the Republican presidential nomination in 1920. After winning election that year, President Warren Harding appointed Hoover Secretary of Commerce, which he continued serving under President Calvin Coolidge after Harding died in office. As Commerce Secretary, Hoover was a very strong, busy, and highly visible leader. He became known as Under Secretary of all other departments. Other areas of his influence included air travel and radio and their development. He led the federal response to the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. In 1928, he became the Republican nominee for president, and went on to defeat the Democratic candidate Al Smith. When Hoover took office the economy was strong and stable. During his first year in office the stock market crashed and the Great Depression ensued. It dominated his term as president, he responded by a series of economic policies in an attempt to reverse the depression. He vigorously opposed any federal government intervention in the economy. In 1932 he was soundly defeated for re-election by Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt Hoover lived for over 31 years after leaving office. He is the second longest living president after his term. Jimmy Carter is now the longest. During that time, Hoover wrote numerous pieces criticizing Roosevelts foreign policy and New Deal agenda. As time went on in the 1940s and 50s, public opinion of Hoover improved, mostly due to his service in various duties he performed for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower, including chairing the influential Hoover Commission. The official name was Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of Government, members were appointed by Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the federal government. Hoover was only 58 when he left the White House. Through the 1930s he continued to hope to again become the Republican nominee. Nevertheless, he worked hard for the four GOP presidential candidates who lost to Roosevelt. As you know, not every state has a presidential library and museum. Iowa is the home to the fourth belonging to Herbert Hoover in West Branch. The library is one of 13 presidential libraries run by the National Archives and Records Administration. Aug. 10, 1962, Hoovers 88th birthday, was the official dedication and opening of the library to the public. Truman attended the dedication. Due to a major renovation, former President Ronald Reagan later rededicated the Hoover library and museum. The expansion was the result of a public private partnership, Washington D.C. paid $5 million for the building and an additional $1.5 million was the private partnership, as the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association paid for new exhibits. Last Friday was the kick off for a new campaign to raise $20 million to renovate the museum and library. The money raised will be used to bring 21st century technology to it. If you wish, this is an opportunity for you to participate in something great for Iowa. Iowa has many wonderful places to visit that are hidden jewels. The Herbert Hoover Library and Museum is certainly one of them. As Iowans, we should be proud of his accomplishments in his lifetime. At age 6, his father died of a heart attack and his mother died of pneumonia and typhoid fever when he was 9. He and his two siblings were split up to live with their mothers various relatives. At age 11 he was put on a westbound train to live with his mothers uncle in Newburg, Oregon. Hoover was a member of Stanford Universitys first class. The professor administering the test admired his keenness, admitting him conditionally because he failed the test. He graduated with a degree in geology. Out of college his first job was with a British mining company, he traveled the world locating mineral deposits. At age 27, he was one of four partners of the company. After starting life very poor, he became a millionaire many times over. He donated his presidential earnings to charity. He helped save millions from starvation after the two World Wars. Five times he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Hoover and his wife Lou were very intelligent and generous people always working to make our country a better place to live. They helped children of the Shenandoah Valley, which is today a National Park, get an education. The park is located in Madison County, Virginia. The area was their retreat while he was president. Information taken from Wikipedia and history.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I write to voice my support for Admiral Mike Franken for U.S. Senate in the June primary. I believe he is the Democrats' best choice and the best candidate to replace Chuck Grassley. I've known Admiral Franken's family for many years. Tthe admiral grew up in rural Northwest Iowa in a very large family. As in most large families, everyone shares the workload. His father was a World War II vet who owned a repair shop and worked as a blacksmith. His mom was a schoolteacher. His parents taught all their children the value of family and hard work. Mike left Northwest Iowa to attend college, then followed his father and older brother into the service. During his career, Mike spent a large amount of time working with legislators on both sides of the aisle, learning the importance of getting things done. Right now, there's too much gridlock in Washington due to too many pursuing personal agendas, rather than what's best for our country. Mike knows how to lead and how to work with both parties. Mike grew up in Iowa with Iowa values and was disappointed to see those values disappearing. Mike chose to run for senate after watching Chuck Grasley stop being a senator from Iowa and becoming a large part of the dysfunction in Washington. Vote for Mike in the June 7 primary. Admiral Franken is the best choice for Iowa. -- Richard Dykstra, Sioux Center, Iowa Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 This story was originally published by Wired and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. The borders of the Corn Belt have always been fuzzy. The sprawling patchwork of cornfields that spreads across the Midwestern United States is one of the most productive agricultural regions on Earth. Over 36 percent of the worlds corn comes from the U.S., and almost all of that is grown in the handful of states nestled between the Great Plains to the west and the Appalachian Mountains to the east. Advertisement But the Corn Belt is on the move. Over the past couple of decades, farmland devoted to corn production has been creeping northward and westward. In North and South Dakota, grasslands that were formerly used for cattle grazing or set aside for conservation have been converted to cornfields. Between 2005 and 2021, the area of land harvested for corn in the U.S. increased by around 14 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the big drivers of this shift has been bioethanoltransportation fuel usually made from fermented corn. Since 2005, the U.S. governments Renewable Fuel Standard has mandated that gasoline producers blend corn ethanol into their fuel. The amount the RFS requires to be mixed in has ratcheted up each year from the policys start, and since 2016 gasoline producers have been instructed to blend 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol annually into transportation fuel. The RFS was supposed to reduce reliance on fuel imports and lessen the environmental impact of the transportation sector, but when it was introduced some scientists warned that it might end up increasing overall emissions. Now it looks like those predictions have come to pass. Advertisement Advertisement In February, Tyler Lark, a scientist at the University of WisconsinMadison, published a study analyzing the impact of the RFS. Lark and his colleagues researched the impact the policy had on crop prices and farm expansion between 2008 and 2016, comparing the real-world situation with a counterfactual one where biofuel production was kept at levels mandated in an earlier version of the RFS. Larks study found that the RFS significantly pushed up the price of corn. This incentivized the expansion of total U.S. cropland by 2.1 million hectares between 2008 and 2016an increase of 2.4 percent. Often the areas newly converted to cropland were grasslands on the western edge of the Corn Belt. Over millennia these grasslands have created really carbon-rich soils. And what happens is, when you plow that up, you expose a lot of it and make it vulnerable to being released into the atmosphere, says Lark. Advertisement Advertisement The supposed benefit of biofuel is that, although it still releases carbon dioxide when it burns, that carbon was drawn down from the atmosphere by the plants that make up the fuel rather than being released from oil that was once underground. But growing fuel creates emissions too. The biggest problem is when land that used to be a carbon sink is plowed up to plant crops, but manufacturing fertilizer is also a major source of emissions, and applying that fertilizer to land also releases greenhouse gasses in the form of nitrous oxide emissions. Advertisement Advertisement In 2010 the Environmental Protection Agency, which sets the amount of corn ethanol required by the RFS, estimated that by 2022 corn ethanol would have total life-cycle emissions 20 percent lower than gasoline. But these projections didnt account for the dramatic effect the RFS would have on land use in the U.S. I dont think people expected as much land to come back into production, says Lark. His study found that the RFS increased corn prices by 30 percent and the prices of other crops by 20 percent. In response, farmers who previously used their land for cattle grazing or were involved in conservation schemes started growing crops instead. All this land use change has essentially outweighed the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that come from growing fuel instead of pumping it out of oil wells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Larks study comes at a decisive time for the future of corn ethanol. Later this year the EPA will decide how much biofuel should be blended into U.S. transportation fuel from 2023 onward. And on April 12 the White House temporarily waived the summertime ban on E15, fuel made from gasoline blended with between 10.5 percent and 15 percent ethanol. In the U.S., E15 is banned over the summer months because of the way it reacts with sunlight to create smog, but lobbyists and some lawmakers have argued that removing the ban will ease the countrys reliance on Russian oil and keep down gasoline prices. Earlier this month, Congress voted to ban imports of oil, gas, and coal from Russia. Advertisement Increasing corn ethanol production would be a big mistake, says Jason Hill, a biofuels expert at the University of Minnesota. The science has long pointed out that this is not where we want to go, he says. In the long run corn ethanol has done almost nothing for our energy independence, and it has a large, disproportionately negative impact on the environment and food security. Advertisement The projected impact of corn ethanol differs depending on how you estimate those emissions. In early April, a group of U.S. senators representing Corn Belt states wrote a letter to the EPA urging it to adopt a model showing that biofuels have a considerably better environmental impact than what Larks study suggests. But in March, Hill published an op-ed in the scientific journal PNAS calling for greater scrutiny of the models used by regulators like the EPA to assess biofuels. Larks study supports other recent concerns that these commonly used models underestimate the emissions consequences of land use change, which in turn leads to their overestimating the climate change benefits of corn ethanol, Hill wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Models are always incomplete. They are usually lacking important data that ideally they would have, but which doesnt exist or doesnt exist as broadly across the world as youd like, says Richard Plevin, a former academic who specializes in biofuel modeling and now works as a consultant. In 2006 he was part of a team at UCBerkeley that published a study concluding that corn-based ethanol could have lower environmental impacts than gasoline. Since then, Plevins position has changed completely. My conclusion at the end of all this is its misguided, he says. The problem, Plevin argues, is that its impossible to accurately estimate the overall emissions that result from using biofuels. The effects of biofuel mandates can ripple out in unpredictable ways. If biofuel displaces gasoline in one country, then this could suppress the price of gasoline elsewhere in the world and lead to people increasing their fuel use. Add in a war, or trade embargoes, and the whole dynamic can flip again: You can assume 10 different scenarios about the way things are going to unfold and youll get 10 different answers, and they might all be equivalently realistic. How do you build a policy around that? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Plevin, this leaves us with an obvious choice: reducing our dependence on liquid fuels altogether. If I were king for a day, I would be putting all my effort into electrification right now, he says. Hill agrees. Its no longer corn ethanol versus gasoline. They have the same interest, and theyre both feeling pressure from electrification, which is their common enemy, he says. There are still other impacts of bioethanol. Global food prices jumped by a record 13 percent last month. Diverting some U.S. corn away from bioethanol and toward food would help keep prices lower and replace lost exports from Ukraine and Russia. There is all this competition for the land, says Annie Levasseur, a professor at LEcole de Technologie Superieure, an engineering faculty based in Montreal. If we want to look at the impact of increasing biofuel, then we will need cropland, and there will be this displacement. Advertisement Levasseur and Hill are both part of a committee put together by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to assess current methods for analyzing the impact of low-carbon transportation fuels. The committees report, which will be published in the third quarter of 2022, contains information that the EPA may wish to take into consideration if it decides to develop a new RFS or a low-carbon fuel standard, says Camilla Yandoc Ables, a senior program officer at NASEM. In Lavasseurs opinion, bioethanol production is already high and shouldnt be increased. Instead, the U.S. government should be looking at other ways to reduce transportation emissions. We cannot keep increasing demand for energy and then transform everything to biofuel, she says. We really need to decrease the demand. Dispatchers noticed the slick, the ship detained. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Oil leaked from a Swedish ship near the Gabcikovo waterworks. Dispatchers at the waterworks noticed the oil slick on Wednesday afternoon. The ship is currently detained in a lock chamber and the cruise has been suspended, announced spokesperson of the Slovak Water Management Enterprise, Marian Bocak, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement (Source: TASR) The water management from dispatching is proceeding according to the emergency plan and it notified the respective district office, Slovak Environmental Inspectorate, Transport Authority and rescue services, Bocak said for TASR. The oil slick is eight-kilometre-long, reported the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate. The perpetrator faces a fine of up to 165,000 if proven to be an administrative offense. Water management inspectors are classifying the event as an extraordinary worsening of water quality, according to water law. The priority now is to prevent another leakage of oil substances and eliminate the pollution using sorption and degradation materials, they explained, as quoted by TASR. The investigation and gathering of evidence took place on Wednesday. On April 24, French President Emmanuel Macron was re-elected with 58% of the national vote, defeating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen to become the first French president to win a second term in 20 years. Many had feared an upset as Le Pen experienced an uptick in polling following the crisis in Ukraine, but Macron ultimately prevailed as the only perceived mainstream candidate with many feeling they had little alternative but to choose him. Despite this, many challenges lay ahead for France, and the result of the election was followed by unrest. Yet for now, it appears that the country has decided against uncertainty, which will be a relief to its partners in Europe and to the United States. The rise of Marine Le Pen is not a new thing, even if her support has continued to rise to unprecedented levels. The National Rally party, previously known as the National Front, has found growing support among disaffected working-class French communities in the former industrial areas of the country's north. The appeal of the NR to these groups is promulgated by the same economic changes brought about by globalization that established support for Brexit in the United Kingdom and Donald Trump in the United States. There is a feeling of certain people being "left behind" as industries and communities decline, with social change also leading to the erosion of traditional identities, which in turn creates insecurity over immigration and demographic change. This factor has been significant for several years. However, it has been compounded by Emmanuel Macron's pursuit of a neoliberal economic policy which is deemed to be anti-worker in nature. In 2019, France was hit by the yellow vest movement which protested against wealth inequality and unfair tax burdens on ordinary people and for a better minimum wage. In this light, Macron has proven to be deeply unpopular among the working classes, however many people in France have been unwilling to endorse Le Pen due to her nationalistic views. As a result, Macron's triumph is best explained by him being a "last resort" candidate for many in France, even if they want change, because the alternative is unthinkable to them for many reasons. As such, Macron's victory does not mean he has secured the full confidence and backing of the French people. If the country's economic situation continues to deteriorate, he could very quickly fall to new levels of unpopularity. On this note, despite losing the presidential election, the NR continues to enjoy more support than ever. The party's rise means that Macron must not only deliver a better deal on the economy, but also continue to advocate a tough domestic stance on terrorism, national identity and immigration to appease the growth of the far right. The stability of France could easily be upended in such circumstances. Macron's victory has several implications for Europe. Firstly, his re-election ensures that France will continue to push for European unity, as he is a strong advocate of European strategic autonomy the belief that the EU should be an independent and unified actor in the world which is not subservient to any other country or bloc. This phrase is usually associated with affirming Europe's own path away from American interests. Moreover, Macron has been a longstanding advocate of engagement with China and a leader in shaping Europe's ties with Beijing as a whole. At a time when the bloc has faced pressure from the U.S., Macron has been a positive influence. He recognizes that not everything the U.S. does regarding China is in the interests of France and Europe. For example, the AUKUS saga famously undermined French interests, creating a clear rift in the Western world. As a result, despite the unprecedented disruption posed by the war in Ukraine on European politics, Macron retains an important influence over the bigger picture. Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. When it came to the Saturday night (April 30) feature at The Meadowlands, track announcer Ken Warkentin said it best: Charlie May came to play! The 2021 Ohio Horse of the Year made a huge splash in his four-year-old debut, powering off cover in mid-stretch to take the $31,500 Open Handicap for pacers in a lifetime-best 1:48.3. Its interesting because every season hes won his first race of the year, said Charlie Mays owner Don Tiger. Its pretty cool. He surprised me tonight. I knew hed be very good, but those were Invitational pacers he was facing with starts under their belts. We raced him conservatively, but the horse has his own mind. He doesnt like to lose. After a three-year-old campaign that saw him battle the likes of Perfect Sting, Lous Pearlman and Abuckabett Hanover, Charlie May won 10-of-22 starts and banked a hair under $880,000, and off a pair of winning qualifiers at Miami Valley Raceway, the gelded son of McArdle-Stipple Hanover, who is trained by Steve Carter, was more than ready at first asking for his third season of racing. A year ago, it was Perfect Sting gunning down Charlie May in the Oct. 30 Breeders Crown for driver Dave Miller. So it was ironic that Miller was piloting Charlie May for the first time ever Saturday. I got asked to drive him and was glad to get to race him, said the Hall of Famer. We were going to race him from the end of it and I was able to sit quite a ways. We got some cover and he did the rest. Charlie May was away fifth in the early going as No Lou Zing and American History slugged it out to the quarter in :26.1 before American History made a second move to command and hit the half in :54.3. Miller moved Charlie May off the rail at the five-eighths and quickly picked up live cover from Backstreet Shadow. American History was clear by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:21.4 as Charlie May continued second-over with Let It Ride N who was seeking a second-straight score in the weekly feature in hot pursuit in the live flow right behind the eventual winner. Charlie May was tipped off his cover with an eighth-of-a-mile to go and steamrolled past the field, hitting the wire 1-1/2 lengths in front of Backstreet Shadow. Vettel N was third. Let It Ride N, the 3-5 favourite, didnt fire off cover and finished in a dead-heat for fourth in the six-horse field. In raising his stats to 18 wins from just 32 starts, Charlie May padded his earnings to $1,223,777. He returned $8.00 to his backers as the 3-1 second choice in the wagering. Well be in the Graduate [at The Meadowlands] for sure next week, said Tiger. And the week after that, The Confederation Cup [at Flamboro Downs]. We have our schedule all mapped out, and we will show some loyalty to Ohio, and well go to the Dan Patch because that is a neighboring state [Indiana]. Well finish up in the Breeders Crown [at Woodbine Mohawk Park]. But well be at The Meadowlands for a good chunk of races. A LITTLE MORE: Dexter Dunn was on target all night, leading the driver colony with four victories. Joe Bongiorno guided the winners circle visitors in the first, second and third races. The 20-cent Pick-6 had a double carryover, leading to $100,000 in new money poured into the pool, for a grand total of $127,024. After Scott Zeron guided 29-1 shot No Stone Unturned to victory lane in the 13th and final, those with winning Pick-6 tickets walked away with $12,443.96. All-source handle totaled $2,794,862. Racing resumes Friday (May 6) at 6:20 p.m. (EDT). (The Meadowlands) Sitting a pocket trip, Revolt revved off the pegs to score a 1:50.2 victory in the co-featured $28,000 pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (April 30). Driver Louis-Philippe Roy settled Revolt behind pacesetter East End to a :27 first quarter and stayed put as a mild outer flow developed to a :56.2 half. Though Revolt had room to edge from the pocket as the tempo quickened to three-quarters and he pressed East End by that station in 1:23.4. The five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding then kicked for home and away from East End, sliding 1-3/4 lengths ahead to the beam while Undrthsouthrnsun N rode the pylons for third and Real Willey rallied for fourth. Owned and trained by Cassandra Lecourt, Revolt won his third race from 12 starts this season and his 14th from 55 overall. He has banked $167,650 and paid $5.60 to win. Richard Moreau trainee Shes Nun Bettor N set most of the speed to win the co-featured $28,000 featured pace for fillies and mares. Doug McNair circled the six-year-old Bettors Delight mare to the lead by a :27.3 first quarter to pocket Better Be Donna N and cruise to a :56.4 half. Awesome Hill pulled first over from third around the far turn and inched closer to the pacesetter coming to three-quarters in 1:25.3. In the sprint for home, Awesome Hill dug into Shes Nun Bettor N, but the pacesetter held firm to the finish to keep a head in front and stop the clock in 1:51.3. Dabarndawgswatchin rallied for third and Dream Dancing took fourth. Owned by Brad Grant, Shes Nun Bettor N won her second race from nine starts this season and her 12th from 56 overall. She has earned $205,555 and paid $15.20 to win. To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. Officials with Georgian Downs wish to advise horsepeople that the Barrie-area oval will be open for training in less than a week. Georgian Downs will open for training on Thursday, May 5. Training hours will be 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m (Noon). The track will be open for training on Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. throughout May, June, July and August. Live harness racing is set to return to Georgian Downs on Saturday, June 4. (Georgian) The Culpeper County Republican Committee on Friday announced a series of public events allowing voters to get to know six candidates running in the partys 7th Congressional District primary on June 21. Meanwhile, national Democrats are criticizing Virginia Republicans, saying there is still no clear front-runner to run in the November contest against U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger. In the town of Culpeper, a breakfast with the 7th District candidates will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at Peppers Grill at 791 Madison Road. Constituents are invited to meet and greet the half-dozen contenders seeking the nomination in the primary to run against the two-term congresswoman, a Democrat from Henrico County. A flyer for the breakfast lists all six GOP candidates: Derrick Anderson, Gina Ciarcia, Bryce Reeves, David Ross, Crystal Vanuch and Yesli Vega. The Culpeper County Republican Committee has also announced Candidates & Coffee meet and greets at its headquarters, 402 S. Main St. All will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. starting May 4 with Reeves of Spotsylvania, the 17th Districts state senator. Spotyslvania County Supervisor Dave Ross will be at local GOP headquarters May 12 for Candidates & Coffee, followed by Crystal Vanuch, a Stafford County supervisor, on May 23. Gina Ciarcia, a Prince William County resident who ran for the Virginia House of Delegates last year, will participate May 27 at Candidates & Coffee in Culpeper. Also on Friday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out an email with the subject line, No clear frontrunner in the chaotic VA-07 Republican Primary. The correspondence referenced the National Republican Congress Committee recently updating the On the Radar list for its Young Guns program to include Reeves, Vega and Vanuch. That proves there is no GOP leader in the 7th Congressional District, the DCCC said. As Crystal Vanuch, Derrick Anderson, Bryce Reeves, and Yesli Vega all jockey to position themselves as the most extreme, far-right candidate in the race, theyll continue to disqualify themselves as an option to Virginia voters this November, the Democratic committee stated. The DCCC email referenced an April 18 story in The Washington Post quoting Zack Roday, a Virginia-based Republican campaign consultant, who told the newspaper he didnt see a front-runner in the GOP primary. Republicans are in disarray in Virginia, DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson said. No matter which candidate makes its through this clown-car primary in VA-07, theyll be a losing choice for Virginians. Last week, the Cook Political Report changed the ratings of eight House matchups, including Spanberger in the 7th, which was kicked from lean Democrat to toss-up. Cook Political Report called Reeves the nominal front runner in the GOP primary contest. saying he already represents a large area of the 7th District in the state Senate. In an email Thursday, Reeves lauded his on-the-radar recognition through Young Guns, a program led by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. Reeves said his campaigns momentum is soaring. I want to thank Leader McCarthy for recognizing that, he said. When I won re-election in 2019, I was outspent 5 to 1 in a Democrat district. This is another boost to our confidence to know that we will be getting national support in our race against Abigail Spanberger this year, who has been taking in gigantic amounts of special-interest money to try and hold onto a district she now lives 70 miles outside of. House members are not required to live in the district they represent. A moderate Democrat, Spanberger was in Culpeper County on Saturday for a fundraiser attended by supporters at Brandy Rock Farm. She has remained focused on her work in Congress throughout the campaign, frequently visiting Culpeperat the center of the dramatically redrawn 7th Districtin recent months. In February, Spanberger told the Richmond Times-Dispatch she and her husband were discussing where they would live with their three daughters, but that she would not move her family before next year. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Del. Don Scott Jr. seemingly came out of nowhere to lead a surprising but successful effort to oust Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn from her role as the chambers Democratic leader. Supporters of the Portsmouth Democrat who want him to assume the top role say he did it by creating a coalition of Democrats thats racially and geographically diverse, and because of his record of standing up to new Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. He stood up to the governor, said Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, referencing a Jan. 26 floor speech in which Scott called out use of race in politics by Youngkin and Republicans. That prompted Youngkin to go to Scotts office to talk with him. A lot of other legislators speak on the floor, but when Don does it, the governor feels like hes got to come to his office, Helmer said. Thats the guy I want in charge.{p class=tncms-inline-link}House Democrats vote to remove Filler-Corn as leader The ouster effort netted 25 members of the 48-member caucus on Wednesday, the minimum necessary to remove Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, as minority leader in the chamber, where Republicans hold 52 of the 100 seats after flipping partisan control in November. (Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, was not present for the vote.) The caucus will hold a leadership election, but no date has been set. Scott has been working for weeks to convince his colleagues to elect him to the post. While no one else has yet announced theyll seek the post, Democrats expect at least one person aligned with Filler-Corn will seek it. Scotts biography begins with growing up poor without a father present and includes serving time in prison on a drug charge, working a variety of jobs, and becoming an attorney in 2015 at 50. Scott said he understands how to help the vulnerable and said he brings a new perspective to his party. I think Im in a unique position to understand that government can really help you thats why I love this country and served this country, the Navy veteran said, but government can also really hurt you and I think Ive experienced some of that unfairness or harshness of what the government can do to you. Helmer said that experience makes Scott different than any other House Democrat. For all the people that can talk about what we need in the moment, somebody with his lived experience and story thats just something different, Helmer said. And he was able to demonstrate these leadership skills and bring all these people together. Thats why he should be our leader.{p class=tncms-inline-link}Rumor of Clean Virginia backing Scott for Dem leader lacks evidence Democrats who opted to remove Filler-Corn say election strategy is a top concern. With national GOP momentum that hurt Democrats in the 2021 elections only becoming stronger ahead of the congressional midterms and the next legislative elections, Democrats say the party needs to adjust its posture, allow more Democrats a seat at the table, and ensure that every race gets the focus it needs. (The next legislative elections are scheduled for 2023, but a pending court case seeks to accelerate House elections to this fall. It asserts that the 2021 House electionsheld in old districts because census data arrived latedid not uphold equal representation.) Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, said Scott is bringing Democrats to the table from across the state and that he wants people who disagree with him at the table. The idea is that with all voices heard, Democrats can craft the best policy and govern successfully. She said Scotts understands tactical leadership. That kind of tactical strategy is what wins elections and what wins back the majority, she said. Delaney was elected in the wave election of 2017 when Democrats nearly took control of the House of Delegates. They won the House majority in 2019when Scott and Helmer were first electedbefore losing it last year. Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, also first elected in the 2017 wave, answered cautiously when asked about the leadership opening.{p class=tncms-inline-link}Black delegate who rebuked Youngkin now running for House Dem leader As organizations change and mature, sometimes the leadership has to change as well, he said. For me, this is just kind of the natural evolution of an organization that is changing, growing and maturing. The leadership opening is created a power struggle in the party. Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors wrote a letter to the countys House delegation on Friday expressing concern about maintaining Fairfax Countys power in the General Assembly. As you consider your path forward, we urge you to reflect upon the value of what we hada Democratic leader from our community who understands our community, the letter said, referring to Filler-Corn, whose top lieutenants also represented Northern Virginia districts. Scotts January speech came spontaneously after Republicans had given floor speeches about critical race theory, an academic term some Republicans use in referring to school lessons on systemic racism. This thing has gone a little too far. I understand you found a winning issuecritical race theoryonce again using the old Southern strategy to use race as a wedge issue, to use Black bodies as a prop in your campaigns, Scott said in the speech. Because I know when you say ... race sometimes it makes people pay attention. And those folks that have pent up, racial issues this is something they can embrace. I would ask you to be very careful about continuing to use this type of language in an attempt to rally your base. Chris Saxman, a former Republican delegate who is now executive director of the business group Virginia FREE, later interviewed Scott about it during a podcast. You took straight aim at the governor. Why did you decide to do that? Saxman asked. It really was out of some frustration with the conversations around race, critical race theory, Scott said. I was like, this is too divisive. And this is not why were here nowwere here now to do the peoples business, to listen to bills, to listen to ideas, debate those ideas. He said the governor was using race as a wedge issue and Republican delegates were regularly bringing up race in floor speeches. Scott described the conversation he had with the governor after the speech as lengthy, productive and respectful, and said they each agreed to keep it confidential. If nothing else, you get to hear other peoples views. Scott spent seven years in prison after a 1994 conviction on federal drug charge, according to a 2018 profile of him in The Virginian-Pilot. The sentence was a mandatory minimum and stemmed from a pound of crack sold in Mobile, Ala. The experience taught him how to fight for others, he said in the story. He grew up in Houston as one of six children raised by a single mother who worked as a school secretary. He earned a degree from Texas A&M University and joined the Navy. He was arrested in the drug case while studying law at Louisiana State University. Scott maintained he was innocent, and pleaded no contest to one charge, The Pilot reported. He told the newspaper he drove to Alabama in 1994 to pick up $26,000 for a drug dealer he knew, but never saw drugs himself. After prison, he worked various jobs, including construction and then at a workforce development company, which brought him to Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in Virginia in June 2015 at age 50, the Pilot reported in its profile. In voting to remove Filler-Corn on Wednesday, Democrats opted to keep her lieutenant, Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, the caucus chair. Scott was the caucus vice chair for outreach, but he resigned that position to seek the top post. Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, said hes not interested in running for the leader job and praised both Filler-Corn and Scott. The caucus should hold an election and the sooner, the better, he said. Flash Pakistan will thwart any attempt to undermine its relations with China, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said on Saturday, after a terrorist attack killed three Chinese nationals in Karachi earlier this week. A shuttle passenger van of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi was attacked on Tuesday, which has left three Chinese teachers killed. During his visit to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the president expressed condolences to the Chinese side over the deaths of the teachers, and strongly condemned the attack, saying that Pakistan will spare no effort to fight against terrorism and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country. The victims were friendly ambassadors who promoted people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China, he said, adding that the terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan's development and the corridor construction cannot be achieved without the support of China, an "iron brother" of Pakistan, the president stressed. Pang Chunxue, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, thanked Alvi for his visit, and said that China strongly condemns the terrorist attack and has asked the Pakistani side to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. China will join hands with Pakistan to ensure the safety of the Chinese citizens, projects and institutions in Pakistan, combat terrorism and promote regional peace and stability, she added. Cannabis regulation met the stopping power of partisan politics during the 2022 Virginia General Assembly session, but lawmakers said more action is required to shape policy on the newly legalized plant. Out of more than 25 cannabis-related bills filed by state lawmakers this year, only two passed the divided legislature and were signed into law by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, according to data from Virginia NORML, or the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Those two bills dealt with medical marijuana definitions. The only other bill passed by the Republican-majority House and the Democratic-majority Senate was House Bill 591, carried by Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta. That bill, which originally sought to limit the shape of cannabis edibles, failed in the Senate during the legislature's reconvened session this week, after Democrats pushed back against amendments proposed by Youngkin, Hanger said. That particular bill will not move forward as SB 591, Hanger said. But, we've been working on a plan to take care of the substance of the bill after the session. Maybe in special session, or during the budget negotiations. At some point. Hanger intends to introduce more stringent regulations to a gray-area aspect of the consumable hemp industry. Products containing synthesized Delta-8 THC are abundantly available in gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores, but adults dont always realize the effects of what theyre buying, and children have ingested the unregulated, hemp-based edible products, Hanger said. Particularly right now, the Delta-8 products that are being injected into edible-type products whether they be gummies or brownies or cookies are causing a problem, and we need to address it, Hanger said. We really can't do nothing for public health and safety. But he said lawmakers have learned there is a fine line in trying to regulate the hemp and cannabis markets, given the beliefs and opinions about the plant. Legalizing hemp was intended for more industrial and practical uses, not for getting people high, Hanger said. I've heard lots of stories about people using hemp-derivative products that provide some relief from pains ... That's the experience some people have, Hanger said. There's opportunity for growth, but I would hope that we can develop other markets that that will help, rather than just concentrating on producing these drugs. Some of the needed regulations might be realized through the state budget, by providing funding for state authorities to provide enforcement, Hanger said. But theres work still to be done on achieving budget agreement between parties. Just because people can make money doing it, doesn't mean that it's appropriate for it to operate in an unregulated market, Hanger said. The overriding concern for us should be properly controlling it, for the public's health and safety. Consumable hemp products causing concern for Hanger are but one aspect to tackle in the larger web of Virginia cannabis regulation. Lawmakers in Richmond this winter also balked on moving closer to establishing the framework for adult sales of recreational cannabis. We want to go back to rope, not dope, Hanger said of SB 591. Most likely, for the broader bill, we will be working with the governor's office to try to craft a new bill that could be potentially introduced during this special session. Future changes to cannabis policy will likely be attempted by introducing smaller and more tightly focused bills, said JM Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML. Since cannabis legalization was agreed upon by the legislature in 2020, lengthier bills on the subject have proved likely to falter in the legislature, they said. In 2023, what we ought to see are a number of skinny bills that address very narrow segments of code related to the licensing and regulation of adult-use cannabis, Pedini said. As opposed to one large omnibus bill, which for two sessions now, we have heard from the legislature is, too big to read. As Sawyer Riddick prepared to attend Bluffs Middle School, he wanted to stay involved in music as he watched his older brother, Spencer, find a passion for the arts. Now in his senior year at Scottsbluff High School, Riddick is involved in multiple music and performing arts classes and productions as well as an internship with Mitchell Berean Church. My brother was always in the music programs and I looked up to him a lot, so it meant a lot to me that I was also involved in the music programs, he said. Having participated in the fifth-grade band, Riddick sought to become more involved in the arts, adding choir to his class schedule in middle school. Vocal music teacher Perry Brening and band teacher Michael Koch laid Riddicks music foundation by sharing their passion for music with him. Brad Ronne and Frank Ibero, the high school vocal and band teachers have furthered Riddicks love for music, he said. Ive had the pleasure to have Mr. Ronne and Mr. Ibero teach me, and in the middle school, Mr. Brening and Mr. Koch, he said. I feel like Ive grown so much as a musician under them and its crazy just how amazing they are at what they do. You can tell they love what they do and theyre passionate about it and they bring that passion to the classroom every day. That passion extends to Riddicks classmates, creating a family environment within the music department, he said. Following his positive experience in music during middle school, Riddick entered high school and joined every group he could. So, I joined band, jazz band, choir, show choir, he said. I was in the musical and thats when I really dove into the music program. Riddick said performing in several programs and theater can be a challenge for completing his coursework, but he doesnt mind. It does get hard because there are a lot of concerts and during musical season, we have the late night rehearsals, Riddick said. But, Ive always found ways to fit it everywhere I can just because being involved in the music program means so much to me. If I have to stay up later or if I have to work on it during class, I can always just find little bits of time, but I have to stay involved in the music program because it means so much to me, even if it is tough sometimes to keep up with my school work. Riddick has been involved in the high school musicals every year, but his favorite show was Newsies in 2018. I think that will always been my favorite because it was my first experience with a high school musical and was the first one I had ever been involved in, he said. During the spring semester, Riddick has shared his knowledge and passion for music during an internship at the Mitchell Berean Church, where he works behind the scenes on the sound engineering during services. Ronne introduced Riddick to worship arts pastor Ken Boehr at Mitchell Berean Church. We work a lot on sound engineering and music technology, Riddick said. When they are performing live, my job is being in the back controlling the sound like the EQ (equalization or balance) and compression of what theyre producing out. He completed four weekends of training alongside church staff before they gave him the opportunity to take the reigns at the soundboard. He also met with Boehr every On Wednesday morning throughout the internship. Riddick helped record and edit the Ask the Pastor sessions. He even ran sounds for some weekend services, which is no small thing here, Boehr said. He just rose right up and sat in with some other guys and really consumed that teaching. On top of school and on top of musical, I just dont know how he did it. Boehr said he hopes Riddick will get involved in a local church and uses his gift and skill to benefit them. The goal of those behind-the-scenes tech people is to go unnoticed, Boehr said. He did a good job of that. From the partnership with the school, Boehr said it helped him develop a plan for future internships for area students. I really hope that opened the door to begin working with a lot more kids regarding technology, not just sound, but lighting, sound or whatever their interest is in, he said. Boehr said bringing Riddick into the church family has been a blessing and he does not want to see him go. Hes just such a great kid with a wonderful heart and a teachable spirit, Boehr said. His passion is definitely in an area he is gifted and skilled in as well. Riddick said he gained valuable skills from his time at Mitchell Berean. I learned a lot about every instrument or voice you have to tweak completely differently in order to make it produce the best sound, Riddick said. You have to learn the ins and outs of every instrument and how it makes sound, so you can get the best possible sound out of everything. He hopes his internship affords future opportunities for students at the church and that youth realize they are capable of more than they may think. I would go in a lot on the weekends for my internships and that was really my only free time during musical season back in February and March, but I was doing what I enjoyed, Riddick said. Even if it got busy and stressful at points, I always knew I would enjoy what Im doing. His internship will conclude at the end of the school year where he will submit a time sheet of his hours at the church. As he reflects on his musical journey at Scottsbluff Public Schools, Riddick said he is grateful for the opportunity to discover his passion. I feel like Ive grown so much as a musician and as a person being involved in these programs, Riddick said. Following graduation, Riddick will attend the University of Nebraska Omaha to major in music technology and production. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Gering High School class of 2022 spent its Wednesday morning picking up trash, raking tumbleweeds or sweeping bleachers on Wednesday, April 27. The annual senior service day has been a tradition for many years at GHS, and this year was no different. After completing thank you cards for various school partners in the community, seniors split into seven groups and spread out throughout Gering to help with various projects from picking up trash along Five Rocks Road to cleaning out the city pool to prepare it for the summer season. One project that students considered particularly grueling was helping tidy up Oregon Trail Park Stadium. Needless to say, Ive done enough yard work where I think Im good for the rest of the year, Jaden Shirley said. Still, Shirley and her classmates admitted that it was a good time helping out their community plus it beat sitting in class for the day. Im so happy I didnt have to go to math today, Freedom Hauck said while she raked tumbleweeds away from the fence at Five Rocks Amphitheater. Besides it getting them out of class, Hauck and classmate Tucker Hixon felt good about the work they were doing. Its helping people out, so I guess its pretty good, Hixon said. Hauck said community service is something more people should consider doing. It would be nice for more people to want to help, she said. For these seniors, the service day gives them the opportunity to give back to a community thats given so much to them over the years. This is the community we all generate from and doing it together was just a plus, Aryez Cervantes said. Shirley added, I see it like giving back to the community that has raised us its one of the things that weve all been here, and its nice to finally give back to the community and people who have given to us. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. With a passion for live theater, members of the Goshen County community came together 20 years ago to start the Goshen Community Theatre. The non-profit organization opened in 2002 and offered two major shows each season, except for 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now its board is working to revamp the upcoming season and get the community excited and involved in the arts. Creating a community theater In the early 2000s, Eastern Wyoming College offered a theater department, but were removing it due to budget challenges. Most of the participants were community members, not college students, president of GCT Erin Jespersen said. Jespersen stood in Lisa Fluckigers living room where they began to research the bylaws and grant writing processes of starting a community theater. We had original founders who would give us $1,000 or more to get us up and running, Jespersen said. They got us started and then we figured out how to write grants. The GCT is a member of the American Association of Community Theatre and has been awarded grant funding by the Wyoming Arts Council almost yearly. Guys and Dolls was the first musical presented by GCT. During its 15th season, GCT held a GCT in Revue that featured all of the plays and musicals the community theater performed. Some of those shows were And Then There Were None, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, Meshuggah-nuns, The Death and Life of Sneaky Fitch and The Philadelphia Story. Pandemic shutters theater The theater was deep into rehearsals for the female version of The Odd Couple, which is nearly identical to the original play, when the pandemic broke out. That caused the show to be canceled in March 2020. The 2021 season also did not occur as EWCs COVID-19 protocols restricted large gatherings. Determined to return to the stage, the Goshen Community Theatre board met to make preparations for a fall show in 2021. COVID-19 would once again spoil those plans. This year, we had planned on putting on a show in the fall and our director and one of our actors got COVID three weeks before production, Jespersen said. They tried to reassemble for the spring and it just didnt work. So weve had two full years without any shows, she added. Were trying to get that community support back. Youth Theatre returns In addition to the community theater productions, GCT also offers a Youth Theatre Workshop for kids ages 8-15, which hasnt been held for the past two years. However, Jespersen said this years workshop is scheduled for June 24-30. Its our show with Shel Silverstein poems, she said. So were excited about having that come back. The workshop runs for about a week where kids create their own costumes and set pieces as well as learn lines, songs and choreography ahead of the performance. Youth are expected to attend rehearsals from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 24. Jespersen said they are still working on the schedule for the weekends. The live performance is set for Thursday, June 30. Details about how to sign up for the youth theater workshop is forthcoming, so the public is encouraged to check the goshencommunitythreatre.org website. Scholarships are available. It will kick off our comeback, she said. Madison Bloodgood became involved in GCT at the age of 11, during the production of The Music Man. Throughout the years, she worked backstage, on stage and helped with childrens theater workshops. Some of her fondest memories are from Its All Greek and The Philadelphia Story. During Greek, I was too old to participate but I got to be a dance princess, one of the older helpers that specifically teach the dances, Bloodgood said. Well, I am not a dancer. It was highly enjoyable to learn and teach the dances we did. Bloodgood also auditioned for a role in The Philadelphia Story, with her audition inspiring the director for the live performance. In Philadelphia, I remember auditions the best, she said. There was a scene where the character (Tracy Lord) that I was auditioning for, and eventually got, had to be drunk. The cue was to spin around and sit down in a chair. Well, I missed the chair and plopped on the ground way too hard. The director and my scene mate died laughing and we had to keep it for the actual show. Her time performing and working backstage at the Goshen Community Theatre has played a formative part in her life, Bloodgood said. I absolutely love theater and try to participate in any way that I can still. I work at EWC and I am still a tech in the theater. Upcoming auditions In August, GCT hopes to hold auditions for the fall show, with public performances in late October or early November. GCT is working with EWC to finalize the show dates, which will be announced this summer. A challenge the theater board experienced was attracting talent for shows, particularly in recent years. However, Jespersen said they are hopeful younger talent will be interested in taking the stage. The pool of talent became harder to find, she said. It was just more difficult to find people to audition for shows in the last 10 years, I would say. Were thinking theres some younger talent out there, some people who have graduated from Torrington High School and have been a part of the theater program for at least the last seven years. Jespersen has served as the theater teacher at Torrington High School the past seven years. She hopes younger people will still have a passion for theater and participate in community theater. Since its formation in 2002, GCT has updated microphones for the actors, but no other upgrades have been done to the facility. Its such a beautiful facility and its just not utilized as much as it should be, I think, for theater and things like that, Jespersen said. That auditorium is just gorgeous, so hopefully we can get that space used a little bit more for its intended purpose. The board of governors is optimistic to bring live performances back to the theater space on the EWC campus this year. We just want to breathe new life into GCT and get the community interested in being in shows, Jespersen said. Putting on a show is a lot of work. We have some younger people and some new people who have moved to the community that were hoping can get excited about theater. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VANCOUVER, British Columbia The recklessness with which the U.S. and its NATO allies are flooding a chaotic Ukraine with weapons suggests that history has taught our leaders nothing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv on April 24 to champion the $713 million in military funding pledged by the Biden administration. We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it cant do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine, General Austin said from the Ukrainian capital, alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While the idea of arming Ukraine against Russias insurgence may be tempting to U.S. and allied officials in theory, it hasnt panned out too well in the long term. The Ukrainian conflict already has one clear winner: weapons manufacturers and their shareholders. Theres a trend of NATO weapons shipments arriving at depots in Ukraine, only to be subsequently blown up by Russian missiles, in places like Lviv and Odesa. Its not like the Russians cant also see all of these weapons shipment announcements on American TV and have eyes in the skies over Ukraine capable of spotting deliveries. Its so blatantly ridiculous as an effective strategy that its tempting to wonder whether the actual goal of the western establishment is just to have Russians blow up weapons in order to justify making more of them. Ukraines use of Stinger and Javelin missiles is outstripping U.S. production, according to Forbes last month. How convenient. The system is clearly benefiting from a blank check conceded by taxpayers who have been themselves bombarded with emotionally charged messaging on the part of their leaders. The heartstring tugging mistakenly leads them to believe that increased weapons supplies are the only way to help the suffering Ukrainian people. The people of Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, who have all been in similar situations to the Ukrainian people today, would likely beg to differ. The billions of dollars worth of weapons provided by the U.S. to its Mujahedeen proxies in the CIA-led Operation Cyclone against the Soviets in Afghanistan during the Cold War ultimately ended up in the hands of the Taliban. Missiles supplied to Afghan rebels come back to haunt U.S., wrote the Los Angeles Times in October 2001, as America targeted al-Qaeda in Taliban-led Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. More recently, as the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan last August, ending 20 years of military operations, the Washington Post reported how the Taliban showed off captured American-made weapons from that war. According to the Asia Times, U.S. artillery also wound up in Pakistan the historical nation-state sponsor of the Taliban, top Saudi ally, and the country where Saudi-born Osama Bin Laden was ultimately found hiding. American-made weapons, provided by Washington to Saudi Arabia were also used earlier this year in attacks that killed 80 civilians and injured over 200 in Yemen, according to Amnesty International. Similarly, American missiles dumped into Libya during the civil war sparked in 2011, which led to the ousting of leader Muammar Gaddafi, were found in much different hands in 2019. By then, they were being used by General Khalifa Haftar, whose camp is accused of war crimes, and whom the U.S. claimed openly to oppose as he fought against the government recognized by the United Nations. In Iraq, hundreds of thousands of American guns and other weapons were considered to have been lost by the U.S., explained the New York Times in 2016. Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that some of those same weapons dumped by Washington into Iraq during the Global War on Terror were smuggled into Iran before being delivered to Russia for current use in the Ukrainian conflict. So where are all the U.S. weapons going that are purportedly being delivered to the Ukrainian people to help them fight Russia? If, by now, youre guessing that no one in charge really has a clue youre likely correct. What happens to weapons sent to Ukraine? The U.S. doesnt really know, noted CNN on April 19. Evidence suggests that American weapons sent into chaotic conflict can very well end up in the hands of rogue actors empowered to pursue their own agenda. Today, the neo-Nazi fighters in Ukraine trained by the west and integrated into the countrys army could potentially end up causing a problem for European nations in the same way that ISIS and other ideological groups emerged, armed and dangerous, from previous conflicts. Rather than cheering the delivery of endless weapons, it may be wiser in the long run although counter-intuitive for some to hope that the Russian military is successful in their strategic weapons reduction efforts. Iredell County Emergency Management encourages residents to plan now for hurricanes by updating their emergency plans and supply kits. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. In order to protect you and your family, the time to get prepared for a tropical storm such as a hurricane, or any disaster, is now. Begin by having a plan and a survival kit. They are not complicated to create, just visit ReadyNC.gov and you can download a plan template and youll find a list of items to include in your kit. You and your family should also take the time to practice your emergency plan so everyone knows where to go and who to contact when disaster strikes. If you have an emergency plan, now is also the time to make sure all of the information is up to date and talk to your neighbors about their plans, especially those who may need assistance such as senior citizens. Typically, there is a great deal of advance warning that a storm such as a hurricane is coming. If your plan and kit are up to date, that gives you ample time to mitigate damage to your home or business by taking some commonsense measures such as trimming trees, covering windows, securing loose outdoor items and more. Although Iredell County has not seen a direct impact from a hurricane recently, remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms can bring high wind and torrential rainfall to the area. As recently as 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Zeta caused damage to homes and knocked out power to thousands. To encourage residents to prepare, the National Weather Service has declared May 1-7 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in North Carolina. Iredell County residents should take this time to review and practice their emergency plans. Emergency Management urges Iredell County families and businesses to write down their plan and gather important documents, such as copy of drivers license, insurance policies, medicals records, and bank account statements, and put them somewhere they can quickly access in case of emergency. Assemble an emergency supplies kit that includes enough non-perishable food and water to last each family member three to seven days. Other essential items include: First-aid kit Weather radio and batteries Prescription medicines Sleeping bag or blankets Changes of clothes Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant Cash Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records Face masks and hand sanitizer Make sure to review and update homeowners or renters insurance policies to ensure they include coverage for damage, natural disasters and flood insurance. Iredell County residents should stay informed during severe weather by using a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information and should know evacuation routes in their community. When asked to evacuate, residents should leave the area immediately. Having a plan and being prepared improves your chances of surviving and recovering from the damage of severe weather. If youre asked to evacuate due to potential danger, you should do so. Youll not only be protecting yourself but also emergency responders who may have to risk their lives to save you if you dont evacuate. More information on hurricanes and overall emergency preparedness is online at www.ReadyNC.gov. Kent Greene is the director of Fire Services and Emergency Management for Iredell County. Over the course of nearly 40 years, Ive heard about the same number of graduation speeches, if not more. With a few exceptions, about half were as a high school band director, directing traditional commencement music, the other half as a high school counselor, where I read the list of graduates, and/or offered brief words of advice. Believe it or not, even at my advanced age, I can still remember three of those speakers: the late Art Buchwald; Ambassador Nicholas Platt; and Dr. Cornell West. Actually, I dont remember much about their words of wisdom, but something else. Buchwald, a well-read humorist of the day, spoke at my late sisters college graduation at UNC-Greensboro in the late 60s. Hed just returned from France, and had a witty remark about Charles de Gaulle. During the 80s, career diplomat Nicholas Platt gave the commencement address at Clark Air Base twice during his tenure as ambassador to the Philippines. I dont remember what he said, but do recall that he gave the same speech both times. Dr. Cornell West delivered the commencement address at our daughters college graduation at DePauw University in 1996. Alas, dont recall his words either, but I do remember his untamed Afro. My wife was asked to be the graduation speaker once at Clark (evidently Ambassador Platt was not available), but I never was. While our grandchildren are still some years away from high school graduation, I recently decided to write a graduation speech for them, though theyre more likely to read it (perhaps), than to hear me present it. * * * Im guessing that most of you young folks have never heard of Seneca. A man of many talents, the Roman Seneca was a Stoic philosopher who lived 2,000 years ago. He offered these words of caution and concern to young Romans, especially those whod grown up in comfortable environments with few, if any worries or disappointments: You are unfortunate in my judgement, for you have never been unfortunate. You have passed through life with no antagonist to face you; No one will know what you were capable of, not even yourself. (my emphasis) Fortunately, Im here to remind you that its not too late in life to be unfortunate or disappointed. Im guessing, however, that Im not the first person to share this sobering news with you. Having made it this far, however, most of you are somewhat aware that in spite of your past successes, youre likely to face some antagonists along the way. In researching advice for young people, I found numerous lists from a variety of sources. The lists of dos and donts I considered ranged from a scant list of three to 11. Included on these lists was advice from teens, adults, parents, religious leaders, a psychologist, and even a political scientist. On a positive note there was considerable overlap, so it was easy to include those on my list. Finally, I settled on a list of 10, but fudged a little by combining a few. Remember its always easier to give advice, than take it. In considering the grandkids Hoosier roots, and with a tip of the hat to comedian David Letterman, heres my Top Ten List of Advice for Young Adults. Actually, many are just as appropriate for the rest of us: 1. Dont rush to grow up. Enjoy your teens, but take your education seriously. Get as much as you can, and never stop learning. 2. Make good friends, but choose them wisely, and learn to resist peer pressure. Recognize that friends will come and go; being cool, is just a matter of opinion. 3. Make time for self-care physical and mental; seek help when things get too much for you; that includes, finding a trusted mentor. 4. Saying no, is fine; you really have more courage than you might think. 5. You will fail, make mistakes, even let some people down. All men make mistakes, but only the wise men learn from their mistakes. Winston Churchill. (That goes for women too). Dont let your teen years cause you to doubt yourself. 6. Learn about finance early, but dont let money be the sole measure of your success. Dolly Parton puts it very well: You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you cant put a dollar sign on. 7. Try to understand other viewpoints, but on matters of importance, do some serious research before forming your own opinion. Dont hesitate to ask Why? 8. Find balance in your life. Set priorities, and be a person of high principle. Learn to forgive others, as well as yourself. 9. Dont compare yourself so much to others, or worry about what they think. Your time is limited, dont waste it living someone elses life. Steve Jobs. Dr. Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. He died at 47 of pancreatic cancer. Randy said goodbye to his students and colleagues with what became well-known as The Last Lecture. No. 10 on the above list is Have fun! As Randy told his students, Never underestimate the importance of having fun. Ill close with some advice from the English writer, playwright, and political activist, George Bernard Shaw. During his long and varied career, Shaw won both the Nobel prize and an Oscar. Shaw asserted: Life isnt about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. All of you are well on your way to creating yourself, just keep your goals in mind, learn from those unfortunate experiences and create the person you want to be. Daniel W. Mitchum is the author of Schooling With Uncle Sam and is a former teacher at Statesville High School. Sometimes you just dont see people close to you. And so it is with todays column about my mothers only brother, Paul Joshua Rhodes. My brother Jeff and I called him Uncle Bud. Many friends in Statesville knew him as Dusty Rhodes. My mother, Nellie Steele Rhodes, her older sister, Sue Frances Rhodes, and her younger brother, Paul Joshua Rhodes, grew up in Statesville during the Great Depression. Their mother, my grandmother, Mrs. Nelle Rhodes, R.N., was a widow. My friend Bill Moose recently came across two articles about my uncle one in an issue of The Landmark in 1946 and one in the Daily Record of 1947. In both, my uncle was still in the military as a crew member of a large four-engine especially-configured airplane that had been a bomber during World War II, just ended. He was part of a courageous group known as Hurricane Hunters. Before the days of highly sophisticated radar and satellite imagery from space, the intrepid aircraft crews tracked hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and DELIBERATELY FLEW INTO THEM to get information as to barometric pressure, temperatures, wind speed, the location of the hurricanes eye, the direction of the storms track and other meteorological data. This data was used to predict when, where and how strong the winds would be when the storm made landfall: information that could save lives.* Here is part of the October 1946 Landmark article, based on my uncles letter sent to his mother, my grandmother, Nell Rhodes, of Statesville: Guess yesterday was the most exciting day of my life. I was on the plane that located the hurricane moving towards Florida. We had strong suspicion of a storm near the Mexican coast Saturday, so a trip was planned Sunday. I wasnt supposed to go, but talked the captain into letting me. We left at 6 a.m. Sunday, headed toward Mexico. The trip was rough, but we had expected to find it worse than it was. Weather in Mexico was fine, so we headed back southeast. To locate the center of a storm, you head toward low pressure. After a while we headed back northeast as air pressure was going up. About a hundred miles before hitting the center of the storm the wind started picking up and the cloud formations were very heavy. From then on into the center of things were very rough. The plane really took a beating and I have a knot on my head. At the center winds were 78 miles per hour. Everyone was getting sick. As soon as we got speed and direction of the storm, we got out of there soon as we could. This was the first B-17 to fly through a hurricane. I was tired and hungry when I got back. Dont particularly care to go through any more trips for a while. Paul Rhodes was born in Statesville in 1927 and was a graduate of Statesville High School, known then as D. Matt Thompson High School. He was a World War II veteran of what was then called the U.S. Army Air Corps. After his military service as a hurricane hunter, he worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau as a forecaster in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (where he met his future wife), and later at the Greenville/Spartanburg (South Carolina) Airport and at other locations. He passed away in 2009 and is buried beside his wife, his mother, father and other relatives in Statesvilles Oakwood Cemetery. Uncle Buds wife, the former Lenora Brushwood, passed before him; he was survived by his three sons, my cousins Russell, Tom and Frank, and by his daughter, Anna, four grandsons and numerous other kinfolks in the Statesville area. I always felt particularly close to my Uncle Bud. He was a member of the Statesville City Band under the direction of Dr. Charles Turner. He played several instruments well and appreciated all kinds of music, especially Dixieland jazz. And he liked airplanes and was an expert builder of large-scale balsa wood model airplanes. He was also a gifted raconteur. Sometimes we are too close to people to see them clearly. This hurricane was known both as The 1946 Florida Hurricane and as The 1946 Tampa Bay Hurricane. This was before the Weather Bureau began giving hurricanes female names in 1953. In 1978 mens names were included. The storm made landfall in Tampa Bay, but thanks to the efforts of the Hurricane Hunters and others, thousands of people evacuated the area before the tropical cyclones arrival and there were no U.S. deaths from the storm. Cuban people were not as fortunate and five people lost their lives on that island as a result of the 1946 hurricane. O.C. Stonestreet is the author of Tales From Old Iredell County, They Called Iredell County Home and Once Upon a Time in Mooresville, NC. Ports along the Columbia River are brainstorming new ways to make it easier for ships to pass through the channel and carry essential cargo to areas that depend on port economies. First, they need to find sites where they can dump sand that often makes the river too shallow for transport, Sarah Knowles, project manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers, said during a virtual open house this week. The Columbia-Snake River Navigation System moves 50 million tons of cargo worth $24 billion per year, Knowles said. Maintaining the rivers 43-foot depth and 600-foot width is essential to keeping the system as one of the worlds leaders in wheat, soy and corn exports, she said. In many places along the riverbed, coarse sand has formed into misshapen hills that make the river shallower than its 43 feet. This essentially means in some areas a ship cannot navigate without the chance of running aground, which is not good, Knowles said. For years, the way to get rid of this sand has been to dredge it up and pile it somewhere else. However, the Corps is running out of places to put the sand. Knowles said the Corps is working with area ports Portland, Kalama, Longview, Woodland and Vancouver to find new placement sites for the sand that has been blocking ships. Its a tall task. Available real estate along the Columbia River is scarce and could require approval for use from private landowners. The sites also have to fall within state and federal environmental regulations. Agreements with local wildlife and conservation groups have to be drawn, and the sites have to meet water and air quality standards. Dikes to prevent erosion have to be constructed. Above all, Knowles said this solution of finding new places to dump sand is not a forever solution. Eventually they will run out of available sites, she said, so the Corps also is working on more permanent channel maintenance solutions. The US Army Corps identified 193 potential placement sites, 69 areas where they can dredge sand, and 23 storage sites, Knowles said. They plan to consult with the public and the ports about these sites in the next few months. The Port of Longview is the one of the lead agencies working on an updated maintenance plan, said Lisa Hendriksen, the ports director of planning. They are working within the bounds of the national and Washington state environmental policy acts to develop a 20-year plan, she said. The idea is that NEPA works alongside SEPA, which is our state environmental policy, Hendriksen said. The Corps is scheduled to release a draft plan in November after making several revisions and hosting a public comment period, Knowles said. Were continually assessing and managing risk, Knowles said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Vietnam seeks ways to boost logistics industry Vietnams geography gives it a logistical advantage in boosting production, export and logistics services. This year, the Government has set targets of tapping its full potential. Unloaded goods at Hai Phong city's port (Photo: VNA) The comment was made by Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan at a seminar on Enhancing competitiveness for logistics businesses, held in Hanoi on April 28. Delivering a speech at the seminar, Tan said the Government has identified logistics as an important service industry in the economy. The industry is playing a role in supporting, connecting and boosting socio-economic development, contributing to improving the competitiveness of the economy. At the seminar, Truong Tan Loc, Marketing Director of Saigon Newport Corporation, said that in April this year the World Bank forecasted the countrys GDP growth to be around 5.3 percent in 2022 and then stabilise around 6.5 percent next year. Loc said the countrys signed free trade agreements (FTAs) needed to be more proactively implemented for strong growth in domestic industries, especially in electronics, machinery and equipment, furniture, plastic, textiles and seafood. This was an opportunity to develop port and logistics services to serve the needs of connecting goods with major markets in the world. Sharing the view of Loc, Pham Thi Lan Huong, general director of Vinafco JSC, said Vietnams logistics industry has a lot of potential but it is fragmented. She noted the number of small and medium-sized businesses accounted for a majority with 90 percent of them having capital of less than 10 billion VND (434,000 USD). Currently, the number of businesses providing 3PL (third-party logistics) and 4PL services (fourth-party logistics) remains modest. They account for only 16 percent of the entire logistics industry. Huong said it needed to develop more 3PL and 4PL businesses to push the domestic logistics industry. Another participant suggested that it was necessary to promote technology application in the domestic logistics industry to improve efficiency and optimise productivity, to save costs for logistics businesses. In addition, a close connection between logistics businesses was also a need to improve operational efficiency involving production, logistics and transport. At the seminar, representatives of the authorities also pointed out the shortcomings in import and export activities in 2021, and logistics activities in Vietnam. The Import and Export Report 2021 points out significant problems such as the continued high level of trade deficit or surplus for some markets, which is likely to affect sustainable import and export activities. The export growth of some commodities is mainly based on the increase in quantity and price due to the scarce supply in the market. Exported goods still face congestion at border gates and seaports, especially from the end of 2021. In logistics services, although there has been a strong development recorded, the logistics industry still has many limitations. One of them is that logistics enterprises have not yet developed up to the potential of the industry. According to data from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, currently, 90 percent of logistics enterprises operating are Vietnamese enterprises. However, they only account for about 30 percent of the market share. The rest belongs to foreign enterprises. There are many enterprises, but mostly small ones, with limited scale in the capital, human resources and experience. In the framework of the seminar, the Vietnam Import and Export Report 2021 compiled by the Ministry of Trade and Industry was also announced, highlighting the positive points in international trade activities. Despite many difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's import and export still reached a record number with a total turnover of 668.55 billion USD. While, exports reached more than 336.3 billion USD, up 19 percent compared to 2020; imports reached 332.2 billion USD, up 26.5 percent; trade surplus of more than 4 billion USD. With this result, Vietnam has entered the top 20 economies in terms of international trade. The export structure has changed positively, and the area of export products is diversified. The group of processed products continues to be the driving force for the overall growth of exports. Vietnam has also made efforts to diversify export and import markets to meet the needs of domestic production and consumption. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tan passed comments on the results achieved in import and export activities in 202 and international trade activities of Vietnam. Total import and export turnover of goods from 2010 up to now has increased 4.25 times up from 157.1 billion USD in 2010 to 668.5 billion USD in 2021. He said that the positive result was thanks to the contribution of the logistics service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite many difficulties, Vietnamese logistics enterprises have adapted and maintained their supply chains. They have supported other enterprises in finding solutions to optimise logistics activities, saving costs and time. They propose the State's strategic issues, contributing to maintaining and stabilising the supply chain and improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods and businesses. Businesses also make efforts to modernise technology to improve service quality and diversify services to overcome difficulties," said the Deputy Minister./. Flash China is fundamental to the development of Caribbean countries in the coming years, a Cuban expert said on Friday. "The outcome of the bilateral relations of half a century between China and the Caribbean has been very positive in the economic and trade fields alike," Eduardo Regalado, senior researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba, told Xinhua in an interview. Thanks to China, concrete works have been materialized in Caribbean countries despite economic vulnerability, he noted. Regalado said that the two sides "have strengthened their cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fishery, tourism, services and infrastructure," which has been highly beneficial for the Caribbean, and they have also advanced collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Commenting on a foreign ministers' meeting held Friday via video link between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and nine Caribbean countries that have diplomatic relations with China, Regalado said both sides "have expressed their political will to develop their bilateral relations," adding that effective strategies have been set to create new opportunities. Looking into the future, the expert suggested that the two sides further enhance mutual understanding through various channels, and level up cooperation and collaboration in the environmental and medical fields. "China and the Caribbean could work together on the area of climate change impacts," which is essential for the Caribbean as many countries in the region could be affected by sea level rise, Regalado said. Also, China has achieved fast development in renewable energy, "from which Caribbean nations could learn a lot," he said. "It is fundamental to improve the performance of the health systems in the Caribbean when it comes to equipment, technology transfer and training of human resources," for which Caribbean countries need China's support, he added. The Kelso School District is hosting its third annual Kinderpalooza, where families and young students can meet their teachers and learn about early learning options. Coweeman Middle School opens its doors from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday for kindergarteners, preschoolers and families to register for school, board and ride a school bus, learn about summer learning programs and take a picture at the class of 2035 photo booth. We want the whole family, said Kinderpalooza organizer Jan Rauth. We want this to be a family experience. Kelsos transitional kindergarten programs will have a booth open, as well as booths from the Boy and Girl Scouts of America and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Language interpreters for Spanish and Chuuk-speaking families also will be in attendance. Last year the event saw 300 attendees, Rauth said, so they are hoping for similar attendance rates. Snacks and goody bags will be provided. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Amazon is offering huge discounts, exchange and banks offers on Samsung Galaxy M33 5G, iQOO Z6 5G, Redmi Note 11, and more. Check offer details here. Amazon has rolled out huge offers and deals on several smartphones under its deal of the day scheme on Sunday, May 1, 2022. From Samsung Galaxy M33 5G, iQOO Z6 5G to Redmi Note 11, you can grab these smartphones with huge discounts and exchange offer today. It can be noted that these offers are valid only for today and hence you are advised to grab it before it ends. People who were eagerly waiting to buy a new smartphone can have a look at the deals below. 1. Samsung Galaxy M33 5G The Samsung Galaxy M33 5G with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in Ocean Blue colour can be purchased for Rs. 17,999 with a discount of 28 percent on Amazon. The price of the phone can be further reduced by up to Rs. 10,400 if you buy it with exchange. The ecommerce website is also offering several bank offers on the smartphone. You are advised to check all the terms and conditions before applying for the offers. 2. iQOO Z6 5G With 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, the iQOO Z6 5G in Chromatic Blue is available at a discount of 30 percent for Rs. 13,999 on Amazon. By purchasing it on exchange you can further get up to Rs. 10,400 off on the phone. However, the reduction in price on exchange depends on the model and condition of the older phone you are exchanging. Amazon is also offering Rs. 1000 instant discount on ICICI Bank Credit Card Transactions on minimum purchase value of Rs. 5000. 3. Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G in Black colour with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is available for Rs. 26,999 with a discount of 21 percent on Amazon. You can get further up to Rs. 14,400 off if you buy the phone with exchange offer. Amazon is also offering three bank offers on the phone- Rs. 2000 instant discount on ICICI Bank Credit Cards (excluding Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card) Credit Card Transactions on minimum purchase value of Rs. 25999; Rs. 2500 instant discount on ICICI Bank Credit Cards (excluding Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card) Credit Card Transactions on Minimum purchase value of Rs. 25999; and Rs. 2500 instant discount on ICICI Bank Debit Card Transactions on minimum purchase value of Rs. 25999. 4. Realme Narzo 50A Prime With a discount of 15 percent, the Realme narzo 50A Prime (4GB+64GB in Black) is available for Rs. 11,499 on Amazon. If you purchase it on exchange, you can further get up to Rs. 10,400 off on the phone. Amazon is also offering several banks offers on Realme narzo 50A Prime. 5. Redmi Note 11 The Redmi Note 11 in Starburst White colour with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage can be availed at a discount of 26 percent for Rs. 13,999. The cost of the phone can further be reduced by up to 10,400 by purchasing it on exchange. Amazon is also offering 14 bank offers on the phone, you can check the same by visiting the website. Anti-China sentiment has grown in India, sparking calls for consumer boycotts of Chinese products like electronics giant Xiaomi. India seized $725 million from the local bank accounts of Xiaomi after a probe found the Chinese smartphone giant unlawfully sent money abroad in the guise of royalty payments, authorities said Saturday. India's financial crime investigations agency began investigating the company in February and said it seized the money from the firm's local arm after discovering it had made remittances to three foreign-based entities. "Such huge amounts in the name of royalties were remitted on the instructions of their Chinese parent group entities," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement. Xiaomi India has denied the allegations, saying late Saturday that its "operations are firmly compliant with local laws and regulations". "We believe our royalty payments and statements to the bank are all legit and truthful," Xiaomi India tweeted. "We are committed to working closely with the government authorities to clarify any misunderstandings." The firm's India office was raided in December in a separate investigation over alleged income tax evasion. Other Chinese smartphone makers including Huawei also had their Indian offices searched at the time. Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have been at a low ebb since a deadly Himalayan border clash between soldiers from both countries in 2020. In the aftermath, India's home ministry banned hundreds of mobile applications of Chinese origin, including the popular social media platform Tiktok. The government justified the bans on the apps as safeguarding against threats to India's sovereignty. Anti-China sentiment has grown in India since the fatal 2020 troop clash, sparking calls for consumer boycotts of Chinese goods. China continues to be a key economic partner for India, with more than $125 billion in bilateral trade last year according to media reports. 2022 AFP Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, attends the opening of the Tesla factory Berlin Brandenburg in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. Musk, the world's richest man and the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, says he is a free speech absolutist who doesn't support the kind of content moderation that saw people like ex-President Donald Trump get banned for inciting violence Credit: Patrick Pleul/Pool via AP, File QAnon loyalists, COVID deniers, neo-Nazis and a former American president: The list of people banned from Twitter is long, but their exile could soon come to an end if Elon Musk's $44 billion offer for the platform is approved. Musk, the world's richest man and the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, calls himself a free speech absolutist who believes in allowing any content that doesn't run afoul of the law. While Musk hasn't offered specifics about how he would run the platform, his musings are prompting celebrations from some of those muzzled by Twitter, even as they alarm internet safety experts who predict a rise in harassment, hate speech and misinformation about topics like vaccines and elections. "There's no reason why these folks wouldn't want to be in this space," said Jaime Longoria, manager of research and training at the Disinfo Defense League, a non-profit that works with local organizations to combat the effects of misinformation. "Ultimately I think Elon's premise to save the public square is going to create a square that nobody wants to be in." From former President Donald Trump to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to white supremacist David Duke, here's a look at who might be coming back to Twitter if Musk's offer to buy it is approved. TWEETER IN CHIEF Trump said he won't return to Twitter even if Musk lifts the ban imposed following the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The platform cited concerns of further incitement to violence. Following his banishment, Trump created his own platform, Truth Social, which launched earlier this year. "I am not going on Twitter. I am going to stay on Truth," Trump told Fox News this past week. "I hope Elon buys Twitter because he'll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth." Trump built one of the world's largest Twitter followings before his suspension, using his account to demean critics, spread lies about the 2020 election and amplify potentially dangerous misinformation about COVID-19. Despite what the former president said, returning to Twitter may be too tempting to resist, said Emerson Brooking, resident fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab of the Atlantic Council. "If Donald Trump is the presidential nominee for the Republican Party in 2024, it's almost unthinkable that he won't return to Twitter the moment he has the opportunity to do so," Brooking said. Two former top advisers to TrumpSteve Bannon and Roger Stonewere also banned by Twitter after repeatedly violating their rules. Bannon was kicked off for calling for the beheading of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease specialist. Stone, ultimately suspended for a series of vulgar threats against CNN journalists, tried to create a new Twitter account Thursday but was quickly re-suspended. Other Trump allies kicked off Twitter include Michael Flynn and Sidney Powell, Lin Wood and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was permanently banned in January for repeatedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccine safety. HATE SPEECH AND WHITE SUPREMACISM Perhaps the trickiest challenge for Musk will be content that, while legal, preaches hate based on things like race, gender, sexual orientation or religion. White supremacists banned by Twitter include Duke and the Proud Boys organization, along with far-right trolls like one who goes by the name Baked Alaska, who promoted anti-Semitic tropes and faces charges stemming from his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Twitter's efforts to police hate speech have had mixed results. While some extremist leaders have been vanquished, a quick search of the platform turns up numerous racist slurs and attacks. Several admitted white supremacists still on Twitter celebrated news of Musk's interest in the platform, predicting this ownership will mean looser rules. "We are liberated!" one wrote this week. "The extremists are celebrating," tweeted Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. "They believe he will usher in a 'new era' on Twitter & that they'll return to the platform. This is dangerous." CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND QANON Twitter began cracking down on QAnon content on its platform years ago and accelerated the process following the attack on the Capitol. More than 150,000 accounts had been suspended as of last year, according to the company's latest update. QAnon followers advocate a conspiracy theory rooted in the baseless belief that Trump was fighting so-called deep state enemies and a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex trafficking ring. The mob that stormed the Capitol included some believers. Now, some of them are eager to get back on Twitter. "The Twitter deal is done," Ron Watkins, a prominent QAnon leader, wrote on the platform Telegram. Watkins' Twitter account was spiked last year. "Banned accounts will be restored," he predicted. Other conspiracy theorists have also felt Twitter's sting, though usually only when their stated beliefs have pushed over into hate or harassment. David Icke was kicked off the platform two years ago for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, including claims that Jews and 5G towers were behind the pandemic. Icke is a prominent advocate of the belief that a race of lizard people have taken over the Earth by posing as human leaders. Alex Jones, the creator of Infowars, was permanently banned in 2018 for abusive behavior. Jones recently lost a defamation case filed by the parents of children killed in the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting over Jones' repeated claims that the shooting was fake. Twenty first graders and six teachers were killed in the massacre. Infowars is now seeking bankruptcy protection. HAPPY IN EXILE? Trump may not be the only user kicked off Twitter who ends up happy in a new home. Other new platforms, like Gab, GETTR and Parler, have grown in recent years by catering to conservative and far-right users who dislike Twitter and Facebook's moderation policies. The new sites have little to no moderation, meaning Nazi imagery, homophobic threats and misogynistic content can be easily found alongside conversations about U.S. politics and culture. After Musk's purchase offer, Gab CEO Andrew Torba predicted the billionaire will struggle to realize his vision for Twitter. While Trump may be sticking with his own new platform for competitive reasons, other conservatives may not be immediately tempted by Musk's promises of free speech absolutism. Twitter's employees, for one, may put up a fight, according to Torba. Parler CEO George Farmer sounded a similar note in a message to users. "We are going nowhere," Farmer wrote. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Our Changing Planet continues tonight on BBC One with its second episode. Part of the BBCs ambitious seven-year natural history project, Our Changing Planet will see six presenters visit six of the planet's most threatened ecosystems to meet the people fighting to restore the Earths delicate balance. Advertisements In the second of two episodes, Liz Bonnin travels to California to learn about the increasingly invasive wildfires hitting the headlines. Scientists can see clear links between the fires, climate change, raised temperatures and an extended drought season. There is one crucial element that is key to a sustainable future in California: biodiversity. Loss of keystone species and large carnivores is a threat to the state's ecosystems, and conservationists and scientists are mobilising to save wildlife from wildfires and to treat their burns. Liz also visits the Pacific coast of California, where warming seas have brought with them a new resident, great white sharks. With each shark consuming up to 18 kilos of prey at a time, the impact they could have on the marine ecosystem is being studied intently. Ade Adepitan travels to Kenya to look at the effects rising temperatures are having on the land. Hundreds of millions of Africans depend on rainfall to grow their food and keep livestock, and the capacity for adaptation is low. Ade also visits a project in Kenya that is going to extraordinary lengths to safeguard the future of its most charismatic creature, the African elephant. Over in Brazil, Gordon Buchanan discovers a pioneering project that is trying to save one of the Amazons iconic predators, the jaguar. Brazil is the most biodiverse country in the world, and as well as the Amazon rainforest, it is home to one of the worlds most important wetlands, the Pantanal. This area is home to high numbers of jaguars, but in 2020, wildfires destroyed 30 per cent of the Pantanal, killing an estimated 17 million animals. More than a quarter of the resident jaguars were directly impacted by these fires, through habitat loss, food shortages, injury and death. Advertisements Our Changing Planet airs on BBC One at 7PM on Sunday, 1 May. You can watch episodes online via the BBC iPlayer here. More on: BBC TV Regent Gayle Spary opened the April 21 meeting of Catholic Daughters, Court Queen of Peace No. 2227, at Blessed Sacrament. Members were told how to contribute to the Ukraine war through the CDA. Spary reported two baptisms were performed at Resurrection Church recently. The coffee and rolls fellowship after Mass at Resurrection was successful; they liked the homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee cake. Blessed Sacrament members volunteered for the ministry fair conducted April 23-24. The group is waiting for more information regarding serving a dinner to Hope Harbor workers. State Catholic Daughters has decided to make Womens Care Center in Lincoln a two-year project. It was decided to donate $100 to them this year. Members were asked to keep saving Best Choice UPC labels for the clean water project Catholic Daughter supports. The group will send graduating girls from Blessed Sacrament and Resurrection Church information about Catholic Daughters and the Numen Center. Nebraska Right to Life 2022 primary election guide pamphlets was passed out to everyone. A thank-you note was read from the American Red Cross for the blood donated and making sandwiches and cookie for donors. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19. Recent fires have been devastating for some feedlots and cattle producers as hay bales are quite combustible with extremely dry, hot and windy conditions. If your operation has been impacted, there are resources available. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has a Hay & Forage Hotline for potential buyers and sellers of hay and forage products. Producers who wish to sell their hay can contact the hotline at 402-471-4876. Their information is added to a Sellers List that is available online in a PDF format. Those interested in purchasing hay can access the list at the NDAs website (https://nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/hay/index.html), contact the sellers individually, and negotiate individual transactions. Questions about the hotline program can be directed to the NDA at 402-471-4876. Drought considerations and planting Extremely dry conditions have made planting difficult for producers across the region. Previous articles covered planting considerations including seeding depth, populations, soil temperature and moisture in respect to crop germination and herbicide activation. This past week, UNL shared some excellent information about planting into dry conditions on jts CropWatch website, and I wanted to reiterate a few key points. Seeing as how its been very dry across our region, some producers might consider planting their corn or soybean crop deeper than the standard recommendation of 1-1/2 to 2 inches to reach uniform moisture. Research at Purdue University and UNL finds growers could plant their corn crop a little deeper (2-1/2 to 3 inches) without too many ill effects, but caution against planting soybeans deeper than 2-1/2 inches to find uniform moisture. Planting the crop too deep may negatively impact timely emergence. Over the past couple weeks, pivots have been running across the county. This might be beneficial in situations where moisture is needed to properly work the soil (i.e., soils are too hard, powdery or cloddy) and get the planter in the ground, but be cautious about temperature swings. The last thing you want is to have water freeze in the pivot overnight, so be mindful about ice buildup. On very hard soils, runoff could be an issue so keep application rates low to avoid too much runoff. Finally, in very dry soils, herbicide injury can be a problem, especially with soybeans. If you plan to use PPO herbicides on soybean fields, be sure the seed vee is properly closed, no soil cracking is apparent along the seed trench, and enough moisture is available for the crop to take up water and stimulate germination. Apply your PPO herbicides a few days after planting and activate with water if necessary for proper weed control. We want to avoid seedling injury if at all possible. More information about planting into dry conditions can be found on UNLs CropWatch website. Field crop scout training Nebraska Extension is gearing up to host its Crop Scout Training Program from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. May 17 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center near Mead. This course is designed for corn and soybean growers and industry professionals wanting to learn how to manage pests this growing season. This in-person training will cover corn and soybean development, crop diseases, weed identification, insect identification and understanding nutrient deficiencies. Participants will receive workshop materials, instruction manuals, lunch, refreshments and the opportunity to interact with Extension specialists and educators to have their questions answered. Certified Crop Advisor credits have been applied for in the following areas: Pest management (six credits), crop management (one) and fertility/nutrient management (0.5 credits). More information and online registration can be accessed at (https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/enre/fieldcropscouttraining/) and questions can be directed to Aaron Nygren, UNL Extension Educator, at 402-624-8030 or anygren2@unl.edu. Sarah Sivits is the Dawson County Extension educator in crops and water, and serves Dawson, Buffalo and Hall counties. Contact her at 308-324-5501 or by email at ssivits@unl.edu. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele says city employees have the right to endorse candidates and engage in political activities, as long as they do it outside of working hours and arent wearing a city uniform. The question arose because of a current radio commercial where Police Chief Robert Falldorf expressed support for Steeles reelection campaign. Steele says that endorsement is completely permissible under state and federal law. A Grand Island personnel rule says city employees may not interfere or use the influence of their office for political reasons. They shall not participate in any political activity during normal working hours or when otherwise engaged in the performance of official duties, the personnel policy says. No employee shall engage in any political activity while wearing a uniform required by the city. An employee may not represent themselves as an employee of the City while being involved in an outside political activity. This, in my opinion, is not enforceable, Steele said. State and federal law trump the citys personnel rules, Steele said. Nebraska law holds that unless specifically restricted by a federal law or any other state law, no employee of the state or any political subdivision shall be prohibited from participating in political activities except during office hours or when otherwise engaged in the performance of his or her official duties. Grand Island, like other municipal and county entities, is a political subdivision. The state law goes on to say that No such employee shall engage in any political activity while wearing a uniform required by the state or any political subdivision thereof. The city personnel guidelines that apply to political activity contradict state and federal law, Steele said. As a lawyer, hes trained in the importance of respecting a persons civil rights, he said. One of a citizens most fundamental rights is the right to participate in the political process, Steele said. A city, he noted, cannot place further restrictions on voting or political activity. He has no right as mayor, he said, to prevent a city employee from supporting another mayoral candidate. The only thing I can tell him is you cant do it during working hours, and not to wear a city uniform in support of the candidate, Steele said. In addition, a city employee cant be limited from saying where he works. That would prevent freedom of speech, Steele said. This policy goes back to the bad old days, when elected officials might try to force city employees to vote a certain way, Steele said of the personnel rule. Steele disagrees with two other parts of the citys Political Activity personnel rule. One passage says, Employees in certain departments will be additionally restricted due to funding of that department through state and federal funds. Employees are urged to contact their Department Director to determine the degree of political involvement allowed. Asking a city employee to research where federal and state money come from would require a lot of work. And the idea of checking with a department director about political activity is ridiculous, Steele said. First of all, what the hell does a department director know about your freedom of speech and your right to participate in the political process? Steele asked. Telling a department director about ones voting plans could lead to a scenario in which the boss tells an employee such a vote would be a bad career move. Participating in the political process shouldnt have a chilling effect on anyone, he said. Falldorf recorded his radio endorsement of the mayor in Steeles presence. He was in civilian clothes. He drove to the recording studio in his private vehicle. And he was not on work time, Steele said. I was there. He also went through the state law with Falldorf to make it clear that the commercial was allowed. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Paris, TX (75460) Today Mostly cloudy early, then sunshine for the afternoon. Near record high temperatures. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. According to the USDAs 2017 Census of Agriculture, the average age of South Carolina farmers is 58.2 years, and 96% of the states farms are family owned. With numbers like those, its no secret that the orderly transfer of farms from one generation to the next is essential to the future viability of South Carolinas agribusiness industry and the states tradition of family farming. A publication by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service that guides farmers through the process of keeping farms in the family was named a 2021 Notable Document by the South Carolina State Library. The publication, "Business Transfer Guide: Senior Generation," is the brainchild of Clemson Extension Agribusiness associate Steven Richards. Richards is part of a team of Clemson Extension agents and specialists who provide information and education on the use of business and economic principles for making decisions involving agriculture, natural resources and communities. The Clemson Extension Agribusiness Team is based out of Clemsons Sandhill Research and Education Center in Columbia. The goal of this workbook is to keep the farm transfer discussion moving forward, as families often put off these sorts of discussions for too long, Richards said. This workbook has fill-in-the-blank worksheets, farm transfer examples, and thought-provoking questions for the senior generation of farm owners. My hope is that farm families in South Carolina can use this workbook to get the farm transfer process started. The workbooks graphic design was done by Stephanie Finnegan Design and Photo. Scott Mickey, also a member of the Clemson Agribusiness team, helped with current and future business analysis examples. The publication is part of a series of business transition workbooks that takes farmers through the farm transfer process step-by-step at their own pace. It is one of an array Clemson Extension Agribusiness resources and programs on topics such as starting an agricultural business, creating a joint business agreement, using farm assets for retirement, estate planning for farm families and much more. The agribusiness team receives requests each year for information or assistance with how to begin and plan for succession of a family farm, said Nathan Smith, Clemson Extension Agribusiness Program Team leader. Some farm transitions are planned, some are not. The workbooks are a great tool to use no matter what stage of farming or agribusiness you are in, starting an agribusiness, partnering through a joint agreement, succession planning, or planning for retirement. Contact your local county agent to request a farm succession workshop in your area. Winning documents for 2021 were selected by judges, including state library staff members, document librarians from around the state and state employee representatives. The documents were graded based on design, writing style and breadth of information. Leesa Aiken, state library director, said the annual award showcases some of the strongest work completed by state agencies. South Carolina state documents provide a wealth of information, statistics and share a broad range of knowledge about our state, Aiken said. I am pleased that we are able to publicly recognize these important publications and websites as notable documents and it is my hope that all South Carolina state agencies continue to produce high quality documents such as these. Clemson Extension is no stranger to the Notable State Documents Awards. The Clemson Extension newsletter CU in the Woods was named to the 2020 South Carolina State Librarys Notable State Documents list. The Extension publication, Common Weeds and Wildflowers, written by Bert McCarty, was declared a Notable State Document in 2019 for the 2018 calendar year. In 2018, the Clemson Extension website, www.clemson.edu/extension, was named to the 2017 South Carolina State Librarys Notable State Documents list and the Clemson Extension Impacts Magazine was named to the list in 2015. Clemson Extensions mission is to impart unbiased, research-based information to help South Carolina citizens, families and communities prosper, said Thomas Dobbins, director of Clemson Extension. The Business Transfer Guide: Senior Generation is just another example of the many ways Clemson Extension is working to help family farms remain the backbone of the states agribusiness industry. I am proud of Steven and the entire Agribusiness Team for producing such high-quality information to help improve the lives of South Carolinians. Documents declared Noble State Documents, as well as other state government publications, are available online through the State Documents Depository. State library staff also are digitizing paper records and saving born-digital documents available through state agency websites. These publications provide information about state government, including statistics, annual accountability reports and data on a wide variety of topics related to the state. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Orangeburg farmer Russ Jameson earned a first-place state award in the 2021 National Corn Growers Association National Corn Yield Contest. Jameson is one of the highest corn yield producers in the nation with DEKALB DKC63-91 brand corn, yielding an outstanding 309 bushels per acre in the Strip-Till, Minimum-Till, Mulch-Till, Ridge-Till Irrigated category. These folks make farming look easy, but its far from it, said Dipal Chaudhari, DEKALB Asgrow Deltapine brand lead. A lot goes into these outstanding yields -- Mother Nature, innovative technology, research, trial and error and lots of hard work. In this challenging industry, we are proud to partner with these farmers to help them produce high yields and reach their goals. The 57th NCGA contest continues to challenge farmers to achieve record-setting yields and improve agricultural management practices for a more sustainable future. Farmers who planted DEKALB corn captured the most national placement awards (15 of 27), as well as 190 state level awards, 77 of which yielded 300 BU/A or higher. DEKALB products provide the latest exclusive genetics from Bayers robust global breeding engine and product testing network to help drive consistent performance potential. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 South Carolina State Universitys ROTC Bulldog Battalion will conduct its spring commissioning ceremony Thursday, May 5, beginning at 2 p.m. in Smith-Hammond-Middleton Auditorium. Thirteen cadets six from SC State and seven from neighboring Claflin University -- are candidates in the spring class to receive U.S. Army commissions as second lieutenants. SC State University: Simone Oteliah Barnes, St. Petersburg, Florida Keosha Shania Evins, Bishopville Paul Marcus Ravenell, Raeford, North Carolina Jordan Lee Ross, Woodruff Allisane Marie Sarvis, Sumter Christian Morgan Smith, Swansea Claflin University: Kiara Lashay Belton, Columbia Kadasia Ieshia Damon, Darlington Daishanea Aurbujee Gamble, Andrews Ricky Lorenzo Grimes, Orangeburg Tanisha Michelle Jones, Beaufort Shantel Aaliyah Patten, Charleston DaeKwon Marshae Randolph-Wall, Ft. Washington, Maryland Maj. Gen. David Wilson, commander of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, will be the guest speaker. Wilson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1991, following graduation from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. Upon completion of the Field Artillery Basic Course, he was assigned as a Fire Support Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry at Camp Hovey, Korea. He served as a Platoon Leader, 503rd Maintenance Company, 530th Supply Services Battalion; Company Executive Officer, 364th Supply and Services Company, 264th Corps Supply Support Battalion with deployment to Mogadishu, Somalia; Platoon Leader and shop Officer, 503rd Maintenance Company, 264th Corps Support Battalion and Support Operations Maintenance Officer, 264th Corps Support Battalion. In 1996, he was assigned as the assistant Brigade S4, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Fort Stewart, Georgia. He assumed command of Delta Company, 703d Main Support Battalion in 1998 after serving as the 3rd Division Material Management Center, 1st Brigade Material Manager. He then served in Headquarters, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia, as the Joint Venture Directorate as Experimental CSS Integration Officer for the Army Light Experimentation Axis and then as Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Combat Developments. Following completion of the Command and General Staff Officer Course in 2003, he was assigned as the DISCOM Executive Officer for the 1st Armored Division, Division Support Command in Germany with deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Iron Saber. Follow-on assignments included Battalion Executive Officer, 501st Forward Support Battalion (2004); Assistant chief of Staff, Deputy G4, 1st Armored Division Headquarters (2005); and Logistics Majors Assignments Officer, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (2006). In 2008, he assumed command of the 121st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division, located in Fort Bliss, Texas. Following a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he reported to the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army where he served as the Logistics Colonel Assignment Officer. In 2011, he attended the Senior Service College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and then reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to assume command of the 406th Army Field Support Brigade. Following Brigade Command in 2014, he was assigned to the Army Material Command as the Executive Officer to the Command General. He went on to take command as the 40th Chief of Ordnance and held command until 8 May 2018. In 2018, he was assigned as the Direct J/U-4, United States Forces Korea/United Nations Command/Deputy Direct, C4 Combined Forbes Command, located in Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. On 16 June 2020, he assumed command of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command on Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Wilson holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration, a master of science degree in general administration and a master of science degree in national security and strategic studies. His major awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Start Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, United Nations Somalia Medal, United Nations Haiti Medal, Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantrymans Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Headquarters, Department of Army Staff Identification Badge. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A new residential development is planned for the Vance area. Fort Mill-based BRD Land & Investment LP is to build a 223-acre residential development on Old Number Six Highway in Vance. The property is near Westberry Drive or about 1 mile west of Vance and about 2 miles east of Santee. Orangeburg County Council gave unanimous first reading to rezone the property to residential general to establish a residential development. The property has been zoned forest agriculture. The Orangeburg County Planning Commission previously unanimously approved the request. Prior to the vote, Orangeburg County Councilman Johnny Ravenell questioned if the development would have access to water and sewer. Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said the subdivision would have access to water. "There is the possibility of the new piece that we are putting in to serve that tract that is being built with the impact of the Jafza site there would be an ability for them to connect but it would be at a cost," Young said. "I think what they probably will be doing is weighing their options vs. the cost of putting in the line to connect to that system vs. a commercial onsite septic tank system. They have not gotten that far yet." Following the meeting, Orangeburg County Planning Director Amanda Sievers said the subdivision will entail single-family homes, though no conceptual or preliminary designs of the homes or how many homes will be built has been released. "This is very early in the process," Sievers said. Property owner Richard Clark declined comment, citing contractual matters. A phone call placed to the project applicant was not returned. The residential development is the latest in flurry of home activity in the eastern end of the county. Four planned residential developments have been announced in and around the Holly Hill area since July 2021. There are plans to develop 130 homes on about 162 acres on Old State Road There are also plans to build between 50 and 100 detached, single-family homes on Bunch Ford Road behind the Regional Medical Centers primary care practice and across the street from Holly Hill Academy. Another proposed development would cover 65 acres near Bunch Ford Road and Academy Lane. Finally, a 300-home development is planned just outside the city limits of Holly Hill along Gum Street, according to a news report from the Orangeburg Leader. The development is expected to be built within the next 12 to 18 months. The paper reports the houses could range from 1,800 to 3,000 square feet and sell from $250,000 to $320,000. Sievers said the project has not yet come before the county planning department for approval or review. An attempt to reach project officials was unsuccessful. Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said "growth is inevitable" in Orangeburg County, and particularly in the eastern end of the county. He noted Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston counties are seeing growth and expectations are that it will come further inland into Orangeburg County. "It is just a matter of time," Wright said. "People are looking for a place to invest money and are getting a heads-up on what the future will be. A lot of people are moving down this way." Wright noted that with economic development via companies such as Honda, Mercedes and Volvo, people are looking for places to stay. "They are buying land before it gets way out of hand," Wright said. "This is long term. It will not happen overnight, but is something maybe we will see in four to five years." Holly Hill Mayor Billy Chavis said the interest in the Holly Hill area is simple: "Everyone has seen that Charleston is full." "It is an exciting time in Holly Hill," Chavis said. Chavis said developers have been looking at the town for the past three years and the city has been more than willing to work with each and every one. Currently, he said there are six developers with plans to build residential subdivisions. He said the challenge to meet the residential growth will be infrastructure, namely water and sewer. "I have plenty of water," Chavis said, noting the town is also looking to increase its water capacity by joining up with the Lake Marion Water Agency to supplement capacity. "Everyone is trying to tie in." The greater challenge is sewer capacity. He said the town is looking at Community Development Block and Rural Development grants to help improve the town's inflow and infiltration of storm water in its sewer lines. He says this will help increase sewer capacity. "We have a lot of offers on the table and are trying to figure out what is in the best route of Holly Hill going forward," Chavis said, adding that one thing is for certain: The town will need someone to manage the sewer system. Chavis said over the past 12 years, the town has lost $2.4 million on water and sewer out of the budget. "It is a pretty hefty number to speak about," Chavis said. "It has to be addressed." Chavis says one way he is looking to address the financial challenges of the town is annexation and the addition of tax revenue. "I want all of them," Chavis said, referring to the half dozen developments that are within proximity of the town limits. In another matter, Spartanburg-based CDP Holly Hill 2 LLC is looking to bring in a retail establishment on Old State Road just outside of the town of Holly Hill. Council gave unanimous first reading to rezone about 2.86 acres of property just southeast of the Holly Hill limits to commercial general district for this purpose. The property is owned by Elite Enterprise Properties LLC. Sievers said the developers have not decided the type of retail planned this point in time. A message left with the rezoning applicant was not immediately returned. The property has been zoned residential general. The property does not fall in a flood plan and is currently undeveloped, according to the rezoning application. The county's planning commission had previously unanimously approved the request. Adjacent properties to the north and west are zoned residential general and properties to the east and south are currently zoned commercial general. The surrounding area is comprised of a mixture of uses such as public use (places of worship); single-family and multi-family housing; commercial, and undeveloped land, according to the application. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I serve as chair of the board of directors for the Orangeburg High School for Health Professions (OHSHP). I wanted to provide our community with information about OHSHP, the benets it provides to our students and our community, and OHSHPs current transition between sponsors. As background, OHSHP is a free, public charter school located in Orangeburg that serves students in ninth through 12th grades. Like all charter schools in South Carolina, OHSHP is organized as a nonprot corporation and is governed by its own independent board of directors comprised of volunteers from the community. In South Carolina, charter schools must have a sponsor, which can be a local school district, an institute of higher learning registered to sponsor charter schools, or a statewide sponsor that provides oversight to the charter school and often also provides some support services to the charter school. OHSHP was sponsored by Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 (OCSD5) in 2012. In the 10 years OHSHP has been open, we have served countless students in Orangeburg County who are interested in pursuing careers in the health care industry through our range of courses and opportunities focused on the health sciences. Throughout the past 10 years, we have been able to maintain an excellent school rating and a graduation rate of at least 98%. OHSHP is proud to provide a focused path to prepare students in our community to pursue their career goals after graduation through higher education, whether that be by enrolling in a two-year or four-year college or university, by entering the workforce, or through military service. Because OHSHP is in its 10th year of operation, our charter is up for renewal. In September 2021, the OHSHP Board of Directors contacted Orangeburg County School District, our current sponsor, about renewing OHSHPs charter. Rather than renewing OHSHPs charter, OCSD offered to convert OHSHP to a magnet school. Becoming a magnet school would fundamentally change OHSHP, primarily by eliminating the autonomy OHSHP currently has as a charter school, which is just one of the reasons the OHSHP Board decided becoming a magnet school was not in OHSHP's best interests. Consequently, the OHSHP Board decided to seek sponsorship with the Limestone Charter Association, an institute of higher learning that is registered to sponsor charter schools. Although OHSHP will be sponsored by a different charter school authorizer, OHSHP will remain in Orangeburg County and will continue to serve students of Orangeburg County and the surrounding areas. OHSHP is proud to be a part of the Orangeburg community and looks forward to providing educational opportunities to students in Orangeburg County and developing our communitys next generation of leaders in the years to come. Henry Jenkins is board chair for the Orangeburg High School for Health Professions. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lower Geyser Basin is the largest thermal basin in Yellowstone National Park and includes some of the Parks most famous hydrothermal features, like Fountain Paint Pots, Firehole Lake, and Great Fountain Geyser. Its a landscape with a complicated past, sculpted by rhyolite lava flows, glaciers, hydrothermal activity, and climate change. Today, visitors see a flat, grassy landscape, where lodgepole pine cannot grow due to the hot ground. In 2018, a research team from Montana State University collected an 8.08 meter sediment core from Goose Lake, in Lower Geyser Basin, to study how the ecosystem of the area was impacted by hydrothermal activity. The scientists studied a variety of fossils, as well as the lithology and geochemistry of the cores to reconstruct the environmental history. Pollen and charcoal were examined to reconstruct the vegetation and fire history, and diatoms (siliceous algae) documented changes in lake biology. The physical and chemical properties of the cores also provided information on past hydrothermal activity. The Goose Lake record shows two distinct periods in the history of Lower Geyser Basin. In the earlier period (10,300 to 3,800 years ago), pollen and charcoal data suggest the presence of a lodgepole forest that became gradually denser, with more fire over time. This trend is repeated in many records around Yellowstone, and it is probably the result of the climate becoming cooler and wetter (especially in the summer). At the same time, there is evidence for hydrothermal activity from this period at Goose Lakediatoms adapted to very warm water and wide alkalinity tolerances thrived in Goose Lake during this period. Sediments also contain abundant arsenic, known to be concentrated in thermal waters, and deposits of fluorite, a mineral produced by hydrothermal activity. Together, this tells us that Lower Geyser Basin was forested from 10,300 to 3,800 years ago, and that hydrothermal features were active near or within Goose Lake (there is no hydrothermal activity at Goose Lake today). Later in the record (after 3,800 years ago), the landscape changed dramatically. First, pollen and charcoal data suggest an abrupt shift to a landscape with open grassland or steppemuch more similar to Lower Geyser Basin today. This open landscape is maintained by soils that are heated by hydrothermal activity below the surface (the grasses and herbs that thrive in Lower Geyser Basin today can take the heat, but lodgepole pine cannot!), suggesting that hydrothermal activity became widespread in Lower Geyser Basin about 3,800 years ago. At the same time, Goose Lake sediments ceased to be arsenic-rich and heat- and alkalinity-adapted diatoms declined, suggesting that hydrothermal activity at Goose Lake itself ceased. It seems, then, that Lower Geyser Basin changed dramatically around 3,800 years ago, with hydrothermal activity stopping in some locations, like Goose Lake, but becoming widespread throughout the basin. Hydrothermal areas change due to a variety of factors. The 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, for example, disrupted hydrothermal features throughout the Yellowstone, including within Lower Geyser Basin. Periods of drought also impact hydrothermal features, such as a period around 650 to 800 years ago when eruptions stopped at Old Faithful Geyser during a severe, sustained drought. An earthquake or severe drought are both possible causes of the reorganization of Lower Geyser Basin around 3,800 years ago. Yellowstone has been called a geo-ecosystem, since it is strongly influenced by geological processes, like volcanism, hydrothermal activity, faulting, and tectonic uplift, as well as changes in climate and hydrology. The Goose Lake data show how closely tied geological, climatic, and ecological forces were in the creation of Yellowstones iconic thermal areas. If you would like to read more about this work into the ecosystem changes at Lower Geyser Basin over time, see the recent research article in the journal Quaternary Research at https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2021.42. Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This weeks contribution is from Christopher Schiller, postdoctoral scholar with the Department of Biology at the University of Washington, and Cathy Whitlock, Professor and Director of the Paleoecology Laboratory at Montana State University. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 College Boy Jesse (Jesse Stewart) is the new leadeer of the legendary D All Starz soca band. Jesse, the 2020 International Soca Monarch (Groovy), will fill the void left by his late cousin, soca icon Blaxx (Dexter Stewart) on the legendary Roy Cape-founded bands frontline. Blaxx, a huge supporter of Jesses relatively young career, passed away from Covid-19 on March 28. AFTER finding his wife in a hotel room with another man hiding under the bed, an Arima man n Legals 0005250386-01 ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ENTITY INFORMATION ENTITY NAME: COMFORT ELEMENTS LLC ENTITY ID: 23356705 ENTITY TYPE: Domestic LLC EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/05/2022 CHARACTER OF BUSINESS: Any legal purpose MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE: Member-Managed PERIOD OF DURATION: Perpetual PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: N/A STATUTORY AGENT INFORMATION STATUTORY AGENT NAME: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 MAILING ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS 11921 E Ryscott Cir., VAIL, AZ 85641 PRINCIPALS Member: Albert Santoscoy - 11921 E Ryscott Cir., VAIL, AZ 85641, USA --Date of Taking Office: Member: Miriam Santoscoy - 11921 E Ryscott Cir., VAIL, AZ 85641, USA-- Date of Taking Office: ORGANIZERS Legalzoom.com, Inc.: 101 N Brand Blvd, 11th Floor, GLENDALE, CA, 91203, USA, SIGNATURES Organizer: By: Cheyenne Moseley, Asst. Secretary of Legalzoom.com, Inc., A Delaware Corporation - 04/05/2022 Published May 9, 10 & 11, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005246661-01 LEGAL NOTICE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES BEFORE THE DIRECTOR In the matter of Application No. 59-236670.0000 for a Permit to Withdraw Groundwater for Dewatering Purposes located within the Upper Santa Cruz Sub-basin of the Tucson Active Management Area; The Director gives notice that ASARCO LLC - Mission Complex (Applicant) has filed the above referenced application for a Permit to Withdraw Groundwater for Dewatering Purposes pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 45, Chapter 2, Article 7, 45-513. It is the Applicant's intent to use groundwater under this application for dewatering activities and ore processing. The Applicant intends to drill two (2) new wells and use twenty-two (22) existing wells located within Section 1 Township 17 South, Range 12 East, Section 31 Township 16 South, Range 13 East, and Section 6 Township 17 South, Range 13 East of the Gila Salt River Basin and Meridian. A total of 1,200 acre-feet per annum have been requested for period of twenty (20) years. A copy of the application is available for review at the Department, or electronically, upon receipt of a public records request. A public records request can be submitted online here: https://www.azwater.gov/eforms/ Forms/Request/DWR_Request.aspx Objections to the issuance of the permit may be filed by persons that may be adversely affected by the project and must be filed, in writing, with the Docket Supervisor of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Legal Division, 1110 West Washington Street, Suite 310, Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2952, within fifteen (15) days after the last day of publication of this notice. For this application, the final date on which an objection may be filed is June 1, 2022. Objections are limited to whether the application meets the criteria of Arizona Revised 45-513. An objection shall state the name and mailing address of the objector, be signed by the objector, his agent or attorney and must clearly set forth the reasons why the permit should not be issued. Issued this 3rd day of May, 2022 Thomas Buschatzke Director Publication Dates: May 10, 2022 and May 17, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005250999-01 Omega Alpha Academy Amended Invitation for Bid Date: May 5, 2022 RE: Amended Invitation for Bid for Installation of Solar Panels Carports to Reduce Electricity Costs To Whom It May Concern: This amended invitation was prepared in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code Section R7-2-1024. Omega Alpha Academy ("OAA") will be accepting sealed bids for the installation of solar panels carports to reduce OAA's electricity costs. Bids will be accepted starting on the date of this letter and must be received by OAA no later than 3:00 P.M. on May 12, 2022. Bids received after this date and/or time will not be accepted and will be returned unopened to the sender. If you are interested in submitting a bid, it should be delivered to OAA by U.S. Mail or hand delivery at the following address in a sealed envelope: Omega Alpha Academy 1402 San Antonio Ave. Douglas, AZ 85607 Bid Submission Attn: Ms. Rubi Galaz Bids must be prepared and submitted using the bid form enclosed with this invitation. The sealed bid acceptance period (during which the contract will be awarded and during which the bid is irrevocable) is from the date and time of the Bid Opening, May 13, 2022, through June 13, 2022. All information and bids submitted by bidders will be made available for public inspection following the award of the contract. OAA will not consider partial bids for award of a contract for this procurement. OAA will not award multiple contracts for this procurement. Contracts will not be awarded incrementally/in stages. The basis for determining the lowest bidder is: Price. If the procurement is for earth- moving equipment, material- handling equipment, road maintenance equipment, or construction equipment, OAA will evaluate the total life cycle cost, including residual value of the equipment, and to the extent practicable, the cost of outright purchase, for purposes of evaluating the price. The purchase description: Solar panels to reduce OAA's electricity costs. The purchase specifications: Conduct engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the 2 new carport structures. Order carport structure materials. Submit engineering packet to City of Douglas requesting building permits for construction of carports. Once permits are issued, begin construction of carport structures Conduct engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for pv solar system on rooftop and covered parking structures. Order solar pv system materials. Submit engineering packet to City of Douglas requesting building permits for installation of solar pv system. Submit "Net Metering Agreement" and "Notice of PV Install" to APS. Once permits are issued for the Solar PV system and carport construction is complete, installation of solar panels and inverters begin. After the installation is complete, schedule City of Douglas final inspection. After final inspection from City of Douglas request the PTO (Permission to Operate) gets sent to APS. The purchase delivery/performance schedule: OAA needs this project completed during summer break/after school hours/before school hours and it needs to be completed as soon as possible. Inspection and acceptance requirements, if applicable: OAA requires that the vendor possess an active ROC License, bonded and insured. If a particular brand name is used, OAA will consider products substantially equivalent to the brands identified. The factors that OAA will use in evaluating the bids are as follows: Price. Contract terms: 1. The warranty, bonding, and/or security requirements are as follows: Performance and payment bonds in accordance with ARS 34-222 are required: 1. A performance bond (protecting the school if the contractor defaults) is required in an amount equal to the full contract amount, conditioned on the faithful performance of the contract in accordance with plans, specifications, and conditions thereof. 2. A payment bond is required in an amount equal to the full contract amount solely for the protection of claimants supplying labor or materials to the contractor or his subcontractors in the prosecution of the work provided for in such contract. The contract length will be: 45 Days. The contract will not include an option for extension. The school representative is Rubi Galaz. If OAA amends the IFB, the bidder must email Rubi Galaz acknowledgement of the amendment at rugalaz@oaak12.org and write "acknowledgement of amendment" in the subject line of the email. Note that OAA may cancel the solicitation or reject a bid in whole or in part if it is deemed advantageous to OAA to do so. The bidder must certify in its bid that submission of the bid did not involve collusion or other anticompetitive practices, and that the bidder has taken steps and exercised due diligence to ensure no violation of A.R.S. 15-213(O) has occurred, which is a law that prohibits vendors from offering any personal gift or benefit to a person participating in the contract, aside from items of nominal values such as greeting cards, to-shirts, mugs, or pens. The bidder must declare in its bid whether it has ever been debarred, suspended, or otherwise lawfully prohibited from participating in any public procurement activity, including being disapproved as a subcontractor of any public procurement unit or other governmental body. Bid Security: As a guarantee that the contractor will enter into a contract, bid security is hereby required. Bid security shall be in the form of a certified check or surety bond. The bid security will be surrendered to OAA if the bidder: (i) withdraws its bid prior to award of the contract to the selected bidder; (ii) fails to sign the contract after the notification of award; or (iii) fails to provide a performance and payment bond, as mandated in this IFB. The bid security must be 10% of the bid. Other information: The fee for posting performance and payment bonds must be included in your bid. If you will be traveling to Douglas to perform the work, your travel costs must be included in your bid as well. The following information will be recorded and available for public inspection at the bid opening: Entity that submitted the bid, when the bid was received, and the details of the bid, including the price. There will be no pre-bid conference. Electronic submission of sealed bids is not permitted. The date, time, and place for the public Bid Opening will be: May 13, 2022 at 3:30 pm at the following address: Omega Alpha Academy 1402 San Antonio Ave. Douglas, AZ 85607 OAA School (Finance Office) Bid protests should be filed with the school representative Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org and shall indicate "bid protest" in the subject line of the email. If you would like to be on OAA's Prospective Bidders List for future procurement projects as well, please notify Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org. If a person on OAA's list fails to respond to an Invitation for Bids for two consecutive procurements of similar items, that person may be removed from the list. You can be reinstated upon request to Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org. Thank you, /s/Rubi Galaz Rubi Galaz Finance & Human Resources Director Omega Alpha Academy (520) 805-1261 ext. 212 Published May 10, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005251175-01 Omega Alpha Academy Amended Invitation for Bid Date: May 5, 2022. RE: Amended Invitation for Bid for Installation of Shade Systems Over Playground Areas To Whom It May Concern: This amended invitation was prepared in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code Section R7-2-1024. Omega Alpha Academy ("OAA") will be accepting sealed bids for the installation of shade systems over its four (4) playground areas. Bids will be accepted starting on the date of this letter and must be received by OAA no later than 3:00 P.M. on May 12, 2022. Bids received after this date and/or time will not be accepted and will be returned unopened to the sender. If you are interested in submitting a bid, it should be delivered to OAA by U.S. Mail or hand delivery at the following address in a sealed envelope: Omega Alpha Academy 1402 San Antonio Ave. Douglas, AZ 85607 Bid Submission Attn: Ms. Rubi Galaz Bids must be prepared and submitted using the bid form enclosed with this invitation. The sealed bid acceptance period (during which the contract will be awarded and during which the bid is irrevocable) is from the date and time of the Bid Opening, May 13, 2022, through June 13, 2022. All information and bids submitted by bidders will be made available for public inspection following the award of the contract. OAA will not consider partial bids for award of a contract for this procurement. OAA will not award multiple contracts for this procurement. Contracts will not be awarded incrementally/in stages. The basis for determining the lowest bidder is: Price. If the procurement is for earth- moving equipment, material- handling equipment, road maintenance equipment, or construction equipment, OAA will evaluate the total life cycle cost, including residual value of the equipment, and to the extent practicable, the cost of outright purchase, for purposes of evaluating the price. The purchase description: Shade systems to be installed over OAA's four (4) playground areas. The purchase specifications: Shade systems to be installed over four (4) playground areas. The square footage is the following for each of the four playgrounds: (may be subject to changes) 50' x 70' Shade Structure 66' x 32' Shade Structure 25' x 14' Shade Structure 25' x 50' Shade Structure 70' x 65' Shade Structure The purchase delivery/performance schedule: OAA needs this project completed after school hours (3:30 pm) during weekends or school breaks. The complete job needs to be done in a month. Inspection and acceptance requirements, if applicable: OAA requires that the vendor possess an active ROC License, bonded and insured. If a particular brand name is used, OAA will consider products substantially equivalent to the brands identified. The factors that OAA will use in evaluating the bids are as follows: Price. Contract terms: 1. The warranty, bonding, and/or security requirements are as follows: Performance and payment bonds in accordance with ARS 34-222 are required: 1. A performance bond (protecting the school if the contractor defaults) is required in an amount equal to the full contract amount, conditioned on the faithful performance of the contract in accordance with plans, specifications, and conditions thereof. 2. A payment bond is required in an amount equal to the full contract amount solely for the protection of claimants supplying labor or materials to the contractor or his subcontractors in the prosecution of the work provided for in such contract. The contract length will be: 30 Days. The contract will not include an option for extension. The school representative is Rubi Galaz. If OAA amends the IFB, the bidder must email Rubi Galaz acknowledgement of the amendment at rugalaz@oaak12.org and write "acknowledgement of amendment" in the subject line of the email. Note that OAA may cancel the solicitation or reject a bid in whole or in part if it is deemed advantageous to OAA to do so. The bidder must certify in its bid that submission of the bid did not involve collusion or other anticompetitive practices, and that the bidder has taken steps and exercised due diligence to ensure no violation of A.R.S. 15-213(O) has occurred, which is a law that prohibits vendors from offering any personal gift or benefit to a person participating in the contract, aside from items of nominal values such as greeting cards, to-shirts, mugs, or pens. The bidder must declare in its bid whether it has ever been debarred, suspended, or otherwise lawfully prohibited from participating in any public procurement activity, including being disapproved as a subcontractor of any public procurement unit or other governmental body. Bid Security: As a guarantee that the contractor will enter into a contract, bid security is hereby required. Bid security shall be in the form of a certified check or surety bond. The bid security will be surrendered to OAA if the bidder: (i) withdraws its bid prior to award of the contract to the selected bidder; (ii) fails to sign the contract after the notification of award; or (iii) fails to provide a performance and payment bond, as mandated in this IFB. The bid security must be 10% of the bid. Other information: The fee for posting performance and payment bonds must be included in your bid. If you will be traveling to Douglas to perform the work, your travel costs must be included in your bid as well. The following information will be recorded and available for public inspection at the bid opening: Entity that submitted the bid, when the bid was received, and the details of the bid, including the price. There will be no pre-bid conference. Electronic submission of sealed bids is not permitted. The date, time, and place for the public Bid Opening will be: May 13, 2022 at 4:00 pm at the following address: Omega Alpha Academy 1402 San Antonio Ave. Douglas, AZ 85607 OAA School (Finance Office) Bid protests should be filed with the school representative Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org and shall indicate "bid protest" in the subject line of the email. If you would like to be on OAA's Prospective Bidders List for future procurement projects as well, please notify Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org. If a person on OAA's list fails to respond to an Invitation for Bids for two consecutive procurements of similar items, that person may be removed from the list. You can be reinstated upon request to Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org. Thank you, /s/Rubi Galaz Rubi Galaz Finance & Human Resources Director Omega Alpha Academy (520) 805-1261 ext. 212 Published May 10, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005251057-01 Omega Alpha Academy Amended Invitation for Bids Date: May 5, 2022 RE: Amended Invitation for Bids for Intercom and Bell System for Charter School To Whom It May Concern: Omega Alpha Academy ("OAA") is a charter school located in Douglas, Arizona. OAA is looking to modernize its Intercom and Bell system. As such, OAA is accepting sealed bids for the procurement of an Intercom and Bell System, including the Materials, Services, & Labor necessary to remove OAA's old intercom and bell system and install a new Intercom and Bell System. Bids are currently being accepted and must be received by OAA no later than 3:00 P.M. on May 12, 2022. Bids received after this date and/or time will not be accepted and will be returned unopened to the sender. If you are interested in submitting a bid, it should be delivered to Omega Alpha Academy by U.S. Mail or hand delivery at the following address, in a sealed envelope: Omega Alpha Academy 1402 San Antonio Ave. Douglas, AZ 85607 Bid Submission Attn: Ms. Rubi Galaz Bids must be prepared and submitted using the bid form enclosed with this invitation. The bid opening date is May 13, 2022 at 3:00 pm. The sealed bid acceptance period (during which the contract will be awarded and during which the bid is irrevocable) is from the date and time of the bid opening, May 13, 2022 through June 6, 2022. All information and bids submitted by bidders will be made available for public inspection following the award of the contract. OAA will not consider partial bids for award of a contract. OAA will not award multiple contracts for this procurement. The basis for determining the lowest bidder is: Price. The purchase (service) description: Intercom and Bell System (Material, Service, & Labor) The purchase (service) specifications: 1. Intercom and bell system must integrate with the school's (VOIP) phones (so that the intercom and bell system can be operated by the school's phones). 2. Intercom and bell system must be able to address classrooms individually. 3. Intercom and bell system must be able to address all classrooms at once (and various combinations of each). 4. Intercom and bell system must offer a configurable/ customizable bell schedule. Bell schedules must be able to address classrooms individually, as well as groups of classrooms. 5. Minimum of 46 talkback speakers and call buttons. Six horns. 6. System should be easily expandable, should we ever need to add more speakers. The purchase/service delivery/performance schedule: The job will be done at OAA Campus located at 1402 San Antonio Avenue Douglas, AZ 85607. The labor schedule will be 45 Days (maximum), after both parties sign the Contract. Inspection and acceptance requirements, if applicable: OAA requires that the vendor possess an active ROC License, bonded and insured. If a particular brand name is used, OAA will consider products substantially equivalent to the brands identified. The factors that OAA will use in evaluating the bids are as follows: Price. Please note that the contract you will be required to sign will include the following: You will be required to furnish Performance and payment bonds in accordance with ARS 34-222: o A performance bond in an amount equal to the full contract amount, conditioned on the faithful performance of the contract in accordance with plans, specifications, and conditions thereof. o A payment bond in an amount equal to the full contract amount solely for the protection of claimants supplying labor or materials to the contractor or his subcontractors in the prosecution of the work provided for in such contract. o As such, your bid amount must include the cost of both bonds identified above. Warranty for one year. The contract length will be: for 45 Days. The contract will not include an option for extension. The school representative is Rubi Galaz. If OAA amends this Invitation for Bids, we will send the amendment out, and the bidder must email Rubi Galaz acknowledgement of the amendment at rugalaz@oaak12.org and write "acknowledgement of amendment" in the subject line of the email. Note that OAA may cancel the solicitation or reject a bid in whole or in part if it is deemed advantageous to OAA to do so. The bidder must certify in its bid that submission of the bid did not involve collusion or other anticompetitive practices, and that the bidder has taken steps and exercised due diligence to ensure no violation of A.R.S. 15-213(O) has occurred, which is a law that prohibits vendors from offering any personal gift or benefit to a person participating in the contract, aside from items of nominal values such as greeting cards, t-shirts, mugs, or pens. The bidder must declare in its bid whether it has ever been debarred, suspended, or otherwise lawfully prohibited from participating in any public procurement activity, including being disapproved as a subcontractor of any public procurement unit or other governmental body. Bid Security Importantly, bid security is required to guarantee that the winning bidder will undertake the contract under the terms at which the company bid. Please obtain either: (1) an annual or one-time bid bond executed and furnished as required by A.R.S. Title 34, Chapter 2 or 6, as applicable; or (2) a certified check. The bid security must be 10% of the bid price. The following information will be recorded and available for public inspection at the bid opening: Entity that submitted the bid, when the bid was received, and the details of the bid, including the price. There will be no pre-bid conference. Electronic submission of sealed bids is not permitted. The date, time, and place for the public Bid Opening will be: May 13, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at the following address: Omega Alpha Academy 1402 San Antonio Ave. Douglas, AZ 85607 OAA Finance Office Bid protests should be filed with the school representative Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org and shall indicate "bid protest" in the subject line of the email. If you would like to be on OAA's Prospective Bidders List for future procurement projects as well, please notify Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org. If a person on OAA's list fails to respond to an Invitation for Bids for two consecutive procurements of similar items, that person may be removed from the list. You can be reinstated upon request to Rubi Galaz at rugalaz@oaak12.org. Thank you, /s/Rubi Galaz Rubi Galaz Finance & Human Resources Director Omega Alpha Academy (520) 805-1261 ext. 212 Published May 10, 2022 Arizona Daily Star The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer. Peters works for Defenders of Wildlife: On March 31, President Joe Biden used the Defense Production Act to order the federal government to step up production of strategic minerals to meet the requirements of the clean energy economy, notably to produce next-generation batteries that can store electricity from wind and solar generators. We indeed need these technologies but must carefully assess environmental risks. The president states that mines must comply with all Federal and State permitting requirements and environmental health and safety laws. However, intention is only as good as implementation. Because government agencies tend to defer to mining companies, it is usually left to local citizens to ensure that mining conglomerates follow environmental laws. This is a David and Goliath story where, for example, a local citizens group, the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA), with help from Defenders of Wildlife, is taking on South 32, a deep-pocketed multinational company that plans to build a huge mine in Arizonas Patagonia Mountains. Why are we fighting to protect the Patagonias against mega-mines? These mountains are a place so beautiful and special that in a well-regulated world they would be off-limits to mining. They are critical habitat for jaguars and home to roving ocelots and nesting endangered Mexican spotted owls and yellow-billed cuckoos. Water flows down the mountains into streams and underground aquifers, filling wells for towns and ranches. This unmatched biodiversity hotspot draws ecotourists from around the world, pumping money into Santa Cruz Countys economy. Foreign companies have stampeded to stake mining claims on our public lands: the Australian company South 32 holds nearly 35,000 acres in the Patagonia Mountains of the Coronado National Forest, while Canadas Barksdale Resources has nearly 40,000. Moreover, the regulatory climate in Arizona makes our state a target the mining industry ranks Arizona as the worlds number two most attractive jurisdiction for mining. The history of Arizonas mountains is mining gone wrong: roads and facilities built in endangered species habitat, canyons buried under millions of tons of waste and endless flows of toxic metals into waterways the EPA estimates mining waste pollutes 40% of headwaters of all Southwest watersheds. The massive Hermosa mine proposed by South 32 threatens both endangered species and surface and groundwater. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) recently permitted South 32s plans for a massive facility that would pump more than 2 billion gallons of treated water into Harshaw Creek each year, harming wildlife habitat by dramatically overpowering natural flows. Even more frightening, a temporary breakdown in treatment facilities or collapse of a containment structure could permanently contaminate water wells downstream. Even though mandatory by law, ADEQ has not required the company to build even a single monitoring station to continuously watch for contaminated water flowing to towns and homesites. Without such monitoring, permanent contamination might not be noticed until it is too late. PARA and Defenders of Wildlife appealed this decision, and we are watchdogging every plan and permit. In case after case, state agencies have failed to restrict mining activities even when their own laws and regulations demand it, and we fear the presidents memorandum could lead agencies to further bend regulations. In the nations rush to electrify, we must be sure not to destroy treasured wildlife hotspots like the Patagonias or harm the economies and water supplies of our rural communities. Robert Peters has a Ph.D. in biology and works as the senior Southwest representative in the Southwest Regional Office of Defenders of Wildlife. He lives in Tucson. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Federal authorities say an Oklahoma man pleaded guilty on Friday to a felony charge related to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia says Jerry Ryals, from Fort Gibson, pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington, D.C. on Friday to a charge of civil disorder. Ryals, an apprentice electrician, illegally walked through or stayed in several areas of the Capitol building, taking photos and videos after being told to go outside. In one video, he said, They are tear gassing, throwing flash bangs, pepper spray, but we will not concede. He is set to be sentenced Oct. 18 and faces up to five years in prison. Over 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the U.S., after strong winds had pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a small city in northern New Mexico. Calmer winds on Saturday aided the firefighting effort after gusts accelerated the fires advance to a point on Friday when we were watching the fire march about a mile every hour, said Jayson Coil, a fire operations official. Ash carried 7 miles (11 kilometers) through the air had fallen on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the fire from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson with the fire management team. But fire managers warned of windy conditions expected in the coming days, as well as impacts from smoke, and officials urged residents to remain vigilant for further possible evacuation orders. Stewart Turner, a fire behavior analyst with the fire management team, warned Saturday of a very serious week ahead with the forecasted winds. More extreme fire danger was forecast for Sunday for parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Mapping imagery indicated the fire that has burned at least 166 homes grew in size from 103 square miles (266 square kilometers) on Friday to 152 square miles (393 square kilometers) by early Saturday, officials said. The fire was described as 30% contained during a briefing Saturday evening. Winds in northern New Mexico gusted up to 65 mph (105 kph) Friday before subsiding as nightfall approached. By Saturday, aircraft that dump fire retardant and water could resume flights to aid ground crews and bulldozers. The fire's rapid growth Friday forced crews to repeatedly change positions because of threatening conditions but they managed to immediately re-engage without being forced to retreat, Coil said. No injuries were reported. The fire started April 6 when a prescribed burn set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush that can fuel fires was declared out of control. That fire then merged with another wildfire a week ago. With the fire's recent growth, estimates of people forced to evacuate largely rural areas plus a subdivision near Las Vegas doubled from 1,500 to 2,000 people to between 3,000 and 4,000, said Jesus Romero, the assistant manager for San Miguel County. Officials have said the fire has destroyed 277 structures, including at least 166 homes. No updated damage assessments were available on Saturday, Romero said. Wildfires were also burning elsewhere in New Mexico and in Arizona. The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood. Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the West given changing conditions that include earlier snowmelt and rain coming later in the fall, scientist have said. The problems have been exacerbated by decades of fire suppression and poor management along with a more than 20-year megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. In northern Arizona, firefighters neared full containment of a 30 square-mile (77 square-kilometer) blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national wildfire management team turned oversight of fighting the blaze back to local firefighting forces on Friday. National forests across Arizona announced they would impose fire restrictions starting next Thursday that limit campfires to developed recreation sites and restrict smoking to inside vehicles, other enclosed spaces and to the recreation sites. Davenport reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Thousands of firefighters battled destructive wildfires in the Southwest as more residents prepared to evacuate Friday into the weekend in northern New Mexico where strong winds and dangerously dry conditions have made the blazes hard to contain. The biggest fire in the U.S. grew to more than 117 square miles (303 square kilometers) through the afternoon northeast of Santa Fe. Gusty winds prevented any aerial attacks by midmorning and crews lost some of the containment they had established in previous days. The rapid rate of the spread of the fire was exceeding dire predictions in some areas, incident commander Carl Schwope said Friday night. *** Over 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the U.S., after strong winds had pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a small city in northern New Mexico. Calmer winds on Saturday aided the firefighting effort after gusts accelerated the fires advance to a point on Friday when we were watching the fire march about a mile every hour, said Jayson Coil, a fire operations official. Ash carried 7 miles (11 kilometers) through the air had fallen on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the fire from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson with the fire management team. *** In a small enclave in northern Arizona where homes are nestled in a Ponderosa pine forest and tourists delight in camping, hiking and cruising on ATVs, high winds are nothing new. But when those winds recently ramped up and sent what was a small wildfire racing toward their homes, residents in the close-knit Girls Ranch neighborhood near Flagstaff faced a dilemma: quickly grab what they could and flee, or stay behind and try to ward off the towering, erratic flames. Most of the property owners left. One couple stood their ground. Another raced to save animals on neighbors' properties. Arizona wildfire forces fast decision: Fight or flee flames? Ferocious winds that sent what was a small wildfire racing toward homes on the outskirts of a northern Arizona city presented a dilemma. Most residents in the Girls Ranch neighborhood north of Flagstaff, Arizona, fled the flames. One couple stood their ground. Another raced to save animals on neighbors' properties. Two homes in the close-knit neighborhood were among 30 in the area that were destroyed. The wildfire left a mosaic of charred land before it was almost fully contained this weekend. The blaze is one of many this spring that have forced panicked residents to make life-or-death, fight-or-flee decisions as wildfire season heats up in the U.S. West. *** Olena Koval found out that her husband was dead via text message. He was shot by Russian soldiers inside their home in Bucha while she was sheltering nearby, their neighbors told Human Rights Watch. In the days that followed, despite the brutal cold and her spinal disability, she made repeated attempts to recover his body but was turned back each time by the soldiers threats. As the atrocities escalated, Olena fled Bucha to save her remaining family. Before their departure, she left a note with a neighbor that marked where her husbands body was, hoping someone could give him a burial. War is synonymous with death, but its emotional toll extends beyond the loss of life. The inability to say farewell to ones loved ones and lay them to rest can often be just as painful. Humans have always cared for their dead so much that archaeologists often consider mortuary rites among the traits that distinguish Homo sapiens from other species. In other words, it is a fundamental part of being human. Paying respect Humans close relatives also showed concern for the dead. The Neanderthals practiced burials, and other extinct hominids probably did too. Even chimpanzees appear to grieve over deceased relatives. But no other species goes to such extraordinary lengths to care for its dead. As an anthropologist, I have spent two decades studying rituals, particularly those that can seem extreme. At first glance, these customs seem puzzling: They appear to have no direct benefits but can feel utterly meaningful. A closer look, however, shows that these seemingly senseless acts express deeper, profoundly human needs. Take funerary rites. There is a practical need to dispose of a dead body, but most burial customs go far beyond that requirement. Among the Toraja people of Indonesia, for example, deceased family members are kept in their homes for months or even years. During that time, their relatives treat them as if they were still living: They offer them food, change their clothes, and bring them the latest gossip. Even after their funeral, their mummified bodies are exhumed, dressed up, and paraded around town on ceremonial occasions. The Toraja are not alone. In Madagascar, I have visited communities where people lived in fragile reed huts, at the mercy of frequent deadly cyclones, as the only robust brick-and-mortar buildings in the area were used as tombs. And in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, the architectural masterpieces carved into the rock by the Nabataeans two millennia ago were resting places for the dead. Those practices may seem like outliers, but they are not. In all cultures, people clean, protect, embellish and carefully deposit their dead. Muslims wash and shroud the body before interring it. Hindus may bathe it with milk, honey and ghee and adorn it with flowers and essential oils before cremation. Jews keep watch over the deceased from the time of death until the burial. And many Christians hold wakes at which family members gather to pay tribute to the deceased. Creating closure Funerary rites are ostensibly about the dead. But their importance lies in the roles they play for the living: They allow them to grieve, seek comfort, face the reality of death and find the strength to move on. They are deeply human acts, which is why being deprived of them can feel devastating and dehumanizing. This is what is happening in Ukraine. In besieged cities, people cannot retrieve the bodies of their loves ones from the streets out of fear of being killed. In other cases, Ukrainian officials have accused the Russian army of burying victims in mass graves to hide war crimes. Even when they are retrieved, many of the corpses have been mutilated, making them difficult to identify. To people who have lost their loved ones, the lack of a proper send-off can feel like a second loss. The need for closure is widely recognized to be indispensable not only by anthropologists and psychologists, but also first responders, governments and international organizations. This is why armies go to great lengths to return the remains of fallen soldiers to their families, even if that takes decades. The right to a burial is acknowledged even for ones foes. The Geneva Convention stipulates that belligerents must ensure that the bodies of enemies are honorably interred and that their graves are respected and properly maintained and marked so that they may always be found. Given the importance of those rites, it is also striking that the Russian defense ministry has reportedly been reluctant to bring their own dead back home, because they are concerned with covering up the scale of the losses. This seeming indifference to the suffering of Russias own people and their need for closure may be yet another act of dehumanization. ___ Explore the intersection of faith, politics, arts and culture. Sign up for This Week in Religion. Dimitris Xygalatas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. ___ Come Tuesday, Webster FFA President Teresa Aguayo will get to say something none of her westside predecessors could: that she attended her first Future Farmers of America state convention in her hometown. For the first time in the organizations 96-year history, Oklahoma FFA will have its state convention in Tulsa on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am very excited, the Webster senior said. I am ready to see all the other chapters come to Tulsa. Whenever I go to contest, other chapters are so surprised to see a chapter from Tulsa. Im so excited for them to come, as some of them have never been here and dont know what Tulsas like. Encompassing both the Cox Convention Center and the BOK Center, the two-day state convention includes individual award and degree recognition, chapter awards and state officer elections. Attendees also have access to career and leadership development workshops and an expo featuring college recruiters, potential employers and other agriculturally focused businesses. More than $1.5 million in scholarships and cash awards will be handed out to students during the course of the event. The countrys fifth-largest state-level FFA association, Oklahoma FFA has 27,872 student members across 364 chapters statewide, including more than 20 just in the immediate Tulsa metro area. With more than 14,000 attendees expected this year, the state FFA convention will be in Tulsa through 2026 after almost four decades in Oklahoma City. A previous convention site, the Cox Convention Center, formerly known as the Myriad, was sold and is now used as a film studio. Although it was able to host in 2021, the nearby Paycom Center was not available for the conventions traditional early May dates starting in 2022, prompting state FFA officials to start looking around. To have an event of that size, it is tough to find a venue to make it happen, Oklahoma FFA Executive Secretary Trevor Lucas said. We looked for as many venues as we could that were available on dates that would work with our calendar. Because of our chapters contest schedule and keeping state convention as the school years high point, moving dates would be difficult for us. We didnt have a lot of options, to be frank, but Tulsa rolled out the red carpet and showed how it would work. Were excited. The folks in Tulsa have been awesome to work with. Webster is home to the only active FFA chapter in Tulsa Public Schools. With about 130 members in grades eight through 12, FFA is the schools largest student organization. After sitting out most of the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19 and TPS pandemic protocols, the chapter has started attending contests across the region again this year. Tuesday and Wednesday will be its first in-person appearance at the state convention since 2019. They had convention last year in person, but we were not allowed to go, so were super pumped about getting to go, adviser Erica Goodson said. Im excited to just see all those kids and ag teachers come from all over the state. Therell be people there from the Panhandle; therell be people from the Idabel area to Altus. and its neat that were all going to meet in Tulsa this year. Along with providing dining and hotel recommendations for the incoming visitors, having the convention in Tulsa is providing Goodson and her students an opportunity to remind other chapters around the state that participation in FFA is not just limited to rural areas or only through raising farm animals. Although hens, baby chicks, guinea pigs and a turtle all call the schools agriculture building home, the Webster FFA chapter does not keep any large animals due to municipal ordinances. Unless a student has an animal outside of the city limits, the chapter does not participate in livestock showing. Instead, the members focus on leadership development and other areas that readily lend themselves to urban agriculture, including welding, horticulture, speech, agricultural communications, food sciences and land judging. We try to really prepare the kids through the ag classes and FFA for some sort of career, Goodson said. I realize that not every kid leaving out of here is going to pursue a career in agriculture, but they may pursue a career in graphic design, and thats something they learned in agriculture communications. They may pursue a job as a handyman, and working with tools out in the shop is definitely something that can prepare that kid. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SKIATOOK Another Tulsa-area school district is about to be under new leadership. After 39 years in public education, including more than a decade with Skiatook Public Schools, Rick Thomas has announced he will retire as superintendent at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. His last day with the district is June 30. He will join the Oklahoma School Insurance Group as its new executive director in July. Its been a good run at Skiatook, he said. Ive been here 11 years, and its a great school in a great community. I will miss it, but I am looking forward to the chance to move into this new opportunity. Previously the superintendent at Oologah-Talala, Thomas joined Skiatook Public Schools in 2011 after a bribery scandal involving district resources forced the resignation of former superintendent Gary Johnson. Both Johnson and an Oklahoma City businessman ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts of bribery each in the state court system and a federal charge of conspiracy. Arriving in the scandals aftermath, Thomas worked to rebuild the communitys trust in the district, which helped lead to the passage of two bond packages during his tenure. With those memories in mind, he said he will work with the board of education and his successor to ensure a smooth transition. Im invested in this school and this community, he said. I dont want to see them lose what weve built up over the years. In an open letter posted Wednesday to the districts website, the Skiatook board of education announced it would partner with the Oklahoma State School Board Association to find Thomas successor. A community survey will remain open via the districts website through May 13. Skiatook is the seventh Tulsa-area school district to change superintendents within the last 12 months. Other area districts with a leadership change since the end of the 2020-2021 school year include Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Coweta, Owasso, Stillwater and Tahlequah. Featured video: Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Boxes of cereal are putting a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students on an international stage later this spring. In its first year of existence, the Odyssey of the Mind team from Zarrow International School recently won a state title and earned a spot in the world finals, scheduled for May 25-29 at Iowa State University in Ames. Other area schools with qualifying teams include Jenks High School, Owasso High School, the University School and Claremores Will Rogers Junior High School. Launched more than 40 years ago, Odyssey of the Mind is an interdisciplinary, problem-solving competition. Teams of students choose one of five performance prompts to address and work together to develop a creative solution to present before a panel of judges. For example, the prompt chosen by the Zarrow team, Life is a Circus! required the students to come up with a skit that involves a student waking up one morning to discover they were in a circus world, complete with animals, a clown and a ringmaster. Other performance prompt options this year include a biographical musical, an escape room with at least one custom-made vehicle, and building and incorporating a matryoshka, or Russian nesting doll, made of balsa wood and glue. Beyond that basic framework, teams can take the prompt in any direction. For the Zarrow team, that meant bringing the circus to the breakfast table and creating a cereal-themed skit. Along with trimming ringmaster pants with Froot Loops, Zarrows skit includes a giant spoon, an appearance from Trix the Rabbit and a talking milk carton. We chose cereal because its something that nobody talks about, fourth-grader Angel Oakley said. And its fun to just make stuff with food and eat the food. In addition to the prepared solution, the teams must also tackle a spontaneous challenge at the state meet. For example, the group could be given a word puzzle to pick apart or a stack of materials and told to build a weight-bearing bridge. However, the students are not allowed to say what it was just yet. We dont even know what it was, special education teacher and team adviser Lisa Rutledge said. Theyre not allowed to talk about it until after the world finals. Now in her third year at Zarrow, Rutledge has been involved with Odyssey of the Mind for more than 20 years. However, this was the first year she was in a position to sponsor a team at the immersion school, thanks in large part to COVID-19. The thing I love about Odyssey is that its like a little think tank for children, she said. They learn how to work together, think creatively outside of the box and put it all together. Featured video: Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Annual checkup: U.S. Sen. James Lankford issued his annual Federal Fumbles report on spending and the budget. As usual, it points out what Lankford considers particularly egregious examples of waste and bad judgement, but this years edition is largely devoted to explaining the federal budget and areas of special concern, including the Medicare and Social Security trust funds. Federal Fumbles is a to-do list for me and my team, and its also a status update for Oklahomans who are concerned about waste, fraud and abuse of their tax dollars and what is being done to stop it, Lankford says in an introduction. Among this years fumbles: $8.5 million for ape habitats in Africa and Indonesia, $2.3 million to renovate a public swimming pool in Rhode Island and $164,000 for rural roads in India. MKARNS: Besides the usual political huffing and puffing, Oklahomas Congressional delegation was unusually preoccupied with the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. All seven members, plus two from Kansas and all six from Arkansas, signed a letter urging the Army Corps of Engineers and the Office of Management and Budget to prioritize improvements to the waterway. U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, for whom MKARNS has been a priority during his 35 years in Congress, also met with Col. Scott Preston, the Tulsa District commander, and his staff. The future economic viability of the MKARNS is at risk as there is currently more than a $300 million backlog in critical maintenance along the entire 50-year-old system, the letter reads in part. This includes locks, dams and other important equipment that is deteriorating to dangerous conditions. The MKARNS is vital to the economies of Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as Kansas, which sends or receives 49 percent of the tonnage coming through Oklahoma ports. A critical failure on the system could result in it being shut down for months, and even a temporary shutdown could put future use of the system at risk. Blame game: Republicans, unsurprisingly, are eager to blame all bad economic news on President Joe Biden and the Democrats, but 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern was particularly harsh in his pronouncements after the government reported the economy shrank 1.4% in the last quarter. Either its incompetence or its intentional, with the goal of fundamentally reshaping our country from a capitalist one to a socialist one. I thank God that we have the opportunity in November to stop them before its too late, Hern said. Dots and Dashes: Second District Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Markwayne Mullin launched an attack on Biden administration environmental rules that Mullin said unnecessarily delay public works projects. Inhofe said he was encouraged by what Ive heard after a closed-door briefing on the administrations developing National Defense Strategy. Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and state superintendent candidate Jena Nelson attended a White House event honoring teachers of the year nationwide. Lankford was among Republicans who were upset about the dismissal of a reported 1,700 service members for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations. Lankford was also among Republicans wanting to cancel federal contracts with Citibank after the financial company said it would pay for employee travel for abortions. Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole said last quarters poor economic numbers show President Biden and Democrats are moving our nation even closer to recession. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World Featured video: Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Campaigns and elections: Gov. Kevin Stitts re-election campaign received almost $1.3 million in total contributions during the first three months of 2022, according to a quarterly report filed with the Oklahoma State Ethics Commission on Friday. The campaign has raised $4.5 million total, spent $1.9 million and owes $4.9 million to Stitt himself from his 2018 campaign. The deadline for quarterly filings was midnight Sunday. Joel Kintsel, fighting an uphill battle against Stitt in the Republican primary, seized on the burgeoning scandal involving Swadleys BBQ restaurants and the state tourism department to amplify his charges of mismanagement and unethical behavior by the administration. Kintsel also alleged an unauthorized cyber intrusion occurred at the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs, which Kintsel headed before taking a leave of absence to campaign against Stitt. Oklahomans will choose on June 28 between a governor that seeks to enrich himself and his cronies on the backs of the taxpayers or a new leader that will work for all Oklahomans and stand up for good government each and every day, Kintsel said. Chances of a Democrat winning one of Oklahomas two U.S. Senate seats this year seem pretty remote, but that isnt preventing a lively little campaign among at least two of the six Democrats signed up for the June 28 primary for the spot held by Republican James Lankford. Jason Bollinger and Madison Horn traded barbs before and after a contest of candidacy hearing that went until past 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, with Bollinger suggesting Horn is a carpetbagger and Horn questioning Bollingers fortitude. Bollinger challenged Horns eligibility, alleging she is not registered to vote in the state and that she had not properly completed the declaration of candidacy submitted to the election board at filing. A search of the Oklahoma Voter Portal using Horns name and birthdate returns no results. Horn says she is registered to vote but that for some reason it is not showing up on the rolls. Generally, state law requires a person to be registered in the jurisdiction and party for which they file at least six months in advance. But federal offices are dictated by the U.S. Constitution, and it does not require a person to be registered to vote or even live in the state to run for Senate. The board ruled in Horns favor. Regardless of the outcome, the fact remains that Madison Horn is not registered to vote in Oklahoma, and her Declaration of Candidacy form was incomplete and contained false information when she filed it, said Bollinger, a 29-year-old Oklahoma City attorney. I believe I had a duty to present the information we had to the Election Board in order to keep our election system and candidates accountable. Voters have a right to know if the candidate they may potentially vote on has followed the laws, is a member of the party whose nomination they are seeking, and is a voter who participates regularly in our democracy. Horn, a 32-year-old Adair County native who moved back to Oklahoma City last year after a decade away, called Bollingers challenge unfounded and reckless. My opponent filed false allegations in an attempt to defame me and my candidacy, putting into question his oath as an attorney, Horn said. His actions have shown his true character and point to his insecurities about the viability of his own campaign. Other Democrats in the June 28 primary are retired FBI agent Dennis Baker of Tulsa, attorney Jo Glenn of Tulsa, businessman Arya Azma of Norman and Brandon Wade of Bartlesville. New role: Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Ken Wagner was named Oklahoma State Universitys inaugural executive director of the Hamm Institute for American Energy. Wagner will continue in his cabinet capacity at least temporarily. According to a press release, the Oklahoma City-based Hamm Institute is founded on the guiding principle of solving humanitys greatest energy needs. The Hamm Institute will develop the energy leaders of tomorrow by engaging industry and academia and developing practical, global, science-based solutions through collaboration, research and development. Under the dome: A lot of sausage went through the grinder last week as lawmakers fought to keep their legislation alive in some form or fashion or hoped nobody noticed the stuff quietly cast aside. Around 450 bills and joint resolutions remain in various states of play for the final month of the session. That doesnt include appropriations bills, which for the most part have not even been filed yet. The state constitution requires the Legislature adjourn no later than the last Friday of May. In the midst of the controversy over Stitts parole and then revocation of parole for murder Jimmie Dean Stohler, the House amended an existing bill to require governors to personally attend Pardon and Parole Board meetings at which final parole decisions are made and to personal meet with victims families before paroling the perpetrator in question. Requesting an absentee ballot online may be getting more complicated. Among the legislation surviving Thursdays deadline was House Bill 3364, by Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, which adds a step to the process he says to ensure ballots cant be requested for fraudulent purposes. Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, said it mainly ensures confusion. I can only imagine trying to describe the statutory changes to senior members at church, said Young. The bill was passed by the Senate on Thursday but has to go back to the House. Among Thursdays casualties were some of the more drastic attacks on the initiative petition, including one that would have required the qualifying percentage of signatures in each of the 77 counties. Also failing the deadline was a proposal to require a 55% majority for constitutional amendments. Rep. Carl Newton, R-Woodward, made a good case for raising the threshold for constitutional amendments. Newton said and hardly anyone disagrees that a lot of things wind up in the constitution that more properly belong in statute, where they can more easily be adjusted according to circumstances. State Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, was more than a little miffed at Stitts veto of a bill that would have given state employees more time to use up leave accumulated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Im beyond upset and confused by Governor Stitt vetoing this measure to protect the annual leave of thousands of state employees who were unable to take off and use their legally earned time during the pandemic, Simpson said in a press release. While most of the state was shut down in 2020 and parts of 2021, our state employees worked even longer hours to provide critical state services to the citizens of Oklahoma. Stitt signed legislation giving the attorney general authority to cross-deputize just about any law enforcement officer in the state. Legislative sponsors said the idea is to make more efficient use of expertise. Stitt also signed bills allowing unlimited use of adjunct teachers and creating a mentor teacher program. Until now, adjuncts have been limited to part-time instruction, usually in specialized fields such as American Sign Language or a technical skill. Proponents of the change say thats unlikely to change much but may help districts who find recruiting and retaining teachers difficult. Skeptics warn the move further undermines morale and professional standards, since adjuncts require no specific credentials. Also signed was a provision that bans local districts from allowing union officials to accumulate state retirement step-pay benefits unless they remain full-time teachers. It does allow for leaves of absence while in such positions. The law appears to apply to nine people statewide, including four in Tulsa. One concept still alive is the indexing of state unemployment benefits to the unemployment rate. If the House agrees to the Senate amendments to HB 1933 and Stitt signs the measure, weeks of unemployment benefits would go up or down according to number of claims filed. More claims would mean longer benefit eligibility, fewer claims shorter. Meetings and events: Heart of the Party, the Tulsa Chapter of the Oklahoma Federation of Democratic Womens meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, at Baxters Interurban Grill, 717 S Houston Ave., will feature federal, state and local candidates. First District Congressman Kevin Hern will be featured at the Republican Womens Club of Tulsa County meeting at 11:30 a.m. May 10, at Tulsa Country Club, 701 N. Union Ave. RSVP to rwctulsa@gmail.com Bottom lines: Collinsville native Emma Alexander has joined 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas staff as a field representative, including for Pawnee, Osage and Creek Counties. Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor joined a lawsuit opposing the Biden administrations new fast-track policy for asylum seekers. Opponents of two turnpikes planned for the Moore-Norman area filed suit to suspend authorization of $5 billion in bonds for the projects. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World Featured video: Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A district superintendent, a teacher and a parent walk into a bar, arguing about COVID-19 protocols, year-end testing and book lists. Who pays the tab? The kids. For decades, Americans have sent their children to learn and grow under the care of professional educators in public schools. Todays system of school districts developed as Americans agreed that our tax dollars should be used to ensure that our youngest citizens could someday hold a job and read a ballot. Today, our lumbering public education system is both a marvel and an albatross. The idea of public education as a civil right, as an on-ramp to opportunity, is decidedly American in its boldness. But the execution of that idea has faltered, especially for our most vulnerable children. Significant gaps in academic outcomes for young people, typically by race and ethnicity, existed long before COVID-19. According to the 2019 National Assessment of Education Progress, only 32% of American eighth-graders were on track in reading. Tragically, Black students trailed White students by 27 points; for Hispanic students that gap is 20 points. The effect of the pandemic on American schools has in many places fractured the trust between Americans and their public school system. As responses to the pandemic varied widely by state and district, parents stepped forward to ask questions about everything from virus protocols to curriculum choices. School choice has surged as families sought options beyond what their traditional public system was willing to provide. Test data from the 2020-2021 school year in several states show that student learning has declined during the pandemic, painfully stretching those pre-pandemic gaps in performance. Todays system is not working well for many students, and we cannot pretend otherwise. Is the great American public-school experiment over? Can we ever rebuild trust in the public system? In the fall of 2020, 48 million children enrolled in public K-12 schools. Millions of families rely on their local public school district today and are likely to do so in the future. We need traditional public schools, charter schools, private schools and alternative models to meet the needs of families. Rebuilding trust in the system requires that we rebuild the sense of purpose that inspired Americans to fund, with their own tax dollars, a system that served all kids, not just their own. This will require something of all of us educators, parents, policymakers and other stakeholders. Ditch the sanctimony. Sanctimony inspires no one and enrages everyone. Anyone who claims, with certitude, that they have all the answers should be ignored. The leaders we should listen to consistently do two things. First, they show their work, explaining the why and how behind their conclusions. Second, they show a willingness to adapt when better information comes to light. We expect this kind of thinking from students. Why should we exempt our leaders from the same? We should seek the counsel of leaders like Tamara Albury, principal of the Young Womens Leadership Academy in Fort Worth, Texas. She helped her students and faculty navigate virtual and in-person learning with both high expectations and high warmth to keep her students on track. Academics like Emily Oster, an economist, and Robin Lake, an education researcher, each stepped forward with their teams to find and organize data to help policymakers and parents. Value proximity to the action. Listen to parents and students. Listen to teachers, principals and researchers. Volunteer for recess duty. Show up to the school board meeting. Seeing the system up close builds understanding in a way that observing from the outside can never do. Combining context and expertise matters, now more than ever, to improve outcomes for children. This looks like the parents who started the National Parents Union and Oakland Reach to better advocate for their own children and for other peoples children. This looks like retired FBI executive and former U.S. Marine Michael Mason, who unretired to drive a school bus amid the severe shortage in his Virginia community. Conflict and dissent are not to be feared. Educators and parents both have a right to know how and why decisions are made. Transparency about outcomes and decision-making builds trust and respect. Obfuscation destroys it. Lets show our collective work as we problem solve. Our bold public-education system deserves our attention and our commitment. We need traditional public schools, charter schools and new public school models to help America and Americans thrive. Anne Wicks is the director of the Education Reform Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas. Featured video: Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LEGO has decided to build its first-ever carbon-neutral plant in Binh Duong Province, just outside Ho Chi Minh City, which is considered a green cornerstone in foreign investment flow into Vietnam. The Danish group will pour over US$1 billion into building the plant at a 44-hectare site in Binh Duong, which will create up to 4,000 jobs over the next 15 years, the company said in a statement issued in December 2021 on its website. Construction of the carbon-neutral factory, LEGO Groups sixth manufacturing site and second in Asia, will begin in the second half of 2022 and production is due to start during 2024. Vietnam has become an attractive destination for international partners and investors partly thanks to the governments strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and actively responding to climate change, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Hjlund Christensen told Tuoi Tre News. LEGO has recently decided to build a plant in Binh Duong. Could you please share some more general information on this carbon-neutral plant? As you know, LEGO Group is a world-leading company specializing in manufacturing safe and educational toys that help children develop intelligence and creativity in educational and life settings. LEGOs decision to build its new factory in Binh Duong is very good news for and a contribution to Vietnams foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth. The project is the single largest investment for LEGO ever and was also the largest foreign investment in Vietnam in 2021. The project was confirmed last December with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between LEGO and Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Company Limited (VSIP) in Binh Duong. A new LEGO factory in Vietnam is an important part of the groups strategy to expand its business in the Asia-Pacific region. For this new factory, LEGO plans to invest more than $1 billion over 15 years in machinery and facilities and expects to employ up to 4,000 employees of mid to high skill levels by 2040. This factory will contribute to Vietnams export volumes as the majority of products manufactured will be exported to the Asia-Pacific region. One of the special features about the new LEGO plant in Vietnam is that it will be carbon-neutral and be built in compliance with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Standard. In addition, LEGO has also been exploring the feasibility of investing in a 40 MW solar power plant, which will provide 100 percent renewable power for the operation of the new factory. At present, the process of obtaining an investment certificate, business license, and construction permit is underway. On March 19, LEGO received their investment certificate. The group plans to commence the construction of the plant in the second half of this year and the new factory is set to start production in 2024. This is LEGOs second plant in Asia. In your opinion, what is the main reason for the firm to choose to build the plant in Vietnam, not other countries in the region, e.g. China or Indonesia? This is a very important and strategic investment decision and part of LEGOs expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. And as you just mentioned, in the beginning, LEGO looked at several potential countries including India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and more to define a right location for their new factory in the region. During this thorough evaluation process, which involved quite a number of analyses of various locations, sites, labor force, supply of materials, infrastructure, not least intellectual property right, Vietnam emerged as a strong and trustworthy candidate. It is also worth noting that since the early days of its preparation two years ago, the project has received strong political support from the government of Vietnam at all levels. In my opinion, this is one of the decisive factors for LEGO to choose Vietnam as the destination for the new factory. With support from our embassy, a number of meetings with Vietnams high-ranking stakeholders and central ministries were successfully carried out, including those with the Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and between LEGOs CEO and Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. These also include the governments commitment to support and facilitate LEGOs plan to build their own solar power plant for consumption of the new factory and thereby fulfil their ambition to make this new factory carbon-neutral. Recently, Vietnam has been mentioned in connection with its ambitious commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. What is your assessment of this commitment and will this become a positive point for attracting FDI? Vietnams commitment to 2050 net-zero emission target sent an important and strong signal regarding the countrys direction toward low-carbon and green development. This can be a new driving force for Vietnams sustainable socio-economic development, helping to improve its competitiveness and exports. With such a commitment, Vietnam also joins the growing global coalition of ambitious nations with over 130+ countries pledging net-zero targets in their long-term strategies, and reaffirms Vietnams commitment to the worldwide efforts to reduce global warming and combat climate change. Business- and investment-wise, carbon border taxes are likely to become a feature of global trade and attracting FDI will also depend increasingly on the availability of low-carbon production systems. Increased renewable energy will attract more FDI to Vietnam as international companies place more emphasis on green supply chains and products to meet consumers demands and to meet their own global commitment to reducing their carbon footprints. Therefore, going green is indeed good business for Vietnam. Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Danish Ambassador Kim H. Christensen witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between LEGO Group and Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Company Limited (VSIP) on December 8, 2021. Photo: Danish Embassy Vietnam has received many visits from individuals and organizations involved in climate change, like COP26 Chairman Alok Sharma and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. Is Vietnam an attractive destination? Does Vietnam have any advantage when green economies have become more and more popular? What Vietnam should do to attract more carbon-neutral plants? Vietnam has become an attractive destination for international partners and investors partly thanks to the governments strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and actively responding to climate change. Vietnam has large potential for renewable energy development, particularly offshore wind. This could contribute significantly to decarbonization of the power sector given that right policies and an enabling environment are created. The Vietnamese government has already been doing a lot to attract foreign investments. However, there is a lack of access to renewable energy. For many Danish companies who are in contact with us at the Danish Embassy, it is a requirement and condition for their investments that renewable energy is available to cover 100 percent of the electricity used. The government of Vietnam has emphasized the role of renewable energy in ensuring a sustainable energy sector. However, what I hear from many foreign investors is that the process for obtaining permits for renewable energy projects is cumbersome, time-consuming and involves several government agencies, which consequently increases investment costs. This eventually leads to foreign investors hesitating to make investment decisions. If Vietnam wants to further promote carbon-neutral investments, the government should remove the mentioned barriers. Could you please share with us some experience and challenges that Denmark has met during your transition to a green economy, including your moving to carbon-neutral plants? What could Vietnam learn from Denmark during this transition in our country? The Danish experience shows a clear value of having a long-term vision. Our government has established a solid legal framework and further agreed on very ambitious energy and climate targets for 2030. This creates certainty, consistency, and a stable environment for mobilizing resources from the private sector. The consistent and far-sighted Danish political objectives have formed the foundation for close public-private cooperation and created the stable environment required for making long-term investments. Let me also emphasize that we find it of utmost importance to closely link the ambitious energy and climate targets with policies for economic growth, energy security, and environmental protection. Vietnam is an important partner for Denmark when it comes to green economy transition, and our collaboration will continue and be further strengthened in the time to come. Denmark is happy to share with Vietnam solid and well-proven Danish solutions, knowhow, and best practices to support Vietnam in realizing its great potential for green transformation and the countrys commitment to combat climate change. An artists impression of LEGOs carbon-neutral factory in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. Photo: Danish Embassy In addition to LEGO, are there other Danish enterprises interested in investing in Vietnam? Do you foresee any other business opportunities that Danish enterprises may bring to Vietnam in the near future? I have no doubt that Vietnam is attracting the attention of Danish investors. We are currently assisting a number of Danish companies in various sectors who are eyeing Vietnam as a potential location for investment. It is worthy to note that all these projects place a very strong focus on green operation and net-zero targets. For examples, we have Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) who is going to invest in the 3.5 GW La Gan offshore wind power project with the expected investment of up to $10.5 billion in Binh Thuan Province. This project is expected to power more than seven million households per year and help Vietnam avoid the use of 130 million tons of CO2 emissions over its lifetime. rsted is another strong Danish player who is responsible for over 25 percent of all installed and under-construction offshore wind in the world today. Last year, rsted and Vietnams T&T Group signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic collaboration on offshore wind in Vietnam, witnessed by Chairman of the National Assembly Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue in Belgium. The consortium is bringing a multi-GW pipeline of greenfield offshore wind projects located in many provinces in Vietnam. I can see a lot of potential for Vietnam to become a more strategic player in the global economy. There are other, specific Danish investors looking for opportunities to strengthen their value chains in developing markets like Vietnam. Beside the traditional areas like the manufacturing of textiles, furniture, food, and agriculture, we have reasons to believe that companies in other sectors such as technology, green energy, medical devices, maritime spheres, to name a few will also consider Vietnam as a possible destination. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a welcome ceremony in Hanoi on Sunday morning for his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, who is on a two-day official visit, aiming to boost an extended strategic partnership between the two countries. PM Kishida, along with his entourage, arrived in Hanoi on Saturday afternoon, at the invitation of PM Chinh, who had an informal meeting with the Japanese guest right after his arrival. At the meeting, Chinh briefed Kishida on Vietnamese culture and invited a calligraphic master to write three words chan thanh (sincerity) tinh cam (affection), and tin cay (trust) in both Vietnamese and Japanese Kanji before presenting it to his guest, the Vietnam News Agency reported. These words are the motto for the Vietnam-Japan ties that the two PMs had agreed upon during Chinhs visit to Japan in November 2021. Cultural similarities between the two nations have created a solid foundation for strengthening their friendship, Kishida said. After the official reception hosted by Chinh for Kishida at the Presidential Palace on Sunday morning, the two government leaders planted a friendship tree in the compound of the Vietnamese government office before beginning their official talks. They later witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents, met with the press, and participated in the Conference on Cooperation in Industrial Innovation and Digital Transformation. The Japanese government chief was scheduled to pay courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and have a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on Sunday. Kishidas visit, the first to Vietnam since he took office in October 2021, has taken place when the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is developing fruitfully and both nations are looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023. The visit is aimed at further deepening Vietnam-Japan relations and promoting the implementation of the outcomes of the Vietnamese leaders trip to Japan last year. Specifically, it will help strengthen the two countries political trust and substantive cooperation in all fields as well as good relations between their senior leaders, meeting the interests and aspirations of the two peoples. Kishida, who once came to Vietnam as foreign minister in 2016, said the Southeast Asian country is a place for which he has had a lot of affection. Having maintained an extensive strategic partnership with Vietnam since 2014, Japan is the largest official development assistance (ODA) provider, the third-biggest tourism market, and the fourth-largest trade partner of the Southeast Asian country, according to national radio station Voice of Vietnam. Bilateral trade last year reached US$42.7 billion, up 7.8 percent from 2020, and Japan has invested $64.4 billion in Vietnam, behind only South Korea and Singapore. Vietnamese constitute the biggest foreign community in Japan with over 450,000 people living in 47 localities, mostly in Aichi, Tokyo, Osaka, Saitama, Chiba, and Fukuoka, VnExpress reported. Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio Kishida are seen reviewing the guard of honor in Hanoi on May 1, 2022. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre This photo shows an official meeting between a visiting Japanese delegation led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Vietnamese counterpart headed by PM Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on May 1, 2022. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The two prime ministers of Vietnam (right) and Japan are pictured planting a friendship tree in the compound of the Vietnamese government office on May 1, 2022. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam will offer Ukraine, where the Moscow-Kyiv military conflict has lasted for over two months, US$500,000 worth of humanitarian assistance, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on Sunday. PM Chinh announced the aid at a press conference held on Sunday after his talks with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who arrived in Hanoi a day earlier for a two-day official visit at Chinhs invitation, the Vietnam Government Portal reported. In addition to discussions on beefing up an extended strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan, the two PMs also exchanged opinions about international and regional matters of mutual concern, such as the East Vietnam Sea issue, the Ukraine situation, and non-traditional security challenges. Regarding the current state of Ukraine, on which Russia has launched an attack since February 24, both the host and guest called on the related parties to persistently promote dialogue and negotiations to seek for a lasting peaceful solution. The two government leaders affirmed their respect for basic principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, especially the principle of respect for all countries' sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and legitimate rights and interests, as well as the principle of not using force or threatening to use force in international relations. A Ukrainian family from Mykolaiv sit inside a tent to warm up after crossing the border from Ukraine to Poland, at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland, March 20, 2022. Photo: Reuters PM Chinh asserted that Vietnam is willing to make active contributions to humanitarian relief operations, diplomatic processes, dialogue, and negotiations related to Ukraine. Vietnam will offer $500,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine through international humanitarian organizations, Chinh said. In respect of the East Vietnam Sea issue, the two PMs pledged to strengthen coordination to maintain peace and stability in the region. They also stressed the importance of ensuring peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the waterway. Any disputes should be settled through peaceful means, without using or threatening to use force, and on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in maritime activities, the host and guest agreed. They also called for fully implementing the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC), and soon completing a practical and effective Code of Conduct (COC) for the maritime route in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and many military and government officials attended a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai special national monument in north-central Quang Tri Province on Saturday to mark the 46th anniversary of national reunification. -- Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his entourage arrived in Hanoi on Saturday afternoon, beginning his two-day official visit to Vietnam. COVID-19 Updates -- The Ministry of Health documented 5,109 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising the national tally to 10,649,809, with 9,262,255 recoveries and 43,041 deaths. Society -- A total of 29 traffic accidents occurred across Vietnam on Saturday, the first day of a four-day break marking Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers Day (May 1), killing 12 people and injuring nine others, according to the National Committee for Traffic Safety. -- A tollgate on National Highway No. 51 had to temporarily stop operating on Saturday morning due to a large number of travelers to the southern beach city of Vung Tau to celebrate the holiday weekend. -- Thousands of people flocked to downtown Ho Chi Minh City to watch a pyrotechnic show marking Reunification Day on Saturday night, resulting in serious traffic jams along major streets. -- Two people were killed in a pile-up involving a truck, a car, and three motorbikes, which occurred in the middle of a rain on Bao Loc Pass in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Saturday. -- Thirty Vietnamese soldiers returned to their country on Saturday after completing a one-year United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Business -- The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.18 percent in April over the previous month and 2.64 percent year on year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the General Statistics Office as saying. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! New COVID-19 hospitalizations have been spiraling downward in Ho Chi Minh City since late March, as the city has detected fewer than 100 cases each day, or even below 50, over the past few days. The city has not reported coronavirus-related deaths for several days. Ho Chi Minh City used to be the countrys COVID-19 hotbed, with the daily caseload ranging from 5,000 to 7,000. The southern city had previously reported over 10,000 infections in a single day, while announcing over 300 virus-linked fatalities per day. Aside from Ho Chi Minh City, many other cities and provinces in Vietnam have seen a sharp decline in new COVID-19 cases. No localities have reported a single-day infection spike to over 1,000, while the peak of the pandemic in February and March was 1,000 cases or more a day in over 30 cities and provinces. Daily COVID-19 deaths have fallen to below 10, while 85 percent of Vietnams communes and wards are at low risk of coronavirus transmission. Awaiting a 28-day streak of no locally-transmitted infections As COVID-19 is listed as an infectious disease in Group A, which means it is deemed a particularly dangerous illness and patients are treated for free, the pandemic can only be declared over when 28 days has passed since the latest COVID-19 case is isolated. Vietnam still finds it hard to declare the end of COVID-19 despite new infections tumbling, critical cases dipping below 700 -- as announced by the Ministry of Health -- equivalent to one-fifth of the peak seen in mid-March, and the decreasing severity of the disease thanks to the nearly-100-percent second-shot coverage among people aged 12 or older. In addition, it is tough to resume social activities normally even though the pandemic has been put under control. In early April, many tourists who booked hotel rooms on Con Dao Islands off southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province lamented that they were asked to show a negative COVID-19 test certificate. At the start of April, Hanoi allowed bars, karaoke parlors, and dance clubs to reopen after over two years of closure due to the pandemic. If COVID-19 cases tick up again, students will be asked to study online at home. As such, when the pandemic is declared as an endemic disease is in the spotlight as it affects everyone's life. Will new regulations be issued based on the new situation? An expert of the Ministry of Health told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the existing requirements for prevention and control of infectious diseases in Group A like COVID-19 were set in 2007 and banked on the International Health Regulations. Vietnam and many nations are applying these regulations. As the rules were imposed in the context of no infectious diseases lasting as long as COVID-19, the country is now facing some obstacles. Based on the 'new normal' stage, the Ministry of Health will issue more appropriate regulations, but will not come to the table with listing COVID-19 in any particular group, according to Assistant Professor Le Thi Anh Thu, president of the Ho Chi Minh City Infection Control Society. The discussions will be centered on easing epidemic control measures to best suit the changing situation. COVID-19 is still unpredictable, but it is necessary to adopt more flexible measures depending on the developments of the pandemic. Gradually easing pandemic control measures The Ministry of Health has recently introduced new guidance on adjusting the definition of COVID-19 and redefining the term 'close contact,' apart from stopping the quarantining of those who have had direct contact with COVID-19 patients, only monitoring their health conditions instead. This is a new approach which helps gradually ease coronavirus control measures because just a few months ago, the close contacts of confirmed cases had to undergo a mandatory quarantine period at a concentrated quarantine center and then self-isolate at home. Furthermore, the ministry has lifted several restrictions on international tourists such as quarantine and test requirements. No COVID-19 test and quarantine mandates required for people arriving from pandemic-hit areas are paving the way for more travel. The easing of such restrictions has contributed to bringing life back to normal, but there are still some hindrances. Though COVID-19 is already familiar and is not as dangerous as it was over two years ago, it has yet to be an endemic disease. The principle of prevention and control for an endemic disease is maintaining all activities and transmission at a baseline level in an area," said a health expert. "As for COVID-19, the pandemic control measures remain wide. Unclear regulations might urge cities and provinces to issue their own measures that are stringent and manageable but are tough for residents if the number of new cases goes up again. A representative of the Ho Chi Minh Department of Health claimed that in spite of positive developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city is still applying the Health Ministrys guidance on restrictive measures until further notice. It is vital to carefully study and assess the situation before changing the measures. The citys health authority has been taking quarantine and treatment measures in a flexible manner. However, it is necessary to wait for the ministrys decision and consistent guidance, said the representative. COVID-19 has been in Vietnam for over two years, causing unprecedented consequences, while unprecedented epidemic control measures were adopted as well. It is time for a more appropriate change backed by high vaccination rates and far better public awareness. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Traffic accidents claimed 12 lives and injured nine people across Vietnam on Saturday, the first day of a four-day break marking Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers Day (May 1). A total of 29 traffic crashes occurred on Saturday, killing 12 and wounding nine, according to the National Committee for Traffic Safety. The number of accidents increased by five, while the death toll dropped by one compared to the same period last year. Traffic police officers booked 7,793 violations, imposing fines totaling VND12.5 billion (US$544,300), revoking 883 drivers licenses, and impounding 102 cars and 1,000 motorbikes. In Hanoi, traffic congestion occurred at many intersections near the citys entrances as a host of people left the capital city for the holiday weekend. A similar situation was also recorded in Ho Chi Minh City and was exacerbated by the rainy weather. Public workers in Vietnam are given four days off from April 30 to May 3 to celebrate Reunification Day and International Workers Day. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A high school teacher from Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam has been suspended after he slapped a tenth grader for refusing to hand over his phone during class, which caused the student to suffer a ruptured eardrum. The board of Bac Yen Thanh High School, located in the namesake district, has suspended Ho Van Lich, a teacher at the school, for 15 days following the incident, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Nguyen Trong Hoan, an official from the provincial Department of Education and Training, as saying on Friday. On Tuesday morning, Nguyen Thi Huong was teaching history at class 10D3 when she caught one of the students Ha Danh Phu using his phone without permission. Huong required Phu to hand over his device, but the student disobeyed her. Huong later asked Lich, head of the schools security and order department, to handle the situation. As Phu kept refusing to cooperate, Lich slapped the student twice. The student was taken to the hospital by his family for a check-up on the afternoon of the same day and was diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum. After the incident was reported to the school board, a working group from the school was tasked with coordinating with the family in dealing with the case. The group took Phu to another hospital on the same evening, and the boy was also diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum, with no bleeding in the ear and no damage in other areas. The school board decided to suspend Lich from April 28 to May 12, during which the board will further clarify the incident and work out a suitable disciplinary action. This is a lesson for all teachers in how they educate students, and similar incidents must be prevented in the education sector, Hoan stated. Families should also cooperate with schools by advising their children to strictly comply with regulations in class. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! David Speers hosts a special Q+A one on one with Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese live from Sydney on Thursday, May 5 at 8.30pm on ABC. Its believed to be the same time Seven had proposed a Leaders Debate, but one follows next Sunday on Nine. ABC is yet to confimed if PM Scott Morrison has accepted a similar invitation. You can submit a question here. Voters head to the polls in just over a fortnight and its still anyones game. Labor needs to pick up seven seats for an outright victory, but is the Opposition Leader doing enough to ensure success? The polls are showing he may have the edge over the Prime Minister but Scott Morrison defied the polls in 2019, will he do it again? Anthony Albanese is urging Australians to vote for a better future under his government, but with the nation facing some big challenges, just what is Labors plan? How would an Albanese Government tackle the rising cost of living? What would Labor do to repair our fractured and fractious relationship with China? And how can the party assure fossil fuel workers they wont be left behind in the energy transition? The Opposition Leaders pitch includes a pledge to act on the gender pay gap, a national electric vehicle charging network and billions of dollars on a made in Australia trade policy. Hes also promising a helping hand for first homebuyers and bigger subsidies for medicine. Just how much of this can he actually deliver? And what will it mean for the nations mounting debt? With interest rates on the rise, inflation soaring and stagnant wage growth, Australians are looking to our leaders for guidance. This is Anthony Albaneses opportunity to answer questions from you about the issues you care about and make his case for why he should be the nations 31st Prime Minister. Q+A also hopes you can put your questions to Scott Morrison and has extended a standing invitation to the Prime Minister for a one-on-one special at any time during the campaign. Well also have a live performance from the ABCs own Sammy J, casting his satirical eye over the voting process. After a quick eight levels of poker on Day 1, the largest buy-in of the 2022 PokerStars European Poker Tour presented by Monte-Carlo Casino wrapped up with 34 entries. It was a solid turnout for the 100,000 Super High Roller event that attracted many of the world's best high-stakes players in the world. By the day's end, only 21 players put chips in a bag and will return for Day 2 tomorrow. It turned out to be a successful day for German poker pro Marius Gierse who started off strong in the opening levels and appeared to cruise seamlessly to a seven-figure stack. Gierse finished the day on top of the counts with a stack of 1,000,000 chips, which equates to over 160 big blinds. Gierse, who mainly makes his living at the online felt or on the cash game streets, is starting to dabble in the high-stakes live tournament fields and is finding great success. Winning an EPT High Roller event would just continue to add to his resume. Following close in his footsteps is a rather unknown player in the poker world in the name of Kent Staahle. The Norwegian businessman is a CEO of an iGaming company and plays poker as a hobby. Staahle was on a bit more of a rollercoaster today, starting off strong in the early going, but dwindled his stack down to under 100,000 at one point. However, Staahle managed to eliminate a couple of players including Ben Heath and Jean-Noel Thorel en route to sending his stack back in the right direction. Finishing just shy of the one-million mark, Staahle bagged up 997,000 chips for a healthy stack heading to Day 2. Top Ten Chip Counts After Day 1 of 100,000 Super High Roller Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Marius Gierse Austria 1,000,000 167 2 Kent Staahle Norway 997,000 166 3 Sam Greenwood Canada 643,000 107 4 Sam Grafton United Kingdom 619,000 103 5 Mikita Badziakouski Belarus 580,000 97 6 Christoph Vogelsang Germany 549,000 92 7 Mikalai Vaskaboinakau Belarus 468,000 78 8 Timothy Adams Canada 430,000 72 9 Joao Vieira Portugal 430,000 72 10 Daniel Dvoress Canada 420,000 70 To kick things off on Day 1, a total of 18 players were in their seats for the start of play in order to receive a 50% discount on the tournament fees. A starting stack of 250,000 allowed for many deep stacks and a lot of play throughout the day. The first elimination came in level 2 when #1 GPI ranked Ali Imsirovic was ousted with pocket queens against Jake Schindler's pocket aces. Imsirovic came back for a second bullet but found no luck in that as well as he was eliminated for a second time. Ben Heath and Thorel were the other two players who burned through two bullets on the opening day. Seth Davies, Nick Petrangelo, Leon Tsoukernik, and Schindler were the only others to be eliminated thus far. Each of those players along with anyone else interested will have until the start of play on Day 2 to enter the field. With over 3.2 million already in the prizepool, the winner will be sure to walk away with a nice payday. Day 2 will kick off at 12:30 p.m. local time in America's Room at Monte Carlo Sporting complex on the French Riviera. The blinds will resume on level 9 at 3,000/6,000 and a 6,000 big blind ante. The levels will continue to be 60 minutes in length and they are expected to play down to the final table before returning for Day 3. The PokerNews live reporting team will be on the tournament floor to bring you all of the live updates en route to crowining a new champion. (REUTERS) British travellers have been dealt some good news after Greece scrapped all Covid entry restrictions from Sunday. Visitors travelling to the popular tourist hotspot no longer need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test upon entry. Unvaccinated visitors are also able to enter the country without testing prior to travel. Officials from the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) said health experts advised the government to axe the requirements during a meeting on Thursday. In a statement issued on the same day, the government said: At todays meeting, the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Health unanimously recommended: Suspension of Covid pass from May 1 and return of capacity to 100%. Suspension of EUDCC certificate at the country entry gates. The proposal of the Commission is accepted by the government and the details that will be clarified on the new Joint Ministerial Decision to [be] issued. However, health minister Thanos Plevris has said rules on wearing masks indoors are likely to remain. When asked on TV when masks might become optional, he said: We do not know. It is possible that the measure of wearing masks indoors might not be lifted, because the mask is a mild measure. What we suggest is that masks indoors will continue in May and then, based on the epidemiological picture in the country, decisions will be taken for June. At present, travellers need to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces, including on public transport and in taxis. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio. VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang HA NOI Vietnamese Prime Minister (PM) Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio on Sunday attended a ceremony to exchange cooperation documents and meet with the press. Speaking to the media, PM Chinh said the talks between the two prime ministers had been effective, practical and successful. Topics of discussion included the positive progress in implementing high-level agreements following their meeting in Tokyo in November 2021, and specific direction and solutions to transform the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia into a new phase in the spirit of Tinh cam, chan thanh, tin cay, thuc chat, hieu qua (Affection, Sincerity, Trust, Practicality, Effectiveness). The two prime ministers agreed to further cooperate in economic recovery after COVID-19; connecting the two economies and the production-supply chains; collaboration in investment, commerce, development of supporting industries, digital transformation, innovation, smart cities, high-tech agriculture, energy transformation and transport infrastructure projects. The focus will be put on new initiatives that are in line with the two countries mutual interests, which are technology innovation partnership, strengthening the supply chain and digital transformation. Japan will continue to support Viet Nam in achieving socio-economic development goals, and Viet Nam will effectively utilise the Japanese official development assistance (ODA) to improve and facilitate the investment environment, especially for Japanese businesses. The two countries are striving to complete the trial phase of phytosanitary on Vietnamese longan fruits in June 2022, aiming for export to the Japanese market in September of the same year. Japan has also acknowledged Viet Nams request to open the market for other fruits, including pomelo, avocado and rambutan. The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the South China Sea (known as the East Sea in Viet Nam), the conflict in Ukraine and other non-traditional security issues. They both agreed on the importance of settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They also called for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Regarding the situation in Ukraine, both countries reasserted their stance to respect international laws and the UN Charter, especially the principle of respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, legitimate rights and interests of other countries and refraining from aggression in international relations. They also called for all sides to promote dialogue and negotiation for long-term solutions for peace. PM Chinh also added that the two countries will co-host different activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic relations in 2023, enhancing local partnership, cultural exchange and tourism. The Vietnamese PM also asked Japan to continue their assistance for the 450,000 Vietnamese people in Japan, working together to help this community develop and further contribute to both countries socio-economic development. PM Kishida said that both countries will strive to soon complete the urban railway No. 1 in HCM City, improve the skills of Vietnamese interns in Japan, support the energy transition process in Viet Nam and enhance collaboration in national defence and internet security. Also at the event, the two leaders have witnessed the exchange of 21 cooperation documents in multiple sectors between the ministries, departments, localities, and businesses from both countries - the evidence of a strong, comprehensive Viet Nam - Japan cooperation. Following their talks on Sunday morning, both PMs attend the cooperative conference on technology innovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification. The event was co-hosted by Viet Nams Ministry of Industry and Trade and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Addressing the conference, PM Chinh said that the Vietnamese and Japanese economies have high potential to complement one another and collaborate in various sectors, especially in technology innovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification. The Vietnamese PM emphasised that: The two countries can collaborate to accelerate digital transformation, thereby moving towards establishing a partnership in digitalisation. The government of Viet Nam will also assist and create favourable conditions for businesses of both countries to further collaborate in all sectors. PM Kishida said that he believed the possibilities for cooperation between Japan and Viet Nam are limitless. Supporting industries are crucial to the stable operation of Japanese enterprises in Viet Nam. The two countries are also expected to work together in solving socio-economic issues through digital transformation and supply chain diversification, whose importance is further highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, multiple challenges in this process demand fitting and comprehensive solutions. In the future, with the determination and support of both countries leaders, cooperation in technology innovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification will be an opportunity and useful instrument to achieve sustainable development, strengthening the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan. VNS H-E-B is pulling the plug on Points Club Rewards, a program it created in 2004 and offered exclusively in Waco. The San Antonio-based chain enjoying more than $30 billion in annual revenue has replaced it systemwide with DigiDeals, a service available through the My H-E-B app. Spokesperson Chelsea Fletcher said Points Club Rewards has run its course. The Waco-only, points-based program awards customers store credit for their purchases four times yearly. H-E-B shoppers carried points cards, as they came to be known, and presented them while checking out. They also could be used to earn points during gasoline purchases, and Points Club Rewards could be linked to online H-E-B accounts for use with delivery or curbside pickup. DigiDeals allows shoppers to receive immediate savings every shopping visit, Fletcher said. The process produces digital, paperless coupons customers access via their H-E-B app or by signing into their account at HEB.com. It does not include the wait for savings that comes with the points program, Fletcher said. Some H-E-B fans have taken to social media to express displeasure. Tammy Johnson, a teacher living in China Spring, said she is a longtime fan of H-E-B and wishes she had used Points Club Rewards more often. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her shopping habits for an extended time, as she ordered groceries online and picked them up curbside, she said. When I went into the store, I would forget I had it, she said. I am kind of sad about it. It was a good thing, available only in the Waco area. She said the most points, or discounts, she ever earned under the program for any given quarter was $40 to $50. But she considered the program a bonus with her shopping at either the H-E-B on South Valley Mills Drive or in Woodway. H-E-B has mailed notices to customers informing them the program will end May 18. They will receive credit for transactions through that date. Having lost their points program, Waco H-E-B shoppers may take solace in knowing they should have a newly remodeled store soon at Wooded Acres Drive and Bosque Boulevard. Fletcher said the remodel should be wrapping up by late summer or early fall. She has revealed few details about the $14 million remodel and expansion since H-E-B confirmed it in 2020. She has deflected questions about whether H-E-B encountered construction delays due to the pandemic or has added features it did not originally announce. Plans submitted to the city of Waco for approval before a permit was issued show a 17,740-square-foot expansion and a squaring off of the 106,000-square-foot store on the side nearest Bosque Boulevard, said Bobby Horner, spokesperson for the citys inspection services department. Horner said plans indicate more space for the stores produce, bakery and seafood departments, a second entrance off Lake Air Drive and expanded curbside service. He said they feature what he believes is a larger storage for dairy products, as well as expanded restrooms and offices. The expansion likely would necessitate upgrades to plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, contributing to the $14 million cost. Horner said exterior touches, including the use of glass, stucco-type material and landscaping, suggest H-E-B wants to give the store a fresh look and to eliminate signs of aging. H-E-B long resisted appeals to build in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, but has announced stores in McKinney, Plano and Frisco. Southwest Austin is getting a new H-E-B, and a new replacement store H-E-B placed in New Braunfels includes a two-story barbecue restaurant and the chains first home decor and furniture department, according to a Community Impact Newspaper report. A report representing the collaborative efforts of PlannedRetail and Build Central says H-E-B is planning or is already involved in nearly 50 construction projects involving 4 million square feet. These include remodels, renovations and new construction projects, some merely on the drawing board. H-E-B has made commitments to digital technology, opening the 81,000-square-foot Eastside Tech Hub in Austin that houses H-E-B Digital Partners and headquarters for Favor, an on-demand delivery company H-E-B owns. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Someone robbed First Convenience Bank inside the Walmart at 600 Hewitt Drive on Saturday morning, threatening bank employees and tying their hands before running from the store, according to a police press release. Waco police officers responded to the robbery at about 9:45 a.m. and determined a robber had demanded money from bank employees and claimed to have a handgun, the press release says. The robber fled on foot toward Hewitt Drive and ran east on Old McGregor Road, law enforcement officials reported. Employees hands were tied, but no major injuries were reported. The robber had a slim build and appeared to be between the ages of 18 and 30, according to the press release. At the time of the incident, the robber had long curly brown hair, and a beard and was wearing a blue medical mask, a burnt orange shirt, black skinny jeans, brown oxford shoes and a single-strap dark colored shoulder bag, law enforcement officials reported. Waco police and the FBI are working together to find the robber and further investigate the incident. First Convenience Bank is offering $5,000 for information leading to an arrest, and Waco Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for a tip leading to an arrest. Police ask that anyone with information about the robbers identity or whereabouts call the department at 254-750-7500 or Crime Stoppers at 254-753-4357 and reference case number 22-7151. Veronica Hernandez initially missed the sticker shock when she received a notice in April from the McLennan County Appraisal District regarding the value of her familys Habitat for Humanity house. The modest volunteer-built house in the 2600 block of Cumberland Avenue was now valued at $224,370, well over double its value just two years ago. Somehow that notice ended up unread in the trash. I threw it away, said Hernandez, who lives with her husband, Juqin, and their five children. I figured Habitat deals with all that. But I stay in touch with a lot of Habitat homeowners and they were reaching out: Whats yours? I said I dont know because I didnt look it up. She marched down to the appraisal district and got the news that the appraisal could add hundreds of dollars to her tax bill this year, and even more in coming years as yearly increase caps expire. I said, Oh my gosh, did you know Im living in a Habitat home? Its supposed to be affordable, she said. Hernandez, who plans to protest her numbers, is not alone in contending with a huge upswing in home values in Wacos inner city. Appraisal increases this year are widespread across the county and the state, reflecting a sellers real estate market, appraisal officials say. But the burden has fallen especially hard on older neighborhoods East, North and South Waco where homeownership and income are relatively low and residents are more likely to be Black or Hispanic. Housing officials with the city of Waco and the three major local nonprofit homebuilders agree that rising tax values pose a serious threat to affordable homeownership, which is already under pressure from rising costs of construction and land acquisition. Its a struggle, a huge struggle, Waco Habitat for Humanity Executive Director John Alexander said. If youve got a $30,000 income and taxes go up $1,000, thats a big portion of your income. Another nonprofit homebuilder, Grassroots Community Development, will partner with other organizations for two workshops to help residents prepare to protest their property values. The first will be 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at Carver Park Baptist Church, 1020 Herring Ave. A bilingual workshop is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the South Waco Recreation Center, 2815 Speight Ave. The deadline to sign up to protest property values is the later of May 16 or 30 days from the date of receiving an appraisal notice. Lower-income areas of the county tended to see a faster rate of value growth this year, according to preliminary numbers from the appraisal district. Waco Independent School District, which encompasses Wacos inner city, and La Vega ISD, also a lower-income area, saw owner-occupied home values increase more than the county as a whole. Residential property values increased by about 46% in the Northeast Riverside Neighborhood Association area around Elm Avenue, as well as across the Brazos River in the Brook Oaks neighborhood. Census data show those are among the lowest-income areas in McLennan County. Nonprofits that build houses using city and federal funds have watched as homes they built in those areas have appreciated wildly. One house that Grassroots built in the 1300 block of North Fifth Street is now valued $255,450, up 159% in two years. In East Waco near Wilbert Austin Park, Neighborworks Waco is finishing the last of 12 modest-size homes in the Legacy Square subdivision. On average, those homes have appreciated from $113,129 to $190,125 in two years, an increase of 68%. Neighborworks Waco CEO Roy Nash said the nonprofit uses federal programs such as down payment assistance to help homebuyers whose incomes fall below the areas median, and it also builds some housing without subsidies. Increasingly, the lower-income buyers are getting squeezed out both by construction costs and ongoing expenses. Its a huge challenge, Nash said. A lot of people are concerned about what it takes to put somebody in a house. Were concerned about what it takes for long-term viability. State law provides some relief by capping the taxable portion of the appraisal at a 10% increase per year, though the tax bill will continue to rise each year until it catches up to the appraised value. In addition, a state constitutional amendment on the ballot Saturday aims to increase school homestead exemptions from $25,000 to $40,000. And whatever the appraisal, area taxing entities ultimately have the responsibility of determining how much tax is paid by setting the tax rate. Grassroots Executive Director Mike Stone said the rising property rates in general reflect market forces, and on the positive side, those who want to sell their homes can benefit from that market. But he said the rise in prices is mainly due to scarcity, and that means it is hard to put families in homes. Its just frustrating for us because you have sales driving these appraisals, Stone said. In this last year, if you found a house, people were having to overbid to get them. Thats affected all of us. Ive talked to people who just couldnt find a house. People are just outbidding them before they get a chance. Joe Don Bobbitt, chief appraiser for the McLennan County Appraisal District, said he agrees Waco is suffering from a housing shortage, and he believes the conversion of older inner-city homes to high-priced short-term rentals has exacerbated that shortage. He said those who live in homes built by nonprofit builders should meet with an appraiser, who may be able to recalculate the home value based on the discounted original price of the home. Tanika Maye, who lives with her family in a Grassroots home on Renick Street near J.H. Hines Elementary School, said she believes gentrification is driving property value increases in the Elm Avenue corridor. She is deciding whether to challenge her home value, which has increased from $73,220 in 2017 to $126,380 last year to $182,880 this year. She said she loves her 1,210-square-foot home, nestled in a street full of aging rent houses and empty cottages, and her monthly payment of $750 is less than apartment rent she formerly paid. But she said the appraisal is unrealistic. Its nice to have my house valued at that much, but if it was to sell tomorrow, no one would buy it at that price, Maye said. Mayes husband, a city convention employee, wanted to move to East Waco, where he grew up and where his mother lives now. Maye enjoys the neighborhood the public library, Rapoport Academy where her daughters formerly attended, and the retired Paul Quinn College administrator who greets them as he works in his yard. My kids know (Elm Avenue boutique owner) Ms. Marilyn Banks. They know the barbers across the street at the Jockey Club, she said. Everybody knows everybody. But she said a wave of relatively upscale commercial development on Elm and new homes scattered in the surrounding neighborhood have changed the demographics of a historically Black neighborhood, and not necessarily for the better. People will be rude to our kids, and when they walk up and down the neighborhood and someone clutches their purse, thats very hurtful, Maye said. She said housing speculators drive through her neighborhood looking for properties to buy. We had a situation where someone pulled up and said, Who are you renting from? Im like, what do you mean who are we renting from? This is mine. Why do they think I cant have it? Maye said she fears gentrification will raise home prices, rents and taxes to a level that will eventually force out longtime residents. Waco Deputy City Manager Deidra Emerson, whose oversight includes housing programs, said those concerns are real. A study released this spring as part of the citys strategic housing plan lists addressing displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods as a priority. Emerson said she and other city officials want to ensure the legacy residents of historically Black East Waco are not pushed out. We are looking at opportunities to create pathways for individuals who are legacy residents, who have lived in that neighborhood and have a desire to move back into that neighborhood, she said. Emerson said the city wants to encourage homeowners to take advantage of the protest process and homestead exemptions, as well as a partial city tax abatement for new inner-city housing. She said taxes are a threat to homeownership, especially when owners of older homes die without a will, leaving an unclear title and a tax bill that may escalate until it has to be sold in a tax foreclosure sale. She said the city-created nonprofit Prosper Waco is looking at a title clearing program to help protect those family assets. But Emerson said making homeownership affordable will take many approaches, including improving area wages. The city is in discussions with the housing nonprofits about increasing down payment assistance and providing more city-subsidized infrastructure for inner-city housing. She said the city is also looking to help the nonprofits find buildable lots at an affordable price. Alexander, the Habitat director, said lot prices, once a minor consideration, have become a big part of the cost of a Habitat house. He said Habitat officials are helping their clients prepare to protest their values by collecting evidence to show the true value of the home. But the protests can only bring down the value so much. People come into our office, and we help them gather documents, Alexander said. But part of the reality is that house prices are going up. The bottom line is that its a struggle for our homeowners when theyre getting a tax increase on a limited budget. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The chief of the Valley Mills Volunteer Fire Department turned in a letter of resignation the day after the city secretary forwarded a public information request about fire department finances to him that claimed to be from the Tribune-Herald, officials said Friday. However, the information request did not originate from the Tribune-Herald, the city council has not accepted Fire Chief David Fisks resignation of the chief position he has held for 25 years, and Fisk said he wants to resign because he plans to sue the city over a sewage leak affecting a house he owns, unrelated to fire department finances. The day after we gave him (Fisk) that information request about fire department finances, he turned in his letter of resignation, Valley Mills Mayor Joshua Thayer said Friday. Valley Mills City Hall and at least one council member received a public information request in an email dated April 16 for annual financial audit reports on the volunteer fire department from 2015 to 2022. The request claims to be from the Tribune-Herald and also includes an allegation that poor financial record keeping created opportunities to steal fire department money. It was actually emailed from an account with Protonmail.com and not from an official Tribune-Herald email account. It does not include a name of a Tribune-Herald employee, and does not include contact information associated with the Tribune-Herald. Proton Technologies, AG, of Geneva, Switzerland provides free encrypted email through Protonmail.com. During a special called city council meeting Monday that included an opportunity to discuss and take action on the chiefs resignation, and an executive session for a pending lawsuit over utilities, the city council did not accept Fisks resignation. Addressing the council in a three-minute public comment before the vote on his resignation, Fisk spoke about many topics, none of them apparently directly related to his resignation. He spoke about a mentally challenged individual who died in December 2021 in a house he now owns. Fisk implied that a sewage leak under the house cased the man to die. Fisk said Friday that it was his lawsuit against the city over that sewage leak that the council discussed in executive session. He said the Highway 56 Lift Station which pumps sewage for the Valley Mills water utility has caused a leak under a house he owns near the station and that he will sue the city to get it to make repairs. He also spoke to the council Monday about city-provided vehicles for officials, paying for gas and repairs to fire department vehicles out of his own pocket, and a council member telling him to illegally put dyed diesel, a type of tax-exempt fuel available for limited uses, in firetrucks. A gavel banged on each of those topics, and the mayor asked Fisk to move on and speak about his resignation. Fisk gave up the microphone, and the council considered a motion to accept his resignation. No one seconded the motion, so it died. Fisk said he had turned in all of his fire department equipment and would no longer serve the city. On Friday, the mayor and the city administrator both said Fisks resignation came the day after the city passed him the information request for eight years of fire department audits. Fisk said Friday that he resigned because of a conflict of interest with the city over his lawsuit for the leaking sewage and not because of fire department finances. The person who keeps those records does a very thorough job, Fisk said of the fire departments finances. Neither the Valley Mills city attorney, nor the treasurer of the volunteer fire department responded immediately to questions about fire department financial recordkeeping. The Valley Mills City Council has called another special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday to possibly take action on the Highway 56 Lift Station. Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Wiethorn said Friday that the council would spend much of Mondays meeting in executive session with the city attorney discussing the lift station. Regardless of what the facts are surrounding Fisks resignation, the public information request falsely claiming to be from this newspaper is problematic, Tribune-Herald Editor Steve Boggs said. Everyone has a right to look at public records. Theres no need to masquerade as a Tribune-Herald reporter to gain access to them, Boggs said. Unlike whoever submitted this request, our reporters identify themselves by name and provide contact information. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Youth Council deadline The city of Waco is seeking dedicated, enthusiastic and motivated teens to join the 2022-23 Waco Youth Council. It is an opportunity to play an active role in addressing community issues and to serve as youth ambassadors for the city. The deadline to apply is Monday. Information and applications are available at waco-texas.com/youth-council.asp. For more information, email WacoYouthCouncil@wacotx.gov. City candidate forum The Kendrick Neighborhood Association will have a candidate forum at 6 p.m. Monday at Kendrick Elementary, 1801 Kendrick Lane. Waco City Council District 2 candidates Armando Arvizu, Alice Rodriguez and Tiffany Vidana have been invited to participate. Amber and David Nava will moderate. Early voting continues Monday and Tuesday, and Election Day is Saturday. Connally ISD town hall Connally ISD will have an informational town hall meeting about its bond election at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Connally Elementary School cafeteria, 300 Cadet Way. Residents are encouraged to bring any questions. The $39 million bond proposal would fund a new elementary school in the district. Early voting will continue from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the board room at the Connally ISD Administration Building, 200 Cadet Way. Election Day is Saturday. Catholic Charities Giving Day Catholic Charities of Central Texas will host a Giving Day from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday at St. Marys Catholic Church annex, 1401 Washington Ave. Items to be given out at the drive-thru event include diapers, wipes, hygiene kits, books for kids and cleaning supplies. There will also be prizes for special winners. For more information, contact Cathy Olson Muth at cathy-muth@ccctx.org or 512-651-6158. Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com. Baylor Singing Seniors The Baylor Singing Seniors will present From the Classics to Broadway with a Detour Through Nashville at 6 p.m. Sunday at Beacon Hill Baptist Church, 1912 Monte Vista St. The program will feature We Are Redeemed, Eternal Life which is the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Peace Like A River, Daddy Sang Bass, Forever Country, The Music Man and several more selections. Youth Council deadline The city of Waco is seeking dedicated, enthusiastic and motivated teens to join the 2022-23 Waco Youth Council. It allows youth to play an active role in addressing community issues and to serve as youth ambassadors for the city. The deadline to apply is Monday. Information and applications are available at www.waco-texas.com/youth-council.asp. For more information, email WacoYouthCouncil@wacotx.gov. City candidate forum The Kendrick Neighborhood Association will have a candidate forum at 6 p.m. Monday at Kendrick Elementary School, 1801 Kendrick Lane. Waco City Council District 2 candidates Armando Arvizu, Alice Rodriguez and Tiffany Vidana have been invited to participate. Amber and David Nava will moderate the forum. Early voting will continue Monday and Tuesday, and Election Day is Saturday. Connally ISD town hall Connally ISD will have an informational town hall meeting about its bond election at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Connally Elementary School cafeteria, 300 Cadet Way. Residents are encouraged to bring any questions. The $39 million bond proposal would fund a new elementary school in the district. Early voting for the Connally election will continue Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the board room at the Connally ISD Administration Building, 200 Cadet Way. Election Day is Saturday. Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com. There are two reasons why consumers experience a power outage. The first is obvious: A storm comes along and knocks down trees and power lines. Thats what typically happens. But theres now a second reason for power outages in the United States there simply isnt enough electricity to go around. Power generation in the United States has always been an extremely dependable commodity. But recently, theres been a startling decline and both Texas and California have offered previews of this worrying trend. In February 2021, portions of Texas natural gas infrastructure and wind turbines froze, leaving utilities without sufficient fuel and generating capacity to meet demand. The ensuing blackouts claimed more than 200 lives. In California, the challenge over the past two years has been rolling power outages. Its an increasingly regular occurrence on hot days. Power grid regulators have been warning that California and Texas troubles are only a preview of a brewing national grid-reliability crisis. It appears theyre right. Mismanagement of Americas transition to renewable energy is leaving entire regions of the country short of on-demand power generating capacity when its needed most. Recently, the grid operator for 15 U.S. states, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), announced some startling news. In an April power capacity auction which serves as the annual marketplace to ensure sufficient generating capacity during peak needs prices jumped nearly 50-fold. Why this stunning increase? MISO President Clair Moeller explained that some utilities simply dont have sufficient generation to cover their load plus their required reserves. That has left them scrambling to obtain backup power at nearly any cost. Moeller cautions that these states could see an increased risk of temporary, controlled outages to maintain system reliability. In other words, get ready for blackouts. In recent years, Americas electricity supply has endured what one industry analyst described as a slew of coal and nuclear retirements. That has translated to the loss of a large chunk of reliable electricity production across the nation. Wind and solar power are currently being added to regional grids. But they only provide power when the weather cooperates. Adding this renewable capacity looks good on paper. But reliable, on-demand capacity from coal and nuclear is being eroded at the same time. During peak demand on a bitter cold, windless day or on a scorching summer night there may not be enough power to go around. This is a situation poised to go from bad to worse. Utilities are now begging for reliable power generation. But Americas coal plants are being pushed into early retirement by regulatory pressures. That means environmental regulation is out-of-sync with the alarming facts on the ground. Any transition to renewable energy must be managed in ways that dont impose soaring costs on consumers or sacrifice reliable power delivery. Natural gas prices have doubled in the past year, and the challenge of matching power supply with the limits of renewable energy remains an ongoing challenge. We need to rethink the role existing coal plants can play in getting us to our energy future. Instead of dismantling our existing generating capacity, lets build on its shoulders. Rolling blackouts or complete grid failures due to faulty planning are unacceptable. Its past time for a responsible energy policy, not a reliability crisis. Terry Jarrett is an energy attorney and consultant who has served on both the board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the Missouri Public Service Commission. WAVERLY On Friday, the Bremer County Fair Association along with 4-H members and Waverly city officials, celebrated a milestone the start of groundwork at the future site of the new fairgrounds. Greene-based Cole Excavating was awarded the project at the 50-plus acres at 300 39th St. N.E. Its expected to take about three months to prepare the site for infrastructure installation and the construction of the livestock and 4-H buildings, a track, and a free stage. Come next spring, its going to look way different, said Roy Petersen, the fair project chair. Construction of buildings could start as early as the end of this year or early next year. We hope to have as much done as we possibly can, but financially, we have a lot of fundraising left to do, added Board President Josh Petersen. Were going to do as much as we possibly can. But those two buildings are a minimum. If we can get more done, were certainly going to get it done. Hopes are the first fair will be held there in 2024. The initial project before we can even move out here and have a (scaled-down) fair is estimated to cost upwards of $5 million. It truly depends on how much of a tent city we want to have, said Josh Petersen. The fair board has its sights on a much larger complex, costing somewhere between $13 million and $15 million. Roy Petersen said the board has enough funding lined up for the earth work and infrastructure, and has more than $2 million guaranteed so far for costs. Fishermen save man inside car floating on Cedar River near Waterloo's Sherwood Park The friends were out catfishing when they came across the vehicle. They fear the man could have gotten hypothermia, or perished if his vehicle had reached the well-known Sans Souci Island wing dam. The 2022 fair is scheduled from July 24 to 30 at the city-owned site on Fifth Avenue Southwest. The location of the 2023 fair likely will be there as well, but the board has to secure an extension of its lease with the city. A donation to the campaign can be made at: www.bremercountyfair.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CEDAR FALLS -- Community Meals have resumed at First United Methodist Church, 718 Clay St., Cedar Falls. The next meal will be held from 4:30 p.m. 6 p.m. The last time a meal was served was March 10, 2020. Sponsoring churches include Nazareth Lutheran Church, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Timothy's Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, St Luke's Episcopal Church, Unitarian Church, United Church of Christ and Community of Christ Church. The meals will be served in the dining area. There will be no take out. There is no charge for the meal. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison in a 2019 shooting. Ernesto Rodriguez-Avila, 22, pleaded to charges of intimidation with a weapon and on April 21 was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison with credit for time served. He also pleaded to charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver from a 2019 traffic stop and possession of weapons in a correctional institution for a 6-inch shank found in his jail cell in 2021. In the shooting, police allege Rodriquez shot at a vehicle with a 12-gauge shotgun in the area of East Fourth and Parker streets around 1:15 a.m. May 17, 2019. No injuries were reported, but a vehicle and homes were damaged. Police found a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun when they searched his home in June 2019, according to court records. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO A Waterloo police officer has been honored for working with victims of the opioid epidemic. Officer Nicholas Berry received the Law Enforcement Victim Services Award from the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Victims of Crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax announced Wednesday. The award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help victims. Berry has been involved in several fatal drug overdose cases in recent years, and the award references his work in an investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of Eric Griggs. Officer Berry remained in close contact with the victims family throughout the investigation and prosecution. His tenacious investigation and empathy for the victims family led directly to the successful prosecution of Griggs, the commendation notes. Griggs, who was convicted of selling heroin to an 18-year-old Cedar Falls woman a day before she was found dead of an overdose in 2018, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the womans family. Berry started with the Waterloo Police Department in September 2004, and he is currently assigned to the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force. Two other Iowa residents also received awards for their work with victims. The Award for Excellence in Victim Services was presented to Brandi Lewin from the Delaware County Victim Services Office. Lewin is the victim witness coordinator and sexual assault response team coordinator for multiple counties The Award for Excellence in Victim Services was presented to Penny Galvin, the director of the survivors program with Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids. Galvin provided outstanding services to the family of James Booher of Marion. Booher disappeared in 2014. Matthew Robbins was later charged with robbery in his death and sentenced to life in prison. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO The Waterloo Schools Foundation will hold its Sparking Academic Excellence Breakfast on Thursday after a two-year hiatus from the in-person event. Its taking place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza with the theme of My Wish. East High School alum Rona Berinobis, vice president of corporate social responsibility and organizational development for Athene USA, is the keynote speaker. Waterloo Community Schools Superintendent Jane Lindaman will give a State of the District address. Attendees will also hear music performed by West High students and see displays created by students and staff from all 20 district schools. Were expecting over 300 people to be there that morning, said Hannah Luce, the foundations executive director. Berinobis, of Des Moines, is a 1979 East graduate. In her job, she leads Athenes foundation, community relations, talent development and employee engagement initiatives. She has also volunteered with a number of community organizations and is currently board secretary for Urban Dreams, which provides a wide range of human service programs that break down barriers for underserved and underrepresented populations. The breakfast was last held in 2019. It was initially postponed the next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then the foundation hosted a virtual fundraising event in October 2020. Luce noted that the foundation is already in the midst of a fundraising campaign that in the past has been kicked off with the breakfast. In an effort to make its funding more sustainable, she said the organization has transitioned breakfast sponsorships to annual sponsorships and is working raise record amounts this year. Our funds have been coming in strong and our community supporters have just been so faithful throughout the past three years, said Luce. They still truly value the Waterloo Schools. Platinum annual sponsors this year are Farmers State Bank, Locke Funeral Home, GreenState Credit Union and Amy Wienands Real Estate. The breakfast will not include awarding grants to teachers, as it has in the past. Unfortunately, our innovative learning grants are currently on pause, said Luce, but efforts to find unique ways to support the district have continued. Since our 2020 virtual breakfast, weve gifted over $500,000 into the schools. Included in that is funding $125,000 for COVID-19 relief, $15,000 for staff appreciation, 77 teacher licenses, a book vending machine, East Highs 2022 summer music trip, two years of Camp Invention scholarships, attendance for a student at the Brown University Summer Leadership Institute, speech and debate team competitions, $14,000 for 10 Young Scholars Grants (impacting 47 students), and a $300,000 pledge to Teach Waterloo. Tickets for the breakfast are $25 per person with corporate sponsorships starting at $250. Reserve a seat and get more information online at wcsfoundation.org/our-events. Email info@wcsfoundation.org or call (319) 939-9550 with any questions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Scott County Democrats attempted to pick a political fight with U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, earlier this week after a tweet from her campaign manager showed volunteers holding signs while framing the flag of a prominent anti-government paramilitary group. The 2nd Congressional District U.S. House was decided for Miller-Meeks by a six-vote margin, suggesting the campaign rhetoric could get heated as the election season draws near. The posting and re-posting on Twitter started roughly 10 days ago when Miller-Meeks campaign manager Elliott Husbands tweeted two photos taken inside the headquarters of the Muscatine Republicans. One of those photos showed two men holding Miller-Meeks campaign signs. The men stood on each side of a Three-Percenters flag a U.S. flag with the Roman numeral III in the blue field usually reserved for the stars. A traditional Betsy Ross 1776 flag also is prominent in the background. The use of 1776 imagery on flags and window stickers was first popularized by right-wing radio host Alex Jones and has been used extensively by a range of militia groups. It was routinely seen at anti-masking and COVID-19 vaccination mandate protests across the country, as well as during the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol building. Miller-Meeks retweeted the post on her personal Twitter feed, then deleted it but not before the Scott County Democrats posted the pictures and wrote the representative retweeted this image of flags for white supremacy & anti-government militias. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also used the photo as the lead of a press release that attempted to link Miller-Meeks as sympathetic to the Three-Percenters cause. Scott County Democratic Chair Matt Trimble was even more explicit in his criticism of Miller-Meeks and her campaign. (Miller-Meeks) is standing in a room of a house filled with gas and she has lit a match, Trimble said. Thats what is so concerning for her constituents. They have to be terrified that she is allowing insurrectionists to be the face of her campaign. Trimble suggested that even though Miller-Meeks deleted her repost of the tweet, she sent a message to some supporters. She was clearly signaling to like-minded people, Trimble said. I think this is just another example of how fringe and radical some of the Republicans have become. When reached for comment about the accusations made by the Scott County Democrats, Husbands said he didnt really think this is a story. We handed out 1,500 yard signs to campaign volunteers in 20 counties, Husbands added. And that is my only comment. Fred Grunder, the chairman of the Muscatine Republicans, did react to the charges against Miller-Meeks. He said the Scott County Democrats were signaling to its base. Every time the Democrats disagree with something or someone they use the words racist and bigot. Its gotten to the point where those two words dont mean anything, Grunder said. There are a lot of fringe groups in both parties. One of the biggest terror groups is the BLM (Black Lives Matter), he alleged. They destroyed this country two years ago, and no one seems to care. There were no consequences for what they did. Grunder said he had no idea the Three-Percenters flag was among those displayed in the offices of the Muscatine Republicans. Look, there are a lot of flags in that room. Theres probably a Trump flag, and I know theres a Blue-Line flag. There are flags from every branch of the military, Grunder said. And I have no problem with the 1776 flag. Thats about the revolution that created this country. The Three-Percenters were founded in 2008 and initially attracted a membership dominated by military veterans, as well as retired and active-duty police officers. While many joined in reaction to perceived policies aimed at limiting the Second Amendment, the Three-Percenters became vocal supporters of President Donald Trump. The Southern Poverty Law Center noted that while many Three-Percenters are not overtly white supremacist, a number of local groups across the country were involved in violence against Muslim-Americans. Most local Three-Percenter groups carry firearms to rallies and protest. Three-Percenter groups took an active role during the Jan. 6 riots. Many members have moved on to attending local school board meetings to speak out against the supposed teaching of critical race theory in public schools. Husbands and Grunder said Miller-Meeks had never supported any Three-Percenter group. By the end of the week, the Iowas 2nd Congressional District had two distinct camps: those who believe Miller-Meeks was signaling to a fringe, reactionary portion of her base, and her supporters who claimed an innocent photo of campaign volunteers was being used to smear her. According to William W. Parsons, chair of the department of political science and leadership studies at Saint Ambrose University, no one should be surprised by the Twitter fight. Dog-whistling is nothing new in American politics. It dates back all the way to the founding. In some ways, the comments politicians said about each other back then were often worse than things said today, Parsons said. For instance, Thomas Jefferson was maligned for mocking Christianity and people were told to hide or bury their Bibles for fear the new president would confiscate them. The difference today is the ability of these sorts of political tactics to go viral. In a matter of minutes, images reach hundreds of thousands if not millions. Today, we have a sense that such political behavior is more impactful than ever before. There is no doubt that there is less discussion going on in society today than historically. Parsons offered an image of modern political discourse. It is also the case today that political opinion exists primarily in bubbles. People only want to talk to those who have the same opinion. The internet and social media is a major factor in perpetuating this pattern, Parsons said. I have no solution to this phenomenon other than to tell people to actively seek out multiple sources and opinions and not be comfortable in their bubble. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 WATERLOO A Saturday morning fire broke out in the upper floor bedroom of a two-story home in the 400 block of Bratnober Street, leaving two people with little choice but to escape through a window. The family also pointed out that Waterloo Fire Rescue rescued a cat and a dog during the response. The 911 call came at 10:48 a.m., said Battalion Chief Troy Luck Fishermen save man inside car floating on Cedar River near Waterloo's Sherwood Park The friends were out catfishing when they came across the vehicle. They fear the man could have gotten hypothermia, or perished if his vehicle had reached the well-known Sans Souci Island wing dam. After the two people became aware of the smoke, they proceeded to break through a second floor window and jump onto a nearby shed to get out of a smoke-ridden area of the small single family home. No significant injuries were reported; those who escaped the home were evaluated by paramedics on scene. Luck said the fire was limited to the one bedroom, but there was additional smoke and heat damage throughout the second floor. All utilities were shut off for the time being, according to Luck. The family declined Red Cross assistance, he added. It was a pretty straight-forward response, said Luck. But there is always a bit of anxiety whenever you have people trapped inside. Were glad no one was hurt real bad. The cause is under investigation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GUANGZHOU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China Coast Guard (CCG) has announced that a three-and-half-month fishing moratorium began on Sunday in the South China Sea waters north to 12 degrees north latitude. The annual summer fishing ban is expected to end on Aug. 16. For the next three days, the CCG's South China Sea branch and local authorities will patrol major fishing grounds and ports to ensure that the ban will be well observed. After the middle term of the moratorium, they will hold three law enforcement actions in the Beibu Gulf, the Pearl River Estuary and the water border of Fujian and Guangdong provinces, in a bid to crack down on illegal fishing and protect marine fishery resources. China has imposed the annual fishing ban in the South China Sea since 1999, as part of the country's efforts to promote sustainable marine fishery development and improve marine ecology. DECORAH Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, and PBS will celebrate Vesterheim instructor and gold medalist Harley Refsal. This free online event is at 2 p.m. May 15. Register for a Zoom link at vesterheim.org/folk-art-school. Refsal is an internationally recognized figure carver, specializing in Scandinavian flat-plane woodcarving. He is professor emeritis of Scandinavian folk art at Luther College. Raised in Minnesota, he lived in Norway in the 1960s and 1980s, and has traveled extensively throughout Scandinavia. He has won numerous carving awards and in 1996 was decorated by the government and King of Norway for his contributions to Norwegian folk-art studies. Refsal is the author of Art and Technique of Scandinavian-Style Woodcarving as well as seven other carving-related books and numerous articles for wood carving magazines. Charles Banks is an intermediate and secondary arts education instructor with a passion for Nordic arts. His love of figure carving in the traditional flat-plane style has merged with his interest in advancing the style of characters in more personal and unique poses. In addition to his teaching in the public schools, he has taught classes for North House Folk School, the John C. Campbell Folk School and Vesterheim Folk Art School. Liesl Chatman is a greenwood spoon carver, kolroser, and teacher. Her journey with kolrosing started by listening to Refsal give a talk and demonstration on kolrosing at the Milan Spoon Gathering in 2016. The eye has its needs, too, she remembers Refsal saying. She loves that spoon carving and kolrosing are crafts that are accessible, affordable and enjoyable. The event will include a film viewing and live storytelling and conversation with woodworkers Charles Banks and Liesl Chatman, who studied with Refsal. For more information, visit vesterheim.org, or call (563) 382-9681. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A real-life far too real morality drama is playing out on the world stage today. In the starring role: a bona fide hero, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine. And the villain, of course, Russian President and Hitler-understudy Vladimir Putin, embodying every vile trait and tactic necessary to propagate evil. In late 2011, when my husband and I were in the process of adopting our son from St. Petersburg, Russia, rumors abounded Putin would shut down adoptions for Americans. During the previous decade U.S. citizens had adopted over 60,000 Russian orphans, many with special needs. His shutdown was in retaliation for a proposed bill the U.S. Congress was considering, the Magnitsky Act. This bill was championed by Bill Browder, formerly the largest foreign investor in post-Soviet Russia, who went after corruption in the Putin regime to avenge the brutal torture and death of his lawyer and friend Sergei Magnitsky. The author of Red Notice, Browder made it his lifes work to get his bill passed and punish the Russians implicated in Magnitskys murder. The bill severely sanctioned oligarchs, described as Putins personal army of bitches, who had profited astronomically during Putins regime. Browder, too, is a hero, and despite death threats has just released another book, Freezing Order, exposing Putins campaign to steal and launder hundreds of billions of dollars. In December 2011 Putins adoption ban was enacted, showcasing his cruelty and callous disregard for his own citizens and offering a preview of coming attractions. It became known as Herods Law, referring to the brutal king of Judea 2,000 years ago who ordered the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem. The result was a death sentence for many Russian children with medical issues, and of course, devastating for hundreds of American parents waiting only for paperwork to bring their children home. (Russian foreign adoption law requires three trips to Russia.) We were fortunate; we had brought our son home just weeks earlier. Russians embody a scarred and a scared society. During World War II, Winston Churchill said of the Russian mentality: I cannot forecast the actions of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest. Or is it more like a Faberge egg, as Russian leaders have such a penchant for opulence and absolute authority, and the Russian people cower within it? Perhaps there is some hope. There have been protests in Moscow and other Russian cities. And it is difficult, if not impossible, to tell what is really going on within Russia with its controlled press and censored media. As the guards in the witchs castle in the Wizard of Oz rejoiced after Dorothy threw a bucket of water effectively melting the Wicked Witch, could it be the Russian people might actually be overjoyed to be rid of Putins tyranny? Yet in a fearful society, with the FSB (former KBG) always watching, most Russians are intimidated, even petrified. A poignant lesson: Citizens must insist on transparency within their government and unfailingly uphold democratic means to maintain balance, or pay dearly. To quote the Wicked Witch, What a world! Why did Putin invade Ukraine? Because he could. Because he is the biggest bully on the playground of the world, as evidenced every night since February 24 with his atrocities playing out on televisions across the planet. Putin has been in power since 2000, including a stint as prime Mminister, aka de facto leader. In April 2021, he signed legislation that allows him to remain in power until 2036. He is not going away soon. Unless the world stands up to him. Enter Our Hero, President Zelenskyy, courageously defending his countrys democracy, inspiring Ukrainians and the rest of the world, the Winston Churchill of the modern age. Bravo, standing ovation! With us, standing with him. Times change, principal players do, but the stories remain the same. It is said Russian stories never have happy endings. No wonder, happiness can hardly be found following a megalomaniac dragging his people to the lowest rings of hell We need a hero for a happy ending. And we have one: Zelenskyy. Against all odds, he and his countrymen stand against Putins tyranny, offering us all that most essential, most intangible, most inspiring quality of human existence: hope. Amy Lockard is a parent in Cedar Falls. Astute individuals read information from multiple sources, research material up one side and down the other and develop their own opinions versus being lemmings to the dictum of others. A news source that is gaining more attention as political divisiveness becomes apparent is think tanks. Think tanks broker ideas on topics such as social policy, politics, economics and culture. Americas oldest think tank was founded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1910; today we have about 2,000 think tanks. Most people perceive think tanks to be nongovernmental organizations, but research reveals the majority are associated with political parties where most of their funding comes from wealthy individuals and to a lesser degree corporations. Rarely, if ever, does a think tank voluntarily announce its political persuasion. Theres the rub. Think tanks as well as political parties can unduly take a persons thinking, values, beliefs and actions down a deep and dark rabbit hole. And, when the two join forces, being duped can occur. The media watch group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting reveals 37% of think tank citations are conservative, 16% liberal and 47% nonpartisan (The incredible shrinking think tank, Dec. 2020). Georgetown University notes (April 7) some of the more conservative-based think tanks include The Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Hoover Institution, Cato Institute and Hudson Institute. The Koch brothers are contributors to the Cato Institute and Hudson Institute plus the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which supplies Republican legislators model legislation they use to craft bills (e.g., voter suppression laws, stand-your-ground gun legislation, anti-LGBTQ, private school vouchers, etc.). Some liberal think tanks are Center for American Progress, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Human Rights Watch, Inter-American Dialogue and Economic Policy Institute. George Soros Forbes magazine called him the most generous giver is among many contributors to the Human Rights Watch. The most reliable, highly factual, least biased and nonpartisan think tanks people ought to trust include The Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, National Bureau of Economic Research, RAND Corporation and Pew Research Center (Media Bias/Fact Check, 2020). What effect have bias-based think tanks created for Democrats, Republicans and America? Matt Grossman of Michigan State University and David Hopkins of Boston College assert that since the 1950s Republicans have been hostile to journalists, thinking their reporting is tainted with a liberal bias. Hence, the GOP created and/or supported alternative sources to promote its conservative perspectives: talk radio (Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, etc.), Fox News and The Heritage Foundation think tank (Scholars Strategy Network, Oct. 13, 2017). Grossman and Hopkins state no parallel to the conservative media and think tank apparatus currently exists on the American left. Lets be candid here. The Heritage Foundation, Fox News and other Republican operatives (e.g., Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection deniers, QAnon, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, the Big Lie advocates, etc.) rule the roost in dishing out disinformation and misinformation. Americans are being hoodwinked with falsehoods from multiple sources. Unless the public wakes up to the reality of purposefully tainted news reporting and politically-driven think tank ideas, its safe to say America will soon if it is not already doing so turn more away from a democracy and into an authoritarian, populist and dictatorial country. The marketing concept of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) also applies to the propaganda spewed by politically based think tanks and political parties. Remember, toxins upstream eventually make their way downstream. Be very cautious of what political operative toxins you are consuming; they may destroy America as we know it. Steve Corbin is an emeritus professor of marketing at the University of Northern Iowa and former Denver Board of Education member. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not reflect those of the University of Northern Iowa. Data is available spanning 49 years of Biden's family in government, and notable achievements for the good of all Americans is essentially void. Perhaps voters should have relied less upon media before voting. Nothing is built back, and clearly nothing is better. Conversely, Biden's predecessor established a record of policy achievements that benefited the entire U.S. Some didn't like his style, but forget tiptoeing through the D.C. swamp only prolongs ineptitude. As an already successful business-minded, apolitical outsider, he managed problems, as compared to kicking cans and blowing smoke. They've had 245 years to establish "comprehensive immigration law." Taxpayers should rightfully condemn government, starting with Congress, the creator of $30 trillion in unsustainable debt, the 75,000 page loophole-laden tax code, fundamental issues like border security, failure to intervene in Biden's border debacle, and yet resurrect earmarks? Yeah, that Congress, nearly ruined in 2018 with the "squad." All we hear from stereotypical politicians and their media is "power," "control," "party." Taxpayers deserve competence and America First again, if we can just hang on. We have a huge mess to clean up this year. Only qualified candidates need apply, and realistically, neither ethnicity or gender are qualifications. 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21 Sep (19) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (22) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (15) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (14) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (9) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (5) The All-Russian Cossack Society reports that another volunteer detachment of the Kuban Cossack Army has been sent to Donbass at the collection point of the military commissariat of Krasnodar region. About 400 Cossacks from the Caucasus, Maikop, Taman and Black Sea branches of the Kuban Cossack troops have voluntarily decided to defend Donbass. Many have combat experience in local conflicts under their belt. As of April 22, 2022 about 4000 Cossacks from all the Cossack associations and organizations of Russia are taking part in the special operations in the territory of Ukraine. In the near future, the number of Cossacks participating in special operations will increase to 5.5 thousand. Three more Cossack detachments will join the fight for Donbas. WtR The Swedish company (IKEA) says it wont build more stores outside the Moscow region until local officials stop withholding permission for two outlets in the central cities of Samara and Ufa. After investing US$4-billion in Russia over 10 years, IKEA placed a freeze on expansion in June 2009 (Link) I got 8 emails from America that point to this fact. People are so sure that Russia is a bribe city. That makes me smile. Then I have to smile when I see companies like IKEA whine and cry. Lately this company has done a lot of crying (literally) trying to cover up their reputation flaws Also Notice that IKEA says, it wont build more stores outside the Moscow. Rats I hoped they would not build anymore stores at all So they plan on building more stores in Moscow? The reason the stores arent opening is that IKEA is refusing to pay bribes to safety inspectors, said Kirill Kabanov, head of the non-governmental National Anti-Corruption Committee in Moscow Sounds like IKEA has internal problems, who thought that they should pay bribes to get business done in Russia. They thought wrong Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, considered one of the wealthiest people in the world, controls the company through a secret foundation worth 100 billion kronor ($15.34 billion), according to a Sveriges Television (SVT) report (Link) and how about this for employees: (It takes two to tangle!) Ikeas founder Ingvar Kamprad on Friday expressed distress over a bribery affair which has led to the firing of the Swedish furniture giants two top managers of its Russian division (Link) Orders come from the top on such decisions Companies like IKEA are despicable and two-faced. Work the smear campaign to save face at the home town front and hope one of its biggest external markets does not catch on and quit buying from them I say, IKEA is going nowhere and will stay in the Russian market, because it is so damn lucrative. IKEA is a corrupt company and will undermine any and all legit countries, trying to get a better deal for themselves But you do not care. If it is anti-Russia then all is good Windows to Russia! Comes a bunch from Russia.enough that it is crippled without it https://watson.brown.edu/climatesolutionslab/research/2022/mapping-us-military-dependence-russian-fossil-fuels We estimate that before Russias invasion of Ukraine, U.S. bases in Europe relied on Russian fossil fuels to meet 30% of their annual energy needs. This means that American forces in Europe have been buying the energy equivalent of nearly half a million barrels of oil from Russia every year. Another western rediculous move by the USA. Sanctions are definatly a two way street So NATO would not last long without fuel Interesting.Hmm WtR The Kiev regime exchanges agricultural products for foreign weapons. This was told at a special briefing in the Russian Defense Ministry. Every day, the Ukrainian authorities take grain, corn, oil crops and animals to Romania by cars, trains and bazhras. Foreign weapons and ammunition are coming back from Europe to Ukraine. Kiev gives away agricultural products with an acute shortage of food for its own population and the absence of grain for sowing, the defense ministry noted. WtR We have a new McDonalds opening up just around the corner from us. In fact it is much less than two blocks away. This location is about exactly the same spot that I told Sveta several years ago that a McDonalds would go gang busters right in that very building that was being built as a new mall. As I have mentioned before, I use to be a District Manger for McDonalds in Georgia, USA! I spent several years many years ago, scouting locations for new McDonalds and setting up future plans for growth. That was my job on top of watching over several stores also. At this rate I have picked 6 locations for McDonalds that have come true in Russia. It is strange to see the same technical and thoughts going into finding new unit locations as is done in America. That tells me how Western orientated the McDonalds is here in Russia and in fact I have been reading about how McDonalds is going to franchise in Siberia for the growth of new McDonalds Here is some information about McDonalds in Russia: McDonalds plans to open 45 restaurants in Russia in 2012, during 2011, the company launched 37 restaurants in Russia. Currently, the McDonalds network embraces 314 restaurants in more than 85 cities all across Russia. The company also expects that poultry processing enterprises will be commissioned in 2012 in Russias Tula and Kaliningrad regions, and a souse-making line in the republic of Chuvashia. Apart from that, the company plans provide for the launch of a distribution centre in the republic of Chuvashia, a vegetable processing facility/ and a bakery. These facilities will help meet more than 80 percent of the companys demand in Russia I have seen the poultry section around Tula and as in America McDonalds produces all her own products and it looks like Russia has reached that point. It is being understood that in less than two to five more years McDonalds Russia will be well on the path of self sufficiency and franchising will become the norm. That is were the money is at This weekend as Sveta and I shopped for supplies. We stopped at a McDonalds that we had not stopped at for quiet awhile. It had been completely remodeled into the new Green Style that McDonalds is doing all over the world. It was packed with customers and they had removed all the kids play area and made seating like sardines in the remodeled store. This is what we are seeing at all the McDonalds in Russia. Forget the kids, just get as many people inside that you can and they also have done away with free WiFi also. McDonalds in Russia does not need gimmicks to make it as they are simply feeding machines at as high of a pace as it is possible. One average McDonalds in Russia has to be running at the pace of 3 or 4 McDonalds in America. It was as I explained to Sveta, That I could open another McDonalds next door to this McDonalds and both would make huge money. I watched a thousand dollars worth of business walk back out the door as we sat and ate Saturday at this McDonalds. Yes they have that much business. Lines are out the door and stay that way for most of the day and the drive through which is 24 hours at all Russian McDonalds is always wrapped around the building. Also most McDonalds in Russia have a walk up window and it is normal to see 20 people standing in line waiting there also. The employees and management were doing the best they can but as always it is never enough to counter the demand in Russia I have learned to look the other way now, as I am no longer part of that type of life, but I still notice things and that is just ingrained in me So while the McDonalds near us has not opened yet, I see the signs that it is maybe only a few weeks from opening. I promise you that it will go gang busters and our neighborhood is going to become trashed with McDonalds wrappers and such. I told Sveta, Just wait, you will know when the doors open as you will see french fry containers for McDonalds all over the place. You see the kids here leave school to eat lunch and McDonalds will have at least 4 large schools nearby to help boost business Russians love their McDonalds Kyle Keeton Windows to Russia! Xi orders all-out rescue efforts after building collapse Xinhua) 09:08, May 01, 2022 BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered search and rescue efforts at all costs after a self-constructed residential building collapsed in central China's Hunan Province. Xi made the instruction immediately after the incident, which took place at 12:24 p.m. on Friday in Wangcheng District in the provincial capital Changsha. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged all-out efforts to save the injured and prevent secondary disasters. Xi ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident and the disclosure of authoritative information promptly. Xi asked for a nationwide special campaign to defuse risks with self-constructed buildings to protect people's lives and property and ensure social stability. Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged swift efforts to rescue the trapped and ordered local authorities to address the risks in the construction sector, especially with self-constructed buildings used for operating businesses, to prevent major accidents. State Councilor Wang Yong and officials from central and local authorities have arrived at the scene, and the search and rescue efforts are still underway. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) NANNING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A hair washing festival was held in Wuying Miao Village in Rongshui in China's Guangxi on Friday. Women here have the tradition of keeping long hair. They use fermented rice water - the water after rinsing rice - to wash their hair. The natural shampoo keeps their hair healthy, smooth and shiny. Produced by Xinhua Global Service The command of the Ukrainian Air Force admitted that no Ghost of Kiev ever existed. The ghost of Kiev is a superhero legend whose figure was created by Ukrainians! This is a composite image of the pilots of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they said on their official page. Moreover, the command of the Ukrainian aviation not only refutes the spirit-lifting myth, but also asks to stop spreading fakes about it. The most successful operation of the Ghost of Kiev was a video where his image was used to raise funds for the purchase of litak. WtR April 30, 2022 The Russian Federations Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response, in co-operation with the authorised federal executive authorities, continues to carefully record the continuing egregious facts of the inhumane treatment of civilians by the authorities in Kiev: in Nikolaev, territorial defence fighters carry out punitive raids in order to check local residents for signs of pro-Russian views and facts of passing any information to Russian servicemen and representatives of the peoples militia of Donbass. The slightest suspicion is triggered by the phones call history and SMS messages to Russian numbers, correspondence in various messengers condemning the current Ukrainian authorities, subscriptions to Russian channels in social networks, and the Telegram app installed on the smartphones. All suspects are detained and tortured, threatened with being handed over to the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as with physical violence against relatives. In the course of these security raids, the nationalists forcibly seize valuable property and foodstuffs, ostensibly for the needs of territorial defence, as well as forcing them to set up strongholds and blockposts. Dozens of the detainees never returned home, and their fate is still unknown; in Marganets in Dnepropetrovsk Region, Ukrainian militants have mined the dam of the Nikolaev reservoir, which the nationalists themselves are planning to blow up, blaming allegedly advancing units of Russian troops. In the case of an explosion the town itself and a number of other settlements with a total population of over 45,000 would be in the potential flood zone. In addition, after the water leaves, the entire flooded area the populations life support system (sewage, water supply, water treatment facilities with chemical tanks) will be damaged, which will lead to a sharp deterioration of the sanitary and epidemiological situation and the spread of infectious diseases in Nikopolskiy district. The current situation is aggravated by inaccessible medical supplies, lack of medicines, including life-saving ones. This fact is clear evidence of the continuing inhumane attitude of the Kiev authorities towards their own people. The official Kiev continues to prepare monstrous and ruthless provocations with massacres of civilians to further incriminate the Russian Armed Forces. To this end, AFU units have deployed artillery mounts near Tsupovka, Kharkov Region, to deliver a fire strike during the mass evacuation of civilians through a humanitarian corridor from Kharkov to the west, which was organized by the Ukrainian side. The Russian side has reliably established that the neo-Nazis are planning to carry out this monstrous bloody action in the near future. In addition, according to sources of objective information, on April 29, 2022, civilians were evacuated in Orekhovo district of Zaporozhye region, after which AFU units launched a missile attack on a residential building located on Bezymyannyi Lane. At the same time, this fabricated fact is already being used, in the manner typical of the current Kiev authorities, to discredit the Russian Armed Forces, to whom this hastily prepared provocation is attributed. We warn the so-called civilised west in advance that this and other similar bloody fakes on the part of the Kiev authorities about alleged Russian atrocities are soon to be widely circulated in the media and on internet resources. Most of the worlds media ignore the obvious facts about the atrocities of the Ukrainian nationalists and are not concerned with the real state of affairs, but with the implementation of a policy of further fomenting anti-Russian hysteria around the obviously fabricated events. According to available information Ukrainian authorities have reportedly organised on a daily basis mass exports of grain, maize, oil crops and farm animals from the port of Izmail along the Danube to Romania by road and rail and by barge. Some 20 million tonnes have been exported so far. Foreign weapons and ammunition are brought into Ukraine by a reverse route in exchange for these agricultural products. All this is taking place against an acute shortage of foodstuffs for the domestic population, as well as a lack of grain crops in most regions of Ukraine for the spring sowing campaign. Despite all the difficulties and obstacles imposed by the Ukrainian side, over the past day, without the participation of Kiev, 18,849 people were evacuated from dangerous areas, 2,395 of them children, and in total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 1,062,692 people have already been evacuated, of which 192,688 are children. The state border of the Russian Federation was crossed by 13,663 personal vehicles including 1,999 per day. We continue to maintain a sufficient number of comfortable buses at checkpoints to transport people to their chosen places of residence or temporary accommodation, where hot meals are provided and qualified medical and psychological assistance is provided in a timely manner. More than 9,500 temporary accommodation centres continue to operate in the regions of the Russian Federation. The refugees are dealt with on an individual basis and are promptly assisted with various pressing issues relating to onward accommodation, employment assistance, places for children in kindergartens and educational institutions, and the provision of entitlements to social benefits. Over the past 24 hours, the hotline of the Interdepartmental Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response, federal executive authorities, constituent entities of the Russian Federation and various NGOs received 142 requests from foreign and Ukrainian citizens to evacuate to Russia, the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics, as well as to the Russian Armed Forces-controlled areas of Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Kharkov and Kherson regions. In total there are 2,754,026 such appeals from 2,133 locations in Ukraine in the database. Ukrainian nationalists continue to hold 90 foreign nationals from 5 countries hostage as human shield. In addition, 75 foreign vessels from 17 countries remain blocked in 7 Ukrainian ports (Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa, Yuzhniy and Mariupol). The threat of shelling and high mine danger created by official Kiev in its internal waters and territorial sea prevents vessels from safely leaving the ports and reaching the open sea. In confirmation of this, the Russian Federation is opening daily from 08:00 to 19:00 (Moscow time) a humanitarian corridor, which is a safe lane south-west of Ukraines territorial sea, 80 nautical miles long and 3 nautical miles wide. Detailed information in English and Russian on the modus operandi of the maritime humanitarian corridor is broadcast daily every 15 minutes on VHF radio on 14 and 16 international channels in English and Russian. At the same time, the Kiev authorities continue to avoid engaging with representatives of states and ship-owning companies to resolve the issue of ensuring the safe passage of foreign vessels to the assembly area. The danger to navigation from Ukrainian mines drifting off their anchors along the coasts of Black Sea states remains. The Russian Federation is taking a full range of comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of civilian navigation in the waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Federal executive authorities, together with the subjects of the Russian Federation, various public organizations, patriotic movements, continue to accumulate humanitarian aid. The greatest contributors to the relief effort were: Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography, Federal Maritime and River Transport Agency, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Federal Agency for Nationalities, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation; The Republics of Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Dagestan, Crimea and Tatarstan, Altai and Krasnodar Territories, Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Leningrad, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Tula regions and the city of Moscow; among political parties and non-profit organisations: United Russia, the Peoples Front All-Russian Public Movement, the All-Russian Public Organisation of Veterans Battle Brotherhood, the autonomous non-profit organisation for the support of humanitarian programmes Russian Humanitarian Mission, the All-Russian public and state organisation Union of Russian Women, the Almaz-Antey Military Defence Concern Joint Stock Company. More than 23 tonnes of basic necessities and food kits, including baby food and life-saving medicines, have been prepared at collection points. Since March 2, 16,805.9 tons of humanitarian cargo have already been delivered to Ukraine, 941 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 8 actions in Zaporozhye region, as well as in Donetsk Peoples Republic, during which 316.8 tons of basic necessities, medicines and food were transferred to the civilian population of the liberated areas. On April 30, 10 humanitarian actions have been planned and are currently being carried out in Kharkov and Zaporozye regions, in Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics, during which 320 tons of basic necessities, medicine and food will be distributed. WtR in Nikolaev, territorial defence fighters carry out punitive raids in order to check local residents for signs of pro-Russian views and facts of passing any information to Russian servicemen and representatives of the peoples militia of Donbass. All suspects are detained and tortured, threatened with being handed over to the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as with physical violence against relatives. In the course of these security raids, the nationalists forcibly seize valuable property and foodstuffs, ostensibly for the needs of territorial defence, as well as forcing them to set up strongholds and blockposts. Dozens of the detainees never returned home, and their fate is still unknown; in Marganets in Dnepropetrovsk Region, Ukrainian militants have mined the dam of the Nikolaev reservoir, which the nationalists themselves are planning to blow up, blaming allegedly advancing units of Russian troops. In the case of an explosion the town itself and a number of other settlements with a total population of over 45,000 would be in the potential flood zone. This fact is clear evidence of the continuing inhumane attitude of the Kiev authorities towards their own people. Full text of the Statement of the Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #HumanitarianResponse #HumanitarianAid @mod_russia_Enjoy WtR The Russian military evacuated 80 civilians from Azovstal in Mariupol. This was told in the Russian Defense Ministry. The military of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the NM of the DPR opened a humanitarian corridor and provided a regime of silence. The liberated civilians were taken to the village of Bezymennoye, where they will be given overnight accommodation, food and medical care. Those who wished to leave for the territories controlled by Kiev were handed over to UN and Red Cross staff. Armed neo-Nazi detachments prevented civilians from leaving Azovstal. This was told by one of the civilians released from the plant. Another woman stated that they were constantly searched, trying to find evidence of pro-Russian views. They swore at us that we are a proRussian city, saying that almost every apartment has a Russian flag hanging, she said. The Russian military announced today that 80 civilians, including women and children, left Azovstal along the humanitarian corridor. Due to the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, 80 civilians, including women and children, forcibly detained by Ukrainian nationalists, were rescued from Azovstal in Mariupol. Units of the Russian Armed Forces and the peoples militia of the Donetsk Peoples Republic opened a humanitarian corridor for the safe evacuation of civilians and ensured ceasefire. All released civilians were evacuated to Bezymyannoe settlement in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, where they were provided with overnight accommodation, food and the necessary medical care. Civilians evacuated by Russian servicemen from Azovstal who wished to go to areas controlled by the Kiev regime were handed over to representatives of the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. #MoD #Russia #Ukraine @mod_russia_en WtR There are up to $500 billion worth of Western assets were blocked on the territory of the Russian Federation, which counterbalances the $300 billion of Russian reserves blocked in the West. In the event of the confiscation of the property of Russian oligarchs in the West, Russia will begin to confiscate the property of Western businesses in Russia. WtR Public Involvement Session Notice The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are holding an open public meeting session concerning your views on the transportation planning process of the Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MRMPO). The public involvement session is scheduled for: Time: 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Date: Monday, May 2, 2022 Connection: In-Person Attendance: 809 Copper Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 Virtual Attendance: Zoom Link below Topic: PUBLIC SESSION MRMPO Federal Certification Review Time: May 2, 2022 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/ 83212193282?pwd=RjEvdmFnSVY2dVZGekFObXNkMzl2QT09 Meeting ID: 832 1219 3282 Passcode: 099683 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/khBvRDXW5 Join by Skype for Business https://us06web.zoom.us/skype/83212193282 The public meeting is part of a review that will assess compliance with Federal regulations pertaining to the transportation planning process conducted by the MRMPO, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), the ABQ Ride, the Rio Metro Regional Transit District, and local units of government in the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning area. If you are not able to attend either meeting, please address your comments to: Federal Highway Administration, New Mexico Division ATTN Rodolfo Monge-Oviedo rodolfo.monge-oviedo@dot. gov 4001 Office Court Drive Suite 801 Santa Fe, NM 87507 Or Federal Transit Administration, Region VI ATTN Tony Ogboli tony.ogboli@dot.gov 819 Taylor St., Room 8A36 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Journal: April 17, 24, May 1, 2022 Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico State Police says a young mans plan to steal ammunition and resell it to fix his car went awry when an off-duty officer intervened and shot him during an exchange of gunfire Friday night outside the Cabelas in Northeast Albuquerque. Gabriel Velasquez, 18, is in critical condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital following the incident. The officer who police did not identify was uninjured and placed on standard administrative leave. On Saturday, police arrested Velasquezs alleged getaway driver, Joseph Montoya, also 18, and charged him with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. He has been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. State Police spokesman Mark Soriano on Saturday said the agency is continuing its investigation. The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, he said. The incident marked the ninth time this year that authorities had shot, or shot at, someone in the Albuquerque area. Six of those incidents have been fatal. Authorities said the off-duty officer was shopping at Cabelas around 8:30 p.m. when Valesquez tried to take several boxes of 9mm ammunition from the sporting goods and outdoor store near Jefferson and Paseo del Norte, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Police said a manager escorted Velasquez out of the store when he pulled out a Glock pistol with an extended magazine and laser attachments, pointing it at several employees. The officer asked the manager if Velasquez had pointed the gun at civilians and the officer then followed him into the parking lot. Witnesses told police the officer announced himself as such and told Velasquez not to reach for the gun and get on the ground, according to court records. Police said security video showed Velasquez shoot the gun before the officer fired back at least one time to disable the threat. Court records state Velasquez was walking briskly toward a silver car when he was shot and the driver sped off afterward. Police traced the car to Montoya and met him at his girlfriends house in Los Lunas. Montoya told police Velasquez asked him for a ride to Cabelas and knew he was planning to steal ammo and later resell it to fix a vehicle he had totaled days earlier, according to police. Montoya said Velasquez told him he planned to shoot out the front window of Cabelas in case he got locked inside from security measures. Montoya informed me he did not want his Infiniti to be struck by gunfire and that is the reason he left the scene (he) told me he did not do anything wrong, an officer wrote in the complaint. Montoya told police he called his mother afterward and told her there was an incident, according to court records. His mother declined to comment when reached Saturday afternoon. BEIRUT, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Two human smugglers and 23 Syrian nationals planning to leave for Cyprus by sea were arrested in northern Lebanon on Sunday, the National News Agency reported. The smugglers admitted to having received 3,000 U.S. dollars per person for smuggling them from the northern city of Tripoli to Cyprus during nighttime. The arrested smugglers and Syrian nationals have been referred to judicial bodies for investigation and legal procedures. Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented economic crisis, forcing some people to escape the country illegally. Recently, a boat carrying dozens of Lebanese and Syrian migrants sank off the coast near the northern city of Tripoli. The Lebanese army managed to rescue 45 people, and the search for the missing is still underway. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal To understand where Ukrainian soldiers get their inner strength, all one has to do is look at 43-year-old Nataliya Yushchenko. Born in Ukraine, but now an American citizen with a home in Rio Rancho, Yushchenko returned to her native country in January to care for her ailing stepfather in Kyiv, who was battling colon cancer. He died two days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, and 16 months after her mother died from COVID, isolated in a Kyiv hospital. Yushchenko managed to get out of the country as the Russian military assault intensified, but she returned to the region just weeks later to rescue a friends teenage daughter who had fled to Poland, escorting the child to the United States via a circuitous journey through Europe and into Mexico before heading to the U.S. border. And all this unfolded as Yushchenko was being treated for aggressive skin cancer. Yushchenko and her husband, Scott, are currently living in Washington state, where he now works for the Department of Energys Hanford Site. He worked previously at Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The couple met in 2010 when Scott was in Ukraine on vacation and both were spectators at an independence day parade. A long-distance romance followed and, in 2014, Yushchenko moved to the U.S. with her daughter, Sasha, now 23, from a previous marriage. Shortly after, Yushchenko and Scott were married. Sasha still lives in the Albuquerque area. In Kyiv, Yushchenko worked as a manager for a rental property company; in New Mexico, with limited English speaking skills, she took jobs in cafeterias and in fast food restaurants, and, later, as her grasp of the language improved, at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. I am very social and I like to be around people, and talk to them a lot, she said, sometimes struggling to find the right words. Everyone ask me about my accent and was interested in where I am from. Thats how I start to learn English. When Yushchenko traveled back to Ukraine to help her stepfather, she was still there when Russian tanks rolled into the country. With her stepfathers death from cancer and the removal of his body to a morgue, Yushchenko left his apartment building for a seemingly safer hotel in Kyiv, where she discovered that members of Project Dynamo were staying. The nonprofit Tampa, Florida-based organization of civilians and veterans works to extract people from war zones and other hostile environments. Thus far, they have helped rescue more than 550 people from sites across Ukraine and sent them to the relative safety of neighboring countries, according to several websites chronicling the war in Ukraine. Yushchenko explained her situation and, within hours, Project Dynamo had her on a bus for a two-day ride, passing through Moldova and into Romanias capital, Bucharest. From there, she was able to purchase airplane tickets to Istanbul, Turkey, then Chicago and, finally, Seattle. Despite the arduous nature of the journey, Yuschenko was soon headed back to the region. Having communicated with two friends in Ukraine, Olga and Alexander Golinko, a married couple who are both in the military, she learned that their 13-year-old daughter, Sofia, was relocated to Poland, but there was no one there to care for the child. Yushchenko stepped up and offered to get the girl and bring her to live with her and her husband in the U.S. I say to Scott, lets bring her to America, get her into school and make a stable life for her until the situation in Ukraine gets better and the war is finished, said Yushchenko, who expects to return to New Mexico after her cancer treatments are completed. She subsequently learned through Ukrainian community social media groups about the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services humanitarian parole program, which can be applied for at the U.S.-Mexico border. The program allows applicants to enter the U.S. temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons. Deciding this was the best option, Yushchenko flew to Poland to take custody of Sofia. Together, they flew to Amsterdam, Mexico City and Tijuana, where they entered the U.S. and Sofia was granted humanitarian parole status. From there, they took a bus to San Diego and, after a few days, flew to Seattle. There was just no choice, said Scott. The way I look at it is, if you have the ability to help somebody whos in a desperate situation, you have a moral obligation to do so. There was really no discussion. We just had to figure out how to do it. As for his wifes tenacity, I know how she is and I know how Ukrainians are, so its not surprising, Scott said. Ukrainians are some of the toughest people you are ever going to meet. They get their mind set on something and thats just the way it is, and once Nataliya makes up her mind, thats it. So, the fact that she did it is not surprising to me at all, even though the amount of effort that it took was pretty incredible. Despite that toughness and single-mindedness of purpose, Yushchenko grieves for her native Ukraine and remains concerned about young Sofia, who she said is sick with worry, and misses her parents and her country. Ukraine has been independent from Russia since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, but it has always maintained its own culture, language and identity, making the Russian invasion and scorched earth tactics even more incomprehensible, Yushchenko said. I am American now, but I am also Ukrainian and it breaks my heart to see what is happening, she said. Everyone I talk to there has lost jobs, homes, everything they worked for their whole lives destroyed. Parents have lost children, children have lost parents. Russia does not want NATO close to Ukraine, so they tell lies and propaganda. They say Ukraine is run by Nazis. I dont know what theyre talking about. (Ukrainian president Volodymyr) Zelenskyy is Jewish. I think maybe (Russian President Vladimir) Putin wants to build the Soviet Union again. He is a sick, crazy person. He is not thinking right. All of which leaves Yushchenko saddened to the point where, she said, I have never before cried like I cry now. Constantly. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Prescribed fires, or controlled burns, are an important tool for restoring ecosystems and preventing catastrophic wildfires. But prescribed fires that get out of control can devastate communities and landscapes. To help land managers better predict burn behavior and assess risk, New Mexico scientists are creating tools that can be used in the field to study and plan fires. Still, the states top forester now says agencies will most likely hold off on any more prescribed burns in spring as the devastating Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire continues to blaze through northern New Mexico. The Hermits Peak Fire, 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is the most recent wildfire in New Mexico that started as a prescribed burn. Santa Fe National Forest officials started the fire on April 6. Steve Romero, the Pecos/Las Vegas District Ranger, said the agency typically burns in small bites, up to about 1,000 acres. Everything was going well, and the forecast told us we had favorable conditions, Romero said of the burn. But erratic afternoon winds created multiple spot fires that spread outside the project boundary. At 4:30 p.m. that day, the agencies declared the incident a wildfire and started a full suppression strategy. They did the right thing based on the values at risk and the fire behavior that was taking place, Romero said. The Forest Service had originally postponed the burn, scheduled for early March, because of snow on the ground and forecasted weather. The burn was part of a Gallinas watershed protection project. But now the wildfire has burned enough of the watershed that rains this summer could send ash into the Las Vegas water supply. Meanwhile, the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire is now one of the largest wildfires in the country. On the morning of Friday, April 22, operations sections chief Ralph Lucas said the Hermits Peak Fire was holding within its containment lines. Crews estimated that Hermits Peak was 91% contained. The team didnt expect further movement of the fire. But chaotic winds later that day fueled massive fire growth. The next morning, officials reported that Hermits Peak had merged with the Calf Canyon fire to the west to form one large blaze. The complex fire has now burned more than 97,000 acres, destroyed hundreds of structures and homes and forced widespread evacuations across San Miguel and Mora counties. State Forester Laura McCarthy said in an April 23 briefing that there probably wont be any more prescribed burning in the spring. The states top forest official said that fall may prove a safer time to burn. (In fall) the days are getting shorter, not longer, the temperatures are getting cooler, not warmer, McCarthy said. And so, depending on the kind of monsoon rains that we have, we may have a burn window right after the monsoons and then again in October, November. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also emphasized the importance of prescribed burns as a land management tool, but said federal agencies like the Forest Service should do more to mitigate risks. Im barking at the feds about this please dont do prescribed burns during windy season, Lujan Grisham said. I hope that theyre going to have to maybe relook at because the conditions are so much more extreme, maybe they have to narrow the window about when we do prescribed burning and in what areas. Modeling tools Rod Linn, leader of Los Alamos National Laboratorys atmospheric modeling and weapons phenomenology team, studies how fire interacts with the atmosphere. The buoyancy that comes from the heating of the fire feeds back on the wind field around the fire, and redirects it and changes the way it then heats the unburned fuel and spreads, Linn said. LANL worked with the Forest Service to develop the FIRETEC tool, which models the shape and growth of wildland fires and prescribed burns. FIRETEC runs on supercomputers and is primarily used for researching past fire behavior. A newer LANL modeling tool, QUIC-Fire, can run on a laptop and is more accessible for crews planning fires or predicting wildfire growth. The tool helps agencies design ignition patterns and predict where smoke will flow. The lab was not involved in helping plan the prescribed burn that turned into the Hermits Peak Fire. Vegetation is a major factor in modeling fire behavior. In an open grass prairie you might get a really fast-moving fire, whereas if you take that same ground fuel and move it under a canopy, you might get substantially slower fire spread because the trees actually slow the wind down, Linn said. Both models can help determine how different vegetation influences a fire. Other prescribed burns turned wild The Cerro Grande Fire in May 2000 also began as a prescribed burn. By the time crews extinguished the blaze a month later, Cerro Grande had burned about 43,000 acres in and around Los Alamos, destroyed 235 homes and caused $1 billion in damage. The destruction included 7,500 acres of LANL property and $331 million in damage to the lab. Earlier this month near Roswell, a prescribed burn conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management turned into the Overflow Fire. An unexpected fire whirl carried fire across the control lines. A fire whirl is a heat-fueled vortex that can include flame, debris and ash. The Overflow burned 1,900 acres and damaged power lines. Doing homework Agencies need to do a lot of homework when planning burns, Linn said. Fuels have to be dry enough to catch fire, but not so dry that a fire could spread out of control. Winds must be at certain speeds and directions for the fire to stay inside project boundaries. Topography influences how a fire moves and how quickly. Smoke is a big factor in planning and managing burns. Fire smoke can impact air quality and form ozone and smog. If youre burning anywhere near a community or critical infrastructure, we really need to understand the smoke, Linn said. All those ingredients form a very specific window of time for crews to safely set prescribed burns. New Mexico House Republican Floor Leader Jim Townsend has called for the Forest Service to be held accountable for the fire. He said the decision to proceed with the prescribed burn was negligence. It has become increasingly clear that the federal government has been operating in an unsafe manner when it comes to forest management, the Artesia Republican said in a statement. New Mexicans need to be able to trust that the federal government has their safety in mind and that the reckless actions taken by USFS do not go unanswered in this latest incident. He also criticized the governor for not being even more critical of the federal agency for starting the Hermits Peak fire. Valuable tool Even with the risk, prescribed burns are key for proactive land management in a changing climate. Forest management for much of the last century excluded any type of fire from the landscape. Those practices created overgrown forests and swaths of dead trees ripe for burning. A more arid New Mexico climate is also helping to fuel a recipe for catastrophic, unnaturally large wildfires. Prescribed burns help agencies put good fire back on the landscape. Science and our own experience with many prescribed burning projects and thinnings that we have conducted within the Gallinas Canyon confirms that treatments like thinning and prescribed burnings are our best chance for healthier forests, Romero said. Linn said he sees his teams tools as important for helping agencies restore natural burn cycles while weighing risks of prescribed burns. Its about getting fire behavior in the right regime that helps the ecosystem, he said. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Collecting pinon nuts has been tradition for Native American and Hispanic families in the Southwestern U.S. for generations. But environmentalists are concerned that without the pinyon jay a very social bird that essentially plants the next generation of trees by stashing away the seeds its possible the pinon forests of New Mexico, Nevada and other Western states could face another reproductive hurdle in the face of climate change, persistent drought and more severe wildfires. The Washington, D.C.-based group Defenders of Wildlife filed a petition Monday with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the bird under the Endangered Species Act, saying the once common species plays an integral role in the high desert ecosystem. The group points to research that shows pinyon jay numbers have declined by an estimated 80% over the last five decades, a rate even faster than the greater sage grouse. Patricia Estrella, who represents the group in New Mexico, said that while population declines are well documented, the exact cause remains unclear as multiple threats are at play. Not only is it difficult to tease apart the effects of interacting factors, together they create even greater threats through positive feedbacks, Estrella wrote in the petition. Successful conservation of the pinyon jay requires addressing and ameliorating multiple threats simultaneously. Pinon-juniper forests cover more than 75,000 square miles in the United States, and wildlife managers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and New Mexico already have classified the bird as a species of greatest conservation need. Nearly 60% of the jays remaining population can be found in New Mexico and Nevada, but its range also includes central Oregon and parts of California, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Mexicos northern Baja California. Pale blue with a white bib, the pinyon jay typically mates for life. When food is abundant, they can nest more than once a year. Their home range can be large, with the birds fanning out over hundreds of miles when food is scarce. Research highlighted in the petition notes that more pinon and juniper woodlands are being cleared around the West for housing developments, agriculture, and solar and wind energy projects, and as land managers look to reduce the threat of wildfire. The Biden administrations infrastructure push includes $500 million over five years for prescribed burns, $500 million for mechanical tree harvesting and another $500 million for clearing fuel breaks. Defenders of Wildlife and others are concerned that managers will be able to move ahead with many projects without public input or more detailed environmental reviews. The petition states that studies documenting the effects of woodland reduction on pinyon jay populations are few, but some scientists are recommending that land managers avoid nesting and foraging sites. When the pinon crop is good, jays start the morning by eating seeds. Then they collect seeds, congregate in the tree tops and depart together to caching areas that are usually open spaces where less snow accumulates in the winter. Research has shown they have excellent memory and recover more cached seeds than other types of jays or nutcrackers, but the seeds that go uncollected are left to germinate. According to the petition, the loss of pinon trees would disproportionately affect Native American and Hispanic communities in the Southwest. Each fall, families make the trek to the forest to harvest the seeds. The nuts are usually roasted and salted, but their popularity now extends beyond Southwest cuisine, including pancakes, brownies, pizza and salad toppings. It will be up to the Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether theres enough information in the petition to warrant further review. That could take months. LEGAL NOTICE EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS NOTICE OF MEETING Friday, May 13, 2022 1:00 p.m. ENMU Board of Regents Meeting, Roswell Civic Center, Roswell, NM. The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents will hold its next regular meeting on Friday, May 13, 2022, at the Roswell Civic Center, Roswell, NM. Regents will act upon business so presented and may meet in executive session. The agenda is available 72 hours prior to the meeting and is accessible at the Presidents Office located in the ENMU-Portales campus Administration Building and on the ENMU website http://www.enmu.edu/about/board-meetings.shtml . The public is invited to attend the meeting. Eastern New Mexico University is an EEO/AA institution. Journal: May 1, 2022 LEGAL NOTICE OF INVITATION TO BID LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO ONE (1) GOOSENECK COMMAND TRAILER LEA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NIGP Code: 07360 BID #07 (21-22) DUE DATE: May 16, 2022 3:00 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) The Lea County Board of County Commissioners will receive sealed bids for the above in the Finance Department, Fourth Floor, Courthouse, Lovington, New Mexico, at the address below. BIDS WILL BE OPENED immediately after 3:00 P.M. in the Courthouse 1st Floor Commission Chambers. For a copy of the Invitation to Bid and access to possible future addenda, please visit Lea Countys web site at Procurement (leacounty.net) or contact the Finance Department, Courthouse, 100 N. Main, Suite 11, Lovington, NM 88260, (575) 396-8521, ext. 8610; kferguson@leacounty.net QUESTIONS must be submitted in writing to the same contact info. Dean Jackson, Chair May 1, 2022 Journal: May 1, 2022 REQUEST FOR BID Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department the Tribally Designated Housing Entity for the Mescalero Apache Tribe, is requesting bids from qualified General Contractors licensed in the State of New Mexico for Construction Services for the project entitled: Adiidi nikuwaa Mescalero Permanent Supportive Housing. Bid forms, project manual (specifications), construction drawings, and more detailed information, including threshold requirements, are available electronically by request. Documents provided within the Project Manual shall be used in preparing bids. Inquiries related to the submittal of bids may be addressed to the Project Architect, Elizabeth Suina, at (505) 766-6968 or by e-mail at esuina@suinadesign.com. Bidders shall submit an original and three (3) copies of the bid and required documentation in a sealed envelope clearly marked Adiidi nikuwaa Mescalero Permanent Supportive Housing. All bids must be received at Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department, ATTN: Althea Palmer, Capital Improvements Manager, 108 Central Ave. or P.O. Box 248, Mescalero, NM 88340, no later than 3:00 p.m., MST, on Friday, May 14, 2022. [Electronic submissions will not be accepted.] Proposals not received by that time and date shall be rejected. Proposals are subject to review by Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department general counsel. Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive any and all deficiencies. Journal: May 1, 2, 2022 REQUEST FOR BID Santo Domingo Tribal Housing Authority, the Tribally Designated Housing Entity for the Pueblo of Santo Domingo, is requesting bids from qualified General Contractors licensed in the State of New Mexico for Construction Services for the project entitled: Santo Domingo Cottonwood. Bid forms, project manual (specifications), construction drawings, and more detailed information, including threshold requirements, are available electronically by request. Documents provided within the Project Manual shall be used in preparing bids. Inquiries related to the submittal of bids may be addressed to the Project Architect, Elizabeth Suina, at (505) 782-4550 or by e-mail at esuina@suinadesign.com. Bidders shall submit an original and three (3) copies of the bid and required documentation in a sealed envelope clearly marked Santo Domingo Cottonwood. All bids must be received at Suina Design + Architecture, ATTN: Elizabeth Suina, 4411 McLeod Road NE, Suite A-1, Albuquerque, NM 87109, no later than 3:00 p.m., MST, on Friday, May 21, 2022. [Electronic submissions will not be accepted.] Proposals not received by that time and date shall be rejected. Proposals are subject to review by Santo Domingo Tribal Housing Authority general counsel. Santo Domingo Tribal Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive any and all deficiencies. Journal: May 1, 2, 2022 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS TAOS, NEW MEXICO INVITATION TO BID NO. 2023-26-B SANITARY SUPPLIES Term of Bid: You are hereby invited to submit a bid for the attached described items within the guidelines mentioned in the GENERAL CONDITIONS and SPECIFICATIONS. Please review all documentation before submitting a bid. If you desire to submit a bid, please enter the necessary information in the appropriate blanks and return the bid packet in a sealed envelope addressed to Robert Valencia, Facility and Grounds Director, Taos Municipal Schools, 310 Camino de la Placita, Taos, NM 87571. robert.valencia@taoschools.org Your sealed envelope or package must be properly identified of its contents on the outside as follow: BID NO. 2023-26-B Taos Municipal Schools ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ENOS EAST 310 CAMINO DE LA PLACITA TAOS, NM 87571 DUE: May 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm The Bid Opening will take place at 9:00 am on May 18, 2022, at the Taos Municipal Schools Administration Building, 310 Camino de la Placita, Taos, New Mexico. Any bids received after the time will be returned unopened. Bids will be opened publicly and will be opened in the presence of two or more school officials. All bids and modifications shall be time stampe and held in a secure place until the bid opening. No faxes accepted. Bids and modifications are shown only to school personnel having legitimate interest until selection of successful offer is made. The award shall be made to the responsible bidder. Taos Municipal Schools reserves the right to reject any/or all bids and waive any technicalities. The vendor certifies by signing this form that the general conditions and terms have been read and agreed upon. Journal: April 30 May 9, 2022 ROME For travelers heading to Europe, summer vacations just got a whole lot easier. Italy and Greece relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday before Europes peak summer tourist season, in a sign that life was increasingly returning to normal. Greeces civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights except for the wearing of face masks during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers were required to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. As of Sunday, visitors to Italy no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated online ordeal required at airport check-in. Italy also did away with the health pass that had been required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other venues. The green pass, which showed proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required to access hospitals and nursing homes. .Some indoor mask mandates in Italy also ended, including inside supermarkets, workplaces and stores. Masks are still required on public transport, in cinemas and in all health care facilities and nursing homes. It was needed, said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. Until Sunday, patrons had to wear a mask to enter bars and restaurants, though they could remove them to eat and drink. We have waited more than two years. At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, sat with friends, all without masks. Its much better, Bichler said. Lets say its a return to life, a free life. In Greece, where tourism accounts for about 20% of its GNP, enforcing the rules had already fallen off prior to Sunday. On the tourist island of Mykonos, revelers flooded beaches, bars and restaurant the previous weekend for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Some owners said business was the best they had seen in years and expected that to continue for the long May Day weekend. Vaccination certificates in Greece were abolished, not permanently, but from May 1 to August 31 and it will be determined in August whether to bring them back. Also suspended were restrictions on the number of customers in indoor spaces. But masks are still required indoors and in vehicles in Greece, and experts recommend using them outdoors in crowded situations like concerts. Business owners said many unvaccinated people were among those enjoying the end of COVID-19 restrictions. We saw again old customers whom we hadnt seen since November, when vaccination certificates first became mandatory, Michalis Epitropidis, general secretary of the association of restaurant, cafe and bar owners in Thessaloniki, told the Associated Press. By punishing the unvaccinated, the state was punishing us. Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, was a hotbed of militant vaccine denialism and protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Like Italy, Greece saw tourism revenues plunge in 2020 and only partially rebound in 2021. Greece is now hoping for a record tourism year in 2022 and so does neighboring Albania, where restrictions were also lifted Sunday. Public health officials say masks still remain highly recommended in Italy for all indoor activities, and private companies can still require them. Given that the virus is still circulating, we should keep up the vaccine campaign, including boosters, and keep up behavior inspired by prudence: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever theres a risk of contagion, said Dr. Giovanni Rezza, in charge of prevention at the health ministry. ___ Nellas reported from Athens, Greece. Francesco Sportelli contributed from Italy, Costas Kantouris from Thessaloniki, Greece and Llazar Semini from Albania. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic UPDATE: Mandatory evacuation orders were issued at 4 a.m. Monday for the Luna and Cinder areas of Las Vegas while those in the areas of Creston and Bibb were told to prepare to evacuate at a moments notice. The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire is now at 120,653 acres and containment has gone down to 20%. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Community leaders in Las Vegas, New Mexico, are preparing for the worst as intense winds once again push the massive Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire complex closer to the city. They told us that tonight and tomorrow will be the two worst days weve seen so far, Las Vegas City Councilor Barbara Perea Casey told the Journal Sunday evening. Already, San Miguel County has emptied its jail south of the city, San Miguel County Manager Joy Ansley confirmed. Students from the United World College in Montezuma, who had been evacuated to Las Vegas on Friday, were transported over the weekend by the National Guard to an emergency shelter at the Glorieta Center near Pecos. And plans are in place to evacuate the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute, a retirement home and areas along New Mexico Avenue on the west side if the fire should make it to the top of a ridge near the city, Perea Casey said. She said that when the Calf Canyon Fire exploded last month, officials began preparing for a mass evacuation of the city should that become necessary. Residents of the village of Mora, meanwhile, were urged to evacuate Sunday afternoon as the destructive fire also marched north. Refusing to leave could be a fatal decision, Mora and San Miguel counties said in a joint news release. Shawn Carrell, a sergeant with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, said about 35 to 40 officers were going door-to-door in Mora on Sunday afternoon to try to get residents to leave the area. He said officers knocked on doors overnight Saturday to get residents in other evacuation areas to leave. The fire complex has swelled to 103,908 acres and destroyed 166 homes, according to fire officials. It is 30% contained. The fire is currently the largest burning in the country and one of several large wildfires burning in New Mexico. Numerous communities northwest of Las Vegas have already had to evacuate since the blazes sparked, and later combined into one, last month. Evacuation shelters have been set up at the old Memorial Middle School, Glorieta Adventure Camps, the Penasco High School gym, Red River Convention Center and the Taos County Sheriffs Posse Rodeo Grounds. Todd Abel, the operations section chief, said during a public meeting that Sunday had been a very dynamic day with large fire movement in the area. Residents in parts of Las Vegas, a town of about 13,000 people, have been told to start to prepare for possible evacuations. But Abel said crews have worked to construct protective lines on the western edge of the city to protect residences in the area. Ansley said the county evacuated its jail Saturday night and Sunday morning out of an abundance of caution. She said the county released 21 inmates and transferred 65 others to jails in Colfax, Taos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties. The San Miguel County Detention Center south of Las Vegas isnt in an evacuation zone currently. We wanted to err on the side of caution, she said. We didnt want to get caught in a worse situation and not be prepared. The New Mexico National Guard is also helping to battle the fire. The Governors Office said Sunday that soldiers have dropped thousands of gallons of water from a UH-60 Black Hawk on the blaze and they are going door-to-door to help with evacuations and working road blocks. They also have buses standing by and are ready to evacuate the Behavioral Health Institute the state-run psychiatric institution and others should that become necessary. Perea Casey said that if it comes to that, there are plans in place to transfer those in the BHI forensic unit, which houses those who have been found incompetent to stand trial, to correctional facilities around the state. Other patients, such as those in the Meadows Home nursing facility, would go to Fort Bayard near Silver City and some long-term care patients could be released to family members. Perea Casey said the citys firefighters are working round-the-clock to protect the citys water treatment facility. She said at the moment the city is not at risk of losing water. City firefighters are also patrolling the city and the bosque in and near Las Vegas to jump on any blazes that might erupt there. I think that were doing everything that can possibly be done, and more, Perea Casey said. I mean, everybody is exhausted. Those battling the massive wildfire outside of Las Vegas were warning about extreme fire conditions. Winds picked up Sunday afternoon, preventing aircraft from assisting with the firefighting efforts. Dan Pearson, a fire behavior analyst, said firefighters are expecting strong winds to continue blowing northeast and then southeast on Monday and for several more days, complicating the firefight. John Pendergrast, an air resource adviser, said he was expecting Las Vegas and surrounding areas to be faced with unhealthy and hazardous air conditions because of smoke for much of the day Monday. West Las Vegas School District announced that it would be closed on Monday and Las Vegas City Schools announced that they would be closed through Wednesday. I was feeling pretty good this morning. But when I got home this afternoon, I was pretty shook up. And I think part of it is stress, Perea Casey said. Just thinking about everything thats going on, the losses that people have suffered. The Hermits Peak Fire started as a prescribed burn, which got out of control. The cause of the Calf Canyon Fire is still under investigation. Santa Fe National Forest officials, meanwhile, announced Sunday that the entire Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District East of Santa Fe will be shut down to the public for the rest of the year, or until the order is rescinded. Violators could face $5,000 to $10,000 fines and even jail time, according to a news release. Cerro Pelado Fire The Cerro Pelado Fire, which started April 22, is burning seven miles east of Jemez Springs. The fire had grown to 17,885 acres by Sunday night. It was 10% contained. Santa Fe National Forest officials have said the fire has destroyed at least three homes. Sandoval County Fire and Rescue said Sunday on Twitter that residents who live near Valles Caldera should evacuate their homes. Bandelier National Monument is closed until further notice. Cooks Peak Fire Another large fire is burning north of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire. The Cooks Peak Fire started April 17 and has grown to 59,063 acres. The fire has also led to evacuations in several communities. The cause of the fire is under investigation. ISLAMABAD, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will thwart any attempt to undermine its relations with China, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Saturday, after a terrorist attack killed three Chinese nationals in Karachi earlier this week. A shuttle passenger van of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi was attacked on Tuesday, which left three Chinese teachers killed. During his visit to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the president expressed condolences to the Chinese side over the deaths of the teachers, and strongly condemned the attack, saying that Pakistan will spare no effort to fight against terrorism and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country. The victims were friendly ambassadors who promoted people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China, he said, adding that the terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan's development and the corridor construction cannot be achieved without the support of China, an "iron brother" of Pakistan, the president stressed. Pang Chunxue, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, thanked Alvi for his visit, and said that China strongly condemns the terrorist attack and has asked the Pakistani side to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. China will join hands with Pakistan to ensure the safety of the Chinese citizens, projects and institutions in Pakistan, combat terrorism and promote regional peace and stability, she added. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Harrison Jozefowicz quit his job as a Chicago police officer and headed overseas soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. An Army veteran, he said he couldnt help but join American volunteers seeking to help Ukrainians in their fight. Jozefowicz now heads a group called Task Force Yankee, which he said has placed more than 190 volunteers in combat slots and other roles while delivering nearly 15,000 first aid kits, helping relocate more than 80 families and helping deliver dozens of pallets of food and medical supplies to the southern and eastern fronts of the war. Its difficult, dangerous work. But Jozefowicz said he felt helpless watching from the United States last year during the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, particularly after a close friend, Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, died in a suicide bombing at Kabul. So, Im just trying to do everything I can to make sure I can help others not go through what I went through, he said Saturday during an interview conducted through a messaging platform. A former U.S. Marine who died last week was believed to be the first American citizen killed while fighting in Ukraine. Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, died Monday while working for a military contracting company that sent him to Ukraine, his mother, Rebecca Cabrera, told CNN. An undetermined number of other Americans many with military backgrounds are thought to be in the country battling Russian forces beside both Ukrainians and volunteers from other countries even though U.S. forces arent directly involved in fighting aside from sending military materiel, humanitarian aid and money. The U.S. government discourages Americans from fighting in Ukraine, which raises legal and national security issues. Russias invasion has given Ukraines embassy in Washington the task of fielding inquiries from thousands of Americans who want to help in the fight, and Ukraine is using the internet to recruit volunteers for a foreign force, the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. Anyone who wants to join the defense of security in Europe and the world can come and stand side by side with the Ukrainians against the invaders of the 21st century, President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a recruitment pitch. Texan Anja Osmon, who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army from 2009 through 2015, said she went to Ukraine on her own. A medic, she said she arrived in Ukraine on March 20 and lived in the woods with other members of the International Legion before a new commander sent her away because he didnt want female fighters. Osmon, 30, said her mother wants her home before September. But for now shes anxious to get out of the hotel where she is staying in Lviv and catch on with another fighting force nearer the action. I cant turn away from injustice, she said. No one should be scared. U.S. Marine veteran Eddy Etue said he quit his job in the gig economy, found a friend in Colorado to watch his cat and gave up his home four blocks from the beach in San Diego, California, to help out in Ukraine, where hes been about two weeks. He first worked with an aid organization but now is training with the International Legion. Etue, 36, said he simply couldnt stay home. Its just the right thing to do, said Etue, who financed the journey through an online fundraising campaign. Etues family history pulled him toward Ukraine. He said his grandparents left Hungary with nothing but their four children and clothes after the 1956 revolution, which was put down by Soviet forces that killed or wounded thousands. Whats happening here will affect not only the people who are experiencing it but their children and grandchildren as well, he said. I know that from personal experience. Jozefowicz, the former Chicago cop, says there are thousands of American and other volunteers in Ukraine. Multiple organizations are operating in the country, and Jozefowicz said his group alone has placed scores of volunteers in positions all over the country, with about 40 of those being combat jobs. We do not facilitate a civilian going into any direct-action role. We only guide and connect prior military volunteers, he said. But theres plenty of other work to do. Groups of volunteers are getting medical and food supplies to people in the nation of 44 million people, he said, and others are working with refugees and others whove had to flee their homes. The closer I got into Ukraine and the more time I spent in Ukraine, the more voids I found that needed to be filled to maximize my groups volunteer efforts, he said. Osmon, who said shes been in contact with Jozefowiczs group, said she supplied troops with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications after days in the woods. Most everyone had air raid fever from hiding in the trenches in the snow and cold air, she said. Bronchitis was ravaging us. Etue said he got a feel for the country after making a 24-hour round trip with another volunteer to pick up a vehicle in Odessa. He said hes been impressed with the quality of people serving in the International Legion since Ukrainians have done a good job of weeding out the inexperienced and war tourists who dont have much to offer a military unit. I think theyre doing amazingly well given that theyre at war with one of the largest standing armies in the world, he said. Colors Tamil has curated an interesting line up of shows on the occasion of International Workers Day (also known as May Day). The channel will host a Sirappu Pattimandram powered by Market of India and Cardia Advanced Nazha Ennai at 09:00 am followed by the World Television Premiere of Writer, a nail-biting thriller directed by debutant director Franklin Jacob at 4:30 pm with Eldia Thuya Thenga Ennai and Lalitha Jewellery as Special Partners and Pottiku Potti May Day Special at 8:00 pm. Tune into Colors Tamil, this Sunday 1st May starting 9 am to celebrate the contributions of workers. Kickstart the day with Sirappu Pattimandaram, an engrossing debate show that will raise questions on which gender is socially more responsible men or women moderated by renowned orator Sivakasi Ramachandran. Orator Palani, Actor-writer Rajmohan, Orator Kalpakkam Revathi, Orator Navajothi, Orator Ezhilarasi,and Orator Kalpana Darmendara will pit against each other, striving to reach a conclusion. Furthermore, the movie Writer (presented by the accomplished Director Pa.Ranjith) stars renowned South Indian actor Samuthirakani, Harikrishnan and Ineya in lead roles while Govind Vasanthas music powerfully elevates the script. Taking the audience through an immersive experience, the protagonist, Thangaraj (Actor Samuthirakani), a writer in a police station, who has his own moral balance, falls into an illegal custody. Things take a turn for the worse when Devakumar (Actor Hari Krishnan) gets caught in a complex situation as a casteist Deputy Commissioner pulls unnecessary strings to defend himself, leading to the arrest of Devakumar. The movie takes the audience back in time, projecting the flashback of the oppressed who voice out the injustices in the society and hierarchical systems, taking the audiences this weekend on an emotional roller-coaster. Followed by the movie Writer, Potikku Potti a May Day Special will feature a special segment in which auto-driver Raji Ashok, delivery woman Antony Bavan and Doctor Munaivar Gomathi will be felicitated for their service to the community. Antony Bavan, who works for a delivery company, earned praise from her company for not shirking from her duties even at the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic. She even continued to deliver packages when the entire city was flooded during the heavy rains in the month of November. Raji Ashok, an auto-driver, had caught the attention of the state by offering free rides to needy people, right from those who need to get to the hospital to school kids who cant afford to pay for a taxi or an auto. He also provides free education to 11 orphan kids even though he himself doesnt earn a lot. Dr Munaivar Gomathi does free eye check-up camps in different villages and also hands out spectacles for free, becoming a messiah for many. Commenting on the occasion, renowned orator Sivakasi Ramachandran said, Festivals and special days in Tamil Nadu include one celebratory aspect that is unique to the state Pattimandrams. I am glad to be moderating Sirappu Pattimandram for the first time on Colors Tamil. It is high time that we were discussing a topic like this and understand how we perceive gender roles in the society, especially with the transforming norms in the society. Producer Pa. Ranjith said, I am glad to have produced the film, considering the societal purpose it conveys. This film will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm looking forward to its television premiere on Namma Colors Tamil Channel since it will reach a wider audience and allow people to watch it in the comfort of their homes, as part of this May Day Special. Further, I decided on producing Writer because it showcases the issues of the common man. The film depicts the society's flaws and how they affect the lives of ordinary people. I am confident that the audience will appreciate this film. Commenting on the May Day Specials, Mr Rajaraman S, Business Head, Colors Tamil, said, Colors Tamil has emerged as a strong voice for empowerment of women and on the occasion of May Day, we resolve our pledge to celebrate the accomplishments of women from various walks of life. Our special line up of shows on May Day will provide meaningful content to the Tamil viewers across the world. Don't forget to tune in to Colors Tamil on Sunday, May 1st from 09:00 AM onwards, to have a fun filled weekend. Colors Tamil is available on all leading cable networks and DTH platforms Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO 1515), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553). TEHRAN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran pledged on Sunday to continue the talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal until its national interests are completely and comprehensively protected, official news agency IRNA reported. The remarks were made by Ali Bahadori-Jahromi, spokesman of the Iranian government, in response to talk that the United States is close to admitting the failure of the Vienna nuclear talks. The nuclear negotiations are among Iran's top priorities, Bahadori-Jahromi noted. Iran will continue efforts within the framework of the international diplomatic mechanisms until it protects its economic interests and nuclear rights, the spokesman concluded. In July 2015, Iran signed with the world powers a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in which Tehran agrees to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of the international sanctions on it. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to gradually drop some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement. Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties to revive the deal. Iran insists on securing guarantees that the U.S. governments would not abandon the deal again and lifting the sanctions in a verifiable manner. On Tuesday, Israel claimed that the United States is closer than ever to admitting defeat on President Joe Biden's stated goal of a return to the JCPOA. Many years ago, I happened to read the book Russia in 1839 by the French traveler and literary man Marquis de Custine, and there I found some interesting judgments about the Russian people: "The Russian people are a nation of mutes. Everything is there, the only thing missing is freedom. That is, a life." "Everyone there is too miserable to complain." "To live in Russia, its not enough to hide your thoughts. You have to pretend." "The Russians have a slave mentality, but not without an arrogance." "The government in Russia lives only by lies, for both tyrant and slave fear the truth." "Human life has no value there." "Russia is a country of facades." "The Russian people should have been completely destroyed and then created anew." The main idea here is that compared to the Western countries, the quality of the Russian people has always been quite low. This quality has its deep roots in history, back to the 13th century, in the times of the invasions of the Mongol khan Batyi. Yet, it was not foreign invaders who enslaved the Russian people and gradually formed its slave mentality, as the wise Marquis pointed out, but the main oppressors were the Russian princes and noblemen who paid tribute to the Mongol Horde, and who treated their own subjects as ruthless occupiers. By way of contrast, back in 1215, the Magna Carta was adopted in England, granting liberty and protection from the Crown, while in Russia serfdom was abolished only 650 years later! Emancipation was greeted by the lower strata of society without much enthusiasm and was even accompanied by peasant revolts. Over the centuries, the slave mentality became so ingrained in the flesh and blood of the Russian people that the former serfs did not want freedom they preferred to continue living in the yoke. Today, 160 years after the freedom granted from above (then taken away again by the Bolsheviks), the quality of the Russian people remains hopelessly low and continues to decline. The army always reflects the character of its country, and so the war with Ukraine has brought Russia's true face to the world through its army, which turned out to be a horrible horde of murderers, rapists, and marauders. The appallingly low moral level of the majority of the Russian population seems at first glance to be at odds with what we know of the great Russian culture, especially that created over the last 200 years. How can we reconcile the shameful behavior of a large part of the population with the highest level of what Tchaikovsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Shostakovich, and many other great Russians gave to the world? Why did the superb Russian culture pass by the people, not ennoble it, not improve its character? Why did all its great achievements have almost no effect on the Russian mentality? It is appropriate here to also remember Germany 80-90 years ago how at the time of Nazism the people of the grand German culture descended into medieval barbarism. Auschwitz extermination camp Why is there such a gap between the cultural heights and the behavior of people? And what about other countries? Why did the Polish and Ukrainian peoples display in the past such ferocious and violent anti-Semitism? Why were the Lithuanian, Latvian and Belarusian peoples so ruthless toward Jews during the war? How can we explain the immoral behavior in World War II of the French, a nation of great scientists and artists? How is it that the Spanish, the people of Cervantes and Velazquez, were so cruel to the American Indians? How could the Turks have committed genocide in Armenia in 1915? Why did the Japanese, a nation of sophisticated culture, exterminate six million civilians during their occupation of China? Looking back at the histories of different nations, one must conclude that culture has never been an antidote to evil. Every nation, even one that has created a great culture, under certain unfavorable conditions can turn into the devil and will be capable of incredible cruelties. The moral difference between nations is in the degree of quality of people, that is, in the ratio of decent people to trash. One nation has less trash, another has more, but no one is without sin. After many years of living in America, I have concluded that even among the kind and compassionate American people there is plenty of trash. For example, Americans are natural snitches; they are happy to snitch and inform on other people. Therefore, under very unfavorable conditions, e.g. if fascism would arise in the U.S., it would lead to very unfortunate results. Fortunately, I must point out, fascism in the classical sense is impossible in the USA since there must be a strong element of Nazism (the idea of the superiority of one nation or race over all others). However, in America, which is made up of a large number of ethnic groups, any kind of Nazism is simply out of the question nowadays there is not a single dominant race here. But back to our topic. In a human soul, there are always dark and bright sides and, under certain external conditions, its only necessary to set in motion a specific psychological mechanism so that one of these sides comes out. People of low quality have larger dark sides that are manifested more clearly and come out much easier. So, from such people, one can expect more trouble. The Three-Layered Pie In light of today's events, many people ask questions about the influence of culture on the quality of the people, but no one can find an answer. I think this problem has no solution for the reason that people and their cultural overlayer dont mix in any way, but like water and oil coexist separately, affecting each other only to a small extent. To clarify why culture does not influence the masses, the population of any country can be represented as a three-layer pie: at the bottom, there are the uncultured plebs with low intelligence and primitive needs a kind of amorphous mass, which according to the ancient Roman definition for a happy life needs only bread and circuses. It is this stratum that is capable of committing the worst crimes and because of its low intelligence is easily influenced and controlled by propaganda. The lower stratum is the most numerous and makes up from 40 to 90% of the population in different countries. It seems to me that in Russia the bottom layer of plebs is quite large: somewhere around 65-70%. On the other hand, at the very top of the "pie", there is not even a layer, but rather a thin shining film of the creative intelligentsia artists, scientists, writers, and poets. This group is the country's intellectual elite. Even in the best countries of the world, the share of cultural layer-film probably is no larger than 1-2% of the population. Between the lower and upper layers is what I call the "moral" layer, which consists of people capable of independent thinking and thus less influenced by propaganda. A small portion of this layer includes consumers of culture, of which, by the way, there are quite a few in any country. It seems to me that of the 145-million of the contemporary Russians there are hardly a million people who have read Chekhov or Tolstoy or who know who Shostakovich or Ravel are. Nevertheless, all people of this stratum are strongly influenced by cultural heritage and therefore have higher moral standards. The thickness of the moral layer varies from 10 to 50% in different countries, and it is this layer that determines the quality of people. The more massive the moral layer, the higher the quality. According to my estimates, in Russia, this layer is somewhere around 25% of the population. If you use my estimates and apply the formula for the quality of people (a ratio of the moral stratum to the lower stratum of plebs), the coefficient of quality of the Russian people will be quite small about 0.37. I present the reader with an opportunity to estimate itself the coefficient of quality of other nations. All three layers do not mix and exist as if independent of each other, although sometimes individuals can migrate up and down along this "pie," from one layer to another and even exist simultaneously in two layers. The two upper layers (cultural and moral) are completely unrelated to the lower layer of the plebs. Thus, since there is no mixing of strata, what influence of culture and morality on the lower stratum, that is, on the majority of the population, can we expect? And on the contrary, the slavish amorphous mass of the lower stratum can occasionally have a negative influence on the uppermost cultural stratum. Cultural Ostracism In our troubled times, when Russia with incredible cruelty is waging a war in Ukraine, the rejection of everything Russian arose all over the world. Something similar to that happened during the first decade after World War II when Germans were ostracized and everything German was rejected despite their great cultural heritage. It was a natural reaction to the disgusting behavior of the masses of Germans who were part of the bottom stratum during the Nazi times. So is it any wonder that after the whole world saw how the Russian people (those fighting in Ukraine and those supporting the war) behaved, everything Russian becomes untouchable, like a shameful disease? Unfortunately, one seldom can see the difference between the three separate layers: the large barbaric mass of the Russian people, the smaller moral layer, and the very thin upper cultural layer. Therefore, without even trying to see the difference, today everything that in any way relates to Russia is rejected en masse. In the Western countries, vigilant zealots of "justice" remove paintings by Russian artists from museums, cancel ballets and concerts by the Russian dancers and musicians, and even cut Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky from their symphony programs. It seems that the rejection of everything Russian will continue for a long time, at least until (and unless) the Russian people embark on a path of sincere public repentance, in which I have little faith the Russian tradition has always been not to atone but to look outside for the guilty. Russian culture has become one of the victims in this shameful war. Creative people are fleeing Russia, and therefore the already thin cultural layer is gradually disappearing, which will inevitably lead to the complete degradation of the country and its disintegration. Without culture, no nation can exist for long. Photo credit: Daniel Hagerman CC BY-SA 4.0 license Jacob Fraden was born and raised in USSR and escaped to freedom as a young adult. His website is www.fraden.com Is this the hill that patriots will die on? Is this the moment when MAGA nation says, "Hell, no"? Is this the time when hardworking blue-collar Americans say with a unified voice: "We will not comply"? Is this the legal case where the Supreme Court acts as if it is ...the Supreme Court and declares Mr. Biden's newly created Bureau of Disinformation unconstitutional from its inception? Is this the final straw, where a clear plurality of Republicans "man up" and act as the opposition party should, and refuse to fund Mr. Biden's "Ministry of Truth"? I think America and the rest of the world will know the answers to these questions soon. If the answers are yes, we still have a country based on the U.S. Constitution. If the answers are no, we are done as a democratic republic, and the Constitution has no teeth. The Biden regime announced this past week the creation of the Ministry of Truth. According to the Biden goons, the Ministry of Truth is necessary to fight off and thwart misinformation and disinformation. The Biden regime and its henchmen, they and they alone, will decide what is truth and facts...and what is misinformation and disinformation. This is horrific and a direct attack on the Constitution. And it also puts citizens on notice that opinions, and ideas, and editorials, and online comments, and unapproved newspaper articles that are not government-approved...are now illegal. Non-approved government speech, thought, and writings will become a crime. What Biden and his "Brown Shirts" are doing is exactly what dictators do. They are making it illegal to have a different point of view. The only ideas and thoughts and values allowed...will be those of the Biden regime and the Deep State apparatus. Especially ominous is that Biden's people are putting the Ministry of Truth in the Department of Homeland Security the one that has all the guns, ammunition, and bombs, all the spying, surveillance, and espionage capabilities to "watch over" Americans. Biden and his "Stasi" are serious about making it illegal to have a different point of view from the government's. They are making free thought, free speech, and free press illegal. Mr. Biden has put himself on the same side as Stalin, Hitler, Castro, and Mao. This is not an overstatement. Communist China is pleased with Biden. All of these dictators had in some way their own Ministry of Truth that did not allow the citizens to think and speak for themselves. Biden and this Progressive regime will now make it illegal, and thus punishable by fees, forfeiture, and prison time, to think and believe and say as Americans wish. George Orwell in his dystopian novels 1984 and Animal Farm predicted this decades ago. What Biden and his Progressive party are doing is right out of Orwell's novels. Only dictators limit free speech. Only despots censure different opinions. Only evil human beings do not allow for a different point of view. Make no mistake about this Ministry of Truth: it is not about misinformation and disinformation. It is about criminalizing speech, thoughts, and ideas that the government does not approve of. The Biden regime and the Deep State are the same cabal that has put the J-6 freedom fighters in jail without official charges filed against them or bail being afforded to them. As Biden does this, Xi Jinping smiles, and Stalin nods in approval. When a group of evil people who are in charge of government put American citizens in gulags, which violates the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, then that same government will certainly criminalize speech that has not been approved by government. This is not a slippery slope; this is a suicidal cliff from the beginning. Who is going to decide what is misinformation? The government. Who is going to decide what is disinformation? The Biden regime. Who is going to decide what speech is illegal? Homeland Security. Who is going to decide what the financial fee will be for unauthorized ideas...Deep State. Who is going to decide how long a prison term will be for speaking out loud information opposing the government? The cabal. Unfortunately, Westernized democracies are beginning to look an awful lot like the CCP and China. Australia looked anything but democratic in the lockdown of citizens who were not vaccinated. And Canada looked a lot like an authoritarian regime in its crackdown on the truckers convoy. This can happen and is happening in America. One must wonder how long it will be until Tucker Carlson is arrested for "crimes against the state"! Is Tucker living on borrowed time? With the creation of the Ministry of Truth, there certainly will be financial punishment and prison time given to citizens who are convicted of misinformation and disinformation. This will happen. This is the purpose. Will any of these be a crime of misinformation/disinformation, punishable by incarceration? To say the vaccine, the lockdowns, the closing of public schools, and the social distancing did not work at all. And that herd immunity would have done much better. To say the 2020 election was stolen, and President Trump actually won. To say Joe Biden and the Biden family have illegal activities going on with the country of China, and he and his family have been bribed and thus compromised by China. To say illegal activity has been discovered on Hunter Biden's laptop. And this illegal activity shows crimes being committed by the Biden Crime Family. To say there are only two sexes: male and female. To say it is a baby, a human being, from conception inside the womb. To say the Deep State apparatus in America has used the country of Ukraine to launder illegal money for the elites, and that is the only reason America is interested in backing and protecting Ukraine against Russia. To say the American government worked in concert with the Ukrainian government to create non-sanctioned bio-labs in Ukraine, much like in Wuhan, China. To say the COVID-19 virus came from a weapons lab in Wuhan, China, and that both America and China were working on it together. To say the "vaccine" is really not a vaccine, and at best is a therapeutic. To say the Biden government is corrupt and illegitimate and that Biden has dementia. To say Hillary Clinton was behind the Russia-Russia-Russia hoax from the beginning. To say the J-6 Save America rally was actually used by the FBI/CIA/NSA and Deep State as a false flag to imprison MAGA Nation into the gulags? To say Biden should be impeached because of his refusal to constitutionally protect our southern border from illegal immigration, illegal drug trafficking, and illegal child trafficking. To say that our rights come from God and God alone, and that no government can take these God-given rights away. Would these statements now, under the Bureau of Disinformation, become crimes against the state? Probably. The Supreme Court had better not be cowards-crooks-compromised; the Republican Party had better not be cowards-crooks-compromised. Both bodies must step up. Both bodies need to be out early and strong in saying this Ministry of Truth is illegal and unconstitutional from birth. They must fulfill their obligation to the American citizens and to the Constitution and do the right thing...right away. Regardless of the personal cost. Now. This indeed is the hill to die on; this is for sure the time to say, "Hell, no," and it is the precise moment to declare, "We will not comply." We will not go quietly into that dark night. It is approaching the time for choosing. Image: TheDigitalArtist via Pixabay, Pixabay License. On April 28, 2022, a meeting took place at the former site of Auschwitz. The president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, right-wing politician, joined in the March of the Living with Holocaust survivors and 2,000 others at a ceremony on Israel's National Holocaust memorial day, and laid a wreath at the Death Wall in Auschwitz. He commented on the parallel with present-day events. Just as Adolf Hitler was acting to wipe out all Jews, as well as many Poles and Roma, so the war criminal Vladimir Putin is trying to kill and eliminate the Ukrainian people. The Russian forces were committing genocide in Ukraine. The meeting reinforces the present formidable role of Poland in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is surprising for at least three reasons. As recently as 2018, a Polish law was passed making it illegal to accuse the Polish nation of complicity in the Holocaust and other Nazi German atrocities. The evidence is mixed. Though some acts of violence were committed by Poles against Jews during World War II, and antisemitism was widespread in the population, there was no significant anti-Jewish mass movement engaged in killings or responsible for the Holocaust. A second surprise is that Poland, which, in May 2021, was reprimanded by the European Court of Justice for judicial changes that were in breach of European law, should now be playing an important and forthright, if not the leading, role among Europeans in opposing Russian aggression. Poland can rightfully be called a key player in the struggle to free Europe from Putin's objectives for two reasons. It has been the European country continuing to supply Ukraine with key military support. The Polish assistance is surprising for a third reason. Poles and Ukrainians fought during World War II over the disputed territory of Volhynia, an area that has changed hands many times in history. During that fighting, Poles were massacred by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, an event now proclaimed by the Polish parliament as a genocide. Poland offered to supply Ukraine with all of its MiG-29 planes, which it would deploy to Ramstein air base in Germany, from where the U.S. could pass them on to Kyiv. But the Biden administration refused this proposal. Poland has campaigned for stronger sanctions against Russia, as well as for more humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. It has been the recipient of the largest number of Ukrainian refugees, so far 2.9 million, more than 60% of the total exodus. In his visit to Warsaw on March 10, 2022, former vice president Mike Pence pointed out that Poland is one of only seven NATO countries to meet its obligation to spend two percent of its GDP on defenses. Presently, forty nations, including Britain and France, are sending military equipment to Ukraine but ensuring that there is no escalation beyond the borders of Ukraine, and therefore rejected imposing a no-fly zone. The role of Poland has been understood by Putin, who on April 27, 2022 announced he was cutting off gas supplies to Poland and to Bulgaria. Yet Poland is only one of the U.S. and European allies who have been providing military aid to Ukraine. The largest contributor is the U.S., which has provided more than $4 billion in security assistance. The list of supplies includes helicopters, 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 5,500 Javelin missile launchers, howitzers, armored vehicles, and tactical drones. Most disappointing has been Germany, whose ties to the Kremlin go back to Rapallo in 1922 and the Brest-Litovsk agreement on trade between Walter Rathenau, German Jewish foreign minister and electrical magnate, later assassinated by antisemitic terrorists, and the Soviet Union. The ties may be said to back even farther, with the memory of the poor German princess who became Catherine the Great, and who invited Germans to become Russian citizens and farm land in Russia while maintaining their language and culture. It is still unclear who is the real Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, the master of policy u-turns. He has been hesitant in decision-making over Ukraine. He was, he said, driven not by fear, but by "political responsibility," avoiding escalation that could lead to a third world war. Scholz at first banned sending weapons to Ukraine in contrast to the rest of NATO countries and blocked Estonia from sending Soviet-designed howitzers, raising the general question of how reliable Germany is as an ally in NATO. Instead, Germany sent 5,000 helmets. Yet, one week after Scholz said Germany would send weapons but not heavy weapons, and foreign minister Annalena Baerbock declared that Germany's armed services can no longer supply weapons from the nation's own reserves, Scholz agreed to send heavy weapons Gepard anti-aircraft guns, tanks. Scholz did back an E.U. embargo on Russian coal but continues to block E.U. sanctions on Russian gas exports, on the grounds that Germany does not have alternative energy supplies. On February 27, 2022, Scholz had announced a Zeitenwende, watershed, in German foreign policy, to invest more in defense, to impose financial sanctions on Russia, and later to send heavy weapons. It is perhaps too strong to suggest that Germany is politically hostage to Russia, but it is dependent on Russian natural gas at a time when it is closing its nuclear power plants and phasing out coal. It has helped the operation of Nord Stream 1 and preparing for Nord Stream 2. Germany is dependent on Russia for 55% of its gas. For the West, economic and logistical issues may handicap the aid to Ukraine. The energy problem exists with dependence on Russian gas: for North Macedonia, Bosnia, and Moldova, it is 100%, for Finland and Latvia in the mid-90s, for Italy 46%, and France 24%. There is the problem of supply chains, which relate to the large number of products made by Ukraine and Russia 26% of the world's exports of wheat, 16% of corn, 10% of barley, and 80% of sunflower oil and seed, and neon, used for microchips. And Russia is still the world's third largest oil producer, second producer of gas, top exporter of nickel and palladium. Nevertheless, the Russian aggression has led to changes in pre-eminence of Western countries and changes in policies in reaction against Ukraine. Putin could not have expected the strong role of Poland or the bid of Sweden and Finland to become members of NATO. Image: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. When I first read Father Raymond J. de Souzas opinion piece in Canadas National Post, entitled New report recommends turning the Armed Forces into a secular theocracy, I thought was reading a clever satire about the reductio ad absurdum of woke thinking when applied to the military. It was an effort for me to wrap my mind around the fact that he was describing the Canadian Minister of National Defence Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and DiscriminationFinal ReportJanuary 2022. The Panel concluded that all traditional Abrahamic religions that havent embraced the LGBTQ+++ pantheon, radical feminism, or polytheism have no place in Canadas armed forces. Upon perusing the Final Report, you know how the wind is blowing for traditional religion in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) when read that each Advisory Panel meeting begins with a prayer. One might expect a nice ecumenical prayer giving thanks for all the blessings in our world but thats too bland for the Ministry of Defences panel: [F]ollowing a valued tradition from many First Nations, Inuit and Metis, we use a short form of the Haudenosaunee Ohenten Kariwatekwen, the words spoken before all others. It helps us clear our minds, honour creation, and remember our responsibilities towards the land, its peoples, and our mission. Most importantly, it brings our minds together from the various individual journeys we are all on so that we can walk together for a short time. Our Advisory Panel colleague, Aronhia:nens Derek Montour has kindly guided us through this practice of gratitude, turning our minds "towards Mother Earth and her beautiful dress, towards the oceans, seas and rivers and all the creatures who live within them, towards vegetation and land-loving creatures as well as those who fly in the sky, and towards the Four Winds, our Elder Brother the Sun, our Grandfathers the thunder beings, our Grandmother Moon, and our Creator, however imagined. If youre detecting a purely pagan hostility to the Judeo-Christian tradition, youre correct. That bias is consistent with the Advisory Panels mandate, which is to root out anything hostile to the people and values of the left: All forms of systemic racism and discrimination, including anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism, LGBTQ2+ prejudice, gender bias, right-wing extremism and white supremacy are exhibited within the CAFand they must go. One senses that Black Nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism arent on the new list of no-nos in the CAF. Image: The Four ChaplainsMethodist, Jewish, Catholic, and Reformed Church in Americawho served on the S.S. Dorchester (a troopship) and died together after rescuing as many as they could and then giving up their life jackets. Father De Souza writes, The panel concedes that many CAF members find in religion a source of solace, optimism and compassion, and can turn to their unit chaplain for effective support in ethical guidance or spirituality through the new Total Health and Wellness Strategic Framework. Bureaucratese like that makes it clear that this wont end well. His foreboding is accurate: [T]he report notes that some churches exclusion of women from their priesthoods violates principles of equality and social justice, as do sexist notions embedded in their religious dogmas. In addition, certain faiths have strict tenets requiring conversion of those they deem to be pagan, or who belong to polytheistic religions. These faiths dogmas and practices conflict with the commitment of the Defence Team to value equality and inclusivity at every level of the workplace. Thus all those chaplains must go, for the CAF cannot justify hiring representatives of organizations who marginalize certain people or categorically refuse them a position of leadership. In other words, a friend of mine was right all along: He said that the lefts obsession with every type of sexuality other than biological normal and religiously moral heterosexuality isnt just about destroying nuclear families and shifting childrens allegiance to the state. It is, instead, intended to destroy the Judeo-Christian faiths in the West. Hes right and I can figure out the why of that one: The Judeo-Christian faiths create an absolute morality that transcends humans and that is not predicated on the capricious demands of animist or polytheist gods. It also makes it impossible for states to impose moral principles that run counter to the core moral principles stated in the Bible, principles that include the worth of the individual, the binary nature of human sex, the prohibition against stealing (whether the state takes your money via excessive taxes or the slavery take your liberty), the requirement to honor ones parents (again decreasing the states power), the rejection of human sacrifice.... You get my drift. Everything Canada is doing is something that the American left wants to do. You can be assured that, in the bowels of the Pentagon, a commission is shaping up to issue an American version of this report. Rabbi Michael Barclay began his article at PJ Media Saturday with this scenario, that grabbed my attention: A criminal is wrongfully killed, and peaceful demonstrations, which are actually violent riots, break out nationwide. The flag of a radical and violent group is placed next to the national flag on government buildings. Out of fear of being canceled and losing business, individuals and corporations succumb to publicly supporting this violent organization. Mandated behavior is compelled upon threat of arrest by the political elite and leadership. Despite objections from parents, schools begin teaching an alternative history and embrace prejudice, anti-Semitism, and sexual permissiveness as part of the school curriculum. A President overreaches and takes on emergency powers, which create an authoritarian regime that demands supportive behavior and calls any criticism disinformation. A new agency of the government is created to fight this disinformation an agency that even has access to armed personnel. This new agency is led by a fanatic who is arguably delusional in their own self-perception and fully committed to stopping the dissemination of any information that is not part of the authoritarian narrative. And through it all the media is a willing accomplice, even striking against other media outlets that try to present opposing views. Obviously, this sounds like a narrative of America since George Floyds death in police custody in Minneapolis. But Rabbi Barclay explains that it is actually a narrative of the development of the Nazi regime in Germany, where Horst Wessels death was used the same way career criminal George Floyds was. He explains this more completely in his essay, which I urge you to read in full. Black Lives Matter, painted by government employees, on a street leading to the White House in Washington, DC (YouTube screengrab) Like the rabbi, I am reluctant to make comparisons to Nazis and the Holocaust. They are uniquely evil and ought not to be lessened by comparison to lesser evils. So let me be clear that I am not comparing Joe Biden to Hitler. But I am comparing the political techniques employed by radical leftist fascists in the US with those used to bring about the National Socialist regime in Germany. The great lie that Hitler was a right-wing conservative has been dominant ever since Stalins USSR pushed it following the breakup of the Hitler-Stalin Pact, in order to distance itself from its former socialist ally. Hat tip: Michael Savage Polls are indicating that the Republicans have a good chance to take control of Congress in the 2022 elections. Let's hope they do before the Marxists in the Democrat party complete their destruction of the Republic. Being an avid observer of American politics for decades, I would like to humbly suggest a new rallying cry for the Republicans. They should adopt this motto: Repeal, Replace, and Restore Ruthlessly! If they win in 2022, they should actually implement this motto as rapidly and thoroughly as possible while they have the reins in their hands you know, as the Democrats always do. You have to give the Democrats credit for being ruthless and relentless in advancing their twisted ideology and forcing it on a mostly unwilling populace. Leftists never hesitate to implement their destructive policies as soon as they get even a one-vote majority. To them, one more vote than the Republicans is a mandate to implement radical fundamental transformation in the United States. I won't continue to beat that dead horse, or donkey in this case, because there are plenty of examples of the depravity of the left, and it seems that there's no level of deceit too low for them to further the cause. The Republicans, on the other hand, with few exceptions, seem unable to lower themselves to fight for the people who elected them when they are handed the reins of power. They seem to be relieved to be back in charge, and now things can just return to normal. Sorry, Republicans there is no "normal" to go back to. What is taking place in society and in the political realm is total and all-out war on "normal" by the leftist, Marxist, communist (LMC) cabal that has taken over the Democrat party, and the "normal" Democrats always vote to support the policies of the LMC cabal, so they support the war on the rest of us. We are engaged in a war to save our country, so fight to win! If the Republicans don't screw this up and actually get into power, they need to stop dithering, stop worrying about "reaching across the aisle," where their hand is always spat on or bitten, and go on the offensive. Let's start with Repeal! The Democrats have rammed through their destructive agenda to "fundamentally transform" America into a failed state like you know, the hell-holes that Democrat-controlled cities have become, only on a national scale this time. Republicans need to repeal as much of this agenda as they can immediately. In fact, they should take a play from the Democrat book and have the legislation drawn up, ready to go as soon as they take control. What they cannot repeal, they should defund. No more goody bags of money for left-wing communist organizations and enemies of America to attack us. Clean it all out of the budget, fire the leftists in charge of these initiatives, and starve them out. This is war, folks; act like it! Replace! Don't get all self-satisfied with winning an election and start congratulating each other at Beltway cocktail hours. Get busy replacing all the leftists in charge of the Deep State agencies. And how about this one: actually close down many of the unconstitutional departments that waste taxpayer dollars and promote the destruction of our country, our morals, and our inalienable God-given rights? You ever heard of a "hatchet man"? You know, some hard-ass chief administrator brought in to kick butt and take names? Hire a bunch of them who support the Constitution and limited government to come in and...well, limit the government! Plan ahead, name names, and line up loyal competent outsiders ready to go on day one. Fire everybody you can, and put your people in place to "drain the swamp" the way Trump was supposed to do before he found himself up to his ax in alligators. Restore! While the shock and awe campaign is proceeding, don't waste time. Again, have the plans and the legislation ready and waiting and begin restoring the rights of the people and returning us to the constitutional republic our founders envisioned. Act like a determined boxer who comes out of the corner at the bell and starts swinging and doesn't stop the attack until the opponent is on the floor. Keep the opposition in disarray, fighting battles on all fronts so they never notice the flanking attack that puts them in the pincers and finishes them off. Restore fiscal sanity, restore military strength and integrity, restore robust and environmentally responsible energy development, restore our place in the world as a leader and defender of human rights, restore sensible immigration law, restore honesty and transparency in government, restore election laws and election integrity. Do all this, and you will start to restore the American people's faith in their government. Finally, do all of this Ruthlessly. Not ruthlessly as in evil, ignoring truth, morality, and rights of the people, like the Democrats. I am suggesting an attitude of "never stop until the job is done" kind of ruthless. Leaders have to make hard decisions and follow through with actions that are often unpopular. Just realize that the hyenas in the media, academia, and the opposition will howl like the demons of hell. Be ruthless in ignoring their clamor, and forge ahead, knowing they howl because you are winning the war. Communists told us decades ago what their plan was to destroy the U.S. without firing a shot and they are well on their way to doing just that. It is time for the good people of the United States to rise up and take the battle to the opposition because if we don't we are on the verge of losing our nation. It is time that Republicans show the way by Repealing the radical agenda of the left; Replacing the laws and the people who would destroy our Republic; Restoring freedom from government control of our lives and pursuing these noble ideals legally, morally, and Ruthlessly until the enemy is routed and our nation is once again resting upon the constitutional foundations that made us a great nation from the very beginning. Image via Public Domain Pictures. MACAO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) recorded 41,584 visitors on Saturday, the first day of the five-day International Labor Day holiday in the mainland, the tourism office of the Macao SAR government said Sunday. It was the highest daily number of visitors to Macao recorded this year, 144.7 percent higher than the daily average number of visitors to the SAR recorded in March, the office said. Shortly before the holiday, Macao loosened its border control with the mainland, requiring those entering Macao from the neighboring Guangdong Province to present negative nucleic acid test reports effective within 72 hours instead of the previous 48 hours. A series of festive events will also be staged in Macao aiming to attract tourists, including drone performances. Jill Biden is not an inherently interesting person. Shes been a teacher for some decades now, wrote an undistinguished thesis to get a meaningless Ed.D., and now functions as her husbands nursemaid. She also lacks charm. And, of course, shes White. Why someone thought a biography of her would be interesting is impossible to understand although a biography that took two people to write hit the market this past weekand completely bombed. Here is Jills bio in a nutshell: She dropped out of junior college, got married, and went to the University of Delaware to be an English major. She and her husband separated and she began dating Biden, then a Senator and widower with two children. Her divorce came through, she graduated with an English degree, and started working as a teacher. She and Joe married but she never adopted his boys. She got a Master of Education. And then she got another Master of Education. She taught English classes. She got her Ed.D., based on a badly written thesis (almost as bad as Michelle Obamas Bachelors thesis), which is bizarre considering her English language background. She wants people to call her Dr., which is the height of narcissism. Image: Jill Biden. YouTube screen grab. And thats it, except for the fact that shes clearly Joes minder now, telling him when to speak and when to stay silent, and when to walk and where. Thats just in front of the cameras. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors? Its not a bad resume for a middle-class married woman. Its just utterly average. Nevertheless, Julie Page and Darlene Superville, both of whom are AP reporters, thought there was something there, something people would pay $26 for a hardback to learn about. Their instincts were entirely wrong, as their book had one of the worst first weeks in biography history (emphasis mine): The American people are decidedly disinclined to pay $26 for a book about the life of President Joe Biden's primary caretaker. Politico reports that a recently published biography of Dr. Jill Biden, Ed.D, sold just 250 copies in its first week of circulation. The Politico article, which documents the professional anxiety of White House correspondents who find it "boring and difficult" to cover an administration whose policies they wholeheartedly support, cites the poor sales of Jill: A Biography of the First Lady by AP reporters Julie Pace and Darlene Superville as an example of why journalists are so bummed out now that a Democrat is in charge. Truly no one cares about Jill Biden. There is nothing to care about. Its like reading the biography of your next-door neighbor whos nice enough (as Obama once said of Hillary) but never did anything special. Theres an expression warning against putting lipstick on a pig. Jill Biden is not a pig. Shes the closest living thing to an empty space and trying to put lipstick on her and then market her as a star is going to be as wasted an effort as it would be if she were a piggish human being. Exhilarated after retaking both houses of Congress and the presidency, the Democrats are behaving as though they have carte blanche to destroy all vestiges of their political opposition by whatever means necessary. Progressive liberals want to completely eradicate anyone with an incompatible vision. Democrats are literally beginning to sound like ISIS, tweeted conservative commentator Candace Owens. Recite the Quran or get your head chopped off, now! Absolutely psychopathic, Owens said. Conservative positions are attacked as disinformation and the purveyors are canceled. If you suggest that global warming is a hoax, you are spreading disinformation. If you so much as bring up the topic of election fraud, you are spreading disinformation. If you warn that Joe Bidens intention to open our borders can lead to disastrous outcomes, you are spreading disinformation. For anyone who believes in free speech, this kind of insidious censorship is terrifying. What is disinformation? Disinformation is information that is intended to mislead or obscure the truth. In a disturbing development for freedom of speech, the Biden administration announced that it will collaborate with social media to crack down on any information that is critical of Bidens vaccination policy. Disinformation, said Tucker Carlson, seems to be anything the Biden administration does not want the people to know including, for example, how effective the COVID vaccines actually are and what the potential side effects might be from taking them. You would no longer be allowed to text such information to other people. Your private conversations would be controlled by Joe Biden and the Democrats. The Biden administration considers censorship applicable to private speech, said Carlson. To add insult to injury, we have a new development that frankly is beyond my comprehension. The president has created an information czar to spy on American citizens. Biden is establishing what he calls the Disinformation Governance Board as part of the Department of Homeland Security. Its purpose, said DHS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, is to identify individuals who could be descending into violence by reason of ideologies of hate, false narratives, or other disinformation and misinformation propagated on social media and other platforms. Tucker Carlson summed it up perfectly. They are using law enforcement powers to identify and punish people who think the wrong thing, Carlson said. That would be opponents of the Biden administration. Joe Bidens partisan political enemies are now officially enemies of the state. In other words, DHS will be looking to punish conservatives who have not committed a crimebut could do so in the future. Critics are comparing the Disinformation Governance Board to the Ministry of Truth from George Orwells dystopian novel 1984. We live in terrifying times, said journalist Sara Carter. Thats what you do to an enemy. Its not what you do to the American people. Charles Hurt of the Washington Times warns that If Democrats and Republicans in Congress are not terrified by this and doing everything they can to stop it, then were donewere finished. Bidens Ministry of Truth will be listening to your phone calls and emails, and monitoring your social media posts as they do in China. No private communication of prohibited ideas will be allowed. If you say anything critical of the Biden/Harris administration, you could wind up in Guantanamo. Will Congress be able to stop this? Not this do-nothing Congress. Active resistance may come from the 75 million people who voted for Trump. Shutting down a minority is one thing, but canceling 75 million voters is something else entirely. This is not just an attack on free speech, said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. This is an attack on an entire movement of people with the intent of driving them undergroundkeeping them from getting jobs, having legal representation, and even cutting them off from legitimate financial transactions. They're as far left as Lenin, said political commentator Dan Bongino. Do liberals not grasp how totalitarian this is? Once the door is open, we can kiss free speech goodbye. If we cant acknowledge that there are two sides to every story, the U.S. is well on the way to becoming a totalitarian state. It starts with accusations of spreading disinformation and ends with a call for purging conservatives and sending their children to indoctrination camps. If liberty means anything at all, said George Orwell, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. The prognosis for the short term is not good. Some people are saying, Dont worry, it will get better soon. Try saying that to the prisoner about to be guillotined. Ed Brodow is a conservative political commentator, negotiation expert, and author of eight books including Tyranny of the Minority: How the Left is Destroying America. He is a former US Marine officer, Fortune 500 sales executive, and Hollywood movie actor. City Journal's Christopher F. Rufo reports that "Evanston-Skokie School District 65 has adopted a radical gender curriculum that teaches pre-kindergarten through third-grade students to celebrate the transgender flag, break the 'gender binary' established by white 'colonizers,' and experiment with neo-pronouns such as 'ze,' 'zir,' and 'tree.'" (Tree?) In his piece, Rufo claimed that he had "obtained the full curriculum documents, which are part of the Chicago-area district's 'LGBTQ+ Equity Week,' which administrators adopted last year." This is yet another instance of an educational institution going all out to "groom" meaning indoctrinate young children into acting, behaving, and identifying in ways that please and favor those in control of that educational institution. It is the creepiest form of coercion imaginable. It is an abuse of power. It is child abuse. It is monstrous. And it must stop. Deliberately confusing pre-pubescent children about the most fundamental aspects of their beings, in front of their peers, should be punishable by law. "Educators" who do so while attempting to hide that fact from their students' parents should be incarcerated. It is bizarre but illuminating, that government schools are telling young children that they can identify as any sex or gender they wish to be, while at the same time telling them and their parents that they do not have the freedom to determine what goes into their bodies by way of government-mandated experimental injection. The only autonomy they want kids to possess is over something they can't possibly control: biology. God's will. Most of those in government, and nearly all of those in the "Democratic" Party, want to be the arbiters of truth. Because if you get to determine what the truth is, your power will be total and endless. The more tyrannical the government, the more it despises honesty and transparency. And, as Orwell noted, "[t]he further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it." We have seen that with the shameless attacks on Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and countless others. We have seen that with Dr. Robert Malone and physicians who opposed vaccine and mask mandates. We have seen that with President Trump getting kicked off Twitter. And you can imagine what's happened to true conservatives, especially those who have no real fame, fortune, or power. Untold numbers of bloggers, tweeters, Youtubers, and Facebook-posters have been shadowbanned, "canceled," de-platformed, demonetized, demonized. Our intolerant elite rulers have successfully fostered a culture of lies. And now we are witnessing the creation of the Biden administration's Government Disinformation Board Ministry of Truth. Frightening. Orwell again: "In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act." You can bet the new Government Disinformation Board will deem that quote "disinformation." Image via Pxhere. Two successive Manhattan District Attorneys, Cyrus Vance, Jr. and Alvin Bragg, have dug for dirt on Donald Trump, looking for something anything on which to indict him. And they have failed. The Washington Post: A six-month grand jury that was convened late last year to hear evidence against Donald Trump was set to expire this week, closing a chapter in a lengthy criminal investigation that appears to be fizzling out without charges against the former president, people familiar with matter said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who took office in January, inherited a probe launched by his predecessor, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., who was convinced that there was a case against Trump for crimes related to manipulating the value of property assets to secure tax advantages or better loan rates. The grand jury was convened in November with a mandate to hear evidence against the former president. But the decision on whether to finish the presentation and ask the panel to vote on charges would ultimately fall on Bragg, who decided to pause the process, according to people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss information that has not been declared publicly. Nobody wants to be publicly associated with this disappointment for Trump-haters. The New York Times adds: The grand jurys expiration at the end of the month does not preclude prosecutors from impaneling another jury, but the developments underscore the reduced possibility that Mr. Trump will face charges under Mr. Bragg, who along with several other prosecutors had concerns about proving the case. Some people close to the inquiry believe that it will not result in an indictment of the former president unless a witness cooperates unexpectedly a long shot in an investigation that has been running for more than three years. In recent weeks, Mr. Braggs prosecutors have issued a few additional subpoenas that indicate they are continuing to investigate but have not found a new path to charging Mr. Trump. Donald Trump must be the most-investigated real estate tycoon in the history of the United States. The fact that dedicated poetical political enemies with vast resources at their disposal have come up with nothing is a testament to his probity. In a field notorious for questionable practices when it comes to seeking permits and dealing with rapacious inspectors of various stripes, Donald Trump evidently has kept his hands clean. Dont ever expect an apology from his many critics who have assured us for years that he is a crook. Photo credit: Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the world's reactions to it have rightfully overwhelmed the news in the past weeks. The sanctions imposed on Russia by the West are making news but have minor effects on America. The consequences of the sanctions are limited in the United States because of the narrow economic relationships between Russia and America. Russia is America's 40th largest goods export market and 20th largest supplier of goods imports. Trade in services is also relatively small by world standards, with the withdrawal of Western companies like McDonald's making headlines but purely symbolic. The United States is a special case because much of the world will be more severely impacted by the loss of Russian and Ukrainian grains and Russian energy. Russia was the world's largest exporter of grain in 2017. While world attention is riveted on Eastern Europe, America's thoughts should be further focused on the real potential threat to America and the American economy: China. U.S.-China economic engagement dwarfs American-Russian exchanges, resulting in the fact that any attempt at economic sanctions by either side would be suicidal for both. As Ukraine vs. Russia captures the headlines, China sits on the sidelines, battling another COVID wave from which it will likely emerge scarred but not disfigured. The extent of American interdependence with China remains virtually unacknowledged. A fracture in U.S. China trade caused by sanctions or other circumstances will have untold net negative effects on both countries. The facts are these. America is China's largest goods export market, and China is America's third-largest goods export market. American farmers depend on China and vice versa. In 2020, China is the largest single buyer of U.S. agricultural exports explicitly soybeans and pork purchasing approximately 6.4 percent of total exports or $21.4 billion's worth of these commodities from the U.S. In addition, China is a substantial purchaser of American aerospace products, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electronic components, and electronic instruments. Looking from a corporate revenue perspective, certain American businesses rely heavily on China's market such as Wynn Resorts, Micron Technology, and Qorvo, each generating more than 50 percent of their revenues in China. Hardly a household name, Skyworks Solutions Inc., a semiconductor manufacturer, owes over 80 percent of its semiconductor sales of over $5 billion to China. Skyworks experienced 50 percent sales growth last year, with a net income of $1.5 billion. Qualcomm sells wireless technology to China, with over 65 percent of its revenues originating there. Other international players such as Broadband, Inc; Texas Instruments Inc.; Amphenol Corp; Intel Corp.; Western Digital; and Corning, respectively, have 54, 30, 30, 24, 22, and 22 percent of their revenues generated in China. Household names Starbucks and Apple each have substantial interests (20 percent) in the China market. On the other side of the market, Apple produces about 40 percent of its products in China, and Nike produces about 20 percent of its products there. Other American firms relying heavily on China for their production are IBM, CISCO, and Walmart. Moving one layer below the corporate shell, we look to the owners of these businesses. Who represents substantial shareholder investments in most of these companies? The clear answer is large mutual funds. For example, Vanguard owns over 8 percent each of the 18 largest China revenuedependent firms, including 10.44 percent of Skyworks Solutions, Inc. It is impossible to summarize the corporate social responsibility gibberish produced by the communications department at Vanguard, but a reasonable summation is "the interests of our clients should always come first is foremost among our values. We recognize that good ethics are good business, and we adhere to a simple motto: do the right thing." If investments in companies substantially dependent on China for their revenues are the right thing one needs to think harder about what the right thing is. State Street Global Advisors holds over 4 percent of each of the 16 largest China revenuedependent companies. State Street, too, has an exhaustive Social Responsibility statement, which, until 2020, subscribed to the "Modern Slavery Act Statement," which might justifiably apply to China. Another big hand dipping in China-dependent American companies is BlackRock, whose chairman and chief executive officer, Larry Fink, has written his (in)famous stakeholder letters dealing mostly with the Environmental aspects of ESG, with the "S" getting the short shift. In his most recent letter, "people" get three mentions if one generously counts the People's Bank of China from a footnote. BlackRock holds an average of over 5 percent of the largest 14 Chinese revenuedependent stocks. The Olympic diplomatic boycott was the easily visible virtue-signaling tip of the iceberg of opposing China's evil. Russia is not an easy target, but American trade with Russia is dwarfed by the United States' engagement with China. If Americans ever find it in our interest to do the right thing vis-a-vis China, the only way of disengaging will involve a great deal of pain to everyone not just a few government officials and media moochers. Given the depth of American engagement with China, the Taiwanese and the 17 other countries in territorial disputes with China, including India, must be anxious about American support when the pinch comes. Image via Pxhere. In a sign that Ukraine's just war for survival against Russian attack is growing more partisan-politicized and subject to domestic U.S. politics, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has turned up in Kyiv, along with six other extremely rabid leftist Democrats. The junketeers met with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who welcomed them warmly, as he always does with assorted political pilgrims these days. According to the Daily Mail: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a congressional delegation to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's president before heading to Poland for talks with officials there on Sunday. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia's war began more than two months ago. Her visit to Kyiv on Saturday marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Moscow. The roster of dishonor is here: The full congressional delegation included Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Schiff, of California who chairs the House Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the House Rules Committee; Jason Crow of Colorado; Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts. 'You all are welcome,' Zelensky told the delegation. Which was weird stuff. Start with the fact that this wasn't Joe Biden or his wretched vice president, Kamala Harris, who were doing the visiting. Nor was it Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who presumably should be handing this kind of diplomacy. These were the most partisan of legislative hacks, some of them way down on the totem pole, with absolutely no claim nor right to be practicing diplomacy. Presumably, they were there to go fact-finding, as congressional delegations do, but in this meeting, there were "talks." In other words, the visit was not a mere photo-op for show, to demonstrate how "brave" these Democrats are to go to rocket-hit Kyiv, in other words. The Mail reported that there was a three-hour meeting between the congressional clowns and Ukraine's President Zelensky. That House intelligence committee chief Adam Schiff was there, with the rather helpful-to-Putin-to-know news that the U.S. was sharing intelligence and would continue to share intelligence with Ukraine was broadcasted out as one thing. But is a guy like Schiff really interested in Ukraine? The Hollywood-area congressman doesn't have a lot of Ukraine-descended constituents in his district and tends to hang around creatures like the now-convicted pervert Ed Buck. Schiff was never about Ukraine. Schiff's put out no policy papers, taken no unusual stances. His interest in Ukraine as chief of the House intelligence committee has resided in one area -- in his failed efforts to impeach President Trump, and these days to keep him from running for re-election in 2024. Which might mean a visit to warn Zelensky to be a useful tool in this. After all, there are no phone transcripts of these meetings -- in-person meetings under the label of congressional delegations can be quite useful in this regard. Did they warn or threaten Zelensky to play the obedient puppet in Schiff's ongoing mission to Get Trump or no more aid? Don't be surprised if that is what happened. The all-Democrats structure of this congressional junket definitely points to some partisan political aim. Public statements, after all, have been about President Zelensky thanking the representatives for the billions in aid. But, isn't U.S. support for Ukraine a bi-partisan affair in U.S. Congress? Haven't nearly all Republicans and Democrats voted for any multi-billion-dollar aid package that Joe Biden has requested? There've been several of them since February. How passing strange that only the most partisan Democrats were included on this junket, with zero Republicans? Something substantial went on and it was important that no Republicans were included in it. Other repellent Democrats on this junket included Jim McGovern, who like Sean Penn, is famous for his support for Hugo Chavez who destroyed Venezuela with Putin's support. McGovern is a classic Sandalista leftist, glomming onto any violent or oppressive Latin American communist he can find until the disaster that results gets too big. He turned up in the captured computer of a notorious FARC leader blown away by the Colombian military in 2006 as a wonderful ally of the Marxist narcoterrorists. He was a big fan of the Marxist Sandinistas of Nicaragua, who turned that country into a socialist hellhole through the 'miracle' of fraudulent elections, as did McGovern's hero, Big Hugo in Caracas. Now Zelensky, who's fighting for his country's independence and freedom, is his new Sandalista target of support? It's like Sean Penn who's loudly supported Ukraine to sell a documentary he's making. But Zelensky hanging out with a creature inevitably makes Ukraine's war less pure and makes one wonder where it's going once Ukraine wins its war and casts the Russian bear out. There's also Pelosi -- the most partisan creature in Congress, with some senility issues same as Joe Biden. What did she demand of Zelensky in exchange for her visit -- was it statements from Zelensky that Trump was a bad guy? Was it protection for Hunter Biden, whose business dealings in Ukraine are getting more politically problematic for Joe than ever as the facts roll out? Nancy Pelosi has been the tightest of allies with doddering Joe Biden and would clearly be willing to save his presidency if she could. With billions of dollars at stake for Ukraine, it might be very hard for Zelensky to not take an offer he can't refuse from her. We all know that Joe Biden used such leverage when he got the Ukrainian prosecutor looking into Hunter Biden's business dealings fired, with a mere billion-dollar aid package at stake. Joe even bragged about it. Pelosi plays a much harder game than corrupt Joe, and might just be there to squeeze Zelensky harder. What a foul smell this leaves in Kyiv. Right now we don't know what's going on as nothing but photo op palaver has been revealed. The American people, though, do have a right to know. Maybe it will take November's midterm results to sort this out. But the stench is there. Image: Screen shot from France24 video, via YouTube The news of Elon Musk clinching a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion, was celebrated by proponents of freedom of speech. Twitter, that at its core is a great idea, is a forum where ideas are succinctly expressed and exchanged. But alas, Twitter was taken over by left-wing Democrat extremists under whose watch it has devolved into an echo chamber. Twitter frequently suppresses inconvenient facts ranging from a bombshell report about Hunter Biden's laptop in 2020 to Tweets questioning the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine. Since the news of his takeover, users have inundated Musk with suggestions on how to make the platform better. Among the leading suggestions is the elimination of anonymity on Twitter. Governor Mike Huckabee thinks it is a good idea. I hope @elonmusk will insist that all Twitter posters use their real names & not be keyboard cowards hiding behind silly little sophomoric screen names. Be man enough or woman enough (if you even know what that is) to stand by what you say! If you cant own it dont say it. Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 30, 2022 Musk responded as follows: Authentication is important, but so is anonymity for many. A balance must be struck. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 1, 2022 Lets dig deeper. During enrollment, Twitter verifies that a confirmed email address or mobile phone number is associated with an account. Twitter has a two-factor authentication process. The first is obviously the username and password. The second is the entry of a security key received via email or text message on a phone to verify the users identity. While signing in on a daily basis, only the username and password are required. Those who desire anonymity can confirm their identity via email with a cryptic username instead of their mobile device while enrolling. One of the issues on Twitter, that even Musk has complained about, is bots. These are dummy accounts whose sole function is either to boost follower counts of certain users or push an agenda to influence others. Bots can enable the call for cancellation by claiming that "Mr. ABC was excoriated by thousands of users on Twitter for his bigoted utterances But the trend might have been pushed by a thousand bogus accounts run by Democrat operatives. Making authentication more robust will eliminate bots. Perhaps in addition to a confirmed email address or mobile phone number, Twitter could mandate that the users drivers or other government ID be verified during enrolment. This would eliminate the issue of bots. Even if users are allowed to remain anonymous after signing in, the thought that their account is linked with a government ID could deter users from expressing themselves freely. What if Huckabees recommendation is also implemented, i.e. in addition to government verification while enrollment, and every user has to have their own display photo and real name while tweeting? Most people use their cloak of anonymity to express ideas that they would hesitate to express in person. Some claim that anonymity is the sole reason behind abusive and hateful online behavior. But there are other circumstances that require anonymity. Often the message is more important than the individual. Perhaps a whistleblower wants to reveal large-scale corruption or wrongdoing at his place of work but doesn't know whom to turn to. Being anonymous is the only way the individual can express himself freely without fear of reprisal. The hope is that his tweets will cause an internal or external investigation that is followed by remedial action. People often hesitate to even file police complaints because they do not want to be mixed up with the law. Here again, social media anonymity can be invaluable. Perhaps an individual witnesses a crime in progress but hesitates to call the police because he doesnt want to be subjected to questioning and participate in court hearings. If, however, the user can tweet anonymously to law enforcement, precious lives could be saved without the complainant being mixed up with the law. We know that most big corporate houses, showbiz, educational institutions, and NGOs are overwhelmingly liberal. Conservatives often have no option but to be reticent about their opinions at work. Being anonymous once again is the only way they can express their political views on social media and meet many others like them. If users are compelled to reveal their identities, they will probably remain silent and independent voices will be lost. The result is Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper will still be able to tweet about the debunked Russian Collusion story but a covert Trump supporter working in Hollywood will not be able to reply and debunk her story for fear of reprisals at the workplace. It is not just politics, there may be other scenarios where people desire anonymity. Perhaps an individual suffers from a rare health disorder and wants to interact with others who suffer from it without having to disclose their identity. Under totalitarian regimes, anonymity on social media may be the only way to express dissent. Beyond social media, many writers have used nom de plume to conceal their identity. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte published Jane Eyre and, Wuthering Heights under the pseudonyms of three brothers, Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. It has to be remembered that absolute anonymity is impossible on social media. Irrespective of how cryptic a Twitter handle and display photo is, an identity (and address) of a user can be exposed by determined cyber experts. This occurred with the famous Twitter account Libs of TikTok, which merely reposts the voluntarily posted ridiculous utterances of the woke liberals. The Washington Post carried an article that revealed the identity of the individual who runs the account. The risk of this doxing is that the user could suffer both professionally and personally. Perhaps an irate waiter sneezes into her soup or an angry left-winger resorts to violence. The user will have to always be on the lookout for the rest of her life. What about those who incite violence and hate? Twitter can easily remove such content if law enforcement issues directives. There have been plenty of instances when this has been done. Anonymity is related to privacy which is regarded as a human right. The right to remain anonymous hence must be respected. In the end, we cannot deny responsible individuals their right to express themselves freely just rogue elements will abuse it. Privacy by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not shy away from dealing with issues of misconduct within her party. The First Minister made the comments while appearing on Sophy Ridges Sky News on Sunday programme as she called for misogyny and harassment to be better dealt with in politics. It comes following the resignation of a Conservative backbencher who stood down after watching pornography in the Commons. SNP MP Patrick Grady is being investigated over claims reported to Westminsters Independent Complaints and Grievance Service (Andrew Milligan/PA) Ms Sturgeon was also asked about sexual misconduct allegations within her own party, as SNP MP Patrick Grady is investigated over claims he groped two male researchers. The incidents are alleged to have occurred at a Christmas party in 2016. Mr Grady, an MP for Glasgow North, stood aside as chief whip following the claims, which were reported to Westminsters Independent Complaints and Grievance Service (ICGS). An independent panel is expected to investigate the allegations. Speaking on Sky News, the First Minister said she did not know the status of the investigation. She said: Ive seen what has been reported, as I understand it the process is under way. I have not seen any findings. But Ms Sturgeon stressed she was not trying to dodge the issue and said the claims should be fully investigated. She added: Im not trying to dodge this. Its important that the process is allowed to proceed. When I do know whether finally things have been upheld, Im happy to come on and talk to you about that. And Im happy to be open about what I think should happen in those circumstances. Tory backbencher Neil Parish admitted watching pornography in the Commons (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA) Her comments came as she called for a culture of misogyny and sexism with Westminster to be investigated, amid reports 15 complaints have been made about inappropriate conduct by male MPs. These include Neil Parish who admitted to watching pornography in the Commons after female MPs complained about his actions. The Conservative Party suspended him and he has since resigned as an MP. Ms Sturgeon added: But what I will say is I think parties cannot simply throw stones when its people in other parties who have been found guilty of these things. We all have to apply these standards to ourselves and I will not shy away from that when I do know what the outcome of these processes are. She said the issues could deter women from entering into politics for fear of being targeted. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who previously sat as an MP before becoming an MSP, said there was a clear culture of misogyny and sexism in the corridors of power across society. Speaking in Glasgow, he said: For far too often, the onus is on women to have to think about or change their behaviour, when ultimately it is men who need to change their behaviour. Women often have to think twice before they walk down certain streets, about the charge on their mobile phones when they are out and about. It is a toxic culture which is undermining the very principles that all of us, I hope, will try to hold dear to. We have got to get men to understand and change their behaviour. (Reuters) - Giant online retailer Amazon.com Inc will end its paid time-off policy for employees with COVID-19 from May 2, the company told U.S.-based staff on Saturday. The change follows the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and revised guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it said. The U.S.-based staff will now get five days of excused, unpaid leave following a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, Amazon told workers in a message it provided to Reuters. "We can continue to safely adjust to our pre-COVID policies," the company said, citing the sustained easing of the pandemic, the availability of vaccines and treatments, and updated public health guidance. The changes come amid a stream of challenges for Amazon after a recent effort to unionize some warehouses. In April, workers at its warehouse in New York City voted to form the first union. On Saturday, Amazon said it is halting site-wide notifications of positive cases in facilities, unless required by law, as well as efforts to encourage vaccination. In January, Amazon trimmed paid leave for workers with the virus to one week, or up to 40 hours. Before that, they got two weeks of paid time off for COVID-19. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma and Sabahatjahan Contractor in Bengaluru) Security personnel inspect the blast site of the terrorist attack inside a university in Karachi, Pakistan, April 26, 2022. (Xinhua) The terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said Pakistani President Arif Alvi. Pakistan will thwart any attempt to undermine its relations with China, he said. ISLAMABAD, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will thwart any attempt to undermine its relations with China, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Saturday, after a terrorist attack killed three Chinese nationals in Karachi earlier this week. A shuttle passenger van of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi was attacked on Tuesday, which has left three Chinese teachers killed. During his visit to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the president expressed condolences to the Chinese side over the deaths of the teachers, and strongly condemned the attack, saying that Pakistan will spare no effort to fight against terrorism and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country. The victims were friendly ambassadors who promoted people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China, he said, adding that the terrorists aimed at damaging the Pakistan-China friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif (C, front) visits the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to express his deepest condolences to the families of victims and the government and people of China after the terrorist attack inside a university, Islamabad, Pakistan, April 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) Pakistan's development and the corridor construction cannot be achieved without the support of China, an "iron brother" of Pakistan, the president stressed. Pang Chunxue, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, thanked Alvi for his visit, and said that China strongly condemns the terrorist attack and has asked the Pakistani side to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. China will join hands with Pakistan to ensure the safety of the Chinese citizens, projects and institutions in Pakistan, combat terrorism and promote regional peace and stability, she added. A Sinn Fein victory in the Stormont Assembly elections will send the message that it is business as usual with the Northern Ireland Protocol, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The DUP leader was addressing a rally in Bangor, Co Down, where he said both the UK Government and the EU now recognised that the protocol needed to be changed. Speaking ahead of the rally, Sir Jeffrey said: Unionism stands united in opposition to the protocol. That must continue to be our focus. There are too many divisions. This election will be won and lost on transfers. I want every unionist to give the DUP their first preference but I want them to then continue and transfer to the other pro-union candidates. The rally is the latest in a series which have been taking place across Northern Ireland outlining unionist and loyalist opposition to the post-Brexit protocol, which sees additional checks on goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. It is strongly opposed by unionists as a border in the Irish Sea. Earlier this year, the DUP pulled out of the Stormont Executive in protest at the protocol and the party has vowed not to re-enter government after Thursdays election until their concerns have been addressed. Sir Jeffrey continued: The protocol has driven up haulage costs between GB and NI by 27% and placed a border between us and our most important trading partner Great Britain as well as jeopardising our medicine supply in the middle of a health pandemic. We have made progress in convincing many of the merits of our case. From a position of no renegotiation, the EU and the Government now recognise the need for change. The Government knows that the Protocol does not enjoy the support of Unionists and Brussels can be in no doubt that the Protocol has cast its long shadow over Northern Irelands political arrangements. If Sinn Fein wins this election, the message to London, Dublin and Brussels will be business as usual with the protocol. Jim Allister, of the TUV, speaks during a anti-Northern Ireland Protocol rally in Ballymena (Mark Marlow/PA) The meeting was also addressed by TUV leader Jim Allister as well as Baroness Kate Hoey and former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib, who are among a group who have launched legal action against the protocol, which is due to be heard at the Supreme Court. They also spoke at an anti-protocol rally held earlier in the day in Ballymena, Co Antrim. Mr Allister told the Co Antrim rally that there can be no return of the Stormont powersharing Executive until the protocol is removed. Baroness Kate Hoey speaks (Mark Marlow/PA) A number of loyal order bands marched through Ballymena before several hundred people gathered in the town centre to hear speeches. Mr Allister said: We must bring the mendacious Prime Minister who put this iniquitous protocol upon us to the point where he has to make a choice. And the leverage we have is to make the Prime Minister choose: do you want to save the protocol, or do you want to save Stormont? People attend the rally in Ballymena, County Antrim (Mark Marlow/PA) You cannot have both. And the reason I say you cant have both is very simple: the price of Stormont is to implement the protocol and it is a price no unionist can pay or ever should have paid. He added: The core premise of the protocol is that GB is a foreign country and that Northern Ireland, in trading terms, is an integral part of the EU on what is to be the economically integrated island of Ireland. The declaration of GB as a third or foreign country cuts to the very heart of the Union. Little wonder the Court of Appeal admitted the protocol has subjugated Article 6 of the Acts of Union the very basis of the economic union of the Union. Jim Allister, of the TUV, Baroness Kate Hoey and Ben Habib wait to speak during the rally in Ballymena (Mark Marlow/PA) Lady Hoey said: I think people are angry in the pro-union community. I think we are angry at the way Northern Ireland has been treated by our own Government, but also particularly by the way the Irish Government and the European Union have colluded together to do what they could to set Northern Ireland apart from the rest of the United Kingdom. I think we all know how the protocol has divided Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom, the principle of consent which was so crucial to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which many of us voted for. Now how betrayed we feel that the principle of consent has been overruled by our own government and by a European Union that used Northern Ireland to punish the rest of the United Kingdom. The price of Brexit to the people within the European parliament is going to be Northern Ireland. Well, we are not going to let that happen. None of us want to go back to dreadful days of violence but we cannot have a situation where our Government is ignoring the majority community in Northern Ireland. Ben Habib addresses the crowd during the rally (Mark Marlow/PA) Referring to Thursdays Stormont elections, Mr Habib said: We have to have a unionist majority in Stormont, we have to use that unionist majority to bring Stormont down. There can be no Stormont for as long as the protocol exists. If we get that unionist majority then it is down to you people to hold those politicians to account, to make sure that they do what they promised which is to not allow the Executive to form and to ensure Stormont is not reformed until the protocol goes. You cannot have Stormont and the protocol, the protocol has to go first. More than 200 people have crossed the Channel to Dover after an apparent pause of 11 days, the PA news agency understands. Witnesses saw large groups being brought ashore by UK Border Force officials on Sunday, BBC News reported. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is understood to be aware of a number of events still ongoing in the Channel but would not comment on specific numbers of people arriving. The MoD took over control of migrant operations in April, when the Government also announced controversial plans to send some of those making the cross-Channel journey to Rwanda. There is believed to have been a 11-day break in activity around the Channel from April 20 to 30, when no crossings were recorded amid reports of strong winds and choppy seas. Two longer gaps of 16 and 13 days without crossings were recorded earlier this year, before the Rwanda deal was announced. The MoD publishes data on the daily number of detected border crossings retrospectively, so Sundays official figures will be confirmed on Monday. A Government spokesperson said: The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws but they also impact on the UK taxpayer, risk lives and our ability to help refugees come to the UK via safe and legal routes. The Governments Nationality and Borders Bill dubbed the anti-refugee Bill by campaigners as it makes it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and includes powers to process asylum seekers overseas became law on Thursday. Earlier in April, Home Secretary Priti Patel signed what she described as a world-first agreement with Rwanda. The deal will see the east African nation receive asylum seekers deemed by the UK to be inadmissible, having arrived illegally under new immigration rules, but it has been met with criticism and is already facing legal challenges. Since the start of the year, at least 6,693 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats, according to data compiled by PA. That is more than three times the amount recorded this time last year (2,004) and over six times the figure for the same period in 2020 (1,006). Typically there can be periods of several days or weeks without migrant crossings throughout the year, often depending on weather conditions. The longest period without any crossings so far in 2022 was 16 days, between January 27 and February 11, PA analysis of Government figures shows. Until February 2020, Sylvia Gonzalez, a lifelong New York City resident, would take the subway daily: from home to school, then to work and back home. Now shes nervous about the sheer thought of stepping onto a subway platform. I'd much rather risk traffic or being on a bike in the city than take the subway, Gonzalez, who recently finished graduate school and now works in finance, told Yahoo News. Honestly, it doesnt feel safe down there, and it hasnt for a while. Gonzalez isnt alone in her reluctance to use public transit. Two years into a pandemic that saw train and bus ridership plummet to a fraction of pre-COVID levels and amid new fears about violence on city subways once frequent commuters have been slow to return. And thats putting a strain on public transportation systems that remain an economic lifeline for those who depend on them. Data from the American Public Transportation Association shows that nationwide ridership dropped to 25% of its previous volume at the onset of COVID-19, and it has since recovered to only about 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Transit agencies in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., are all fighting to bring riders back to public trains and buses. The problem is even worse outside of cities. Across the country, suburban commuter rails reported a 79% drop in ridership from pre-pandemic levels as of September 2020, according to the federal Government Accountability Office. As of January of this year, commuter rail ridership remained only about half of the pre-pandemic rate. A commuter in a Brooklyn subway station in December 2021. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images) As some businesses embrace remote or hybrid work long-term, those ridership dips are starting to look more intractable. While some remote employees have returned to the office, many have not, at least not full time. Some experts say that without the return of commuters, many transit systems and rail lines will never reclaim their previous ridership. Arguably, this is only the acceleration of a preexisting shift away from public transit. Transit ridership declined more than 14% nationwide between 2012 and 2018, data from the National Academies of Sciences shows. I think it is worrisome that when ridership in pre-pandemic times was declining, it seemed like regional policymakers didnt have plans across the country for restoring it, Jacob Wasserman, a research project manager at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, told Yahoo News. Wasserman said the pre-pandemic decline in ridership, though more pronounced in some cities than in others, may have been a product of expanded access to cars. The growth of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft may also have played a role, he said. Reversing those trends has become an even greater challenge for transit agencies, with safety concerns convincing some riders to cut down on public transit or avoid it altogether. In addition to lingering fears about COVID-19 transmission, riders are worried about the perception of increased crime on public transit. In New York City, for example, a 14% increase in crime on the subway including a mass shooting at a station in Brooklyn on April 12 has rattled riders. Pre-COVID, there was never many stories of incidents happening in the subway, so I enjoyed taking it, said Michelle Marakasherry, a college student at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, who has taken the subway since she moved to the city in 2019. Post-COVID, there's an incident happening in the subway almost every week. Now Im intricately planning where I stand and on edge most of the time. I find myself choosing to walk, as it seems like the safer choice sometimes." People departing a Los Angeles Metro Rail train in December 2021. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Many experts fear that if public transportation systems never recover, they may enter a negative feedback loop in which lower ridership creates a perception of danger, leading to still lower ridership and declining fare box revenues that harm quality of service, which in turn further discourages riders. I think, long-term, if we dont see major changes in transit ridership and road and land uses, we will have huge problems, Tara Goddard, a transportation safety expert at Texas A&M University, told the Guardian in February. We will see emissions as horrible as they are now, road safety numbers as bad as now, inequities and social problems as bad as they are now. If we arent committed to serious change, we will have a lot of problems. The United States largest public transit networks have all felt the sting. After New York City subway ridership dropped 90% in the spring of 2020, it is still at less than 60% of pre-pandemic levels, or 3.1 million riders a day, according to New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority data. Ridership has declined at all but two of the citys 472 subway stations. In Washington, D.C., more than a year into the pandemic, Metro ridership dropped 85% and has only begun to steadily recover. Los Angeles saw its ridership drop by 70% at the onset of COVID-19, and has since recovered to only about 50% of pre-pandemic levels. Theres a crisis facing the public transportation system in L.A., Genevieve Giuliano, a transportation expert at USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, told the L.A. Times. COVID made a bad situation worse. People move through the Broadway Junction subway station in Brooklyn in May 2021 as others wait in line to get a COVID-19 vaccination shot. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Agencies funded by state or local tax revenue arent in as dire a situation, and as a result can take more time and be more inventive in how they approach post-pandemic recovery, Annie Hudson, director of mobility initiatives at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told Yahoo News. But agencies that are funded by fares that is, those that depend on their ridership to generate funds have a more urgent need to increase ridership. When thinking about recovery post-COVID, the ones that rely heavily on fare revenue are the ones thinking about recapturing that ridership, because they need that ridership to subsist, Hudson said. Some agencies are experimenting with new fare offerings as a way to appeal to customers, she said. One offering that has met with initial success, Hudson said, is a nonconsecutive multiday pass, which allows riders to hop on public transit an unlimited number of times on multiple days of their choice. The strategy, which has been adopted by the Maryland Department of Transportation, is a prime example of transit agencies adapting to a work-from-home environment. Other approaches include capping weekly fares for frequent riders and reworking payment systems to accept tap-and-go transactions, either from credit cards or from mobile payment apps. In New York City, that has taken the form of the OMNY fare system. A lot of these things were happening before the pandemic to make it easier for people to travel and the whole process more transparent, Hudson said. COVID gave some of these agencies the chance to make changes they were waiting on doing for a while. New York City police investigate a subway incident on April 12 after an emergency brake was pulled. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images) Even with decreased ridership, public transit remains essential to millions of Americans who lack access to other modes of transportation or for whom owning a car doesnt make financial sense, Wasserman said. According to the Washington, D.C-based Urban Institute, many bus and train routes to lower-income neighborhoods where people didnt have an option of working from home showed steadier ridership than other areas during the pandemic. The Washington Metro's general manager, Paul J. Wiedefeld, told the Washington Post that the D.C. Metro should make bus routing decisions based on improving service in lower-income communities. One important lesson of the pandemic this year is that essential workers ride the bus, he told the paper. Rather than continue to make small adjustments to decade-old bus routes, should we identify neighborhoods that are underserved and restructure routes? To what extent should we ensure bus service directly links underserved communities to job centers, even if such service may not be as productive as other services? Meanwhile, as public transportation ridership numbers went down, car-related deaths went up. In the first half of 2021, more than 20,000 people died in car crashes, the highest rate since 2006. Vehicle miles traveled have almost returned to 2019 levels. Experts told the Guardian that lower car traffic could actually cause more road deaths by allowing cars to go faster. The roadway system in the U.S. is built for speed, so when the traffic disappeared when COVID hit, traffic fatalities went off the chart, Benito Perez, policy director at Transportation for America, told the U.K.-based publication. People are also spreading out their trips during the day, and more people are walking and biking on roads designed for cars. So youre getting this constant conflict. Its a recipe for fatal crashes. A Metro Silver Line bus in Los Angeles in July 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Still, said Wasserman, the pandemic showed that public transit is an essential public good, even if its not always profitable. Even though ridership is down on public transit, it served an absolutely essential service [during the pandemic], Wasserman said. It got people to medical appointments, to work, to see their loved ones at a time when there were a lot of things in doubt and public transit provided that backbone. Chris Hippensteel, Amina Shreve and Hannah Ferrera are students at Syracuse University. A pair of Russian priests have spoken out against Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine despite the risk of prison or, worse, angering the Russian church. The church has backed the states "special operation" in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Churchs leader, has remained a vocal proponent of Putins war, saying that God is on Russias side even as Russian soldiers allegedly commit atrocities against civilians. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES But some priests have started to speak out despite the incredible risk they face by doing so. Father Georgy Edelshtein, 89, spoke with AFP, expressing his disappointment with the state and claiming he has been a "bad priest." "I've never been against all wars but I've always been against any land-grabbing, aggressive war," Edelshtein said. He supported Ukraines independence and right to "build their state as they see necessary." Only a handful of priests have found the voice to speak out against the war, and therefore speak out against Kirill. The patriarch has called for Russians to "rally around" the state and accuses "enemies" of trying to destroy historic unity between Russia and Ukraine. The church maintains a distinctive interest in the Ukraine war: The Russian Orthodox Church obtained the right to ordain the top bishop of Kyiv effectively putting it in control of the church there for almost 300 years. GERMANY WILL SUPPORT RUSSIAN OIL EMBARGO AFTER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING DEPENDENCE: REPORT The Ecumenical Patriarch head of the orthodox churches maintained that the power was temporary and in 2019 formally recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as independent of the Moscow patriarch. Kirill fiercely opposed the move as "illegitimate." Many monasteries and parishes in Ukraine remain under Kirills purview, even if the parishioners remain unaware of the fact. But Edelshtein and Father Ioann Burdin have stood in opposition to their leader, saying "the blood of Ukrainian residents will remain on the hands not only of the rulers of Russia and soldiers carrying out this order. Their blood is on the hands of each of us who simply remain silent." RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE IS JUST AMERICA'S FIRST CHALLENGE The priests wrote their comments in a letter posted online, which has since been deleted, AFP reported. "For me, the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' is unconditional," Burdin, 50, explained, adding that opposition carries the risk of sanctions and prosecution. He remains active while Edelshtein has retired. "If a person commits a personal sin, he himself rebels (against God), not the whole Church with him," Burdin said. "If I'm within the Church but censoring myself as I speak, if I'm silent about a sin being a sin, and about bloodshed being unacceptable, then I will just gradually, without noticing, stop being a pastor." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, second left, and Valery Gerasimov, the head of the general staff, in Moscow on Feb. 27. (Alexei Nikolsky / Associated Press) Russian President Vladimir Putin reminded the world last week that he controls the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. It wasn't the first time. If anyone decides to meddle [in Ukraine] and create unacceptable strategic threats for Russia, they must know our response will be lightning-quick, Putin said Wednesday. "We have all the tools for this and we will use them if we have to. Two days earlier, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivered the same message a little more diplomatically. The risk is serious, real. It should not be underestimated, Lavrov said. Under no circumstances should a third World War be allowed to happen. Nuclear saber-rattling is an unattractive habit, and Putin and his aides resort to it often. In 2008, they warned Poland that it would risk annihilation if it joined a U.S.-sponsored missile-defense program. (The Poles joined anyway.) In 2014, they warned that an attempt to push Russia out of Crimea, which they had grabbed from Ukraine, could trigger a nuclear response. And in February, as he launched his invasion of Ukraine, Putin ordered his unhappy-looking defense minister to raise Russias nuclear forces to strategic combat readiness. The elaborate threat appeared intended to frighten the United States and its European allies away from the war. Once again, the threat didn't work. U.S. officials said they didnt take Putins threat literally, perhaps because they had heard it before. CIA Director William Burns dismissed it as rhetorical posturing, noting that Russia hadnt visibly readied its nuclear forces. There is one form of nuclear warfare, however, that Burns and others consider a more imminent threat: tactical nuclear weapons, relatively small warheads designed mainly to be used on a battlefield, not to level an entire city. Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that theyve faced so far militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons, Burns said last month. Russia has more than 2,000 battlefield nuclear weapons, and their use is a routine part of Moscows war planning and military training. The devices are small only in comparison with the missile-borne warheads that Russia and the United States have aimed at each other since the Cold War. Many low-yield nukes are almost as powerful as the bomb the United States dropped in 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing at least 70,000. Some are larger. The scenario U.S. officials and outside experts worry most about is this: If Putin faces a humiliating defeat in Ukraine, he might order the use of tactical nuclear weapons against military units or cities to try to shock the Ukrainians into surrendering. Even if a low-yield detonation did not compel Ukraine to surrender, it would break a globally observed taboo on nuclear warfighting that has held, almost miraculously, since 1945. So President Biden has issued a warning to Putin in return but it has been deliberately quieter than the Russian threats. With respect to any use of weapons of mass destruction nuclear, chemical, biological Russia would pay a severe price, national security advisor Jake Sullivan said in March. One diplomat told me he believes Biden has asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Putins most important global ally, to send the same message. Stanford nuclear scholar Scott Sagan has suggested another step private warnings to Russian military leaders that they would be held responsible for war crimes if they used tactical nuclear weapons against civilian targets. The United States has a long history of hunting down war criminals, he told me. Russian generals may be reluctant to cross the nuclear threshold ... and the United States should reinforce that reluctance by adding very personal reasons for restraint. What happens if deterrence fails? Harvard strategist Graham Allison posed a difficult version of the question last month: If Russia detonated a nuclear warhead, then challenged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a cease-fire or wait to see what a Ukrainian Nagasaki looks like, what would the United States and NATO do? Just as in the bad old days of the Cold War, we are being forced to think the unthinkable. Part of the answer may be counterintuitive: If Russia uses nuclear weapons, the United States need not and should not respond in kind. U.S. nuclear retaliation could launch a tit-for-tat cycle of escalation and lead to a global holocaust. And it wouldnt be necessary. The United States and its allies have conventional weapons that could destroy Russias ability to continue the war in Ukraine. The response to a tactical nuclear weapon does not have to be nuclear, Sagan said. There are lots of conventional responses that would be very harmful to the Russian military. ... The Russian base where their nuclear attack originated could be suddenly destroyed, or many Russian warships could be suddenly sunk. Even after a Russian nuclear strike, in other words, Ukraine and its allies could still pursue their goals to turn back the Russian invasion, secure Ukraines sovereignty and give Putin a black eye. With luck, those hard questions wont need to be confronted. But if Putin is backed into a corner even though it will be a product of his own brutal mistakes hell be even more dangerous than he is today. Thats the warning hes been sending all along. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON There were parties and after-parties. After a two-year pandemic-enforced hiatus, the White House Correspondents Association gala returned to the Washington Hilton on Saturday. An estimated 2,000 were in attendance, including celebrity couple Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. Paparazzi hid in the hotels shrubbery, waiting for them to arrive. Martha Stewart was there, and so were actresses Miranda Kerr, Diane Lane and Drew Barrymore. Comedians Chris Tucker and Billy Eichner. Philanthropist Melinda Gates. Rapper Fat Joe. JC Chasez of NSYNC fame. Actor Michael Keaton. And of course many federal lawmakers and top government officials, including President Biden. Whether journalists should party with politicos and celebs is, to be sure, a thoroughly legitimate concern, and one that the galas critics have frequently expressed. That concern was put aside as invitations to pre-parties and post-parties, pre-dinner brunches and post-after-party brunches as well as the dinner itself became objects of intense desire in a Washington that has had little cause for celebration in the last two years. Singer JC Chasez and actor Kevin McHale at the CBS News/Politico party before the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. (Eman Mohammed/CBS via Getty Images) Im really excited to be here with the only group of people with a lower approval rating than I have, Biden told his black-tie audience. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had tamped down expectations for his speech, but someone in the West Wing knows how to write a joke. We had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID, Biden said of his predecessor, as is his custom declining to mention Donald Trump by name. Turning more serious, he said, "American democracy is not a reality show. He is the first president to attend the WHCA gala since his former boss, Barack Obama. The first president to attend was Calvin Coolidge in 1924. I had just been elected to the United States Senate, Biden joked, alluding to concerns about his own age (he is 79). I remember telling him, Cal, just be yourself. Get up there and speak from the heart. You're going to be great, kid. You're going to do it well. Another gala last month, a dinner at the Gridiron Club, caused a spate of positive coronavirus cases among Washington elites, but none of the cases seemed to become serious. Some wondered if it was irresponsible to hold an even bigger party, with people traveling from New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere. After all, the pandemic is not over. Hundreds of people are still dying every day as the country inches toward 1 million total deaths. President Biden speaks at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. (Patrick Semansky/AP) Acknowledging this uncomfortable reality, host Trevor Noah opened his own monologue by declaring himself honored to be at the nations most distinguished superspreader event. No, for real, people, Noah continued as the audience laughed. What are we doing here? Lets be honest. What are we doing? Like, did none of you learn anything from the Gridiron dinner? Nothing! Like, do you read any of your own newspapers? You guys spent the last two years telling everyone the importance of wearing masks and avoiding large, indoor gatherings. Then the second someone offers you a free dinner, you all turn into Joe Rogan. Noah was the first comedian to host the event since Michelle Wolfs controversial 2018 performance, during which some cringed at the caustic jokes targeting Trump administration officials like press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The following year, historian Ron Chernow delivered sober remarks for a sober time. For two years during the pandemic, many Washington gatherings were relegated to backyards, with plastic cups of beer. That started to change this spring, even as the new BA.2 subvariant of the coronavirus started spreading in the Northeast. It appears to be more transmissible than previous strains, but many have argued that the availability of vaccines and treatments, as well as the efficacy of one-way masking, means it is a time to return to normal. Trevor Noah, host of "The Daily Show," speaks at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. (Patrick SemanskyAP) In fact, the vast majority of Americans have some form of immunity either from previous infection, vaccination or both. Few experts think that means all cautions should be dispensed with, but just as few are willing to maintain an acute state of emergency. The dinner itself had a testing and vaccination requirement, but the parties held before and after the WHCA dinner were another matter. Guests packed into the graceful townhouse of NBC News journalist Jonathan Allen, enjoying high-end bourbon and as the night drew to its conclusion setting rather eagerly upon Dominos pizzas. (A bottle of Ukrainian horseradish vodka brought by this reporter went unopened.) Several events were held at the REACH, an addition to the Kennedy Center. At a Friday night party on the Georgetown waterfront thrown by United Talent Agency, the high-powered Hollywood firm, CNNs Brian Stelter mixed with Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery, the former MTV veejay who now hosts a Fox Business talk show. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was there, trailed by earpiece-wearing security officers. The desire to mask up was notably low, at least on Saturday night. Though Psaki had said Biden would wear a mask, neither he nor the first lady did. Citing his own concerns, Dr. Anthony Fauci said last week he would not be attending the dinner. That should have been a sign, Noah joked, noting that attendance amounted to siding in matters of public health with Davidson, the Saturday Night Live comedian. Noah also mentioned that Psaki had recently caught the coronavirus for, like, the 10th time. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson arrive at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) There were some serious moments. The correspondents association presented a new prize in honor of Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne, Black women who covered the White House at a time when the press corps consisted almost entirely of white men. And it was difficult not to think of the journalists who have died in the last two months while covering Russias invasion of Ukraine. If nothing else, the weekend in Washington was evidence of how sorely human connection has been lacking for the last two years and how the serendipity of gathering adds a richness to Zoom call can replicate. A criminal justice activist, Kardashian found a few moments to talk with White House chief of staff Ron Klain about commutations. We have reached the singularity, conservative attorney George Conway wrote in a tweet that included a picture of him with progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar. (Both were at the Yahoo News table.) After the event, the WHCA crowd spilled out, betuxed and bedecked, toward a fleet of black SUVs. The night was cool and inviting, holding the possibility of a few more carefree hours before returning to the less-than-carefree realities of 2022. BEIRUT, May 1 (Xinhua) -- With a smile on her face, Souad Abu Alayyan, a housewife in southern Lebanon, received a sum of 250 U.S. dollars transferred online as a holiday gift from her brother who trades in furniture in Australia. This allowed Souad to purchase her and her family's needs ahead of Eid al-Fitr, a festival of breaking the fast that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "We were able to buy some food and clothes with this money, without which our situation would have been embarrassing," said the young woman, who has seen the salaries of her six-member family devalued by over 90 percent amid the current economic crisis. Souad said the remittances from expatriates have become the main source of income for many families in Lebanon, especially during holidays and on social occasions. "We could not afford our needs by relying on our salaries paid in local currency. We need the fresh dollars from our relatives to cover necessities as prices of different items increased by tenfold at least," she explained. Lebanon has been going through an unprecedented financial crisis amid a shortage of U.S. dollars, leading to the collapse of the local currency. Moreover, the banks place heavy restrictions on withdrawing U.S. dollars and Lebanese pounds, depriving the majority of the population of their savings. In the light of the current crisis, many families in Lebanon have become reliant on remittances sent by their family members and relatives from foreign countries. A recent study released by Information International, a research center in Lebanon, indicated that the remittances of about 1.3 million Lebanese expatriates to their families exceed 120 million dollars a month. "Around 220,000 families benefit from these remittances on a monthly basis, which constitute one of the most important factors of resilience for many Lebanese families facing the economic crisis," the center said. Rabih al-Saadi, a man in his 50s who was forced to quit his job at a dairy factory in southern Lebanon amid the economic collapse, waits eagerly for a monthly transfer from his brother working in Saudi Arabia. "This monthly payment is a savior for my family, especially that my children expect to buy some clothes for the Eid," he said. "If it wasn't for my brother's support, my family would go hungry ... Our situation in Lebanon is tragic," al-Saadi lamented. Rasha Da'amoush, a saleswoman at a clothes shop in the capital Beirut, waits every month for a sum of 300 dollars from her brother, who works as a chef in Dubai, to support her two children. "My salary was equivalent to 1,000 dollars ahead of the crisis. This amount is now equivalent to about 55 dollars. It's impossible to make ends meet with such an income," said the widow who lost her husband in a car accident. Lebanon's financial crisis was described by the World Bank as the worst since the 19th century. Lebanese experts blame it on the failed policies by successive governments, which ran up a public debt of over 95 billion dollars. Lebanon is currently in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to unlock billions of dollars to save the country from its collapse. Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh recently signed an agreement to enable the 2 state governments to cooperate in various fields of public welfare The Congress-Prashant Kishor saga continues to be a subject of animated discussion in the party. The entire episode, which played out over several days and ended with the poll strategist declining Sonia Gandhis offer to join the party, has obviously embarrassed the Congress. But more than that, it has dented party general secretary Priyanka Gandhis image. It is an acknowledged fact that she was insisting that Mr Kishor be invited to join the party and help plan and manage the next round of elections. Priyanka had similarly messed up when she insisted on Navjot Singh Sidhus appointment as president of Punjab Congress, triggering a chain of events which eventually proved to be disastrous for the party. Once touted as the Congress Partys brahmastra Priyankas track record so far has not been particularly inspiring. Her political choices are being increasingly questioned even by her diehard loyalists in the party who were once convinced Priyanka would be a better alternative than Rahul Gandhi. Well, not anymore. Delhi and Punjab chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh Mann recently signed a knowledge-sharing agreement to enable the two state governments to cooperate in various fields of public welfare. This comes shortly after the two chief ministers faced flak when a group of officials from Punjab met Mr Kejriwal in Delhi without Mr Mann. The Opposition immediately dubbed the meeting as unconstitutional and accused Mr Kejriwal of running the Punjab government through remote control. This agreement, the Delhi political grapevine insists, is essentially a cover to enable Mr Kejriwal to interact with the Punjab bureaucracy, dictate policy and exercise control over the Mann government without attracting Opposition ire. It is widely believed that Mr Kejriwal cannot and will not allow Mr Mann to function independently as it would enhance the latters stature since he heads a larger state. For the past several years now, ministers in the Narendra Modi government were discouraged from interacting with the media unless they were assigned to do so. Information on their respective ministries was to be conveyed only through official channels, they were told. However, theres a perceptible change now as ministers are calling up selected groups of press persons for informal briefings. For instance, last week Mansukh Mandaviya, chemicals and fertilizers ministers, and his colleague power minister R.K. Singh were among those who invited journalists for such a briefing. This can probably be put down to the fact that the country is facing a severe power crisis due to the shortage of coal while Russias war in Ukraine has worsened the fertilizer crisis not just in India but across the world. This has forced the government to hike the subsidy on fertilizers to bail out the farming community. With Naresh Patel, the influential head of the Khodaldham Trust, keeping the Congress guessing about his political future, the party has finally decided to keep its own Patidar leader, Hardik Patel, in good humour. Hardik had been upset at being sidelined and had gone public with his grievances, even suggesting that he could leave the Congress. Gujarat Congress leaders had pinned their hopes on poll strategist Prashant Kishor persuading his good friend Naresh Patel on joining the party as that would have minimised any damage from Hardik's possible defection. Now that talks with Kishor have fallen through and Naresh Patel has said he is still 'thinking' about his political debut, Gujarat Congress leaders have gone into damage control mode. Realising the party has lost precious time in Gujarat where both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party are already in campaign mode, a fresh outreach to Hardik has begun. Last week, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor and other leaders put in an appearance at a function to mark Hardik Patels fathers death anniversary. Hardik has apparently been assured he will be kept in the loop on all key decisions in the future. However, this may yet fail to placate Hardik as he wants sufficient say in ticket distribution. After sulking for the past two years, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda finally pressured the Congress leadership to replace his bete noire Kumari Selja with his protege Udai Bhan as the president of the partys state unit. The initial proposal was to give charge of Haryana Congress to Mr Hooda but the latter was reluctant to give up his current position as leader of opposition in the state Assembly. The next big question is whether Mr Hooda will flex his muscles when it comes to picking the partys candidate for the Rajya Sabha when elections are held this August following the retirement of two Upper House members from Haryana. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are set to get one seat each. It is being speculated that Ms Selja could be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha provided Hooda doesnt nix the proposal. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, who is looking to return to the Rajya Sabha after his retirement, also has his eye on the upcoming Haryana vacancy. Mr Sharma is at an advantage here as he is a close friend of Hooda. When political parties promise free television sets, kitchenware and suchlike, they are using the taxpayers money to bribe voters All of a sudden, a new term has entered the public debate on economic policy: freebie. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines a freebie as something that is given to you without you having to pay for it, especially as a way of attracting your support for or interest in something. Political parties and leaders are offering freebies to win votes, economists are worried about the fiscal burden on the public exchequer and the media are debating the pros and cons of different types of freebies. As is typical of Lutyens Delhi, a think tank affiliated to the ruling establishment in New Delhi even organised a closed-door interaction on the subject at a fancy five-star hotel. Should political party A offer free rations? Should political party B offer free power? Should political party C offer free water? Is free education a freebie? The question of free vaccination in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic was briefly raised and then forgotten. Economists and policymakers have long debated the merits and demerits of subsidies. Way back in 1978, Prime Minister Morarji Desai, till then the longest-serving Union finance minister and a fiscal conservative, appointed an expert committee to evaluate controls and subsidies. The debate yielded a consensus on one issue, namely, that some subsidies are justified while others are not. The subsidies justified on grounds of welfare and efficacy were called merit subsidies and those that were regarded as regressive from both an economic and a social perspective were dubbed non-merit subsidies. A government in any civilised society is expected to tax the rich and subsidise the poor. Civilised societies also subsidise or provide free certain public goods like school education and public health. There are good economic, social and political justifications for such public provisioning. There is, however, no justification for political parties offering freebies that are either no more than electoral bribes or that the governments exchequer cannot afford. When political parties promise free television sets, kitchenware and suchlike, they are using the taxpayers money to bribe voters. When they promise free electricity, water or other scarce resources, they are merely borrowing from future generations to reward present ones. A few weeks back several senior civil servants reportedly told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the freebies promised as part of election manifestos were pushing several state governments into deep red and could trigger a serious fiscal crisis. It would have been helpful if they had warned the PM before the recent Assembly elections in which all major contenders, including the BJP, had dangled freebies like free power, farm loan waivers and the like to incentivise voters. Major public figures ranging from the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India to the Reserve Bank of Indias governor have been issuing statements warning political parties and governments against such fiscal profligacy. While there are sound economic reasons why political parties should not promise such non-merit subsidies or freebies, the real question is, why are such promises made? Apart from the desire and desperation to win an election, by fair means or foul, there could be a larger and more worrying social and political factors behind this mounting fiscal burden on the state exchequer. Consider the challenge of the falling credibility of the political process and of politicians in general. The desperation to win political power so as to be able to get hold of public funds and assets, especially land, have contributed to a sharp escalation of the freebie promise and the equally sharp decline in the credibility of the political system. Freebies become the fig leaf that corrupt politicians and political parties use to cover their sins of omission and commission while seeking electoral support. Political power offers a fast track to private wealth. A simple exercise that compares the family wealth of a politician and his or her family at the time when they acquire political power with what is currently and evidently in their possession, not to mention benami assets and hidden wealth, would suffice to show how public office is the shortest route to private wealth. While the rising share of public spending on subsidies, both merit and non-merit, in total government expenditure has been a problem for several years now, it has emerged as a major policy concern not only because of the fiscal constraint that governments, the Union and the states, are facing, but also because such public expenditure now competes with the renewed demand for increased capital spending. Between 1991 and 2015 the Indian growth process was fuelled by rising corporate and household earnings, savings and investment. However, the decline in the rate of investment since 2016, the consequent deceleration of national income growth and the impact of such events as demonetisation and Covid-19 lockdowns has forced the Union government to push for growth through increased public investment. If the economy has to return to the eight per cent growth trajectory of the 2003-12 era, reversing rising unemployment, public investment has to pick up. This requires balancing spending on subsidies, especially non-merit subsidies, with that on public investment, including in infrastructure, public transport and defence. The fiscal situation facing the country is serious. Tackling it requires political leadership at both the national and state level and, given the current political scenario in the country, greater political collaboration between the Union and the states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 promising cooperative federalism. The only real example of successful cooperation between the Union and the states was in the legislation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The credit for that goes entirely to the former Union finance minister, the late Arun Jaitley, and the four state finance ministers who worked with him in a spirit of cooperative federalism, namely, Amit Mitra, Haseeb Drabu, Sushil Modi and Thomas Isaac. There are few other such examples. As the country approaches 2024, it may prove politically difficult for the leaders of contending political parties to work together in dealing with the fiscal challenge facing both the Union and state governments. If they continue to indulge in political one-upmanship, the fiscal situation could rapidly deteriorate. At the Regina Caeli Francis invites people to pray the rosary for peace every day. "Terrible news arrives of children expelled and deported". Marking May 1, he denounces deaths at the workplace and pays homage to journalists who pay in person to serve the right to freedom of information. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - On the first day of the month of May Pope Francis' thoughts go once again to Mariupol, the city of Mary "barbarously destroyed" by the war in Ukraine. "I invite everyone to pray the Rosary every day for peace," he said at the end of the Marian prayer of Regina Caeli recited before thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter's Square. The call to prayer was accompanied by a new heartfelt appeal by Francis: "I renew my request that safe humanitarian corridors be set up for the people trapped in the steelworks in that city. I suffer and weep, thinking of the suffering of the Ukrainian population and in particular of the weakest, the elderly and children. There are even terrible reports of children being expelled and deported. And while we are witnessing a macabre regression of humanity, I wonder, together with so many anguished people, if we are really seeking peace; if there is the will to avoid a continuous military and verbal escalation; if we are doing everything possible to silence the weapons" "Please - he added - do not give in to the path of violence, to the perverse spiral of weapons. Let us take the path of dialogue". This latest appeal for peace in Ukraine followed the Pope's marking May 1, or Workers' Day, with an invitation to "renew the commitment so that work may be dignified everywhere and for everyone. And that from the world of work comes the will to make an economy of peace grow". He referred in particular to the tragedy of deaths at work, "a widespread tragedy, perhaps too widespread". He also referred to the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May: "I pay homage to the journalists who pay in person to serve this right," he said. In the past year, 47 have been killed and more than 350 imprisoned. I address a special thanks to those who inform us about the wounds of humanity". Before the Angelus, Pope Francis had commented on the passage from John's Gospel proposed by today's liturgy, with the third apparition of the Risen Jesus to the apostles on the Sea of Galilee (Jn 21:1-19). Peter with the apostles, disheartened after the death of Jesus, had returned to fish. It can also happen to us," said the Pope, "out of tiredness, disappointment, perhaps out of laziness, to forget the Lord and to neglect the great choices we have made, in order to be content with something else. For example, we don't take the time to talk to each other in the family, preferring personal pastimes; we forget about prayer, letting ourselves be taken by our own needs; we neglect charity, with the excuse of daily urgencies. But, in doing so," he added, "we find ourselves disappointed, with empty nets". Jesus does not reproach them, but calls the disciples with tenderness: he invites them "to cast their nets again, with courage. And once again the nets are filled to overflowing". And like Peter who, after recognising Jesus, dives into the water to reach him - commented Francis - we too need a "shake-up". "We are invited to a new impetus, (...) to dive into the good without fear of losing something, without calculating too much, without waiting for others to start. Because in order to go towards Jesus, we need to unburden ourselves. Let us ask ourselves: am I capable of some burst of generosity, or do I restrain the impulse of my heart and close myself off in habit, in fear?".At the end of the story he asks Peter three times: do you love me? Pope Francis concluded: "The Risen Lord asks us today too: do you love me? Because at Easter Jesus wants our hearts to rise too; because faith is not a question of knowing, but of love. Do you love me?" asks Jesus to you, who have empty nets and are afraid to begin again; to you, who do not have the courage to dive in and have lost momentum". Data from the statistical yearbook published by the Bishops' Conference show that the number of Catholics in South Korea will grow by no more than 0.2% by 2021, compared to 3% just a few years ago. Catholics now make up 11.3% of the population, but the average age of the faithful is getting older and new vocations to the priesthood are declining. Bucking the trend, the contribution to the mission remains high, with 1115 Korean missionaries carrying out their ministry in 80 countries around the world. Seoul (AsiaNews) - The impetuous growth of the Korean Catholic community seems to have come to a virtual standstill, hindered by the Covid-19, but also by demographic decline and the social transformations that the new generations are experiencing in Seoul. This is revealed by the data in the statistical yearbook of the South Korean Bishops' Conference, the annual report that since 1954 has taken a snapshot of the numbers of local communities as of 31 December of the previous year. Data released this week also show the decrease in priestly ordinations, while in all the dioceses of the peninsula, by now, the average age of the faithful is getting older. Until a few years ago, the statistical yearbook of the Korean Church was the document that certified the advancement of Catholicism in Seoul, with a growth in the number of faithful that still at the beginning of the 2000s exceeded 3% per year. For some time, however, the number of new baptisms had already begun to slow down, and the phenomenon was further accentuated with the Covid-19 season. According to the latest data released on 31 December 2021, Korean Catholics numbered 5,938,045, or 11.3% of the country's population. Compared to the previous twelve months, the balance is positive by 14,745 units (+0.2%). Given that the drop in the number of births in South Korea since 2020 is leading to a decrease in the overall number of inhabitants, the number of baptised people has increased by one decimal place compared to last year. But this is a much smaller percentage growth than the +0.8% still recorded in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Covid-19 also left its mark very strongly on the rate of attendance at Sunday Mass, which fell to 8.8% of the faithful compared to 18.3% in 2019. This drop is particularly evident in the dioceses of metropolitan areas, those most affected by the spread of the contagion. However, the figure that is causing most concern in the Korean Catholic community is the average age of its faithful. 23% of those baptised are now over 65 years old and there is no diocese in which this age group does not represent at least 20% of the community. On the other hand, in the 20-24 age group, young Catholics represent 9.2% of the population, more than two percentage points less than the general figure of 11.3%. The average age of the Korean clergy is also on the rise: with only 93 priestly ordinations, 2021 was the year with the fewest new priests in South Korea's dioceses in the last decade. Thirty per cent of Korean priests are now between 40 and 50 years old. In 2021, in fact, there were 883 students in diocesan seminaries and another 254 in religious orders. A figure that - overall - corresponds to -28.4% compared to the 1317 seminarians recorded in the 2011 yearbook. Despite this, the Korean Catholic Church continues to show its vitality in one area: its openness to the mission "ad gentes". In a country that has a total of just 5,626 priests, Korean missionaries continue to leave for the whole world. There are currently 1,115 of them, 237 priests, 57 religious, 815 nuns and 6 lay people. They carry out their ministry in 80 different countries and in the last year have opened new missionary presences in Liberia, Egypt, Venezuela and Pakistan. Citizens and trade unions across Europe are taking to the streets for May Day marches, putting out protest messages to their governments CHANGSHA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Public security authorities detained nine people on Sunday after a self-constructed residential building collapsed Friday in central China's Hunan Province. According to police in the provincial capital of Changsha, the owner of the building surnamed Wu, and three others in charge of building design and construction surnamed Long, Ren and Xue were suspected of the crime of causing a major-liability accident. Investigations also showed that an engineering testing company issued a false house safety appraisal report to the guesthouse in the building on April 13. The legal representative of the company surnamed Tan, and four technicians surnamed Ning, Tang, Liu and Gong were suspected of the crime of providing false documents. So far, five people have been rescued, and 23 others remain trapped. The incident took place at 12:24 p.m. in Wangcheng District in Changsha. Further investigations are underway. Needless to say, the release is taking place in stages through the Google Play Store, so some devices are getting it faster than others. This means some users might have to wait a little bit longer to receive the new version, yet fortunately, the APK installer is already available for a manual update.In other words, if youre comfortable with the manual installation of apps and updates on your Android devices, you can find the stand-alone APK file for Android Auto 7.6 on this page . Just download the file and then install it on your device, with your instance of Android Auto to be automatically updated to the latest version.As usual, Google hasnt provided any information regarding the changes that are part of this new update, but fortunately, we already know that at least one new feature is included.The beta build of Android Auto 7.6 included quick replies for messages, and theres a chance the same feature is now shipping to non-beta users as well.With quick replies , users no longer have to rely on Google Assistant to answer a message they just received. Once the message notification shows up on the screen in the car, Android Auto also displays basic and generic responses, such as OK and Sure.Simply tapping any of them quickly replies to the sender with the selected message.Previously, in order to respond to a received message, users just had to rely on Google Assistant and therefore dictate the answer.Without a doubt, Android Auto 7.6 also resolves various other bugs, but without an official changelog, its up to us, the end-users, to figure out what exactly has been resolved. More information on this new update will certainly become available in the coming days as more users receive the update through the Google Play Store. The image shows one of the USAFs favorite bombers, the B-52 Stratofortress , as it flew at the beginning of April over an undisclosed area in Europe. The bomber is with the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron based at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom.Trailing it are four other aircraft, fighters this time, all deployed with the Hellenic Air Force, Greeces equivalent of the USAF. We get two F-16 Fighting Falcons , the kind of which we keep seeing, and two much rarer F-4 Phantom IIs.According to the Americans, the group was performing a pre-planned Bomber Task Force operation meant to demonstrate and strengthen a shared commitment to global security and stability, presumably somewhere over Greece.As usual when such things happen, other aircraft were in the area, including one carrying an Airman 1st Class with a camera in his hand. He waited for the right moment and snapped the image we have here.Impressive as any of these machines are, including the very old (it had the first flight in 1958) and very rare (only four countries still use it) F-4, we cant help but notice the almost comical arrangement of the planes in the sky.From this angle, it looks like the Stratofortress is relieving itself, and the droppings that come out of its abrupt rear end take the form of the mentioned aircraft. Or, if you want to really be creative, you could imagine the bomber is the mothership toward which the other machines are heading, hoping to get inside.Either way, in the usual USAF style, an image worthy of our Photo of the Day section. A new freefall record has been set, for the most unexpected thing: the fastest time to solve a rotating puzzle tetrahedron, the pyramid version of a Rubik Cube. It took India-born Chinmay Prabhu just 24.22 seconds to solve the Pyramix puzzle, and he was able to do it as he was freefalling during a tandem skydive in Sri Racha, Chonburi, Thailand.Perhaps the most impressive part not that solving Rubik Cubes while freefalling is not an impressive feat on its own is that this was the first time Prabhu skydived. Ever. His training consisted mostly of watching YouTube videos of other people doing it.The Guinness Record attempt took place on April 14, 2022, with video of it available at the bottom of the page. A few days ago, Guinness ratified the record, effectively making Prabhu a third-time Guinness Record holder. As Guinness points out, Chinmay enjoys challenges combining cubing with other activities, and he already holds the record for most puzzles solved underwater (nine of them in just 1.48 minutes) and most puzzles solved while riding a bicycle (176 in 1.07 hours of riding).The record attempt started at a height of 13,000 feet (3,962 meters), after a tandem jump from the plane. The most challenging part about the attempt, according to Guinness, was retrieving the puzzle from the other skydiver because wind resistance was so strong that he struggled to get a good grip. Thats clear in the video, too, as it takes Prabhu two different attempts to grab the puzzle, before he sets to work on it.Prabhu turned to crowdfunding to raise money for this record attempt. Explaining how he decided to do it while skydiving (for the first time), he explained that he wanted to reach for the sky with his most recent challenge . He meant it literally. The megayacht in question is Titan, a $100 million vessel owned by Evraz billionaire Alexander Abramov. He is not currently on sanctions lists from the UK, Europe or the U.S., but he was included on the Australian list last month. Shortly after this, Titan left Dubai and is now racing near top speed to reach the Suez Canal, Bloomberg reports.Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February, Titan has been docking in friendly ports in the Maldives and Dubai, which still welcome vessels of Russian oligarchs . However, the official inclusion of Abramov on one list of sanctions has prompted the search for yet friendlier waters, so Turkey seems to be the next obvious stop. Like many other superyachts before it, once it arrives in Turkey, Titan will probably stop broadcasting its location and disappear. Titan comes with a $100 million price tag and was built on commission for Abramov, at Germanys Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard, and delivered in 2010. With an interior and exterior design by Reymond Langton Design Ltd., it is the largest of three sister ships, measuring 78 meters (256 feet) in total length. Currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, it has a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, and can accommodate 14 guests and 19 crew.Titan was never offered for public charter, so specifics and photos of onboard amenities are scarce. It is known, though, that it offers a personal gym, deck jacuzzi, and movie theater, and most likely the usual set of luxury features of many of todays fanciest vessels. It was last refit in 2021, and its powered by twin Caterpillar engines of over 2,000 hp each, reaching top speeds of 16 knots (18.4 mph / 30 kph). Cruise speed is 14 knots (16 mph / 26 kph), with a range of 6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles / 11,112 km) at 13 knots (15 mph / 29.6 kph).According to the report, Titan is putting those Caterpillar engines to maximum use right now to avoid being impounded. 4WD Riding on a 108 wheelbase (274.3cm), their smallest body shared a unibody foundation intended for much larger models. This one-size fits all suspension also allowed the AMC Eagle to offer, living through the end of the 1988 model-year. For $1,994, you could have the first American car with side impact protection along with more legroom than any other compact. With the wheels at the corners of the body, the Hornet was also more confident in the corners. This prompted Motor Trend to say It handles like a dream.With sales beating everyones expectations, the gloves came off for 1971. If you needed excitement, the Hornet SC360 arrived with their hottest 5.9L. For $2,663, you had 245 horsepower from a 2-barrell carburetor. Unfortunately, transmission choices were limited to a 3-speed manual or a Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic.Only the bold spent $199 more for the Go Package. This gave you a 4-barrell, ram-air hood scoop, and a Hurst shifted 4-speed manual. This was sent to a 3.90 TwinGrip differential to offer blistering launches. This unlocked 285 horsepower and 390 lb-ft (528 Nm) of torque and traded the anemic single exhaust to a true dual system.Aside from the big power, the appeal of the Hornet SC360 was that it flies under the radar . Hot Rod magazine noted that insurance companies didnt consider it in the same class as a Camaro or Mustang, so it avoided the 25% high-performance surcharge. This could add up to $100 annually, a small fortune in 1971. This was in keeping with AMC/Ramblers history of big performance in an understated wrapper.In showroom-stock form, the automatic cars offered consistent quarter-mile times in the high 14s. This was the beginning of the end for muscle car performance, and the EPA was already stepping on their toes. Under 30 mph, the distributors vacuum advance was locked out in a vain attempt to lower pollution in the city. Adding insult to injury, the 4-speed cars were burdened with a smog pump along with the weight of its attached hardware.Thankfully, your local AMC dealer would be happy to sell you the performance parts necessary to circumvent these strangleholds. After a few minutes tuning the ignition and the carburetor, you would have a 13-second car. Car Craft magazine added headers, drag tires, and traction bars to run 13.78 @ 101.9 mph.What owners also discovered is the cars ability to entertain in the corners. These are full-size tires on a tiny car, and thanks to the formidable suspension the Hornet doesnt roll much when being pushed. Because it outperformed everyones expectations, the media accidentally caused the problem AMC had been trying to avoid. Insurance companies slapped the Hornet with the same premiums as cars twice its price. After tooling up in anticipation of 10,000 cars annually, only 784 were built. Of those, only 304 had the Go Pack.With the looks and performance of a super stock dragster, many of these were irreversibly transformed into quarter-mile machines. The other sad aspect is that older AMCs had no intrinsic value up until a few years ago. Detroit might have been more popular, but Kenosha will always be remembered for timeless machines like these. Stay with us for more insights like these here at autoevolution! The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem alliances pitched tents in France Square, the intersection of four key avenues, as they rallied their supporters there after days of more small-scale protests. They said they will block streets in the city center and other parts of the Armenian capital on Monday to step up the pressure on the Armenian government. We will not leave this place until we achieve victory, said Anna Grigorian, a lawmaker affiliated with Hayastan. Addressing the crowd, she and other opposition leaders reiterated that Pashinians removal from power would prevent sweeping concessions to Azerbaijan planned by him. Pashinian signaled last month his administrations readiness to recognize Azerbaijans territorial integrity through a bilateral peace treaty. Critics say he is intent on helping Baku regain control of Karabakh. The premiers political allies deny this. These authorities have no mandate to lead the country to new concessions, Ishkhan Saghatelian, a Hayastan leader, told the protesters before announcing the large-scale actions of disobedience. This is not a seizure of power, he said. This is an exercise of dignified citizens constitutional right to come out and oust these pro-Turkish authorities for the sake of Armenia, Artsakh (Karabakh) and the Armenian people. Saghatelian also urged parliament deputies representing Pashinians Civil Contract to use the last chance to correct your mistake and defect from the ruling political team. Some of those pro-government lawmakers have publicly denounced the opposition campaign and said it will end in failure. The opposition set up the protest camp amid heightened security, with scores of riot police deployed nearby. They did not attempt to disperse the protesters. Earlier on Sunday, Armenias Office of the Prosecutor-General warned the opposition against provoking mass disturbances. In a separate statement, the National Security Service (NSS) claimed that there is a real danger of such violence. It said it will not hesitate to counter any kind of actions destabilizing Armenias internal stability. Saghatelian, who is also a deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, dismissed these warnings, saying that the opposition will be staging only peaceful protests. He also urged security forces to defy Pashinians illegal orders. BAGHDAD, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Six rockets targeted Sunday an area in Erbil province in Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, but caused no casualties, the regional Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) said in a statement. The rockets were fired from al-Hamdaniya, a town 60 km west of the city of Erbil, and landed near the al-Zab River outside the Kurdish town of Khabat in Erbil province, the Kurdish CTS statement said. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. On April 6, three rockets were also fired from the al-Hamdaniya area and hit an inhabited area near an oil installation in the Khabat area, which also caused no casualties. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Tucker Carlson burst through the doors of Charlie Palmer Steak, enfolded in an entourage of producers and assistants, cellphone pressed to his ear. On the other end was Lachlan Murdoch, chair of the Fox empire and his de facto boss. Most of Foxs Washington bureau, along with the cable networks top executives, had gathered at the power-class steakhouse, a few blocks from the office, for their annual holiday party. Days earlier, Carlson had set off an uproar, claiming on air that mass immigration made America poor and dirtier. Blue-chip advertisers were fleeing. Within Fox, Carlson was widely viewed to have finally crossed some kind of line. Many wondered what price he might pay. The answer became clear that night in December 2018: absolutely none. When Tucker Carlson Tonight aired, Carlson doubled down, playing video of his earlier comments and citing a report from an Arizona government agency that said each illegal border crossing left up to 8 pounds of litter in the desert. Afterward, on the way to the Christmas party, Carlson spoke directly with Murdoch, who praised his counterattack, according to a former Fox employee told of the exchange. Were good, Carlson said, grinning triumphantly as he walked into the restaurant. In the years since, Carlson has constructed what may be the most racist show in the history of cable news and also, by some measures, the most successful. Although he frequently declares himself an enemy of prejudice We dont judge them by group, and we dont judge them on their race, Carlson explained to an interviewer a few weeks before accusing impoverished immigrants of making America dirty his show teaches loathing and fear. Night after night, hour by hour, Carlson warns his viewers that they inhabit a civilization under siege by violent Black Lives Matter protesters in American cities, by diseased migrants from south of the border, by refugees importing alien cultures, and by tech companies and cultural elites who will silence them or label them racist if they complain. When refugees from Africa, numbering in the hundreds, began crossing into Texas from Mexico during the Trump administration, he warned that the continents high birthrates meant the new arrivals might soon overwhelm our country and change it completely and forever. Amid nationwide outrage over George Floyds murder by a Minneapolis police officer, Carlson dismissed those protesting the killing as criminal mobs. Companies like Angies List and Papa Johns dropped their ads. The following month, Tucker Carlson Tonight became the highest-rated cable news show in history. His encyclopedia of provocations has only expanded. Since the 2020 presidential election, Carlson has become the most visible and voluble defender of those who violently stormed the U.S. Capitol to keep Donald Trump in office, playing down the presence of white nationalists in the crowd and claiming the attack barely rates as a footnote. In February, as Western pundits and politicians lined up to condemn the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for his impending invasion of Ukraine, Carlson invited his viewers to shift focus back to the true enemy at home. Why do I hate Putin so much? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Carlson asked. Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him? He was roundly labeled an apologist and Putin cheerleader, only to press ahead with segments that parroted Russian talking points and promoted Kremlin propaganda about purported Ukrainian bioweapons labs. Alchemizing media power into political influence, Carlson stands in a nativist American tradition that runs from Father Coughlin to Patrick J. Buchanan. Now Carlsons on-air technique gleefully courting blowback, then fashioning himself as his aggrieved viewers partner in victimhood has helped position him, as much as anyone, to inherit the populist movement that grew up around Trump. At a moment when white backlash is the jet fuel of a Republican Party striving to return to power in Washington, he has become the preeminent champion of Americans who feel most threatened by the rising power of Black and brown citizens. To channel their fear into ratings, Carlson has adopted the rhetorical tropes and exotic fixations of white nationalists, who have watched gleefully from the fringes of public life as he popularizes their ideas. Carlson sometimes refers to legacy Americans, a dog-whistle term that, before he began using it on his show in the fall, appeared almost exclusively in white nationalist outlets like The Daily Stormer, The New York Times found. He takes up storylines otherwise relegated to far-right or nativist websites like VDare: Tucker Carlson Tonight has featured a string of segments about the gruesome murders of white farmers in South Africa, which Carlson suggested were part of a concerted campaign by that countrys Black-led government. Last April, Carlson set off yet another uproar, borrowing from a racist conspiracy theory known as the great replacement to argue that Democrats were deliberately importing more obedient voters from the Third World to replace the current electorate and keep themselves in power. But a Times analysis of 1,150 episodes of his show found that it was far from the first time Carlson had done so. Tucker is ultimately on our side, Scott Greer, a former deputy editor at the Carlson-founded Daily Caller, who cut ties with the publication in 2018 after his past writings for a white nationalist site were unearthed, said on his podcast last spring. He can get millions and millions of boomers to nod along with talking points that would have only been seen on VDare or American Renaissance a few years ago. That pattern is no accident. To a degree not broadly appreciated outside Fox, Tucker Carlson Tonight is the apex of a programming and editorial strategy that transformed the network during the Trump era, according to interviews with dozens of current and former Fox executives, producers and journalists. Like the Republican Party itself, Fox has sought to wring rising returns out of a slowly declining audience: the older white conservatives who make up Trumps base and much of Foxs core viewership. To minimize content that might tempt them to change the channel, Fox News has sidelined Trump-averse or left-leaning contributors. It has lost some of its most respected news journalists most recently Chris Wallace, the longtime host of Foxs flagship Sunday show. During the same period, according to former employees and journalists there, Fox has leaned harder into stories of immigrants living in this country without legal permission or nonwhite Americans caught in acts of crime or violence, often plucked from local news sites and turbocharged by the channels vast digital news operation. Network executives ordered up such coverage so relentlessly during the Trump years that some employees referred to it by a grim nickname: brown menace. A Fox spokesperson rejected those characterizations of the networks strategy, pointing to coverage of stories like President Joe Bidens inauguration and the war in Ukraine, where a Fox cameraperson was killed in March while on assignment. In a statement, Justin Wells, a senior executive producer overseeing Carlsons show, defended the hosts rhetoric and choice of topics: Tucker Carlson programming embraces diversity of thought and presents various points of view in an industry where contrarian thought and the search for truth are often ignored. Stories in Tucker Carlson Tonight broadcasts and Tucker Carlson Originals documentaries undergo a rigorous editorial process. Were also proud of our ongoing original reporting at a time when most in the media amplify only one point of view. Carlson has led the networks on-air transformation, becoming Foxs most influential employee. Outside Fox, Carlson is bandied about as a potential candidate for president. Inside the network, he answers solely to the Murdochs themselves. With seeming impunity, Carlson has used his broadcast to attack Foxs own news coverage, helping drive some journalists off the air and others, like veteran Fox anchor Shepard Smith, to leave the network entirely. In Australia, the editors of some Murdoch-owned newspapers watch Carlsons show religiously, believing it provides clues to Murdochs own views. According to former senior Fox employees, Carlson boasts of rarely speaking with Foxs CEO, Suzanne Scott, but talking or texting regularly with Murdoch. And in an extraordinary departure from the old Fox code, Carlson is exempt from the networks fearsome media relations department, which under Roger Ailes, Foxs founder, served to both defend the channels image and keep its talent in line. Carlson is powerful at Fox not merely because he is the networks face but because he is also its future a star whose intensity and paranoid style work to bind viewers more closely to the Fox brand, helping lead them through the fragmented post-cable landscape. Last year, Carlson began producing original content for the networks nascent streaming service, Fox Nation, and quickly emerged as one of the few Fox stars whose presence could lure viewers to fork over additional dollars. Fox does not divulge audience numbers for the service, but last May, Murdoch told investors that his star had helped increase Fox Nation subscriptions by 40%. Executives talk openly about Fox Nation as a boycott-proof version of Fox News a walled garden where Fox can collect revenue directly from its viewers as carriage fees from cable providers decline. The services executives have called those viewers fans of Foxs lifestyle brand. But Fox Nation is also a kind of programming cocoon. Its lineup has included shows about patriotism and national parks, the nostalgic series Who Can Forget? and a category called, simply, Conspiracies. In September, it acquired Cops, the police reality show canceled by its previous owner in the wake of the Floyd protests. There is almost no traditional news at all on Fox Nation, but lots of Carlson a thrice-weekly talk show called Tucker Carlson Today and goading documentaries like Patriot Purge, which presented the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection as a false-flag operation by shadowy actors determined to persecute innocent Americans; two longtime Fox contributors quit in protest. For most of his adult life, Carlson lived and worked in a very different bubble: the cosmopolitan precincts of Washington. His turn to flagrantly racist ideas has baffled and saddened some longtime associates there, spurring a veritable cottage industry of profiles exploring whether Carlsons show is merely lucrative theater or an expression of his true values. But a close reading of Carlsons decades in television and journalism, and interviews with dozens of friends and former colleagues, show that Tucker Carlson Tonight is both. Almost from the beginning of his career, he has been marching away from the puckish libertarianism of his young adulthood. Increasingly sympathetic to the nativist currents raging through American politics after the 9/11 attacks and twice cast from the heights of cable news stardom, Carlson ultimately turned on the old conservative intelligentsia, his hometown and many of his friends. His fall and rise trace the transformation of American conservatism itself. When Trump ran for president and won, thrusting anti-immigration fervor to the heart of American politics, Carlson finally found his moment. At Fox, he found his platform. Carlson declined to be interviewed for this article. Virtually everyone who did speak asked to remain anonymous in order to speak candidly about Carlson or his employer; the host is vengeful toward critics, and officials or media figures Carlson attacks on his show are sometimes threatened with violence. On his show Thursday night, shortly before the Times received Foxs statement praising the program, Carlson sought to weave this article into his nightly narrative. He called journalists at the newspaper obedient little establishment defenders and asked, Why do they keep calling us racist? Well, to make us shut up, obviously. After a two-decade run of international reporting trips and regular steakhouse lunches at the Palm, Carlson now surveys the world from behind an anchors desk and rarely goes out to eat. He professes not to use social media or own a television and communicates with friends and colleagues via late-night texting marathons. He now lives much of the year in an old family vacation place in a rural, blue-collar corner of Maine. His neighbors today are the kind of people who watch his show, rather than the kind of people who confront him in public about it. At the height of his influence, Carlson exists in a carefully constructed bubble of his own a retreat, and a bunker. You vs. Them On many nights, the highest-rated cable news show in prime time airs from a converted town garage in the village of Bryant Pond, Maine, not far from Carlsons home. Like many rural places, Bryant Pond is less busy than it used to be. On a visit in the fall, a few large Trump flags still dotted the road into town, and no one bothered with masks at the convenience store. Carlsons studio, which is decorated like a cozy cabin in the woods, sits behind a peeling and deserted old grange hall. It is the shiniest, best-kept building in sight. Each morning, Carlson sends his staff a memo laying out the nights lead story and which guests he wants to book, he told conservative YouTube host Dave Rubin last year. His senior executive producer, Wells, oversees a tight-knit team of about two dozen people, some of whom occasionally stay with Carlson in Maine. Most afternoons, Carlson sits in his sauna and thinks about what he wants to say. A few hours before his show, he has a cup of coffee and begins writing his monologue, working out of a barn that also houses his boats and his wifes Peloton. Carlson spent a decade writing magazine articles, and he thinks of his television show as a continuous story about America. Im a writer, so thats how I think in terms of chapters, serials, he said in the YouTube interview. Ill give you one installment today, another tomorrow. Like Trump, he is a winking pugilist who rails against elites even as he shapes a movement. Carlson likes to address his audience directly: You are decent, generous, deserving. They the pro-war, pro-China, anti-American ruling class are out to get you. Theyd rather put your life in peril than appear insensitive, Carlson says of this ruling class, adding, They literally dont care about you, and yet they are still in charge. He delivers these grim sermons with peppy good cheer and shameless overstatement. On Tucker Carlson Tonight, events of the day are further evidence of truths already established; virtually any piece of news can be steered back to the themes of elite corruption, conspiracy and censorship, from gun control to marijuana legalization to paper drinking straws. Carlsons producers often trawl the web for supporting material, scouring widely read Trumpian sites like Breitbart and The Federalist, obscure right-wing blogs and other corners of the internet. Early on, clips would sometimes be sent to the networks research team, an Ailes creation known as the Brain Room, for further fact-checking. When Carlsons team requested statistics or original research, it frequently revolved around immigration or race for instance, the respective percentages of Asian-descended and Black people in college. According to one former employee who interacted with Carlsons team, the Brain Room would occasionally discover that a story had actually originated further afield, on a racist or neo-Nazi site like Stormfront. Sometimes the Brain Room suggested that Tucker Carlson Tonight look for a different source, and over the years, the researchers there heard less and less from Carlsons team. They werent digging, the former Fox employee said. They were looking for outrageous stories to outrage their audiences. Accuracy isnt the point on Tucker Carlson Tonight. On the air, Carlson piles up narrative-confirming falsehoods and misleading statements so rapidly about Floyds death, white supremacists who took part in the Jan. 6 riot, falling testosterone levels in men, COVID-19 vaccines, the Texas power grid and more that The Washington Posts media critic, Erik Wemple, has made a sideline of cataloging them. Although Carlson claims his show to be the sworn enemy of lying, Foxs lawyers acknowledged in 2020, in a lawsuit accusing the host of slander, that spirited debate on talk show programs does not lend itself well to statements of actual fact. But if Carlson has not always been truthful, he has been remarkably consistent. Almost from the beginning, Tucker Carlson Tonight has presented a dominant narrative, recasting American racism to present white Americans as an oppressed caste. The ruling class uses fentanyl and other opioids to addict and kill legacy Americans, anti-white racism to cast them as bigots, feminism to degrade their self-esteem, immigration to erode their political power. Republican elites, however improbably, help to import the voters Democrats require at the ballot box. The United States, Carlson tells his viewers, is ruled by mercenaries who feel no long-term obligation to the people they rule. He leaves little doubt who these mercenaries are. Among the most frequent recurring characters on Tucker Carlson Tonight are Black politicians like Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Ilhan Omar and Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Carlson has portrayed, against the available evidence, as a kind of shadow president. He regularly disparages Black women as stupid or undeserving of their positions. No one outside of her own neighborhood had ever heard of Kamala Harris before she showed up as Willie Browns girlfriend, Carlson said in November, referring to Harris long-ago relationship with the California politician. Then a few years later, she became Montel Williams girlfriend. Interesting. When Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, Carlson demanded that the White House release her law school admissions test scores to prove she was qualified. Seemingly every social ill is laid at the feet of immigrants and refugees not just working-class unemployment, but rising home prices, out-of-wedlock births among native-born Americans, even the supposedly sorry state of his favorite Beltway fishing spots. With pastoral care, Carlson reassures his viewers. Its OK for you to say, What is this? and, Maybe I dont want to live in a country that looks nothing like the country I grew up in, Carlson told a guest in 2017. Is that bigoted? Like his counterparts on the fringe, Carlson obsesses over Somali immigrants, who represent a tiny fraction of first-generation Americans but are at once Black, Muslim and foreign-born. One of the largest communities of Somali Americans, numbering several thousand people, lives less than an hour from his home in Maine, in the old mill city of Lewiston. In Carlsons hands as on sites like American Renaissance, which promotes the biological reality of race Lewiston is a parable of replacement. Carlson has repeatedly depicted Somalis as threatening strangers deposited in a small, struggling city without the consent of its citizenry. Go to Lowell, Mass., or Lewiston, Maine, or anyplace where large numbers of immigrants have been moved into a poor community, and it hasnt become richer, Carlson lectured a guest in 2017. Its become poorer. Thats real. In fact, according to Maines Labor Department, Lewistons unemployment rate has generally tracked that of the rest of the state, and the city has experienced neither a significant drop nor a surge in economic growth since the first Somalis arrived. And economists broadly reject Carlsons central argument that immigration to the United States drives down wages for low-skilled workers nationwide, as he said in a 2019 segment. As one review of the relevant literature put it, Decades of research have provided little support for the claim that immigrants depress wages by competing with native workers. Immigrants compete for jobs but also help generate new ones, not only by raising demand for goods and services but also by helping fill out workplaces as they expand to hire native-born workers with different skills. While some studies have found that earlier waves of low-skill immigration may have had short-term effects on the wages of one relatively small group high school dropouts other studies have found small to zero effects, as a landmark analysis by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine stated in 2017. But as televised theater, the formula works. Carlson reliably draws more than 3 million viewers. When he defended the idea of demographic replacement on a different Fox show in April, the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, called for his firing, noting that the same concept had helped fuel a string of terrorist attacks, including the 2018 mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. But when Carlson ran a clip of his comments on his own prime-time show a few days later, according to Nielsen data, the segment got 14% more viewers in the advertiser-sweet demo of 24- to 54-year-olds than Carlsons average for the year. Every cable network cares about ratings, but none more so than Fox, whose post-Ailes slogan stresses neither fairness nor balance but sheer audience dominance: Most Watched, Most Trusted. And at Fox, according to former employees, no host scrutinizes his ratings more closely than Carlson. He learned how to succeed on television, in part, by failing there. Unhumble Beginnings The talk show host who rails against immigrants and the tech barons of a new Gilded Age is himself the descendant of a German immigrant who became one of the great ranching barons of the old Gilded Age. Henry Miller landed in New York in 1850 and built a successful butcher business in San Francisco; along with a partner, he went on to assemble a land empire spanning three states. They obtained some parcels simply by bribing government officials. Others were wrung from cash-poor Mexican Californians who, following the Mexican-American War, now lived in a newly expanded United States and couldnt afford to defend their old Mexican land grants in court against speculators like Carlsons ancestor. Through the early 20th century, Millers land and cattle empire was utterly dependent on immigrant labor, said David Igler, a historian at the University of California, Irvine, and author of a history of the Miller empire. Over the years, the Miller fortune dispersed, as great fortunes often do, into a fractious array of family branches. Carlsons mother, Lisa McNear Lombardi, was born to a third-generation Miller heir, debuted in San Francisco society and met Richard Carlson, a successful local television journalist, in the 1960s. They eloped to Reno, Nevada, in 1967; Tucker McNear Carlson was born two years later, followed by his brother, Buckley. The family moved to the Los Angeles area, where Richard Carlson took a job at the local ABC affiliate, but the Carlsons marriage grew rocky, and the station fired him a few years later. In early 1976, he moved to San Diego to take a new television job. The boys went with him according to court records, their parents had agreed it would be temporary and commuted to Los Angeles on weekends while he and Lisa tried to work out their differences. But a few months later, just days after the boys returned from a Hawaii vacation with their mother, Richard Carlson began divorce proceedings and sought full custody of the children. In court filings, Lisa claimed he had blindsided her and left her virtually penniless. The couple separated and began fighting over custody and spousal support. Richard Carlson alleged that his wife had repeated difficulties with abuse of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines and that he had grown concerned about both her mental state and her treatment of the boys. On at least one occasion, he asserted, the boys had walked off the plane in San Diego without shoes; the mothers own family members, he said, had urged him not to let her see the children unsupervised. He won custody when Tucker Carlson was 8, at a hearing Lisa did not attend: According to court records, she had left the country. She eventually settled in France, never to see her sons again. A few years later, Richard Carlson married Patricia Swanson, an heir to the frozen-food fortune, who adopted both boys. For many years, Tucker Carlson was tight-lipped about the rupture. In a New Yorker profile in 2017, not long after his show debuted, he described his mothers departure as a totally bizarre situation which I never talk about, because it was actually not really part of my life at all. But as controversy and criticism engulfed his show, Carlson began to describe his early life in darker tones, painting the California of his youth as a countercultural dystopia and his mother as abusive and erratic. In 2019, speaking on a podcast with right-leaning comedian Adam Carolla, Carlson said his mother had forced drugs on her children. She was like, doing real drugs around us when we were little, and getting us to do it, and just, like, being a nutcase, Carlson said. By his account, his mother made clear to her two young sons that she had little affection for them. When you realize your own mother doesnt like you, when she says that, its like, oh, gosh, he told Carolla, adding that he felt all kinds of rage about it. Carlson was a heavy drinker until his 30s, something he has attributed in part to his early childhood. But by his own account, his mothers abandonment also provided him with a kind of preemptive defense against the attacks that have rained down on his Fox show. Criticism from people who hate me doesnt really mean anything to me, Carlson told Megyn Kelly, a former Fox anchor, on her podcast last fall. He went on to say, Im not giving those people emotional control over me. Ive been through that. I lived through that as a child. One lesson from his youth, Carlson told one interviewer, was that you should only care about the opinions of people who care about you. The remaining Carlsons placed a high premium on family loyalty, and Carlson formed an exceptionally tight bond with his brother and father. The elder Carlson began a political career in San Diego Republican circles Pete Wilson, a future California governor, was a frequent guest at their dinner table and eventually moved the family to Washington, where he led Voice of America in the Reagan administration. Tucker Carlson, an avid reader but indifferent student, went to boarding school in Rhode Island, where he met his future wife, Susie Andrews, the headmasters daughter. They married when he was 22 and had four children. I wanted a totally happy family, where everyones close and everyones named after someone else and everyone gets together all the time, Carlson has said. After college, he followed his fathers footsteps into journalism. He took a junior position at Policy Review, a conservative journal, where he wrote earnest, plodding articles on the Washington police department and the decline of a predominantly Black high school. Later, after begging his way to a job at the newly launched, Murdoch-backed Weekly Standard, Carlson emerged as a gifted observational reporter, turning out punchy riffs on Monica Lewinskys oversharing therapist and Ross Perots dalliance with Marxists. He was sometimes mean but usually funny, with a knack for getting people to talk, and assignments piled up from glossy magazines in New York. He also became a regular on CNN and C-SPAN, a side gig that would quickly become his consuming ambition. On television, he mocked Buchanan, a populist commentator and failed presidential candidate, as kooky, noting with a smirk that when Buchanan was attacked, he invariably claimed that the tiny cabal that controls American politics doesnt like me because I speak truth to power. Like many up-and-coming conservative writers in the 1990s, Carlson had vaguely libertarian politics or, at least, a vaguely libertarian sensibility. In a 1997 opinion essay for The Wall Street Journal, he attacked the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a leading anti-immigration group, spotlighting its links to eugenicists and alarmist portrayals of Latin American immigration. FAIR itself has made a conscious play for the support of social conservatives, running ads that blame immigration for multiculturalism, multilingualism, increasing ethnic tension and middle-class flight, Carlson wrote. He singled out FAIRs executive director, Dan Stein, who had once argued that immigrants higher birthrates would eventually give them too much political power, a situation he had likened to competitive breeding. Carlson wondered why conservatives seem to be making common cause with Mr. Stein and FAIR. Within just a few years, he would be one of them. Crossing the Border As Carlsons star rose, illegal immigration was exploding. Border apprehensions approached nearly record levels during the late 1990s; in Washington, Democrats and Republicans debated what to do about the millions of people already living in the country illegally. In 1999, Buchanan left CNN to mount a campaign for president, pledging to build a Buchanan fence on the Southern border and make English the official language; the race was won by George W. Bush, who campaigned in Spanish and took a gentler tone on illegal immigration. In 2001, Carlson took over Buchanans old Crossfire seat at CNN, and when Buchanan reappeared on the show a few months later, to debate the new presidents immigration policy, the two men were united in opposition. Both parties, looking for votes, are for it. Big business, which is always looking for cheaper labor, is for it, Carlson argued. But it turns out the average person isnt for it. A few days later, hijackers flew two planes into the twin towers in New York. Anti-Muslim hate crimes skyrocketed, and millions of Americans turned sharply against immigration. On CNN, Carlson took up their cause. Are they racists? No, he said. They understand a basic truth: that the 19 hijackers who came here and destroyed the World Trade Centers, hit the Pentagon, came here because they were able to, because its easy, because we have virtually no control at the border. One of his guests that day was Stein, the FAIR official, now welcomed as an important voice in an increasingly urgent debate. Carlson has never written extensively about exactly when and why his views changed, but clues are sprinkled through his writing and TV appearances. He has spoken about how, in his view, immigration transformed California for the worse during the 1990s, ushering in an era of Democratic-led decline and decay. He seemed to take Latino support for Democrats there as a demographic inevitability, rather than a specific response to policies and rhetoric promoted by California Republicans like Wilson, who won reelection, in part, by embracing a ballot initiative barring those living in the country illegally from public benefits. (Other successful Republicans of the era, including Bush, won a significant share of the Hispanic vote; Trump increased his share of Hispanic voters in 2020 despite advocating more restrictive immigration policies.) I was always very pro-immigration, always, Carlson told a guest on Fox in 2017. And watching this happen in California really made me pause. His politics were evolving in other ways, too. After the 9/11 attacks, he dutifully defended the Bush administrations turn to war and backed the invasion of Iraq. But after the fall of Baghdad, he traveled there for Esquire and found it a tinderbox of trigger-happy contractors and resentful Iraqis. Carlson later described the trip as a transformative experience, the seed of his broader shift away from the establishment Republicanism of the day. I arrived a tepid supporter of the war, and of neoconservatism more generally, Carlson wrote recently in a new collection of his magazine reportage. I returned home a determined opponent of both. In 2004, while still at CNN, he started a short-lived talk show on PBS. He told The New York Observer that it would allow more voices that didnt fit neatly into the mainstream. I was thinking this morning: Diversity is the strength of our country. Oh, yeah? Carlson said, trying out a line that would become one of his go-to attacks on Tucker Carlson Tonight. Hows that? I mean, is diversity the strength of the Balkans? No. At Crossfire, Carlson told colleagues he felt overproduced and trapped by the rigid left-right debate format. The show was drawing dwindling audiences, and after it was canceled in early 2005, he moved to MSNBC with a new show, The Situation With Tucker Carlson. (The writer of this article is an MSNBC contributor.) Carlson dropped his signature bow tie and took an even sharper turn against immigration, adopting the resentful, combative language of the Republican Partys increasingly vocal nativist wing. We didnt take our lands from Mexico, said Henry Millers great-great-great-grandson, adding, This is our country. That is their country. Illegal immigration, he now insisted, was not merely a political or economic matter, but a civilizational threat. He defended billboards in California that read Stop the Invasion, Secure Our Borders. (Its an invasion, he said. I dont know whats wrong with saying so.) In the spring and summer of 2006, as Bush tried to revive his plan to offer legal status to millions of people living in the country illegally, Carlson inveighed against it. Youre talking about completely changing the nature of the country, he claimed. A revolt by Republican lawmakers ultimately doomed Bushs immigration plan; in ways not yet fully appreciated by Republican leaders, immigration was becoming their partys animating issue. At the time, though, Carlsons viewpoint seemed to be on the wane. His MSNBC show cycled through three time slots and two names without finding a big audience. He was canceled again in 2008 as the networks prime-time lineup began to shift left. Carlson retreated to Maine, where he spent a few months fishing. That fall, Barack Obama won election as the countrys first Black president, seeming to validate the ascent of an increasingly multiracial electorate. Carlson eventually snagged a pundit contract at Fox and an unpaid fellowship at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. But his days as a TV star seemed at an end. With four school-age children, the Carlsons sold their $4 million Washington home, and he had what he later described as a kind of meltdown. I was living in that world, and I was not succeeding, he said. It forced me to think about what I had done wrong, because I had no choice, because I had no money. Tabloid Impresario Over lunch at the Palm one day with his college roommate, a former White House aide named Neil Patel, Carlson gamed out his next act. They imagined a new right-leaning digital tabloid, one that would be conservative without being partisan. The website, The Daily Caller, went live in 2010, in a right-wing media landscape dominated by the Drudge Report, Fox itself and the vast analog domain of talk radio. The Caller promised to emphasize original reporting. Our goal is not to get Republicans elected, Carlson said. Our goal is to explain what your government is doing. The Caller was eclectic and boisterous, with an office beer keg and a staff that was underpaid, largely inexperienced and overwhelmingly young. Carlson was by most accounts a loyal and generous boss. He enjoyed stirring people up and getting them arguing with one another or with him. He also liked to hire outrageous personalities and set them loose to write whatever they wanted. He wasnt so much hiring a newsroom, he sometimes told his staff, as filling out a pledge class or casting a sitcom. I like to have this character and that character, he later recalled in a 2015 podcast interview with a Caller colleague. I always want a fat character, always. Patel sometimes described the Caller as an experiment in libertarian management principles. No one really had a permanent editor, and although the staff prided itself on breaking news, some of its biggest scoops imploded under scrutiny: an article that the Environmental Protection Agency planned to hire thousands of new bureaucrats to enforce greenhouse gas regulations, for example, or reports that a Democratic senator had paid for sex while visiting a campaign donor in the Dominican Republic. Carlson seemed to relish the criticism, treating it as proof that the Caller was needed. The site embraced what Eric Owens, a former writer and editor there, called a gently anti-PC atmosphere. To boost traffic, it frequently featured slideshows of swimsuit model Kate Upton. Owens, who covered education, wrote dozens of articles about female teachers having sex with minor male students. The Caller framed these stories with mock outrage, under the rubric Teacher Sex, suggesting that the boys probably enjoyed the experience. Tucker loved those stories, because they were funny and got a lot of traffic, Owens said in an interview. The theory was: Lets give people what they want. Whatever is working, lets give them more of that. Patel focused relentlessly on audience metrics, and within a couple of years, the Caller was turning a small profit. Carlson, though, still harbored dreams of succeeding on TV. In 2013, Fox gave him a shot in its minor leagues as a weekend co-host of Fox and Friends, the popular morning show. The hours were terrible Carlson, a night owl, once fell asleep on air and the work sometimes fluffy. But it put him back in the game, and it helped pay the bills. His media career had given him adventures and an exciting life, he told a Caller colleague in 2015, but it had been hard to earn the kind of living he aspired to. Ive sweated a lot about money, a lot, he said. And continue to, probably more than a 45-year-old should. At the time, Carlson was locked in an increasingly bitter inheritance battle. His mother had died a few years earlier in France, apparently without a will, leaving her sons and her second husband, Michael Vaughan, to divide up her estate. Alongside her paintings and jewelry were the dregs of the Miller ranching fortune a share of mineral rights sprinkled over 68,000 acres of inland central California and valued at around $37,000. The orderly disposal of the estate was interrupted in the fall of 2013, according to court records in California, when one of Vaughans daughters from a prior marriage discovered a handwritten will that left everything to him. It also included a one-sentence codicil: I leave my sons Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson and Buckley Swanson Peck Carlson one dollar each. Tucker Carlson and his brother sued, alleging that the will was a forgery; a forensics specialist brought in to examine it stated that it was probably authentic. Carlsons uncle asserted that the discovery of his sisters will occurred only after a new well on the familys California property began pumping out hundreds of barrels of oil. In court filings, the Vaughans now valued the estates mineral assets at $2.6 million. The litigation was still going on years later when Carlson showed up on Carollas podcast to hawk Ship of Fools, his Fox-era jeremiad about Americas selfish elites. She didnt raise us, she was horrible, and then she dies and causes all these problems, Carlson told the host, describing a conversation with his brother. And he goes, Its just perfect; shes a bitch from the grave. But another, more consequential family feud was unfolding inside the Caller. At the start of Obamas second term, a bipartisan group of senators known as the Gang of Eight tried to resurrect immigration reform. Carlson was already known to his staff as an immigration hawk; in office debates, he would sometimes invoke Lewiston as a kind of personal turning point, telling colleagues that he had watched Somali refugees ruin the city. In 2013, he met Stephen Miller future architect of the Trump administrations immigration policies, then a congressional aide working to defeat the Gang of Eight and found in him a kindred spirit. Although Carlson allowed the Callers pro-immigration writers free rein, the sites news coverage of immigration reform, led by a reporter named Neil Munro, was relentlessly hostile. Miller and his allies on the Hill fed Munro a steady diet of tips and story suggestions. The Callers audience loved it. Immigration was always the most animating thing; it wasnt even close, said a former Caller employee familiar with the sites readership metrics, who requested anonymity for fear of antagonizing Carlson. But the Callers immigration coverage set off intense debates among writers and editors there, reflecting the battle that would soon remake the Republican Party itself. One former writer recalled filing pieces about immigration that would come back from editors with supportive quotes stripped out. Some Caller staff members viewed Munros news articles as little more than opinion columns, with an obvious slant and often factual problems. Patel, himself an immigrant, pushed editors for more balanced coverage; Carlson, though, usually defended Munros stories and plainly agreed with them, as did many of the Callers younger employees, former staff members said. On a group email list for editors, one argument culminated in a frustrated message from a longtime editor, Jamie Weinstein, asking whether the Caller now had an official editorial position against immigration. The Caller had always attracted young writers with more or less conventional conservative politics. But in the years before Trump declared for president, the sites free-for-all atmosphere and low barriers to entry also attracted other types people with short resumes and edgy views on race and American identity. Whatever sort of was fashionable among smart young conservatives tended to be the trend in the office, said Jim Antle, a former editor and writer at the Caller. When the Caller started, most smart young conservatives were libertarian. Within a few years after that, a lot of them were populist, nationalist types which also meant that they were sometimes attracted to things that were much worse than that. What We Pretend to Be One of the new arrivals was a young Dartmouth College graduate named Blake Neff, who joined the Caller in 2014. Neff, who grew up in South Dakota, was smart but awkward, with a callous streak that most of his colleagues excused as cluelessness. He sometimes complained that women only liked men with looks or money. Once, according to two former Caller employees, he told a colleague she would need to find her future husband before she reached her 30s, then walked over to a whiteboard to chart out the years, months and days she had left. Neff, who declined to be interviewed for this article, covered education, which mostly meant churning out pieces on far-left professors (Professor Blames Whites for Her Menstrual Problems) and strident student protesters (Hispanic Students at Duke Demand a Nicer Office, Free Trophies). Carlson soon took Neff under his wing. In August 2015, the two traveled together to the Albany, New York, wedding of a Caller colleague. After they returned, Carlson raved about Neffs intelligence. He told others he enjoyed Neffs writing style especially his satires, among them an imagined Trump stump speech about Jesus that Neff wrote the month after Trump entered the race. (I mean, he got out-dealed by Pontius Pilate, a loser if I ever saw one.) Later, when Carlson got his own Fox show, he brought Neff along as a writer. Anything hes reading off the teleprompter, the first draft was written by me, Neff told his college alumni magazine. In his downtime, he liked to post on AutoAdmit, an online forum popular with law students and one of the many digital watering holes where young men egg one another on to be outrageous and offensive. He started one thread titled Urban business idea: He Didnt Do Muffin! referring to a racist joke that arose on Reddit in the wake of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and he mocked a female acquaintance as an Azn megashrew, using a slang term for Asian.) In 2020, after CNN revealed Neff as the posts author, Carlson distanced himself, saying they have no connection to Tucker Carlson Tonight. Neffs AutoAdmit posts, however, do not appear to have been a closely kept secret at the Caller. His fellow education writer, Owens, recalled him bragging about his exploits on the site. It struck me as, this is just a kid who doesnt understand why he shouldnt say this, and hell grow out of it, Owens said. In an email to the Times, Neff denied making disparaging comments about women to his colleagues and dismissed criticism of his AutoAdmit posts, which he said Carlson was unaware of. I make no apologies for now-ancient posts on an anonymous message board which offended no one, Neff said. Neff didnt stop posting, and he wasnt alone. Over the next several years, almost a dozen Caller employees or regular contributors would be outed for posting racist material elsewhere online, or for their connections to an underground clique of next-generation white nationalists in and around Washington. At the Caller, they wrote articles claiming that people living in this country illegally were predisposed to rape, highlighting a grisly MS-13 murder or mocking diversity consultants. On their own time, according to exposes in The Atlantic, Splinter, ProPublica and other outlets, they wrote under pseudonyms for white nationalist websites, went to conferences organized by leaders of the alt-right or traded antisemitic jokes on an email list titled Morning Hate. In interviews, two former Caller employees, recalling the cascade of revelations, each quoted a line from the Kurt Vonnegut novel Mother Night: We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. In 2015, Caller employees came across a picture of an intern named Ashley Rae Goldenberg standing with a young white nationalist leader named Matthew Heimbach, who carried a flag dating from imperial Germany, now a neo-Nazi emblem. The circumstances of the picture were unclear, and according to Owens, Carlson decided not to fire her, arguing that she was only an intern and doing so would only bring more attention to the matter. When white nationalists carried torches in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 to protest the removal of a Confederate statue, the Callers reporter on the scene turned out to be one of the rallys speakers; the Caller later scrubbed his bylines from the site. That summer, the Southern Poverty Law Center published pictures showing that Greer, the Caller deputy editor, had mingled with members of the Wolves of Vinland and Youth for Western Civilization, groups the center has linked to white nationalism. Greer told his editors that the pictures were from heavy metal shows he had gone to in college. The Caller would only sever ties with him later, after The Atlantic revealed that he had also written pseudonymous posts about Indo-European virtue and the threat of non-White hordes for an alt-right website. By then, Carlson had stepped away from day-to-day management of the Caller to focus on his Fox show. In an email to the Times, Patel said that he would admit freely that we should have screened writers better in our earlier years. He added, The truth is, I did not imagine those white-identity types trying to join us. I still believe that represents the tiniest minority of conservative America. But even outside the Callers office, the border that once separated mainstream conservatism from the cranks and nativists of the far-right had thinned. While white nationalists infiltrated the Caller in private, Trump began taking over the Republican Party in public, casting Mexican migrants as rapists and criminals and promising to bar Muslims from entering the country. Trump said the things you werent supposed to say and found that millions of voters were eager to listen. The political markets were moving, and Carlson took note. In early 2016, as Republican leaders scrambled to figure out how to stop Trump, Carlson sat down in his kitchen in Washington to explain why they would fail. He pounded out a piece for Politico, the Beltway-insider bible, pausing occasionally to read passages to his wife. It seemed obvious that Trump could win the nomination and be president, Carlson later explained. I wanted to predict that in print before it happened. He excoriated the Republican elite the lobbyists and think tank experts and congressional leaders, his neighbors and onetime friends for betraying the partys voters. Friends and colleagues would come to think of the essay as Carlsons personal declaration of war on the conservative establishment that had long nurtured him, and where his father had built a second career. Theyre the ones whove been advocating for open borders, and nation-building in countries whose populations hate us, and trade deals that eliminated jobs while enriching their donors, he wrote. Trump was loved because he told the truth, Carlson wrote, and he could win because no one else did. Its thrilling to hear someone say what he really thinks, even if you believe hes wrong, Carlson wrote. Its especially exciting when you suspect hes right. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Click here to read the full article. UPDATED: Singer and television star Naomi Judd, famous for nearly four decades as the matriarch of the country music duo the Judds, died Saturday at 76. No cause of death was immediately given, although in a statement daughters Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd attributed their mothers death to the disease of mental illness. Today we sisters experienced a tragedy, the statement said, according to the Associated Press. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory. A statement from Naomi Judds publicist said that her husband of 32 years, Larry Strickland, will not be making any further statements. Naomi Judds family request privacy during this heartbreaking time. No additional information will be released at this time. The announcement came the day before the Judds were set to be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at a medallion ceremony in Nashville. The ceremony will go ahead, with Wynonna expected to attend, according to a statement sent to Variety by a rep for the Hall. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum joins family and fans in grieving the sudden loss of Naomi Judd, the statement reads. Following the wishes of the Judd family, the museum will move forward with the Medallion Ceremony on Sunday, May 1, with Wynonna planning on being in attendance. In addition to The Judds, Eddie Bayers, Ray Charles and Pete Drake will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Public red carpet arrivals are cancelled. The Judds had also recently announced a farewell tour, the first by Naomi and Wynonna in more than a decade. The short, 10-date tour, which was being produced by Sandbox Live and Live Nation, was to commence Sept. 30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and wrap up Oct. 28 at Nashvilles Bridgestone Arena. What Im looking forward to most is celebrating Judd music with the fans, said Wynonna in a statement when the tour was announced. Mom and I have had quite the journey over the last 38 years, and the fans have been with us through it all. This tour is a celebration for them. Three of the arena shows, including the Nashville finale, had sold out, according to the Judds social media. The Judds sang on the CMT Music Awards telecast and walked the red carpet just this month (see photo, below). The show aired live on CBS April 11, the same day the duo announced the reunion/goodbye tour. As a duo, the Judds had remained mostly dormant in recent decades, with periodic reunions. They parted for the first time after doing what was billed as a final show in 1991, at a time when Naomi Judd had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Following that, Wynonna embarked on a successful career as a solo artist while her mother raised awareness about the disease. They reunited for the Power to Change Tour at the turn of the millennium. Naomi Judd published nine books, the most recent of which was the memoir River of Time: My Descent Into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope, released in 2016. Other titles included Naomis Guide to Aging Gratefully: Being Your Best for the Rest of Your Life (2007), Naomis Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform Your Life (2004) and several childrens books. In the 1980s, the Judds had an unbroken string of eight straight No. 1 country singles, including Why Not Me and Mama Hes Crazy as their breakout smashes in 1983, followed by such hits as Girls Night Out, Grandpa (Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days) and Rockin With the Rhythm of the Rain. Their last charting single was Stuck in Love in 2000. They had not released an album of original material as a duo since Love Can Build a Bridge in 1990, but their streak of 80s singles continued to be popular on country radio to the present day. The duo won the CMA Awards best duo/group category from 1985-91, winning nine CMAs altogether. Their eight Academy of Country Music Awards included being named top vocal duo from 1984 through 1990. They won five Grammys during that period as well, including best country song for Love Can Build a Bridge. Judd became a popular television personality outside of the singing limelight, as a 2003-2004 stint as a judge on Star Search led to her own talk show, Naomis New Morning, which lasted for two seasons on the Hallmark Channel. Other series appearances included Can You Duet? on CMT and My Cooking Rules on Fox, and acting gigs in the TV movies The Killing Game and A Holiday Romance and the theatrical feature More American Graffiti. Diana Ellen Judd was born January 11, 1946 in Ashland, Kentucky. She often spoke of raising Wynonna and Ashley as a single parent following her divorce from their father, Michael Ciminella. She attended nursing school at the College of Marin, in California, with the intention of eventually becoming an MD. I was going to use my RN degree to support myself and put myself through med school, she said in a 1995 interview. I had this romantic notion of working with people in Appalachia, my people. But then when Wynonna and I started singing together she so desperately need to have a new direction in life it quickly became obvious that that was what we were meant to do. In a 2016 interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America to promote her memoir, she said that childhood sexual abuse had factored into depression she characterized as extreme and so deep and so completely debilitating and life-threatening. Judd told Roberts, I had to realize that, in a way, I had to parent myself. We all have this inner child, and I needed, for the first time in my life, to realize that I got a raw deal, OK, now Im a big girl. Put on your big girl pants and deal with it. She spoke about being a little estranged at that time from Wynonna, whom she said bore the brunt of all of the mistakes I made Weve been through a lot of therapy together From the day I knew she existed, it was the two of us against the world and then through the decades we kind of grew up together, cause it was really just the two of us. And Im always tellin her, If Id known better, I would have done better. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This school year may be the last in the district for some Beaumont ISD teachers. Citing disciplinary issues and low pay, many are calling it quits, retiring or moving to higher-paying districts. Beaumont Teachers Association President Bridget Smith said disciplinary issues amongst students, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels, has made this school year more stressful than the previous year for many teachers, even though school has returned to completely in-person learning. "We deal with a lot more anger than we have before and it's more stressful," she said. "Tantrums, outbursts, arguing back and forth -- (students) just don't want to do what you ask them to do." RELATED: More than 270 open positions in Beaumont school district Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Pietzsch-MacArthur, said before the pandemic teachers were able shape or redirect bad behavior. Now, she says sometimes teachers can't redirect without major tantrums or yelling and kicking. But Smith believes training could provide teachers with guidance and skills to handle those situations, and she asked district Superintendent Shannon Allen during public comments at April's regular board meeting to implement more training for teachers. "We don't know the stress that the children have gone through for that year-and-a-half (in virtual learning), and maybe they didn't learn how to control that anger or redirect that anger," Smith said. "So, we need skills to help us help them." Smith said she has not been approached by the district to work on trainings since her public comment, but Allen told her it was something that she was interested in looking into. RELATED: Paul Brown Center gets program redesign "I am asking for crisis prevention, or some kind of training like that, where we can probably de-escalate (situations) before they get to that level," Smith said. Also during her public comment, Smith requested a pay raise for teachers, paraprofessionals and hourly workers. "For the stress level that teachers are going through -- and not just teachers, our (paraprofessionals) have stepped up to the plate because of the (teacher) shortage and because we weren't able to get real subs because of the COVID situation," she said. Another stressor for teachers has been the Texas Education Agency-mandated House Bill 3 Reading Academies, which states that all kindergarten through third grade teachers have to attend a "teacher literacy achievement academy" by the end of 2022, and that it must be completed by K-3 teachers and principals by 2023. Smith said modules that she was told would take her four hours to complete are taking her 12 or more. RELATED: Local schools to give employees retention stipends "The module that was supposed to take five hours has now taken me 24-30 hours," she said. "And all that time is on me. I am responsible for that time. It's not during school. They give you one day -- some modules it's two days, but most of the time it's one day and you cannot complete these modules in one day." Between doing extra work to complete the academy, dealing with students' behavioral issues and trying remedy them, plus the lingering stress of COVID-19, Smith says Beaumont ISD teachers deserve a raise. "I asked for a 10% raise -- (the board) looked at me a little funny," she said. "But I really do believe that we need a 10% raise. And I believe that hourly employees need a $3 raise. That's what I asked for. Will I receive all of that? I don't know." Prior the April 21 regular meeting, the board conducted a second budget workshop as they look to finalize the plan for summer. RELATED: Local school district to raise teacher pay by more than $8,000 In that workshop, district Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Hernandez said BISD is looking at a 2% salary increase from the midpoint as well as increasing starting teacher salary to $50,000. "We've been trying to make sure that we can work it in to where we can be able to sustain it," Hernandez said at the workshop. The district is looking at eliminating positions that have been vacant for years to fund the raise. Hernandez said some department budgets may also be redone, but nothing has been finalized yet. The district will hold its next budget workshop at 5 p.m., May 5, where salaries will be discussed in more detail. RELATED: Beaumont ISD raises meal allowances for students, employees Smith said she's talking to at least three BISD teachers currently who are ready to quit. "They're not coming back next year," she said. "I am trying to motivate them to come back." Parents can help relieve the stress by being more involved in their children's school, Smith said. "We have good parents and we have a lot of parents that are trying to step up to the plate," she said. "But in this new era, we need even more to step up to the plate." One thing parents can do to support their children's teachers is to answer the phone when a teacher calls about their child. RELATED: 27 Beaumont educators named 'Teachers of the Year' "A lot of parents are frustrated and we're frustrated, but if we work as a team, it will be so much better," Smith said. "If we call in about behaviors, agree with us and help us -- it's not that we're trying to single out your baby or single out the students, but we do need help. It takes a village to raise a child and we need all parts of the village. It's not just on one person, it's on everybody." If the district doesn't give teachers salary increases and is not able to get students' behavioral issues under control, the district will not have teachers, Smith said. "I have a lot of teachers that are retiring, and that wealth of teaching that's going out of the door is going to be major because those are the ones that need to help the new teachers that are coming in," she said. "I have a lot of teachers saying they're going to another district that's going to pay them what they're worth. And (some are) just finished with teaching, said they're going to corporate America." Smith, who has worked for BISD for more than 25 years, said if it weren't for her position as president of BTA and her sick mother, she'd leave the district for Goose Creek CISD, which has a population of about 23,800 students -- about 6,000 more than Beaumont. RELATED: Beaumont school board districts to see shake-up Goose Creek's starting salary for new hires is more than $10,000 above BISD's. "My salary would be almost, the last time I looked, $12,000 more," Smith said. "It was very tempting." But Smith doesn't want to leave her job, she said. She loves working for BISD -- as do many other veteran teachers. But after sticking by the district for so many years, she said some feel underappreciated and underpaid. "Most of these teachers have been through the rough, when they cut all of these jobs, they stayed," she said. "They stayed because they love BISD. We were there for you, now you need to be here for us. Give us what we're worth." olivia.malick@hearst.com twitter/OliviaMalick SEBASTIAN, Fla. (AP) Police in Florida are investigating what happened to an elderly woman whose body was found in a freezer in her garage. The Sebastian Police Department said in a news release they responded to 93-year-old Marie Hoskins' home after neighbors who had not seen her recently asked for a welfare check. Local residents donate bottled water in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 30, 2022. Many Cape Town residents responded to a call by Gift of the Givers foundation, a disaster response non-governmental organization, to donate bottled water to victims of flooding in KwaZulu-Natal Province recently. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) Volunteers carry donated bottled water in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 30, 2022. Many Cape Town residents responded to a call by Gift of the Givers foundation, a disaster response non-governmental organization, to donate bottled water to victims of flooding in KwaZulu-Natal Province recently. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) An employee of Gift of the Givers foundation and volunteers wheel a cart laden with donated bottled water in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 30, 2022. Many Cape Town residents responded to a call by Gift of the Givers foundation, a disaster response non-governmental organization, to donate bottled water to victims of flooding in KwaZulu-Natal Province recently. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) A local resident donates bottled water in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 30, 2022. Many Cape Town residents responded to a call by Gift of the Givers foundation, a disaster response non-governmental organization, to donate bottled water to victims of flooding in KwaZulu-Natal Province recently. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) At least two twisters reportedly touched down briefly as part of a storm system that rolled across northeastern Illinois. One EF-0 tornado snapped tree branches and uprooted some trees as it traveled about two miles (3.2 kilometers) on the ground before 5 p.m. Saturday west of Chicago in Oak Brook, WLS-TV reported. The second EF-0 tornado was confirmed about 5:50 p.m. Saturday in Candlewick Lake in northern Boone County, northwest of Chicago. The Oak Brook tornado damaged part of a roof. Peak winds upwards of 75 mph were reported. The National Weather Service says it had a maximum width of about 60 yards (54 meters). No injuries have been reported from either tornado. It passed through the area just as students from a local high school were arriving at a hotel for their prom. "They were arriving when this started to happen and thank goodness that they stayed in their cars and nobody was injured, Westmont Fire Chief Steve Riley said. Brenda Easter and her husband waited out the storm in their basement. We just saw a lot of wind," she told the television station. "We looked out the window and then our TV was buzzing to get in the basement. Its kind of scary on how close it was but we felt safe the whole time. On Friday, a tornado barreled through parts of Kansas, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and buildings. Several people were injured and more than 15,000 were left without power. Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students traveling back from storm chasing in Kansas also were killed in a crash Friday evening with a tractor-trailer rig about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City, according to officials. WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 30, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southern Leon County in central Texas... * Until 730 PM CDT. * At 630 PM CDT, a pair of severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Centerville to 20 miles northeast of Franklin, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is possible. * Locations impacted include... Centerville and Leona. This includes Interstate 45 between mile markers 152 and 168. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.